Final Results
Prudential PLC
26 February 2002
Embargo 07:00 hrs GMT - 26 February 2002
PRUDENTIAL PLC 2001 UNAUDITED RESULTS
• Total achieved profits (after restructuring costs) up 15 per cent to
£1,186 million.
• New business achieved profits up 10 per cent to £673 million.
• Record total Group insurance and investment sales of £21.5 billion, up 54
per cent on 2000 (£13.9 billion).
• Over 60 per cent of Group sales and new business achieved profits from
outside the UK.
• Geographically diversified business with significant strengths in chosen
markets.
• Total dividend up 3.7 per cent to 25.4p per share.
Results Summary 2001 2000 %
£m £m
New business achieved profits 673 613 10%
Achieved basis operating profit 1,186 1,029 15%
Statutory basis operating profit 622 840 (26)%
Full-year dividend per share 25.4p 24.5p 3.7%
Shareholder's funds - achieved profits basis 8,150 8,776 (7)%
Commenting on the results, Jonathan Bloomer, Prudential's Group Chief Executive
said:
'We have continued to deliver our strategy of building an international retail
financial services business by broadening our geographic presence, distribution
channels and range of products to enable us to reach more customers and meet
more of their needs.
'We have leading positions in key markets around the world and excellent
customer access and reach. We are extremely well positioned to benefit from the
growth in customer demand for asset accumulation and income in retirement with a
business model that has an efficient cost base, financial strength and diversity
of earnings by geographic region and product.
'The success of this strategy has been demonstrated in our performance during
the year. We have made real progress in restructuring and re-focusing our UK
insurance operations and its strong performance in 2001 shows that we can build
the business in competitive markets while driving through these changes. There
has been continued strong investment performance at M&G and Egg broke even in
the fourth quarter as planned. Jackson National Life had its second best year
ever for total sales as well as record sales of fixed annuities, and Prudential
Corporation Asia had another year of exceptionally strong growth across the
region.
'This performance was particularly pleasing because it was achieved against a
backdrop of tough market conditions for many areas of our business. Turbulence
in capital markets has led to credit losses and a fall in embedded value.
However, the overall Group results reflect the fact that Prudential is a
financially strong company with outstanding businesses and a broad international
base.
Group total insurance sales, on an annual premium equivalent (APE) basis, of
£1.8 billion were up 16 per cent and sales of investment products of £1 billion
increased from £376 million in 2000. Achieved basis operating profits (after
restructuring costs) increased by 15 per cent to £1,186 million. New business
achieved profits were up 10 per cent, principally due to strong growth in Asia.
Total in-force achieved operating profits increased 24 per cent to £673 million,
despite a £74 million charge relating to average realised bond losses in the
United States.
'As part of our ambition to build a business with long-term sustainable growth,
we have set a goal for the next four years of doubling the intrinsic value of
the Group. We define intrinsic value as the discounted value of the cash
generated by the business in the future. This can be approximated to the sum of
the embedded value together with a multiple of new business profits for our
long-term businesses, and the fair value of non-insurance operations such as Egg
and M&G. In order to achieve this goal, we will need to broadly double new
business achieved profits and the fair value of our non-insurance operations.
This is a stretching target, the key to which is performance delivery and our
ability to develop the business so that growth will continue after the four year
period, and one which is consistent with our focus on delivering value.
'The markets in which we operate around the world are experiencing significant
change, bringing challenges but also enormous opportunities. This change is
being driven by a number of factors including demographic shifts, changing
regulation and government policy, different consumer attitudes, greater consumer
sophistication, market reform and liberalisation, and increasing competition.
Prudential, with its AAA financial strength, comprehensive distribution, product
innovation and scale operations is well placed to meet these challenges and take
advantage of the opportunities they present.'
UK and Europe
'In the UK, we have complementary businesses and market-leading positions in key
product areas, enabling us to deliver sustained growth in the low margin
environment in which we now operate. Our UK insurance operations have undergone
an enormous transformation in recent years and the development of our business
model to improve our service to over seven million customers continued in 2001.
We made changes to our direct sales channels and customer service operations and
set out a more focused strategic direction for the business, creating further
cost efficiencies and bringing together our operating units under the powerful
Prudential brand.
'M&G's market position, investment capabilities and brand strength make it one
of the leading fund managers in the UK. The successful integration with
Prudential Portfolio Managers has created a focused business with strong
positions in all of its markets. Investment performance continues to be
encouraging against difficult market conditions. Within the retail market, M&G
has materially increased market share during the year, and on the institutional
side has won a number of sizeable new fixed income mandates on the back of the
growing trend among defined benefit pension schemes to seek to cap their
liabilities.
'Egg's full-year results were announced on 25 February 2002. Since we launched
Egg in 1998, it has become one of the UK's leading e-commerce financial brands
and the leading digital bank worldwide. In November, Egg achieved a break-even
position and in doing so, met the commitment made at the time of its flotation
in June 2000 that it would break even during the fourth quarter of 2001. Egg's
management team is confident that its UK business is sustainably profitable.
Customer numbers now stand at over two million, and in January of this year, Egg
announced details of its planned launch in France during 2002 including the
acquisition of Zebank, the first digital online bank in France.
'In Europe, Prudential had a number of notable achievements during the year
including the opening of a Paris-based branch, the launch of Prudential Europe
Vie, an equity-backed life insurance product that builds on the success of
Prudence Bond in the UK, and the signing of an additional distribution agreement
with Centre Francais du Patrimoine, one of the largest multi-product broking
services in France.'
United States
'2001 has been a year of considerable uncertainty for markets, particularly the
capital markets, in the United States. No one in the US has been immune from
these difficult market conditions and Jackson National Life (JNL) was no
exception. However, long-term demographic trends are favourable and we believe
that there are significant growth prospects, bringing with it outstanding
opportunities for high quality businesses like JNL.
'JNL is one of the top 20 life insurance companies in the United States in terms
of total assets. Since we acquired it in 1986, JNL has been transformed into a
market leading provider in its chosen product lines and distribution channels.
While its performance during the year was affected by the continued market
volatility in the US, particularly in areas such as variable and equity-linked
products, JNL's broad product and distribution mix enabled it to deliver strong
results in other areas including fixed annuities and stable value products.
'When combined with its considerable operating efficiency, low cost base and
modern IT systems, JNL's diversified product portfolio and variety of
distribution outlets enables it to continue writing profitable business in
difficult economic conditions. Our ambition to grow the business remains and we
will continue to develop JNL's product range and enhance its distribution
channels to ensure that it is well placed to benefit from the anticipated growth
in the US financial services market.'
Asia
'The Group had another year of success and impressive growth in Asia. Prudential
Corporation Asia (PCA) now operates in 12 countries, having added Japan and
Korea to its geographic mix during the year, and it already has top five market
positions in eight businesses across the region.
'PCA's performance in 2001 (new business achieved profits were up 67 per cent)
endorsed its successful strategy of entering new markets, strengthening and
diversifying distribution channels, and launching innovative, customer-focused
products. The prospects for the long-term savings markets will continue to be
significant across Asia, and represent an excellent opportunity for companies
like Prudential with its financial strength, trusted brand name, strong joint
venture partners, track record of success in the region, and a commitment to
meet local customer needs with innovative products.'
Summary
'2001 has been another year of considerable success and achievement for the
Group and the benefits of our strategy of diversification by product and
distribution channel internationally are very clear. Prudential is one of only
10 insurance companies worldwide with AAA financial strength ratings from both
Standard & Poor's and Moody's. We have some truly outstanding businesses across
the Group and through our focus on delivering value rather than volume as well
as our active management of capital, I believe that we are very well placed for
the future.'
The final dividend of 16.7p per share will be paid on 29 May 2002 to
shareholders on the register at the close of business on 22 March 2002.
Shareholders will once more be offered a scrip dividend alternative.
-ENDS-
Media Enquiries: Investor/Analyst Enquiries:
Geraldine Davies - 020 7548 3911 Rebecca Burrows - 020 7548 3537
Steve Colton - 020 7548 3721 Andrew Crossley - 020 7548 3166
Clare Staley - 020 7548 3719
Notes to Editors:
1. There will be a conference call today for wire services at 7.30am on 020 8288
4530 hosted by Jonathan Bloomer, Group Chief Executive.
2. A presentation to analysts will take place at 10:00am at Governor's House,
Laurence Pountney Hill, London, EC4R 0HH. A webcast of the presentation and
the presentation slides will be available on the Group's website,
www.prudential.co.uk
3. There will be a conference call for international investors at 2:30pm (dial
in telephone number: +44 (0) 20 8781 0574, US callers 1 334 323 4002).
Callers to quote 'Prudential' for access to the call.
