20-F 1 d10850d20f.htm 20-F 20-F
Table of Contents

As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on 7 April 2016

 

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM 20-F

 

 

 

¨ REGISTRATION STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(B) OR (G) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

OR

 

x ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the fiscal year ended 31 December 2015

OR

 

¨ TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

OR

 

¨ SHELL COMPANY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

Commission File Number: 1-15040

PRUDENTIAL PUBLIC LIMITED COMPANY

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

 

 

England and Wales

(Jurisdiction of Incorporation)

12 Arthur Street,

London EC4R 9AQ, England

(Address of Principal Executive Offices)

Rebecca Wyatt

Head of Financial Accounting

Prudential plc

12 Arthur Street,

London EC4R 9AQ, England

+44 20 7220 7588

rebecca.wyatt@prudential.co.uk

(Name, telephone, e-mail and/or facsimile number and address of company contact person)

Securities registered or to be registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

 

Title of Each Class

     

Name of Each Exchange on Which Registered

American Depositary Shares, each representing 2 Ordinary Shares, 5 pence par value each

    New York Stock Exchange

Ordinary Shares, 5 pence par value each

    New York Stock Exchange*

6.75% Perpetual Subordinated Capital Securities Exchangeable at the Issuer’s Option into Non-Cumulative Dollar Denominated Preference Shares

    New York Stock Exchange

6.50% Perpetual Subordinated Capital Securities Exchangeable at the Issuer’s Option into Non-Cumulative Dollar Denominated Preference Shares

    New York Stock Exchange

Securities registered or to be registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:

None

Securities for which there is a reporting obligation pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Act:

None

The number of outstanding shares of each of the issuer’s classes of capital or common stock as of 31 December 2015 was:

2,572,454,958 Ordinary Shares, 5 pence par value each

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.

Yes  X          No     

If this report is an annual or transition report, indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

Yes              No  X 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant: (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports) and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.

Yes  X          No     

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web sites, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§ 232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).

Yes              No     

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, or a non-accelerated filer. See definition of “accelerated filer and large accelerated filer” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):

Large accelerated filer  X          Accelerated filer              Non-accelerated filer     

Indicate by check mark which basis of accounting the registrant has used to prepare the financial statements included in this filing:

U.S. GAAP      International Financial Reporting Standards as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board  X  Other     

If “Other” has been checked in response to the previous question, indicate by check mark which financial statement item the registrant has elected to follow:

Item 17              Item 18     

If this is an annual report, indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).

Yes              No  X 

 

* Not for trading, but only in connection with the registration of American Depositary Shares.

 

 

 


Table of Contents

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

         Page  
Item 1.  

Not Applicable

  
Item 2.  

Not Applicable

  
Item 3.  

Key Information

     1   
 

Selected Historical Financial Information of Prudential

     1   
 

Dividend Data

     3   
 

Exchange Rate Information

     4   
 

Risk Factors

     5   
 

Forward-Looking Statements

     13   
 

EEV Basis, New Business Results and Free Surplus Generation

     14   
Item 4.  

Information on the Company

     15   
 

Business of Prudential

     15   
 

Overview and Summary of Strategy

     15   
 

Company Address and Agent

     18   
 

Significant Subsidiaries

     18   
 

Asian Business

     19   
 

US Business

     24   
 

UK Business

     34   
 

Group Risk Framework

     48   
 

Capital Management

     59   
 

Investments

     64   
 

Description of Property—Corporate property

     75   
 

Competition

     77   
 

Intellectual Property

     78   
 

Legal Proceedings

     79   
 

Sources

     79   
 

Supervision and Regulation of Prudential

     80   
 

UK Supervision and Regulation

     81   
 

Asian Supervision and Regulation

     91   
 

US Supervision and Regulation

     107   
 

Capital Expenditure and Divestitures

     115   
Item 4A.  

Unresolved Staff Comments

     115   
Item 5.  

Operating and Financial Review and Prospects

     116   
 

Introduction and Overview

     116   
 

IFRS Critical Accounting Policies

     129   
 

Summary Consolidated Results and Basis of Preparation of Analysis

     131   
 

Explanation of Movements in Profits After Tax and Profits Before Shareholder Tax by Reference to the Basis Applied for Segmental Disclosure

