Claims

XL takes US$694 million reserve charge on US reinsurance business

Bermuda-based XL Capital Ltd. is leading the pack, taking a reserve charge of US$694 million on its fourth quarter results to deal with prior year claims.After an extensive claims review, the company says it must take the charge, which amounts to US$647 after tax, largely as a result of adverse development on losses from casualty […]

By Canadian Underwriter | January 14, 2004

1 min read

Yearend catastrophes highlight rising exposure: Munich Re

As 2003 closed out with earthquakes in Iran and California, the events of the year highlight increasing exposures to catastrophe and new large-scale risks for insurers, says the world’s largest reinsurer. In its annual report on global catastrophes, Munich Re notes that total insured losses for the year were US$15 billion, versus US$11.5 billion in […]

By Canadian Underwriter | January 7, 2004

2 min read

Us Tort Costs Hit US$233 Billion

Tort costs in the U.S. hit the roof in 2002, climbing a record US$27.4 billion to US$233 billion, reports Tillinghast-Towers Perrin. This amounts to US$809 per person, an US$87 increase over 2001. The single largest factor in the increase is the reassessment of asbestos liabilities, which grew by US$11 billion last year, or one-third of […]

December 31, 2003

1 min read

BC Forest Fires: A Time of Need

The storm of wild fires that ripped through British Columbia was a watershed for the Canadian insurance industry - not only did it represent one of the most significant losses in history, but it was also a test of the industry's ability to rise to the claims challenge.

By Wendy Hillier | December 31, 2003

6 min read