A recording of this call will be available for replay for one week by
dialling:
UK: 020 8288 4459, US: 1 703 736 7336, access code 653932.
4. A press conference will take place at 11:45am at Governor's House, Laurence
Pountney Hill, London, EC4R 0HH. If journalists wish to attend, please call
the Press Office in advance on 020 7548 3304. Photographs are available at
www.newscast.co.uk.
5. An interview with Jonathan Bloomer (in video/audio/text) will be available on
www.cantos.com and www.prudential.co.uk from 8.00am on 26 February 2002.
6. Annual premium equivalent (APE) sales comprise regular premium sales plus
one-tenth of single premium insurance and investment sales.
7. Total number of Prudential plc shares outstanding as at 31 December 2001 was
1,993,819,770.
8. Financial Calendar:
First quarter new business figures 2002 Thursday 18 April 2002
Annual General Meeting Thursday 9 May 2002
Interim Results 2002/ Wednesday 24 July 2002
Second quarter new business figures 2002
Third quarter new business figures 2002 Thursday 17 October 2002
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 and results. 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,
the policies and actions of regulatory authorities, the impact of competition,
inflation, deflation, the timing, impact and other uncertainties of future
acquisitions or combinations within relevant industries, as well as the impact
of tax and other legislation and other regulations in the jurisdictions in which
Prudential and its affiliates operate. 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 PLC 2001 UNAUDITED RESULTS
Results Summary 2001 £m 2000 £m
Achieved Profits Basis Results
Operating profit before tax
UK Insurance Operations:
Long-term business 620 708
General business 79 33
699 741
M&G 75 125
Egg (88) (155)
UK Operations 686 711
US Operations 319 226
Prudential Asia 415 213
Prudential Europe 8 17
Other income and expenditure (including development expenses) (178) (138)
1,250 1,029
UK re-engineering costs (64) -
Operating profit (see note) 1,186 1,029
Amortisation of goodwill (95) (84)
Short-term fluctuations in investment returns (1,402) (440)
Effect of change of economic assumptions (482) -
Merger break fee (net of related expenses) 338 -
Profit on business disposals - 223
(Loss) profit on ordinary activities before tax (455) 728
Operating earnings per share 41.9p 38.4p
Shareholders' funds £8.15bn £8.8bn
Statutory Basis Results
Operating profit before tax (see note) 622 840
Operating earnings per share 23.3p 30.2p
Dividend per share 25.4p 24.5p
Insurance and investment funds under management £163bn £165bn
Banking deposit balances under management £6.5bn £7.6bn
Note
Operating profit for insurance operations includes investment returns at the
expected long-term rate of return. For the purposes of the presentation set
out above, to be consistent with the alternative earnings per share,
operating profit excludes amortisation of goodwill and the merger break fee,
net of related expenses. The directors believe that operating profit, as
adjusted for these items, better reflects underlying performance. Total
profit includes these items together with actual investment returns and
profit on business disposals. This basis of presentation has been adopted
consistently throughout this announcement.
OPERATIONAL REVIEW
UNITED KINGDOM & EUROPE
UK Insurance Operations
2001 was a significant year for our UK Insurance Operations as we underwent a
major restructuring and re-focusing of our business to meet the opportunities
and challenges presented by continued change in the UK's life insurance market.
The UK insurance business recorded sales on an annual premium equivalent (APE)
basis of £838 million, 10 per cent up on 2000. New business achieved profits
(NBAP) were up 6 per cent to £243 million, reflecting increased volumes of new
business written during the year, and our ability to build the UK business while
driving through change. Total UK achieved operating profits fell 12 per cent to
£620 million. However, these results reflect the adoption of the new active
basis for setting economic assumptions. Underlying achieved operating profits,
excluding the impact of the change to active-basis reporting, were £724 million
(up two per cent on prior year), with NBAP contributing £269 million to this
result, an improvement of 17 per cent on 2000.
During the year, we announced changes to our customer services operations,
including the closure of our direct sales force, to enable us to meet changing
customer needs and to continue to operate cost-effectively as a scale player in
the UK market. We also transferred our general insurance operations to
Winterthur Insurance, while forming an alliance with its UK subsidiary,
Churchill, to continue to offer Prudential-branded general insurance products in
the UK, while benefiting from Winterthur's market-leading expertise and
capabilities in this sector. The transaction, which completed in January 2002,
is expected to generate approximately £810 million for Prudential over time, and
reflects our strategy of deploying capital where it will deliver the most value.
Profit arising from the transaction will be accounted for in 2002.
Our core UK insurance businesses are currently being integrated into one
organisational structure to significantly improve customer service and to lower
costs. We announced our commitment to take a further £175 million out of our
annual UK cost base by 2004 and aggressively drive expense levels across the
business down to one per cent of funds under management. We believe this is an
appropriate benchmark, and one which we are determined to surpass in the future.
During 2001, we continued to build our multi-channel distribution capability,
which will give us the flexibility to respond to changing market environments
while maintaining our market-leading position. In the UK, we distribute our
products direct to customers (telephone, internet and mail), through
intermediaries including IFAs and consulting actuaries, and through the
workplace to our corporate pensions customers. Going forward, we will also
develop partnerships with retailers and other distributors.
We have an excellent brand and market-leading positions in a number of product
areas. Our future strategic focus will be on high growth medium to long-term
savings products, including annuities, pensions, with-profits bonds and ISAs. We
believe this product mix offers the best growth prospects in the market by
meeting customer needs for long-term savings and retirement income.
Sales of individual annuities totalled £1.3 billion during the year, up 17 per
cent. We launched an impaired life annuity, which offers higher income to those
with chronic conditions, and a Flexible Retirement Income Account offering
customers a greater degree of freedom in their pension arrangements. We wrote an
increasing volume of shareholder backed annuity business during the year which
will result in a greater portion of the economic benefits flowing directly to
shareholders.
There are 11 million employees in occupational pension schemes of which some 4.7
million are members of a defined benefit scheme. Changes to the tax treatment of
dividends, lower equity returns and increased longevity, are leading trustees to
consider alternatives to defined benefit schemes. In addition, over the next two
years, FRS17 will increase the transparency of the impact on companies' balance
sheets of funding defined benefit schemes. As a result, many companies are now
looking to change their pension arrangements to defined contribution schemes, an
area in which we have a strong customer offering.
As well as seeing a shift from defined benefit to defined contribution schemes
for employees, we expect to see the bulk annuities market grow to an estimated
£300 billion as trustees seek to manage remaining liabilities under defined
benefit schemes. In 2001, our sales of bulk annuities totalled £575 million, and
we will continue to be a leading player in this market.
We enjoyed a number of key successes in the group pensions market during the
year including being named joint provider for Stakeholder pensions and
Additional Voluntary Contributions (AVCs) to the National Health Service (NHS),
giving us access to over a million NHS employees. In addition, we have around a
50 per cent share of the local government AVC market. In 2001, we further
improved our service to customers by enabling them to carry out transactions to
their pensions on-line through their company intranet, with employers benefiting
from the ability to automatically collect contributions direct from the payroll
system.
Looking ahead, we aim to be a leading player in the Stakeholder market with a
focus on larger corporate schemes where we can offer quality service within the
economics of a one per cent environment.
Sales of our with-profits bonds through IFAs were up 33 per cent to a record £2
billion. 2001 marked the tenth anniversary of Prudence Bond, and in January
2002, we launched an enhanced with-profits product to build on the success of
Prudence Bond. It provides greater flexibility and clarity to customers and will
enable us to continue to build on our market-leading position within the
with-profits market.
Prudential has seven million customers in the UK giving us a presence in one in
five households. Prudential is ranked number one in brand awareness in the 45+
age group, which accounts for 70 per cent of the savings market and is a key
focus for us in growing the business.
We see increasing scope for attracting more of these customers, given the '
flight to quality' we are witnessing in the market at present as people place
increasing emphasis on financial strength when making their investment
decisions. Consumers are seeking the reassurance of brands they can trust, and
this puts Prudential in a very strong position.
M&G
M&G is Prudential's UK and European fund management business and has over £120
billion of funds under management. These funds are invested in a wide range of
assets, including UK and international equities, fixed interest, property and
private equity. M&G is the UK's second largest retail fund manager in terms of
funds under management.
Underlying profit from the core retail and wholesale businesses was £56 million,
an increase of £4 million from 2000. In addition, M&G earned a performance fee
of £19 million (£14 million in 2000) reflecting its outperformance in managing
the Prudential life fund. M&G's profits of £75 million compare to £125 million
in 2000. This decline was primarily due to the transfer of the life and pensions
business to Scottish Amicable in 2000, which contributed £42 million of
operating profit in 2000.
