Prudential plc 2013 Full Year Results

HKEx English version
HKEx Chinese version

Links to supplementary information about this release:	PDF
News release and business review
IFRS disclosure
EEV statements
Risk factors

ALL SIX 2013 ‘GROWTH AND CASH’ OBJECTIVES ACHIEVED AND DIVIDEND REBASED UPWARDS

Performance Highlights:

IFRS operating profit¹ of £2,954 million, up 17 per cent
Underlying free surplus generation¹ of £3,099 million (before investment in new business), up 15 per cent
Net remittances from business units up 12 per cent to £1,341 million
EEV new business profit of £2,843 million, up 16 per cent
Total US IFRS operating profit of £1,302 million, up 30 per cent
M&G delivers record IFRS operating profit of £395 million, up 23 per cent

2009-2013 ‘Growth and Cash’ Objectives:

Asia IFRS operating profit^{1, 2} of £1,075 million, up 16 per cent³, more than double that of 2009
Asia EEV new business profit of £1,460 million, up 15 per cent, more than double that of 2009
Asia net full year cash remittance of £400 million, up 17 per cent, above 2013 objective of £300 million
Jackson full year cash remittance of £294 million, above 2013 objective of £260 million
UK full year cash remittance of £355 million, above 2013 objective of £350 million
Cumulative net remittances to Group of £4.6 billion, above 2013 objective of £3.8 billion

Capital & Dividend:

IFRS shareholders’ funds of £9.7 billion, down 7 per cent
EEV shareholders’ funds of £24.9 billion, up 11 per cent, equivalent to 971 pence per share
Insurance Groups Directive (IGD) capital surplus⁴ estimated at £5.1 billion; solvency requirements covered 2.8 times
2013 full year dividend increased by 15 per cent to 33.57 pence per share

Commenting on the results, Tidjane Thiam, Group Chief Executive, said:

“The Group has delivered a strong performance in 2013. We have now met all six of the 2013 ‘Growth and Cash’ objectives we set ourselves in 2010. Our focus on three long-term opportunities – (i) the protection and savings needs of the growing Asian middle class, (ii) the transition into retirement of American ‘baby-boomers’ and (iii) the needs for savings and income in retirement of an ageing UK population – and our discipline have allowed us to navigate successfully the 2009 to 2013 period, which was not without its challenges, following one of the most severe financial crises ever. Our focus on execution across our geographic markets of Asia, the US and the UK has delivered profitable growth and increasing cash generation – ‘Growth and Cash’. In 2013 our key financial metrics of IFRS operating profit, cash and new business profits have all seen double-digit growth. Our business, which used to rely on the UK for IFRS earnings and to fund all its cash needs, is now well diversified not only in terms of IFRS earnings but also in terms of cash.

“These results are only possible because we provide customers with products and services of value to them. Across Asia, we deliver health and protection products to families at an affordable price in markets where there are limited social safety nets. In the US, our range of variable annuities is providing income to retirees in the world’s largest retirement market. In the UK, we have a history of more than 165 years of providing savings and protection to policyholders whatever the prevailing economic conditions.

“At the heart of our future prospects is Asia. We are pursuing the increasing demand for protection products from the rapidly growing middle class in our chosen markets across the region. We have rigorously allocated capital towards providing regular-premium policies with health and protection riders – a popular product with our customers, which allows them both to save for the future of their families and to protect them – delivering resilient, profitable and cash-generative growth for our shareholders. In 2013, Asia IFRS operating profit^{1, 2} increased by 16 per cent³ to £1,075 million while new business profit was up 15 per cent to £1,460 million, allowing us to exceed our objectives of doubling the 2009 value of both metrics (being £930 million and £1,426 million respectively) in 2013. Asia net cash remittance of £400 million, up 17 per cent, also surpassed the 2013 full-year cash objective of £300 million and is 10 times higher than the amount remitted in 2009.

“In the US, we remain focused on meeting the needs of the ‘baby-boomer’ generation as they transition into retirement. Jackson has been capitalising on this large opportunity and has increased both its IFRS operating earnings and its cash generation through the economic cycle, through disciplined pricing and risk management in a sector where many companies encountered serious difficulties. We have continued to diversify our product mix with Elite Access, our innovative variable annuity with no guarantees, tripling its sales levels in 2013. Variable annuities without living benefit guarantees now account for almost one-third of our overall variable annuity sales. Total US IFRS operating profit of £1,302 million was up 30 per cent over 2012. Jackson has remitted £294 million of cash, exceeding its 2013 cash remittance objective, which had been increased from £200 million to £260 million after the REALIC acquisition. Since 2008 Jackson has remitted over US$1.8 billion of cash to the Group, tangible evidence of the success of our strategy in this market.

“Our UK life business serves the needs of an ageing population. The UK remitted £355 million of cash in 2013, above its objective of £350 million, an excellent performance from a mature business in an industry facing considerable regulatory change. The UK achieved IFRS operating profit of £735 million, a resilient performance as industry sales volumes remain negatively affected by the implementation of the requirements of the Retail Distribution Review (RDR). We believe the strength of our products and brand will position us well once distributors have adjusted to the new environment.

