Issue 2006-32: August 8, 2006
Claims
MSB Streamlines Customer Support Efforts.
LOS ANGELES - August 1, 2006 - Marshall and Swift / Boeckh (MSB), the leading worldwide provider of building cost data and estimating technology to the property insurance industry, announces that to serve clients better it will soon take its customer support efforts to a higher level through some carefully planned organizational changes.
Symbility to offer Sinisoft customers mobile claims with the Sinisoft database.
WATERLOO, ONTARIO--(CCNMatthews - July 24, 2006) - Symbility Solutions Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Automated Benefits Corp., today is pleased to announce a commercial agreement with Sinisoft, a Quebec based claims estimation solution.
Allegient Systems introduces new version of Expense and Performance Management Suite.
Wilton, CT - August 1, 2006 - Allegient Systems, a leading software and service provider which continues to set the standard in legal expense and performance management, today announced the introduction of Version 5.4 of their Expense and Performance Management Suite. Already the insurance industry's most broadly utilized litigation management and legal bill review solution, the latest version of the system includes the addition of Self-Insured Retention functionality as well as enhanced rate navigation and filter settings, and an improved firm submission queue.
TIRF 43rd Annual General Meeting Presentations.
July 11, 2006 - TIRF hosted its 43rd Annual General Meeting on June 27, 2006 at the Bank of Montreal Building in Toronto, Ontario. Electronic copies of the presentations given at the AGM are now available.
AIR Worldwide Sponsors Groundbreaking Hurricane Research Effort.
BOSTON, Jul. 11, 2006 - AIR Worldwide Corporation (AIR) announced today that the company will sponsor research efforts by Texas Tech University to further scientific understanding of the detailed structure of hurricane winds over land. Texas Tech has designed and built a fleet of mobile observation platforms that can be quickly deployed in the path of an approaching hurricane. AIR's funding will enable Texas Tech to increase the number of platforms it can deploy for each storm.
Consumer Information
Protecting yourself during a hurricane: Safety tips from Royal & SunAlliance.
It isn't often that a hurricane severely impacts Canadians, however when the devastating storms maintain enough strength to hit north, they deliver quite a wallop. But, with a little preparation, you can protect your family, yourself and your home. Royal & SunAlliance, a leading home, auto and commercial insurer, has some advice on keeping safe.
Canadian Vehicle Enhancements To Be Made Through Agreements With Manufacturers: Transport Canada.
July 28, 2006 - OTTAWA - The Honourable Lawrence Cannon, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities, today announced the signing of three memoranda of understanding with 17 vehicle manufacturers. The agreements update a previously approved side-impact protection memorandum of
understanding, address compatibility between vehicles and promote proper seatbelt fit.
Informed Boaters are Safer Boaters: Canadian Safe Boating Council.
Boating is a great activity, whether you take to the water to paddle, sail, fish or cruise. Whatever your passion may be, the Canadian Safe Boating Council advises that learning how to boat safely will increase your enjoyment of boating.
Ontario WSIB Releases Preliminary Aggregate Premium Rate for 2007.
TORONTO, ONTARIO - July 31, 2006 - The WSIB has announced the 2007 preliminary aggregate premium rate for Schedule 1 employers. The WSIB plans to maintain the aggregate premium rate for 2007 at $2.26 per $100 of insurable earnings. This is unchanged from the 2006 aggregate premium rate. This decision comes after careful financial analysis, and numerous meetings and discussions with employers, workers and their representatives.
Wait Over for Canadian Truckers Hauling Hazardous Materials to the US.
(OTTAWA, July 26, 2006) -- The uncertainty over how to comply with US security requirements for hazardous materials loads that has been plaguing Canadian trucking companies, truck drivers importers and exporters for more than three years, came to an end today when the US Transportation Security Administration announced that as of August 10th, Canadian truck drivers entering the United States with hazardous materials loads will be required to be in possession of a FAST card.
Business of Insurance
Swiss Re sigma study on the worldwide insurance industry: attractive profitability in 2005, but moderate premium growth.
12 Jul 2006 CET No 5/2006 - In 2005, the worldwide insurance industry wrote premiums to the tune of USD 3 426 billion. According to a Swiss Re sigma study, life insurance grew by 3.9% and non-life by 0.6%. The 2003/04 trend towards improved capitalisation and profitability continued in 2005
in both life and non-life insurance.
Operational Risk Management: Ready to Leave the Launch Pad? Report Published by Celent.
London, United Kingdom - July 17, 2006 - Risk-driven regulatory initiatives, like Basel II and the
Sarbanes-Oxley Act, have significant momentum and are giving rise to new operational risk management practices. By nature, operational risk issues are broad and diverse, affecting such areas as security, fraud, anti-money laundering efforts, data/document management, financial reporting, compliance management, straight-through processing, outsourcing, disaster recovery, and business continuity.
Distribution
Hub International Acquires Post & Kurtz, Inc.
CHICAGO, August 2, 2006 - Hub International Limited (NYSE:HBG)(TSX:HBG) announced today the purchase of Post & Kurtz, Inc., an employee benefits insurance brokerage that specializes in serving law firms and other service entities. The company, formed in 1932, will become part of Hub International Northeast ("HUB Northeast"), based in New York City.
Marketing and the Market Place
Employers are moving away from traditional benefit plans according to a recent Eastbridge study.
AVON, CONNECTICUT, USA (July 18, 2006) - Changes in the healthcare and insurance industry have been building for many years. Employers are seeking to control their benefit costs and are shifting more decisions as well as more of the cost to employees. Employers are moving towards defined contribution benefits and towards more voluntary employee-pay-all benefits (as opposed to employer-funded benefits).
Students And Teachers Look To Digital Tools To Add "Flash" To School Work: Ipsos Reid for Hewlett Packard.
August 1, 2006 Toronto, ON - According to a new survey conducted by Ipsos Reid, on behalf of Hewlett Packard, most Canadian students and teachers agree that using digital tools helps students set their school work apart from their classmates (76% of students, 77% of teachers) and nearly all believe they "help students to gain an advantage when it comes to school work" (89% teachers and 92% students).
eBusiness and Technology
2006 Global Information Security Survey published by InformationWeek and Accenture, prompting increases in security spending in the coming year.
NEW YORK - July 10, 2006 - Data security breaches continue to vex the majority of business technology professionals from around the globe, even though most do not acknowledge their own vulnerability to malicious attacks, according to results of the 2006 Global Information Security Survey published today by InformationWeek and Accenture, prompting increases in security spending in the coming year.
from Doug:
I hope your Aug 1st weekend, I think a holiday weekend in most provinces, was a good one. We, with our two sons, have been enjoying the Rocky Mountain scenery from Banff to Jasper. On to Vancouver next, via Yoho Park, Kamloops etc., for a wedding next weekend.