Issue 2005-38: September 20, 2005
This newsletter is for members of the Canadian Insurance Industry, and those who serve it. The newsletter is published weekly, and notes information mostly about the use of the Internet and related technologies in the industry. Some is international, where we feel it is relevant to Canada.
Claims
Third Collision Reporting Centre Opens in Hamilton - Accident Support Services International Ltd.
Accident Support Services International Ltd. and the Hamilton Police Service are pleased to announce the opening of a third location in Hamilton to Service the citizens in the Hamilton Mountain district. The success of the 2 existing Collision Reporting Centres prompted the expansion of services to a third location servicing Ancaster, Glanbrook/Binbrook, Flamborough and the Hamilton Mountain areas.
Gore Mutual Selects Symbility Solutions for Advanced Mobile Claims System: New System to be Rolled out Throughout Canada in September.
WATERLOO, ONTARIO - Aug. 31, 2005 - Symbility Solutions Inc. ( www.symbilitysolutions.com), a wholly owned subsidiary of Automated Benefits Corp., has reached a five-year agreement with Gore Mutual Insurance Company to adopt and rollout the Symbility mobile claims system for its property claims across Canada
MS/B Aids Hurricane Support with Storm Surge Databases.
Los Angeles September 13, 2005 -- Two new storm surge databases from Marshall and Swift / Boeckh (MS/B) are now available for download by users of the IntegriClaim(TM) property claims estimator. The total component databases for Fort Lauderdale and Miami, Florida are ready for download from MS/B's Web site, www.msbinfo.com. Databases for Pensacola and Panama City, Florida, and Mobile, Alabama, which were posted on MS/B's Web site shortly after Hurricane Dennis, have also been updated.
Crawford Adjusters Canada introduces Risk Management Services - Corporate Services division rebranded as Crawford Risk Management Services.
September 9, 2005 - KITCHENER - Glenn Gibson, chief executive officer of Crawford Adjusters Canada, announced today the rebranding of the firm's Corporate Services division as Crawford Risk Management Services. "The new name has been chosen to better reflect the range of services provided by this division, and to align it more closely with Crawford's global Risk Management Services operations," said Gibson. "As part of the rebranding initiative, Crawford's account supervisors will become client service managers, a title that better reflects their role in the organization."
Distribution
Transamerica Life Canada Selects Novinsoft Inc.
September 8, 2005 - PORT PERRY, ONTARIO - Novinsoft Inc – a leading developer of software for insurance and financial services firms -- announced that Transamerica Life Canada has selected Novinsoft's Illustration System Framework to provide Inforce Illustrations for their complete range of current and legacy Universal Life (UL) products.
Global IQX Selected by Industrial Alliance to Automate Group Benefits Sales Business.
September 14, 2005, Baltimore, MA, LIMRA International Group Benefits Conference --
Global IQX Inc., a specialist in component-based sales and service solutions for group benefits carriers, announced today that it has been selected by Industrial Alliance (IA), Canada's fifth largest life & health insurance company. IA will implement Global IQX automation solutions nationwide streamlining sales, underwriting and renewal processes.
Empire signs a loan distribution agreement with B2B Trust to offer clients maximum leveraged loan choice and flexibility.
Kingston, Ontario, September 8, 2005 - Empire Financial Group announced the signing of a new investment loan distribution agreement with B2B Trust to provide segregated fund loans to Empire clients who want to borrow to invest in their non-registered Empire policies. B2B Trust, a subsidiary of Laurentian Bank of Canada, will provide a comprehensive suite of loan options, including the popular 100% Accelerator Loan, which offers approved clients up to $100,000 with no money down, no margin call and interest-only payments.
Standard Life's Consolidated Retail Distribution Network Delivers its Full Range of Retail Products.
MONTREAL, Sept. 15, 2005 - The Standard Life Assurance Company of Canada announced today that it is optimizing the structure of its retail distribution network. It is consolidating its operation to offer a single point of contact for its complete suite of retail products with a focus on those target markets where it can provide consumers with both wealth management and protection solutions. The new structure will enable Standard Life to strengthen its relationships with key partners within the various retail distribution networks.
Consumer Information
Are you prepared for the next unpredictable storm? - Insurers' Financial Group.
Sept, 2005 - Late summer torrential rains in GTA are becoming as frequent and predictable as the U.S. hurricane season. The Peterborough flooding in summer 2004 and the most recent August rainstorm indicate that catastrophic losses are inevitable.Understanding what to do after a loss (individual or catastrophic) begins with developing a disaster recovery response before a loss.
ING Canada to compensate more than 2,400 Ontario clients as a result of August storms.
ING Canada Inc. announced that over 2,400 clients of its insurance subsidiaries in Ontario are being compensated for damage caused by severe thunderstorms that swept across Southern Ontario last August 19.
New TitlePLUS(R) program offers existing homeowners protection against title-related risks and fraud : LAWPRO.
TORONTO, Sept. 8, 2005 - Homeowners who want to protect the investment they've made in their home against certain issues that arise after closing -- and specifically against fraud -- can now secure title insurance protection for their home through the TitlePLUS OwnerEXPRESS(TM) program.
New insurance addresses needs of the small business owner - TitlePLUS(R) Commercial Coverage now available in Ontario.
TORONTO, Sept. 8, 2005 - Small business owners who want to protect their real estate interests -- as well as potentially reduce the costs associated with buying a commercial or industrial property -- can now secure TitlePLUS title insurance.
Business of Insurance
Kingsway announces acquisition of HI Holdings.
TORONTO, Sept. 12, 2005 - Kingsway Financial Services Inc. today announced that it has reached a definitive agreement to acquire HI Holdings, Inc. (HI). The transaction includes HI's wholly owned Zephyr Insurance Company Inc. (Zephyr). HI and Zephyr were formed in 2000 by its current shareholders. Subject to regulatory approval, HI and Kingsway expect the sale to close in the fourth quarter of this year.
Marketing and the Market Place
Canadian Online Ad Revenues Surpass Estimates - eMarketer.
SAN JUAN, PUERTO RICO (Aug. 30, 2005) - The acquisition and retention of loyal clients have become primary goals of top managers, according to a March 2004 study by Forbes and Gartner Group. For any typical company, the retention of profitable clients represents the potential for revenue and profit growth and the opportunity for future expansions. "The lack of retention strategies can become the main reason why earnings are diminishing for many companies," said Edward McDonald, marketing automation specialist of SAS, the leader in business intelligence solutions.
Can your business afford to lose a client? SAS understands the importance of client retention to fuel growth of companies.
SAN JUAN, PUERTO RICO (Aug. 30, 2005) - The acquisition and retention of loyal clients have become primary goals of top managers, according to a March 2004 study by Forbes and Gartner Group. For any typical company, the retention of profitable clients represents the potential for revenue and profit growth and the opportunity for future expansions. "The lack of retention strategies can become the main reason why earnings are diminishing for many companies," said Edward McDonald, marketing automation specialist of SAS, the leader in business intelligence solutions.
from Doug:
It is good to be home after a week's vacation, even if everyone else is absent. I just wish the to-do pile would shrink instead of grow while I am away.
I hope you have had a good summer; Fall arrives Thursday whether we are ready or not!