New Aon terrorism data shows retail and transport sectors face highest risk of attack

LONDON, Jan. 28, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Aon Risk Solutions, the global risk management business of Aon plc (NYSE: AON), today released its annual Terrorism and Political Violence Map to help organisations assess risk levels of terrorism and political violence across the globe. Produced in collaboration with global risk management consultancy, the Risk Advisory Group plc, Aon's 2014 Terrorism and Political Violence Map comes in a print edition and as an online dashboard, providing clients with a clear global and country-level view on terrorism and political violence ratings.

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Aon's 2014 Terrorism and Political Violence Map indicates that Brazil was the only Latin American country to see its risk rating increase from medium to severe due to widespread and large-scale violent anti-government protests throughout 2013. The analysis indicates this unrest will likely continue in 2014, particularly ahead of the FIFA World Cup and the October general elections.

Despite some improvements in the ratings - eight decreases and just one increase to the 37 country scores that cover Sub-Saharan Africa in 2014, Africa remains a continent of high political violence and terrorism risk, with 22 countries having high to severe risk ratings.

Empirically, the Middle East is the region most afflicted by terrorism in the world, with a 28% share of all terrorist attacks recorded worldwide in 2013. A new strain of Salafi Jihadism has emerged in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region as evidenced by increased levels of terrorism. This is a cause and effect of the limited political recovery of post Arab Spring countries, and has contributed to widespread high-to-severe risk ratings across the region.

When looking at attacks on businesses by sector, the retail and transportation sectors were significantly affected in 2013, with 33 percent of terrorism attacks affecting the retail sector, and 18 percent of attacks taking place on the transportation sector. The retail sector includes venues such as public markets, which remain vulnerable to attack as seen last year in Kenya. Terrorism remains a variable threat in the Eurasia region, with Russia and Turkey the most affected by the threat through 2013. Additionally, the Winter Olympics in Russia, which will involve significant mass transportation moves, is seen as a potential terrorist target.

Moreover, Japan, Mozambique and Bangladesh have also seen increased scores with Bangladesh witnessing civil unrest over 70 days of strikes and accompanying protests, particularly against low wages and poor working conditions in the garments industry, adding to the issues impacting the retail sector.

The data shows

• 34 countries attained reduced country risk scores.
• Four countries attained increased country risk scores – Brazil, Japan, Mozambique and Bangladesh.
• In contrast with other regions, Europe saw notable improvement with 11 countries having civil commotion perils removed.
• Brazil was the only Latin American country to receive an increased risk rating.
• Overall country scores for Asia Pacific and Oceania region remain broadly stable with only four changes out of 29 countries and territories – South Korea, Malaysia and Samoa all attained reduced risk ratings - while increased military spending and geopolitical tensions in Japan increased the country's rating.
• 33% of all high and severe risk countries globally are in sub-Saharan Africa.

Neil Henderson, head of Aon Risk Solutions' Crisis Management Terrorism team, said, "The map shows that while the terrorism threat in the West has declined, other regions are witnessing significant increases in terrorist violence and activity., Having unrivalled access to regional data and fact-based insight enables our global clients to begin planning ahead of these trends by performing necessary risk identification and consider preventive risk management solutions. This insight allows our clients to plan overseas expansion or international growth and supports them in their efforts to be resilient to a terrorist or political violence threat."

Ian Nunn QGM, head of Aon Risk Solutions' Crisis Consulting team, added, "Clients are naturally keen to penetrate key economic markets around the world, and seek highly attractive opportunities where they can maximise greater returns from their investments. It is important for businesses to recognise that this will also pose significant new political, security and operational risks that will have to be combined with tough regulatory and legislative pressures.  A clear understanding of exposure and risk including the possible rapid change in the political and security situations within their operating regions is necessary to ensure appropriate mitigation measures are in place to manage such exposure. The Terrorism Risk Map is one of the key components of Aon's global WorldAware Safe Travel Solutions to assist clients in understanding and managing global risk."

Henry Wilkinson, head of the Intelligence and Analysis practice at Risk Advisory, said "The map shows that having the means to understand and stay ahead of terrorism threats and political violence risks has never been more important. Despite signs of global economic recovery, businesses in emerging markets are as exposed as ever to a diversifying array of risks and threats from sophisticated and often highly networked adversaries. New threats can emerge increasing rapidly, as hostile actors evolve faster and emulate tactics that have an ever greater impact, be it through mobilising mass unrest or mounting sustained armed terrorist attacks. Committed to enabling the world's leading businesses succeed in emerging markets, Risk Advisory is pleased to work in partnership with Aon on the 2014 Terrorism & Political Violence Map."

Methodology and resources

Colour-coded ratings of the 200 countries and territories measured act as a gauge for the overall level of risk from terrorism and political violence to business in each country.  Three peril icons indicate classifications of political violence risk encountered by businesses:

• Terrorism and sabotage
• Strikes, riots, civil commotion and malicious damage to property
• Insurrection, revolution, rebellion, mutiny, coup d'état, war and civil war

The map measures political violence and terrorism in 200 countries and territories to help companies assess the risk levels of political violence and terrorism. Produced by Aon in collaboration with global risk management consultancy The Risk Advisory Group plc, the Aon Terrorism and Political Violence Map reflects data recorded by Terrorism Tracker*, Aon WorldAware* and an expert assessment of the security situation. Each country is assigned a threat level, starting at negligible, and rising through low, medium, high and severe.

Terrorism threat is defined as an assessment of the intent and capability for terrorist groups to stage attacks and the likelihood they will succeed.

The map can be accessed at http://www.aon.com/terrorismmap  

Aon and The Risk Advisory Group plc

Aon has partnered with Risk Advisory, a leading independent global risk management consultancy, for seven years.  Risk Advisory helps clients navigate increasingly complex regulatory, compliance and security environments in some of the most challenging jurisdictions by providing intelligence, investigation and security services. Clients include many of the world's leading corporate entities, financial institutions and law firms.

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About Aon
Aon plc (NYSE:AON) is the leading global provider of risk management, insurance and reinsurance brokerage, and human resources solutions and outsourcing services. Through its more than 65,000 colleagues worldwide, Aon unites to empower results for clients in over 120 countries via innovative and effective risk and people solutions and through industry-leading global resources and technical expertise. Aon has been named repeatedly as the world's best broker, best insurance intermediary, reinsurance intermediary, captives manager and best employee benefits consulting firm by multiple industry sources. Visit www.aon.com for more information on Aon and www.aon.com/manchesterunited to learn about Aon's global partnership and shirt sponsorship with Manchester United. Aon GRIP is the company's Global Risk Insight Platform.

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SOURCE Aon plc