The aftermath of ‘firm action’ in Lloyd’s market
February 8, 2019 by Greg MeckbachEight Lloyds syndicates have closed and some clients insured by the London market are seeing premiums increase four-fold, the head of a major Bermuda insurer suggests. “After some firm action by Lloyd’s in (2018), we saw the closure of eight…
Intact’s appetite for cross-border mergers
February 8, 2019 by Greg MeckbachIntact Financial Corp. is not ruling out the possibility of buying a commercial brokerage or managing general agent in the United States. “We are doing a lot of work to understand the opportunities in distribution in the U.S. and will…
Why brokers hail the D/X Initiative as “the start of the revolution”
February 7, 2019 by David GambrillA “watershed moment” of industry cooperation could lead in April to what brokers are heralding as the most significant technology breakthrough in broker-carrier connectivity in decades. Representatives of every broker association across the country met in Toronto on Jan. 29,…
Two weird things about the 2018 catastrophe season
February 7, 2019 by Jason ContantThe Canadian insurance industry saw a bit of an unusual catastrophe season last year, with more cats in the second quarter than the third, and Ontario beating out Alberta for insured losses. There were a total of 12 catastrophes last…
Top court won’t hear appeal of controversial waiver decision
February 7, 2019 by Greg MeckbachA 2018 Court of Appeal for Ontario ruling on waivers, described as “great news” for liability insurers, is now final. The Supreme Court of Canada announced Thursday it will not hear an appeal of Schnarr v. Blue Mountain Resorts Limited,…
Has Intact noticed the impact of pot legalization on auto claims?
February 6, 2019 by Greg MeckbachRecreational cannabis has been legal for nearly four months, but it’s too early for Canada’s largest property and casualty insurer to tell whether it’s having an impact on auto claims frequency. Senior managers with Intact Financial Corp. were asked Wednesday…
Broker lands in hot water after BI coverage miscue
February 5, 2019 by David GambrillA Manitoba broker landed in hot water after filling in for a vacationing colleague whose commercial client wound up without business interruption coverage. Broker John C. McDonald was fined $250 for his role in the coverage mix-up. When McDonald’s work…
Prominent insurance defence lawyer named as judge
February 5, 2019 by David GambrillInsurance defence lawyer William S. Chalmers, managing partner at Hughes Amys LLP, has been appointed a judge of the Superior Court of Justice of Ontario in Toronto. Called to the Ontario Bar in 1987, Justice Chalmers practised law at Hughes…
The “perfect storm” conditions for commercial rate increases
February 4, 2019 by Jason ContantThe past few years have created a perfect storm leading to an increase in commercial insurance rates, Signature Risk Partners Inc. says in a white paper released last week, entitled Hard Commercial Insurance Market on the Way. One factor is…
BrokerLink adds three Alberta locations
February 4, 2019 by Greg MeckbachAnother Edmonton-based brokerage has joined Intact Financial Corp.’s BrokerLink unit. Bridge Financial Insurance Ltd. joined BrokerLink effective Feb. 1. The announcement comes less than a month after Challenge Insurance, also of Edmonton, joined BrokerLink. “By joining BrokerLink, we know our…
What commercial brokers are saying about the worrisome market turn
February 4, 2019 by David GambrillWhether the industry faces a hard market or simply a “market correction,” commercial lines premiums are definitely on the rise, Canadian commercial brokers reported in an online poll by Canadian Underwriter. And they are starting to get concerned about it.…
Zurich Canada names new head of operations
January 31, 2019 by David GambrillMathias Sommer has been named head of operations for Zurich Canada. Sommer has been leading the operations team as vice president of operations for Zurich’s Canadian commercial insurance segment since September 2017. He will remain based in Toronto and report to Zurich Canada CEO…