(Adds details on deal, background on investigation)
Oct 25 (Reuters) - Australia's AMP Ltd AMP.AX said on Thursday it would sell its Australian and New Zealand wealth protection and mature businesses to London-based insurance firm Resolution Life for A$3.3 billion ($2.33 billion).
The wealth manager, which came under intense scrutiny from an independent investigation into the country's financial sector for wrongdoing earlier this year, also said it was also contemplating an initial public offering for its New Zealand wealth management and advice businesses in 2019.
The sale value of its Australia and New Zealand wealth protection and mature businesses would amount to A$1.9 billion in cash, with a non-cash component making up for the rest.
The company said it expected to monetise the non-cash consideration over time, without putting a timeline on it.
AMP said it expected the sale to close in the second half of fiscal 2019.
Also, AMP said it has entered into a reinsurance agreement with Zurich-based insurance firm Swiss Re SRENH.S for the New Zealand retail wealth protection portfolio that is expected to release up to A$150 million of capital, the company said.
In August, AMP booked its worst first-half profit in 15 years as it set aside cash to compensate customers it sold bad advice, and said that people were still withdrawing money amid a misconduct inquiry. ($1 = 1.4164 Australian dollars)