GETTING TO GRIPS WITH CLAIMCOSTS
January 1, 2000 Sean van Zyl, EditorWith little room to maneuver on premium growth and enhancing investment returns, property and casualty insurers are likely to turn their attention in the year ahead to better risk selection and improved claims handling efficiency to boost bottom-line performance, industry…
The Trials of Industry Mergers Acquisitions
January 1, 2000 David Carr1998 proved to be a record year for mergers and acquisitions (M&As) in the insurance industry, with total transactions exceeding US$150 billion. But the pace of insurance M&As sputtered in the second half of 1998, failing to pick up any real momentum in 1999. What lies ahead for 2000?
Investments plague Canadian and U.S. insurers
January 1, 2000 by Canadian UnderwriterThe 1999 third quarter returns for both Canadian and U.S. property and casualty insurers show little improvement in net earnings, with the return on investment of both sectors now hovering at around the 7% mark. The real problem child surfacing…
Alternative Dispute Resolution: “Virtual Settlement” online
January 1, 2000 Gary Winston, Director and General Manager of Canadian OperationPressed with rising claim costs and cutthroat pricing, insurers are having to look for cost-effective ways to reduce operating costs. Technology is expected to play a significant role in this respect in coming years, however an area offering enormous short-term scope is electronic settlement of casualty losses. Virtual settlement has finally come to Canada.
CIBC cuts back on insurance
January 1, 2000 by Canadian UnderwriterIn a move towards cutting $500 million out of its operating expenses, CIBC recently announced it was cutting 4200 jobs, roughly 10% of its entire workforce. While the bank will not release figures on the jobs being cut — maintaining…
B.C.’s collision repair industry under the Spotlight
December 1, 1999 Brian Harper, editor of Bodyshop MagazineThe recently held Insurance Corporation of British Columbia’s (ICBC) auto repair symposium drew focus on the forces of change sweeping through the industry, in particular the close relationship that exists between property and casualty insurers and shop operators. Similar to the cost-efficiency driven rationalization occurring across other provinces, B.C.’s own market should be preparing for change if the existing independent players plan on surviving into the new millennium, the speakers warn.
Thinking Big From Small
December 1, 1999 Sean van Zyl, EditorMost people in the industry think he has lost his marbles, launching a new property and casualty insurance company in Canada from the ground up in what is widely seen as an overcrowded and cutthroat market. To say that Brian…
OSFI’s tough stand on earthquake reserves
December 1, 1999 by Canadian UnderwriterThe Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions (OSFI), the federal government’s financial services watchdog, is unhappy with the current level of voluntary earthquake reserving committed by property and casualty insurers. OSFI special adviser Julie Dickson indicated at the recently…
On The Move (December 01, 1999)
December 1, 1999 by Canadian UnderwriterThe Insurance Bureau of Canada has appointed Terri MacLean as senior vice-president and chief operating officer of the Insurance Crime Prevention Bureau. MacLean, an insurance lawyer, joins the ICPB after an extensive career including stops at Commercial Union, Wellington Insurance…
COUNTDOWN to a new era
December 1, 1999 Lowell Conn and Sean van ZylThe 1990s will likely go down as the most momentous period in the modern history of the property and casualty insurance industry, a senior executive with experience dating back to the post WWII era recently stated. From “riches to rags,”…
DISTRIBUTION CHANNELS
December 1, 1999 By Lowell ConnMarketing, distribution and technology are no longer separate components of the insurance business, delegates were told at the Institute for International Research’s recently held Distribution & Marketing in Property & Casualty Insurance conference. Multi-distribution channels including call centers and the…
Cutting to the fat
December 1, 1999 Sean van Zyl, EditorFor those who felt the market conditions of 1999 were worth a good cry over a beer, the year ahead is likely to be a very sober occasion, analysts warn. Results for property and casualty insurers for the final quarter…