M&G's strategy of refocusing its institutional business on core areas of
strength in fixed interest, defined contribution and pooled pensions is
increasingly bearing fruit as the move away from defined benefit schemes gathers
momentum. A further £700 million of institutional specialist fixed income
mandates were won during the year, with M&G's market leadership in liability and
cashflow matching being a particular factor behind these wins. During 2001, M&G
continued to develop its pooled fund business and increased the number of
defined contribution clients.
For the second consecutive year, M&G generated exceptional investment
performance across the internal funds for which it was responsible, including
the £80 billion managed on behalf of the Prudential Assurance Company's and
Scottish Amicable's long-term funds. Against a backdrop of difficult market
conditions, these funds beat their competitor and strategic benchmarks by more
than two per cent in 2001.
2001 proved a challenging year for the retail fund management industry with
gross industry retail sales falling 22 per cent, net retail sales falling 48 per
cent and net ISA sales falling 39 per cent (AUTIF figures to December 2001).
Excluding an exceptional loan note rollover in 2000, relating to the original
acquisition of M&G by Prudential, M&G saw a decrease in gross sales of only 5
per cent and achieved a significant increase in net retail sales over the year.
M&G was able to leverage its leading fixed income position and reduce
redemptions, in addition to benefiting from an increasing recognition among IFAs
of the good performance of a number of its equity funds. M&G also significantly
increased its market share in the IFA channel, winning more than a 6 per cent
share of all ISA and PEP transfer business sold via intermediaries during 2001.
M&G's property and private equity arms, which primarily invest on behalf of the
Prudential Assurance Company, also enjoyed a successful year. The managed
property portfolio delivered another impressive performance, beating its market
benchmark by a considerable margin, its tenth consecutive year of
outperformance. While market conditions for private equity remain challenging,
we continued to diversify the portfolio with new investments across Europe and
Asia.
M&G has also taken significant steps to build its distribution capability in
other parts of the world. In 2001, M&G won unit-holder approval to convert 38 of
its unit trust funds to an OEIC (Open Ended Investment Company) structure. This
conversion is part of M&G's plans to distribute its product range into European
markets.
During the year, M&G established its Berlin-based sales and marketing operation
and has now opened for business in both Germany and Austria. A co-operative
product strategy has also been agreed with Prudential Corporation Asia through
which assets collected within PCA's offshore fund range will flow into M&G's UK
OEIC funds.
Cofunds, the fund supermarket for intermediaries which was founded as a joint
venture between M&G, Threadneedle, Jupiter and Gartmore, achieved over £200
million of PEP and ISA sales during the year, with over 40 providers offering
nearly 500 funds and over 2000 IFA firms now signed up. Cofunds gained nearly a
five per cent share of IFA ISA sales and over three per cent of PEP transfers
during 2001.
Egg
2001 was another year of outstanding growth for Egg, with operating income up
103 per cent to £189 million and strong customer growth, principally through its
credit card business. Pre-tax losses decreased by 43 per cent to £88 million.
Egg's management accounts for November showed that the business made a profit
for the month. In doing so, Egg met the commitment made at the time of its
flotation in June 2000 that it would break even during the fourth quarter of
2001. Egg's management team is confident that its UK business is sustainably
profitable.
During the year, Egg acquired 600,000 net new customers, giving a year-end total
of 1.95 million. Today, Egg has over 2 million customers. The credit card
business performed strongly, particularly Egg Card, and now has 1.37 million
customers. Credit card balances nearly doubled to £1.8 billion and credit
quality remains strong. Egg Mortgages increased its book by 18 per cent to £1
billion.
In January 2002, Egg announced its intention to launch in France during the
year. As part of this strategy, Egg will acquire Zebank (subject to regulatory
approval), the leading French online banking business, which will provide Egg
with a platform to distribute Egg-branded products. In addition to this deal,
Egg has signed distribution partnerships with French retailers Sephora and La
Samaritaine.
Egg will also be extending its partnership with Microsoft to offer further
financial services products in France in addition to the proposed fund
supermarket through MSN, the leading consumer web destination in Europe.
Prudential Europe
Prudential's European operations encompass both the manufacture and distribution
of Prudential branded products in continental Europe through strategic
distribution agreements with strong local partners.
In Germany, our focus has been on unit-linked pension and protection products,
distributed through local agent sales forces. During 2001, Prudential Europe
re-launched its Vorsorge critical illness product, and launched two new mutual
funds which were developed jointly with the Deutsche Bank Group. These are fund
of funds (Dachfonds) and are the first Prudential branded products to be
available in the German market.
During 2001, new business achieved profits of £8 million remained broadly in
line with 2000. Total sales in 2001 were £78 million, more than double the
levels achieved in the previous year, principally due to strong sales of
Prudential Europe Vie, an equity-backed life insurance product that was launched
in France in January 2001.
Pru Vie is initially being sold through independent financial advisers approved
by Centre Francais du Patrimoine (CFP), which is one of the largest
multi-brokerage networks in France. In January 2002, Prudential announced a
similar arrangement with Espace Patrimoine Conseil (a subsidiary of Credit
Mutuel de Bretagne), and is expecting to enter into further distribution
arrangements later this year.
UNITED STATES
The markets in the United States witnessed a year of unprecedented uncertainty
in 2001, with equity markets suffering significant declines and bond defaults
reaching record levels. No one in the US has been immune from these difficult
market conditions and Jackson National Life (JNL) was no exception. However,
long-term demographic trends in the US are favourable and we have continued to
develop and enhance our product range and distribution channels to ensure that
we are well placed to benefit from the anticipated growth in the US financial
services market.
Our emphasis has been and will continue to be on profitable growth. Historical
results demonstrate our ability to grow sales while maintaining pricing
discipline, and in the last four years we have consistently earned
above-industry rates of return (as measured by US GAAP operating return on
capital). This reflects our key strengths in distribution, product design and
cost. In addition, initiatives to expand product lines and distribution channels
have resulted in more diversified, higher quality earnings.
Against this background, JNL recorded total sales of £4.6 billion during the
year, down only marginally on the record figure set in 2000. Sales of fixed
annuities reached record levels, up 80 per cent to £1.9 billion. Despite
declining interest rates in 2001, investors sought the safety of fixed annuities
resulting in record industry sales.
New business achieved profits fell to £167 million from £221 million in 2000,
principally due to the adoption of revised achieved profits assumptions and a
five per cent reduction in total sales. In-force profits were affected by US$532
million of net losses relating to JNL's bond holdings, resulting in a £74
million charge against current year profits on a five-year averaging basis. This
US$532 million loss equated to 1.4 per cent of JNL's total invested assets and
default experience appears to be broadly in line with that of our major
competitors.
Over the last five years, JNL has made significant progress in widening its
product range, enabling us to sell profitable products in any economic
environment. In addition, our costs remain among the lowest in the industry and
our highly rated service and technology capability makes us well positioned for
continued growth and diversification.
The end of the bull market in 2001 created a challenging environment in the
variable annuity (VA) market. After years of exceptional growth, VA assets were
down in 2001, due to lower net inflows and a decrease in equity prices. Net
variable annuity cashflow is a key measure of success in this market as it
reflects overall variable annuity asset retention and therefore profit
potential. JNL ranks eleventh in the industry on this basis with a net inflow of
US$497 million (as at 30 September 2001).
JNL maintained a top five market position in the sale of equity linked indexed
(ELI) annuities with sales of £271 million in 2001. Fourth quarter sales of ELIs
were the strongest single-quarter sales in 2001 and were 28 per cent ahead of
third quarter sales.
Our Institutional Marketing Group (IMG), which distributes through banks in the
US, announced another record year with sales up nearly 58 per cent on 2000. IMG
now offers annuities direct to customers through more than 320 banks and credit
unions in the US, as well as to around 1,930 financial institutions through
third-party marketing organisations and bank broker/dealers.
In 2001, JNL issued £1.7 billion of institutional products and maintained a top
10 position in the overall institutional product market and a top four position
in the Medium Term Note funding agreement market. The notes, which may be in any
currency, are issued to institutional investors and are backed by funding
agreements issued by JNL.
Looking ahead, significant opportunities exist in the US life insurance market
as people seek to fund a longer retirement. In JNL, we have an outstanding
business which is well positioned to capitalise on these favourable demographic
trends through our diversified product offering, high quality distribution
network and strong cost position.
ASIA
Prudential is Europe's leading life insurer in Asia. Six years ago, we were only
present in Singapore, Hong Kong and Malaysia. Today, we have a very strong
regional presence with 21 operations in 12 countries, including top five market
positions in eight of those operations (six in our life businesses and two in
mutual funds).
