SUM Insurance

SUM = 13

We're celebrating our thirteeth birthday!


Your Solution for Hospitality Insurance

SUM offers Liquor Liability coast to coast for establishments ranging from fine dining, to sports bars, and everything in between. Combined with our in house property facilities, SUM is your one stop shop for all of your clients insurance needs.


New Calgary Location

To strengthen our commitment and serviceoffering in Western Canada, we are excited to announce our new Calgary location.


SUM=Construction

Try SUM for all your project specific insurance. We have assembled a suite of coverages addressing the Construction sectors needs, and our deeply experienced specialists can offer terms in real time, the only time that matters to you and your clients! SUM offers Wrap-Up Liability, Course of Construction (Builders Risk) and Project Specific EIL Covers.

WRAP- UP LIABILITY:

Our wrap-up facility is written by some of the most experienced project underwriters in Canada, harnessing best of class capacity to our broad in-house expertise driven appetite, with few restricted classes. We specialise in building construction– including residential and condo/strata, commercial, industrial and institutional. We have the ability to write civil and infrastructure projects, including but not limited to bridge and road construction. We can offer limits up to 25M on any given project on a primary and/or excess basis, with competitive terms and conditions including liberal extended reporting periods.

SECURITY: Various first class licensed insurers

CONTACT:

In Toronto: Dan Lopes, Brian Tompkins

In Montreal: Annick DeChamplain, Guillaume Saindon

COURSE OF CONSTRUCTION:

We specialize in the unusual and smaller projects that most markets forget. We can offer up to $5M in capacity using our domestic carrier pool for a wide array of projects, from sea to sea to sea– including wood frame and remote locations. Sorry, we are unable to help on bridges, docks or wharves, wood frame over 4 stories or blanket COC’s.

SECURITY:

Aviva, Everest Canada, Sovereign General and
Trisura Guarantee Company

CONTACT:

In Toronto: Bob Bousfield

In Montreal: Brigitte Roussel

PROJECT SPECIFIC EIL:

Our best of class EIL underwriting team offers cover to a wide range of operations including general contracting, real estate developers, road construction and asbestos and mould remediation. Our offering is on a Claims made form, Occurrence form available on risk merits. We can offer up to $10M in limits with minimum premiums starting at $3,500 EIL form (Gradual) and $2,500 PIL form (S&A) for terms up to 36 months (with an additional 36 month completed operations extension available on our EIL gradual product). Sorry, we exclude contracting outside of Canada.

SECURITY:

Lloyds, Everest Canada, Sovereign General,
Definity Insurance Company and Liberty Mutual Canada

CONTACT:

In Toronto: Christine Nauth

In Montreal: Guillaume Saindon




SUM = 10

We're celebrating our tenth birthday!


SUM PROPERTY APPETITE UPDATE

As the commercial property market experiences unprecedented capacity restrictions, we want to update you on our current property capacity, competency and appetite. Please do not hesitate to contact any member of our property team to discuss your placement needs, but please do note our areas of competency and success, as well as constraints and restrictions below.

USUAL TERMS OF TRADE:

  • Our capacity varies by risk characteristics but less than $5,000,000 is our usual appetite;
  • $2,500 minimum premium;
  • 15% commission;
  • policy fees may apply

TARGET:

SPECIAL and NON-STANDARD RISKS such as

  • PLASTICS - sales, manufacturing, recycling
  • WOODWORKERS - cabinet, furniture, boats, truss, pallet BUT NOT wood recycling
  • HOSPITALITY - motels, hotels, restaurants, cafés, pubs, bars, nightclubs, exotic
  • MANUFACTURERS - Furniture, machine shops, rubber products, low hazard chemicals
  • CANNABIS - landlords, cultivators, processors, micro-cannabis, retail, product manufacturers
  • VACANT - including fire damaged and industrial

WITHIN APPETITE SUBJECT TO RISK PARTICULARS:

