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ZURICH INSURANCE COMPANY S A LTD - Announcement of the unaudited Group results and cash dividend declaration for the six months ended 30 June 2013

Release Date: 01/08/2013 17:11
Code(s): ZSA     PDF:  
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Announcement of the unaudited Group results and cash dividend declaration for the six months ended 30 June 2013

Zurich Insurance Company South Africa Limited
(Incorporated in the Republic of South Africa)
(Registration number 1965/006764/06)
Income tax number: 9325210715
Share code: ZSA   ISIN: ZAE000094496  
("Zurich" or "the Group" or "the Company")

ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE UNAUDITED GROUP RESULTS AND CASH DIVIDEND DECLARATION 
for the six months ended 30 June 2013

"We are pleased to see progress in various strategic initiatives aimed at investing in high-potential growth areas and streamlining the business in all other areas.
These initiatives will gain further momentum into 2014. The growth in gross written premium is in line with expectations, however, the bottom line for the first half 
of the year was disappointing."

Edwyn O'Neill, Chief Executive Officer

-  Interim dividend of 100 cents per share declared
-  Premium volumes improved by 9%
-  Solvency remains strong at 63.7%

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE
for the six months ended 30 June 2013	

                                                                                                      Six months           Six months     
                                                                                                           ended                ended                    Year ended
                                                                                                    30 June 2013         30 June 2012           %       31 Dec 2012
Rand thousands                                                                                         Unaudited            Unaudited      Change           Audited    

Gross written insurance premium                                                                        2,048,909            1,881,783          9%         3,766,534
Insurance premium ceded to reinsurers                                                                   (487,709)            (438,258)                     (828,304)
Net written insurance premium                                                                          1,561,200            1,443,525          8%         2,938,230

Net insurance premium earned                                                                           1,553,513            1,444,581          8%         2,934,445
Reinsurance commission earned                                                                             64,254               56,904                       146,366
Investment income                                                                                        110,041              118,804                       223,965
Other income                                                                                               1,129                3,132                         7,163
Net realised gains on available-for-sale financial assets                                                 29,768                  921                        81,896
Gains on sale of business and associate                                                                                        3,286                         3,286

Net income                                                                                             1,758,705            1,627,628          8%         3,397,121
Net insurance claims                                                                                   1,166,476            1,006,674         16%         2,202,655
Acquisition costs                                                                                        328,406              287,188                       586,011
Administrative and other operating expenses                                                              294,304              286,455                       608,095
Investment expenses                                                                                        2,967                2,832                         5,527
Impairment of available-for-sale financial assets                                                          4,989                2,700                         6,240
Expenses                                                                                               1,797,142            1,585,849         13%         3,408,528

(Loss)/profit from operating activities                                                                  (38,437)              41,779       (192%)          (11,407)
Finance costs                                                                                             (6,375)              (5,500)                      (11,317)
Share of profit in associates                                                                                155                  433                         1,090
(Loss)/profit before tax                                                                                 (44,657)              36,712       (222%)          (21,634)
Income tax                                                                                                24,928               (7,182)                       23,710
(Loss)/profit for the period                                                                             (19,729)              29,530       (167%)            2,076

Earnings per share	 			
Basic and diluted (cents)                                                                                   (162)                 243                            17
				
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
for the six months ended 30 June 2013

                                                                                                      Six months           Six months     
                                                                                                           ended                ended                    Year ended
                                                                                                    30 June 2013         30 June 2012           %       31 Dec 2012
Rand thousands                                                                                         Unaudited            Unaudited      Change           Audited    

(Loss)/profit for the period                                                                             (19,729)              29,530                         2,076
Other comprehensive income		 		
Exchange differences on translating foreign operations                                                     1,087                 (157)                       (4,582)
Net realised gains on available-for-sale financial assets recycled to the statement 
of financial performance                                                                                 (29,768)                (921)                      (81,896)
Impairment losses transferred to statement of financial performance                                        4,989                2,700                         6,240
Net unrealised (losses)/gains on available-for-sale financial assets                                     (10,120)              75,215                       139,621
Income taxation relating to components of other comprehensive income                                       3,605              (10,668)                      (20,132)
Total comprehensive (loss)/income for the period                                                         (49,936)              95,699      (152%)            41,327
				
