On 30 May 1848 a group of Victorian gentlemen met in London to form the Prudential Mutual Assurance, Investment and Loan Association. The figure of Prudence was adopted as a symbol to be used on the first company seal and represent the values of the business.
During the 1920s Prudential began to expand across the globe, with the first overseas life branch established in India in 1923. Prudential began its long association with Singapore in 1931 with the opening of a branch office in Raffles Square, which later became the headquarters of Prudential’s Malaya Branch, and sub-offices were soon established in Kuala Lumpur, Ipoh and Penang. In the same year Prudential took its first steps in Africa, establishing a Head Office in Johannesburg and its first branch office in East Africa, established in Nairobi.
By 1939, new net business in the overseas life branches was rivalling the success of the UK business, and Prudential’s international business continued to grow rapidly through the latter part of the 20th century. In 1994 Prudential Corporation Asia was established in recognition of the high potential for growth in Asia.
Today, Prudential plc provides life and health insurance and asset management, with a focus on Asia and Africa. The business helps people get the most out of life, by making healthcare affordable and accessible and by promoting financial inclusion. Prudential protects people’s wealth, helps them grow their assets, and empowers them to save for their goals. The business has more than 18 million customers in Asia and Africa and is listed on stock exchanges in London, Hong Kong, Singapore and New York.