Friends Provident

Friends Provident has enhanced its Critical Illness Cover (CIC) by extending the list of conditions covered under its plan by seven to 36 in total.

Friends Provident UK Life and Pensions new business fell 27% in 2008 to £549m, compared to £751m in 2007.

I hope you all had a restful break and are ready to return to the fast paced protection industry that we know and love. And wasn't it just that last year?

Friends Provident has defended an adviser alert service after being accused of encouraging IFAs "to do its job for them".

Friends Provident has set its sights on becoming the first UK provider to offer protection cover to clients through a wrap platform.

Friends Provident has promoted company veteran Steven Young to spearhead its e-business development.

Friends Provident has updated its link-up with technology solutions provider True Potential to offer advisers real-time valuations for its whole of life and endowment policies.

Friends Provident has poached a second executive from rival insurer Standard Life in under a year, this time snaring its CFO Evelyn Bourke.

Friends Provident's UK life and pensions business has been badly hit by turbulent market conditions and changes in the group's focus, with total sales plunging 24% over the first nine months of the year and a huge 47% in Q3.

F&C's share price plummeted nearly 15% this morning after weekend reports suggested majority owner Friends Provident was about to start a demerger.