Friends Provident has been the top-performing fund manager over the past five years, with an annualised return of 21.7 per cent against an industry average of 20.8 per cent, according to the latest survey of investment managers by Coyle Hamilton.

Apart from Friends Provident in first place over five-years, the other positions were filled by Norwich Union (21.4 per cent), Standard Life (21.3 per cent), New Ireland (21.1 per cent), Irish Progressive (21 per dent), UBIM (21 per cent), Canada Life (21 per cent), Guardian Life (20.9 per cent), BIAM (20.6 per cent), AIBIM (20.4 per cent), Hibernian (20.4 per cent) and Irish Life (19.3 per cent).

Over a three-year period, the top fund managers were Eagle Star (24.9 per cent), ESB Fund Managers (24.8 per cent) and Friends Provident (23.1 per cent). Over a one-year period, Montgomery Oppenheim was by far the best performer with a 41.9 per cent return, followed by ESB Fund Managers with 38.6 per cent and Eagle Star with 37.5 per cent.