MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine Life Insurance arm of London-based Prudential Plc posted a 33 percent growth in total gross premium last year propelled by a more active and larger sales force and increased sales through brokers.

Pru Life UK's total gross premium income in 2011 was P10.4 billion, up from P7.8 billion in 2010. Of the amount, first-year premiums and single premiums amounted to P8.1 billion, an increase by 26.56 percent from P6.4 billion in the previous year and renewal premiums totaled P2.3 billion.

"Our improved performance was brought about by recruiting more financial advisers and increased productivity. We recruited over 1,000 agents in 2011. Furthermore, there was significant growth in the business brought to us by brokers," Antonio De Rosas, Pru Life UK president and chief executive said.

De Rosa also said Pru Life's new businesses were mostly made up of variable unit-linked insurance policies, accounting for about 94 percent and the remaining balance was made up of traditional policies.

In 2011, De Rosas added that Pru Life's net income also increased by 6.56 percent to P682 million from P640 million in the previous year.

De Rosas attributed the company's continued growth to its aggressive recruitment strategy, training and coaching programs for financial advisers, and the launch of innovative products.

These products are Pru Link Exact Protector, a revamped version of one of Pru Lige UK's bestselling unit-linked or investment-linked products, the PruLink Exact Plus.

"This year, we will be aggressively expanding our agency force," De Rosas said.

The company recruited more than 1,000 agents last year. De Rosas said they want to hire some more this year. To date, Pru Life UK has about 3,000 agents.

"This year we'll have much more than that. We're aggressively requiring agency force," De Rosas said.

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Prulife Grows Premium By 33%