Where being non-renewed by Standard Market

  • REALTY - apartments, townhouses, resorts, campgrounds, hangars
  • RETAIL SERVICES - Retail plazas, Auto and motorsports sales
  • HEALTHCARE - retirement homes, special needs residences, spas, shelters
  • RECYLING - scrap metal, plastics, electronics, bottle and glass
  • COURSE OF CONSTRUCTION - remote locations, partially started, smaller projects
  • INLAND MARINE - CONTRACTORS - general, electrical, etc including stand alone equipment schedules, installation floaters
  • NEW VENTURES - R & D, start ups, proto-types
  • SUBSCRIPTION POLICIES (non-lead subject to best terms- no split rating) commercial, industrial, and small property schedules
  • RECREATION - curling rinks, indoor playgrounds, bowling alleys, zip lines, indoor golf

SORRY, WE CANNOT WRITE:

  • FORESTRY, BIOMASS, SAWMILLS
  • FARMS, FEED MILLS, CROP COVERAGE, FISH PROCESSING
  • OIL AND GAS, MINING, PAPER & WOOD RECYCLING
  • AUTO WRECKERS, RUBBER RECLAIMING, GOLF COURSES, PUBLIC STORAGE
  • CHURCHES, MARINAS, DAMS, PIERS
  • BAILEE COVERAGE, FINE ARTS
  • FIREWORKS, EXPLOSIVES, GUNS OR AMMUNITION, AIRBORNE OR WATERBOURNE EQUIPMENT RAILROAD ROLLING STOCK
  • PERSONAL LINES - RENTED OR HIGH VALUE DWELLINGS
  • GREENHOUSES
  • SUBSCRIPTION RISKS > $50MM TIV, PROPERTY SCHEDULES > 5 LOCATIONS
  • USA LOCATIONS, EXCESS PROPERTY LAYERS
  • BLANKET COC, OR ANY WOOD FRAME > 4 STOREYS

We continue to underwrite each risk on its merits. A complete submission, including a narrative on the marketing situation of the account and goals of your marketing effort, are key contributions to our underwriting process.Thank you as always for your support and collaboration.




SUM JOINS ONE80 INTERMEDIARIES

SUM Insurance

Established in 2011, SUM Insurance possesses full authority on our various underwriting subscriptions, which utilize first class security committed to our business model. When you contact us you are working with a decision-maker empowered to make decisions in real time, the only time that matters to you! We offer competitive commissions and best of class service. In addition to SUM's in-house authority we maintain wholesale relationships with a broad group of insurance markets, providing best-in-class products and services to their brokers and clients. SUM is licensed in every province and territory in Canada and does not require broker contracts or volume commitments.

Effective August 1st of this year, SUM has joined One80 Intermediaries. Based in Boston, MA One80 is a highly focused wholesale brokerage and program manager providing specialized insurance solutions with expertise in marine, transportation, property, casualty, financial lines, medical stop loss, and personal lines. Reinforced by best-in-class intellectual capital, One80's entrepreneurial culture allows it design programs to meet the needs of its brokers and clients, providing an innovative approach to risk.

The two firms value propositions and animating ethos are very congruent- they are each the fastest growing specialty market in their respective countries, and have now joined forces to deliver further innovation and deploy resources together.

“One80 has rapidly expanded throughout the United States and we look forward to establishing an international footprint with Strategic Underwriting Managers,” said Matthew F. Power, President of One80 Intermediaries. “SUM and One80 uphold a similar entrepreneurial culture and strategic long-term vision. With that we are confident that together, we will further support our brokers on both sides of the border.”

“We have full authority on each of the programs we underwrite and are proud of the long relationships with each company with whom we trade. In joining One80 we look forward to developing additional capacity, and introducing new products and innovations into Canada,” said Jeff Somerville, President at Strategic Underwriting Managers. Inc.

About SUM Insurance
With offices in Toronto, Montreal, and Lachine, QC, SUM works collaboratively with best-in-class insurers and reinsurers to design, underwrite and deliver market leading insurance products to brokers throughout Canada. For more information visit www.suminsurance.ca.

