Issue 2006-04: January 24, 2006

Claims

South Western Group Out-sources Claims Administration to Crawford.
January 13, 2006 KITCHENER - Glenn Gibson, chief executive officer of Crawford Adjusters Canada, announced earlier today that South Western Group has selected Crawford as their exclusive supplier of claims administration services beginning in January 2006.

Automated Benefits "Symbility" Commences Two U.S. Software Pilot Programs.
WATERLOO, Ontario, Jan. 13, 2006 -- Automated Benefits Corp. (TSX Venture: AUT) is pleased to announce that it's wholly owned subsidiary, Symbility Solutions Inc. ("Symbility"), has begun software pilot programs with two U.S.-based insurance carriers. These two companies process in aggregate approximately 100,000 claims per year.

Consumer Information

The New Commercial General Liability Wordings: Insurers Financial Group.
The Canadian insurance marketplace is introducing a revised Commercial General Liability (CGL) policy wording for 2006 affecting new and renewing policyholders. Because the CGL is designed primarily to protect corporate insureds from bodily injury and/or property damage liabilities arising out of their business activities, it is a commonly purchased coverage.

Transport Canada: The Results are in - Road Collisions Down Again in 2004.
OTTAWA �- December 30, 2005 - The latest edition of the Canadian Motor Vehicle Traffic Collision Statistics, an annual publication released by Transport Canada, is now available. It provides statistics on motor vehicle collisions and casualties for 2004, as well as historical information dating back to 1984.

ICBC improves road safety across the province.
Roadways across British Columbia have been made safer thanks to investments from ICBC. In 2005, ICBC invested more than $8.5 million in funding for studies and improvements to roads across the province.

Auto Insurance Rates for the Fourth Quarter of 2005: FSCO.
Ontario private passenger auto insurance approved rates decreased during the fourth quarter of 2005 (October 1, 2005 to December 31, 2005). In the fourth quarter of 2005, for the 23.77% of the market that had rate changes approved, the average rate change was -2.56%, when weighted by market share.

Distribution

New Business and Underwriting A Key to Advisor Satisfaction: Newlink.
Over the past months in our work with Distributors we've heard over and over that New Business and/or Underwriting just aren't working. This was highlighted in our Independent Financial Distributor Study and National Account Heads Survey in the summer as a key issue. NewLink Executive Consultant, Neil Silverman wanted to understand the why behind this issue, so he began talking to MGAs about this and other issues impacting MGAs.

One Hundred Reasons to Celebrate: Advocis kicks off Centennial Year.
January 17, 2005, Toronto - Advocis, The Financial Advisors Association of Canada, today officially kicks off the start of its centennial year with a formal gala tonight in Toronto. The elite of the financial services industry will gather at the elegant Liberty Grand to share fellowship, renew acquaintances and make new ones.

Policy and Product Management

European Policy Administration Systems 2005: Life Insurance and Pension Vendors Report Published by Celent.
London, United Kingdom, December 12, 2005 - Celent projects total spending on policy administration systems for European life insurance and pension vendors will reach $383 million by 2010 and profiles the vendors competing for market share in this growing market.

eBusiness and Technology

IDC Forecasts Continued Double-Digit Email Archiving Applications Market Growth Through 2009.
FRAMINGHAM, Mass., January 17, 2006 - Explosive expansion in email and email attachments combined with increased attention to regulatory compliance and corporate governance issues will continue to drive robust revenue growth of the worldwide email archiving application market. IDC estimates 2005 revenue will top $310 million worldwide, and grow at a compound annual growth rate of 34.5% through 2009.

Business of Insurance

New Swiss Re sigma study: M&A activity in life insurance expected to rise in coming years.
5 Jan 2006 CET - Consolidation in the global life insurance market is set to accelerate in the coming years. Underlying this trend is an increase in the capital available to life insurers. Cost-cutting and thriving equity markets have strengthened life insurers' balance sheets. Changes in life insurers' capital base, industry deregulation, globalisation, demutualization and expansion of bancassurance have shaped the corporate landscape in the past decade. These factors are likely to persist into the future.

Insurance Information Institute: Reforms Needed to Prepare for Major Catastrophes, USA Insurance CEOs Tell Forum.
New York, Jan.10, 2006 - Unless the nation changes the way it addresses major catastrophes, the next hurricane or earthquake will wreak far more economic devastation than Hurricane Katrina, insurance industry leaders told executives at the 10th annual Joint Industry Forum, held here.

Guy Carpenter Announces Findings from U.S. Reinsurance Renewals at January 1, 2006.
New York, January 6, 2006 - Guy Carpenter & Company, Inc., the leading global risk and reinsurance specialist and a part of the Marsh & McLennan Companies (NYSE: MMC), has published U.S. Reinsurance Renewals at January 1, 2006. This annual review of pricing, retentions and limits, capacity and terms and conditions covers the property, casualty, marine and offshore energy, accident and health and life and annuity lines of business.

Conning Research: Exit Imminent for Personal Lines Insurance "Also-Rans".
(Hartford, CT) January 9, 2005 - The dominant position of large market leaders combined with new marketplace developments will cause dozens of insurers to exit the personal property-casualty industry over the next few years, according to a new study by Conning Research and Consulting, Inc.

Reference and Statistics

Canadian Economic Outlook, January 2006: SwissRe.
The Canadian economy ended 2005 on a mixed note. Some of November's strength appeared to moderate December saw job losses and a decline in the trade surplus. Yet, fundamentally, the Canadian economy remains sound. The BoC is likely to raise its target rate to 4.0% by year-end, but the economy should continue to post around 3% real growth.

Managing Relationships and Customer Service

AIC captures third consecutive Dalbar Mutual Fund Service Award.
Monday, 09 January 2006 - AIC Group of Funds has earned Dalbar's 2005 Mutual Fund Service Award, marking the third consecutive year in which the Burlington-based company has been bestowed with this honour.

from Doug:

Has the face of federal politics in Canada just undergone a change? A new Prime Minister. A new leader of the Liberal party, sometime. Will we end up with a new resolve to have more effective leadership from the federal government, or are we doomed to the same old, same old? For the moment I choose to be an optimist, but it probably won't take much to return me to my somewhat cynical self.


Subscribe here or view past issues.