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION
as at 30 June 2013				

                                                                                                      Six months           Six months     
                                                                                                           ended                ended                    Year ended
                                                                                                    30 June 2013         30 June 2012           %       31 Dec 2012
Rand thousands                                                                                         Unaudited            Unaudited      Change           Audited    

Assets				
Land, buildings and equipment                                                                             61,063               83,781                        73,049
Intangible assets                                                                                         47,585               44,790                        50,433
Investments in associates                                                                                  9,624                5,188                         5,036
Financial instruments                                                                                  3,193,578            2,978,818                     3,161,000
Pre-payments                                                                                             125,822              141,333                       141,065
Deferred acquisition costs                                                                               100,297               95,206                        95,308
Reinsurance assets                                                                                     1,072,267              681,102                       908,562
Deferred taxation asset                                                                                   31,837                                                 
Income taxation asset                                                                                      1,841                                             5,284
Cash and cash equivalents                                                                                625,691              789,802                       611,945
Total assets                                                                                           5,269,605            4,820,020         9%          5,051,682

Equity and liabilities				
Total equity                                                                                           1,945,439            2,086,285                     2,019,733 
Deferred taxation liability                                                                                                   25,417                         8,094 
Employee benefit obligation                                                                               40,753               58,305                        60,224 
Financial liabilities held at amortised cost                                                             107,657              117,875                       109,292 
Insurance liabilities                                                                                  2,407,684            1,902,054                     2,206,203 
Deferred reinsurance commission                                                                           38,481               18,192                        16,346 
Income taxation liability                                                                                  1,075                7,792                             
Trade and other payables                                                                                 718,336              589,525                       620,801 
Provisions                                                                                                10,180               14,575                        10,989 
Total equity and liabilities                                                                           5,269,605            4,820,020        9%           5,051,682 
				
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN EQUITY
as at 30 June 2013				


                                                                                                      Six months           Six months     
                                                                                                           ended                ended                    Year ended
                                                                                                    30 June 2013         30 June 2012           %       31 Dec 2012
Rand thousands                                                                                         Unaudited            Unaudited      Change           Audited    

Share capital and premium                                                                                  4,650                4,650                         4,650
Translation reserve                                                                                      (38,548)             (35,210)                      (39,635)
Revaluation reserve                                                                                      323,358              377,144                       354,651
Statutory contingency reserve                                                                             35,801               32,413                        34,656
Retained income                                                                                        1,620,179            1,707,288                     1,665,411
Balance at end of the period                                                                           1,945,440            2,086,285        (7%)         2,019,733
				
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED CASH FLOW STATEMENT	
for the six months ended 30 June 2013	
                                                                                                      Six months           Six months     
                                                                                                           ended                ended                    Year ended
                                                                                                    30 June 2013         30 June 2012           %       31 Dec 2012
Rand thousands                                                                                         Unaudited            Unaudited      Change           Audited    

Cash effect from operating activities                                                                     76,981             (124,461)                     (141,573)
- Cash flows from operations                                                                             (20,098)            (252,013)                     (358,894)
- Dividend and interest income                                                                           103,666              113,304                       212,648 
- Taxation (paid)/refunded                                                                                (6,587)              14,248                         4,673 
Cash effect from investing activities                                                                    (39,996)             (43,127)                     (191,707)
Cash effect from financing activities                                                                    (24,359)             (24,359)                      (36,539)
Net movement in cash and cash equivalents                                                                 12,626             (191,947)      (107%)         (369,819)
Translation gains/(losses) on cash and cash equivalents                                                    1,120                  (54)                          (39)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of the period                                                     611,945              981,803                       981,803 
Cash and cash equivalents at end of the period                                                           625,691              789,802        (21%)          611,945 

NOTES
These Group results have been prepared under the supervision of the Chief Financial Officer (CFO), Pieter Bezuidenhout, Chartered Accountant (SA), in compliance with 
the requirements of the Companies Act 71 of 2008, as amended.

