More Than owner RSA Insurance said a strong performance at its UK business helped boost sales in the first three months of the year.
It said UK net premiums lifted by 2% to £635 million compared to a year ago, driven by growth at its small business and marine operations.
Overall the group said its total core net premiums jumped 8% to £1.5 billion in the period, as it sold off non-core operations around the world and focused on sales in the UK and Ireland, Scandinavia and Canada.Shares lifted by 2%.
The results come after RSA saw off an unsolicited £5.6 billion takeover attempt from Swiss rival Zurich in September, which fell apart after a slump at the rival group's general insurance business prompted it to abandon the deal.
RSA also sold off more than a billion pounds in non-core operations last year. It said sell-offs in Brazil, Colombia and Russia closed successfully in the first three months of this year, while last month it also completed disposals in Chile and Argentina.
The group hired former Royal Bank of Scotland boss Stephen Hester in February 2014 to revive its fortunes after it was rocked by a series of profit warnings.
Mr Hester said "the year has started well" for the new streamlined group.
But he added: "The external environment is challenging, characterised by slow growth, competition and volatile financial markets.
"Hence our reliance on self-help as the route to a focused, stronger and better RSA."
Mr Hester unveiled a 43% jump in annual operating profit £523 million in February, and added that he expected to complete the major restructuring of the group this year.
Charlie Huggins, an equity analyst at broker Hargreaves Lansdown, said: "Stephen Hester's turnaround plan at RSA appears to be working.
"These self-help measures have enabled RSA to overcome a very challenging operating environment."
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