DRIVING PERSONAL LINES ‘ALSO-RANS’ FROM THE MARKET

Dozens of insurers will exit the personal property/casualty industry over the next few years, according to a new study. They will leave because they will be unable to compete in a market dominated by large market leaders with their technological and pricing advantages, according to Conning Research and Consulting Inc. in Hartford.

“The personal lines market is ripe for a major consolidation,” adds Stephan Christiansen, director of research at Conning. “Size and advances in technology, coupled with the market dynamics outlined in the study, will play to the advantage of the leaders for some time to come. Some also-rans will be looking to sell, merge, or otherwise leave the field.”

The Conning Research study, The Emerging Shakeout in Personal Lines, identifies the handful of market leaders and analyzes their characteristics. The study also probes the conditions that will likely hold trailing companies back, exit strategies for the laggards, and the impact of market consolidation on personal lines and on the broader property/casualty industry.

“We have analyzed industry results for the period 2002 to 2004, and some of the underlying causes for those results, and found significant changes in the competitive landscape over the three-year period,” says Bruce Hale, Conning analyst. “A handful of larger personal lines market leaders, and a few outperforming specialist players, will soon be able to set and maintain aggressive pricing levels that will be untenable for many lagging insurers.”

The company’s Web site at can be found at: www.conningresearch.com.