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.




Update on "Business Intelligence" Conference on March 5.

Karim Hirji, Director, Commercial Lines Research & Development, ING Canada has joined the panel discussion "Standards for Consistent, Accurate, and Timely Information".
Rogers Business Solutions is a new sponsor for the Conference.
The early bird fee has been extended one day until this evening Feb. 6, so if you are planning to attend, be sure to register before the cost increases tomorrow - for registration and more information on the Business Intelligence conference.




Policy and Product Management

Approaches for Policy System Conversions. No need to fear. - By Robert Symons, Tritech Financial Systems Inc.
Converting a book of business to a new system can be viewed by some as the riskiest part of a new system implementation. However, with proper time and resources, conversions need not be feared. They are all part of the system migration, which is to enable the company to improve its ROI and competitiveness. Each company needs to asses the cost, time and benefits, and if sufficient resources and time are allocated, success is manageable.

eBusiness and Technology

Will Technology Keep the Good Times Rolling for P/C Insurers? Report Published by Celent.
San Francisco, CA, USA, January 17, 2007 -- In a new report, Will Technology Keep the Good Times Rolling for P/C Insurers, Celent identifies the specific technology tools that have contributed to the first total industry underwriting profits the property/ casualty industry has seen in almost 30 years.

Business Intelligence Market Will Grow 10 Percent in EMEA in 2007 According to Gartner.
STAMFORD, Conn., January 30, 2007 - Business Intelligence (BI) platform revenue will grow 10 percent in Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) in 2007 to reach 1.5 billion Euros, according to Gartner, Inc. BI platform revenue will grow at an annual compound growth rate (CAGR) of 9.7 percent to reach 1.9 billion Euros in 2010.

Canadian Company, OneMove Technologies, Launches Ground-Breaking Insurance To Protect U.K. Homebuyers.
VANCOUVER, Jan. 25, 2007 - A technology-driven company signed an agreement with one of England's pre-eminent insurance brokers to sell its Canadian-invented insurance to beleaguered British homebuyers.

Crossing Frontiers in Business-to-Business Electronic Payments: Report Published by Celent.
San Francisco, CA, USA, January 11, 2007 - The migration to electronic payments for B2B transactions has been far from a gold rush. Nevertheless, the frontier shows promise and more pioneers are willing to blaze a trail. As a result, Celent predicts that B2B e-payments will pass the halfway adoption mark by 2012.

Business of Insurance

Great-West Lifeco Announces Agreement to Acquire Putnam.
MONTREAL, Feb. 1, 2007 - Power Financial Corporation's subsidiary company, Great-West Lifeco today announced that it will acquire the asset management business of Putnam Investments Trust and The Great-West Life Assurance Company will acquire Putnam's 25 per cent interest in T.H. Lee Partners.

Swiss Re sigma study shows: Robust insurance development in emerging markets and opportunities in agricultural insurance.
25 Jan 2007 CET - Growth in insurance business in emerging markets continued to outperform in 2005. Strong economic fundamentals and further liberalisation will ensure continued robust growth in the coming years. Agricultural insurance is largely underdeveloped, even though agriculture remains a key sector in many emerging economies. Agricultural insurance schemes, at times leveraging on public-private initiatives, can provide more economic security to the agricultural community and support the sector's development.

Insurance in the Community

Crawford Cares Raises $50,000 for WICC.
TORONTO - Crawford Adjusters Canada's employees were proud to present a cheque in the amount of $50,000 to the Women in Insurance Cancer Crusade (WICC) at a reception in WICC's honour on Thursday, January 25, 2007 in downtown Toronto. Since its inception in 2004, Crawford Cares has raised over $150,000 for WICC.

Consumer Information

Desjardins Survey: Planning to ride into the sunset at retirement with your spouse?
Toronto, January 22, 2007 -- Many workers dream of exotic travel alongside their spouse or partner when they envision their life in retirement, but according to a recent retirement survey by Desjardins Financial Security, close to three-quarters (72%) of couples surveyed indicated they will not be able to retire in the same year as their spouse.

InsureMyTrip.ca adds etfs to roster of insurance providers.
InsureMyTrip.ca, an on-line resource for comparing and purchasing travel insurance in Canada, has announced the addition of etfs, one of Canada's largest providers of travel and health insurance products, to its line-up of insurance company providers.

February is auto crime enforcement month in British Columbia.
During this month, the provincial government, police, and the Insurance Corporation of British Columbia (ICBC) are working together to reduce auto crime through a number of innovative initiatives.

Distribution

Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. Signs Agreement to Acquire Lowndes Lambert Group Canada, Ltd.
ITASCA, Ill., Jan. 29, 2007 -- Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. (NYSE: AJG) today announced the signing of a definitive agreement to acquire the Lowndes Lambert Group Canada, Ltd. headquartered in Toronto, Ontario. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. The transaction is expected to close mid-February, 2007.

Industry Confidence in Voluntary Market is Up Again According to a Survey by Eastbridge Consulting Group.
AVON, CONNECTICUT, USA (January 11, 2007)-The latest results of Eastbridge Consulting Group's Voluntary Industry Confidence Index survey show that those in the industry are more positive about the future for the industry in 2007 than in 2006. According to the survey, the index is at 102.3, which is an increase over the mid-year 2006 results.

Product Announcements

Travelers Launches New Mineral Exploration Policy for Junior Mining Companies
VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA, January 30, 2006 - A new policy designed to give improved protection to mineral exploration companies was introduced today by Travelers Guarantee Company of Canada ("Travelers") at the annual "Mineral Exploration Roundup 2007" symposium in Vancouver, British Columbia. The Roundup is the largest technical mineral exploration conference in the world and is hosted annually by the Association for Mineral Exploration British Columbia (AMEBC).

Bank of Montreal Manulife Investments Protected Deposit Notes, Total Return Class and R.O.C. Class(TM) now available.
TORONTO, Jan. 29, 2007 - Canadian investors can benefit from two new classes of principal protected investments that generate potential returns based on the performance of two mutual funds.

Managing Relationships and Customer Service

BMO Mutual Funds wins 2006 Dalbar Mutual Fund Service Award.
Tuesday, 09 January 2007-- Dalbar announced today that Toronto-based BMO Mutual Funds has captured the company's 2006 Mutual Fund Service Award, given to the Canadian mutual fund company that provides the best overall service to its investors over the calendar year.

from Doug:

For those into history, we had a fascinating presentation on the weekend on Loyalist clothing and fashions in Canada in the period following the American Revolution. As the economy was shattered, for several years many had only the clothes they made from flax they grew for linen or from wool from the farm sheep (cotton came from China or India and far too costly for most). In either case there was easily two weeks of labour involved in a shirt or big apron. Compared to today when little more than an hour's labour will typically buy the same - no wonder changes of clothing were few, and items of clothing were worn out, and then reused. How fortunate we are.


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