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Pressure remains in the Professional and Executive markets, with COVID-19 causing continued uncertainty for insurers.
Fallout from the Royal Commission into Misconduct in the Banking Superannuation and Financial Services Industry continues to impact insurers’ bottom lines through the payment of inquiry defence costs and securities class action activity. This is expected to materialise further as the economy begins to stabilise, with many litigation promotors seeking new ‘real estate’ and the regulator supporting the ‘why not litigate’ approach.
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission’s (ACCC) Targeting Scams 2019 report has identified Australians lost more than $634 million to scams in 2019. While the true cost of cybercrime to the Australian economy is difficult to quantify, the industry has estimated cyber security incidents to be in the vicinity of $29 billion annually. Managing cyber risk exposure effectively is more important than ever. The process for enhancing and governing cyber security will be very similar to the process businesses implement for other exposures (e.g. OH&S) and how well these are ‘live drilled’ or rehearsed.
It's not all doom and gloom. If the following variables are controlled correctly, they can have meaningful impacts on renewal outcomes.
Corporate Governance – It is important that best practice framework is implemented: entities that are well managed, identifying clear procedures to business operations and communication channels will see a more positive outcome when it comes to achieving reduced premiums. This has been a topical issue, with revelations of a handful of large listed companies being subject to poor corporate governance, driving investor concerns and share price uncertainty.
Financial Steadiness – will continue to be a focus for insurers, as the ongoing concern for a business will remain a material risk factor. In the COVID-19 climate, there will continue to be greater attention on liquidity, cash flow and debt maturity. For franchisees, the ‘JobKeeper’ program may be providing critical revenues for these entities that are potentially masking insolvency problems.
Financial Modelling will play a crucial part in all financial lines insurance classes, and proposal forms and financials will no longer satisfy many underwriters. Insurers will want to understand what the future holds for many organisations. Underwriters will likely request to see a robust Business Continuity Plan and a recovery ‘roadmap’, identifying any loan facilities and those suspended covenants and how they propose to weather the next 6-12 months.
Feel free to reach out to discuss your situation and address any questions or concerns.
Placement Manager – Professional and Executive Risks