1.  Accounting policies and basis of preparation
    These condensed consolidated interim financial results for the six months ended 30 June 2013 have been prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting 
    Standards, the preparation and disclosure requirements of IAS 34 - Interim Financial Reporting, the Listings Requirements of the JSE Limited and the requirements 
    of the South African Companies Act 71 of 2008, as amended. The preparation of interim financial statements requires management to make judgements, estimates and 
    assumptions that affect the application of accounting policies and the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, income and expense. Actual results may differ 
    from these estimates. The principal policies used in the presentation of the unaudited results for the period ended 30 June 2013 are consistent with those applied 
    in the Annual Financial Statements for the year ended 31 December 2012.

    Risk management
    The Group is exposed to a variety of financial risks: liquidity risk, market risk (price risk, interest rate risk, currency risk) and credit risk. Insurance activities 
    expose the Group to insurance risk as well as operational, reputational and strategic, legal as well as regulatory risk. The capital risk management philosophy is 
    to maximise the return on shareholders' capital within the Group's risk framework. The interim condensed consolidated financial statements do not include all risk 
    management information and should be read in conjunction with the Group's Annual Financial Statements as at 31 December 2012. There have been no changes in the risk 
    management policies since year-end.

    Segment information
    The segments disclosed are reviewed on a monthly basis and are representative of the internal structure of the Group.

                                                                                                      Six months           Six months     
                                                                                                           ended                ended                    Year ended
                                                                                                    30 June 2013         30 June 2012           %       31 Dec 2012
    Rand thousands                                                                                     Unaudited            Unaudited      Change           Audited    

2.  Financial highlights				
    (Loss)/profit for the period                                                                         (19,729)              29,530       (167%)            2,076 
    Adjusted for:	 		 	 
    Losses on disposal of land, buildings and equipment                                                      529                  240                           664 
    Net gains on disposal of available-for-sale financial assets                                         (29,768)                (921)                      (81,896)
    Gains on sale of business and associate                                                                                   (3,286)                       (3,286)
    Impairment of available-for-sale financial assets                                                      4,989                2,700                         6,240 
    Tax effect                                                                                             4,527                  177                        14,612 
    Headline (loss)/earnings                                                                             (39,452)              28,440       (239%)          (61,590)

    Headline (loss)/earnings per share (cents)                                                              (324)                 234                          (506)
    Earnings per share (cents)                                                                              (162)                 243                            17 
    Ordinary dividends declared per share (cents)                                                            100                  100                           200 
    Dividends paid per share (cents)                                                                         200                  200                           300 
    Number of shares in issue                                                                         12,179,500           12,179,500                    12,179,500 
    Net asset value per share (cents)                                                                     15,973               17,129                        16,583 
    Surplus asset ratio (%)                                                                                  207                  240                           230 
    International solvency margin (%)                                                                       63.7                 73.1       (13%)              68.7 
    Combined ratio (%)                                                                                     109.6                103.3        (6%)             108.8 

3.  Information by line of business				
    Gross written insurance premium				
    Property                                                                                             798,575              695,411        15%          1,404,988 
    Transport                                                                                             77,551               58,928        32%            114,951 
    Motor                                                                                                868,885              839,897         3%          1,667,837 
    Engineering                                                                                          161,386              148,320         9%            323,154
    Guarantee                                                                                              1,259                   19                            84 
    Liability                                                                                             75,522               54,632        38%            110,701 
    Accident and Health                                                                                   65,731               84,576       (22%)           144,819 
    Gross written insurance premium                                                                    2,048,909            1,881,783         9%          3,766,534

