Thursday, May 28th, 2026 — Global transactional risk insurance claims increased sharply in 2025 as insurers faced higher claim frequency and growing severity tied to financial statement breaches, according to Marsh’s Global Transactional Risk Insurance Claims Report 2026. Insurers paid nearly US$650 million net of retentions to Marsh clients during the year, with a relatively small number of large claims driving most losses.
The report found claims notifications increased 34% globally year over year, reaching 665 notifications across 386 transactions. Marsh said financial statement breaches accounted for 52% of all paid losses worldwide, reinforcing ongoing concerns over accounting accuracy, valuation models, compliance exposures, and post-acquisition due diligence.
North America generated more than US$412 million in claim payments, while the United Kingdom saw claim notifications jump more than 150% compared to 2024. Europe nearly doubled its claims notifications, and Asia-Pacific recorded more than US$80 million in payouts, including a US$76 million tax liability insurance settlement tied to a Southeast Asia transaction.
For claims professionals, the report highlights continued growth in warranty and indemnity (W&I) and representations and warranties (R&W) insurance activity, along with increasing pressure to manage complex financial statement, compliance, tax, and contractual disputes tied to mergers and acquisitions. Marsh noted that many claims are now being reported earlier in policy periods, though high-severity losses often emerge well after deal closing, particularly in tax and compliance matters.
The findings also point to growing expectations around insurer responsiveness and claims handling. Marsh reported faster coverage responses in Asia-Pacific and quicker settlements in several large UK claims, reflecting increased competition among carriers and greater sophistication in transactional risk claims management.
