Aviva in advanced talks to buy Friends First
Sale of Irish insurance group had attracted several suitors including ‘zombie’ specialists

Friends First HQ
UK insurance group Aviva is in advanced talks to acquire Friends First from Dutch group Achmea, according to sources. The Irish life assurance, pensions and investment firm has more than €4 billion of assets under management.
Bank of Ireland’s New Ireland Assurance subsidiary also had a look at the business, which was put up for sale in recent months, but is no longer in the running, the sources said.