     131   
 

Explanation of Movements in Profits Before Shareholder Tax by Nature of Revenue and Charges

     166   
 

IFRS Shareholders’ Funds and Policyholder Liabilities

     177   
 

Other Results Based Information

     178   
 

Liquidity and Capital Resources

     180   
Item 6.  

Directors, Senior Management and Employees

     188   
 

Compensation

     193   
 

Share Ownership

     218   
 

Board Practices

     220   
 

Employees

     245   

 

i


Table of Contents
Item 7.  

Major Shareholders and Related Party Transactions

     245   
 

Major Shareholders

     245   
 

Related Party Transactions

     246   
Item 8.  

Financial Information

     246   
Item 9.  

The Offer and Listing

     246   
 

Comparative Market Price Data

     246   
 

Market Data

     247   
Item 10.  

Additional Information

     247   
 

Memorandum and Articles of Association

     247   
 

Material Contracts

     254   
 

Exchange Controls

     254   
 

Taxation

     254   
 

Documents on Display

     259   
Item 11.  

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk

     259   
 

Overview

     259   
 

Major Risks

     260   
 

Currency of Investments

     260   
 

Currency of Core Borrowings

     261   
 

Sensitivity Analysis

     261   
Item 12.  

Description of Securities other than Equity Securities

     264   
Item 13.  

Defaults, Dividend Arrearages and Delinquencies

     264   
Item 14.  

Material Modifications to the Rights of Security Holders

     264   
Item 15.  

Controls and Procedures

     264   
Item 16A.  

Audit Committee Financial Expert

     265   
Item 16B.  

Code of Ethics

     265   
Item 16C.  

Principal Accountant Fees and Services

     266   
Item 16D.  

Exemptions from the Listing Standards for Audit Committees

     266   
Item 16E.  

Purchases of Equity Securities by Prudential plc and Affiliated Purchasers

     267   
Item 16F.  

Change in Registrant’s Certifying Accountant

     267   
Item 16G.  

Corporate Governance

     268   
Item 17.  

Not Applicable

  
Item 18.  

Financial Statements

     F-1   
 

Consolidated Financial Statements

     F-1   
 

Condensed Financial Information of Registrant

     S-1   
Item 19.  

Exhibits

  

As used in this document, unless the context otherwise requires, the terms ‘Prudential’, the ‘Group’, ‘we’, ‘us’ and ‘our’ each refer to Prudential plc, together with its subsidiaries, while the terms ‘Prudential plc’, the ‘Company’ or the ‘parent company’ each refer to ‘Prudential plc’.

Portions of the Prudential’s Annual Report 2015 incorporated by reference herein contain references to our website. Information on our website or any other website referenced in the Prudential Annual Report 2015 is not incorporated into this Form 20-F and should not be considered to be part of the Form 20-F. We have included any website as an inactive textual reference only.

Limitations on Enforcement of US Laws against Prudential, its Management and Others

Prudential is an English public limited company. Most of its directors and executive officers are resident outside the United States, and a substantial portion of its assets and the assets of such persons are located outside the United States. As a result, it may be difficult for you to effect service of process within the United States upon these persons or to enforce against them or Prudential in US courts judgments obtained in US courts predicated upon the civil liability provisions of the federal securities laws of the United States. We believe that there may be doubt as to the enforceability in England and Wales, in original actions or in actions for enforcement of judgments of US courts, of liabilities predicated solely upon the federal securities laws of the United States.

