ZSA - Zurich Insurance Company South Africa Limited - Announcement of the2 Sep 2010
ZSA
ZSA                                                                             
ZSA - Zurich Insurance Company South Africa Limited - Announcement of the       
unaudited group results for the six months ended 30 June 2010                   
Zurich Insurance Company South Africa Limited                                   
(Incorporated in the Republic of South Africa)                                  
(Registration number 1965/006764/06)                                            
Share code: ZSA  ISIN: ZAE000094496                                             
("Zurich" or "the Group" or "the Company")                                      
ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE UNAUDITED GROUP RESULTS FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED 30 JUNE    
2010                                                                            
*  Underwriting profitability restored                                          
* Business transformation programme on track                                    
* Combined ratio improves from 113.2% to 99.4% in six months                    
Condensed statement of financial performance for the six months ended 30 June   
2010                                                                            
                          Six       Six                                         
months    months            Year                      
                          ended     ended             ended                     
                          30 June   30 June           31 December               
                          2010      2009       %      2009                      
Change                           
Rand thousands             Unaudited Unaudited         Audited                  
Gross written insurance                                                         
premium                    2,426,538 2,872,055  (16%)  5,404,362                
Insurance premium ceded                                                         
to reinsurers              (535,480) (672,143)         (1,139,621)              
Net written insurance                                                           
premium                    1,891,058 2,199,912  (14%)  4,264,741                
Net insurance premium                                                           
earned                     1,876,009 2,221,796  (16%)  4,265,262                
Reinsurance commission                                                          
earned                     77,897    62,381            137,380                  
Other income               12,823    3,711             28,007                   
Net investment income      96,206    161,262           329,163                  
Net income                 2,062,935 2,449,150  (16%)  4,759,812                
Net insurance claims       1,321,192 1,683,944  (22%)  3,670,143                
Gross commission           377,646   407,678    (7%)   809,691                  
Administrative and other                                                        
operating expenses         422,710   227,245    86%    565,052                  
Expenses                   2,121,548 2,318,867  (9%)   5,044,886                
(Loss)/profit before tax   (58,613)  130,283           (285,074)                
Income tax                                                                      
credit/(expense)           15,958    (23,854)          100,509                  
(Loss)/profit after tax    (42,655)  106,429    (140%)  (184,565)               
Earnings per share                                                              
(cents)                    (350.2)   873.8      (140%)  (1,515.4)               
Condensed statement of comprehensive income                                     
for the six months ended 30 June 2010                                           
Six        Six                                          
                        months     months             Year                      
                        ended      ended              ended                     
                        30 June    30 June            31 December               
2010       2009       %       2009                      
                                              Change                            
Rand thousands           Unaudited  Unaudited          Audited                  
(Loss)/profit for the                                                           
period                   (42,655)   106,429            (184,565)                
Other comprehensive                                                             
income                                                                          
Foreign currency                                                                
translation difference   336        (1,170)            -                        
Gains/(losses) on                                                               
valuations               -          -                  116,978                  
Realised gains on                                                               
available-for-sale                                                              
financial assets         -          (16,082)           (108,631)                
Unrealised gains on                                                             
available-for-sale                                                              
financial assets         23,705      -                 -                        
Impairment losses        -          -                  1,539                    
Statutory contingency                                                           
reserve                  -          (20,136)           -                        
Taxation                 (3,334)    1,975              (2,321)                  
Total comprehensive                                                             
