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Power shifts from UK ratings agencies to insurers over creditworthiness

UK credit insurers have leapfrogged ratings agencies to become the key determinants of company credit quality, brokerage Aon Trade Credit claims.

Aon has identified a power shift from ratings agencies to credit insurers after insurers introduced more stringent criteria following a 58% increase in fourth-quarter claims.

Aon says UK firms will need to “work with credit insurers to ensure that they have sufficient insight to enable credit lines for their key suppliers”.

Construction, retail and automotive industries are among the hardest hit by a withdrawal of trade credit insurance, which covers suppliers against failing to pay on goods and services.