03 Mar 2021

Prudential plc 2020 Full Year Results

Links to supplementary information about this release:  
Full news release and business review
IFRS disclosure
EEV statements
Risk factors
2020 full year financial supplement

DOUBLE-DIGIT INCREASE IN ASIA ADJUSTED OPERATING PROFIT AND RECOVERY IN SALES IN H2 2020 CONFIRMATION OF PLANNED DEMERGER TIMETABLE FOR JACKSON

Performance highlights on a constant (and actual) exchange rate basis

  • Asia adjusted operating profit2 up 13 per cent (12 per cent) to $3.7 billion
  • Asia embedded value up 13 per cent3 to $44.2 billion
  • Asia 2020 full year APE sales4 down (28) per cent5 to $3.7 billion, with H2 APE sales4 20 per cent10 up on H1 2020
  • Pulse downloads around 20 million as of February 20216, with $211 million of sales referrals7 in 2020
  • Demerger of Jackson expected to complete in the second quarter of 2021 with bank finance now committed
  • Jackson local statutory RBC ratio8 347 per cent at 31 December 2020 in line with guidance
  • Central costs reduction of $180 million achieved with effect from 1 January 20219
  • Second interim ordinary dividend of 10.73 cents per share, making 16.10 cents per share for the full year
  • Considering raising equity of $2.5-3 billion through global offering to institutions and Hong Kong retail investors, after the demerger

Mike Wells, Prudential plc’s Group Chief Executive, said: “Facing challenging conditions, our people, working with our valued partners, have performed extraordinary feats during 2020, meeting the essential needs of our customers and communities, innovating with new services, and delivering on our long-term strategic priorities. With Covid-19 continuing to have a major impact on many of our markets, I would like to pay tribute to all my colleagues for their dedication.

“These efforts are reflected in our operational performance in Asia. Our agents and other distribution partners are employing virtual tools with ever-increasing confidence. APE sales4 in the second half of 2020 were 20 per cent10 higher than in the first half of the year. Overall, Asia APE sales4 fell by (28) per cent10 compared with 2019, largely as a result of a significant reduction in sales in Hong Kong, where the border with Mainland China was closed for much of 2020. Excluding Hong Kong, Asia APE sales4 were down just (6) per cent10 in 2020. New business profit11 was down for the year, reflecting sales interruption especially in the first half and in the higher-margin market of Hong Kong. During these uncertain times, the Asia results are a great achievement by our people and evidence of the high value that customers place on our services.

“Our digital transformation continues at pace, with downloads of Pulse, our health and wealth super-app, now around 20 million6, up from just over 1 million in early 2020. Pulse not only meets important social needs by making good healthcare more accessible, but has helped generate APE sales4,7 of $211 million in 2020, substantially through referrals to agents.

“The high quality of our in-force business, combined with the continued loyalty of our existing customers, have supported a double-digit rise in adjusted operating profit2 in Asia, up 13 per cent10 to $3.7 billion. Operating free surplus generation12 is up 8 per cent10 in Asia to $1.9 billion.

“Jackson, our US business, delivered a 13 per cent increase in variable annuity sales during 2020, which helped it maintain its leading position in the US retail market13. This was more than offset by lower institutional sales and lower sales of fixed and fixed index annuity sales, as anticipated, following recent pricing actions. Overall, Jackson APE sales4 fell by (13) per cent to $1,923 million in 2020. US adjusted operating profit1,2 was down (9) per cent compared with the prior year.

“We are making good progress on the proposed separation of Jackson from the Group. Committed term loan facilities are in place to ensure Jackson has certainty that its targeted level of debt will be in place at the time of the demerger, and we continue to expect to complete the demerger in the second quarter of 2021, subject to shareholder and regulatory approvals. We expect Jackson, under the new management team led by Laura Prieskorn, to pursue a focused strategy which prioritises optimisation and stability of capital resources while protecting franchise value.

“The proposed demerger will complete Prudential’s structural shift from a diversified global group to a growth business focusing exclusively on the unmet health, financial protection and savings needs of people in Asia and Africa. In order to enhance financial flexibility and de-lever the balance sheet, Prudential is considering raising new equity of around $2.5-3 billion following the completion of the Jackson demerger. Our preferred route is a fully marketed global offering to institutional investors concurrent with a public offering in Hong Kong to retail investors. As an Asia focused company, the Group believes there are clear benefits from increasing both its Asian shareholder base and the liquidity of its shares in Hong Kong. The allocation of any offering will take into account a number of criteria including the interests of existing shareholders.

