The Truth.

From ColinaImperial Insurance Ltd.
Over the past few weeks you might have heard rumours or read reports that have called into question the financial strength or operations of ColinaImperial. However, we wish to assure you that these reports are bogus and the falsehoods can easily be disproved. This website will separate truth from fiction and will renew your confidence in the strength of this company, our position in the marketplace and our ability to meet our customers’ needs now and in the years to come.
September 16, 2008

THE DECEPTION: Policyholders are in danger of losing their investment

Author: ColinaImperial - Categories: Company Stability, Financial Strength, Management, Operations

THE TRUTH: Absolutely not. Our financial strength and stability are solid, and policyholder and shareholder value are well protected.

To ensure that our 100,000 clients’ policies are safe with us and that we will always be there when they need us, ColinaImperial follows rigorous Canadian standards for maintaining solvency and holding reserves (cash and cash equivalents) that guarantee our liquidity.

Our investment portfolio, which is used to back policy claims, is well diversified with a significant percentage invested in Bahamas Government registered stock. No other investment is more secure. In fact, our investments in Bahamas Government registered stock as a portion of our total invested assets are higher than those of all other local insurance companies combined.

Internationally, the standard of a company’s financial strength is its Minimum Continuing Capital and Surplus Requirements (MCCSR) ratio. At the end of 2007, ColinaImperial’s MCCSR ratio was 178.9% — well above regulatory requirements.

Another financial strength indicator by which the Company is measured is its perception by internationally recognized ratings agencies such AM Best, which has reaffirmed the Company’s A- (Excellent) rating. The A.M. Best report is additional confirmation that policyholder and shareholder value are well protected.

THE DECEPTION: ColinaImperial is operating at a loss.

Author: ColinaImperial - Categories: Company Stability, Financial Strength, Operations

THE TRUTH: On the contrary, ColinaImperial is very much in the black.

Our balance sheet is very strong and reveals assets of over $465 million. This shows the financial strength of the Company – strength that allows us to honour our commitments to our clients when they need us most.

Further, consolidated net income for the six months ended June 30, 2008 was up at $2.63 million. As a publicly held Company, our financials are disclosed on a quarterly basis. View the most recently released and historical financial information at www.colinaimperial.com.

THE DECEPTION: Client pension funds will go bust under management by ColinaImperial.

Author: ColinaImperial - Categories: Affiliated Companies, Financial Strength, Management, Operations

THE TRUTH: Absolutely not. ColinaImperial does not manage pension portfolios.

Despite some reports comparing us to a notorious US pension bankruptcy scandal, we do not manage pension portfolios but have a legal contractual agreement with leading investment and financial analysis firm, CFAL. Like other investment companies, CFAL counsels clients in private banking, investment management, and pension administration. CFAL segregates clients’ assets from its own so that there is no intermingling of funds. Visit www.cfal.com

THE DECEPTION: ColinaImperial is a corporate giant on the verge of collapse.

Author: ColinaImperial - Categories: Company Stability, Financial Strength, Management, Operations

THE TRUTH: Our size works in your favour. ColinaImperial offers a rock solid foundation.

The story of ColinaImperial’s success is unprecedented and unparalleled in the history of the insurance industry in The Bahamas. In ten years, strategic acquisitions transformed four modest insurance branches, totally dependent on foreign parent companies for technical expertise and direction, into the largest Company of its kind in The Bahamas. The resultant ColinaImperial is financially strong and fully self-sufficient.

Our size works in your favour. With more than $465 million in total assets and over $80 million in total equity, ColinaImperial offers a rock solid foundation to afford our clients rock solid financial footing.

Moreover, because we have been able to localize our operations, we have helped to develop expertise in Bahamian professionals in a number of fields previously outsourced by the entire industry. While we retain independent auditors and actuaries in accordance with the law, and work closely with international technology solutions providers, we are developing Bahamians in the fields of Information Technology, Actuarial Science and executive management.

THE DECEPTION: ColinaImperial can’t/won’t pay death claims

Author: ColinaImperial - Categories: Company Stability, Financial Strength, Operations

THE TRUTH: We have always honoured our commitments.

Colinaimperial Insurance Ltd. has 140 years of cumulative experience in the insurance industry in The Bahamas and has been making good on all of its promises in that time. We are obligated to settle all valid claims submitted in accordance with the terms of the policy contract. We have always honoured our commitments and will continue to do so.

However, a policyholder should always educate him/herself about the circumstances that can nullify a claim, such as self-inflicted death (suicide), positive toxicology reports (drunk driving that results in death), and fraud (falsifying information on an application form or a claim form). In these instances, we are obligated, according to industry standards and the law of the land, to refuse such a claim in order to discourage abuse of the system and unfair burdens on our other policyholders. There are legitimate needs out there and we want to devote our resources to meeting these needs and safeguarding the financial future of the individuals who depend on us at the most vulnerable moments of their lives.

 

THE DECEPTION: ColinaImperial employees find it hard to get bank loans because their employment is seen as unpredictable.

Author: ColinaImperial - Categories: Company Stability, Financial Strength

THE TRUTH: Absolutely not true.

While a person’s length of employment or salary might have some bearing on a bank’s decision to approve or deny a loan application, we have not received any feedback from the banking industry or our employees to suggest that their employment at ColinaImperial is rated against them.

THE DECEPTION: ColinaImperial hasn’t been around for a very long time.

Author: ColinaImperial - Categories: Company Stability, Financial Strength

THE TRUTH: ColinaImperial has strong ties to The Bahamas.

Through its legacy companies, ColinaImperial has over 140 years of cumulative experience in The Bahamas insurance industry and strong ties to the Bahamian community.   ColinaImperial continues to nurture key community initiatives that we have held near and dear over the years. In addition to supporting spontaneous requests from many local charities in various efforts, ColinaImperial has decided to focus our main community-building initiatives in three key areas: health, the environment, and education.

In 2008 we mark 15 years as the founding sponsor of the Red Ribbon Ball in support of HIV/AIDS awareness. In 2005, ColinaImperial received regional recognition from the Caribbean Association of Industry and Commerce (CAIC) as an example of the positive impact the corporate sector can have when partnering with the efforts of Non-Governmental Organizations such as the AIDS Foundation of The Bahamas.

ColinaImperial has also teamed up with the Bahamas National Trust (BNT) to provide a five-year grant which will assist the BNT in launching a key environment education programme for Bahamian school children.

We have also embarked on an ambitious and groundbreaking science and mathematics education initiative aimed at students from junior high and high schools. The signature project is the InnoWorks Science and Mathematics summer camp, for which ColinaImperial is the title sponsor.