ANZ sells OnePath Life NZ for NZ$700m
Australian and New Zealand Banking Group’s (ANZ’s) New Zealand unit has agreed to sell OnePath Life NZ Limited for NZ$700 million to specialist insurance business Cigna Corporation.
The sale also included a 20-year strategic alliance for Cigna to provide insurance solutions for ANZ bank customers and was consistent with ANZ’s strategy of simplifying its business, ANZ New Zealand CEO David Hisco said.
“Under this agreement, ANZ will continue to provide life insurance to our customers but these insurance policies will now be manufactured and managed by a world-class insurance provider in Cigna,” he said.
“This is consistent with how we provide motor vehicle, home, commercial and travel insurance using a range of specialist insurance partners.”
OnePath Life said its policyholders in New Zealand would continue to receive the cover they hold under the terms of their policies and it is intended all staff involved would be offered similar roles with Cigna or ANZ.
Cigna New Zealand CEO Gail Costa said the acquisition and strategic alliance diversified the company’s distribution capabilities.
“This acquisition will enable us to provide broader solutions and be more agile and responsive to a larger customer base,” she said.
Recommended for you
Policy and advocacy specialist Benjamin Marshan has left the Council of Australian Life Insurers after less than a year, having joined in March from the Financial Planning Association of Australia.
The declining volume of risk advisers meant KPMG has found a rising lapse rate for insurance policies arranged by independent financial advisers, particularly in the TPD and death cover space.
The Life Insurance Code of Practice has transferred from the Financial Services Council to the Council of Australian Life Insurers.
The firm has announced it will no longer be writing new life insurance policies in the retail advised and corporate group insurance channels, citing a declining market and risk adviser numbers.