 

ii


Table of Contents

Item 3. Key Information

Selected Historical Financial Information of Prudential

The following table sets forth selected consolidated financial data for Prudential for the periods indicated. Certain data is derived from Prudential’s audited consolidated financial statements prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (‘IFRS’) as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board (‘IASB’) and as endorsed by the European Union (‘EU’). EU-endorsed IFRS may differ from IFRS as issued by the IASB if, at any point in time, new or amended IFRSs have not been endorsed by the EU. As at 31 December 2015, there were no unendorsed standards effective for the years presented below affecting the consolidated financial information of Prudential and there were no differences between IFRSs endorsed by the EU and IFRSs issued by the IASB in terms of their application to Prudential. Accordingly, the selected consolidated financial data presented below that is derived from Prudential’s audited consolidated financial statements is derived from audited consolidated financial statements prepared in accordance with IFRS as issued by the IASB. This table is only a summary and should be read in conjunction with Prudential’s consolidated financial statements and the related notes included elsewhere in this document, together with Item 5, ‘Operating and Financial Review and Prospects’.

Income statement data

 

     Year ended 31 December  
      2015 $m(1)      2015 £m      2014 £m      2013 £m      2012 £m      2011 £m  
Gross premium earned      54,063         36,663         32,832         30,502         29,113         24,837   
Outward reinsurance premiums      (1,706)         (1,157)         (799)         (658)         (491)         (417)   
Earned premiums, net of reinsurance      52,357         35,506         32,033         29,844         28,622         24,420   
Investment return      4,872         3,304         25,787         20,347         23,931         9,361   
Other income      3,679         2,495         2,306         2,184         1,885         1,711   
Total revenue, net of reinsurance      60,908         41,305         60,126         52,375         54,438         35,492   
Benefits and claims and movement in unallocated surplus of with-profits funds, net of reinsurance      (43,732)         (29,656)         (50,169)         (43,154)         (45,144)         (28,706)   
Acquisition costs and other expenditure      (12,104)         (8,208)         (6,752)         (6,861)         (6,032)         (4,717)   
Finance costs: interest on core structural borrowings of shareholder-financed operations      (460)         (312)         (341)         (305)         (280)         (286)   
Disposal of Japan life business:                  

Cumulative exchange loss recycled from other comprehensive income

     (68)         (46)         -         -         -         -   

Remeasurement adjustments

     -         -         (13)         (120)         -            
Total charges, net of reinsurance      (56,364)         (38,222)         (57,275)         (50,440)         (51,456)         (33,709)   
Share of profits from joint ventures and associates, net of related tax      351         238         303         147         135         76   
Profit before tax (being tax attributable to shareholders’ and policyholders’ returns)(2)      4,895         3,321         3,154         2,082         3,117         1,859   
Tax (charges) credit attributable to policyholders’ returns      (255)         (173)         (540)         (447)         (370)         7   
Profit before tax attributable to shareholders      4,640         3,148         2,614         1,635         2,747         1,866   
Tax charge attributable to shareholders’ returns      (839)         (569)         (398)         (289)         (584)         (415)   
Profit for the year      3,801         2,579         2,216         1,346         2,163         1,451   

 

1


Table of Contents
    2015(1)      2015      2014      2013      2012      2011  
     (In $m, except
Share Information)
     £m, except Share Information  
Statement of financial position data                 
Total assets     570,648         386,985         369,204         325,932         307,644         270,018   
Total policyholder liabilities and unallocated surplus of with-profits funds     494,896         335,614         321,989         286,014         268,263         233,538   
Core structural borrowings of shareholder – financed operations     7,389         5,011         4,304         4,636         3,554         3,611   
Total liabilities     551,543         374,029         357,392         316,281         297,280         261,411   
Total equity     19,105         12,956         11,812         9,651         10,364         8,607   
Other data                 
Based on profit for the year attributable to the equity holders of the Company:                 

Basic earnings per share (in pence)

