Scottish Widows

Assureweb is now wholly-owned by a consortium of five product providers as Misys has sold Sesame's remaining 60% stake in the IFA portal to its existing shareholders.

Lloyd TSB has announced it is putting aside additional funds to manage bad debt in the second half of 2005.

A panel of product providers, IFA portals and back office software firms has announced plans to set aside commercial pressures and collaborate on the development of IFA technology and support service tools.

Industry speculation suggests Assureweb is close to signing a new shareholder deal with a consortium of life insurance companies.

New research indicates lazy Brits have only themselves to blame when it comes to inadequate pensions retirement sums.

A host of pension providers believe the impetus for a pension-clearing system is waning, following closer inspection of its feasibility.

Several individual life offices along with the ABI are now supporting the creation of a pensions clearing system.

Scottish Equitable Protect has confirmed it is moving into the guaranteed CI critical illness market in two weeks time.

Scottish Widows says an improvement in the performance of its with-profits funds means the life insurer has cut MVRs and will continue to pay bonus rates of 1% and 1.5% on its unitised flexible investment bond and pension policies.

Scottish Widows has been labelled the top ‘dog' for the fourth time in a row in Bestinvest's latest ‘Spot the Dog' poll, but the number of funds failing to beat their benchmarks is now at least falling, according to the study.