One80 Intermediaries
One80 Intermediaries is a privately held, national firm with offices across the country. As a leading U.S. insurance wholesaler and program manager, the company offers placement services and binding authority for property & casualty, financial lines, personal lines, and medical stop loss risks. One80 serves commercial companies, non-profits, public entities, and individuals, and has access to all major insurance markets in the US and UK. Coverage spans all industry classes. One80 has offices in more than 20 locations nationwide including Boston, New York City, Chicago, Miami, Atlanta, Houston, Dallas, Nashville, San Diego, and Seattle. For more information visit www.one80intermediaries.com.




SUM's MARKET LEADING LIFESCIENCES PROGRAMME SUPPLEMENTED WITH PROPERTY AND BUSINESS INTERRUPTION COVERAGES – including for MMPR Licensed Medical Marijuana Producers!

We are pleased to offer a companion Commercial Property policy in support of our market leading Life Sciences casualty offerings. Features include:

FOR NON MMPR RISKS we offer limits up to $10 Million on our broad coverage form that goes beyond ordinary business requirements in easy to understand policy language. Our forms tackle your client's diverse needs, and include POED, Quake, Flood and SBU, and a coverage enhancement endorsement providing extensive extensions ( including Crime, Newly acquired building & contents, A.R., valuable papers, Property in Transit, Installation Floater, Extra Expense, Pollution Clean Up, and more! )

- Minimum premium $500
- Security – Northbridge Insurance Company

FOR MMPR (Marijuana for Medical Purposes Regulations)– Licensed Producers we can offer limits up to $40 Million on a broad coverage form specifically designed for Grow operations. Our facility can offerBroad form coverage including business interruption, Greenhouse cover if walls and roof are made of rigid material, and Stock coverage offer on a Fair Settlement Basis.

- Security – Economical Insurance Company
- Minimum Premium $5,000

Please contact Connie Peplinskie (connie.peplinskie@suminsurance.ca) for more information.




SUM = 5

Time flies when you are having FUN- we are celebrating our fifth birthday on March 1, 2016!

Thanks to the support of our customers, suppliers, service providers and families, SUM has grown to include 36 people in 3 offices – who underwrite over a dozen products insured by 8 different insurance markets!

This past year has been transformative for SUM as more tremendously talented people joined the Firm, including Shaun Friel , Troy Bourassa, Allie Chan, Jackie Jordan, Anie Charbonneau, and Merlyn Maano. We also welcomed the Morin Elliott team to the fold. This addition in Quebec added their specialist property offerings to our product suite - which we will soon roll out in the rest of Canada to fulfill this burgeoning gap in the marketplace.

Thank you, as always, to all of you who enable us to continue our mission- to bring service to opportunity, and capacity to expertise. We welcome opportunity and feedback of any sort - so please touch base often!




SUM RENEWABLE ENERGY INSURANCE PROGRAMME

The renewable energy sector is here to stay and poised for explosive growth as Canada looks to balance energy demand with sustainability.

Already a world leader in wind and solar generation, Canada is expected to outperform global installation rates for the foreseeable future. These sources are supplemented with biogas and hydro, together forming the future of Canada's energy strategy. Become part of the solution using SUM's best of class Renewable Energy Programme.

SUM has partnered with deeply experienced Underwriters insuring a vast network of renewable energy installations. Our programme can tackle your clients' needs from transit, to installation, to operation- with a package or mono-line solution offering broad insuring agreements, flexible underwriting appetite and unsurpassed capacity. All in real time, the only time that matters to you.

Please click here for full programme details




SUM=ME

Click here for details!




SUM=4

We can't believe we're a year older, even as we welcome the 17th, 18th and 19th members of our team and deepen our product offerings.

We enjoyed tremendous growth in 2014, and thank our customers, suppliers and staff for all of their support and effort.

In the process we have been able to add more to the mix for 2015 and years to come.

We are pleased to announce Younes Bounafaa and Dusan Ivkovic joining our Montreal office. Younes brings his deep experience and impressive credentials from ESR to SUM, and will focus on our EIL product offerings to start. Dusan worked several years at an international brokerage and is now involved in Underwriting Primary CGL and Excess/Umbrella. We are thrilled to welcome both their talents and energy to our team, please join us in welcoming Younes and Dusan!

Meanwhile Ussha Nadarajah has joined our Toronto accounting team . Welcome aboard Ussha!

