Standard Life pensions boost

STANDARD Life Ireland significantly outperformed the Irish pensions and investments market last year, by generating annual sales growth of 5% against a combined market which fell nearly 30%.

The financial services giant has just under 80,000 shareholders in Ireland and around 94,000 customers here. The first half of 2009 saw the Irish side of the business boost sales by 18% on a year-on-year basis as well as generate new business growth of 4%.

The good showing in the Irish business was attributed to a number of things, including the continuing success of its global absolute return strategies fund (GARS), which has attracted more than €200m from Irish investors and its overall superior fund performance.