Tower to raise $70.8m at 45 per cent discount

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Tower wants to raise $70.8 million at a 45 per cent discount to bolstered its balance sheet while it continues to contend with escalating costs from the Canterbury earthquakes seven years ago. The insurer narrowed its annual loss.

The Auckland-based company will sell shares at 42 cents apiece in a one-for-one pro-rata renounceable entitlement offer fully underwritten by Goldman Sachs New Zealand, it said in a statement. Suncorp Group subsidiary Vero Insurance, which would have paid $1.40 a share to buy Tower had it not been blocked by the regulator, has committed to the capital raise.

Tower said the offer is a 29 per cent discount to the theoretical ex-rights price of 59 cents, based on the shares last trading price at 76 cents. The stock has dropped 9 per cent this year. It had two suitors keen on taking it over when the share price bottomed out last year after it suspended dividends in the face of mounting Canterbury earthquake claims.

"That capital will provide Tower with a strong, durable base to appropriately manage risk and give confidence that the legacy of Canterbury is adequately provided for," chair Michael Stiassny said in a statement. "We are confident that investment will not only unlock that potential, but also deliver a true step change in results and long-term value for shareholders."

Tower reported a net loss attributable to shareholders of $8.5m, or 5.02 cents per share, in the 12 months ended September 30, narrowing from a loss of $22.3m, or 13.21 cents, a year earlier when it wore an impairment charge of $19.6m after writing down the value of software. The latest period included $3.5m of fees attached to the Vero and Fairfax Financial Holdings bids.

The bottom line was also hit by a $1.6m increase in outstanding claims from the Canterbury quakes, taking the annual expense to $11.4m, and an additional $7.2m risk margin.

The board decided to create an additional risk margin of $10m above what the appointed actuary recommended, citing the complexity of the Canterbury claims and the ongoing uncertainty. As at September 30, Tower had gross outstanding Canterbury claims of $117.2m on 323 open claims.

The new capital raised will let Tower repay a $30m loan to Bank of New Zealand and increase its surplus margin above the Reserve Bank's solvency capital requirements.
"Tower recognises the need for capital in the medium-term, however, remains strongly committed to paying dividends and the efficient management of capital," the insurer said. "The Tower board will review the dividend policy and look to recommence dividends in FY18."

The insurer's net premium revenue edged up 1.2 per cent to $256.9m, while net claims costs increased 1.1 per cent to $187.6m, due largely to a reduction in reinsurance recoveries. Underlying profit fell 10 percent to $18m, which Tower blamed on the high number of natural events.