Survey: executives rank fire, disruptions top threats.

Executives in charge of preventing losses at the 1,000 largest companies in the world have a drastically different view on what risks are important--and how prepared they are to mitigate those risks--compared with the equity analysts who make recommendations on whether to buy or sell those companies' stocks.

According to a survey of 600 executives, 69% of chief financial officers, treasurers and risk managers at Global 1,000 companies in North America and Europe view property-related hazards--such as fires and explosions--and supply chain disruptions as the leading threats to top revenue sources.

However, 79% of investment professionals say non-property related hazards, including pricing fluctuations, government/regulatory hazards and management/employee malfeasance, pose a greater threat.

Despite the highly publicized cases of improper management, only 3% of company executives saw that as a serious threat, according to the Harris Interactive poll, which was commissioned by commercial property insurer FM Global.

Only 1% of company executives viewed terrorism as a significant threat to their operations.

Executives Name
Top Risks

About 28% of some 600 chief
financial officers, treasurers and
risk managers at the 1,000 largest
companies in North America and
Europe viewed a disruption to
their supply chains as being the
single biggest threat to their
companies' revenue streams.

Supply Chain/Production Related    28%
Fire/Natural Disaster              26%
Corporate Malfeasance               3%
Terrorism/Sabotage                  1%
Labor Issues                       15%
Miscellaneous Risks                26%

Note: Table made from pie chart.

Source: 2004 Protecting Value Study by FM Global and
Harris Interactive, www.protectingvalue.com