Friends Provident

Friends Provident says it sees no near term improvement in the UK protection market after announcing a fall of 10% on individual sales for the last six months.

The Sesame Bankhall Group generated operating profits of £2m in the first six months of the year, compared with a loss of £1m recorded in H1 2009.

Friends Provident UK life and pension sales rose 6% in the first half of the year, helping to boost the groups's pre-tax profits to £157m.

Buyout vehicle Resolution will continue to target further life company acquisitions after posting pre-tax profits of £203m in the first half of the year.

Clive Cowdery's Resolution consolidation vehicle has received 95.5% shareholder take-up of its £2bn rights issue, which will help fund its part acquisition of Axa's UK business.

The NHS will have no choice but to remove some free treatment currently available and to penalise unhealthy behaviour, Friends Provident believes.

A financial manager who swindled more than £2m from Friends Provident has been sentenced to three years in jail.

Government legislation to restrict unhealthy behaviours like smoking, drinking alcohol and eating fatty foods is inevitable if we are to retain a free NHS, according to a new report.

Friends Provident is urging Britons to protect themselves for life as readily as they do for travel.

A financial manager who swindled more than £2m from Friends Provident has pleaded guilty to eight charges of fraud, a court has heard.