LONDON, UK--(Marketwire - March 14, 2008) -
Embargo: 7.00am Friday 14 March 2008
PRUDENTIAL PLC DELIVERS OUTSTANDING 2007 FULL YEAR RESULTS
EEV operating profit up 25%, doubled over past three years
- New business APE of GBP2,874 million, up 21%
- EEV operating profit of GBP2,542 million, up 25%
- New business profit of GBP1,215 million, up 22%, with Group margin of
42% (2006: 42%)
- Asia new business profit up 34% at GBP653m
- Asia is expected to deliver doubling of 2005 EEV new business profit a
year early
- Jackson new business profit up 19% at GBP285m
- UK retail new business profit up 17%, with total new business profit up
4% at GBP277m
- Asset management operating profit GBP334m up 28% on last year
- IFRS statutory operating profit of GBP1,213 million, up 20%
- EEV shareholders' funds up 24% to GBP14.8 billion
- 2007 dividend increased by 5% to 18 pence per share
All figures compared to 2006 at constant exchange rates
Commenting, Mark Tucker, Group Chief Executive said:
"These outstanding results, with new business profit up 22 per cent to GBP1,215
million, demonstrate excellent and continued momentum in the successful delivery
of the Group's retirement led strategy. Group EEV operating profit has doubled
over the past three years.
"Each of our businesses is performing strongly representing a powerful
geographic spread to our growth platform. Spectacular growth in Asia has been
accompanied by a very strong performance by the US and clear profit growth in
the UK. Combined with our excellent performance in asset management across the
Group, these results demonstrate the benefits of Prudential's diversified,
international strategy.
"That strategy is focused on continued and profitable growth. Our market
presence and product capability, coupled with strong management teams, puts us
in a great position for continued value creation. Overall, the prospects for the
Group in 2008 remain positive. Over the longer-term the demographic, economic
and social factors driving our business will continue and we are well positioned
to capture a greater share of that growth."
Group Chief Executive's Review
In 2007, the Group's operating performance was outstanding building on the very
strong momentum established in 2005 and 2006.
The combination of our retirement-led strategy, a clear focus on generating
profitable growth and excellence in the delivery of our plans are driving
shorter-term performance and also placing the Group in a strong position from
which to outperform in the longer-term.
The retirement market offers significant long-term sustainable growth
opportunities as the biggest demographic wave in history transitions out of the
work-force and into retirement. The Prudential Group has a strong presence in
this sector based on our financial strength, our investment and risk management
skills, our brands and our product and distribution expertise.
The Group has the flexibility to optimise its capture of the retirement
opportunity as it develops in each of our chosen markets and our business model
creates significant financial and operational synergies. Within each market our
focus is to operate in areas where we see sustainable competitive advantage and
in products and distribution channels that have sound and sustainable economics.
Group performance
Group operating profit before tax from continuing operations, on the European
Embedded Value (EEV) basis increased by 25 per cent in the year to GBP2,542
million and has doubled over a three year period. The Group's return on embedded
value was 15.4 per cent (2006: 14.5 per cent).
On the statutory IFRS basis, operating profit before tax from continuing
operations was up 20 per cent to GBP1,213 million, almost doubling over a three
year period.
Across the Group's insurance operations new business increased by 21 per cent to
GBP2,874 million, on an APE basis and profit on new business was GBP1,215 million,
up 22 per cent. Average margin across the Group was maintained at 42 per cent
(2006: 42 per cent).
Operating profit in the Group's asset management operations increased by 28 per
cent, to GBP334 million in what was an excellent year for these businesses in
increasingly challenging conditions.
The cash flow position continued to improve and we are progressing well towards
our target of being operating cash flow positive at the Group level in 2008. The
Group's operating cash flow in 2007 was negative GBP82 million. During the year
the Group received GBP527 million from the sale of Egg, the UK internet banking
operation, this resulted in an overall Group cash inflow of GBP445 million.
The Group's balance sheet and regulatory capital position remain robust. In
particular, across the Group we have been cautious on credit for some time and
we have been increasingly moving the portfolio to a more defensive position.
Outside the normal market value movements across the Group related to interest
rates and widening credit spreads net credit losses on debt securities in the US
were GBP78 million.
