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TOWER LIMITED — Capital/Financing Update 2021
Mar 17, 2021
65971_rns_2021-03-17_5850320a-f8a3-416b-8c43-676b5246855b.pdf
Capital/Financing Update
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Tower Limited Level 14, 45 Queen Street Auckland 1142, New Zealand ARBN 645 941 028 Incorporated in New Zealand
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Market Information NZX Limited Level 1, NZX Centre 11 Cable Street Wellington New Zealand
Company Announcements Office ASX Limited Exchange Centre Level 6, 20 Bridge Street Sydney NSW 2000 Australia
18 March 2021
Tower further strengthens solvency position
Tower Insurance welcomes Reserve Bank of New Zealand (RBNZ)’s decision to confirm a reduction in the minimum solvency margin required to be held by Tower under its licence condition from $50m to $25m. The reduction recognises Tower’s decreasing risk related to the Canterbury earthquakes.
Tower CEO, Blair Turnbull says the Kiwi Insurer has a very strong balance sheet.
Tower’s solvency margin as at 30 September 2020 was $140m after adjusting to include the EQC Receivable settlement of $42m. This was $90m above the minimum solvency margin of $50m, increasing to $115m above following the reduction of the minimum solvency margin to $25m.
The remaining $25m licence condition will be maintained due to residual uncertainty related to the Canterbury earthquakes, which Tower is confident is both reducing and is being managed effectively. The licence condition will be reviewed by RBNZ in 12 months.
Mr Turnbull says this change is another positive step forward for Tower which has continued to strengthen its capital and solvency structure while investing in new digital technologies.
More than 270,000 Tower customer policies are now on Tower’s leading, cloud-based digital and data platform. As a result of simplified online processes, two-thirds of new business is now coming through online channels and close to half of all claims are being logged online.
In February Tower announced its intention to pay an interim dividend as at 31 March 2021, to be confirmed at its half year results announcement in May 2021.
ENDS
This announcement has been authorised by the Tower Board
TOWER Blair Turnbull Chief Executive Officer Tower Limited ARBN 645 941 028 Incorporated in New Zealand
For media enquiries, please contact in the first instance: Emily Davies Head of Corporate Affairs and Reputation Tower Limited Mobile: +64 21 815 149 Email: [email protected]