Issue 2005-45: November 8, 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.




Policy and Product Management

Camilion Solutions Wins Company-to-Watch Recognition.
TORONTO, ON - October 31, 2005 - Camilion Solutions, the leading provider of product management solutions for the financial services industry, has been named to Deloitte's prestigious Companies-to-Watch award, the annual program that identifies the next generation of technology overachievers in conjunction with the Deloitte Technology Fast 50 awards program.

Business of Insurance

Standard Life confirms demutualisation and flotation plans.
MONTREAL, Oct. 17, 2005 - The Board of Standard Life today confirms that it intends to recommend to members that the Company should demutualise and list on the London Stock Exchange, subject to satisfactory completion of all legal, regulatory and other processes. Standard Life will be writing to its eligible members before the end of October 2005 asking them to confirm their policy and contact details to ensure they receive their demutualisation entitlement. Most eligible members would receive shares in place of their membership.

Conning Research: Life Insurers Suffer Continuing Decline in Gross Investment Returns.
(Hartford, CT) October 27, 2005 - Life insurers suffered a steep decline in gross investment returns over the last five years, led by falling interest rates as well as corporate defaults and rating agency downgrades in the early years of the period, according to a new study by Conning Research & Consulting, Inc.

Historic Meeting for The Co-operators Members in Quebec.
MONTREAL, Oct. 28, 2005 - The Co-operators Group Limited marked a milestone in its sixty year history as the inaugural Quebec Region Committee meeting of member-owners was convened today in Montreal.

Insurance Regulators Review Industry Practices: CCIR.
(TORONTO) October 28, 2004 - The Canadian Council of Insurance Regulators (CCIR) and the Canadian Insurance Services Regulatory Organizations (CISRO) have established a committee to ensure a coordinated national approach to regulators' review of insurance practices regarding the relationship between intermediaries and insurance companies.

The Canaccord Immigrant Investor Program team joins ranks with the Industrial Alliance Trust Inc. Immigrant Investor Program team in the wake of Leduc & Associates earlier this year.
MONTREAL, Oct. 25, 2005 - The Canaccord Capital Corporation (Canaccord) Immigrant Investor Program team is pleased to announce that it is joining ranks with the Immigrant Investor Program team at Industrial Alliance Trust Inc., a subsidiary of Industrial Alliance Insurance and Financial Services Inc. The Canaccord team will continue to serve its clients in association with members of the Leduc and Associates Securities Inc. (Leduc) Immigrant Investor Program team that joined forces with Industrial Alliance Trust Inc. earlier this year.

Kingsway Announces Acquisition of HI Holdings.
Toronto, Ontario (October 31, 2005) - Kingsway Financial Services Inc. today announced the closing of the previously announced acquisition of HI Holdings, Inc. for approximately U$25 million. The transaction includes HI's wholly owned Zephyr Insurance Company Inc.

CSIO Insurance Portal Status Update

Period ending Nov. 7, 2005:
Bay of Quinte Mutual Insurance has launched their Ontario Property rates on the Portal.

Distribution

New Eastbridge Study Finds Few Carriers Able to Drill Down on Worksite Marketing Measures.
AVON, CONNECTICUT, USA (October 6, 2005)-Keeping score is important whether it's in sports, education, business, etc. It's a simple way to evaluate success (or lack of success) and then to make any needed improvements. Unfortunately, in the worksite market, many players either can't keep score or only track the most basic of measures -� sales.

Consumer Information

Canada's home, car and business insurers announce sponsorship of Operation Red Nose in Alberta: Insurance Bureau of Canada.
The Insurance Bureau of Canada has announced a partnership with Safe Alberta Roads and Highways Association to give party-goers a safe ride home - gratis - this holiday season.