Our success in Asia derives from a unique combination of competitive advantages
including our ability to invest for the long-term, an extensive understanding of
local markets and their people, considerable experience of overcoming barriers
to entry into new markets, and our ability to leverage the power and financial
strength of Prudential's brand.
Through our 'think regional, act local' management approach, we have been able
to replicate our successful business model into the building of new operations.
This helps us to capitalise on synergies in brand, systems, product and
distribution development while taking into account the great diversity in
culture, regulation and levels of economic development across the region. Very
importantly, we have also benefited from our ability to attract, motivate and
retain the best people in the industry.
The prospects for the long-term savings markets in Asia are significant, driven
by a combination of favourable demographic trends and increasing market
liberalisation. Through its extensive network of life insurance and mutual funds
operations, Prudential Corporation Asia (PCA) is strongly positioned to capture
a major part of the region's fast-growing financial services market.
2001 was another year of strong growth for PCA. This was despite the anticipated
slowdown in life insurance new business growth rates during the fourth quarter
as the global economic slowdown started to have an effect on the region. Sales
of insurance products on an APE basis were £434 million, up 69 per cent. As well
as continuing strong growth in sales through agents, we achieved strong growth
through other distribution channels. These included bancassurance (we have bank
distribution agreements in place in nine countries) and direct distribution,
which together generated just over 17 per cent of new APE life sales, up
significantly compared to 2000. Net mutual fund sales of £1.4 billion were up
351 per cent.
Operating profit, before development costs and minority interest, increased from
£213 million to £415 million in 2001. Achieved profit from life operations
increased from £205 million to £405 million. New business achieved profits were
up 67 per cent to £255 million, reflecting strong sales growth across all
operations, and in-force achieved profit growth was also strong. This strong
growth reflects PCA's successful strategy of entering new markets, strengthening
and diversifying distribution channels and meeting customers' needs with
innovative products.
During the year, PCA had a number of notable successes. We acquired Orico Life
in Japan and YoungPoong Life in Korea. Both of these operations have been
re-branded PCA Life and we are now building on these operationally and
financially sound platforms. We intend, in time, to become material players in
these two largest life insurance markets in Asia.
PCA extended its range of capital efficient unit-linked products with launches
in China, where we became the first international life insurance company to
launch a unit-linked life insurance product in Guangzhou (CITIC Prudential, our
life insurance joint venture in Guangzhou, China, was established in late 2000).
In Taiwan, our unit-linked single premium product is the first and only life
insurance product that offers customers a significant investment choice.
Regulatory approval for regular premium unit-linked products was received in
late November and these were successfully launched in January 2002.
Prudential is now the largest private sector mutual funds company in India,
having re-entered the Indian market in 1998 by teaming up with one of the
country's leading banking groups, ICICI, and launching award-winning funds. In
December 2000, we entered the Indian life market with the launch of ICICI
Prudential, one of the few international joint ventures to be fully licensed and
selling policies. The partnership with ICICI has gone from strength to strength
and has grown still further in 2001 to include a bancassurance relationship with
ICICI Bank.
In line with our strategy of expanding our successful unit trust operations
across the region, we launched Prudential Unit Trusts in both Malaysia and
Singapore during the year. These operations supplement our already successful
and fast-growing mutual fund operations in India (ranked number two at the end
of 2001), Taiwan (ranked number four at the end of 2001), and Japan.
Hong Kong's Mandatory Provident Fund had its first full year of operation in
2001 and our joint venture with Bank of China International (BOCI) is now one of
the leaders in this market with an estimated 15 per cent market share. In
December 2001, BOCI-Prudential also launched its first unit trust in Hong Kong.
Looking ahead, the global economic slowdown is likely to depress short to
medium-term growth in the region. However the long-term potential in Asia
remains exceptional. PCA, with its significant portfolio of businesses in the
region, multi-channel distribution capabilities, excellent strategic partners,
and customer-focused product expertise is in a very strong position to continue
to benefit from the excellent long-term growth potential throughout Asia.
FINANCIAL REVIEW
2001 was an exceptional year for sales with total insurance and investment sales
reaching a record £21.5 billion, up 54 per cent on last year. Total new business
inflows including renewal premiums reached £25.7 billion, 42 per cent ahead of
last year.
Total insurance sales increased 9 per cent to £11.4 billion, reflecting a 13 per
cent growth in sales in the UK and the success of our Asian operations, where
insurance sales increased 102 per cent to £1 billion.
Gross investment sales increased 188 per cent to £10 billion while net mutual
fund sales in Asia were £1.4 billion, an increase of 351 per cent. Sales at
Jackson National Life and Prudential Corporation Asia now represent 68 per cent
of the Group total.
Total achieved operating profit
Total achieved operating profit before re-engineering costs was £1,250 million,
up 21 per cent from £1,029 million in 2000. This result reflects a 10 per cent
improvement in new business achieved profits to £673 million combined with a 24
per cent improvement in the in-force result to £673 million.
Results from other operations including development costs and other
shareholders' income improved from a loss of £128 million in 2000 to a loss of
£96 million, principally due to a much reduced initial operating loss at Egg.
As we announced previously, our results are reported on the basis of the new ABI
guidance for Achieved Profit reporting, issued in December 2001. The revised
guidance requires the economic assumptions used for the projection of cashflows
to be on an 'active' basis, that is primarily based on appropriate government
bond returns at each period end. These assumptions are reflected in the profit
reported for the year to 31 December 2001. Previously, Prudential has used a
'passive' basis, which uses stable assumptions based on a long-term economic
view. Passive assumptions are revised only when it is judged that the economic
environment has changed substantially. Results prepared under the Modified
Statutory basis are not affected by this change.
The implementation of the revised assumptions under the active basis applied
primarily to the UK and the US operations, and those countries in Asia where
there are well-developed government bond markets (Japan, Korea and US$ business
in Hong Kong). Assumptions in other Asian territories continued to be based on
an assessment of long-term economic conditions.
This has resulted in our reducing the risk discount rate applied to our UK and
US operations from 8.5 per cent to 7.7 per cent, and reducing the UK investment
return assumption from 8.0 per cent to 7.1 per cent.
The overall impact on our Group achieved profit result for 2001 from using the
active assumptions rather than the 2000 passive assumptions has been to reduce
new business achieved profits by around £7 million and to reduce the in-force
operating result by around £90 million. Achieved profit shareholders' funds are
around £180 million lower than they would have been under the old assumptions.
New business achieved profit
Group new business achieved profit from insurance business of £673 million was
10 per cent ahead of prior year, reflecting strong growth in Asia partially
offset by a fall in profits at JNL. The growth in new business achieved profits
reflects a 16 per cent increase in insurance sales on an annual premium
equivalent (APE) basis.
Offsetting this the Group new business achieved profit margin decreased from 40
per cent to 38 per cent, primarily reflecting the adoption of active basis
reporting combined with the impact of lower US spreads brought about by the
challenging US operating environment.
Prudential Asia's new business achieved profit of £255 million is up 67 per cent
on 2000 reflecting strong sales growth across all operations (APE insurance
sales up 69 per cent). The new business margin in Asia remained broadly stable
at 59 per cent despite a significant change in geographic and product mix.
Compound annual growth in Asia's new business achieved profit over the last
three years has been 66 per cent as we have developed new businesses and grown
distribution throughout the region. These results demonstrate the benefits of
geographic and product diversification.
The 24 per cent fall in Jackson's new business achieved profit to £167 million
is driven by a 5 per cent decline in new insurance sales and a decline in new
business margin from 44 per cent to 35 per cent, primarily reflecting a
reduction in the spread assumption in the current challenging operating
environment and revisions to variable annuity lapse rates.
UK Insurance Operations new business achieved profit of £243 million is 6 per
cent higher than 2000. This is mainly due to increased volumes of new business
written during the year, offset by the impact of the move to active basis
assumptions.
In the final quarter we believe we regained the market leading position for IFA
distributed WP bonds, with 32 per cent share of the market. Annuities performed
strongly in 2001. We believe we had a market leading position for the year with
a 19 per cent market share. Annuities written in our shareholder backed entity,
PRIL, generated new business achieved profits of around £30 million, being 12
percent of total UK new business achieved profits.
The reported UK Insurance Operations margin has decreased 1 per cent to 30 per
cent over the year. Excluding the impact of the change to the active basis, the
margin would have increased to 33 per cent, 2 per cent above prior year. The
underlying increase arises from PruBond and annuities, offset in part by the
impact of stakeholder pension products.
Prudential Europe's new business achieved profit of £8 million is broadly
similar to 2000.
