This Supreme Court ruling could drive environmental insurance sales
March 19, 2019 by Greg MeckbachBrokers could see more demand for environmental liability insurance because of a recent Supreme Court of Canada ruling in favour of the Alberta Energy Regulator, a Toronto underwriter suggests. In Orphan Well Association v. Grant Thornton Ltd., the Supreme Court…
How the Big 5 banks insure their directors’ liability
March 18, 2019 by Greg MeckbachCanada’s five biggest banks are paying nearly $8 million a year collectively in premiums, for billions in directors’ and officers’ liability insurance with no deductibles, recent security filings show. The total coverage limit and the circumstances under which those policies…
Paid You’ve Filed Your Taxes. What Comes Next?
March 18, 2019 David Smagata, DASAt some point in their lives, most Canadians will be subject to a tax audit from the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA). While the process can be anxiety-inducing and stressful, having the right insurance policy can help you prepare for an…
How bad financials can affect your client’s insurance rates
March 15, 2019 by Greg MeckbachDo insurers really care about a client’s balance sheet? A former lawyer who represented The Trump Organization recently suggested clients could get a good rate if the broker could be certain that the client could pay the premium. Brokers contacted…
What insurtechs can learn from hackathons
March 13, 2019 by Greg MeckbachEditor’s Note: This article has been updated. A previous version incorrectly stated that duuo was launched at Slice Labs’ launch studio in Toronto. CU apologizes for the error. If you want to develop a new digital insurance product, it shouldn’t…
This global reinsurer is applying for a Canadian branch office
March 13, 2019 by David GambrillValidus Reinsurance Ltd., a Bermuda-based reinsurer acquired by AIG last year for $5.5 billion, is looking to establish a Canadian branch office. Validus intends to file an application with the Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions (OSFI) on or…
The strategy behind BrokerLink’s latest acquisitions
March 12, 2019 by Greg MeckbachIf you run a brokerage in Ontario, Alberta or Atlantic Canada and there is no BrokerLink in your town, there soon could be. Intact Financial Corp.’s BrokerLink unit has closed seven brokerage acquisitions since Jan. 1, said Paul Meyer, BrokerLink’s…
Insurtech seeks to bring the ‘Uber-Netflix-Spotify-Amazon’ experience to commercial clients
March 11, 2019 by Greg MeckbachAn insurtech with offices in Ontario is looking for commercial and personal lines carriers who want to sell insurance the way Spotify sells music. “We are talking to several Canadian insurers who have an interest in launching new products” Philippe…
Brokerlink acquires family-owned brokerage in Alberta
March 8, 2019 by David GambrillBrokerLink has welcomed into its tent a 40-year-old family brokerage located in the Peace River area of northern Alberta. Nicolet Insurance Ltd., a full-service operation offering auto, home, business and travel insurance, has joined Brokerlink, one of Canada’s largest property…
How Aviva Canada’s profitability fared in 2018
March 7, 2019 by David GambrillEditor’s Note: This version of the article includes a correction showing that operating profit was flat at £46 million (approximately Cdn$82 million in 2018, and Cdn$78 million in 2017). A previous version incorrectly showed the operating profit of 46 million…
How innovation changes the underwriter’s job
March 6, 2019 by Greg MeckbachTechnology and data will change the underwriter’s job but will not eliminate it, suggests Russell Johnston, chief executive officer for North America of QBE Insurance Group Limited. “At the end of the day, people still make the decisions,” Johnston said…
Gallagher to buy Jardine Lloyd Thompson’s aerospace operations
March 4, 2019 by Greg MeckbachArthur J. Gallagher & Co. announced Monday it has agreed to buy the global aerospace operations of Jardine Lloyd Thompson Group plc. If the deal goes through, about 250 JLT employees worldwide would join Gallagher. Monday’s announcement comes six months…