“In asset management, our operations are focused on delivering superior long-term investment performance while expanding distribution reach to new markets and customers. M&G has delivered record IFRS operating profit of £395 million, up 23 per cent, reflecting the benefits of its diversification across funds, asset classes and geographies. Eastspring Investments, our Asia asset management business, saw stable net inflows of £1.6 billion, with IFRS operating profit growing by 7 per cent, a credible performance in the face of volatile investment market conditions in the second half of the year.

“Looking ahead, we believe that the global economic outlook is improving. However, investment markets are impacted by short-term volatility as the market adjusts to policy normalisation in the US. The macro-economic adjustments that we are seeing in emerging markets, partly driven by the return of robust US growth, are ultimately a net positive for these countries, the global economy and Prudential.

“We remain confident that our Asian business is well positioned and offers a compelling opportunity to deliver long-term value both for our customers and for our shareholders. A rapidly growing, increasingly wealthy and well educated middle class with significant savings and protection needs underpins demand for our products. Our leadership positions in six out of 13 Asian markets combined with our multi-product, multi-channel platform, position us well to capitalise on this opportunity and deliver long-term profitable growth. In addition to these positive Asian prospects, we expect our leading businesses in the US and the UK to continue to generate significant levels of earnings and cash as we serve the savings and retirement income needs of their ageing populations.

“To underline our confidence in the Group’s prospects, we set out three new objectives⁵ at our investor conference in December 2013:

(i)	To achieve Underlying Free Surplus Generation⁶ from Asia of between £0.9 billion and £1.1 billion in 2017, up from £484 million in 2012;
(ii)	To grow Asia life and asset management pre-tax IFRS operating profit at a compound annual rate of at least 15 per cent over the period 2012 to 2017, up from £924 million in 2012 to at least £1,858 million in 2017⁷; and
(iii)	To generate Group Underlying Free Surplus of at least £10 billion cumulatively over the four-year period from 2014 to end-2017.

“In addition to the attractive prospects we see in our existing markets, we are thinking beyond 2017. Therefore we are selectively investing in new countries where we see opportunities similar to those we see in our most successful markets in Asia: positive demography, strong economic growth and unmet needs for protection due to the absence of a social safety net. Over the last two years, we have invested in four new markets – Cambodia, Myanmar, Poland and most recently Ghana – and are exploring a fifth opportunity in Saudi Arabia.

“The strength and sustainability of our performance over the last five years have allowed the Board to recommend the rebase of our dividend upwards for the third time in four years. I wish to underline that these successive rebasings have been possible due to the exceptionally strong operational and financial performance of the Group during the last five years and that our dividend policy as defined by the Board is unchanged.

“In accordance with our dividend policy the Board will maintain its focus on delivering a growing dividend from this new higher base, which will continue to be determined after taking into account the Group’s financial flexibility and our assessment of opportunities to generate attractive returns by investing in specific areas of the business. The Board believes that in the medium term a dividend cover of around two times is appropriate.

“We believe the Group is well positioned to continue to deliver good value to customers and attractive returns to shareholders while continuing to manage capital prudently.”

Contact:
Media		Investors/Analysts
Jonathan Oliver	+44 (0)20 7548 3719	Raghu Hariharan	+44 (0)20 7548 2871
Robin Tozer	+44 (0)20 7548 2776	Richard Gradidge	+44 (0)20 7548 3860

Notes to Editors:

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 European Embedded Value 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 an actual exchange rate basis unless otherwise stated.

Annual Premium Equivalent (APE) sales comprise regular premium sales plus one-tenth of single premium insurance sales.

Operating profits are determined on the basis of including longer-term investment returns. EEV and IFRS operating profits are stated after excluding the effect of short-term fluctuations in investment returns against long-term assumptions, gain on dilution of Group holdings, the costs arising from the domestication of our Hong Kong business, and (loss)profit attaching to held for sale Japan Life insurance business. In addition, for EEV basis results, operating profit based on longer-term investment returns excludes the effect of changes in economic assumptions and the mark to market value movement on core borrowings and for 2012, the gain on acquisition of REALIC. Separately on the IFRS basis, operating profit also excludes amortisation of accounting adjustments on the acquisition of REALIC. In 2013 the Group has adopted new accounting standards on consolidated financial statements and joint arrangements, and amendments to the employee benefit accounting standard. The 2012 comparative results have been retrospectively adjusted from those previously published so as to be presented on a consistent basis to 2013.

Total number of Prudential plc shares in issue as at 31 December 2013 was 2,560,381,736.

There will be a conference call today for media at 10.00am (UK) / 6.00pm (Hong Kong) hosted by Tidjane Thiam, Group Chief Executive. UK dial-in telephone number: +44 (0)203 139 4830 Hong Kong dial-in telephone number: +852 3068 9834 (Freephone). Passcode: 28260176#.

