LONDON (Bloomberg) — Royal London Mutual Insurance Society Ltd., the UK's biggest customer-owned insurer, said sales rose 21 percent in the third quarter helped by pension products.New business rose to $1.57 billion ($2.98 billion), from $1.29 billion in the year-earlier period, the London- based company said yesterday.

"Looking forward, we expect the market to remain highly competitive," said chief executive officer Mike Yardley in the statement. "We are aiming to maintain the momentum behind our drive to grow profitable new business."