IOOF has agreed to enter into a transaction with ANZ to acquire its OnePath pensions and investments and aligned dealer groups (ADG) business for $975 million.
ANZ said it would also enter into a 20-year strategic alliance to make available IOOF superannuation and investment products to ANZ customers.
The ANZ announcement said the aggregate pensions and investments and ADG annual profit was $39 million, and estimated an accounting loss on sale of $120 million.
ANZ Group Executive Wealth Australia, Alexis George, said: “Financial services such as superannuation, investments and advice are a core part of the support we provide ANZ
customers now and in the future”.
“By partnering with IOOF, we are able to create greater value for our shareholders while also providing our customers with access to quality wealth products from a specialist provider with the right cultural fit, financial strength and digital capability,” she said.
“The sale of our P&I and ADG businesses provides ANZ with greater flexibility to consider options for the life insurance business including strategic and capital markets solutions.”
Pointing to ANZ's insurance business, George said that during the transaction process the firm decided it was better to separate the businesses.
"It gives us a much cleaner look at what we do in insurance. Now, ANZ is still committed to the strategy of not manufacturing insurance. So we need to look for alternatives for insurance. It may take some time. I just want to be clear about that," she said.
"Separating the super business from the insurance business will take some time but since that happens it means we've got a clear life insurance business and that gives us much more opportunities than we've got today."
The two funds have announced the signing of a non-binding MOU to explore a potential merger.
The board must shift its focus from managing inflation to stimulating the economy with the trimmed mean inflation figure edging closer to the 2.5 per cent target, economists have said.
ASIC chair Joe Longo says superannuation trustees must do more to protect members from misconduct and high-risk schemes.
Super fund mergers are rising, but poor planning during successor fund transfers has left members and employers exposed to serious risks.