Contract Performance Guarantees

Unlock your capital. Fortify your business. Secure your growth.

Credeq Contract Performance Guarantees give businesses the freedom to grow — releasing capital, diversifying funding, and delivering with certainty. We understand your world, and we move at the speed your business needs.

  • Market-leading performance guarantees
  • Backed by Swiss Re International (AA- rated), giving clients the same certainty as major-bank strength – without the red tape
  • Delivered with Credeq speed and certainty

A guarantee of greater understanding

Credeq takes the time to understand your business, your cycle, and your ambitions.

That’s why leading contractors and miners across Australia and New Zealand choose us
— not just for the facility, but for a partner who backs their business with certainty.

How Contract Performance Guarantees work

A Contract Performance Guarantee is not insurance – it is a guarantee that stands behind your performance — giving beneficiaries the security they need without draining your working capital.

Unlike traditional alternatives like bank guarantees and cash retentions, it doesn’t typically require cash or assets to be locked away, freeing your balance sheet while still delivering the protection your counterparties expect.

Credeq manages ~$6bn in surety facilities, with limits ranging from $2m to $400m+. Our bonds are issued by Swiss Re International (AA-rated), giving clients the same strength as major-bank strength — without the red tape.

Backing for contractors who think beyond the bank

Credeq backs construction companies across the spectrum — from SMEs and emerging corporates to large, listed groups and multinational corporations. Whether you need a $3 million facility or $500 million, you get direct access to decision-makers who understand your sector, your cycle, your pressures, and your potential.

Our facilities support contractors working in:

Infrastructure roads, rail, water, waste, transmission & data centres
Education, health & defence
Residential, industrial & commercial
Power, utilities & renewables
Mining & resources

Whether you need a $3 million facility or $500 million, you get direct access to decision-makers who understand your sector, your cycle, your pressures, and your potential.

Do you qualify?

Credeq Performance Guarantee facilities are designed for established, well-managed construction businesses with a proven ability to deliver. We look for companies with:

A solid track record
At least three years of profitability
Turnover above $20 million
Net tangible assets of $3 million or more
Strong working capital and cash flow
A track record of retained earnings
Professional financial and operational management
Contracting entities that aren’t held in trust
Technical capability to meet all contractual requirements

What we need from you

To keep the assessment process fast and transparent, we ask applicants to submit the following documentation upfront:

Signed corporate questionnaire / Facility application
Group capability statement
Forecast of peak performance guarantee requirements for the next 12 months
Structure chart of all entities and shareholdings, with a short description of each
Three years of consolidated financial statements
Most recent management accounts
Full summary of banking and finance facilities, including limits, balances, expiries, and pledged security
Order book for current and upcoming projects, detailing client, contract value, timelines, and billing remaining

The Credeq advantage

Bank guarantees and cash retentions tie up capital that could be working harder for your business. Credeq Contract Performance Guarantees free that capital, improving liquidity and resilience, and potentially funding growth. And when the market shifts, we stand with you — because deep understanding drives stronger underwriting.

Unlock your working capital
Let your assets work for you rather than being tied up as collateral.
Long-term backing
Underwriters who understand your sector, your cycle, and your business.
Market-leading service
Surety Online Portal for same-day drafts, same-day bonds, and full facility management, plus direct access to decision-makers.
AA-rated bonds
Swiss Re global strength, delivered with local Credeq expertise.
Commercial partnership
Measured, considered, and built to support you through every phase of the cycle.
End-to-end certainty
Assessment, structuring, and issuance managed entirely in-house by Credeq specialists.

How it works

With the Credeq team, you’re supported at every step — steady, commercial, and committed.

Initial assessment — we review capability, performance, and financials.
Indicative terms — facility limits and pricing issued clearly.
Underwriting — transparent, thorough, and focused on long-term viability.
Facility established and ready for bond issuance — once approved, bonds can be drafted and released the same day.

Note: Applicants with existing payment arrangements (e.g. ATO, tax, financing, or supplier)
or engaged in speculative property developments will not be considered.

Strength
behind you

For more than 17 years, Credeq has served as Swiss Re’s exclusive Surety managing agent in Australia and New Zealand. That partnership puts AA-rated strength behind every bond — trusted by beneficiaries and built to support your business with global credibility.