In-force achieved profit
The UK in-force profit of £377 million was down 21 per cent on 2000. The decline
is mainly due to lower than expected returns in the UK arising from the lower
discount rate, and strengthening of the assumption for the amount of required
capital for our shareholder backed businesses, offset by lower renewal expense
assumptions resulting from the closure of the DSF
The US in-force profit has increased significantly from a loss of £2 million in
2000 to a profit of £136 million in 2001. However, the 2000 result was affected
by a change to the persistency and expense assumptions which led to a charge of
£258 million. Excluding this charge in 2000, 2001 profit was 47 per cent down,
reflecting lower investment returns and the fact that we did not, in the
increasingly competitive market, fully reset policyholder crediting rates to
compensate.
The US result was also affected by defaults and impairments on bonds resulting
in realised losses of US$532 million in the year. This resulted in a £74 million
charge to the current year as realised gains and losses on bonds are taken
through operating profit on a five year averaging basis. The US$532 million loss
represents 1.4 per cent of JNL's total invested assets and includes
approximately $200 million charged to this years result in relation to losses
that have arisen subsequent to the year end.
These bond losses occur at a time of record levels of credit defaults in the US,
as highlighted in recent credit rating agency reports.
Asia in-force profit (before development costs) has increased significantly from
£60 million in 2000 to £160 million in 2001. The result includes a £66 million
profit reflecting improvements in operating assumptions across all long term
businesses in the region and £16m of favourable experience variances in
Singapore, Hong Kong and Malaysia.
Europe broke even at the in-force level, compared to £8 million profit in 2000,
due to negative experience variances relating to the newly launched French
branch and operational costs in Dublin and Frankfurt.
Non-insurance operations
M&G's profits of £75 million compare to £125 million in 2000. This decline was
primarily due to the transfer of the life and pensions business to Scottish
Amicable in 2000, which contributed £42 million operating profit in 2000.
M&G profit has also been affected by reducing fee income due to lower equity
markets, and investment in new operations, including CoFunds and Europe. We have
now established an office in Berlin and will start to sell our global theme
range via intermediaries in Germany shortly. A performance fee of £19 million
has also been recognised in the 2001 result (£14 million in 2000) due to the
life fund beating its strategic benchmark by 2.3 per cent (the investment return
for the life fund was minus 3.5 per cent against a strategic benchmark of minus
5.8 per cent).
Egg moved into profit in the fourth quarter of 2001 and the reported loss of £88
million is in line with the market expectation. Egg is now an established
business with over two million customers today, and is still growing rapidly.
Egg's move to profit demonstrates that it has a profitable business model and a
management team committed to, and capable of delivering against their goals.
Egg's results are presented in its own annual report.
National Planning Holdings, our US broker-dealer, and PPMA, our US fund manager
together delivered profits of £16 million, up from £7 million in 2000.
Development costs (excluding Asia head office costs) were up from £21 million to
£48 million largely due to branding and re-launch costs of our operations in
Japan, and higher development costs in Europe including costs of establishing
our b2c business in Germany.
Other income and expenditure, including PCA head office costs, was up from £117
million to £130 million. Lower interest payable and Group corporate expenses
were more than offset by lower investment and other income and higher PCA head
office costs reflecting the growth in scale of our Asian operations.
Achieved profit - profit before tax
Profit before tax and minority interest was negative £455m verses a profit of
£728m in 2000. This principally reflects the adjustment for short-term
fluctuations in investment returns of £1,402 million and includes £764 million
in relation to the UK and £521 million in relation to JNL. The UK component
reflects the difference between an actual investment return of negative 3.5 per
cent and a long term assumed return of 7.1 per cent. The US component reflects
the full charge for bond write-downs and impairments to the extent that it is
not included in operating profit, and the negative variance against long term
investment returns for equity-like investments, together with £85 million in
relation to actual return on separate account business less return based on the
longer term rate.
Economic assumption changes include the effect of the change to active
assumptions mentioned earlier, together with changes to the long term assumption
in Asia and the in-force spread assumption for Jackson
This was partially offset by £338 million profit net of expenses relating to the
American General termination fee. Amortisation of goodwill was £95 million
against £84 million in 2000.
Achieved profit - profit after tax
Achieved profit after tax and minority interests was negative £217 million after
reflecting a tax credit of £213 million and minority interests of £25 million.
The effective tax rate at an operating profit level was 31 per cent, up from 28
per cent in 2000, largely due to a more normalised tax rate at JNL following the
impact on the 2000 result of the operational assumption changes. The effective
tax relief rate at a total achieved profit level is 47 per cent on a loss of
£455 million, due to tax payable on the American General break fee being
relieved against capital losses available to the Group, acquired during the
year. The effective tax rate in 2000 was 33 per cent.
Modified statutory basis results - operating profit
Group operating profit before tax on the modified statutory basis (MSB) before
re-engineering costs of £48 million, was £670 million, £170 million lower than
2000.
UK Insurance Operations' operating profit (excluding discontinued operations) in
2001 was £435 million, £33 million below 2000. This reflected the effect of
lower with-profit bonuses together with the one-off £30 million profit in 2000
relating to transfer of the M&G life and pensions business to Scot Am.
The US operations result of £298 million was £168 million worse than prior year,
principally reflecting reduced spread income combined with a £67 million charge
in relation to average realised gains and losses on bonds. Fee income was lower
due to lower sales and lower account values for variable annuities.
Prudential Asia's operating profit before minority interests and development
expenses was £44 million (£39 million in 2000). The Group's more established
operations in Singapore, Hong Kong and Malaysia reported significant growth in
statutory profits, up 40 per cent to £56 million. During 2002 and 2003
significant investment has been planned to build high quality customer focussed
distribution channels in Japan and Korea as we pursue a strategy of creating
material scale in these businesses. We expect the effect of this investment to
result in an MSB loss for Prudential Asia in 2002.
Modified statutory basis results - profit before tax
MSB Profit before tax and minority interests was £385 million in 2001, compared
to £947 million in 2000. This decline principally reflects lower operating
profit combined with a £480 million adjustment for short term fluctuations in
investment returns. This was partially offset by £338 million profit net of
expenses relating to the American General termination fee. Amortisation of
goodwill was £95 million against £84 million in 2000.
Modified statutory basis results - profit after tax
Profit after tax and minority interests was £389 million, reflecting a tax
charge of £21 million. The effective rate of tax on MSB total profit in 2001 was
5 per cent, compared to 33 per cent in 2000, due to tax payable on the American
General break fee being relieved against capital losses available to the Group,
acquired during the year.
Earnings per share
Earnings per share, based on achieved profits operating profit after tax and
related minority interests but before amortisation of goodwill were up 3.5 pence
to 41.9 pence. Earnings per share on an MSB basis were down 6.9 pence to 23.3
pence.
Post balance sheet event - disposal of general insurance operations
In November 2001, we announced the formation of a long-term alliance with
Winterthur Insurance and the Churchill Group, its UK subsidiary. This alliance
was part of our UK insurance strategy to focus on our core medium and long-term
saving businesses, and will see Churchill offering Prudential branded insurance
products in the UK.
This transaction was completed in January 2002, and in addition to the up-front
consideration of £353 million, we expect the following additional inflows: some
£200 million release of solvency capital; some £21 million release of net profit
in the unearned premium reserve; and some £236 million in relation to the
conservatively estimated net present value of future commissions and profits
over the term of the agreement.
Funds flow
The holding company net funds outflow of £421 million compares to a funds inflow
of £179 million in 2000 and is after taking into account £699 million investment
in businesses, and £132 million of timing differences and other items. The
investment in businesses includes £160 million in relation to acquisitions
comprising £139 million in relation to Orico Life and £21 million in relation to
Korea.
In addition £539 million was reinvestment in existing businesses includes £222
million in relation to JNL funding, £110 million for Asia, £21million for Europe
and £178 million of working capital for shareholder backed UK businesses.
This funds flow statement does not reflect the benefits to the Group of a number
of initiatives that were undertaken in 2001. We will receive the benefit of
about £450 million in 2002 including proceeds of the sale of the General
Insurance business, release of sale proceeds relating to Life Fund shareholding
in SJPC and the capital release from the Part 7 transfer (previously 2C
transfer) of Scottish Amicable Limited.
Net borrowings at the end of 2001 were £2.1 billion, compared to £1.7 billion
last year. This increase is mainly due to the issue of hybrid debt in the year,
offset by repayment of senior debt, giving rise to a net increase in borrowings
of £436 million.
Dividend per share
The final dividend per share is 16.7 pence, resulting in a full year dividend
growth of 3.7 per cent to 25.4 pence.
Funds under management
Insurance and investment funds under management at 31 December 2001 totalled
£163 billion, compared to £165 billion at the end of 2000. This reduction is
mainly due to a fall in the market value of investments which more then offset
the net sales achieved during the year.