But that's only part of what we have developing at SUM.

Effective January 1 2015 we deepened our Product Recall offering, partnering with a Lloyds syndicate dedicated to "hard" good recall and product guarantee exposure- including a global appetite for parts and components including auto and aviation exposure. Please see Product Recall for full details of this enhanced offering.

Also new is our Renewable Energy offering. Our combined product includes Marine, Builders Risk, Property, Business Interruption and Liability insurances, suiting all manner of renewable energy projects -from Wind to Solar, hydro to biogas. We can cover the life of a project through all its phases- from transit, to construction to operation . We can report great success with this offering- please contact jeff.somerville@suminsurance.ca in Toronto or serge.melanson@suminsurance.ca in Montreal for full product details.

Meanwhile we are proud to announce partnerships with Sovereign General (joining our Umbrella & Excess and Security programmes) and Northbridge (growing our Marine offerings).

Thank you to all of you who enable us to continue our mission- to bring service to opportunity, and capacity to expertise. We welcome opportunity and feedback of any sort - so please touch base often!




Connie Peplinskie joins SUM!

We worked with Connie for many years in the past, and we're thrilled to announce that Connie Peplinskie, CIP, has joined the Company as Assistant Vice President, Toronto!

Prior to joining SUM, Connie was the Vice President and CGL Department Manager for a major Canadian specialty carrier, with over 20 years of casualty underwriting experience in the MGA space. She will join our growing Primary General Liability practice in Toronto which includes General Liability, Security & Protection and Lifescience products.

Please see SUM Insurance Team for details of Connie's background and contact information.




JULY 1 2014 NEW ENVIRO CONSULTANTS E&O PROGRAMME COMPLEMENTS SUM PRODUCT SUITE

Environmental Consultants ought to be insured by Underwriters who understand their complex services, and the risks inherent in them. In other words, an insurer who speaks their language.

Our deeply experienced team can interpret your clients' needs, and is your competitive advantage in serving Environmental Consultants and Engineers. Our appetite runs the range of exposure this class presents, including but not limited to Phase I to IV reports , remedial investigation, feasibility and design studies, tanks systems, project management, testing, lab analysis, surveying, air quality testing, regulatory consults and many more endeavours. Coverage can be tailored to fit with other important segments of an environmental risk's insurance program, such as standalone pollution or companion Commercial General Liability policies - all available thru SUM!

We offer best of class coverage to match our expertise. Features include:

  • Up to $5M capacity with easy access to more
  • Claims made form (broad claims made wording) including defense expenses - defence in addition to limits available!
  • Environmental exclusions amended for professional services
  • Automatic extending reporting period 30 days (option for up to 36 months)
  • Prior Acts available

Automatic extensions for :

  • Loss of documents
  • Libel And Slander
  • Breach of copyright
  • Dishonesty of employees
  • Breach of Confidentiality
  • Innocent Insured
  • Joint Venture
  • Reputation Protection
  • Computer Coverage
  • Intellectual Property Rights Infringement
  • Cyber Risks (Computer Virus and Hacking Attack)

Security

Company Security Rating
Lloyds 60% A
Everest Canada 20% A+
Economical 20% A-

Contact

rick.degrace@suminsurance.ca (Toronto)
serge.melanson@suminsurance.ca (Montreal)




New Team Members!

We are pleased to announce several new members of the SUM Team.

Over the past few months, Irwin Ginsler, Gabriela Gasevic, Connie Lastoria and Maria Perdikis have joined us in Toronto. We worked for many years with Irwin in our past and welcome him back to the fold. Gabriela has developed many skills in her role at a major Toronto law firm that she brings to us here. Connie comes to us from a competitor and possesses deep experience in casualty underwriting. Maria brings her customer service and accounting background to our receivables department.

Please see SUM Insurance Team for complete details of our new colleague's background and contact information.




Monteal Office Has Moved!!

We are happy to announce that May 1st, 2014 the Montreal office doubled its space by moving to:

1001 De Maisonneuve Blvd. West, Suite 900
Montreal, Quebec
H3A 3C8

Your ongoing support has allowed us to move to this more spacious and modern office in an effort to provide better service! Please drop in for a visit when you are in the area!!