A presentation for analysts and investors will be held today at 11.00am (UK)/ 7.00pm (Hong Kong) in the conference suite at Nomura International plc, 1 Angel Lane, London EC4R 3AB. The presentation will be webcast live and as a replay on the corporate website via the link below:
www.prudential.co.uk/prudential-plc/investors/resultspresentations/resultsday/

A dial-in facility will be available to listen to the presentation. Please allow time ahead of the presentation to join the call (lines open half an hour before the presentation is due to start, ie from 10.30am (UK) / 6.30pm (Hong Kong)). Dial-in: +44 (0)203 059 8125 / 0800 368 0649 (Freephone UK), Passcode: ‘Prudential’ (this must be quoted to the operator to gain access to the call). Playback: +44 (0)121 260 4861, Passcode: 6292659#. This will be available from approximately 11.00am (UK) / 7.00pm (Hong Kong) on 13 March 2014 until 11.59pm (UK) / 7.59am (Hong Kong) on 27 March 2014.

2013 Dividend
Ex-dividend date	26 March 2014 (UK, Ireland and Singapore) 27 March 2014 (Hong Kong)
Record date	28 March 2014
Payment of dividend	22 May 2014 (UK, Ireland and Hong Kong) On or about 29 May 2014 (Singapore) On or about 2 June 2014 (ADR holders)

About Prudential plc
Prudential plc is incorporated in England and Wales, and its affiliated companies constitute one of the world's leading financial services groups. It provides insurance and financial services through its subsidiaries and affiliates throughout the world. It has been in existence for more than 165 years and has £443 billion in assets under management (as at 31 December 2013). 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 document may contain ‘forward-looking statements’ with respect to certain of Prudential's plans and its goals and expectations relating to its future financial condition, performance, results, strategy and objectives. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about Prudential’s beliefs and expectations and including, without limitation, statements containing the words ‘may’, ‘will’, ‘should’, ‘continue’, ‘aims’, ‘estimates’, ‘projects’, ‘believes’, ‘intends’, ‘expects’, ‘plans’, ‘seeks’ and ‘anticipates’, and words of similar meaning, are forward-looking statements. These statements are based on plans, estimates and projections as at the time they are made, and therefore undue reliance should not be placed on them. By their nature, all forward-looking statements involve risk and uncertainty. A number of important factors could cause Prudential's actual future financial condition or performance or other indicated results to differ materially from those indicated in any forward-looking statement. Such factors include, but are not limited to, future market conditions, including fluctuations in interest rates and exchange rates and the potential for a sustained low-interest rate environment, and the performance of financial markets generally; the policies and actions of regulatory authorities, including, for example, new government initiatives related to the financial crisis and the effect of the European Union's ‘Solvency II’ requirements on Prudential's capital maintenance requirements; the impact of continuing designation as a Global Systemically Important Insurer or ‘G-SII’; the impact of competition, economic growth, 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; the impact of changes in capital, solvency standards, accounting standards or relevant regulatory frameworks, and tax and other legislation and regulations in the jurisdictions in which Prudential and its affiliates operate; and the impact of legal actions and disputes. These and other important factors may for example result in changes to assumptions used for determining results of operations or re-estimations of reserves for future policy benefits. Further discussion of these and other important factors that could cause Prudential's actual future financial condition or performance or other indicated results to differ, possibly materially, from those anticipated in Prudential's forward-looking statements can be found under the ‘Risk Factors’ heading in this document.

Any forward-looking statements contained in this document speak only as of the date on which they are made. Prudential expressly disclaims any obligation to update any of the forward-looking statements contained in this document or any other forward-looking statements it may make, whether as a result of future events, new information or otherwise except as required pursuant to the UK Prospectus Rules, the UK Listing Rules, the UK Disclosure and Transparency Rules, the Hong Kong Listing Rules, the SGX-ST listing rules or other applicable laws and regulations.

1 The 2012 comparative results have been adjusted from those previously published for the retrospective application of the new and amended accounting standards as discussed in note 3 of ‘Notes to Editors’. In addition, following its reclassification to held for sale during 2013, operating results exclude the results of the Japan Life insurance business. 2012 comparatives have been retrospectively adjusted on a comparable basis.
2 Including Eastspring Investments, and after development costs.
3 Excluding the 2012 one-off gain of £51 million from the sale of the Group’s holding in China Life Insurance Company of Taiwan.
4 Before allowing for final dividend.
5 The objectives assume exchange rates at December 2013 and economic assumptions made by Prudential in calculating the EEV basis supplementary information for the half year ended 30 June 2013, and are based on regulatory and solvency regimes applicable across the Group at the time the objectives were set. The objectives assume that the existing EEV, IFRS and Free Surplus methodology at December 2013 will be applicable over the period.
6 Underlying Free Surplus Generation comprises underlying free surplus generated from long-term business (net of investment in new business) and that generated from asset management operations. The 2012 comparative is based on the retrospective application of new and amended accounting standards and excludes the 2012 one-off gain of £51 million from the sale of the Group’s holding in China Life Insurance Company of Taiwan.
7 Asia 2012 IFRS operating profit of £924 million, is based on the retrospective application of new and amended accounting standards, and excludes the 2012 one-off gain of £51 million from the sale of the Group’s holding in China Life Insurance Company of Taiwan.

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