Insurance giant Prudential Plc today posted a 10% rise in its first quarter sales to 888 million pounds (about $1.5 billion), driven by robust performance in Asia and the US.
Prudential, which runs a life insurance joint venture with ICICI Bank in India, said that its new business profit in the country slumped by 58% to 31 million pounds due to "regulatory changes".
"The one exception ....Is India. The Indian market is going through a period of adjustment, following regulatory changes," the UK-based firm said in a statement.
The entity has registered a sales of 888 million pounds in the first quarter of 2011 as compared to 807 million pounds in the year-ago period.
Profit from new business sales was 498 million pounds, up 17% from 427 million pound a year earlier.
"We have delivered good results in the first quarter of 2011, with double digit growth in both profits and sales against the very strong comparatives of 2010, itself a record year for Prudential on all metrics," Group CEO Tidjane Thiam said.
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In Asia, the company's business continued to grow fast and profitably, with nine markets recording double digit growth. Excluding India, Asia's business profit grew 16% in total to 213 million pounds and sales risen by 17% to 336 million pounds.
"We believe Asia continues to offer the most attractive opportunity in the global life insurance market today and we expect our momentum to continue, particularly in our preferred markets of South-East Asia," Thiam added.
In the US, sales stood at 322 million pounds in the first quarter of 2011, a 26% increase over the same period in 2010. New business profits were also 26% higher at 220 million pounds.
Besides, the company said, "its performance at the beginning of 2011 confirms that our strategy is delivering value to our shareholders".
"We will continue to implement our strategy with discipline, allocating capital to the most attractive markets and products, while managing risk and capital prudently, but pro-actively," the company added.