    Net income				
    Property                                                                                             524,157              459,050                       953,845 
    Transport                                                                                             50,441               41,940                        83,982 
    Motor                                                                                                842,305              794,280                     1,623,315 
    Engineering                                                                                          129,297              126,312                       265,390 
    Guarantee                                                                                                159                  588                           679 
    Liability                                                                                             39,750               36,657                        75,169 
    Accident and Health                                                                                   31,658               42,658                        78,431 
    Investment income and other                                                                          140,938              126,143                       316,310
    Net income                                                                                         1,758,705            1,627,628         8%          3,397,121
 
    General insurance result				
    Property                                                                                             (81,365)             (47,122)                     (161,115)
    Transport                                                                                             (3,893)              11,480                         6,754 
    Motor                                                                                                (83,727)             (38,606)                     (151,919)
    Engineering                                                                                           (5,772)               5,859                        22,288 
    Guarantee                                                                                              3,471               (1,734)                          108 
    Liability                                                                                              6,396               10,038                         4,478 
    Accident and Health                                                                                   15,235               11,949                        21,093 
    Net underwriting result                                                                             (149,655)             (48,136)     (211%)          (258,313)

    Attributable investment income                                                                        43,605               47,588                        89,770 
    General insurance result                                                                            (106,050)                (548)                     (168,543)

4.  Gross written insurance premium by company				
    Zurich Insurance Company South Africa Limited                                                      1,895,476            1,697,211                     3,403,040
    Zurich Insurance Company Botswana Limited                                                            121,495              114,834                       248,433
    Zurich Risk Financing SA Limited                                                                      31,822               69,048                       113,981
    Zurich Life SA Limited                                                                                   116                  690                         1,080
    Gross written insurance premium                                                                    2,048,909            1,881,783         9%          3,766,534

5.  Gross written insurance premium by customer segment				
    Corporate                                                                                            235,820              159,457        48%            155,158
    Commercial                                                                                         1,299,021            1,269,753         2%          2,678,717
    Personal                                                                                             514,068              452,573        14%            932,659
    Gross written insurance premium                                                                    2,048,909            1,881,783         9%          3,766,534

6.  Supplementary income statement				
    Gross written insurance premium                                                                    2,048,909            1,881,783         9%          3,766,534 
    Insurance premium ceded to reinsurers                                                               (487,709)            (438,258)                     (828,304)
    Net written insurance premium                                                                      1,561,200            1,443,525         8%          2,938,230 

    Net insurance premium earned                                                                       1,553,513            1,444,581         8%          2,934,445 
    Net insurance claims                                                                              (1,166,476)          (1,006,674)       16%         (2,202,655)
    Acquisition costs                                                                                   (264,152)            (230,284)                     (439,645)
    Administrative and other operating expenses                                                         (272,540)            (255,759)        7%           (550,458)
    Net underwriting result                                                                             (149,655)             (48,136)    (211%)           (258,313)
    Attributable investment income                                                                        43,605               47,588                        89,770 
    General insurance result                                                                            (106,050)                (548)                     (168,543)

    Impairment of available-for-sale financial assets                                                     (4,989)              (2,700)                       (6,240)
    Non-technical expenses                                                                               (20,635)             (27,131)                      (57,638)
    Other investment income                                                                               60,216               65,716                       134,418 
    Investment expenses                                                                                   (2,967)              (2,832)                       (5,527)
    Net realised gains on disposal of investments                                                         29,768                4,207                        81,896 
    (Loss)/profit before tax                                                                             (44,657)              36,712      (222%)           (21,634)
    Income tax                                                                                            24,928               (7,182)                       23,710 
    (Loss)/profit for the period                                                                         (19,729)              29,530      (167%)             2,076 
					
COMMENTS
Premium volumes improved by 9% to R2.0 billion compared to the prior year (2012: R1.9 billion) despite soft market conditions. This strong growth is testament to our 
strategy of investing in systems and people in high-potential growth areas. Net earned premium improved by 8% to R1.6 billion (2012: R1.4 billion).

Claims however, increased by 16% to R1.2 billion (2012: R1.0 billion) driven by a sharp increase in attritional losses in the property portfolio and an increase 
in the frequency of claims in the personal lines motor book.

