aib group plc said thursday that its firstquarter performance was strong marked by a rise in total income and new lending and said it has launched a share buyback program of up to 91 million euros 967 million the irish bank said that total income rose 4 in the period while its net interest income was stable new lending grew by 18 in the period it said the lender said its common equity tier 1 ratioa key measure of balancesheet strengthstood at 166 up from 165 as of december and well ahead of the morethan135 target regarding its share buyback program aib group said it will enhance shareholder value for all investors and facilitate the repayment of funds invested into the bank on behalf of the irish state