UK insurer Aviva's profit jumps 25%, resumes share buyback (updated)
05/03/2026 07:42
Adds details and context from paragraph 3 LONDON, March 5 (Reuters) - British insurer Aviva AV.L posted a 25% jump in annual profit and resumed its share buyback on Thursday, helped by its combination with rival Direct Line and growth in its insurance premiums and wealth business. Its operating profit for the 2025 full-year came in at 2.2 billion pounds ($2.9 billion), up from 1.8 billion pounds a year earlier and broadly in line with analyst forecasts compiled by the company. The company, which offers car, home and life insurance in Britain, Ireland and Canada, also announced a 26.2 pence final dividend and a 350 million pound share buyback, after a hiatus due to the Direct Line takeover. General insurance premiums rose 18% to 14.1 billion pounds, while net inflows into its wealth business grew 6% to 10.9 billion pounds. It reiterated its financial targets set in November, including growing earnings per share by 11% a year to 2028 and nearly doubling cost savings from its combination with Direct Line. Aviva secured the largest takeover of CEO Amanda Blanc's tenure last year when it closed its acquisition of motor insurer Direct Line for 3.7 billion pounds. ($1 = 0.7504 pounds) (Reporting by Iain Withers in London and Prerna Bedi and Rishab Shaju in Bengaluru; Editing by Rashmi Aich and Louise Heavens) ((Prerna.Bedi@thomsonreuters.com; +91 98052 24616;))