REUTERS - AIA Group Ltd on Friday launched a US$ 10 billion share buyback plan and declared a higher final dividend on strong growth in 2021, but warned of near-term pain from a recent outbreak of coronavirus infections in Hong Kong.

The Asia-focused insurer’s value of new business or VONB, which measures expected profit from new premiums and is a key gauge for future growth, rose to US$ 3.37 billion for the year ended Dec. 31, from US$ 2.77 billion a year earlier.

China and Hong Kong accounted for about half of new business growth globally. Mainland China business was the top contributor to VONB, logging a 14 percent growth, while its Hong Kong business jumped 37 percent, indicating strong recovery from the pandemic-lows.

Better operating conditions for the Hong Kong-based insurer, which relies on its army of agents, prompted it to announce the buyback plan spread over the next three years.

“The share buyback represents capital accumulated over time that is surplus to our needs, allowing for capital market stress conditions and retention of capital for strategic and financial flexibility,” Group Chief Executive Officer Lee Yuan Siong said.

However, the company warned that the recent outbreak of the Omicron variant, especially in Hong Kong, is affecting its new business sales, particularly in the first quarter. Over the past few weeks, Hong Kong has seen some of the most draconian curbs in place to combat a record surge in coronavirus cases and deaths. China has also seen a rise of locally transmitted coronavirus infections recently. 

AIA also declared a final dividend of 108 Hong Kong cents per share, 8 percent higher than last year, taking the total 2021 dividend to 146 HK cents apiece.