UPDATE: Tower shares sink to two-month low

UPDATE: Tower shares sink to two-month low as investors question ability to compete

(Recasts on share price, broker comment)

By Paul McBeth

May 24 (BusinessDesk) - Tower shares dropped to a two-month low after the general insurer posted a wider first-half loss and flat gross written premium income, raising questions about its ability to compete with larger rivals.

The Auckland-based insurer reported a net loss of $8.7 million, or 5.42 cents per share, in the six months ended March 31, from $4.9 million, or 2.99 cents, a year earlier, it said in a statement. That included a $19.6 million impairment charge on its IT system after a review found "our current systems pose limitations to our high-performance ambitions," chairman Michael Stiassny said.

On an underlying basis, earnings dropped 57 percent to $7.6 million in the half with gross written premium flat at $146.2 million, which Stiassny said reflected higher claims and static premiums. Tower's claims ratio rose to 52.1 percent from 44.5 percent a year earlier, and its expense ratio was up to 42.2 percent from 40.9 percent.

The shares fell as low as $1.64, and were recently down 6.8 percent to $1.64, slicing $20.2 million from the value of the company.

"The market wants to see some underlying growth in Tower's activity," said Grant Williamson, a director at Hamilton Hindin Greene in Christchurch. "People are just a little bit cautious that Tower doesn't have the scale any longer to compete effectively against other insurers."

Tower plans to simplify its IT infrastructure that currently operates on multiple platforms, which it said are "difficult for our service people to navigate" and "lack flexibility to price at a granular level or change products and pricing with ease." The insurer is investigating its options to increase productivity, cut costs and improve customer experience, and won't renew its on-market share buyback as it invests in a new IT system.

The company reviewed the value of its software on changing expectations for what new technology platforms will be needed to drive growth in its New Zealand and Pacific businesses. Including amortisation Tower's software was valued at $29.2 million as at March 31, compared with a net book value at cost of $73.1 million.

The general insurer's bottom line was also weighed down by more expensive claims from the spate of Canterbury earthquakes in 2011, and today it recognised a further provision of $2.1 million after tax, down from $22.6 million a year earlier.

Tower has settled 15,260 claims as at March 31, representing 96 percent settled by the number of claims and 89 percent by value. It estimates gross ultimate incurred claims of $822.3 million and continues to receive 'over-cap' claims from the Earthquake Commission.

The board declared an interim dividend of 8.5 cents per share, payable on June 30 to shareholders on the register on June 10, and plans to maintain the annual payout at 16 cents.

The company didn't provide annual earnings guidance.

(BusinessDesk)

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