Will Hurricane Florence affect reinsurance rates in Canada?
September 12, 2018 by Jason ContantAs the southeastern United States braces for Hurricane Florence – one year after Hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria caused widespread destruction in the country – the question of whether there is sufficient reinsurance capacity is again thrust into the spotlight.…
Why Quebec’s largest brokerage doubled up on life insurance
September 11, 2018 by Jason ContantFor its latest acquisition, Quebec’s largest brokerage decided to look outside its traditional stronghold of property and casualty insurance, which represents about 90% of its revenue base. On Aug. 8, Lussier Dale Parizeau announced the acquisition of Trinome Conseils. Patrice…
Canadian hail insurance broker acquired by Hub
September 11, 2018 by Greg MeckbachHub International Ltd. continues to buy Canadian property and casualty brokerages, with the acquisition of Ottawa-based Access Insurance Brokers Inc. as well as a Saskatchewan provider of farm insurance. Chicago-based Hub announced Monday it has acquired Frontier Business Centre Ltd.,…
How Guidewire is changing its approach to the market
September 10, 2018 by Greg MeckbachGuidewire Software Inc. is “not interested” in building a services organization and is touting its new analytics and data services group to insurance buyers. The new analytics and data services group – formed after the acquisition in 2017 of modelling…
‘No desire’ for this insurer to demutualize
September 4, 2018 by Greg MeckbachTwo months after Economical Insurance submitted its demutualization proposal to the federal government, another federally-regulated mutual has all but completely ruled out demutualization. There is “no desire” for demutualization at Heartland Farm Mutual Inc., Louis Durocher, Heartland’s new president and…
Insurance technology awards make final call for entries
August 22, 2018 by Greg MeckbachTwo yet-to-be named Canadian firms, which are using information technology to get “intelligence” from insurers’ data, will be recognized next month in Toronto. Insurance Nexus is accepting nominations for Canadian Insurance Carrier of the Year and Canadian Insurance Innovator of…
The Hartford to acquire specialty insurer for $2.1 billion
August 22, 2018 by David GambrillThe Hartford has signed an agreement to acquire specialty insurer The Navigators Group Inc. for US$2.1 billion in cash. The transaction has been approved by the boards of directors of both companies and is subject to approval by Navigators’ shareholders…
Should brokerages be open evenings or weekends?
August 20, 2018 by Greg MeckbachMany brokerage offices are open for business outside of normal working hours but some question whether this is really necessary, given recent advances in web services. “It shouldn’t really matter if your technology is structured properly” whether your brokerage is…
Demand for omni-channel drove this brokerage merger
August 17, 2018 by Greg MeckbachHub International Ltd. is planning to use the recent acquisition of a Windsor, Ont. firm to expand its online services with existing brokerages. “The reason why we bought Cypher Systems Group is we really felt that we wanted to have…
Top 10 broker gaffes
August 16, 2018 by Jason ContantMajor infractions committed by Quebec insurance brokers include acting dishonestly, negligently, or not acting with competence and professional integrity, says the disciplinary committee of the Chambre de l’assurance de dommages (ChAD), the province’s self-regulatory body for brokers, agents and claims adjusters.…
This Top 5 liability insurer is looking for firms to buy
August 15, 2018 by Greg MeckbachThe corporate parent of Canada’s fourth-largest liability insurer – American International Group Inc. – is actively looking for companies to acquire. “I always look for acquisitions,” said Brian Duppereault, CEO of New York City-based AIG, during a recent earnings call.…
How individual insurers have responded to challenges in Ontario auto
August 14, 2018 by Greg MeckbachDespite a consensus in the industry that auto insurance rates are inadequate in Ontario, not all insurers are trying to diversify their business to reduce their exposure to this particular line. The Co-operators Group Ltd. “does not intend to reduce…