Risk

Views (February 01, 2003)

The Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC) is already seeing dividends in its battle against auto theft, with the recovery of 17 vehicles that had been stolen and taken to China. Through a new international relationship with the Chinese Intelligence Bureau (CIB) and Hong Kong Police Force, the IBC was able to bring the vehicles, valued […]

January 31, 2003

1 min read

Risk

Commercial Hit List

The time has come for change in the way the property and casualty insurance industry handles commercial insurance. Technological innovation can help transform a traditionally paper-intensive process and benefit insurers and brokers. Is the industry up to the challenge?

January 31, 2003

7 min read

Risk

How Do I Rate … ?

Where once catastrophes such as hurricanes, earthquakes and floods were the dread of property and casualty insurers worldwide, the post-9/11 risk environment has introduced a new threat, one which strikes to the heart of the insurance industry: corporate catastrophes. While the corporate disasters of Enron and Worldcom, and for that matter the ripple effect that […]

January 31, 2003

4 min read

Risk

Unplugged: ASPs lighten IT burden

Today insurers spend an average 4% to 8% of their annual budgets on technology - a relatively small investment compared to that of other industries. In the past year, with insurance companies being hard hit by unexpected terrorist-related claims, increasing reinsurance costs, and decreasing income from investments, beleaguered carriers are demanding more returns from their precious IT dollars. Many insurers are opting for the flexibility and agility offered by hosted ASPs (application service providers), a form of IT and application outsourcing.

January 31, 2003

5 min read

A.M. Best affirms ratings of Gerling primary cos. (February 01, 2003)

Rating agency A.M. Best has affirmed its “A- (excellent)” financial rating of Gerling-Konzern Allgemeine Versicherungs AG (GKA) and its primary insurance subsidiaries of Gerling Canada Insurance Co. and Gerling America Insurance Co. A.M. Best cites Gerling’s leading position in industrial insurance coverage coupled with the groups recently announced restructuring plans as the prime strengths of […]

January 31, 2003

2 min read

Assurex Global grows in Canada

International broker Assurex Global has expanded in Canada with the addition of a Vancouver-based brokerage. Shaw Sabey & Associates Ltd. is one of the largest privately-held brokerages in B.C. and deals in a range of insurance and risk management products for businesses including associations, retail, marine, industrial and construction.Assurex Global Partners are self-managed independent brokerages, […]

1 min read

Hub earnings prediction moves slightly higher

The 2002 yearend earnings prediction from broker consolidator Hub International (TSX, NYSE: HBG) has been raised slightly to US$1.04-$1.06 per share from the US$1.03-$1.05 per share estimated in December. The 2003 earnings estimate of US$1.08-$1.17 remains the same.The announcement was made as part of a presentation by Hub chairman and CEO Martin P. Hughes to […]

1 min read

Rough 2003 ahead for reinsurers, says broker report

A drought in capital foreshadows a tough year ahead for reinsures, says reinsurance broker Benfield Grieg. In its report, “The Big Squeeze”, the global broker says that the flood of new capital into the market amounts to “too little, too late”.”The key issues for the reinsurance industry can be summarized by three Cs: capital, capital […]

2 min read

GE consolidates risk management and asset protection arms

GE Commercial Insurance, part of GE Employers Reinsurance Corp., says it will combine its Industrial Risk Insurers (IRI) and Global Asset Protection (GAP) Services companies under the IRI banner.IRI will now provide both insurance capacity and loss prevention services. GAP Services will continue to provide independent property management services.”We are very excited about the extended […]

1 min read

SCOR rating affirmed with negative outlook

Rating agency A.M. Best has affirmed the A- (excellent) rating of Paris-based SCOR and its subsidiaries, including SCOR Canada Reinsurance Co. However, the rating comes with a negative outlook.The affirmation follows a move by most rating agencies to place SCOR on watch, and a downgrade of the company by Moody’s which saw SCOR lose its […]

1 min read