The Board has recommended a final dividend of 12.3 pence per share, bringing the
full year dividend to 18 pence per share, an increase of 5 per cent. The
dividend was covered 1.9 times by post-tax IFRS operating profit from continuing
operations.
The Board will focus on delivering a growing dividend, which will continue to be
determined after taking into account the Group's financial flexibility and
opportunities to invest in areas of the business offering attractive returns.
The Board believes that in the medium-term a dividend cover of around two-times
is appropriate.
Insurance operations
In Asia we continue to power ahead with the region accounting for 54 per cent of
new business profits. New business on an APE basis, increased by 44 per cent to
GBP1,306 million and all businesses across the region grew by 15 per cent or more.
New business profit was GBP653 million, up 34 per cent. Having achieved compound
growth of 26 per cent since 2005 we expect to deliver, one year earlier than
previously stated, on our target of at least doubling 2005 new business profit
by 2009. EEV operating profit in Asia exceeded GBP1 billion for the first time
this year as the business goes from strength to strength.
Growth in our proprietary agency force, greater agency productivity and the
continuing development of non-agency distribution, in particular bancassurance,
remain central to our success.
The agency force across the region increased by 125,000 to 410,000 during the
year and there was significant expansion in India where average agent numbers
more than doubled to 238,000. Throughout the rest of the region the average
number of agents increased by 10 per cent 112,000. Agency productivity has also
moved ahead strongly in a number of markets including Singapore, Hong Kong and
Vietnam. The continuing success of our multi-distribution approach led to sales
through non-agency channels increasing by 44 per cent and we added a number of
important new distribution relationships.
The retirement opportunity in the region is emerging rapidly and we are
developing innovative integrated savings and protection solutions to meet
consumers' increasingly sophisticated needs. Our retirement campaigns under the
banner "What's your number?" have had considerable success in Korea, Taiwan and
Hong Kong and we are now rolling this concept out into other markets.
There is also significant scope to develop our positioning in the health
insurance market across the region and, with the launch of a number of new
products, notably in Singapore and India, sales of health products in the year
have increased by 45 per cent.
The US is the largest retirement market in the world and our long-term strategy
has been to position Jackson to meet the pre and post-retirement needs of the
baby boomer generation. In 2007, variable annuity new business increased by 29
per cent to GBP455 million, on an APE basis. Jackson has been the fastest growing
variable annuity provider in the US over the past six years, clearly
demonstrating the success of our strategy and our advice based approach.
The variable annuity product in the US is increasingly being used by the
consumer to provide an income in retirement. In 2007, almost two-thirds of
Jackson's customers were over 55 and two-thirds of all variable annuity sales
included a guaranteed minimum withdrawal benefit. Jackson continues to innovate
and develop its market leading Perspective II product, which has been the
top-selling variable annuity contract in the fast growing Independent Broker
channel for each of the last 5 years.
Overall new business in the US increased by 19 per cent to GBP671 million, on an
APE basis, new business profit also increased by 19 per cent with margins
maintained at 42 per cent and an internal rate of return of 19 per cent.
In 2007 we set out our strategy in the UK to focus primarily on the retirement
income market based in particular on our strengths in the annuity market but
also the developing lifetime mortgage and income drawdown markets. In the
retirement savings market we have exited those product areas that are
structurally unprofitable and launched a new range of factory gate priced
savings products.
Retail new business increased by 4 per cent in a market where the competitive
pressures increased still further during the year. In 2007 we also completed the
transfer of Equitable Life's GBP1.7 billion in-force portfolio of with-profits
annuities: however in general pricing across the bulk market was not adequate to
meet our return on capital requirements and we chose not to write business at
uneconomic levels.
The margin at 31 per cent (2006: 30 per cent) remained high in comparison to the
overall UK market as did the internal rate of return which was 18 per cent
including the Equitable Life transaction and 14 per cent excluding it. Our
target internal rate of return in the UK is 14%.
By the end of 2007, GBP115 million of the cost saving target of GBP195 million had
been delivered and plans are in place to deliver the additional GBP80 million. A
key milestone this year in the UK was the signing of a major contract to
outsource a large proportion of its back book and new business policy
administration. The outsource agreement will allow us to remove fixed costs from
our operations and to achieve significant operating efficiencies with an
expected positive effect on embedded value estimated at GBP60 million by 2011.