    148.9¢         101.0p         86.9p         52.8p         85.1p         57.1p   

Diluted earnings per share (in pence)

    148.8¢         100.9p         86.8p         52.7p         85.0p         57.0p   
Dividend per share declared and paid in reporting period (in pence)(5)     56.1¢         38.05p         35.03p         30.52p         25.64p         25.19p   

Equivalent cents per share(6)

       59.11¢         58.44¢         50.58¢         40.68¢         40.39¢   

Market price per share at end of period(7)

    2,257.6¢         1,531.0p         1,492.0p         1,340.0p         865.5p         638.5p   

Weighted average number of shares (in millions)

             2,553         2,549         2,548         2,541         2,533   

New business:

                

Single premium sales(3)

    41,096         27,869         24,508         22,976         22,358         18,889   

New regular premium sales(3)(4)

    4,158         2,820         2,199         2,125         1,959         1,792   

Funds under management

    749,982         508,600         496,000         443,000         406,000         352,000   

 

(1) Amounts stated in US dollars in the 2015 US dollar column have been translated from pounds sterling at the rate of $1.4746 per £1.00 (the noon buying rate in New York City on 31 December 2015).

 

(2) This measure is the formal profit (loss) before tax measure under IFRS but is not the result attributable to shareholders. See ‘Presentation of results before tax’ in note A3.1(k) to Prudential’s consolidated financial statements in Item 18 for further explanation.

 

(3) The new business premiums in the table shown above are provided as an indicative volume measure of transactions undertaken in the reporting period that have the potential to generate profits for shareholders (see ‘EEV basis, new business results and free surplus generation’ below). The amounts shown are not, and are not intended to be, reflective of premium income recorded in the IFRS income statement. Internal vesting business is classified as new business where the contracts include an open market option.

 

   The details shown above for new business include contributions for contracts that are classified under IFRS 4 ‘Insurance Contracts’ as not containing significant insurance risk. These products are described as investment contracts or other financial instruments under IFRS. Contracts included in this category are primarily certain unit-linked and similar contracts written in UK insurance operations and Guaranteed Investment Contracts and similar funding agreements written in US operations.

 

(4) New regular premium sales are reported on an annualised basis, which represents a full year of instalments in respect of regular premiums irrespective of the actual payments made during the year. The comparative figures as shown above included the premiums from the PruHealth and PruProtect businesses for which the Group’s 25 per cent interest was sold in November 2014. The PruProtect and PruProtect new business premiums for the years ended 31 December 2014 and 2013 of £23 million and £26 million, respectively are shown in Item 4 ‘UK business’.

 

(5) Under IFRS, dividends declared or approved after the balance sheet date in respect of the prior reporting period are treated as a non-adjusting event. The appropriation reflected in the statement of changes in equity, therefore, includes dividend in respect of the prior year that was declared or approved after the balance sheet date of the prior reporting period. Parent company dividends relating to the reporting period were an interim dividend of 12.31p per share in 2015 (2014: 11.19p, 2013: 9.73p), a second interim dividend of 26.47p per share in 2015 (2014: final dividend 25.74p, 2013: final dividend 23.84p) and a special dividend of 10.00p per share in 2015 only.

 

(6) The dividends have been translated into US dollars at the noon buying rate in New York City on the date each payment was made.

 

(7) Market prices presented are the closing prices of the shares on the London Stock Exchange on the last day of trading for each indicated period.

