Brokers will have access to additional Groupama products via the electronic trading portal Imarket, as the insurer continues to develop its e-trading capabilities.

The insurer is to roll out its Optima Trade and Professional, Optima Shop and Optima Office and Surgery products with full Imarket connectivity.

It is also developing a property owners' product, which will be ready later in the year

The additional services are currently available on the web-based Imarket site as well as the insurer's own e-trading system, Optima Online.

The product drive will be led by recently appointed e-business trading manager Ken Hutchinson.

Hutchinson said in 2006 the company would be developing full-cycle functionality on both Imarket and Optima Online, which would allow the insurer to offer a mid-term adjustments and renewals facilities for integrated software houses.

Groupama has also launched its own trade and professional product on the online quotation system Risk Placer, which has been developed by wholesale broker South Essex Insurance Brokers.

Hutchinson denied that the move was in "direct competition" with the Imarket portal, but was simply "just another distribution mechanism" for the company.

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