Terrorism is changing. How coverage is following suit
June 3, 2019 by Greg MeckbachAs the terrorism threat shifts from large-scale attacks to softer targets, coverage options from insurance carriers are evolving as well. Some policies cover incidents when an attacker uses a gun, knife or acid for example, Tarique Nageer, Marsh LLC’s terrorism…
Regulator greenlights Echelon Insurance acquisition
May 31, 2019 by Greg MeckbachA $166-million deal aimed at getting CAA Insurance some new non-standard auto customers is a done deal. CAA Club Group’s acquisition of Echelon Insurance got final regulatory approval, Echelon Financial Holdings Inc. announced Thursday. The deal officially closed on May…
BrokerLink makes third acquisition in May
May 31, 2019 by Jason ContantBrokerLink has made its third acquisition in May with the purchase of Alberta independent insurance brokerage Thomson Schindle Green Insurance & Financial Services Ltd. (TSG). With branches in Medicine Hat, Calgary, Brooks, Bassano and Edmonton, TSG has been providing insurance…
Guess who’s in the flood prevention business now
May 30, 2019 by David GambrillWe’ve seen forensic engineering firms apply remediation methods to commercial and residential properties that were affected by flood damage. But now, as flooding has become more severe, they are in the vanguard of building comprehensive and tailored flood prevention and…
New COO, EVP for Totten
May 28, 2019 by Jason ContantPaul Meinschenk has joined managing general agency (MGA) Totten Insurance Group as chief operating officer and executive vice president, effective May 31. With 18 years of experience in the insurance industry, Meinschenk was mostly recently vice president of sales and…
This ‘leading practitioner’ in insurance law is now a judge
May 27, 2019 by Greg MeckbachCORRECTION NOTICE: In an earlier version of this story, Glen L.C. Noel was incorrectly identified as a lawyer representing Lloyd’s in Lawlor v. Royal. In fact, Noel represented Mary Lawlor in that case. Canadian Underwriter regrets the error. Glen L.C.…
This brokerage is the latest to get into employee benefits
May 24, 2019 by Jason ContantA family-owned brokerage in New Brunswick has become the latest brokerage to get into the employee benefits space. Personal and commercial lines brokerage Vienneau Insurance announced earlier this week that it has expanded its commercial insurance offering by acquiring the…
This restoration contracting acquisition should close by summer
May 24, 2019 by Greg MeckbachFirstOnSite and Paul Davis will have the same corporate owner if a deal announced Thursday goes through but will operate separately from one another. FirstOnSite Restoration Limited announced May 23 that its corporate parent, Global Restoration Holdings LLC, agreed to…
Aviva loses $7-million coverage dispute over sexual abuse liability
May 23, 2019 by Greg MeckbachCanada’s top court said today it will not hear an appeal from Aviva Canada of a ruling in favour of a New Brunswick church diocese. L’Évêque catholique romain de Bathurst, a diocese that oversees Roman Catholic parishes in the northeastern…
These risks call for better models
May 22, 2019 by Greg MeckbachCommercial clients need better tools to help risk managers predict their financial exposure to climate change and geopolitical factors, Canadian risk managers say. The risk from climate change “will be pervasive and have a massive impact and it’s something that…
Fairfax chief financial officer died suddenly
May 21, 2019 by Greg MeckbachDavid Bonham, chief financial officer of Fairfax Financial Holdings Ltd., died suddenly this past weekend, the Toronto-based company announced Tuesday. Fairfax is the corporate owner of Northbridge Insurance and several international property and casualty insurers, including OdysseyRe, Brit PLC, Allied…
How this type of client is reducing fraud risk
May 17, 2019 by Greg MeckbachBiometrics and two-factor authentication will become more popular tactics for mitigating cyber crime risk, a British Columbia credit union executive predicts. “I feel like I do a lot of biometrics,” said Marilyn Mauritz, chief transformation and governance officer at Vancouver-based…