Good Returns and Newsroom have both carried pieces raising questions about the deal, which impacts 200,000 policyholders directly.
Good Returns Opinion piece can be found here.
Newsroom's feature is here.
Also policyholder Andrew Body has petitioned Parliament raising concerns around the issue. The petition asks that Parliament "urgently review the Insurance (Prudential Supervision) Act 2010 to ensure New Zealand life insurance policyholders (including AMP Life policyholders) are treated fairly and transparently in the sale and operation of life insurance businesses, through seamless supervision by the FMA and RBNZ."
You can see (and sign) the petition here.
Thérèse Singleton message to advisers
You may have seen some media articles late last week about AMP Life and the proposed sale to Resolution Life. It is important to remember that nothing has changed in relation to AMP Life customers since they were last advised of the transaction. AMP Life remains well capitalised and customer promises are being met every day, and this will continue under Resolution Life. AMP Life has legal obligations to ensure that policyholder’s interests are protected, under both Australian and New Zealand law.
The separation of AMP Life is on track for completion by 30 June 2020. We continue to work constructively with regulators, including RBNZ, on receiving approval. We have achieved a key milestone of approval from China (CBIRC).
The transaction has been designed to ensure all policyholders’ existing terms and conditions will be retained. The teams supporting existing AMP Life customers will largely transfer on completion to maintain continuity of service, with operational separation well advanced in both countries.
There is no basis for clients to have concerns around their entitlements under AMP Life policies. The scrutiny being applied to AMP Life by the regulators in Australia and New Zealand as part of the consent process, together with the increased oversight of conduct of insurers in New Zealand through the Culture and Conduct work, should give customers a high level of comfort. This supervision applies to AMP Life regardless of its ownership.
Resolution Life is an international insurance and reinsurance group whose management has a 16-year track record in providing quality service to in-force insurance customers. In addition, customers will benefit from Resolution Life’s deep expertise in managing in-force insurance policies and its commitment to customer service.
AMP Life will continue to be governed by a board, with a majority of independent directors and will be subject to the requirements of both APRA in Australia and RBNZ in New Zealand.
Customers will receive communications from AMP once the deal is confirmed. AMP Limited has regularly updated the market regarding the sale of AMP Life to Resolution Life, and this will continue.