As always, we are interested in hearing of your challenges and opportunities, please continue to keep in touch with us, we will add value to your propositions!




Look who just turned 3!

Another year has flown by and we hardly had time to pause and take note!

Driven by the support of our customers, underwriters and many service providers we surpassed many milestones in year 3, setting the stage for more growth in the next 3 years.

2014 is off to an exciting start. We are pleased to announce Irwin Ginsler has joined the firm, becoming the 14th member of the SUM team. Please join us in welcoming Irwin- we worked together for many years in the past and we at SUM are thrilled to be working together again. Irwin will focus on our E&O/D&O offering from our Toronto office. Meanwhile our Montreal office is on the verge of finalizing a move to larger premises, to accommodate our growth in that city. Stay tuned for more developments as the year unfolds.

Thank you to all of you who enable us to continue our mission- to bring service to opportunity, and capacity to expertise. We welcome opportunity and feedback of any sort - so please touch base often. So far so good!




SUM Increases Umbrella & Excess capacity to $35,000,000

Building on our success in 2013, we are pleased to announce an increase in our Umbrella and Excess capacity to an unprecedented $35,000,000.00 effective Jan. 1 2014. Working collaboratively our Underwriters have granted SUM one of the largest line capacities in Canada. We can fill even your most demanding Umbrella and Excess placement needs with high quality, flexible capacity and top notch service. Please contact Stan Lam in Toronto or Serge Melanson in Montreal for more information.




SUM launches exclusive LifeSciences product

In collaboration with specialist intermediaries and underwriters, SUM brings an unprecedented combination of expertise driven flexibility, competitiveness and service to this challenging segment. Our product is aimed at a wide range of risks, from pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies to medical products, from health foods and ingredient producers and distributors to research and development companies, and far more.

Coverage is available on virtually all classes of risk on a worldwide coverage basis- including the United States. Our product combines various casualty insuring agreements in a menu format, where we work with you to tailor coverage to your clients needs efficiently and consistently - including General liability, Products liability, ClinicalTrials Liability, and Errors and Omissions coverage.

Trust your most complex and challenging LifeScience placements to SUM; we are confident we can add value to your efforts! In Toronto contact Jeff Somerville, in Montreal Travis Budd.




SUM Launches Security and Protection Industry Programme Oct. 1 2013

SUM has assembled broad coverage, quality capacity and industry leading expertise together to solve even your most challenging protection industry placements. Our bundle of CGL, Professional, Property & Crime coverage is the most flexible in the country, backed by best of class security and delivered in real time by our deeply experienced and empowered Underwriters. We can write these coverages mono-line or as a package to meet your needs. Try us today - we want to earn your Security client's business. In Toronto please contact Mary Georgas, in Montreal Serge Melanson.




SUM Increases Umbrella & Excess Capacity to $15,000,000

We are excited to increase the in-house capacity of our Umbrella & Excess programme to $15,000,000.00 as we welcome Lloyds' Underwriters to the programme, who join our current subscribers Aviva Canada, International Insurance Company of Hannover and Everest Canada. The capacity increases our value proposition in all segments of the Excess marketplace, from the smallest and toughest risk to the largest excess tower. Practice Leader Stan Lam notes that "the products success in the marketplace supports the increase in limit". Please contact Stan Lam in Toronto or Serge Melanson in Montreal for more information.




More Growth at SUM!!

We are pleased to announce that André Charbonneau has joined the team in our Montreal office. André is a great addition to the group, bringing with him many years of liability experience. Talking about underwriting experience, SUM collectively now has over 220 years of underwriting experience between the two offices!

Please see SUM Insurance Team for details of André's background and contact information.




Economical Insurance receives inaugural "A- (Excellent)" financial strength rating from A.M. Best

WATERLOO, ON, June 21, 2013 - Economical Insurance received its inaugural financial strength rating from independent rating agency A.M Best today. This rating of A- (Excellent) provides a further reinforcement of the company's excellent financial strength and significantly improved financial performance. Waterloo Insurance Company also received an A- (Excellent) rating. The outlook for both ratings is stable.

