Risk
Testifying before a Senate subcommittee on the issue of broker compensation, a representative of the world’s largest risk management organization says her group would support a ban on contingent commissions.The Risk & Insurance Management Society (RIMS), which represents commercial insurance buyers, has long advocated the need for disclusre of broker compensation agreements with insurers. Speaking […]
By Canadian Underwriter | November 16, 2004
2 min read
Alberta-based Peace Hills General Insurance Co. has been upgraded to “B” from “B-” with a stable outlook by A.M. Best.The rating agency says Peace Hills shows improved capitalization and strong profitability in the recent years, building on strong operations, management and reserving practices. The insurer’s risk-adjusted capitalization has improved on the back of rate increases […]
By Canadian Underwriter | November 15, 2004
1 min read
On the heels of the broker compensation probe by New York Attorney General Eliot Spitzer and the civil charges filed against Marsh, Zurich Financial Services says it has suspended two employees at its Zurich North America Commercial specialty business. In a statement, Zurich says the suspensions came out of an external review currently being conducted […]
By Canadian Underwriter | November 14, 2004
The U.S. Federal Reserve Board’s decision to raise the federal fund rate 25 basis points to 2.0% sets up the prospect for similar action by The Bank of Canada. While the Fed is expected to raise rates by 25 points in each of its next eight meetings, BoC is expected to raise rates twice more […]
By Canadian Underwriter | November 11, 2004
Risk managers in the U.K. are adamant that the current system of contingent commissions to broker needs to be abolished. In a survey by the Association of Insurance and Risk Managers (AIRMIC), 93% of corporate insurance buyers say contingent commissions should be banned or at least investigated by the U.K. Financial Services Authority (FSA). And […]
By Canadian Underwriter | November 10, 2004
The Canadian insurance industry’s pool for high-risk auto business, the Facility Association (FA), is calling on Nova Scotia’s insurance rate filing board to act more promptly in approving more appropriate rates as the "market of last resort". Due to regulatory interference, the FA’s rates over recent years have become attractive relative to the standard auto […]
By Canadian Underwriter | November 9, 2004
Global brokers Marsh and McLennan Cos. Inc. plans on slashing 3,000 employees, equal to about 5% of its total workforce, in response to an investigation into the company by New York’s attorney general Elliot Spitzer regarding alleged business "bid rigging". The Marsh charges relate to a broader investigation undertaken by Spitzer of the insurance industry […]
The Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC) is looking for insurers to participate in a pilot program which could be a first step to risk-based regulation of market conduct. Attendees of the IBC’s Regulatory Affairs Symposium learned Thursday that the IBC and the Financial Services Commission of Ontario (FSCO) are set to pilot a program for […]
By Canadian Underwriter | November 4, 2004
3 min read
Faced with the alluring prospect of a second year of acceptable profitability, the tension within the offices of Canadian licensed reinsurers is easing - but not underwriting discipline, at least according to the senior management responses in CU's annual "reinsurance strategic outlook" for 2005. While rates and terms for next year's reinsurance treaty renewals will likely remain stable, at least for most classes of business, reinsurer CEOs remain wary of the mistakes of the past, and point to the volatility of global catastrophe losses over the past year as well as uncertainty regarding the long-term effectiveness of the provincial auto insurance reforms.
By Sean van Zyl, Editor | October 31, 2004
18 min read
The once exotic world of captives is opening up for risk managers as they seek out solutions to a challenging insurance market. The traditional offshore domiciles are experiencing growth in captive numbers and premiums written, while new domiciles are being created through captive legislation, specifically in the U.S. But, experts say captives are more than just a passing solution to a temporary lack of available, affordable commercial insurance - they are a long-term investment requiring focus and commitment.
By Vikki Spencer | October 31, 2004
9 min read
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