FTSE 100 insurer Aviva has reported a 24% increase in its operating profit for the first half of this year, reaching £1.3bn. This growth is attributed to the company's acquisition of Direct Line in July 2025 for £3.6bn.
The London-listed insurer, which provides home, car, and life insurance, saw its general insurance premiums rise by 29% to £8.1bn. Premiums in the UK and Ireland specifically increased by 42% to £5.9bn. Aviva's wealth management arm also experienced growth, with business up 32% to £7.6bn, supported by a new pension scheme and strong sales from its investment platform.
Chief executive Amanda Blanc stated that the integration of Direct Line is progressing well, with improved profitability and increased price comparison website sales. The insurer is confident in meeting its three-year financial targets by 2028, expecting 75% of its earnings to be capital-light by that point.
Aviva is also expanding its use of technology, rolling out AI across its operations. This includes using customer data to train its AI and implementing a generative AI tool for summarising medical reports. The company plans to launch an AI virtual assistant and AI-enabled claims agents later in the year.