Axa reports 9.9% rise in 2006 sales

Insurer Axa reported a 9.9 per cent rise in 2006 sales today and said it was capable of meeting its long-term growth targets.

Insurer Axa reported a 9.9 per cent rise in 2006 sales today and said it was capable of meeting its long-term growth targets.

Total sales at Europe's second-biggest insurer rose to €78.775 billion, with turnover boosted by growth across its main businesses.

Life and savings new business sales on an annual premium equivalent basis - a standard industry measure used to iron out market volatility - rose 13.9 per cent to €6.234 billion.

Last year, Axa bought Swiss insurer Winterthur for around $11 billion, and the company has said it will continue to make selective acquisitions.

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Axa also aims to triple its earnings and double its revenues by 2012 as part of a long-term strategy plan.

Axa shares closed down 0.7 per cent at €32.34 yesterday. The stock has risen by around 5.5 per cent since the start of 2007, outperforming a 0.7 per cent gain in the DJ Stoxx European insurance sector.