Credit insurer Atradius has received final regulatory approval to begin underwriting business through Lloyd’s Syndicate 1864, starting from 1 January 2026. The move, following the initial “in principle” approval in July, is expected to expand Atradius’ international operations and increase its access to the Lloyd’s market. The syndicate will underwrite trade credit risks, initially serving both new and existing customers within the European financial sector. Credit insurance is expected to assist lende ...

Core Insights - World Acceptance (WRLD) reported a significant decline in earnings per share (EPS) to $0.25, an 86% drop from the previous year and well below analysts' expectations of $1.25 [1][2] - Revenue increased to $132.5 million, surpassing the consensus estimate of $130.5 million and showing a 2.3% growth year-over-year [1][2] - The company faces ongoing challenges with rising operating expenses and provisions for credit losses, impacting profitability [1][5] Financial Performance - EPS (GAAP) fell to $0.25 from $1.79 a year ago, reflecting a substantial decline in profitability [2][5] - Revenue (GAAP) rose by 2.3% year-over-year to $132.5 million, exceeding expectations [2][5] - Provision for credit losses increased by 11.2% to $50.5 million compared to the same quarter last year [2][6] - General and administrative expenses surged by 14.6% to $70.4 million, now accounting for 53.1% of total revenue [2][5] - Net charge-offs rose to $44.8 million, representing 19.4% of average net loans annualized [2][6] Operational Insights - The company operates over 1,000 branches, primarily in the southern and midwestern U.S., focusing on small and medium-sized installment loans [3][4] - Loan portfolio trends indicate a slight year-over-year decrease in gross loans outstanding, but a sequential increase suggests stabilization [7] - Loan production for new customers increased by 30.8%, while later-stage loan delinquencies improved to 5.4% of the portfolio [7] Strategic Focus - World Acceptance is navigating a complex regulatory environment and managing competitive pressures from local lenders and digital fintech rivals [4] - The company has entered a new $640 million senior secured credit facility to enhance funding flexibility and support share buybacks [10] - The leadership expressed cautious optimism regarding stabilization in customer delinquencies and a shift towards smaller loan sizes [11] Other Income Sources - Fee and interest income rose by 3.7% to $115.3 million, while tax preparation revenues increased by 21.6% [8] - Insurance income, however, decreased by 10.8% year-over-year [8]