Wildfire catastrophe models need improvement: Reinsurer
March 8, 2019 by Greg MeckbachThe world’s second-largest reinsurer is looking for partners in the artificial intelligence space to help the reinsurer get a better idea of how much insured damage future wildfires could cause. Swiss Re is working with the Massachusetts Institute of technology…
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…
This province seeks insurers’ input on joint and several liability reform
March 5, 2019 by Greg MeckbachThe Ontario government wants to hear from insurance companies on the controversial joint and several liability rule, which some say is unfair to deep pockets defendants. “What we are looking for is consultation with the lawyers, the insurance industry, et…
One simple way to reduce the severity of barn fires
March 4, 2019 by Jason ContantEnhancing building codes to include early detection systems could help generate a faster response in the case of farm fires, said Ken Worsley, who leads Cowan Insurance Group’s national agri-commercial industry practice. Early response systems include things like heat, fire…
This province could see major spring flooding
March 1, 2019 by Jason ContantTen years after serious flooding in much of the southern part of Manitoba, there is again a high risk of major spring flooding in the province’s Red River Valley region. “Early forecasting data shows that we expect to see major…
Ontario’s latest wind storm: is it as costly as last year’s wind cat?
February 25, 2019 by Jason ContantThe strong wind storm that continues across parts of Ontario Monday is being compared to the costliest insured loss event of 2018. Beginning on Sunday, Feb. 24, a powerful, sustained wind storm caused blizzard conditions and damaging winds across Ontario.…
The impact of hardening Lloyd’s market on Fairfax
February 20, 2019 by Greg MeckbachA tough Lloyd’s market and California’s worst-ever wildfire led to an underwriting loss for Brit Plc, which Toronto-based Fairfax Financial Holdings Ltd. acquired in 2015. Fairfax officials faced pointed questions during its recent earnings call from one analyst who suggested…
Where Fairfax is going with future acquisitions
February 19, 2019 by Greg MeckbachWhile Fairfax Financial Holdings Ltd. is not ruling out the possibility of buying small specialty insurance players, don’t expect the firm to buy any big insurers any time soon. Toronto-based Fairfax, whose holdings include Northbridge Insurance, bought the majority of…
How your client’s directors could be blamed for cyber losses
February 14, 2019 by Greg MeckbachCyber risk awareness is on the rise among corporate directors, who could face liability risk if they are accused of being lax on governance. “Corporate clients are more likely to be aware today, compared to a few years ago, of…
Behind on your digital strategy? Three ways to catch up quickly
February 13, 2019 by Jason ContantMerging with or buying digital firms, and cooperating with digital natives rather than trying to fight or resist them, can pay dividends for a majority of businesses, according to a blog published Tuesday by Harvard Business Review. The blog, 3 Digital…
Why post-tropical storms can be worse than the original storm
February 13, 2019 by Jason ContantInland flood damage arising from post-tropical storms can be an even greater risk than wind damage, a meteorologist from Aon said last week at the CatIQ Connect conference in downtown Toronto. “That’s concerning because here in Canada, as in the…
Why your clients will buy insurance only after a disaster
February 12, 2019 by Jason ContantDue to six decision biases, consumers will typically not protect themselves against low-probability, high-consequence events until it is too late, a keynote speaker said recently at the CatIQ Connect conference in Toronto. When consumers decide not to purchase insurance or…