Liberty International files suit against animator
August 28, 2001 by Canadian UnderwriterInsurer Liberty International Canada is filing suit against beleaguered Canadian animation company Cinar. The suit, to the tune of $900,000, was filed in Quebec Superior Court.Cinar has come under fire recently, facing allegations of tax fraud and heavy financial losses.…
A.M. Best lifts "negative outlook" on Lloyd’s
August 16, 2001 by Canadian UnderwriterRating agency A.M. Best has lifted its "negative outlook" on Lloyd’s of London. The agency has also affirmed the London-based market’s "A" rating. This step follows a negative outlook report which was issued on Lloyd’s on June 28 of this…
St. Paul acquisition of London Guarantee secures Canadian positioning
August 3, 2001 by Canadian UnderwriterMinnesota-based The St. Paul Companies (NYSE: SPC) has purchased specialty liability underwriter London Guarantee Insurance Co. from the Great West Lifeco Inc. (TSE: GWO) for about $125 million.London Guarantee is ranked second as market leader in underwriting surety business and…
Managing Global Risks: Running for Cover
August 1, 2001 Vikki SpencerAn earthquake in Peru. The fall of the argentinean economy. tropical storm allison strikes several american states. Political tensions flare in the middle east. for the average canadian, these events seem a world away, having little impact on day-to-day life. But, for the average canadian company, these events can have a profound effect on the bottom-line. With the growth of canadian exports and domestic companies stretching their wings to establish operations beyond the border, managing these new international risks is a minefield of potential losses. and, with insurance rates hardening on a global scale and few companies willing to offer bundled international coverage, today’s corporate risk managers could find themselves scrambling for cover.
The Insurance Revolution
August 1, 2001 Sean van Zyl, EditorGlobal expansion and risk diversification with emphasis on managing capital will serve as the cornerstones of the next development phase of the insurance industry, speakers at the recently held International Insurance Society (IIA) 37th annual seminar predicted. The event, which took place in Vienna, Austria, drew 530 senior insurance management delegates representing 50 countries. A survey carried out by the IIA of the attendees confirmed the common message of the speakers – the global insurance marketplace is at the brink of a revolution.
System Breakdown: shortage of “e-covers”
August 1, 2001 George Cooke and Anne MacKenzie of Dominion of Canada General InOne of the biggest challenges insurers face is dealing with the non-tangible and borderless world of e-commerce. Reinsurers have already imposed strict cover limitations, and insurers are finding it extremely difficult to offer their customers effective risk solutions. However, if the industry plans on retaining its customer base and growing it as the business environment increasingly moves toward e-commerce, then cyber risk solutions will have to be found.
Auto Insurers, Watch Out for That “Strike Suit”
August 1, 2001 William Blakeney, of Blakeney Henneberry BakshThe outcome of a class action lawsuit filed in Ontario against the Co-operators General Insurance Co. in an attempt to reclaim amounts the insurer allegedly gained from salvage following a total loss write-off of a vehicle and deductible charged to the insured, could herald a new attack of “strike suits” against auto insurers
Tobacco litigation wars continue (August 01, 2001)
August 1, 2001 by Canadian UnderwriterThe U.S. attorney general, John Ashcroft, has announced his intention to seek settlement of the federal government’s pending multi-billion dollar lawsuit against the tobacco industry, which was initially launched in 1999 with the support of then U.S. president Bill Clinton.…
Measuring Success Through Data Mining
August 1, 2001 Henry Hong, chief product architect, IDEA System, Insurance BureBy the end of this summer, Canada’s insurance information is expected to be available for individual insurers to conduct customized market analysis and benchmark their performance against the industry. The Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC) will introduce the Insurance Data…
WHAT COMES AROUND…
July 1, 2001 by Canadian UnderwriterThe reason for cyclical rate peaks and valleys in the international insurance and reinsurance market always comes down to the issue of supply.; By Glenn McGillivray, assistant vice president & head of corporate communication at Swiss Reinsurance Co. Canada
Raising th Bottom-Line through subrogation efficiency
July 1, 2001 Michael Baumel, head of global subrogation at GE ERCThe area of subrogation is a necessary part of the claims process, one which is often overlooked or under-utilized by the primary insurer. A poor or effective claims management approach to subrogation can mean the difference of millions of dollars to the bottom-line. Faced with the current business climate, can insurers afford financial spillage?
Kingsway inks U.S. deals, announces share offering
July 1, 2001 by Canadian UnderwriterSpecialty risk insurer Kingsway Financial Services Inc. (TSE: KFS) has entered into an “alliance” with Texas-based auto insurer Reliant American Group Inc. to market the company’s underwriting products. “We see a lot of potential for the distribution of Reliant American’s…