Loss adjuster Crawford & Co says profit grew 4.29% to $US51 million ($57.13 million) last year, driven by “substantial” growth in the Americas.

Operating earnings in the region grew 55% to $US18.5 million ($20.72 million), despite the stronger US dollar.

However, operating earnings fell 50% to $US32.2 million ($36.07 million) in the Asia-Pacific, Europe, Middle East and Africa segment. This reflects claims from the 2011 floods in Thailand nearing completion.

CEO Jeffrey Bowman says the company is pleased with its performance for the year, but fourth-quarter consolidated operating earnings fell on continuing claims from Superstorm Sandy in northeast US.

The quarter was also hit by “special projects in our Asia-Pacific and legal settlement administration operations, which, as expected, declined during the year”.

Crawford & Co expects profits this year to be between $US52 million ($58.24 million) and $US57 million ($63.84 million).