Aviva PLC posted a 22 percent increase in British 2007 life and pension sales, beating forecasts, but said the higher than expected cost of floods in Britain during the summer meant it would miss a key general insurance target, Reuters reported.

The insurance company said the cost of bad weather caused a $148 million rise above earlier estimates to $475 million, taking the group’s combined operating ratio, costs and claims as a percentage of premiums, to 100 percent, worse than a group target of 98 percent.

In North America, sales rose to more than four times their 2006 level, spurred by the acquisition of Des Moines-based AmerUs. Aviva said it was not susceptible to pressures on the broader U.S. economy and confirmed its target of doubling sales by 2010.

Growth in Asia accelerated, with sales up 51 percent. Aviva and Prudential PLC have both been named as potential target investments for Chinese insurers Ping An Insurance (Group) Co. of China Ltd. and China Life Insurance Co. Ltd.