"I am pleased to be able to announce this important achievement" said Karen Gavan, Economical's president and chief executive officer. "This globally-recognized rating independently underscores Economical's significant financial strength. This rating will reinforce our broker partners' confidence in recommending Economical to their customers which will contribute further opportunities for profitable growth."

In its rating announcement, A.M. Best acknowledged the company's focused marketing and branding strategies, disciplined underwriting philosophy and pricing segmentation, solid risk-adjusted capitalization, historically positive operating performance, diversified product offerings and established Canadian market presence nationally.

The rating provides the company with increased opportunities for quoting in situations where an A.M. Best rating is a minimum requirement. Economical Insurance pursued the rating as part of its targeted profitable growth strategy in commercial insurance accounts and in Economical Select, its personal insurance group offering.

SUM Insurance is proud to partner with Economical on several of our product lines. See the Market Security section of our Products for details.




Growth at SUM

Your support has enabled us to Grow - in more ways than one!

We're excited to occupy additional space at our Toronto office. We appreciate your patience as we worked through the construction process- a few wrinkles along the way but the new space looks and feels great! The expansion more than doubled our floor space, allowing us to accommodate our new colleagues, Mary Georgas and Ashley Estwick.

We're more than excited to welcome Mary and Ashley. Their skills and experience will be a great addition to the SUM value proposition - underwriting service in real time.

In the meantime, Dora Mastrodomenico joined our Montreal office in April of this year. We worked with Dora for many years in the past, and are very happy to work with her again!

Please see SUM Insurance Team for details of Mary, Ashley and Dora's backgrounds and contact information.




We're celebrating our second birthday, March 1, 2013!

Time flies when you are having fun!

We can hardly believe it has been 2 years since we opened our doors, nor can we believe how much activity has come through them since then. We have enjoyed a great second year of operation, buoyed by the support and encouragement we receive from you. Thank you to all of our stakeholders- from our customers, to underwriters, to the many other service providers that make SUM possible and enable us to keep delivering on our mission- to bring service to opportunity, and capacity to expertise.

Thanks to the success your support has brought, we have much on the go. Recently we introduced our Clinical Trial and Product Recall facilities, which shortly will be joined by Directors & Officers Liability. And we have just become licensed to underwrite Accident policies- a line we will launch in the near future. In the next few months we'll be expanding our premises in Toronto to accommodate our growing underwriting company. As of today, March 1st, we welcome the Everest Insurance Company of Canada as an underwriter on our Umbrella & Excess programme. Everest Insurance is rated A+ (Superior) by A.M. Best. We are thrilled that Everest has joined our accompaniment of underwriting partners (for more information, please see Markets under the Home tab).

We remain, as always, interested in new ideas and challenges that offer the chance of creating lasting value to our industry. Please keep in touch and check in with us often!




SUM Launches Product Recall Insurance Programme

On February 13, 2013 SUM hosted a seminar given by Adam Parsons of the Ark Syndicate at Lloyds to launch our new Product Recall facility. Adam is the most experienced Recall Underwriter in the London market and the recognized leader in this line of insurance. SUM is proud to distribute Ark Recall Insurance in Canada. You can read the presentation slides here or view our full details on our coverage under the Products section of our website.




A.M. Best Upgrades Ratings of Hannover Rueckversicherung AG and Its Subsidiaries

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - LONDON, SEPTEMBER 05, 2012

A.M. Best Europe - Rating Services Limited has upgraded the financial strength rating (FSR) to A+ (Superior) from A (Excellent) and issuer credit rating (ICR) to "aa-" from "a+" of Hannover Rueckversicherung AG (Hannover Re) (Germany) and its subsidiaries. At the same time, A.M. Best has upgraded the debt ratings of Hannover Finance (Luxembourg) S.A. (Luxembourg), which are either issued or guaranteed by Hannover Re. The outlook for all ratings has been revised to stable from positive. (See below for a detailed listing of all companies and ratings.)

In accordance with Regulation (EC) No. 1060/2009, the following is a link to required disclosures: A.M. Best Europe - Rating Services Limited Supplementary Disclosure.

