Despite the global economic crisis, the commercial insurance market is poised to remain stable through 2010, but new challenges are emerging for risk managers, according to a comprehensive report issued by broker and risk adviser Marsh.

Competition Nets Rewards - Multinational Client Service Insurance Market Report 2010, finds that while business opportunity appears to be brightening in 2010, the financial crisis has brought risk management to the fore within and beyond finance and treasury departments. Global risk managers are challenged by new boardroom demands of insurer security, balance sheet transparency, and heightened accountability.

"With the ever-increasing complexity of global exposures, successful risk management today depends on timely information, regulatory awareness, and thoughtful anticipation of the range of local and global scenarios," said George Davies, UK leader of Marsh's risk management practice. "For global risk managers, the extent of their visibility - extended to the highest levels of their organisations - is the new world of financial risk and accountability."

Marsh's report indicates the continuation of stable market conditions in 2010, as illustrated by regional trends:

•Intense competition among insurers, increased capacity, and fewer insured catastrophe losses kept US insurance markets generally stable in 2009. Barring a large catastrophic event, property insurance markets will likely continue to stabilise and premium rates will moderate in 2010.

•Clients across Europe, the Middle East and Africa were able to secure premium rate reductions for most classes of business in the second half of 2009, but there is evidence of rising loss ratios in many lines of business - which could prompt carriers to review pricing. Local markets are generally expected to stabilise over the course of 2010.

•Despite large natural catastrophe losses in Pakistan, the Philippines and Indonesia, Marsh expects most Asian markets to remain soft throughout 2010.

•Stability in Latin America and the Caribbean is expected to continue, and insurers appear well-positioned to provide solutions to emerging exposures, though significant concerns remain: natural catastrophes, volatile political and economic environments, safety concerns linked to drug cartels, and dependence on international markets for large and complex risks.

•With no signs of a change until the end of 2010 or possibly into 2011, Canada's market remains soft.

•Marsh expects buyers to continue enjoying relatively favorable market conditions in Australia.

Marsh's report further indicates a need to monitor global insurance and tax regulations, which are being enforced more vigorously than in the past. In the European Union, Canada and elsewhere, tax authorities have begun to challenge multinational companies' insurance programmes with a view to assessing and collecting unpaid premium-related taxes - a trend that is likely to escalate.

Risk managers should also monitor several local trends highlighted in Marsh's report:

•New regulations in the EU, such as the new Environmental Liability Directive, have impacted rates in environmental insurance, employers' liability/workers' compensation, and other lines of insurance.

•Many carriers in Latin America and the Caribbean are looking to diversify away from concentrations of large industrial property risks towards personal lines and consumer business. The earthquakes in Haiti and Chile may cause local rates to increase, and policy texts and definitions may be amended.

•Brazil appears to be a strong growth target for insurers, owing to its large economy and domestic consumer market. Opportunities are particularly strong in personal lines, life, and health, as consumers become more conscientious about their insurance choices.

•In China, a greater focus on underwriting profit has led to a reduction in capacity among local insurers for property and construction insurance. New regulations have further enhanced the rights of consumers, clarifying the rights and obligations of parties in an insurance contract.

•Rates in the Indian market appear to have bottomed out and local clients are now facing some premium increases, particularly those with unfavorable risk profiles. Marsh anticipates that the market will continue to harden over the course of 2010.

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