Hello

It's a bumper edition of Cover Notes this week thanks to all the happenings in the market. Obviously the main news has been what's happening to AIG both in the United States and New Zealand. We sent you some coverage on the bailout yesterday.

Added to that story is some local content. We would be interested to hear from advisers what they make of the situation? Are you still sending proposals to AIG? Have you considered moving your AIG business to another carrier.

Email your thoughts to editor@goodreturns.co.nz

Other news covers ratings updates for AMP and Asteron's parent, an award for a site selling insurance directly to consumers and accolades for Sovereign.

Insurance news

AIG gets bail money (NZ comment added)
American International Group (AIG) is being bailed out by the United States government to the tune of US$85 billion. More

Sovereign tops adviser survey
Sovereign, has again achieved the overall number one position for adviser satisfaction in the recent annual intermediary survey carried out by Australian firm WA Taylor. More

Rating updates for AMP and Suncorp
Standard and Poor's has reconfirmed the ratings of AMP Life and Asteron's parent company Suncorp Metway, but changed its view on their outlooks. More

Pinnacle at the peak
A New Zealand website has won an award for being the first in the world to offer a online underwriting. More

People

This week Southern Cross has appointed three new board members. To find our more go to People and Events.

Opinion: By Russell Hutchinson

As old as the hills
I would be roundly derided if I declared life companies are generally sound, and then there was a string of massive failures. But, relatively speaking, life companies don't give up the ghost quite as easily as others types. More

Blog

Curtin enquiry arse covering
The Commerce Commission enquiry into Donal Curtin's appointment as deputy chairman is nothing but a classic case of arse covering. More