A.M. Best Europe - Rating Services Limited is a subsidiary of A.M. Best Company. Founded in 1899, A.M. Best Company is the world's oldest and most authoritative insurance rating and information source.

View a list of companies related to this press release. The list will include Best's Ratings along with links to additional company specific information including related news and reports.



Insurancewest Magazine Feature

SUM Insurance is featured in the May 2012 edition of Insurancewest Magazine. Read the article here.




birthday

SUM = 1

We're celebrating our first birthday, March 1, 2012!

And what a year its been! We've been busy collaborating with all facets of the insurance industry in our drive to create and deliver sustainable value.

In this endeavour we have built and launched the programmes and underwriting facilities described throughout our website.

We are proud and humbled by the support we have received from our customers, our underwriters and the many suppliers and supporters of our firm, which have enabled this success in every way.

The energy and effort of these many people has allowed us to bring service to opportunity, capacity to expertise; and a first year result exceeding our expectations by almost every measure!

Most importantly this is just the start; we believe this collaboration has laid the foundation for many years to come. Our pipeline is full of exciting new initiatives and products, which we look forward to launching over the coming year. We remain, as always, interested in new ideas and challenges. Please keep in touch and check in with us often!




Along with approximately 100 customers and key suppliers, SUM celebrated its first anniversary March 1 with Moroccan flair at the Sultan's Tent in Toronto.

The celebration continued on March 21st when the Montreal office hosted their cocktail with friends and colleagues from Quebec and the Maritimes at Boccacinos.

party


PRESS RELEASE - NOV 15, 2011

NEW PARTNERSHIPS AND NEW PRODUCTS

We are proud to announce new partnerships with several first class insurers, which enable us to bolster our current product suite with our new Environmental Impairment Liability and Marine & Logistic programs, while at the same time strengthening our existing Commercial General Liability, Professional Liability and Umbrella & Excess facilities.

Our EIL programme, which commenced trading on November 1st, brings SUM Insurance's underwriting team together with the first class security of ACE Canada, Economical Mutual Insurance Company, Jevco Insurance Company and Lloyds Underwriters. EIL Practice lead Rick DeGrace said "our underwriters have empowered us with broad authorities to efficiently serve you- we want to be your first and last stop for competent environmental advice and coverage". Our in-house capacity is $10 Million and we write on a variety of coverage forms.

Meanwhile SUM Insurance is pleased to welcome David St. Martin to the fold. David is based in Toronto and brings decades of experience and expertise in the Marine & Logistics segment. Our offering covers a wide spectrum, from international and domestic Cargo covers to Marine liabilities including Load Brokers and Freight Forwarders E&O. David continues his long relationship with ACE Canada in this segment.

Effective November 15, 2011, Economical Mutual Insurance Company, International Insurance Company of Hannover Limited and Zurich Insurance Company Ltd will be joining Aviva Canada on our Commercial General Liability Programme. These partners work collaboratively with SUM Insurance and each other to deliver an underwriting facility capable of solving your CGL placement challenges. Serge Melanson of our Montreal office notes "we believe our underwriting pool provides the most flexible and sustainable approach to the market segments we focus on."

Finally, we are excited to increase the in-house capacity of our Umbrella & Excess programme to $20 Million, as we welcome International Insurance Company of Hannover Limited and Lloyds' Underwriters to the program, who join Aviva Canada. Stan Lam, practice leader, said "these new markets not only add to our line capacity but aid our ability to efficiently provide a creative yet long term facility for your Umbrella & Excess placement needs".

SUM Insurance President Jeff Somerville concluded "we have enjoyed great support for our products and services since launching earlier this year. We are proud to represent our underwriting partners and appreciate their commitment to our firm. Thank you to our customers for your support- we try to earn it every day."

For complete programme information and details of our underwriters' security, please contact us or visit our website, www.suminsurance.ca.

SUM Insurance is an independent, 100% Canadian, Managing General Agent formed by Travis Budd, Rick DeGrace, Stan Lam, Serge Melanson and Jeff Somerville. Serving Canada coast to coast with offices in both Toronto and Montreal, SUM Insurance works collaboratively with first class insurers and reinsurers to design, underwrite and deliver casualty insurance products to insurance brokers.