Net acquisition costs, which increased by 14%, were impacted by a change in the portfolio mix and the introduction of regulated binder fees payable to intermediaries. 
Operating expenses increased by only 7% to R272.5 million (2012: R255.8 million) in spite of the investment in systems and people in our growth areas.

The combined effect of the increased claims and binder fees contributed to the underwriting loss of R149.7 million (2012: loss of R48.1 million). Attributable investment 
income at R43.6 million (2012: R47.6 million) is lower than the prior year due to lower interest rates.

Income tax is a recovery of R24.9 million compared to an expense of R7.2 million in 2012 as a result of taxable losses.

The net asset value per share at June 2013 is R160 per share (2012: R171 per share) and the international solvency is 63.7% (2012: 73.1%), with the surplus asset ratio 
at 207% (2012: 240%).

Trading statement
A trading statement was published on SENS on Friday, 28 June 2013 and, although management was able to confirm that earnings for the half year would be at least 100% 
lower than the previous corresponding period, a range could not be determined as uncertainty existed surrounding the potential outcome of an arbitration hearing. The 
outcome of the arbitration hearing should be known on or before Tuesday, 20 August 2013 and shareholders will be informed of the outcome by an announcement released
on SENS.

Prospects 
The Group remains focused on achieving profitable growth and to turning around the underwriting result. Growth is expected to come from the traditional intermediary 
channel and from a number of alternative distribution channels, products and segments that are showing encouraging prospects. Stringent underwriting and rating actions 
aimed at improving loss ratios and the level of binder fees, both of which are considered unsustainable in the longer term, are already receiving management attention.

Changes in Directorate
There have been no changes in the Directorate since the announcement of the full-year results on 6 February 2013.

Audit
The information set out in this announcement has not been audited or reviewed by the Company's auditors, PricewaterhouseCoopers Inc.

Compliance
The Group complies in all material respects with the King Report on Corporate Governance in South Africa and the Listings Requirements of the JSE Limited.

Cash Dividend Declaration No. 80
Notice is hereby given that the Directors have declared a gross interim cash dividend of 100 cents per ordinary share, out of income reserves for the six-month period 
ended 30 June 2013.

The Company has utilised secondary tax credits amounting to 52.58201 cents per share. The balance of the dividend will be subject to a dividend withholding tax at a 
rate of 15%, which will result in a net dividend of 92.88730 cents per share to those shareholders who are not exempt from the dividend tax.

The issued share capital at the declaration date is 12,179,500 ordinary shares.

The salient dates for the dividend will be as follows:
Last day to trade in order to participate in the dividend:                         Friday, 23 August 2013
Shares commence trading ex the dividend from the commencement of business on:      Monday, 26 August 2013
Record date:                                                                       Friday, 30 August 2013
Payment date:                                                                    Monday, 2 September 2013

Share certificates may not be dematerialised or rematerialised between Monday, 26 August 2013 and Friday, 30 August 2013, both days inclusive.

By order of the Board

31 July 2013
Johannesburg

Board of Directors
DD Mokgatle (Independent Non-executive Chairman)
JE O'Neill (Chief Executive Officer)
P Bezuidenhout (Chief Financial Officer)
JPM Deiss (Non-executive)
S Mered (Non-executive)
MN Mbekeni (Independent Non-executive)
SG Morris (Independent Non-executive)
JM Vice (Independent Non-executive)

Transfer Secretaries
Computershare Investor Services Proprietary Limited
70 Marshall Street, Johannesburg 2001

Group Company Secretary and Registered Office
T Heydenrych
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

www.zurich.co.za



Date: 01/08/2013 05:11:00 Produced by the JSE SENS Department. The SENS service is an information dissemination service administered by the JSE Limited ('JSE'). 
The JSE does not, whether expressly, tacitly or implicitly, represent, warrant or in any way guarantee the truth, accuracy or completeness of
 the information published on SENS. The JSE, their officers, employees and agents accept no liability for (or in respect of) any direct, 
indirect, incidental or consequential loss or damage of any kind or nature, howsoever arising, from the use of SENS or the use of, or reliance on,
 information disseminated through SENS.

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