Continental Reinsurance Strengthens IPO Appeal As Major Shareholder Commits To Five-Year Stake Retention

Continental Reinsurance Holdings Limited has strengthened its investment proposition ahead of its proposed listing on the Botswana Stock Exchange (BSE), following regulatory approval of its Supplementary Prospectus, which introduces significant changes to its shareholding structure and incorporates improved half-year financial results.

The development is expected to boost investor confidence in the planned Initial Public Offering (IPO), particularly following the decision by promoter-controlled existing shareholder vehicle, ACA Cornerstone Limited, to retain its entire stake in the company rather than exit as initially contemplated.

Under the revised offer structure, ACA Cornerstone will retain all 253,951,336 shares it currently holds, representing approximately 11.9 per cent of Continental Reinsurance Holdings’ enlarged issued share capital after completion of the offer, assuming all contemplated new shares are issued.

The shareholder has also provided a formal undertaking, subject to specified conditions, to retain the shares for a minimum of five years following the company’s listing.

The commitment represents a significant shift from the original offer structure and signals continued confidence in the company’s business prospects, while strengthening alignment between existing and prospective shareholders.

Commenting on the development, Group Managing Director of Continental Reinsurance Holdings, Mutsunge Lawrence Nazare, said the revised offer reflected the company’s willingness to engage with investors and address their concerns.

“We have engaged closely with investors and taken on board their feedback. The revised offer reflects that engagement and reinforces our long-term investment proposition,” Nazare said.

He explained that ACA Cornerstone’s decision to remain invested, alongside its five-year share retention undertaking, demonstrated its continued commitment to the business and its future.

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According to him, the development would strengthen the relationship between existing and incoming shareholders as the company prepares to enter the Botswana Stock Exchange.

Beyond the revised shareholding arrangement, the Supplementary Prospectus incorporates the Group’s audit-reviewed interim financial results for the six months ended June 30, 2026, showing a significant improvement in profitability and underwriting performance.

The company’s profit before tax surged by approximately 352 per cent to P79.2 million, compared with P17.5 million recorded during the corresponding period of 2025.

Similarly, profit after tax increased by approximately 902 per cent, rising to P64.4 million from P6.4 million in the previous year’s comparable period.

Insurance revenue also recorded growth, increasing by 2.4 per cent to P1.213 billion, reflecting continued business activity and revenue generation across the Group’s operations.

The company also reported a notable improvement in its underwriting performance, with its underwriting margin rising to 6.8 per cent from 4.2 per cent in the corresponding period of the previous year.

The improved margin points to stronger underwriting results during the period, complementing the significant growth recorded in the Group’s overall profitability.

As of June 30, 2026, Continental Reinsurance Holdings reported total assets of P3.27 billion and shareholders’ equity of P1.43 billion, providing further insight into its financial position ahead of the proposed public listing.

Despite the changes to the offer structure and the improved financial performance, the company said its offer price would remain unchanged at P1.00 per share.

Continental Reinsurance Holdings is maintaining its target of raising USD30 million in new growth capital through the offer for subscription. The funds are expected to support the Group’s growth ambitions and strengthen its capacity to pursue opportunities within the reinsurance market.

The Public Offer will remain open until 15:30 on Friday, November 20, 2026, while the company’s listing on the Main Board of the Botswana Stock Exchange is scheduled for December 10, 2026, subject to the fulfilment of applicable listing requirements.

The company has also made provisions for investors who submitted applications before the publication of the Supplementary Prospectus to reconsider their investment decisions in light of the revised offer.

Such investors may maintain, amend or withdraw their existing applications. However, the deadline for submitting amendment or withdrawal notices is November 11, 2026.

Applications for which no amendment or withdrawal notice is received by the stipulated deadline will remain valid and unchanged.

The Supplementary Prospectus is expected to be read alongside the original Prospectus dated August 4, 2026. Both documents are available on the company’s website, www.continental-re.com, as well as through its sponsor, Motswedi Securities.

