fit after tax jump 27 percent to US$372 million (HK$2.9 billion) last year from a year ago after the new business value expanded 22 percent to US$991 million.

The results were driven by positive trends in the Hong Kong and Macau segment with the return of mainland Chinese visitors during 2023, the firm said, adding that Japan made another sizable contribution.

The emerging markets business generated its first-ever full-year operating profit after tax, despite the market disruption in Vietnam, the firm noted.

This came after the company recently became the majority 70 percent shareholder in FWD Takaful Berhad in Malaysia and increased its minority investment to 44 percent in BRI Life in Indonesia.

Last month, Bloomberg reported that FWD is considering options, including a potential stake sale after delaying a planned initial public offering, citing sources.

The company could seek a valuation of more than US$10 billion in any deal, the report said.

Global insurers including, Toronto-based Sun Life Financial have approached FWD to express interest in a tie-up, the report added.

1f:T416,The number of regional headquarters and regional offices of foreign companies in Hong Kong reached a record high of 11,070 in 2025, up 11 percent from the year before, Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu said on Monday. Speaking at the 19th Asian Financial Forum, he noted that companies from Singapore, France, Australia, the United States, and Switzerland had all risen by over 11 percent, while companies from countries in ASEAN and the Middle East had grown by approximately 10 percent and 5 percent, respectively. The number of mainland Chinese companies grew by 17 percent. Together, these enterprises from around the world employ nearly 510,000 people in Hong Kong, up 3 percent from 2024, Lee said. In addition, a record high of over 5,200 startups was seen in the city l

Insurer's profit jumps 27pc to US$372m