The in-force profit for the UK business includes a charge in respect of a
mortality assumption change on the annuity business of GBP312 million which is
fully offset by a release of excess margins previously held.
In 2007 we announced that the Group would consider a reattribution of the
inherited estate held in the with-profits sub fund of The Prudential Assurance
Company Limited. We are continuing to explore the possibility of a reattribution
and we aim to be in a position in the first half of 2008 to determine whether
this would be in the best interests of policyholders and shareholders.
Asset management
The Group's asset management businesses had another excellent year. Our
international investment management expertise continues to add value to our
insurance operations and also supported the growth in external funds under
management to GBP69 billion at the end of 2007 (2006: GBP57 billion).
M&G's net inflows were the second highest on record at GBP5 billion and profit
increased by 25 per cent to GBP254 million. Our business in Asia continued its
excellent growth record with net inflows of GBP3 billion and operating profit
growing to GBP72 million, up 53 per cent.
Our skills in risk management and our strength across all asset classes in the
UK, the US and in Asia combined with our multi-asset allocation capabilities,
position us well to meet the diverse needs of our customers for savings,
retirement income and protection products.
This is clearly evidenced in the UK where the main with-profits fund, with
assets of over GBP74 billion, was ranked first in 2006 in the WM Company's survey
of with-profits funds, based on gross investment performance over 1, 3, 5 and 10
years. In the US, one of the key drivers of our success is our ability to
provide customised and highly flexible benefit options within our main variable
annuity product that are individually priced for the customer and, in Asia we
continue to see success in our targeted unit-linked and protection products.
Priorities for the Group in 2008
Our overriding objective for 2008 remains that of continuing to create value for
our shareholders by fully exploiting the power of our retirement-led strategy
and continuing to expand the excellent businesses that we have in place today.
Life insurance
In Asia:
- Expand the agency force and continue to improve productivity
- Maximise the potential from non-agency distribution and add new
partners
- Further develop direct marketing channels and up-sell and cross-sell
- Increased focus on retirement services and health products
In the US:
- Continue to innovate around our key variable annuity product
- Enhance further our already world-class operating platform
- Expand retail distribution
- Selectively participate in the institutional market
In the UK:
- Build on our strengths in the retirement market and risk products
- Migrate to factory-gate cautiously managed asset accumulation
products
- Deliver on the cost reduction program including the outsource program
- Selectively participate in the wholesale market
- Determine whether it is in the best interest of policyholders and
shareholders to pursue a reattribution of the inherited estate
Asset management:
- Maintain superior investment performance for both internal and
external funds
- Extend third party retail and institutional businesses
Outlook
There is significant volatility and nervousness in markets and it seems clear
that there will be a period of less attractive economic growth trends in the US
and in the UK than we have seen in recent years. Notwithstanding this, we
believe that our strategy and our business model are very robust and will
continue to deliver sustainable value.
In Asia, the fundamentals underpinning economic growth remain powerful and our
businesses are very well placed to benefit. We expect to deliver, one year
earlier than previously stated, on our target of at least doubling 2005 new
business profit by 2009.
In the US, our record of out performance is set to continue and our value driven
strategy in the UK is on track. In the UK we have already de-emphasised those
products which might have been more sensitive to market conditions.
Our asset management businesses, although more directly influenced by market
movements, are well placed to capitalise on their strong market positions and
investment performance to deliver net flows and profit growth.
Overall the prospects for the Group in 2008 remain positive. Over the
longer-term the demographic, economic and social factors driving our business
will continue and we are ideally positioned to capture a greater share of that
growth.
