Momentum across the business and strength of opportunity pipeline

Durrant Pate/Contributor

Jamaican-listed Caribbean investment company Eppley has completed its purchase of North West Premium Finance, an insurance premium financing company operating in Trinidad and Tobago.

Our Today has not been able to ascertain the purchase price, but the move is part of a deliberate strategy by Eppley to expand its presence in the twin-island republic, with immediate plans to integrate and grow North West Premium whilst strengthening the business.

The acquisition further expanded Eppley’s wider regional presence and contributed positively to interest income during the just-ended quarter, with its proprietary portfolio growing to $24.2 billion at the end of June 2026, spanning cash, operating leases, loan and lease receivables, and a range of strategic holdings. 

This exposure is built across mezzanine credit, real estate, infrastructure, and asset management, held through a mix of wholly owned subsidiaries, joint ventures, and associated companies. This portfolio has grown through a deliberate focus on capital discipline, directing funding toward opportunities that offer attractive risk-adjusted returns while maintaining credit standards, which reflects the underlying strength of the business, even as the operating environment grows more complex.

Financial performance 

Net Investment Income grew to $550 million for the first half of 2026, up from J$441 million in the prior year period, supported by the growth in gross investment income and a modest decline in interest expense to $338 million from J$343 million. Administrative expenses increased by J$92 million, or 37% year-over-year, to J$338 million, primarily reflecting general inflationary increases, costs associated with our new office space, and the continued expansion of our team.

Fees and other expenses declined to $79 million from $106 million last year, despite higher exchange rate losses during the period. Profit from joint ventures also increased to $147 million, compared with J$139 million a year earlier.

As a result, profit after tax for the first half of 2026 increased by 11% to J$455 million, from $410 million in 2025. Of this amount, $259 million was attributable to shareholders, up from $237 million last year.

The Board of Directors has approved a dividend of 10.2 cents per share, payable on September 23, 2026, to shareholders of record as of September 11, 2026. 

Capitalisation and liquidity 

Consolidated leverage at June 30, 2026, stood at 0.91x of capital with a weighted average cost of borrowing of 8.062%. Cash balances totalled J$1.5 billion at period end. 

The company continues to maintain a strong liquidity position, supplemented by committed standby working capital facilities that give it the flexibility to fund its pipeline and act on new opportunities as they arise. Looking ahead to the second half of 2026, Eppley is encouraged by the momentum across the business and the strength of its opportunity pipeline.

The priorities remain the disciplined deployment of capital, growing assets under management, and delivering improved performance across investment platforms. While the operating environment may remain challenging, Eppley’s diversified platform across credit, real estate, infrastructure and asset management, together with a resilient balance sheet and experienced team, positions us well to deliver sustainable earnings growth and long-term value for shareholders.