(loss)/income for the                                                           
period                   (21,948)   71,016     (131%)  (177,000)                
Condensed statement of financial position                                       
as at 30 June 2010                                                              
                        Six        Six                                          
                        months     months            Year                       
ended      ended             ended                      
                        30 June    30 June           31 December                
                        2010       2009      %       2009                       
                                             Change                             
Rand thousands           Unaudited  Unaudited         Audited                   
Assets                                                                          
Other assets             133,728    335,580           147,500                   
Investments              1,798,315  1,779,283         1,912,749                 
Reinsurance assets       966,472    876,872           716,568                   
Current assets           1,076,564  1,110,951         1,150,629                 
Deferred taxation asset  93,581     -                 75,199                    
Cash and cash                                                                   
equivalents              1,384,705  1,310,456         1,032,696                 
Total assets             5,453,365  5,413,142 0.7%    5,035,341                 
Equity and liabilities                                                          
Total equity             1,632,285  1,880,226         1,662,179                 
Deferred taxation                                                               
liability                -          22,124            -                         
Employee benefits                                                               
obligation               40,365     18,574            31,272                    
Insurance liabilities    2,551,951  2,449,094         2,298,714                 
Other liabilities        1,228,764  1,043,124         1,043,176                 
Total equity and                                                                
liabilities              5,453,365  5,413,142 0.7%    5,035,341                 
Condensed statement of changes in equity                                        
as at 30 June 2010                                                              
                               Six       Six                                    
                               months    months     Year                        
ended     ended      ended                       
                               30 June   30 June    31 December                 
                               2010      2009       2009                        
Rand thousands                  Unaudited Unaudited  Audited                    
Share capital                   3,045     3,045      3,045                      
Share premium                   1,605     1,605       1,605                     
Revaluation reserve             228,975   163,165    208,605                    
Share-based payment reserve     -         145,227    -                          
Translation reserve             (31,326)  (23,933)   (31,662)                   
Statutory contingency reserve   449,291   445,195    414,174                    
Retained profit                 980,695   1,143,063  1,063,553                  
Non-controlling interests       -         2,859      2,859                      
Balance at end of the period    1,632,285 1,880,226  1,662,179                  
Condensed cash flow statement                                                   
for the six months ended 30 June 2010                                           
                               Six        Six                                   
months     months     Year                       
                               ended      ended      ended                      
                               30 June    30 June    31 December                
                               2010       2009       2009                       
Rand thousands                  Unaudited  Unaudited  Audited                   
Cash retained from operating                                                    
activities                      223,802    322,423    61,637                    
- Cash flows from operations    41,041     194,960    (117,151)                 
- Dividend and interest income  102,091    140,603    226,895                   
- Taxation paid                 80,670     (13,140)   (48,107)                  
Dividends paid                  -          (17,051)   (17,051)                  
Cash effect of investing                                                        
activities                      128,207    (118,726)  (135,700)                 
Net movement in cash and cash                                                   
equivalents                     352,009    186,646    (91,114)                  
Cash and cash equivalents at                                                    
beginning of the period         1,032,696  1,123,810  1,123,810                 
Cash and cash equivalents at                                                    
end of the period               1,384,705  1,310,456  1,032,696                 
Notes                                                                           
1. Accounting policies and basis of preparation                                 
The financial results have been prepared in accordance with International       
Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS), in particular IAS34 - Interim Financial   
Reporting. The principal policies used in the presentation of the unaudited     
results for the period ended 30 June 2010 are consistent with those applied in  
the Annual Financial Statements for the year ended 31 December 2009.            