With the retention of a major existing shareholder, a five-year commitment against an early exit, and substantially improved interim financial results, Continental Reinsurance Holdings is seeking to reinforce investor confidence as it moves closer to its planned entry into the Botswana capital market.

Continental Reinsurance Strengthens IPO Appeal As Major Shareholder Commits To Five-Year Stake Retention

Lasaco Assurance Retains A(NG) Rating as Revenue Rises 35.2% to N30.8bn

Lasaco Assurance Plc has retained its A(NG) national-scale financial strength rating for the 2025/2026 rating period, following an affirmation by Global Credit Rating Co. (GCR), with a stable outlook, in a development that highlights the insurer’s capital position and ongoing growth strategy.

The rating affirmation reflects the company’s risk-adjusted capital base, adequate liquidity and efforts to strengthen its underwriting capacity amid competition and evolving demands in Nigeria’s insurance industry.

According to the company, its financial performance was supported by a significant capital injection in 2026, which strengthened its capacity to underwrite larger and higher-value risks. The additional capital is expected to support its expansion plans and improve its ability to manage the financial risks associated with its insurance operations.

Lasaco Assurance recorded a 35.2 per cent increase in insurance revenue to N30.8 billion in 2025, reflecting growth across its business lines. The performance underscores the company’s efforts to expand its business portfolio and deepen its presence in the Nigerian insurance market.

Despite the revenue growth, the insurer continues to face underwriting performance pressures, making improved risk selection, pricing discipline and cost management important to its drive for stronger profitability.

The company is pursuing a range of strategic initiatives aimed at expanding retail insurance penetration, accelerating digitalisation and strengthening partnerships to attract new customers and improve service delivery.

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These initiatives are also expected to support wider access to insurance products, improve operational efficiency and strengthen the company’s competitive position in a market where insurers are increasingly seeking innovative ways to reach individuals and businesses.

Lasaco Assurance’s diversified business portfolio remains a key component of its growth strategy, with several business lines contributing to its revenue. The company is also prioritising improved underwriting discipline and more effective use of reinsurance capacity to manage exposure to large claims and reduce earnings volatility.

Reinsurance enables insurers to transfer part of their risks to other insurance providers, helping them manage large exposures and preserve their financial capacity. For Lasaco Assurance, effective deployment of reinsurance arrangements is part of its broader effort to balance business expansion with risk management.

Commenting on the rating affirmation, the company’s Managing Director, Ademoye Shobo, expressed satisfaction with the recognition, describing it as a validation of the efforts and resilience of the company’s workforce.

“Lasaco Assurance is proud of this recognition, which validates the hard work and resilience of our team. Nonetheless, we remain fervently committed to continuous improvement and are actively working to elevate our rating through enhanced underwriting practices, operational excellence, and strategic growth,” Shobo said.

The company said its strengthened capital base and improved liquidity coverage had positioned it to pursue sustainable growth over the rating outlook period.

However, sustaining the positive momentum will depend on its ability to translate revenue growth into improved underwriting results, maintain adequate liquidity and manage risks effectively as its business expands.

The insurer’s emphasis on operational efficiency and disciplined underwriting reflects the need to balance growth with profitability, particularly in an industry where claims obligations, pricing pressures and changing market conditions can affect financial performance.

Lasaco Assurance also aims to increase its market share while delivering value to policyholders through improved products and service delivery. Its digitalisation strategy and retail market expansion are expected to play important roles in reaching more customers and strengthening its distribution channels.

The continued affirmation of its A(NG) rating provides a positive signal about the company’s financial strength within the national rating scale. However, the rating does not eliminate the operational and underwriting risks associated with its business.

As Lasaco Assurance advances its growth agenda, its ability to sustain revenue expansion, strengthen underwriting profitability and maintain sound capital and liquidity positions will remain important to its long-term performance and standing in Nigeria’s insurance sector.