“We have a resilient capital position, with a Group LCSM surplus14 of $11.0 billion, equivalent to a cover ratio of 328 per cent.

“While Covid-19 will continue to create social disruption and market volatility during 2021, the past year has proven our ability to operate successfully in the pandemic environment, and in various markets where social distancing rules are starting to be relaxed we are seeing a recovery in activity. Over the longer term, the rising prosperity of people in Asia and Africa, the scale of the unmet need for the services we provide, our leadership positions in our chosen markets and our ability to innovate at scale all give us confidence that we can continue to outperform."

Summary financials 2020 $m 2019 $m Change on
AER basis
Change on
CER basis
 
Life new business profit from continuing operations11 2,802 4,405 (36)% (37)%
Operating free surplus generated from continuing operations12 2,886 2,861 1% 1%
Adjusted operating profit from continuing operations1,2 5,507 5,310 4% 4%
IFRS profit after tax from continuing operations1,15 2,185 1,953 12% 12%
         
  31 December 2020 31 December 2019
  Total Per share Total Per share
EEV shareholders’ funds $54.0bn 2,070¢ $54.7bn 2,103¢
IFRS shareholders’ funds $20.9bn 800¢ $19.5bn 749¢
LCSM shareholder surplus over Group minimum capital requirement14 $11.0bn n/a $9.5bn n/a

Notes

1 Attributed to the shareholders of the Group before deducting the amount attributable to the non-controlling interests. This presentation is applied consistently throughout the document.
2 In this press release ‘adjusted operating profit’ refers to adjusted IFRS operating profit based on longer-term investment returns from continuing operations. This alternative performance measure is reconciled to IFRS profit for the year in note B1.1 of the IFRS financial statements.
3 On an actual exchange rate basis.
4 APE sales is a measure of new business activity that comprises the aggregate of annualised regular premiums and one-tenth of single premiums on new business written during the year for all insurance products, including premiums for contracts designated as investment contracts under IFRS 4. It is not representative of premium income recorded in the IFRS financial statements. See note II of the Additional unaudited financial information for further explanation.
5 On both constant and actual exchange rate bases.
6 As of 22 February 2021.
7 APE sales substantially from full-premium products sold through referrals to agents and a small amount of revenue from 37 new digital products.
8 Representing the RBC ratio of Jackson National Life that reflects the capital and capital requirements of Jackson National Life and its subsidiaries, including Jackson National Life NY.
9 Approximately half of the corporate expenditure is incurred in sterling and our assumptions forecast an exchange rate of £1=$1.2599. As compared with head office expenditure of $(490) million in 2018 and before a planned $10 million increase in Africa costs as previously disclosed.
10 Year-on-year percentage increases are stated on a constant exchange rate basis unless otherwise stated.
11 New business profit, on a post-tax basis, on business sold in the year, calculated in accordance with EEV Principles.
12 Operating free surplus generated from insurance and asset management operations. For insurance operations, operating free surplus generated represents amounts maturing from the in-force business during the year less investment in new business and excludes non-operating items. For asset management businesses, it equates to post-tax operating profit for the year. Further information is set out in ‘movement in Group free surplus’ of the EEV basis results.
13 LIMRA: through the third quarter of 2020, Jackson accounted for 16.5% of new sales in the U.S. retail variable annuity market and ranked number 1 in variable annuity sales.
14 Shareholder surplus over Group minimum capital requirement and estimated before allowing for second interim ordinary dividend. Shareholder business excludes the available capital and minimum requirement of participating business in Hong Kong, Singapore and Malaysia. Further information on the basis of calculation of the LCSM measure is contained in note I(i) of the Additional unaudited financial information.
15 IFRS profit after tax from continuing operations reflects the combined effects of operating results determined on the basis of longer-term investment returns, together with short-term investment variances which for 2020 were driven by the negative effects in the US and Asia, and gains arising on the reinsurance of fixed and fixed index annuity business in the US and other corporate transactions.

Contact:

Media   Investors/Analysts  
Jonathan Oliver +44 (0)20 3977 9500 Patrick Bowes +44 (0)20 3977 9702
Tom Willetts +44 (0)20 3977 9760 William Elderkin +44 (0)20 3977 9215

Notes to Editors:

a.

