By Rebecca Howard
May 21 (BusinessDesk) - Tower turned to a profit in the first half of the year and lifted its full-year guidance as
gross written premiums rose and claims costs fell.
The insurer reported a net profit of $11.9 million in the six months to March 31, up from a loss of $11.6 million in the
prior year. The underlying profit after tax was $19.4 million versus $7.3 million in the prior year. It now expects an
underlying net profit of $26 million in the full year, up from a prior forecast of more than $22 million.
The guidance includes a $5 million allowance for severe weather and large events in the second half and assumes that
loss ratios will return to more normal levels as the winter storm period gets underway.
Tower said gross written premiums grew 8.9 percent in its core New Zealand portfolio while its total claims expense
ratio reduced to 44.5 percent in the first half, down from 55.5 percent in same period a year earlier. Total GWP grew
5.4 percent.
The insurer has been overhauling its business in recent years, including the construction of a central IT platform to
replace what had been a fragmented and complicated backbone.
"Simplifying and improving all aspects of our business to differentiate the company has led to strong growth in gross
written premium and customer numbers, reduced claims costs and contained expenses," it said.
It is poised to launch the new platform in the coming weeks and aims to move 50 percent to 70 percent of all
transactions online.
Tower said it continues to see solid growth through its digital channels, with almost 50 percent of new business sales
being done online in March 2019, up from 39 percent in March 2018.
"Combined with the fact that 18 percent of claims were lodged online in March 2019, this is further proof that our
investment in digital channels is warranted," it said.
In the Pacific, Tower said its businesses in Tonga, Samoa, Vanuatu, American Samoa and the Cook Islands have returned to
growth thanks to additional underwriting, pricing and marketing support for local teams. Papua New Guinea and Fiji are
"returning to profitability," it said. Its underlying profit after tax in the Pacific was $4.2 million versus $200,000
in the first half of last year.
Among other initiatives, it has created a Pacific operations centre with centralised back-office functions to ensure
that pricing and underwriting is consistent across the region and minimises claims leakage, or inefficiencies in
managing claims.
Regarding Canterbury, Tower said its outstanding claims were down to 132, versus 163 at Sept. 30. But it noted that
higher than expected over-cap claims received from the Earthquake Commission led to a $4.7 million after-tax expense for
increased Canterbury provisions.
The latest of those relate to the reopening of closed claims due to "reassessment of the original scope of works, or the
need to remediate poor workmanship and faulty repairs."
Tower said it would continue to push for EQC reports but "it is not our role – nor our shareholders’ responsibility – to
resolve and pay for situations arising from EQC’s past incompetence, and the negligence of its repair providers."
As a result, it will now seek to recoup any costs incurred from settling over-cap claims from EQC where past
incompetence and negligence has contributed to the claim going over-cap.
The company says it has remained focused on costs, despite significant investment. The management expense ratio was 38.7
percent in the first half versus 39 percent in the 2018 financial year. It expects a slight lift in management expenses
in the second half as it migrates customers onto its new platform.
As previously advised, it will pay no dividend in the first half of the financial year. The board intends to pay between
50 percent and 70 percent of the second half 2019 net profit "where prudent to do so," it said.
Tower shares last traded at 78 cents have gained 4.7 percent so far this year.
(BusinessDesk)
ends