AIA DELIVERS EXCELLENT RESULTS IN THE FIRST HALF OF 2017

HONG KONG, 28 July 2017 – The Board of Directors of AIA Group Limited (stock code: 1299) is pleased to announce the Group’s unaudited consolidated results for the six months ended 31 May 2017. Highlights are shown on a constant exchange rate basis:

Record growth in value of new business (VONB)

• 42 per cent growth in VONB to US$1,753 million
• 37 per cent increase in annualised new premiums (ANP) to US$3,196 million
• VONB margin up 1.8 pps to 54.2 per cent

Strong operating profit generation and increased returns

• IFRS operating profit after tax (OPAT) up 16 per cent to US$2,262 million
• IFRS operating earnings per share up 16 per cent to 18.87 US cents
• Embedded value (EV) operating profit up 21 per cent to US$3,456 million
• Operating return on EV (operating ROEV) increased to 17.1 per cent

Robust cash flow and resilient capital position

• Underlying free surplus generation of US$2,307 million, up 13 per cent
• Free surplus of US$11.0 billion
• EV Equity of US$47.8 billion; EV of US$46.3 billion, up US$4.2 billion in the first half
• Solvency ratio for AIA Co., our principal operating company, of 427 per cent on the HKIO basis

Significant increase in interim dividend

• 17 per cent increase in interim dividend to 25.62 Hong Kong cents per share

Ng Keng Hooi, AIA’s Group Chief Executive and President, commenting on the results, said:

“AIA has delivered an excellent set of results in the first half of 2017 with record VONB growth of 42 per cent to US$1,753 million. As a result of our financial discipline and commitment to delivering high-quality, sustainable growth, we have also achieved significant increases in IFRS operating profit and free surplus generation. Our performance is a clear reflection of the strength of AIA’s businesses and the consistent execution of our strategy.

“The Board has declared a 17 per cent increase in the interim dividend for 2017. This reflects AIA’s excellent financial results in the first half as well as our confidence in the outlook for the Group.

“AIA has significant competitive advantages created over our long history in Asia. We have a clear strategy that is working well and is fully aligned with the substantial opportunities presented by the extraordinary social changes and substantial economic growth taking place across the region. Our strong track record of value creation is the direct outcome of our many experienced teams working collectively to deliver our strategic priorities. We will continue to challenge ourselves and our strategy to ensure we capture the many significant opportunities that the region presents – well into the future.

“Today’s announcement is the first time I have reported our financial results since I assumed the role of Group Chief Executive at the beginning of June and I am delighted that we have delivered a very strong performance. AIA is an exceptional company with outstanding people and a unique franchise. I look to the future with great enthusiasm as we continue to realise AIA’s full potential in Asia and generate sustainable value for our customers and shareholders.”

AIA Singapore’s Business Results in the First Half of 2017:

In 1H2017, AIA Singapore continued to drive sustainable long-term business with an increased focus on regular premium protection products, resulting in:

• Strong profitability with 12 per cent increase in Operating Profit After Tax (OPAT)
• Growth in regular premium protection business which was offset by a continued reduction in single premium sales, reflecting our disciplined approach to managing our profitable product mix
• Overall Value of New Business (VONB) and Annualised New Premium (ANP) fell by 10 per cent and 11 per cent respectively.

Our market leading Agency channel outperformed the industry in terms of regular premium business. This was attributed to our continued efforts of improving agency productivity with disciplined execution of our Premier Agency strategy and focus on Million Dollar Round Table (MDRT). Our results are supported by the high adoption rate of iPOS and enhanced capabilities of iMO, including providing customers with on-the-spot underwriting decisions. More than 85 per cent of our new business applications were submitted through iPOS.

Our exclusive strategic partnership with Citibank, continued to deliver good VONB growth as we focused on seller productivity and promoting protection sales through structured training on sales effectiveness and intensive coaching from AIA product specialists. Our telemarketing effort to Citibank’s credit card customer base, offering simplified protection solutions, continued to gain good traction. As a result, protection regular premium sales grew more than 50 per cent.

We also maintained market leadership in the group insurance market, driven by deeper engagement with brokers, supported by enhanced operational efficiencies.

Patrick Teow, Chief Executive Officer of AIA Singapore, said:

“AIA Singapore’s increased focus on regular premium protection business has yielded good growth of Value of New Business (VONB) from these lines of business in the first half of this year.