CLINICAL TRIALS FACILITY - SEPTEMBER 7, 2011

SUM Insurance is pleased to offer a unique International Clinical Trials Liability facility, via the London market. This product brings veteran industry experts together to deliver a unique and efficient value proposition to the Canadian marketplace. The programme enables brokers to service even the most challenging Clinical Trial protocols and placements with one point of contact, SUM Insurance.

We believe this programme offers the widest range of covered Territories available, along with the most flexible terms and most rapid service level. The product is available seamlessly in 65 countries in total, collaboratively engaging not only Lloyds Underwriters, but also local fronting insurers (where required) and other licensed carriers (where necessary). This territorial breadth is increasingly valuable as researchers seek to reach ever more genetic diversity by running Trials simultaneously in all corners of the Globe. Security behind the product is A+, supported by underwriters and intermediaries with long experience and commitment to this segment.

The facility has limits of up to GBP 100M per protocol, available in local currency as required (and with flexibility on premium currency). The policies are compliant with each jurisdictions' legislation and regulations, with Master Policies offering DIC/DIL provisions. Policy negotiation, issuance and maintenance is centrally managed via SUM Insurance, reducing service times. English translations of the local wordings are available in most territories. Claims handling is similarly managed on a centralized basis.

As economic headwinds moderate and R&D funding returns to the Biotech and Lifesciences marketplace, we believe Canada will enjoy an uptick in Clinical Trial and research activity.

For more information on this product please contact:

In Toronto: jeff.somerville@assurancesum.ca

In Montreal: travis.budd@assurancesum.ca

This programme is just part of SUM Insurance's growing product offering in the Lifesciences segment- watch our website for more.




A.M. BEST CO. ASSIGNS A (POSITIVE) RATING TO AVIVA CANADA - JUNE 30, 2011

The announcement "signals the stability and financial strength of Aviva" said Maurice Tulloch, President and CEO Aviva Canada, as well as demonstrating Aviva's commitment to the Canadian P&C marketplace. The rating supplements Aviva's long standing A+ rating from Standard & Poors.

Strategic Underwriting Managers Inc. is proud to represent Aviva Canada.

More information is available on the attached pdf and on the A.M. Best Co. website www.ambest.com.




PRESS RELEASE - APRIL 11, 2011

SUM Insurance is an independent, 100% Canadian, Managing General Agent formed by Travis Budd, Rick DeGrace, Stan Lam, Serge Melanson and Jeff Somerville. Serving Canada coast to coast with offices in both Toronto and Montreal, SUM Insurance works collaboratively with first class insurers and reinsurers to design, underwrite and deliver casualty insurance products to insurance brokers. The firm's first offerings are Commercial General Liability, Professional Liability and Excess/Umbrella liability, along with supporting 1st party covers. In short order the Company's product suite will be bolstered with Environmental Impairment Liability and other niche oriented casualty products. Supplementing this broad in-house capacity, SUM Insurance enjoys access to international markets and can offer other products and covers.

SUM Insurance President Jeff Somerville said: "The flow of capacity to Canada is testament to the opportunity this marketplace holds. SUM Insurance is not adding capacity to the market. Rather we seek to optimize underwriting by bringing expertise to capacity and service to opportunity. Emphasizing independence, entrepreneurialism and a long term view to decision-making, we are excited to be working collaboratively with all facets of the insurance community to create and deliver value to our customers."

SUM Insurance brings an inimitable team of casualty underwriting acumen together with first class capacity and the Country's broadest underwriting authority. We are empowered to make underwriting decisions in real time, the only time line that matters to brokers. The increasing complexity of our industry makes the opportunity to quickly bring business to a sole underwriting decision maker invaluable.

We are delighted to be fully authorized and functional. We look forward to the opportunity to create value with you.




Serge

OUR NEWEST FCIP - MARCH 2011

Serge Melanson, FCIP (resplendent in his gown) is pleased to accept his graduation diploma and become the latest Fellow in the Insurance Institute of Canada - congratulations Serge!