Life assurance firm Friends Provident has announced a three per cent drop in pre-tax profits which could impact upon its 2008 target.
The firm saw profits slump from £524 million in 2005 to last year's £509 million, despite new business profit growth in the UK reaching close to 70 per cent.
However due to the "challenging protection market" the London-based insurer operates in, the firm warned that it may struggle to meet the targets it set in October last year.
Six months ago, the company announced a "demanding" 2008 target of £180-£200 million in new business profits, a goal it may not meet.
"Although we remain committed to achieving this target, the product mix and, in particular, the level of protection sales, which has been subdued in recent months, will be critical," said Philip Moore, the group chief executive.
"It is early days, and we are making progress towards our goal, but the prospects for a more challenging protection market, and the impact on our 2008 target, will not be fully understood until later in 2007."
The announcement of last year's profit slide caused the firm's shares to dip by seven per cent on Tuesday morning.
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