11 Aug 2020

This announcement contains inside information

Prudential plc 2020 Half Year Results

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

PRUDENTIAL ANNOUNCES RESILIENT ASIA OPERATING PROFIT AND INTENTION TO FULLY SEPARATE JACKSON

Strategic updates and performance highlights on a constant (and actual) exchange rate basis

  • Prudential plc intends to fully separate Jackson from the Group, commencing with minority IPO planned for first half of 2021 and full divestment over time
  • Post-separation Prudential Group to focus on high growth Asia and Africa markets with a view to sustained double-digit growth in embedded value per share
  • New dividend policy aligned with revised Group strategy to focus on value creation through growth
  • Asia half year adjusted operating profit1 up 14 per cent2, with double-digit adjusted operating profit1 growth2 in nine Asia markets
  • Jackson local statutory RBC ratio expected to be above 425 per cent after Athene equity investment9
  • Group regulatory capital surplus8 strong at $12.4 billion, with an LCSM ratio of 334 per cent (31 December 2019: 309 per cent)

Mike Wells, Prudential plc’s Group Chief Executive, said: “We have delivered a resilient performance in the first half, despite a challenging new business sales environment, which is likely to persist for the rest of the year, and further falls in interest rates. Our diverse, high-quality platform in Asia and our focus on writing profitable value-adding business led to a 14 per cent2 increase in Asia adjusted operating profit1. Our performance is again broad-based, with nine markets reporting double-digit adjusted operating profit1 growth2. In the US adjusted operating profit1 was (19) per cent lower due to market-related effects on the level of DAC amortisation but, while sales were lower, we have maintained our leadership position in the annuities market.

“The Board of Prudential plc has decided to pursue the full separation and divestment of Jackson to enable the Group to focus exclusively on its high-growth Asia and Africa businesses. This would result in two separately listed companies with distinct investment propositions, which we believe would lead to improved strategic outcomes for both businesses. The Group would have primary listings in both London and Hong Kong and secondary listings in Singapore and the US. Jackson is expected to be solely listed in the US.

“The separation and divestment of Jackson would transform Prudential into a Group purely targeting the structural opportunities of Asia and Africa. Our differentiated product and geographic portfolio is well positioned to meet the health, protection and savings needs in these regions, where insurance penetration is low and demand for savings solutions is rapidly developing. The post-separation Group would focus on growth, with a view to achieving sustained double-digit growth in embedded value per share. This would be supported by growth rates of new business profit, which are expected to substantially exceed GDP growth in the markets in which the Group operates.

“The Group expects to commence separation by way of a minority IPO, targeting the first half of 2021, followed by future sell-downs over time, subject to market conditions, with the proceeds used to increase financial flexibility for further investment in our Asia and Africa business. If market conditions are not supportive of an IPO, the Group’s current intention is that separation would be facilitated through a demerger of the Group’s stake in Jackson to our existing shareholders. Any required shareholder approval for the separation will be sought in advance of its execution.

“Jackson intends to seek a strong credit rating and capitalisation and is expected to target an RBC ratio in the circa 425-475 per cent range at the point of the proposed listing. This range would be subject to market conditions and will be kept under review. Proceeds from anticipated new Jackson debt issuance would enable repayment of a portion of the Group’s debt during 2021 and 2022, and support Prudential’s intention to maintain its strong credit rating following the separation. Proceeds from further sell-downs in Jackson following the IPO would provide further resources to the Group for investment in Asia and Africa.

“To support the separation process, other than any pre-separation returns of capital including from Jackson’s debt issuance as indicated above, Prudential plc does not currently expect Jackson to remit any regular dividends in 2020 or 2021 prior to an IPO. Prudential will adopt a new dividend policy that is aligned to the Asia and Africa growth strategy and to the intended separation of Jackson. The new policy will apply with immediate effect. This new policy reflects a rebalancing of capital allocation from cash dividends to reinvestment in Asia, which is expected to deliver profitable and sustainable compounding growth. For the 2020 first interim dividend, the Board has approved a dividend of 5.37 cents per share10, representing one third of the current expectation for the 2020 full-year dividend under the Group’s new dividend policy. Dividends are expected to grow broadly in line with the growth in Asia operating free surplus generation net of right-sized central costs, and will be set taking into account financial prospects, market conditions and investment opportunities.

 “We believe we are well positioned both to weather the disruption caused by the Covid-19 pandemic as we continue to support our customers and communities in the recovery to come, and emerge stronger and with a more focused strategy.”