ICBC program gets results, stop sign study confirms � - ICBC working with cities to calm residential streets.
October 31, 2005 - A simple measure taken by ICBC and the cities of Vancouver and Burnaby is showing tremendous results in terms of road safety on some residential streets

IIHS: Audi, Ford, Subaru, and VW Cars Earn Good Ratings in Both Front and Side Crash Tests.
November 2, 2005 - ARLINGTON, VA - Three new or redesigned midsize cars earned "double best pick" designations for very good overall performance in both front and side tests conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. These top performers are the 2006 Audi A3, 2006 Volkswagen Passat, and 2006 Subaru Legacy. The 2005-06 Ford Five Hundred/Mercury Montego, a large car, earned good overall ratings in both tests but didn't earn the "best pick" designation in the side impact. The A3 is the third Audi to earn "double best pick."

Avoid Insurance Fraud in the Wake of Disaster: IIABA offers hints for consumers to protect themselves against fraud.
ALEXANDRIA, Va., Nov. 2, 2005-In the wake of Hurricane Katrina and in preparation for future disasters, the Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America (IIABA) is offering consumers tips on how to protect themselves against fraudulent contractors.

HUNTERS completes study of Directors Liability Insurance Limits for TSX companies.
TORONTO, Nov. 4, 2005 - HUNTERS announced today the completion of its first study of Directors & Officers Liability Insurance Limits disclosed by TSX companies. With the advent of Bill 198, directors, officers and trustees of Canadian publicly traded entities are increasingly concerned about their potential personal liabilities.

Marketing and the Market Place

Identity Theft Prevention: Reclaiming the Upper Hand: Report Published by Celent.
San Francisco, CA, October 20, 2005 - Estimates of identity theft are growing but financial institutions are now outfitted with new solutions to curb crime.

Product Announcements

Industrial Alliance launches an automatic investment rebalancing service in the scope of its group retirement plans.
QUEBEC CITY, Oct. 27, 2005 - The Industrial Alliance Insurance and Financial Services Inc. Group Pensions Division has just launched a method for the automatic rebalancing of investments, which is being promoted using the acronym MARI. In addition to allowing group retirement plan members to rebalance the allocation of their assets, MARI offers group retirement plan sponsors the possibility of creating tailored investment solutions that are specifically designed to meet the needs of their group.

Reference and Statistics

Commercial P/C Market Bracing For Katrina/Rita Impact, Council Market Survey Shows: CAIB.
Oct. 24, 2005 - WASHINGTON - Commercial insurance brokers from across the country say so far, the impact of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita has been minimal, but they are bracing for higher prices, reduced capacity, increases in deductibles and tighter terms and conditions for property/casualty coverage as a result of the devastating Gulf Coast storms.

Managing Relationships and Customer Service

CitiStreet's DC Plan Participant Web Site Wins DALBAR Seal of Excellence For Communications.
Boston, MA (October 28, 2005) - DALBAR, Inc. announced today that CitiStreet's DC plan participant web site, http://client.csplans.com, has been awarded the DALBAR Seal of Excellence for their Web site. The Seal is awarded to outstanding web sites that effectively and efficiently meet the needs of plan participants. Before awarding the seals, DALBAR conducts a series of tests on web sites' features, usability, support, currency and consistency to establish that it meets the principal objectives of its audience.

eBusiness and Technology

IDC: The Future of Enterprise Software: IDC Names Eight Macro-Trends Reshaping the Industry.
FRAMINGHAM, Mass., October 17, 2005 - In a new Insight, IDC detects repeating patterns of significance from the cavalcade of mergers, products, partnerships, and technologies on the enterprise software market radar. The competitive and high-IQ nature of software technology guarantees that the tide of significant advancements in the enterprise software industry will not likely be stemmed in the foreseeable future.

from Doug:

Over the last week we have visited branches of the heritage association I am involved with in both Montreal and Peterborough. It has been wonderful meeting so many people who share a common interest. What enthusiasm!
In Montreal our dinner was at the Black Watch Armories. The hosts presented "Year of the Veteran" lapel pins to all those attending. Do take a moment this Friday, Remembrance Day, to think about those who have fought, and fallen, to help provide us with what we have - "Lest we forget".


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