In the first quarter, the sales of new business increased by 4% year-on-year to USD 720 million, calculated based on annualized new premiums.

FWD (01828) released a summary of new business for the first quarter ending March 31, 2026, with new business sales increasing by 4% to $720 million annually, compared to the same period in 2025. The new business contract service margin was $556 million, with an 18% annual increase. 11 new internal products were launched in the Pan-Asian region. The consumer outlook survey released by FWD in February 2026 showed that many in the Asian middle class are anxious about their financial situation and underprepared for retirement. FWD CEO and Executive Director Huong Chinh Feng said, "The Group showed strong performance in the first quarter of 2026, continuing its robust business foundation and growth momentum, fully reflecting our diversified business layout and distribution model in Asia. The expansion markets in Japan and Southeast Asia are the main drivers of the Group's growth, and even in Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, performance remains steady despite the high base effect in the first quarter of 2025." Huong Chinh Feng added, "In the long run, FWD is confident in the growth trend of the Asian middle class, despite short-term economic and consumer impacts from internal and external environments. Given the strong market strength and confidence in financial hubs such as Hong Kong Special Administrative Region where our headquarters are located, we remain optimistic about the prospects of high net worth clients served by FWD Private." The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and Macau Special Administrative Region branches saw an increase compared to the record high in the first quarter of 2025, reflecting local and financial hub-related demand. Japan saw strong growth, reflecting its strategic expansion into retirement and savings insurance in 2025, as well as its longstanding protection business. The expansion market branches (including Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Vietnam) saw excellent growth driven by insurance brokers and independent financial advisor channels and robust bank insurance business. The Thailand and Cambodia branches, facing growth resistance due to a downturn in interest rates in Thailand, continued to focus on developing high-quality new business. As previously announced, pending regulatory approval, Knattapisit Krutkrongchai (KK) will assume the role of CEO of FWD Thailand on May 11, 2026. KK has nearly 30 years of rich experience in insurance management, including his most recent role as CEO of AIA Thailand.