Hibernian Insurance has reported an 80 per cent increase in sales to £453 million for the first quarter of 2007 compared to the same period last year, according to parent company Aviva.
Sales through its joint venture with Allied Irish Banks increased to £206 million, the company said, adding these comprised £143 million of life sales.
Sales through Hibernian's broker channel were 53 per cent higher at £247 million. Life sales were 21 per cent higher at £76 million, with strong sales of the secure capital fund and sales from the geared property fund prior to its closure in January.
Pension sales were £171 million, reflecting higher sales of investment-only business and the continued success of the revised Horizon product relaunched in September 2006, the company said.
Aviva as a whole posted a 16 per cent rise in life and pensions sales, boosted by US business, with its newly acquired AmerUs unit making its first full quarter's contribution.
Britain's largest insurer said sales of life and pensions policies climbed to £7.75 billion, a touch above an average forecast of £7.53 billion from analysts.
Aviva, which makes over 60 per cent of its sales outside its home market and largely in continental Europe, said international life and pensions sales rose 25 per cent.