Hong Kong-based insurer ‌AIA Group on Thursday announced a new share buyback programme of $1.7 billion and achieved record value of new business (VONB) in 2025, propelled by the resilient performance of all of its ​segments.

The firm reported a 15 percent rise in VONB, which gauges expected profits ​from new premiums and is a key barometer for future ⁠growth, to $5.52 billion on a constant currency basis for the year ended Dec ​31, compared to $4.71 billion in the year-ago period.

The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, one of AIA's largest contributors in terms of profit, logged a 28 percent increase in VONB for the year on the back of strong demand from both local customers and Chinese mainland visitors.

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The firm also bore ​fruit from commencing operations in additional provinces on the mainland as it ​recorded double-digit VONB growth in the majority of the markets.

The mainland, AIA's second-largest market in terms ‌of ⁠new sales, reported a 2 percent hike in VONB.

Besides those, AIA's 18 markets in Asia include Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines and South Korea.

"Having long been of the view that AIA's Thai business was the highest quality and most ​under-appreciated franchise in AIA's ​group, AIA Thailand ⁠has today surprised positively on margins yet again, posting a new annual all-time high margin of 110.9 percent for FY ​2025," Jefferies analysts said.

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AIA Thailand logged a 13 percent rise in ​VONB to $993 ⁠million for 2025, riding on strong distribution and continued investment in digital tools.

The segment also reported an operating profit before tax of $1.21 billion, placing it as the ⁠third-most profitable ​region behind the SAR and the mainland.

It also ​declared a final dividend of 144.08 Hong Kong cents per share, higher than the 130.98 Hong ​Kong cents declared last year.