                        Six months  Six months          Year                    
                        ended       ended               ended                   
30 June     30 June             31 December             
                        2010        2009        %       2009                    
                                                Change                          
Rand thousands           Unaudited   Unaudited           Audited                
2. Financial highlights                                                         
  (Loss)/profit for                                                             
  the period            (42,655)    106,429     (140%)  (184,565)               
  Adjusted for:                                                                 
Loss/(gains) on                                                               
  disposal of plant                                                             
  and equipment         700         -                   1,466                   
  Gains on disposal of                                                          
available-for-sale                                                            
  financial assets      -           (23,053)            (107,091)               
  Impairment of                                                                 
  available-for-sale                                                            
financial assets      3,595       -                   -                       
  Add tax effect        (602)       3,228               16,730                  
  Headline earnings     (38,962)    86,604      (145%)  (273,460)               
  Headline earnings                                                             
per share (cents)     (319.9)     711.1               (2,245.2)               
  Earnings per share                                                            
  (cents)               (350.2)     873.8               (1,515.4)               
  Dividends paid per                                                            
share (cents)         -           140.0               140.0                   
  Number of shares in                                                           
  issue                 12,179,500  12,179,500          12,179,500              
  Net asset value per                                                           
share (cents)         13,402      15,438      (13%)   13,647                  
  International                                                                 
  solvency margin (%)   41.3        43.1        (4%)    39.0                    
  Combined ratio (%)    99.4        101.1       2%      113.2                   
Six        Six                                
                                  months     months     Year                    
                                  ended      ended      ended                   
                                  30 June    30 June    31 December             
2010       2009       2009                    
Rand thousands                     Unaudited  Unaudited  Audited                
3. Segmental information                                                        
  Gross written insurance                                                       
premium                                                                       
  Property                        872,492    945,531    1,784,433               
  Transport                       95,964     96,800     195,025                 
  Motor                           1,110,152  1,341,827  2,593,873               
Engineering                     198,815    350,055    557,137                 
  Guarantee                       (582)      (4,032)    (12,942)                
  Liability                       55,837     50,470     111,313                 
  Accident & Health               93,856     91,226     175,295                 
Miscellaneous                   4          178        228                     
  Total insurance premium                                                       
  income                          2,426,538  2,872,055  5,404,362               
  Net income                                                                    
Property                        569,857    596,515    1,221,757               
  Transport                       76,650     84,219     162,297                 
  Motor                           1,060,768  1,315,845  2,490,270               
  Engineering                     167,872    174,708    365,411                 
Guarantee                       48         36,750     (26,054)                
  Liability                       54,467     56,939     104,053                 
  Accident & Health               50,841     12,714     82,658                  
  Miscellaneous                   (26,597)   6,487      2,250                   
Other                           109,029    164,973    357,170                 
  Total net income                2,062,935  2,449,150  4,759,812               
  General insurance result                                                      
  Property                        (17,061)   (6,352)    (153,595)               
Transport                       13,528     3,688      4,269                   
  Motor                           23,812     (7,054)    (284,809)               
  Engineering                     23,449     (9,264)    (40,002)                
  Guarantee                       (21,248)   (67)       (97,236)                
Liability                       (3,911)    1,905      6,880                   
  Accident & Health               (744)      (2,380)    346                     
  Miscellaneous                   (7,070)    (4,992)    (2)                     
  Net underwriting result         10,755     (24,516)   (564,149)               
Attributable investment                                                       
  income                          43,911     55,263     105,821                 
  General insurance result        54,666     30,747     (458,328)               
                     Six months   Six months            Year                    
ended        ended                 ended                   
                     30 June      30 June               31 December             
                     2010         2009          %       2009                    
                                                Change                          
Rand thousands        Unaudited    Unaudited             Audited                
4. Supplementary                                                                
  income statement                                                              
  Gross written                                                                 
insurance premium  2,426,538    2,872,055     (16%)   5,404,362               
  Insurance premium                                                             
  ceded to                                                                      
  reinsurers         (535,480)    (672,143)             (1,139,621)             
Net written                                                                   
  insurance premium  1,891,058    2,199,912     (14%)   4,264,741               
  Net insurance                                                                 
  premium earned     1,876,009    2,221,796     (16%)   4,265,262               
Net insurance                                                                 
  claims             (1,321,192)  (1,683,944)           (3,670,143)             
  Net commission                                                                
  incurred           (299,749)    (345,297)             (672,310)               
Administrative                                                                
  and other                                                                     
