FPI enjoying vigorous new business growth

Friends Provident International (FPI) has increased its new business by 131% in the first nine months of 2005 to reach £125m. The figures were inflated by the acquisition of Lombard International and, on a like-for-like basis, grew by 18.4%. Lombard was first included in the business figures at the start of 2005. In the third quarter, total international sales rose 149.2% and 18.6% on a like-for-like basis. While new business at Isle of Man-based FPI grew 25.6% to £67.7m from the start of 2005 to the end of September, Luxembourg-based Lombard rose 10.9% to £56.9m. Ben Gunn, chief exe...