CBL expects growth in Europe, Mexico and Scandinavia this year

CBL Corporation [NZX: CBL] expects its European unit will be "an outperformer" this year as new programmes the insurer started last year in France and Scandinavia get going.

"Mexico, Scandinavia, Italy and France have been standouts for the group and we see strong growth in each of these markets in 2016 and out into the medium future," managing director Peter Harris told shareholders in Auckland at the company's first annual general meeting since listing on the NZX and ASX last year. Its CBL Europe unit is expected to grow strongly this year and next, with business that doesn't conflict with CBL Insurance's long-established European channels, he said.

The Auckland-based insurer, which began as Contractors Bonding in 1973, sells credit surety and financial risk insurance in 25 countries and derives almost 98% of its revenue offshore.

It paid out a 4.5c per share dividend last month after posting an 83% rise in 2015 annual profit to $35.5 million, beating its IPO profit forecast of $26.1 million

"We're happy with the numbers for the first quarter of 2016," Mr Harris said at the AGM.

He said CBL's aversion to natural catastrophe insurance has served it well in uncertain times and its key metric for 2015 was its low combined loss ratio of 79.7%.

CBL used $A44 million of the $90 million in new capital raised in the IPO to buy Australian specialty insurer Assetinsure and Mr Harris said it means CBL can leverage the company's Australian Prudential Regulatory Authority licence in Australia to increase the group's business in that market.

It also bought a 35% stake in Mexican specialist bonding and surety insurance company Afiandzdora Fiducia, which Mr Harris said had allowed the company to grow and obtain several increased credit licences. CBL has operated in Mexico selling builders warranty insurance since 2002 in partnership with Seguros GMX.

Harris said as a result of CBL's investment, Fiducia has been awarded a higher rating of BBB+, although he notes there's a worldwide trend to rely less on ratings and more on regulatory solvency regimes as more and stricter solvency risk-based capital measurements are being developed by regulators. That trend will become further entrenched if and when the US finally takes on the difficult job of implementing a risk-based solvency regime, he said.

CBL also plans to increase its professional indemnity insurance business in the next few years.

The company's shares last traded on the NZX at $2.40, well up on the $1.55 listing price.

(BusinessDesk)