  operating                                                                     
  expenses           (244,313)    (217,071)             (486,958)               
Net underwriting                                                              
  result             10,755       (24,516)      144%    (564,149)               
  Attributable                                                                  
  investment income  43,911       55,263        (21%)   105,821                 
General insurance                                                             
  result             54,666       30,747        78%     (458,328)               
  Impairments on                                                                
  available-for-                                                                
sale                                                                          
  financial assets   (3,595)      (1,539)               (1,539)                 
  Non-technical                                                                 
  expenses           (168,033)    (5,833)               (50,087)                
Investment income  60,639       85,339                121,073                 
  Investment                                                                    
  expenses           (2,290)      (1,484)               (4,824)                 
  Net realised                                                                  
gains on disposal                                                             
  of investments     -            23,053                108,631                 
  (Loss)/profit                                                                 
  before tax         (58,613)     130,283               (285,074)               
Income tax                                                                    
  credit/(expense)   15,958       (23,854)              100,509                 
  (Loss)/profit                                                                 
  after tax          (42,655)     106,429               (184,565)               
Comments                                                                        
The underwriting result reflects a surplus of R10.8 million compared to a       
deficit of R24.5 million in the comparative period last year and the general    
insurance result (which includes attributable investment income) improved from  
R30.7 million to R54.7 million.                                                 
Gross premium income declined by 16% from R2.9 billion to                       
R2.4 billion. This is in line with the Company`s stated strategy to focus on    
profitability and combined ratio improvement. Claims at R1.3 billion are down   
22% on 2009 (R1.7 billion) and the initiatives currently underway to reshape the
claims and underwriting environment are contributing to the positive            
underwriting result.                                                            
Investment income attributable to insurance operations declined by 21% and was  
mainly impacted by changes in interest rates. Non-technical expenses increased  
sharply to R168 million (2009: R5.8 million) but include a provision of R127    
million, in terms of IFRS, for the full cost of the business transformation     
programme that was embarked on in February 2010. This programme, which will     
create a strong platform for future profitable growth, is already having a      
positive impact on underwriting results. In addition, non-technical expenses    
include a management fee of R32.7 million which came into effect in January 2010
and is payable to the majority shareholder.                                     
Other investment income was influenced by market movements and declined by 29%  
to R60.6 million.                                                               
The Group`s cash flows remain sound and the balance sheet reflects cash and cash
equivalents of R1.4 billion. At 41.3%, the solvency ratio remains within the    
target range as set by the Board. Net asset value decreased by 13% to R134.02   
per share at the end of the period.                                             
Having regard to the decrease in earnings per share, the Directors have decided 
not to declare an interim dividend.                                             
Changes in directorate                                                          
Steve Phiri, who represented Royal Bafokeng Finance, resigned as a Director on 5
May 2010 and Pieter Rorich was appointed to replace him on 1 September 2010. The
Board thanked Steve for the very significant contribution he made to the        
Company.                                                                        
Ivan Perez resigned as Acting Group Company Secretary on                        
31 May 2010 and George Kostopoulos was appointed as Group Company Secretary on  
17 June 2010.                                                                   
Audit                                                                           
The information set out in the announcement has not been audited or reviewed.   
Compliance                                                                      
The Group complies in all material respects with the Listings Requirements of   
the JSE Limited and the King Report Code of Corporate Practices and Conduct.    
By order of the Board                                                           
Johannesburg                                                                    
2 September 2010                                                                
Board of Directors                                                              
JPG de Rauville (Independent Non-Executive Chairman)                            
GRC Munnoch (Chief Executive Officer)                                           
P Bezuidenhout (Chief Financial Officer)                                        
JPM Deiss (Non-Executive)                                                       
S Mader (Non-Executive)                                                         
MN Mbekeni (Independent Non-Executive)                                          
DD Mokgatle (Independent Non-Executive)                                         
SG Morris (Independent Non-Executive)                                           
PC Rorich (Non-Executive) (appointed 1 September 2010)                          
Transfer secretaries                                                            
Computershare Investor Services (Pty) Limited                                   
70 Marshall Street                                                              
Johannesburg                                                                    
2001                                                                            
Group Company Secretary and registered office                                   
George Kostopoulos                                                              
Zurich Insurance Company South Africa Limited                                   
(Registration number 1965/006764/06)                                            
15 Marshall Street, Ferreirasdorp, Johannesburg, 2001                           
(PO Box 61489, Marshalltown, 2107)                                              
Sponsor                                                                         
RAND MERCHANT BANK (A division of FirstRand Bank Limited)                       
1 Merchant Place                                                                
Cnr Fredman Drive and Rivonia Road                                              
Sandton                                                                         
2196                                                                            
Date: 02/09/2010 12:00:01 Produced by the JSE SENS Department.                  
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