Corporate benefits were also up, to £465m, an increase of 14%, with corporate benefits assets under administration now standing at £21.4bn.
The company has completed its disposal of Lombard and begun a £317m share buyback.
The group side of Friends Life has seen reductions in its new business, particularly for retirement income which accounted for £24m of the £29m, decrease in new business.
Friends Life also said it has made “good progress” in preparing its new retirement propositions for April 2015.
Andy Briggs, group chief executive officer at Friends Life, said: “The group has continued to make good operating progress during the third quarter. I am particularly pleased with the sales momentum in the UK division fuelled by our corporate benefits and protection businesses.
“Development of our new retirement proposition is on track, we have further enhanced our customer engagement, and I look forward with confidence to the launch of the new propositions and the new retail platform in April next year. I am also encouraged by the progress we are making in our international division, with the benefits of the roll out of the new platform and product and sales initiatives coming through.”
