Manulife Hong Kong reports solid growth in the first quarter of 2020

Hong Kong – The Manulife group of companies operating in Hong Kong (“Manulife Hong Kong”) today announced solid growth for the first quarter of 2020.

Results overview: 

• Core earnings up 10% to HK$1.4 billion
  
• Annualized premium equivalent (APE) sales up 21% to HK$1.6 billion

• New business value (NBV) up 25% to HK$1.0 billion

• Wealth and asset management (WAM) gross flows up 60% to HK$11.7 billion

• Mandatory Provident Funds (MPF) market share: Manulife remained the largest MPF scheme sponsor with a market share of 24.0% based on assets under management as at March 31, 2020 and 32.7% in terms of estimated net cash flows for the period from January 1 to March 31, 2020
• Agency force: 10,104 agents, up 16% from 1Q19

“Considering the challenges brought by the COVID-19 pandemic, we are very pleased to report solid growth in the first quarter,” said Damien Green, Chief Executive Officer of Manulife Hong Kong. “This achievement was made possible by the tireless dedication and resilience of our employees, agents and distribution partners, and the steps we have taken to provide customers with convenient electronic touchpoints and tailored solutions. Our complete and compelling suite of tax-deductible offerings has also made us the preferred financial-services partner for many of Hong Kong’s working population and their families.”

Core earnings was HK$1.4 billion, up 10% from HK$1.3 billion in the same quarter of 2019, attributable to in-force business growth and higher sales.

APE sales rose 21% to HK$1.6 billion from HK$1.3 billion in the first quarter of 2019. The increase in APE sales was driven by the continued success of our tax-deductible solutions including Voluntary Health Insurance Scheme (VHIS) and Qualifying Deferred Annuity Policy (QDAP) products sold by our growing and highly active agency force. 

NBV increased 25% to HK$1.0 billion from HK$0.8 billion in the prior year quarter, due to strong sales of tax-deductible solutions including VHIS and QDAP products.

WAM gross flows surged to a new record of HK$11.7 billion, up 60% from HK$7.4 billion in the same period of the prior year. A large part of the growth was related to the significant amount of transfer-in assets from MPF personal accounts and new employer clients, as well as higher mutual funds sales.

In the first quarter, Manulife accelerated its digital capabilities and supported existing and new customers during the COVID-19 pandemic. The company’s initiatives included the provision of additional benefits and policy coverage, simpler and faster claims processes, flexibility for premium payments, and remote purchase arrangements for VHIS and QDAP.

Manulife’s VHIS product suite was enhanced with the addition of Manulife Supreme VHIS Flexi Plan, which offers full coverage for major medical expenses, including psychiatric treatment. Manulife also set up a specialized health business unit to accelerate the development of more customizable and innovative medical products and services to meet customers’ increasing needs for protection.

In the retirement space, Manulife’s QDAP and MPF Tax Deductible Voluntary Contributions (TVC) remained popular in the first quarter, with strong sales towards the close of the tax year ending in March 2020. BuySimple.hk, Manulife’s online platform through which customers can buy VHIS plans and open TVC accounts, added a feature for the creation of MPF Personal Accounts.

“With the uncertainty of the pandemic, we will stay focused on maintaining our strong business resilience, fast moving flexibility and prudent management as we work hard to deliver on our commitments to our customers and our ambitious growth agenda,” added Mr. Green. “We’ll continue to focus on the health and retirement of customers, leveraging our expertise to help them with these important lifelong priorities and our robust product portfolio to provide them with the best available protection.”