AIA Group Limited announced an excellent start to 2015 with 20 percent growth in value of new business (VONB) for the first quarter ended February 28, 2015.
AIA Group Chief Executive and President Mark Tucker said, “AIA has once again maintained the strong growth momentum established in previous years by delivering 20 percent increase in value of new business in the first quarter (24 percent on constant exchange rates).
2015 is our fifth year since IPO and our strong start to the year reflects the ongoing quality of our operating performance and the consistent execution of our growth strategy, which has enabled us to deliver a record first quarter VONB of US $ 425 million.
Asia’s positive economic outlook and significant growth opportunities in the life insurance market remain highly attractive for AIA against a backdrop of continuing global macro uncertainty. We are exceptionally well-placed to capitalise on the long-term structural growth trends and the low levels of both social welfare and private insurance cover across the markets of the Asia-Pacific region.
We remain committed to our strategy of driving sustainable and high-quality growth by continuously improving the productivity and effectiveness of our extensive agency and partnership distribution networks, launching innovative products that meet customers’ protection and long-term savings needs and by leveraging our brand strength across the region.
We are confident that our scale, distribution reach and financial strength will enable us to continue to provide attractive and competitive returns for our customers and to generate sustainable increases in value for our shareholders.”
VONB increased by 20 percent based on actual exchange rates compared with the first quarter of 2014 to US $ 425 million. Underlying VONB growth was 24 percent on constant exchange rates.
Highlights for the quarter included excellent VONB growth in Hong Kong and China through the consistent execution of its Premier Agency strategy. Agency productivity improved further alongside a strong increase in the number of active agents supported by its focus on quality recruitment.
In Thailand and Malaysia, VONB growth was largely driven by further margin expansion continuing the positive trend from the previous year. In Singapore, growth was more muted following the completion of the HealthShield upgrade in the first quarter of 2014 that boosted sales of protection products in the prior year, as previously highlighted.
Korea reported lower VONB compared with the first quarter of 2014 as market conditions remain challenging. Other markets delivered excellent VONB growth, in particular Indonesia, the Philippines and Vietnam, with strong performances in both agency and partnership distribution channels.
VONB margin increased by 3.0 pps to 46.8 percent from 43.8 percent in the first quarter of 2014 with the increase mainly from a positive shift in geographical mix. Economic assumptions remain unchanged for the quarter from those shown in its annual report 2014.
ANP grew by 15 percent on constant exchange rates compared with the first quarter of 2014 to US $ 895 million (12 percent on actual exchange rates). TWPI increased by 11 percent on constant exchange rates (8 percent on actual exchange rates).
The long-term economic outlook for Asia ex-Japan remains positive, with a gradual and ongoing rebalancing in favour of domestic consumption in Asia’s emerging markets. Central banks have considerable latitude to adjust monetary policy and recent rate cuts in China are supportive of gradual rebalancing and stable growth.
While Asia is not isolated from near-term economic factors outside the region such as shifts in the monetary policies in the U.S. and Europe, threats to geopolitical stability and a more demanding regulatory environment, the Asian markets in which the company operates are well-positioned to withstand these challenges.
The life insurance industry continues to benefit from the significant long-term economic and structural demographic drivers of growth across Asia ex-Japan. The company remains confident that AIA’s leading businesses across these markets place it in an advantaged position to capture the ongoing growth opportunities that the Asian life insurance market offers.
