Contingent Business Interruption

When CBI is Right

• Vendor availability – If the key components or core supplies that a manufacturer relies on come from a limited vendor group, having CBI coverage is crucial because a break in the supply chain could have a dramatic impact on the manufacturer’s ability to produce and market goods.

Example: The devastation from the earthquake and resulting tsunami that swept across parts of Japan in March 2011 triggered a substantial number of BI and CBI claims from American manufacturers. Supply and distribution chains stalled or shut down entirely because the Japanese companies they relied on for parts, products or services were no longer operational, and were not operational for an extended period of time.

• Customer availability – If a business owner’s key customers or client base are no longer purchasing goods or a service due to lack of financial means or lack of desire to purchase the product, CBI can help supplement that lost revenue.

Example: After Hurricane Katrina, much of the Gulf Coast was left devastated as millions lost their homes – entire communities and many businesses were wiped out. People left the area completely and thousands of small businesses were unable to reopen after the loss due to the absence of clientele, which in turn also caused their previous suppliers a loss as well. Additionally, for many businesses that were rebuilt and re-opened, their loss of income stretched far beyond the standard period of indemnity due to a diminishing customer base or new competition. This type of loss can be mitigated with an extended period of indemnity clause, which allows the business a longer duration of time to regain their position in the market.

• Proximity – If a business depends on a nearby attraction or neighboring commercial operation to serve as a primary customer source, through foot traffic or other supplemental services, that business should consider the impact that a business interruption to one of those neighboring operations would have on their ability to attract customers and, in turn, generate revenue.
   
  Example: The April 2010 explosion and oil spill from the Horizon Deepwater rig in the Gulf of Mexico had an equally large peripheral impact on the businesses that depended on the “sun and sand.” Hotels and other gulf-area businesses that relied on the region’s natural beauty to attract tourists saw reservations abandoned as would-be vacationers opted to go elsewhere. CBI, an important coverage that could have protected these businesses, was overlooked by a number of hotels and they sat well below their expected occupancy, illustrating that those businesses without a large schedule of other locations to rely on or those that are dependent on a sole manufacturer should consider CBI.

Conclusion