NRRA Conference to Assess Challenges Facing Risk Retention Groups in Today's Market

WASHINGTON, DC--(Marketwire - Aug 8, 2011) - Risk Retention Group (RRG) executives attending the 23^rd Annual Conference of the National Risk Retention Association (NRRA) October 5-7 in Washington, DC will assess prospects for the industry as RRGs focus on growth coming out of the economic slowdown, Brian Braley, NRRA Chairman, reported.

"The number of RRGs began growing this year after a decline during the recession and the Conference will provide a forum to discuss challenges to the industry moving forward," Sanford "Sandy" Elsass, Conference Chairman, said. Experts will tackle issues ranging from how to find new capital in a soft market to healthcare reform legislation and its impact on liability exposures.

Alexander Clark, Senior Managing Director, Griffin Financial Group, merger and acquisition advisory and capital formation advisors to insurance companies and other financial institutions, Graham White, Deputy Chairman, Lloyd's of London, and Mark Parkinson, President, American Health Care Association will be major speakers.

The Conference also will build support for federal legislation (HR2126) recently introduced in the House by John Campbell (R-CA) and Peter Welch (D-VT) to allow RRGs to write commercial property insurance, establish a mechanism to resolve disputes with states, and standardize corporate governance for RRGs. "We need this legislation to protect against state encroachment on RRG authority if the industry is to resume strong growth," Braley declared.

Conference sessions will focus on a wide range of topics including: regulatory issues, reinsurance, portfolio management, enterprise risk management, capitalization, managing litigation trends, predictive analytics, and rating agency standards for RRGs, among others. "Every RRG executive and captive manager should attend the Conference to learn ways to prosper and grow in today's challenging market," Elsass said.

The Conference will be held at The Ritz Carlton Pentagon City, Washington, DC. Attendees can register online at www.riskretention.org.