Aegon increased its protection sales in the UK by 18% according to the insurer's QI results.
The United Kingdom contributed underlying earnings of EUR 23 million. Life earnings increased to EUR 21 million, primarily the result of a higher contribution from the protection business.
Aegon said it had focussed on its pension and protection customers, which was evidenced by the announcement to divest two thirds of its annuities portfolio to Rothesay Life.
In its core pensions business, Aegon aims to accelerate the upgrading of customers from its back book to its market leading platform and the resulting increased consolidation of customer assets.
As of the second quarter of 2016, quarterly earnings from Life will lose approximately EUR 7 million of earnings due to the sale of two thirds of the annuity business.
Adrian Grace, UK Chief Executive at Aegon said: "2016 will be a big year for Aegon and five months in, we've sold two thirds of the annuity book and acquired BlackRock's DC platform underlining the focus of our strategy to be the UK's leading platform business.
"In the first quarter we delivered earnings of £18m and added £1bn to platform. The protection business also performed strongly with sales up 18% compared against the same period last year.
