How the world’s brokers rank by revenue
July 5, 2021 by Greg MeckbachMarsh was still the world’s biggest brokerage in 2020, even after more than 700 merger deals got done last year, A.M. Best Company Inc. reports in Top Global Insurance Brokers – 2021 Edition, released July 1. Quoting from Optis, A.M.…
Why ridesharing makes motor vehicle accident claims more complex
June 21, 2021 by Greg MeckbachInspecting the accident scene early and downloading black box data are among the tactics insurance lawyers use to defend ride share tort claims, lawyers suggested to A.M. Best Company Inc. “Rideshare cases often involve multiple parties and different causes of…
One big lesson from pandemic business interruption coverage disputes
February 2, 2021 by Greg MeckbachThe industry could do a better job of explaining to commercial clients exactly what business interruption insurance actually covers, A.M. Best Company Inc. suggests in a report released Monday. “Disputes over BI cover are unfavourable for the reputation of affected…
Is the risk of coronavirus a ‘physical loss’ to the property?
April 29, 2020 by Greg MeckbachCommercial insurers may say that business interruption does not normally apply to the pandemic because coverage only kicks in when there is an insurable property loss. However, some clients’ lawyers are arguing the coronavirus should in fact be considered a…
Key COVID-19 exposures for the Canadian P&C industry: A.M. Best
April 6, 2020 by Greg MeckbachThe Canadian property and casualty industry is well-positioned to withstand the financial pressures exerted by COVID-19, but A.M. Best Company is nevertheless concerned about commercial premiums dropping due to business closures and coverage disputes over business interruption. “In Canadian P&C,…
An emerging commercial risk with growth opportunity
September 30, 2019 by Greg MeckbachCompanies providing electric scooters and similar devices are spawning a growing market for commercial insurance, an analyst with A.M. Best Company Inc. suggests. There is no standard definition of “micro mobility” but it often refers to small “last-mile” modes of…
Why A.M. Best gave the global reinsurance segment a ‘stable’ outlook
December 6, 2018 by David GambrillCORRECTION: An earlier version of this story incorrectly stated that A.M. Best had changed its outlook for the global reinsurance sector from ‘Stable’ to ‘Negative.’ In fact, the outlook changed to ‘Stable’ from ‘Negative.’ Canadian Underwriter apologizes for the error.…
How this province is limiting the scope of cannabis risk
September 27, 2018 by Jason ContantOntario will soon introduce legislation defining the scope of recreational marijuana use, just weeks before the federal government is scheduled to legalize pot on Oct. 17. The governing Progressive Conservative Party is introducing a tightly-regulated regime in which municipalities will…
Risk appetite for marijuana ‘all over the map’
September 17, 2018 by Greg MeckbachSome insurance companies “want no part” of covering risks related to cannabis in Canada, an industry analyst warns. As of Oct. 17, it will be legal in Canada for adults to possess up to 30 grams of dried cannabis for…
Global reinsurance loss ratio up 7.1 points in first six months of 2016: A.M. Best
September 7, 2016 by Canadian UnderwriterThe loss ratio in the global reinsurance market was two points higher during the first six months of this year than the five-year average, while in 2015, Paris-based SCOR SE overtook Omaha, Neb.-based Berkshire Hathaway in A.M. Best Company Inc.’s…