Keyport VA Sales More Than Triple.

BOSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 3, 1999--Keyport Life Insurance Company's 1998 variable annuity sales increased 215 percent over the previous year as the company enjoyed 11 consecutive quarters of increasing VA sales. In 1998, Keyport sold $584 million of its VAs compared to 1997 VA sales of almost $185 million. Keyport's VA sales rate continued to climb through 1998 and in December, Keyport's VA sales reached an annualized rate of $840 million.

This dramatic sales growth can be attributed to Keyport's innovative and appealing variable annuity products, Keyport's commitment to its distribution channels and the emphasis it places on effective customer service and support.

"The marketplace continues to respond very favorably to Keyport Advisor, an innovative VA with many attractive features for the accumulation phase, as well as a payout option that provides complete liquidity for the income phase," said Keyport's president, Paul LeFevre. "Keyport Advisor is a major factor in our very strong VA sales," he said. LeFevre also pointed to the recent successful introduction of Keyport Advisor Vista, a no-surrender charge VA.

Keyport Life Insurance Company, with almost $16 billion in assets, is a leading provider of fixed, variable and equity indexed annuity products. Keyport is one of the Liberty Financial Companies (NYSE:L), a diversified asset management organization with more than $57 billion in assets under management 

Note to Editors:

A conversation with Paul LeFevre, Keyport's president, could be the basis of a timely article on Keyports impressive VA sales growth this year, as well as provide a perspective on VA industry trends. Please contact Ann Hall at 212-725-3838 if you want to set up an interview with Paul LeFevre.