Lasaco Assurance Retains A(NG) Rating as Revenue Rises 35.2% to N30.8bn

NAICOM revokes Universal Insurance licence over ₦15bn capital shortfall

The National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) has revoked the operating licence of Universal Insurance Plc and appointed a receiver/provisional liquidator to take control of the company and commence the process of winding up its affairs.

The Universal Insurance licence revocation took effect on August 14, 2026, following the insurer’s failure to meet the prescribed Minimum Capital Requirement (MCR) applicable to its category of business within the stipulated compliance period.

NAICOM conveyed the decision in a notice dated August 13 and addressed to the chairman of Universal Insurance’s board of directors. The commission said the action was taken under the powers granted to it by the Nigerian Insurance Industry Reform Act (NIIRA) 2025.

Under NIIRA 2025, existing insurers were required to meet significantly higher capital thresholds. For non-life insurance companies, the minimum capital requirement was raised to ₦15 billion, while life insurers are required to maintain at least ₦10 billion and reinsurers ₦35 billion. The law also empowers NAICOM to cancel an insurer’s licence where regulatory breaches are not remedied within the prescribed period. (NAICOM)

Following the licence cancellation, NAICOM appointed Ogbonna Chukwumerije, a partner at Pinheiro LP, as Receiver/Provisional Liquidator of Universal Insurance.

According to the appointment letter dated August 14, Chukwumerije is required to immediately trace, recover, secure and take possession of the insurer’s assets. He is also mandated to collate the company’s liabilities and facilitate their settlement in accordance with NIIRA 2025.

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The receiver is further expected to liaise with NAICOM on information available to the commission and submit periodic reports on the progress of the receivership and liquidation process.

In a separate public notice dated August 18, 2026, Chukwumerije informed banks, financial institutions, policyholders, creditors, debtors, customers and members of the public that Universal Insurance had entered receivership.

He said his appointment followed NAICOM’s cancellation of the company’s licence over its failure to meet the applicable minimum capital requirement.

Chukwumerije said he was empowered under NIIRA 2025 and the terms of his appointment to assume management and control of Universal Insurance and take necessary steps to preserve, protect and realise its assets.

He also directed individuals and institutions dealing with the company’s funds, assets, records, policies, claims and liabilities to verify the authority of anyone claiming to act on behalf of Universal Insurance.

Banks and other financial institutions were specifically advised not to honour or process any instruction, mandate, withdrawal, transfer or payment direction purportedly issued on behalf of the insurer unless it had been authorised by the receiver.

The regulatory action comes after Universal Insurance had made several efforts to raise fresh capital ahead of NAICOM’s recapitalisation deadline.

In February 2026, shareholders approved a plan authorising the company to raise up to ₦15 billion in fresh capital through options including a public offer, private placement, rights issue or other approved fundraising methods.

The company also announced that it had completed a ₦1.5 billion statutory deposit with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) as part of the recapitalisation requirements. The payment consisted of an additional ₦1.165 billion alongside an earlier ₦335 million deposit. (The Guardian Nigeria)

Universal Insurance had expressed confidence that its recapitalisation efforts would enable it to meet NAICOM’s requirements. However, the subsequent licence cancellation indicates that the company did not satisfy the applicable MCR within the regulatory compliance period.

The development highlights the increasing pressure on insurance companies in Nigeria following the implementation of NIIRA 2025, which seeks to strengthen insurers’ financial capacity, improve risk absorption and enhance protection for policyholders.

For Universal Insurance policyholders, creditors and other stakeholders, the immediate process will now be managed through the receivership and liquidation framework, with the appointed receiver responsible for securing the company’s assets, determining its liabilities and taking steps required under the law.

The cancellation also underscores NAICOM’s determination to enforce the new insurance recapitalisation requirements, as insurers that fail to meet the revised capital thresholds face regulatory measures that can include licence cancellation, receivership, mergers or liquidation.

NAICOM revokes Universal Insurance licence over ₦15bn capital shortfall