Royal London

Pensions provider Royal London has posted a strong growth in sales through advisers following the Retail Distribution Review (RDR), with its platform new business sales up a record 39% on last year, the firm's interim results have revealed today.

Royal London has completed the acquisition of the Co-operative Banking group's life insurance and asset management businesses.

The Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) has approved the change in control required for the purchase of Co-operative Banking Group's life insurance business Co-operative Insurance Society (CIS) by mutual Royal London.

Today is Bright Grey and Scottish Provident managing director Roger Edwards' last day in his role as he leaves to focus on marketing, social media, speaking - and yoga teaching.

Royal London is to launch a direct to consumer proposition next year, comprising 'basic' savings and protection products that do not require advice.

Members of life and pensions mutual Royal London have agreed to proposals to acquire the life insurance and asset management businesses of the Co-operative Banking Group.

FundsNetwork has accelerated its take on of clean share classes to achieve its target of having 95% of current platform assets covered by clean share classes by the end of June.

Royal London has reported assets under administration on its Ascentric wrap platform have risen 16% to nearly £6bn, in what the company said is the wrap's "best ever quarter".

Roger Edwards, managing director of UK protection at Royal London, is to leave the company.

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