The results in this announcement are prepared on two bases: International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) and European Embedded Value (EEV). The results prepared under IFRS form the basis of the Group’s statutory financial statements. The supplementary EEV basis results have been prepared in accordance with the amended European Embedded Value Principles issued by the European Insurance CFO Forum in 2016. The Group’s EEV basis results are stated on a post-tax basis and include the post-tax IFRS basis results of the Group’s asset management and other operations. The IFRS and EEV results are presented in US dollars and the basis of translation is discussed in note A1 of the IFRS financial statements. Period-on-period percentage increases are stated on a constant exchange rate basis unless otherwise stated. Constant exchange rates are calculated by translating prior period results using the current period foreign exchange rate ie current period average rates for the income statement and current period closing rates for the balance sheet.

b.

EEV and adjusted IFRS operating profit based on longer-term investment returns are stated after excluding the effect of short-term fluctuations in investment returns against long-term assumptions, which for IFRS in 2020 were driven by the negative effects in the US and Asia, and gains arising on the reinsurance of fixed and fixed index annuity business in the US and other corporate transactions. Furthermore, 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. Separately on the IFRS basis, adjusted operating profit also excludes amortisation of accounting adjustments arising principally on the acquisition of REALIC completed in 2012. The amounts shown are for continuing operations only (being Asia, US and central operations including Africa but excluding M&G plc) unless otherwise stated.

c.

Total number of Prudential plc shares in issue as at 31 December 2020 was 2,609,489,702.

d.

We expect to announce our 2020 Full Year Results to the London Stock Exchange at 8.30am (UK time) on Wednesday, 3 March 2021.

A pre-recorded presentation for analysts and investors will be available on-demand from 8.30am (UK time) using the following link: https://www.investis-live.com/prudential/6025193f49aa2a0e00f067f3/thsd A copy of the script used in the recorded video will also be available from 8.30am (UK time) on 3 March 2021 on Prudential plc's website.

A Q&A call for analysts and investors will be held on the same day at 11.30am (UK time).

Registration to a "listen in" only and online question facility
To register to listen into the conference call and submit questions online, please do so via the following link: https://www.investis-live.com/prudential/6005aa669a138810004417eb/omna The call will be available to replay afterwards using the same link.

Dial-in details
A dial-in facility will be available to listen to the call and ask questions: please allow 15 minutes ahead of the start time to join the call (lines open half an hour before the call is due to start, ie from 11.00am (UK time)).

Dial-in: +44 (0) 20 3936 2999 (UK and international) / 0800 640 6441 (Freephone UK), Participant access code: 085909. Once participants have entered this code their name and company details will be taken.

Transcript
Following the call a transcript will be published on the results and business updates centre page of Prudential plc's website on 5 March 2021.

Playback facility
Please use the following for a playback facility: +44 (0) 20 3936 3001 (UK and international), replay code 901333. This will be available from approximately 3.00pm (UK time) on 3 March 2021 until 11.59pm (UK time) on 17 March 2021.

e.

2020 Second interim ordinary dividend

Ex-dividend date 25 March 2021 (UK, Hong Kong and Singapore)
Record date 26 March 2021
Payment of dividend 14 May 2021 (UK, Hong Kong and ADR holders)
On or about 21 May 2021 (Singapore)
f.

About Prudential plc
Prudential plc is an Asia-led portfolio of businesses focused on structural growth markets. The business helps people get the most out of life through life and health insurance, and retirement and asset management solutions. Prudential plc has more than 20 million customers and is listed on stock exchanges in London, Hong Kong, Singapore and New York. 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, nor with The Prudential Assurance Company Limited, a subsidiary of M&G plc, a company incorporated in the United Kingdom.

g.

Discontinued Operations
Throughout this results announcement ‘discontinued operations’ refers to the demerged UK and Europe operations (referred to as M&G plc). All amounts presented refer to continuing operations unless otherwise stated, which reflect the Group following the demerger of M&G plc in the fourth quarter of 2019, and do not give effect to the proposed demerger of Jackson.

h.

Regulatory disclosures
Pursuant to Practice Note 15 (“PN15”) to the Rules Governing the Listing of Securities on The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited (the “Hong Kong Listing Rules”), the Hong Kong Stock Exchange has confirmed that Prudential may proceed with the proposed demerger of Jackson.

Jackson is progressing the registration process with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) in connection with the proposed demerger. The proposed demerger is subject, among other things, to a registration statement under the Securities Exchange of 1934 being declared effective by the SEC.