Summary financials – continuing operations
(ie excluding demerged M&G plc business in HY19)
Half year
2020 $m
Half year
2019 $m
Change on
AER basis
Change on
CER basis
Adjusted operating profit1 2,541 2,619 (3)% (2)%
Operating free surplus generated before the effects of US EEV modelling enhancements made in the second half of 20193,4 1,979 1,943 2% 3%
Life new business profit5 1,160 2,125 (45)% (45)%
IFRS profit after tax6 534 1,158 (54)% (54)%
Net cash remittances from business units7 432 1,093 (60)% -
  30 June 2020 31 December 2019
  Total Per share Total Per share
LCSM shareholder surplus over Group minimum capital requirement8 $12.4bn n/a $9.5bn n/a
IFRS shareholders’ funds $19.1bn 732¢ $19.5bn 749¢
EEV shareholders’ funds $48.9bn 1,876¢ $54.7bn 2,103¢

Notes

1 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 period in note B1.1 of the IFRS financial statements.
2 Period-on-period percentage increases are stated on a constant exchange rate basis unless otherwise stated.
3 For insurance operations, operating free surplus generated represents amounts maturing from the in-force business during the period less investment in new business and excludes non-operating items. For asset management businesses, it equates to post-tax adjusted operating profit for the period. Further information is set out in note 11 of the EEV basis results.
4 During the second half of 2019, as part of the implementation of the NAIC’s changes to the US statutory reserve and capital framework, enhancements were made to the model used to allow for hedging within US statutory reporting, which were subsequently incorporated into the EEV model. HY20 has been prepared on the same basis as FY19. Accordingly, operating free surplus in HY20 is $(535) million lower than it would have been if the previous EEV modelling approach applied at HY19 had been used. After allowing for this, operating free surplus generated in the first half of 2020 is $1,444 million, down (25) per cent on a constant exchange rate basis and (26) per cent on an actual exchange rate basis.
5 New business profit, on a post-tax basis, on business sold in the period, calculated in accordance with EEV Principles.
6 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 HY20 were driven by the impact of lower interest rates and equity markets on the Group’s obligations to policyholders, together with amortisation of acquisition accounting adjustments, the impacts of the corporate transactions and tax.
7 Net cash amounts remitted by business units are included in the holding company cash flow, which is disclosed in detail in note I(iii) of the Additional unaudited financial information. This comprises dividends and other transfers from business units that are reflective of emerging earnings and capital generation.
8 Surplus over Group minimum capital requirement and estimated before allowing for first 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.
9 Based on the RBC capital position as at 30 June 2020 and assuming the Athene investment transaction completed at that date.
10 Under the Group’s previous dividend policy, the first interim dividend would have been 12.28 cents per share.

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

Person responsible

The person responsible for arranging the release of this announcement on behalf of Prudential plc is Tom Clarkson, Company Secretary.

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, reflecting the change in the Group’s presentational currency made in the second half of 2019, and comparative amounts are restated accordingly. 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 half year 2020 were driven by the impact of lower interest rates and equity markets on the Group’s obligations to policyholders. They also exclude the effect of corporate transactions undertaken in the period, which in 2020 was the gain (loss) arising upon reinsurance of substantially all of Jackson’s fixed and fixed indexed annuity portfolio to Athene. 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 that completed in 2012. All amounts shown are for continuing operations (Asia, US and Africa), with HY19 excluding the results of the demerged M&G plc business.

c. Total number of Prudential plc shares in issue as at 30 June 2020 was 2,608,860,447.
d.

A pre-recorded presentation for analysts and investors will be available on-demand from 9.30am (UK time) using the following link: https://www.investis-live.com/prudential/5f0d7eb427577e1000c23420/ebgd A copy of the script used in the recorded video, a pdf of the Presentation and this RNS will also be available from 9.30am (UK time) on 11 August 2020 on the 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/5f10213027577e1000f6b945/prad 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 717140. 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 centre page of Prudential plc's website on 14 August 2020.

Playback facility
Please use the following for a playback facility: +44 (0)20 3936 3001 (UK and international excluding US) / + 1 845 709 8569 (US only), replay code 943386. This will be available from approximately 3.00pm (UK time) on 11 August 2020 until 11.59pm (UK time) on 25 August 2020.

e.

2020 First Interim Ordinary Dividend

Ex-dividend date 20 August 2020 (UK, Hong Kong and Singapore)
Record date 21 August 2020

Payment of dividend

28 September 2020 (UK, Hong Kong and ADR holders)
On or about 05 October 2020 (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 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 recently demerged UK and Europe operations (referred to as M&G plc). All amounts presented refer to continuing operations unless otherwise stated.

h.

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 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 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 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 ability to complete a potential minority initial public offering of Jackson, or one of its related companies, or other strategic options in relation to Jackson, or one of its related companies; 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; 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 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.

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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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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