BMI's Executive Summary for the Russia Insurance Report

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This report differs from its predecessors in that it includes BMI's Insurance Business Environment Rating (IBER). The rating brings together a number of pieces of relevant quantitative data, together with BMI's Country Risk Rating (CRR). It is now much easier to consider the business environment for the insurance sector in any one country relative to the business environment for other industries in that country that are surveyed by BMI, and the business environment for the insurance sector in other countries.

Russia's IBER is 60.4. Relative to other countries in Central and Eastern Europe, it is a moderately attractive insurance market for foreign insurers. Within the region, Russia stands out for the current size of the non-life segment and the likely absolute growth in non-life premiums. The economic outlook is germane. Government policies are likely to remain constant over the long term. However, the IBER is held back by the underdevelopment of the life segment and the financial infrastructure. It is also held back by the legal framework and bureaucracy in Russia.

Over the forecast period, we anticipate that non-life premiums will grow by 20% annually in local currency terms and by 25% in US dollar terms. Life premiums are expected to increase by 22% annually in local currency terms and by 28% in US dollar terms. The key drivers of growth in the non-life segment in 2007-2012 are the anticipated rise in nominal GDP from around US$1,212bn to US$2,872bn and an expected increase in non-life penetration from 2.32% of GDP to 3.00%. The key driver of growth in the life segment is the envisaged rise in life density from a miniscule US$9 per capita in 2007 to US$30 per capita in 2012. Russia's total population is declining.

The competitive landscape, in both the non-life and the life segment, is fragmented. Both segments are open to participation by foreign groups, although foreigners are more important in the life than in the nonlife segment. Even Rosgosstrakh, the former domestic state-owned monopoly insurer of the Soviet Union and still the largest player overall, appears to have only a single-digit market share. The number of very small insurers – some of them effectively captives – is still in the hundreds, but is falling steadily.

Russia's non-life segment is relatively new, but has clearly moved beyond Compulsory Third Party Motor Liability (CTPML) business which, in press and official reports, is sometimes referred to by its Russian initials OSAGO. Unusually, Compulsory Medical Expenses Insurance (CMEI) is one of the largest lines, and accounts for just over one third of the non-life segment (and, therefore, effectively the entire insurance sector). Voluntary property insurance – including voluntary motor insurance (CASCO) – accounts for another third of total premiums. By contrast, CTPML is less than one tenth of the total. The main weakness of Russia's insurance sector is that Russians hardly use life insurance for long-term savings. To the extent that they do, they appear not to trust local groups: major foreign companies appear to have a far stronger position in the life segment than they do in the non-life segment.

Contents of the Russia Insurance Report

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Chapter 1 - The Sector At A Glance

Table: Russia Overview

Key Features Of This Report And Likely Future Changes

Chapter 2 - Latest News

Recent Developments

Chapter 3 - Evolution Since The Mid-1990s

Table: Evolution Of The Insurance Sector (In Millions Of Currency Specified)

Evolution

Chapter 4 - Projections And Forecasts

Table: Russia BMI Projections (In Millions Of Currency Specified)

Projections And Drivers Of Growth

Chapter 5 - Macroeconomic Outlook

Table: Growth & Output

Chapter 6 - Country Update

Political Risk Italian Ties Buck Trend

Economic Risk Progress With Paris Club Creditors

Business Environment Anti-Corruption Drive

Chapter 7 - Analysis of Competitive Conditions

Country Overview Russia - Non-Life Segment

Table: Non-Life Segment Rankings Of Markets

Table: Presence Of Non-Life Cross-Border Insurers

Table: Selected Local Non-Life Insurers

Table: Life Segment Rankings Of Markets

Table: Presence Of Life Cross-Border Insurers

Table: Selected Local Life Insurers

Chapter 8 - Regional Context

Table: Regional Context - Premiums

Table: Regional Context Total Premiums

Chapter 9 - Methodology And Objectives

Introduction

Background

Forecasts

Chapter 10 - Appendix

Table: Latest Estimates/Actual Figures For 2005

Table: Latest Estimates For 2010

Table: Latest Estimates For 2005-2010

Competitive Landscape for Europe Insurance Reports: Sample of
    Companies Ranked

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A cross-border overview of key players and their insurance market share across Europe. Tables and graphs show country presence of multinationals across the region. Comparative company analyses and rankings by premium income (life and non-life). Company SWOTS for leading life and non-life insurers, covering network of offices, presence of foreign stakeholders, strategic relationships, joint ventures; portfolio of clients; diversity of product range; profit growth, investment strategy and risk exposure.

Network of Insurance Sources

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BMI's European Insurance Reports are based on an extensive network of multilateral organisations, government departments, insurance industry associations, chambers of commerce and company reports. Information sources include:

Read about our other Insurance Reports