Shareholders' funds
On an achieved profits basis, which recognises the shareholders' interest in
long-term businesses, shareholders' funds were £8,150 million, a decrease of
£626 million compared with 2000. The decrease principally reflects short-term
fluctuations in investment returns, combined with dividends declared and the
impact of adopting active assumptions, offset by operating profits of £1,186
million.
MSB shareholders' funds were almost unchanged at £3,950 million against £3,971
million in 2000.
PRUDENTIAL PLC 2001 UNAUDITED RESULTS
Results Summary 2001 £m 2000 £m
Achieved Profits Basis Results
Operating profit before tax
UK Insurance Operations:
Long-term business 620 708
General business 79 33
699 741
M&G 75 125
Egg (88) (155)
UK Operations 686 711
US Operations 319 226
Prudential Asia 415 213
Prudential Europe 8 17
Other income and expenditure (including development expenses) (178) (138)
1,250 1,029
UK re-engineering costs (64) -
Operating profit (see note) 1,186 1,029
Amortisation of goodwill (95) (84)
Short-term fluctuations in investment returns (1,402) (440)
Effect of change of economic assumptions (482) -
Merger break fee (net of related expenses) 338 -
Profit on business disposals - 223
(Loss) profit on ordinary activities before tax (455) 728
Operating earnings per share 41.9p 38.4p
Shareholders' funds £8.15bn £8.8bn
Statutory Basis Results
Operating profit before tax (see note) 622 840
Operating earnings per share 23.3p 30.2p
Dividend per share 25.4p 24.5p
Insurance and investment funds under management £163bn £165bn
Banking deposit balances under management £6.5bn £7.6bn
Note
Operating profit for insurance operations includes investment returns at the
expected long-term rate of return. For the purposes of the presentation set
out above, to be consistent with the alternative earnings per share,
operating profit excludes amortisation of goodwill and the merger break fee,
net of related expenses. The directors believe that operating profit, as
adjusted for these items, better reflects underlying performance. Total
profit includes these items together with actual investment returns and
profit on business disposals. This basis of presentation has been adopted
consistently throughout this announcement.
ACHIEVED PROFITS BASIS RESULTS
Restated
Summarised Consolidated Profit and Loss Account 2001 £m 2000 £m
UK Insurance Operations:
Long-term business 620 708
General business 79 33
699 741
M&G 75 125
Egg (88) (155)
UK Operations 686 711
US Operations 319 226
Prudential Asia 415 213
Prudential Europe 8 17
Other income and expenditure (including development expenses) (178) (138)
1,250 1,029
UK re-engineering costs (64) -
Operating profit before tax 1,186 1,029
Operating profit before amortisation of goodwill
Continuing operations 1,107 996
Discontinued general business operations 79 33
Amortisation of goodwill (95) (84)
Short-term fluctuations in investment returns (1,402) (440)
Effect of change of economic assumptions (482) -
Merger break fee (net of related expenses) 338 -
Profit on business disposals - 223
(Loss) profit on ordinary activities before tax (455) 728
Tax 213 (241)
(Loss) profit for the year before minority interests (242) 487
Minority interests 25 24
(Loss) profit for the year after minority interests (217) 511
Dividends (504) (484)
Retained (loss) profit for the year (721) 27
Restated
Basic Earnings Per Share 2001 2000
Based on operating profit after tax and related minority interests before
amortisation of goodwill of £828m (£752m) 41.9p 38.4p
Adjustment for amortisation of goodwill (4.8)p (4.3)p
Adjustment from post-tax long-term investment returns to post-tax actual
investment returns (48.9)p (16.5)p
(after related minority interests)
Adjustment for post-tax effect of change of economic assumptions (16.0)p -
Adjustment for post-tax merger break fee (net of related expenses) 16.8p -
Adjustment for post-tax profit on business disposals - 8.5p
Based on (loss) profit for the year after minority interests of £(217)m (£511m) (11.0)p 26.1p
Average number of shares 1,978m 1,959m
Dividend Per Share 25.4p 24.5p
Note
The tax charge, minority interests and earnings per share for 2000 have
been restated for minor changes to reflect the implementation of FRS 19
on deferred tax.
NEW BUSINESS BY PRODUCT DISTRIBUTOR
Annual
Single Regular Equivalents (Note)
2001 £m 2000 £m 2001 £m 2000 £m 2001 £m 2000 £m
UK Insurance Operations
Prudential Intermediary Business
Individual pensions 219 196 68 54 90 74
Corporate pensions 82 94 19 15 27 24
Life 2,297 1,660 27 36 257 202
Annuities 1,172 652 - - 117 65
Department of Social Security rebate business 64 59 - - 6 6
3,834 2,661 114 105 497 371
Investment products 70 101 2 3 9 13
Total 3,904 2,762 116 108
Prudential Financial Services
Individual pensions 26 30 26 34 29 37
Corporate pensions 469 751 131 93 178 168
Life 226 534 11 28 34 82
Annuities 663 602 - - 66 60
Department of Social Security rebate business 185 175 - - 19 18
1,569 2,092 168 155 326 365
Investment products 15 43 4 12 6 16
Total 1,584 2,135 172 167
M&G
Individual life and pensions - 29 - 2 - 5
Investment products 906 1,050 12 16 103 121
Total 906 1,079 12 18
Total UK Operations 6,394 5,976 300 293
US Operations
Fixed annuities 1,899 1,056 - - 190 106
Equity linked index annuities 271 409 - - 27 41
Variable annuities 768 1,709 - - 77 171
Guaranteed Investment Contracts 170 365 - - 17 36
GIC - European Medium Term Notes 1,504 1,291 - - 150 129
Life - - 22 25 22 25
Total 4,612 4,830 22 25 483 508
Prudential Asia
Insurance products 650 275 369 229 434 256
Investment products 9,027 2,259 - - 903 226
Total 9,677 2,534 369 229
Prudential Europe
Insurance products 58 14 20 22 26 23
Group Total
Insurance products 10,723 9,901 693 538 1,766 1,528
Investment products 10,018 3,453 18 31 1,021 376
Total 20,741 13,354 711 569
Note
Annual Equivalents are calculated as the aggregate of regular new business
contributions and one tenth of single new business contributions.
Single new business insurance premiums include increments under existing
group pension schemes and pensions vested into annuity contracts (at the
annuity purchase price). Regular new business contributions are determined
on an annualised basis.
India Taiwan Other Total
Asia Mutual Funds Under Management £m £m £m £m
Funds at 1 January 2001 695 934 20 1,649
Net Flows 352 998 45 1,395
Market movement 24 35 (7) 52
Funds at 31 December 2001 1,071 1,967 58 3,096
ACHIEVED PROFITS BASIS RESULTS
Operating Profit before amortisation of goodwill
Results Analysis by Business Area 2001 £m 2000 £m
UK Operations
Insurance operations:
New business 243 230
Business in force 377 478
Long-term business 620 708
General business 79 33
Total UK Insurance Operations 699 741
M&G 75 125
Egg (88) (155)
Total 686 711
US Operations
New business 167 221
Business in force 136 (2)
Long-term business 303 219
Broker dealer and fund management 16 7
Total 319 226
Prudential Asia
New business 255 153
Business in force 160 60
Long-term business 415 213
Development expenses (19) (3)
Total 396 210
Prudential Europe
New business 8 9
Business in force 0 8
Long-term business 8 17
Development expenses (29) (18)
Total (21) (1)
Other Income and Expenditure
Investment return and other income 51 70
Interest payable on core structural borrowings of shareholder financed operations (118) (131)
Corporate expenditure:
Group Head Office (39) (42)
Asia Regional Head Office (24) (14)
Total (130) (117)
1,250 1,029
UK re-engineering costs (64) -
Operating profit before amortisation of goodwill 1,186 1,029
Analysed as profits (losses) from:
New business 673 613
Business in force 673 544
Long-term business 1,346 1,157
Prudential Asia and Europe development expenses (48) (21)
Other operating results (48) (107)
UK re-engineering costs (64) -
Total 1,186 1,029
ACHIEVED PROFITS BASIS RESULTS
Restated
Summarised Consolidated Balance Sheet 2001 £m 2000 £m
Investments in respect of non-linked business:
Equities 40,948 51,232
Fixed income securities 59,183 48,594
Properties 10,487 10,303
Deposits with credit institutions 4,176 3,875
Other investments (principally mortgages and loans) 5,108 4,507
119,902 118,511
Assets held to cover linked liabilities 17,453 18,323
Banking business assets 8,972 8,603
Goodwill 1,687 1,611
Holding Company cash 19 38
Core structural borrowings of shareholder financed operations:
Central funds (1,980) (1,568)
Jackson National Life (172) (167)
Deferred acquisition costs 3,204 2,952
Dividend payable (332) (322)
Obligations of Jackson National Life under sale and repurchase and lending (3,394) (2,652)
agreements
Borrowings to support short-term fixed income securities reinvestment programme (1,330) -
Debenture loan issued by Egg (124) -
Deferred tax (2,005) (2,924)
Other net (liabilities) assets (84) 657
141,816 143,062
Insurance technical provisions (net of reinsurance):
UK Operations (85,583) (82,743)
US Operations (25,055) (23,585)
Prudential Asia (4,941) (3,269)
Prudential Europe (634) (593)
(116,213) (110,190)
Fund for future appropriations (13,202) (20,724)
Less: shareholders' accrued interest in the long-term business 4,200 4,805
Insurance technical provisions (net of reinsurance) and fund for future
appropriations, less shareholders' accrued interest (125,215) (126,109)
Banking business liabilities (8,333) (8,040)
Minority interests (118) (137)
Total net assets 8,150 8,776
Restated
Shareholders' Capital and Reserves 2001 £m 2000 £m
Share capital 100 99
Share premium 533 458
Statutory basis retained profit 3,317 3,414
Shareholders' capital and reserves - statutory basis 3,950 3,971
Additional reserves on the achieved profits basis 4,200 4,805
Shareholders' capital and reserves - achieved profits basis 8,150 8,776
Note
Balance sheet comparatives for 2000 have been restated to reflect the
implementation of FRS19 on deferred tax. As a consequence, the
provision for deferred tax at 31 December 2000 has increased by
£2,592m. This increase in provision is matched by reductions of £2,543m
in the fund for future appropriations and £57m in shareholders' capital
and reserves, less £8m reduction in the shareholders' accrued interest
in the long-term business. These adjustments relate almost wholly to
deferred tax on unrealised appreciation on investments that it was
previously inappropriate to recognise under the partial provisioning
method under SSAP 15.
