With a good first half year performance, Coface continues its refocusing around credit insurance

Sept. 7, 2011 - PRLog -- A complete strategic review of the business lines and activities carried out in the 66 countries where Coface is present allowed to distinguish the core activities from non-strategic financial stakes, on the basis of criteria such as synergies with credit insurance (http://www.cofaceuk.com/CofacePortal/UK/en_EN/pages/home/what-we-do/credit-insurance) and profitability.

The 1st half of 2011 showed the following improvements:

• Continued development of credit insurance internationally, especially in the emerging countries.
• Refocusing of the factoring activities in Germany and Poland where Coface enjoys a very favourable competitive positioning with high profitability as a result of good integration with credit insurance.
• Reorientation of the enhanced information activities and debt collection for the needs of credit insurance.

1- Key figures

In the 1st half of 2011, the turnover for Coface's strategic entities amounted to €764 million, up 8% compared to the 1st half of 2010. The combined ratio improved by 12.5 points, reaching 78.3% at the end of June 2011, thanks to the loss ratio which continues to decrease.
Consequently, net income is €64 million, which is a significant increase of 121%.


2. Turnover

The 1st half of 2011 recorded an acceleration in the growth of turnover.

All geographical areas contribute to this growth. Growth is particularly marked in the emerging markets, but strong commercial development is also observed in the advanced countries, despite their less dynamic economic context and a more competitive market situation.

Credit insurance is showing half-year turnover up by 7%. This growth is obtained thanks to sustained commercial performances resulting in a substantial flow of new customers (+17%) and an improvement in the retention rate, increasing from 86 to 90%.
The strong dynamism of factoring in Germany and in Poland is confirmed (+27% growth in net banking income).


3. Operating profit

While still remaining close to 2010 levels, claims notifications have slightly increased. An adequate underwriting policy has allowed continued support to policyholders with an increase of the overall exposure (+ 7%) and to maintain claims under control. The loss ratio stands at 52.5% confirming its positive trend as compared to the 1st half year of 2010 (65.2%).
The cost ratio compared to premiums is stable at 25.8%.
Globally the combined ratio stands at 78.3%, a 12.5 point improvement compared to the end of June 2010.

In a difficult environment, the financial result of the investment portfolio stands at €21 million, a 2.3% performance on the average portfolio.

Current operating profit stands at €87 million, up 65% notably as a result of the recovery in the credit insurance margin but also due to the good contribution of factoring.


4. Net profit

Net profit stands at €64 million, an improvement of €29 million compared to the 1st half year of 2010, which is a significant increase of 121%.


5. Financial solidity

The restored financial solidity in 2010 was reinforced in the 1st half of 2011 with shareholders’ equity at €1.4 billion, up 4.5% compared to the end of 2010. The ratings assigned to Coface by Fitch (AA- with a stable outlook) and by Moody’s (A2 with a stable outlook) have been confirmed, reflecting Coface's solid competitive position in the worldwide credit insurance market.

This increase in shareholders’ equity comes with a reduction in the indebtedness ratio, changing from 17% at the end of December 2010 to 6% at the end of June 2011.


"The first half of 2011 has significantly improved the performances already recorded in 2010, the year when we returned to a profitable situation, with an acceleration in the growth of turnover, a sharp drop in the combined ratio and net income which doubled. This change reinforces our decision to refocus on credit insurance which has already allowed an autonomous and profitable development of Coface", reports Jean-Marc Pillu, Chief Executive Officer of Coface.

ENDS

About Coface
Coface's mission is to facilitate global business-to-business trade by offering its 130,000 customers solutions to fully or partly outsource trade relationship management and to finance and protect their receivables: credit insurance, factoring, business information and receivables management. Thanks to the worldwide local service delivered by 6,600 staff in 65 countries, over 45% of the world's 500 largest corporate groups are already customers of Coface. Coface is a subsidiary of Natixis whose share capital (Tier 1) was 16.8 billion Euros at the end of December 2010.

In the UK and Republic of Ireland Coface has been a leading provider of credit management services since 1993 - its objective being to enable businesses to trade securely at home and overseas. Operating from offices in London, Dublin, Watford, Birmingham, Leeds and Cardiff allows Coface to provide a local service.

The company’s credit insurance offer integrates credit assessment, collection services and cover for unpaid debts. Multinational businesses can protect their worldwide subsidiaries through Coface’s international network.

The company also provides access to domestic and international business information and a collection network at home and overseas. Coface is also a recognised operator in the London political risk market.

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We offer trade credit management solutions from credit insurance to related services such as credit reports, online credit ratings, debt collection, and receivables finance, our holistic approach to credit management gives you greater flexibility.