Tower in trading halt as Suncorp's Vero lifts takeover tilt

Monday 26th June 2017

Tower shares are in a trading halt as the general insurer's board goes through the detail of an increased takeover bid from ASX-listed Suncorp Group's Vero Insurance New Zealand unit.

Vero, which has built up a 19.9 percent stake in its rival, is offering $1.40 a share to take over Tower, valuing it at $236.1 million, up from an earlier price of $1.30 a share, or $219.3 million. Tower chairman Michael Stiassny said the board is "fully assessing the proposal with its advisers" and that trading in the shares have been halted while it evaluates the deal.

The Australian insurer started buying Tower shares in February before announcing its takeover tilt, offering a price that trumped a scheme of arrangement with Canada's Fairfax Financial Holdings at $1.17 a share, valuing the insurer at $197.3 million, that initially won the blessing of shareholders Salt Funds Management and Accident Compensation Corp. The Vero bid needs antitrust approval by the Commerce Commission which is due at the end of the week.

"The Tower board of directors will further update the market as quickly as possible," Stiassny said. "In the meantime, the Tower board make no recommendation in respect of the merits of the Vero proposal."

Tower's board had unanimously backed the Fairfax Financial deal before the Suncorp offer emerged and has since held off from making a recommendation, saying it's still considering both options. The insurer has planned to carve out claims from the Canterbury earthquake into a separate entity as the cost from the South Island disaster six years ago has continued to escalate.

The NZX-listed insurer's shares last traded at $1.155 and have gained 38 percent so far this year. That values Tower at $194.8 million.

(BusinessDesk)

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