ENDS
Enquiries:
Media
Jon Bunn +44 20 7548 3559
William Baldwin-Charles +44 20 7548 3719
Investors/Analysts
James Matthews +44 20 7548 3561
Jessica Stalley +44 20 7548 3511
Notes to Editors:
1. In addition to the financial statements provided with this press
release, additional financial schedules, including full details of the Group's
investments, are available on the Group's website at
www.prudential.co.uk
2. The results in this announcement are prepared on two bases:
International Financial Reporting Standards ('IFRS') and European Embedded Value
('EEV'). The IFRS basis results form the basis of the Group's statutory
financial statements. The supplementary EEV basis results have been prepared in
accordance with the principles issued by the CFO Forum of European Insurance
Companies in May 2004 and expanded by the Additional Guidance on EEV disclosures
published in October 2005. Where appropriate the EEV basis results include the
effects of IFRS.
Period on period percentage increases are stated on a constant exchange rate
basis.
3. Annual premium equivalent (APE) sales comprise regular premium sales
plus one-tenth of single premium insurance sales.
4. Present value of new business premiums (PVNBP) are calculated as
equalling single premiums plus the present value of expected new business
premiums of regular premium business, allowing for lapses and other assumptions
made in determining the EEV new business contribution.
5. An interview with Mark Tucker, Group Chief Executive, (in video/audio/
text) will be available on
www.cantos.com and
www.prudential.co.uk from 7.00am
today.
6. There will be a conference call today for wire services at 7.30am (GMT)
hosted by Mark Tucker, Group Chief Executive and Philip Broadley, Group Finance
Director. Dial in telephone number: 020 8609 0793. Passcode: 155439#.
7. A presentation to analysts will take place at 9.30am (GMT) at Governor's
House, Laurence Pountney Hill, London, EC4R 0HH. An audio cast of the
presentation and the presentation slides will be available on the Group's
website,
www.prudential.co.uk
8. A media conference will take place at 11.30am (GMT) at 12 Arthur Street,
London, EC4R 9AQ. To attend please call Claire Glover on 020 7548 2007.
9. High resolution photographs are available to the media free of charge at
www.newscast.co.uk on +44 (0) 207 608 1000 or by calling Claire Glover on 020
7548 2007.
10. Total number of Prudential plc shares in issue as at 31 December 2007 was
2,470,017,240.
11. Financial Calendar 2008:
First Quarter New Business Results 17 April 2008
Annual General Meeting 15 May 2008
Interim Results 31 July 2008
Third Quarter 2008 New Business Results 21 October 2008
2007 Final Dividend
Ex-dividend date 9 April 2008
Record date 11 April 2008
Payment of dividend 20 May 2008
2008 Interim Dividend
Ex-dividend date 13 August 2008
Record date 15 August 2008
Payment of dividend 23 September 2008
About Prudential
Prudential plc is a company incorporated and with its principal place of
business in England, and its affiliated companies constitute one of the world's
leading financial services groups. It provides insurance and financial services
directly and through its subsidiaries and affiliates throughout the world. It
has been in existence since 1848 and has GBP267 billion in assets under management
as at 31 December 2007. Prudential plc is not affiliated in any manner with
Prudential Financial, Inc, a company whose principal place of business is in the
United States of America.
Forward-Looking Statements
This statement may contain certain "forward-looking statements" with respect to
certain of Prudential's plans and its current goals and expectations relating to
its future financial condition, performance, results, strategy and objectives.
Statements containing the words "believes", "intends", "expects", "plans", "seeks" and "anticipates", and words of similar meaning, are forward-looking. By
their nature, all forward-looking statements involve risk and uncertainty
because they relate to future events and circumstances which are beyond
Prudential's control including among other things, UK domestic and global
economic and business conditions, market related risks such as fluctuations in
interest rates and exchange rates, and the performance of financial markets
generally; the policies and actions of regulatory authorities, the impact of
competition, inflation, and deflation; experience in particular with regard to
mortality and morbidity trends, lapse rates and policy renewal rates; the
timing, impact and other uncertainties of future acquisitions or combinations
within relevant industries; and the impact of changes in capital, solvency or
accounting standards, and tax and other legislation and regulations in the
jurisdictions in which Prudential and its affiliates operate. This may for
example result in changes to assumptions used for determining results of
operations or re-estimations of reserves for future policy benefits. As a
result, Prudential's actual future financial condition, performance and results
may differ materially from the plans, goals, and expectations set forth in
Prudential's forward-looking statements. Prudential undertakes no obligation to
update the forward-looking statements contained in this statement or any other
forward-looking statements it may make.
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