Segment
MGAs
Why insurance overseer won’t regulate MGAs or fintechs just yet
April 22, 2021 by Greg MeckbachOntario’s insurance regulator has no plans to regulate fintechs or managing general agents in the near term. “We sort of feel like we have enough on our plates,” said Tim Bzowey, executive vice president of auto/insurance products for the Financial…
U.S.-based MGA expands into Canadian market
March 24, 2021 by Jason ContantA U.S.-based managing general agency (MGA) is expanding into the Canadian market to serve Canada’s growing logistics and cargo industry, the company announced Tuesday. Amwins Specialty Logistic Underwriters (ASLU) specializes in covering complex risk factors of the logistics and cargo…
Why MGAs are becoming attractive options for investment firms
March 18, 2021 by Jason ContantA United Kingdom-based investment firm has invested CAD$2 million into a Canadian managing general agent — and previews that there’s more to come. Arete Capital Partners announced last week that its investment in Shore Underwriting — which specializes in insurance…
Two emerging trends in D&O liability
March 2, 2021 by Jason ContantCyber claims morphing into directors’ and officers’ liability and the increased sophistication of the plaintiff bar in Canada are two emerging trends in D&O lines, HDI Global Specialty SE – Canada told Canadian Underwriter recently. Oren Schemool, head of financial…
Letter to the editor: Best Terms — the buyer’s point of view
February 26, 2021 BC Risk & Insurance Manager’s AssociationTo the Editor, We would like to respond to your editorial titled “Regulators, leave subscription policies alone,” dated Dec. 7, 2020. It is true that these are turbulent times in the insurance market, and that insurers have been experiencing losses…
What’s smoking hot in cannabis insurance claims trends
February 24, 2021 by Jason ContantNearly two-and-a-half years after recreational marijuana was legalized in Canada, the country’s P&C insurance industry is starting to get a sense of the type of claims arising from the October 2018 legalization. The big issue right now is vaping, said…
Why this MGA exec predicts more Canadian MGA consolidation in the future
February 11, 2021 by Jason ContantMore mergers and acquisitions (M&A) activity between managing general agencies (MGA) is likely in the future, since private equity is focusing on this sector, giving MGAs the fiscal tools to make acquisitions, the president and CEO of one MGA told…
Why there is very little MGA consolidation
February 8, 2021 by Jason ContantManaging general agencies (MGAs) in Canada are currently engaging in very little mergers and acquisitions activity among themselves because the market is still growing organically and is less mature than in other countries, the managing director of the national MGA…
Why some tech vendors are becoming MGAs
January 7, 2021 by Greg MeckbachInsurers could distribute coverage through technology firms that adopt the managing general agent model, a Montreal expert for a venture capital fund observes. “Some technology startups are adopting the MGA model to partner with a carrier or reinsurer to distribute…
Intact’s take on regulating commercial ‘middle players’
October 26, 2020 by Greg MeckbachGovernment and the industry should take a close look at the structure and regulation of “middle players” in the commercial property and casualty insurance market, Ontario brokers heard last week at their annual convention. “We know there are some things…
Veteran brokers are seeing their first-ever hard market. What they need to know.
September 18, 2020 by Greg MeckbachBrokers with more than a decade of experience could be experiencing their first real hard market right now, and they could probably use some advice about how to break bad news during renewals, an Alberta managing general agent (MGA) suggests.…
The impact of MGAs getting more business
August 25, 2020 by Greg MeckbachIt is taking longer to get insurance placed through managing general agents because MGAs are getting more business in the hard market, one Ontario broker suggests. Many commercial accounts, which previously would have been handled by retail brokers, are now…