Westaim reports loss as annuity business gains momentum

Momentum builds in insurance after launch of multi-year offering

Westaim reports loss as annuity business gains momentum

Insurance News

By Paul Lucas

The Westaim Corporation has reported a net loss of $18.7 million for the fourth quarter of 2025, compared with a $21.3 million loss in the same period a year earlier, as the company pointed to growing momentum in its insurance and asset management operations.

For the full year ended December 31, 2025, Westaim recorded a net loss of $38.0 million, widening from a $16.2 million loss in 2024.

Diluted loss per share was $0.56 for Q4 2025, compared with a reported $0.99 diluted figure in Q4 2024. For the full year, diluted loss per share was $1.25, compared with $0.75 in 2024.

Growth in annuity business

Westaim said its insurance segment, primarily through Ceres Life Insurance Company, continued to build momentum following the launch of its multi-year guaranteed annuity (MYGA) products in September 2025.

During the year, the business issued 275 MYGA policies, generating $40 million in premiums. The company also expanded its distribution footprint, ending 2025 with more than 300 active agents.

In February 2026, Ceres launched its fixed index annuity (FIA) offering, which the company said has already led to a rapid acceleration in policy issuance.

For Q4 2025, the insurance segment reported an Adjusted EBITDA loss of $11.6 million, including $0.7 million in platform build-out costs.

Asset management returns to profitability

The asset management segment, operated through Arena Investors Group Holdings, delivered an Adjusted EBITDA profit of $0.4 million in Q4 2025.

This included $15.9 million in performance allocations and fee-related revenues, alongside a $0.5 million gain from investments.

Assets under management (AUM) and programmatic capital increased to $4.5 billion at December 31, 2025, up from $3.4 billion a year earlier. Fee-paying AUM rose to $2.5 billion from $2.4 billion over the same period.

Group financial performance

On a consolidated basis, Westaim reported total revenue of $20.8 million for the fourth quarter. This comprised $15.9 million from asset management, $4.1 million from insurance, and $2.0 million from corporate activity, offset by $1.2 million in eliminations.

Total expenses, excluding depreciation, amortisation and income taxes, were $29.3 million, resulting in a consolidated Adjusted EBITDA loss of $14.7 million.

Loss before income taxes was $17.1 million, with net loss attributable to controlling interests of $18.7 million.

Balance sheet and valuation

As of December 31, 2025, Westaim reported consolidated shareholders’ equity attributable to controlling interests of $653.2 million, with 33,331,704 common shares outstanding.

Book value per fully diluted share stood at $19.60 (CA$26.89), representing a 5.2% discount to market value at year-end and a 6.2% discount to the closing price as of March 25, 2026.

Corporate activity and outlook

Corporate-level activity generated an Adjusted EBITDA loss of $3.5 million in Q4 2025, driven by salaries and benefits of $1.8 million, professional fees of $1.5 million, a $2.5 million investment loss and $1.2 million in operating expenses, partially offset by a $1.3 million share-based compensation recovery.

The company also disclosed that between January 1 and March 31, 2026, a subsidiary disposed of $534,976.48 of assets to funds managed by Arena, transactions it said were not material to the overall business.

Leadership said both the insurance and asset management businesses are progressing in line with strategic plans, with continued focus on scaling annuity issuance and expanding asset management capabilities.

Westaim added that further details on its growth plans are expected to be shared at its upcoming annual general meeting in New York on May 19, 2026.

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