Friends Provident is acquired by Resolution Ltd, creating Friends Provident Holdings (UK) Ltd. The acquisition opens up a new chapter in Friends Provident's history and fires the starting pistol for the next round of consolidation within the UK life insurance industry.

A new domestic Twenty20 cricket competition is launched - the Friends Provident t20. The four-year sponsorship deal takes Friends Provident's long-term support for cricket into an exciting new phase.

The death of Michael Jackson is met with shock and disbelief by music fans around the world. Tributes flood in for the 'King of Pop', who had been scheduled to stage a comeback tour in 2009.

Friends Provident creates a new holding company - Friends Provident Group plc - and demerges its majority stake in F&C Asset Management plc. The demerger allows Friends Provident to concentrate on its core business and is a major milestone in the repositioning of the Company.

The effects of the global economic downturn continue to be felt around the world. As the UK enters recession for the first time since 1991, the Bank of England drops interest rates to an all-time low of 0.5%.

Friends Provident expands into Malaysia with the acquisition of a 30% stake in Malaysian life insurer AmLife.

A landmark IT outsourcing deal with IBM generates potential annual cost savings for Friends Provident of around £6 million a year.

Barack Obama is elected 44th President of the United States - the first African-American to be elected to the position.

Global financial services company Lehman Brothers files for bankruptcy. In response the Dow Jones industrial average falls 500 points in one day.

At £20 billion, the Beijing Olympics are the most expensive in history. Usain Bolt runs the 100m sprint in 9.69 seconds and Michael Phelps wins a record-breaking eight gold medals.

Trevor Matthews takes up his appointment as Group CEO. Trevor's outstanding track record and global experience make him the ideal leader for Friends Provident.

January 2008 sees the launch of a two-year programme to transform Friends Provident into a more streamlined, more focused and more profitable business.

Friends Provident’s Greenbee branded system is seamlessly linked to the Greenbee website. Customers can now quote, apply for and purchase policies online.

Friends Provident International (FPI) marks the official opening of its new office in Singapore with the unveiling of a unique wealth management product aimed at high net worth individuals.

The Friends Provident Group acquires Sesame Group and Pantheon Financial Ltd in two separate deals. Continuing to operate independently, the companies significantly strengthen Friends Provident’s investment in the distribution market.

Friends Provident begins its sponsorship of England’s premier one day cricket competition. Durham beats Hampshire at Lords to win the FRIENDS Trophy.

Founded in 1832, Friends Provident celebrates its 175th anniversary with a summer party at the V&A and donates a total of £175,000 on behalf of staff to the charities they support through the FRIENDS in the Community scheme.

The Friends Provident Stewardship Pension fund becomes the first retail ethical fund in the UK to reach the landmark of having over £1 billion under management. Overall Stewardship funds reach £2.4 billion.

Friends Provident and The John Lewis Partnership's new direct services company - Greenbee - join forces to offer life assurance policies to Waitrose and John Lewis customers.

The Live8 events, consisting of 10 simultaneous concerts around the world, raise the issues of international aid and globalisation.

London Head Office moves to 100 Wood Street, London - stylish offices in keeping with the global financial strength of the group.

£183 million secures the acquisition of Lombard International Assurance SA. The new addition specialises in wealth management and estate planning for high net worth individuals around the globe.

Tied advisers can now offer products from more than one provider. Friends Provident secures key panel positions with leading Independent Financial Advisers and with leading distributors, including Barclays, Portman Building Society and National Australia Bank.

The Friends Provident Foundation, the grant-making charity established in the wake of the flotation, is launched.

The Summer Olympics are staged in Athens, just over 100 years after the modern games were first reintroduced to the world there in 1896.

ISIS Asset Management merges with F&C to create one of the UK's top five asset management groups. Total funds under management now exceed £118 billion. The new group is named F&C Asset Management plc, with its head office in Primrose Street in London.

The new online system allows advisers to write protection business directly over the internet.

A ground-breaking 15 year exclusive distribution deal is concluded with Countrywide, one of the UK's largest estate agency networks.

The asset management company becomes known as ISIS Asset Management plc and moves to 100 Wood Street, London.

The acquisition of Royal & SunAlliance Investment confirms the group's commitment to building asset management operations, extending its international presence and growing market share.

Computer company Apple reverses its rocky fortunes with the release of the music-playing iPod, which goes on to become the iconic device of a generation.

Following successful demutualisation, Friends Provident plc debuts on the London Stock Exchange, joining the FTSE 100 index of leading companies. The company's reputation for social responsibility also gains the company admission to the FTSE4Good index.

Friends Provident's innovative stakeholder pension system wins the British Computer Society's prestigious award for excellence in information systems.

Financial intermediaries can now access information through a new Extranet, while internal communications are revolutionised by a new Intranet.

Responsible Engagement Overlay (REO^®) is designed to encourage companies to improve their social, environmental and ethical policies.