“We are committed to helping our customers live longer, healthier, better lives, as they take steps to improve their health through AIA Vitality, the only wellness programme in Singapore that leverages behavioural science principles to motivate members to lead healthier lifestyles. The number of AIA Vitality members has tripled compared to last year, while VONB from AIA Vitality-integrated products increased more than four folds over the same period.

“Besides advocating active and healthy lifestyles, we would like to journey with our customers at every stage of their life, offering them sound financial advice and innovative protection and savings solutions. We want our customers to be Life Confident.”

Notable innovations in 1H2017 empowering individuals, families and organisations to be life confident include:

• AIA Diabetes Care – Protecting Singaporeans with the first-in-market Critical Illness (CI) plan tailored specifically for pre-and type-II diabetics that covers five key diabetes-related complications. This came as the latest initiative in AIA Singapore’s broader commitment to contribute to Singapore’s war on diabetes, targeting at combating diabetes in Singapore.
• AIA Quality Healthcare Partners – The first insurer to establish direct partnerships with the medical community and form a network of more than 160 trusted and well-qualified medical professionals, to provide enhanced customer experience, quality and affordable healthcare services to Singaporeans.
• AIA Vitality Weekly Challenge – Motivating individuals and families to improve their health through a mobile app that rewards AIA Vitality members when they achieve activity targets, to help manage the rise of chronic illnesses from inactivity. 
• AIA Vitality Summit and Roundtable – Driving corporate health in Singapore through events and dialogues that bring together C-suite executives and key stakeholders to explore the role of employers and other relevant parties in improving the health of Singapore’s workforce.
• Singapore’s Healthiest Workplace by AIA Vitality – Helping employers take the first step to improve their company’s health through a nationwide survey that uncovers their organisation and employees’ current health status.

AIA Singapore continues to support health and wellness initiatives including Fitness Fest by AIA, The Music Run™ by AIA, the Cold Storage Kids Run, KidZania Singapore’s “AIA at the Stadium” and David Beckham as Global Ambassador in support of our goal to help people keep active and be in good health.

- End -

Notes:

1. All figures are presented in actual reporting currency (US dollar) and based on actual exchange rates (AER) unless otherwise stated. Change on constant exchange rates (CER) is calculated using constant average exchange rates for the first half of 2017 and for the first half of 2016 other than for balance sheet items that use CER as at 31 May 2017 and as at 30 November 2016.
2. Change is shown on a year-on-year basis unless otherwise stated.
3. Long-term economic assumptions used in the EV basis for the interim results are the same as those shown as at 30 November 2016 in our 2016 annual results preliminary announcement published on 24 February 2017. Non-economic assumptions used in the EV basis are based on those at 30 November 2016 updated to reflect AIA’s view of the latest experience observed.
4. VONB is calculated based on assumptions applicable at the point of sale and before deducting the amount attributable to non-controlling interests. The amounts of VONB attributable to non-controlling interests in the first half of 2017 and in the first half of 2016 were US$10 million and US$9 million respectively.
5. VONB includes pension business. ANP and VONB margin exclude pension business.
6. IFRS operating profit after tax and operating earnings per share are shown after non-controlling interests unless otherwise stated.
7. Operating ROEV is measured on an annualised basis.
8. Hong Kong refers to operations in Hong Kong and Macau; Singapore refers to operations in Singapore and Brunei; and Other Markets refers to operations in Australia (including New Zealand), Cambodia, Indonesia, Korea, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Vietnam and India. The results of our joint venture in India are accounted for using the equity method. For clarity, ANP and VONB exclude any contribution from India.
9. Korea has been included as part of the Other Markets segment, as previously disclosed in our Annual Report 2016. Prior period comparatives have been adjusted accordingly to conform to current period presentation.
10. AIA’s financial information in this document is based on the unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements and supplementary embedded value information for the first half of 2017.

This document contains forward-looking statements relating to AIA Group Limited that are based on the beliefs of the Group’s management as well as assumptions made by and information currently available to the Group’s management. These forward-looking statements are, by their nature, subject to significant risks and uncertainties. When used in this document, the words “will”, “future” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. You are strongly cautioned that reliance on any forward-looking statements involves known and unknown risks and uncertainties. Actual results and events may differ materially from information contained in the forward-looking statements.

This document is for information purposes only and does not constitute an invitation or offer by any person to acquire, purchase or subscribe for securities. This document is not, and is not intended to be, an offer of securities for sale in the United States. The securities of AIA Group Limited have not been, and will not be, registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “U.S. Securities Act”) and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from registration requirements under the U.S. Securities Act. There is not, and is not intended to be, any public offering of such securities in the United States.

# # #