Resolution Life to acquire Suncorp’s New Zealand life insurance company, Asteron Life

Global life insurance group Resolution Life announced that Resolution Life Australasia, its trans-Tasman life insurer, has entered into an agreement with Suncorp Group to acquire its New Zealand life insurance company, Asteron Life New Zealand for NZ$410m.

According to the press release, the acquisition will provide Resolution Life with ‘significant scale and capability’ in the New Zealand market, materially increasing its market presence to the benefit of customers.

Asteron Life is a New Zealand life insurer, with a team of ~165 people servicing more than 180,000 customers and their advisers.

“This acquisition further demonstrates our commitment to the Australasian market and our success in growing our business in the region. It follows Resolution Life’s entry into the Australian and New Zealand markets in 2020, and our recent acquisition of AIA Australia’s Superannuation and Investments business. Our growth is predominantly through the acquisition of in-force portfolios of life insurance policies as well as remaining open to growing new business in select strategic markets. Resolution Life will support the Asteron Life business with its momentum and success in the New Zealand life insurance market. As a trusted life insurer, Asteron Life will continue to operate as a standalone New Zealand licenced life insurance company, under its existing brand in New Zealand and support advisers and their customers using the same dedicated team and management.” – Tim Tez, CEO Resolution Life Australasia.

The acquisition is subject to New Zealand regulatory approvals and is expected to complete in ~nine months.