ACHIEVED PROFITS BASIS RESULTS
Restated
Movement in Shareholders' Capital and Reserves 2001 £m 2000 £m
(Loss) profit for the year after minority interests (217) 511
Exchange movements 53 187
Goodwill on sale of holding in associate company - 90
New share capital subscribed 42 184
Dividends (504) (484)
Net (decrease) increase in shareholders' capital and reserves (626) 488
Shareholders' capital and reserves at beginning of year
As originally reported 8,833 8,342
Prior year adjustments on implementation of FRS 19 on deferred tax (57) (54)
As restated 8,776 8,288
Shareholders' capital and reserves at end of year 8,150 8,776
Restated
Comprising 2001 £m 2000 £m
UK Operations:
Long-term business 3,656 4,227
General business - 135
M&G 329 341
Egg 380 426
4,365 5,129
US Operations 2,817 2,756
Prudential Asia 1,089 793
Prudential Europe 90 82
Other operations (including central goodwill and borrowings) (211) 16
8,150 8,776
ACHIEVED PROFITS BASIS RESULTS
Economic Assumptions and Sensitivities
(1) Basis of preparation of results
The achieved profits basis results for 2001 have been prepared in accordance
with the guidance issued by the Association of British Insurers in December
2001 Supplementary Reporting for long-term insurance business (the achieved
profits method). Previously the achieved profits basis results were prepared in
accordance with the guidance issued in July 1995. Comparative results for the
year 2000 have not been restated for the change of guidance. Restatements of
prior year figures relate solely to the implementation of FRS19 on deferred tax.
One of the key differences between the current and previous guidance relates to
the basis for setting long-term expected rates of return on investments and
risk discount rates.
Under the current guidance, for most countries, these rates are set by
reference to period end rates of return on fixed interest securities. This
active basis of assumption setting has been applied in preparing the results of
all the Group's UK, US, and European long-term business operations. For the
Group's Asian operations the active basis is appropriate for business written
in Japan and Korea and US dollar denominated business written in Hong Kong.
An exception to this general rule is that for countries where longer-term fixed
interest markets are underdeveloped, investment return assumptions and risk
discount rates should be based on an assessment of longer-term economic
conditions. Except for the countries listed above, this basis is appropriate
for the Group's Asian operations.
For 2000 and earlier years, the achieved profits basis results for all of the
Group's operations were calculated by using expected longer-term equilibrium
rates of return and discount rates.
The key economic assumptions and sensitivity of the results to changes to those
assumptions are described below.
(2) Economic assumptions
UK operations 2001 2000
Pre-tax expected long-term nominal rates of investment return
UK equities 7.5% 8.0%
Overseas equities 7.5% to 7.8% 8.0%
Property 7.5% 8.0%
Gilts 5.0% 6.0%
Corporate bonds 6.0% 7.0%
PAC with-profits fund assets
(applying the rates listed above to the investments held by the 7.1% 8.0%
fund)
Expected long-term rate of inflation 2.6% 2.5%
Post-tax expected long-term nominal rate of return
Pension business (where no tax applies) 7.1% 8.0%
Life business 6.3% 7.4%
Risk discount rate 7.7% 8.5%
US operations (Jackson National Life)
Expected long-term spread between earned rate and rate credited to policyholders 1.75% 1.9%
Risk discount rate 7.7% 8.5%
Prudential Europe
Risk discount rate 7.7% 8.5%
ACHIEVED PROFITS BASIS RESULTS
Economic Assumptions and Sensitivities (continued)
(2) Economic assumptions (continued)
2001 2000
Prudential Asia
Weighted pre-tax expected long-term nominal rates of investment return 7.3% 8.0%
Weighted expected long-term rate of inflation 3.0% 3.2%
Weighted risk discount rate 10.1% 10.4%
The Prudential Asia economic returns have been determined by weighting each country's economic assumptions
by reference to the Achieved Profits basis operating results for new business written in 2001.
(3) 2001 Results : Impact of altered economic assumptions
2001 £m 2000 £m
Pre-tax (losses) profits on changes of economic assumptions included within
the (loss) profit on ordinary activities before tax arise as follows:
UK long-term business operations (426) -
Jackson National Life (including altered spread assumption) 1 -
Prudential Asia (57) -
Total (482) -
(4) 2001 Results sensitivities
The estimated increase (decrease) in the 2001 Group results that would arise from the
following changes in economic assumptions are:
Group
Total £m
2001 Pre-tax operating profits from new business
Pre-tax expected long-term nominal rates of investment return
Increase in rates of 1% 105
Decrease in rates of 1% (99)
Risk discount rates
Increase in rates of 1% (72)
Decrease in rates of 1% 83
31 December 2001 shareholders' funds
Pre-tax expected long-term nominal rates of investment return
Increase in rates of 1% 824
Decrease in rates of 1% (779)
Risk discount rates
Increase in rates of 1% (494)
Decrease in rates of 1% 592
ACHIEVED PROFITS BASIS RESULTS
Additional Notes on the Unaudited Achieved Profits Basis Results
(1) The achieved profits basis results for 2001 are unaudited. The unaudited
results for 2000 have been derived from the achieved profits basis
supplement to the Company's statutory accounts for that year and then
restated for the implementation of FRS 19 on deferred tax. The supplement
included an unqualified review report from the auditors.
(2) The achieved profits basis results include the results of the Group's
long-term insurance operations on the achieved profits basis. The
operating profit from new business represents the profitability of new
long-term insurance business written in the year. The operating profit
from business in force represents the profitability of business in force
at the start of the year with, for Asia, the statutory basis results of
non-insurance operations. These results are combined with the statutory
basis results of the Group's other operations, including unit trusts,
mutual funds and other non-insurance investment management business. In
the directors' opinion the achieved profits basis provides a more
realistic reflection of the performance of the Group's long-term
insurance operations than results under the statutory basis.
(3) The proportion of surplus allocated to shareholders from the UK
with-profits business has been based on the present level of 10%. Future
bonus rates have been set at levels which would fully utilise the assets
of the with-profits fund over the lifetime of the business in force.
(4) During 2001 the Company acquired Orico Life Insurance Company of Japan
and YoungPoong Life in Korea. The total cost of purchase of these and
other minor operations (including acquisition costs) was £182m. The fair
value of the net assets including business in force was £11m. Goodwill
arising on these transactions of £171m is being amortised over 20 years.
(5) In February 2001 the Company announced the restructuring of the direct
sales force and customer service channels of its UK Insurance Operations.
In November 2001 the Company announced further details of changes to the
future structure of those operations, in particular the intention to
pursue a single brand strategy for life and pensions business including
the integration of the Scottish Amicable operation under the Prudential
brand. The changes also included a simplification of the organisational
structure and plans for a significant reduction in operating costs. The
total cost in 2001 of this restructuring, including amounts borne by the
main with-profits fund, is £200m. After including amounts borne by the
fund but attributed to shareholders, the cost recognised on the achieved
profits basis is £64m.
