New year, new start

The UK commercial insurance market remained fiercely competitive last year. Intermediated SME business appears to be the ‘new’ private motor for many insurers, a class they feel that they must be in regardless of prevailing rate strength and underlying profitability. Continued over-supply of capacity and the lingering effects of the economic downturn have made it difficult for insurers to adjust the pricing on their portfolios.

The direct effects of historic under-pricing in the sector were