Trusted by businesses like yours

"The Contract Performance Guarantees team has consistently supported CMC throughout our proud 20+ year history by providing security bonds for our transport, mining, water, and renewable energy construction contracts delivered across Australia for government, public or privately owned clients. As one of Australia’s largest privately owned civil contractors, CMC is trusted by our clients to safely deliver large-scale, complex infrastructure projects that shape communities and drive economic growth. Our partnership with them has been integral to our ongoing success. Their reliability and responsiveness has enabled us to deliver projects of state and national significance while maintaining our reputation for integrity, safety, and exceptional outcomes. They remains a trusted partner for CMC at every step of our journey."
- Peter Kendall, Executive Director and Group Chairman, Civil Mining and Construction
"The Contract Performance Guarantees team has proven to be a reliable and professional partner in the construction industry. Their expertise in the field of contract performance guarantees and their commitment to customer satisfaction have made them our go-to choice for our bonding needs. Throughout our engagement with the them, they have consistently demonstrated a deep understanding of the unique requirements and challenges faced by our company. Their team of experts worked closely with us to assess our needs accurately, providing tailored solutions that aligned perfectly with our project requirements. They exceeded our expectations with their professional approach, expertise, and outstanding customer service. Their ability to tailor solutions to our specific needs, coupled with their efficiency and reliability, sets them apart from other contract performance guarantee providers. We highly recommend them to any construction company seeking reliable and comprehensive bonding services."
- Brett Halvorson, CFO, United Civil Construction Ltd – New Zealand
"The Contract Performance Guarantees team have provided Civmec with bonding capacity for a number of years. We appreciate their continued support, accessibility to senior management and industry knowledge. We look forward to maintaining a strong relationship with them."
- Kevin Deery, Chief Operating Officer, Civmec
"For the past 7+ years, contract performance guarantees have played a key part of enabling and supporting the strategy for our growing business. Over this time, the team have consistently been highly responsive and knowledgeable, tailoring solutions based on a deep understanding of the unique complexities of our business as well as the industries we operate in. We can confidently recommend them to any business seeking a trusted contract performance guarantee partner who truly takes the time to understand their unique needs, and then consistently delivers time and again."
- Kunjan Ganatra, Chief Operating and Financial Officer, McNab
"NRW has worked with the Contract Performance Guarantees team for over 10 years. They know our industry; they know our clients and understand our business. Leveraging their support we have been able to grow our business whilst preserving bank credit lines to fund our expansion. Andrew and the entire Contract Performance Guarantees team invest the time to understand our projects and as a result, can respond quickly to each of our requests and provide valuable advice on wording and terms. We regard them as a trusted business partner for the long term."
- Richard Simons, CFO, NRW Holdings
"The Contract Performance Guarantees team has been part of the Multiplex surety program since 2009 and continues to be a valuable partner to our business."
- Eamonn Morris, Finance Director, Multiplex – Global
"The Contract Performance Guarantees team have taken the time to understand our business and also have a good understanding of the NZ markets we work in. Their approach and products offer us great support and flexibility. I have found them very professional, responsive and great to deal with."
- Ben Lawlor, CEO, CB Civil – New Zealand
"I wish to express my utmost satisfaction with the contract performance guarantee services provided. As a business in the construction industry, we understand the importance of having a reliable contract performance guarantee provider and the team has consistently exceeded our expectations. Their team’s professionalism and expertise have been invaluable to our operations. Their prompt turnaround time for new bonds and communication ensures we are always informed of the progress. I highly recommend them. Their professionalism, expertise, and personalised attention make them the ideal contract performance guarantee provider."
- Ben Baker, CFO, Shadforth's Civil
"We have worked with the Surety team for nearly 15 years. Their products allow us to successfully grow our business by not having funds tied up in bank guarantees. The team works with us to maximise the limit that can be provided. This ensures we can confidently tender for contracts knowing we will be able to meet our contractual requirements. We are constantly impressed with the turnaround times, pricing, accuracy of documentation and their willingness to work with us and our clients."
- Blake Jaenke, CFO, Wormall Civil
"Leighs Construction has been working with the Surety team as a bond provider for several years and we find your service excellent. Our clients are increasingly willing to use Swiss Re-backed bonds, that have the same S&P rating as the trading Banks. This gives us good flexibility in our bonding programme. Bonds are always sent out promptly, often turned around in a day and arriving overnight from Sydney. Overall, we enjoy and value our relationship with the entire team."
- David Jarman, Group CFO, Leighs Constructions NZ
"It has two big benefits. One, better use of capital as assets are not tied up. Two, based on our modelling and apart from small bonds for short periods, it is more cost effective. So, a better use of capital and it saves money. Also, we have a better relationship with the team than we do with the bank. The bank does not invest the same amount of time to understand the dynamics of the business. The surety Relationship Manager (RM) is interested in the business and always reads and understands the information we send them. The bank RM hardly reads the information we send them."
- Craig Mills, CFO, JK Williams Civil Construction
"‘The key benefit is that the bonds are unsecured. A bank guarantee is secured dollar for dollar by cash or a general security agreement which is not efficient as capital is tied up. If we relied on the bank it would struggle to provide the capacity, we need as our bank Relationship Manager and Credit Manager are not as knowledgeable of the construction industry."
- Gareth Adams, CFO, ADCO Constructions

FAQs

  • What’s required to qualify?

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    We back established, well-managed businesses with strong financials, solid capability, and a track record of delivery.

  • Who issues the guarantee?

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    Credeq handles the underwriting, drafting, and administration. The guarantee itself is issued on Swiss Re’s AA-rated paper.

  • How fast can guarantees be issued?

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    For approved facilities, drafts and final guarantees can be issued on the same day.

  • Is a Contract Performance Guarantee an insurance product?

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    No. It’s a security instrument, not an insurance policy. Claims are paid on demand, without the assessment process typical of insurance.

  • What’s the difference between a Contract Performance Guarantee and a Bank Guarantee?

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    A Contract Performance Guarantee is equivalent to a Bank Guarantee in all material respects. It offers the same security to the Beneficiary but is issued by an insurer, not a bank.

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+61 2 7235 5006

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