(6) In March 2001 the Company entered into a merger agreement with American
General Corporation, a US investment, life insurance and consumer finance
group. On 11 May, following the termination of the merger and in
accordance with the terms of the agreement, a fee of $600m (£423m) was
paid to the Company by American General. After deducting employment costs
incurred as a consequence of the proposed merger for the Company's US
operations, adviser costs, and other directly related expenses, of
£85m, an exceptional item of £338m before tax has been accounted for
within the Group's results.
(7) In November 2001, the Company agreed to transfer its UK general business
operations to Winterthur Insurance and Churchill group, its UK
subsidiary. On 31 December 2001 the insurance liabilities of the business
were almost wholly reassured, with related cash transfer, to Winterthur.
The sale of the business was completed on 4 January 2002 for a
consideration of £353m. After allowing for the costs of the sale and
other related items, it is anticipated that the profit on sale recorded
in the 2002 results will be approximately £360m before tax.
(8) The Company has adopted FRS 19 on deferred tax in its 2001 financial
statements with restated comparative results for 2000. The principal
impact of the change from the accounting policy applied under SSAP 15 is
to provide additional deferred tax on unrealised appreciation on
investments. The additional deferred tax provision is reflected in the
fund for future appropriations for with-profits business and in the
profit and loss reserve for shareholder backed business. Consistent with
previous practice and the achieved profits methodology, expected future
tax cash flows related to inforce and new business effectively continue
to be discounted. For the purpose of its modified statutory basis
statements, the Company has chosen not to adopt the discounting option
for its deferred tax provisions.
(9) The final dividend of 16.7p per share will be paid on 29 May 2002 to
shareholders on the register at the close of business on 22 March 2002.
A scrip dividend alternative will be offered to shareholders. The total
dividend for the year, including the interim dividend of 8.7p per share
paid in 2001, amounts to 25.4p per share and the total cost of the
dividend declared in respect of 2001 is £504m.
STATUTORY BASIS RESULTS
Restated
Summarised Consolidated Profit and Loss Account 2001 £m 2000 £m
Operating profit before amortisation of goodwill
Continuing operations 543 807
Discontinued general business operations 79 33
622 840
Amortisation of goodwill (95) (84)
Short-term fluctuations in investment returns (480) (48)
Merger break fee (net of related expenses) 338 -
Profit on business disposals - 239
Profit on ordinary activities before tax (including actual investment returns) 385 947
Tax (21) (314)
Profit for the year before minority interests 364 633
Minority interests 25 24
Profit for the year after minority interests 389 657
Dividends (504) (484)
Retained (loss) profit for the year (115) 173
Restated
Basic Earnings Per Share 2001 2000
Based on operating profit after tax and related minority interests before
amortisation of goodwill of £460m (£591m) 23.3p 30.2p
Adjustment for amortisation of goodwill (4.8)p (4.3)p
Adjustment from post-tax long-term investment returns to
post-tax actual investment returns (after related minority interests) (15.6)p (1.7)p
Adjustment for post-tax merger break fee (net of related expenses) 16.8p -
Adjustment for post-tax profit on business disposals - 9.3p
Based on profit for the year after minority interests of £389m (£657m) 19.7p 33.5p
Average number of shares 1,978m 1,959m
Diluted Earnings Per Share
Based on profit for the year after minority interests of £389m (£657m) 19.6p 33.4p
Average number of shares 1,982m 1,968m
Dividend Per Share 25.4p 24.5p
Restated
Movement in Shareholders' Capital and Reserves 2001 £m 2000 £m
Profit for the year after minority interests 389 657
Exchange movements 52 120
Goodwill on sale of holding in associate company - 90
New share capital subscribed 42 184
Dividends (504) (484)
Net (decrease) increase in shareholders' capital and reserves (21) 567
Shareholders' capital and reserves at beginning of year
As originally reported 4,020 3,424
Prior year adjustments on implementation of FRS 19 on deferred tax (49) (20)
As restated 3,971 3,404
Shareholders' capital and reserves at end of year 3,950 3,971
Note
The tax charge, minority interests, earnings per share and movement in
shareholders' capital and reserves for 2000 have been restated for the
implementation of FRS 19 on deferred tax.
STATUTORY BASIS RESULTS
Operating Profit before amortisation of goodwill
Results Analysis by Business Area 2001 £m 2000 £m
UK Operations
Long-term business 435 468
General business 79 33
UK Insurance Operations 514 501
M&G 75 125
Egg (88) (155)
Total 501 471
US Operations
Jackson National Life 282 459
Broker dealer and fund management 16 7
Total 298 466
Prudential Asia
Long-term business and investment products 44 39
Development expenses (19) (3)
Total 25 36
Prudential Europe
Long-term business 5 8
Development expenses (29) (18)
Total (24) (10)
Other Income and Expenditure
Investment return and other income 51 64
Interest payable on core structural borrowings of shareholder financed operations (118) (131)
Corporate expenditure:
Group Head Office (39) (42)
Asia Regional Head Office (24) (14)
Total (130) (123)
670 840
UK re-engineering costs (48) -
Operating profit before amortisation of goodwill 622 840
FUNDS FLOW
Holding Company Funds Statement 2001 £m 2000 £m
Statutory basis operating profit after tax and related minority interests
before amortisation of goodwill 460 591
Merger break fee (net of related expenses and tax) 332 -
New share capital subscribed on listing of shares on New York Stock Exchange - 139
Other new share capital subscribed 42 45
Capital repatriated from businesses 80 123
Proceeds from business disposals - 173
914 1,071
New investment in businesses (699) (555)
Timing differences and other items (132) 147
83 663
Dividends (504) (484)
Holding Company net funds movement (421) 179
Movement in Net Borrowings 2001 £m 2000 £m
Net core structural borrowings at beginning of year (1,697) (1,837)
Holding Company net funds movement (as above) (421) 179
Exchange translation losses (15) (39)
Net core structural borrowings at end of year (2,133) (1,697)
Represented by:
Holding Company cash 19 38
Core structural borrowings of shareholder financed operations
Central funds (1,980) (1,568)
Jackson National Life (172) (167)
(2,133) (1,697)
GROSS PREMIUMS WRITTEN AND INVESTMENT PRODUCT SALES BY PRODUCT PROVIDER
Long-term Investment General business Total
business products
2001 2000 2001 2000 2001 2000 2001 2000
£m £m £m £m £m £m £m £m
UK Insurance Operations 8,198 7,469 - - 390 333 8,588 7,802
M&G - 239 1,084 1,328 - - 1,084 1,567
Total UK Operations 8,198 7,708 1,084 1,328 390 333 9,672 9,369
US Operations 5,008 5,223 - - - - 5,008 5,223
Prudential Asia 1,793 1,076 9,027 2,259 - - 10,820 3,335
Prudential Europe 197 166 - - - 197 166
Group Total 15,196 14,173 10,111 3,587 390 333 25,697 18,093
BANKING BUSINESS LIABILITIES
2001 2000
£m £m
Egg 7,465 7,386
US Operations 868 654
8,333 8,040
Comprising:
Banking deposit balances 6,520 7,611
Accruals, deferred income and other liabilities 1,813 429
8,333 8,040
Notes on the Unaudited Statutory Basis Results
(1) The results for 2001 are unaudited and are not the Company's statutory
accounts. With the exception of the implementation of FRS 19 on deferred
tax, the results for 2001 have been prepared using the same accounting
policies as were used in the 2000 statutory accounts. The results for 2000
have been derived from those accounts and then restated for the
implementation of FRS 19. The auditors have reported on the 2000 statutory
accounts and the accounts have been delivered to the Registrar of
Companies. The auditors' report was unqualified and did not contain a
statement under section 237 (2) or (3) of the Companies Act 1985.
(2) In February and November 2001, the Company announced details of changes to
its UK Insurance Operations, as set out in note 5 on the achieved profits
basis results. The total cost in 2001 of this restructuring, including
amounts borne by the main with-profits fund, is £200m. On the statutory
basis of reporting, £48m is recognised as the cost to shareholders,
reflecting the amounts borne by shareholder financed operations.
(3) Notes 4 and 6 to 9 on the achieved profits basis results apply equally to
the unaudited statutory basis results.
(4) The statutory tax charge for the year ended 31 December 2001 of £21m
(£314m) comprises £63m (£168 m) UK tax and a £42m credit (£146m charge)
overseas tax.
This information is provided by RNS
The company news service from the London Stock Exchange