In accordance with the requirements of paragraph 3(f) of PN15, Prudential proposes to give due regard to the interests of its shareholders by providing qualifying shareholders with an assured entitlement to shares in Jackson by way of a distribution in specie of shares in Jackson (or cash alternative under certain circumstances) in proportion to their respective shareholdings in Prudential, if the proposed demerger proceeds. Details of the terms of the distribution in specie have not yet been finalised, and will be announced by Prudential in due course. As the demerger will be implemented by way of a distribution in specie of shares in Jackson by Prudential, the demerger will not constitute a transaction for Prudential under Chapter 14 of the Hong Kong Listing Rules.

i.

Forward-Looking Statements
This announcement may contain 'forward-looking statements' with respect to certain of Prudential's plans and its goals and expectations relating to its and Jackson’s 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 and Jackson’s actual future financial condition or performance or other indicated results of the entity referred to in any forward-looking statement to differ materially from those indicated in such forward-looking statement. Such factors include, but are not limited to, the ability to complete the proposed demerger of Jackson Financial Inc. on the anticipated timeframe or at all; the ability of the management of Jackson Financial Inc. and its group to deliver on its business plan post-separation; the impact of the current Covid-19 pandemic, including adverse financial market and liquidity impacts, responses and actions taken by regulators and supervisors, the impact to sales, claims and assumptions and increased product lapses, disruption to Prudential’s operations (and those of its suppliers and partners), risks associated with new sales processes and information security risks; future market conditions, including fluctuations in interest rates and exchange rates, the potential for a sustained low-interest rate environment, and the impact of economic uncertainty, asset valuation impacts from the transition to a lower carbon economy, derivative instruments not effectively hedging exposures arising from product guarantees, inflation and deflation and the performance of financial markets generally; global political uncertainties, including the potential for increased friction in cross-border trade and the exercise of executive powers to restrict trade, financial transactions, capital movements and/or investment; the policies and actions of regulatory authorities, including, in particular, the policies and actions of the Hong Kong Insurance Authority, as Prudential's Group-wide supervisor, as well as new government initiatives generally; given its designation as an Internationally Active Insurance Group (“IAIG”), the impact on Prudential of systemic risk and other group supervision policy standards adopted by the International Association of Insurance Supervisors; the impact of competition and fast-paced technological change; the effect on Prudential's business and results from, in particular, mortality and morbidity trends, lapse rates and policy renewal rates; the physical, social and financial impacts of climate change and global health crises on Prudential's business and operations; the timing, impact and other uncertainties of future acquisitions or combinations within relevant industries; the impact of internal transformation projects and other strategic actions failing to meet their objectives; the effectiveness of reinsurance for Prudential’s businesses; the risk that Prudential's operational resilience (or that of its suppliers and partners) may prove to be inadequate, including in relation to operational disruption due to external events; disruption to the availability, confidentiality or integrity of Prudential's information technology, digital systems and data (or those of its suppliers and partners); any ongoing impact on Prudential of the demerger of M&G plc and, if and when completed, the demerger of Jackson Financial Inc.; 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; the impact of legal and regulatory actions, investigations and disputes; and the impact of not adequately responding to environmental, social and governance issues. 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 of the entity referred to in any forward-looking statements to differ, possibly materially, from those anticipated in Prudential's forward-looking statements can be found under the 'Risk Factors' heading of this document.

Any forward-looking statements contained in this announcement 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 announcement 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.

j.

Cautionary Statements
This announcement does not constitute or form part of any offer or invitation to purchase, acquire, subscribe for, sell, dispose of or issue, or any solicitation of any offer to purchase, acquire, subscribe for, sell or dispose of, any securities in any jurisdiction nor shall it (or any part of it) or the fact of its distribution, form the basis of, or be relied on in connection with, any contract therefor.

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Prudential plc is an international company incorporated in the United Kingdom, and its affiliated companies constitute one of the world’s leading financial services groups. It provides insurance and financial services directly and through its subsidiaries and affiliates throughout the world, and it has been in existence for over 170 years. 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, or the Prudential Assurance Company, a subsidiary of M&G plc (a company incorporated in the United Kingdom).

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For M&G and Prudential UK customers and policyholders:

In October 2019, Prudential plc separated its UK operations and, as a result of this separation, Prudential UK is now owned by M&G plc. The M&G plc group is a separate, independent group and as such we are not able to help any M&G or Prudential UK customers or policyholders.

Therefore, to find the best way to make contact, please visit www.pru.co.uk/contact-us

For further information on the M&G plc group, please visit the M&G website: www.mandg.com