 

2


Table of Contents

Dividend Data

Under UK company law, Prudential may pay dividends only if ‘distributable profits’ of the holding company are available for that purpose. ‘Distributable profits’ are accumulated, realised profits not previously distributed or capitalised less accumulated, realised losses not previously written off, on the applicable GAAP basis. Even if distributable profits are available, under UK law Prudential may pay dividends only if the amount of its net assets is not less than the aggregate of its called-up share capital and undistributable reserves (such as, for example, the share premium account) and the payment of the dividend does not reduce the amount of its net assets to less than that aggregate. For further information about the holding company refer to Schedule II. The financial information in Schedule II has been prepared under UK GAAP reflecting the legal basis of preparation of the Company’s separate financial statements as distinct from the IFRS basis that applies to the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

As a holding company, Prudential is dependent upon dividends and interest from its subsidiaries to pay cash dividends. Many of its insurance subsidiaries are subject to regulations that restrict the amount of dividends that they can pay to the Company. These restrictions are discussed in more detail in Item 4, ‘Information on the Company—Supervision and Regulation of Prudential—UK Supervision and Regulation—Regulation of Insurance Business—Distribution of Profits and With-profits Business’ and Item 4, ‘—Information on the Company—Supervision and Regulation of Prudential—US Supervision and Regulation—General’.

Historically, Prudential has declared an interim and a final dividend for each year (with the final dividend being paid in the year following the year to which it relates). From 2016, Prudential will make twice-yearly interim dividend payments to replace the final and interim dividend payments. Subject to the restrictions referred to above, Prudential’s directors have the discretion to determine whether to pay an interim dividend and the amount of any such interim dividend but must take into account the Company’s financial position. The directors still retain the discretion to recommend payment of a final dividend, such recommendation to be approved by ordinary resolution of the shareholders. The approved amount may not exceed the amount recommended by the directors. For the 2015 reporting period, Prudential has approved a second interim dividend and a special dividend.

The following table shows certain information regarding the dividends per share that Prudential declared for the periods indicated in pence sterling and converted into US dollars at the noon buying rate in effect on each payment date. First interim dividends for a specific year now generally have a record date in August and a payment date in September of that year, and second interim dividends (or final dividends) now generally have a record date in the following March/April and a payment date in the following May.

 

Year    Interim
Dividend
     Interim
Dividend
    

Final Dividend/

Second interim

    

Final Dividend/

Second interim

     Special
dividend
     Special
dividend
     (pence)      (US Dollars)      (pence)      (US Dollars)      (pence)      (US Dollars)

2011

     7.95         0.1221         17.24         0.2706         

2012

     8.40         0.1362         20.79         0.3143         

2013

     9.73         0.1558         23.84         0.4019         

2014

     11.19         0.1825         25.74         0.4034         

2015

     12.31         0.1877         26.47                  10.00        

The Board has decided to increase the full-year ordinary dividend by 5 per cent to 38.78 pence per share, reflecting the continued strong financial performance of the Group in 2015. In line with this, the directors have approved a second interim ordinary dividend of 26.47 pence per share (2014: final dividend of 25.74 pence) which brings the total ordinary dividend for the year to 38.78 pence (2014: 36.93 pence). In addition, the Board has decided to award a special dividend of 10 pence per share reflecting the additional contribution to earnings from the specific management actions taken to position the balance sheet more efficiently under the new Solvency II regime.

Although the Board has been able to approve a special dividend of 10 pence per share in 2015, the Group’s dividend policy remains unchanged. The Board will maintain its focus on delivering a growing ordinary dividend, 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.

 

3


Table of Contents

Exchange Rate Information

Prudential publishes its consolidated financial statements in pounds sterling. References in this document to ‘US dollars’, ‘US$’, ‘$’ or ‘¢’ are to US currency, references to ‘pounds sterling’, ‘£’, ‘pounds’, ‘pence’ or ‘p’ are to UK currency (there are 100 pence to each pound) and references to ‘euro’ or ‘’ are to the single currency adopted by the participating members of the European Union. The following table sets forth for each year the average of the noon buying rates on the last business day of each month of that year, as certified for customs purposes by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, for pounds sterling expressed in US dollars per pound sterling for each of the five most recent fiscal years. Prudential has not used these rates to prepare its consolidated financial statements.

 

Year ended 31 December    Average rate  

2011

     1.61   

2012

     1.59   

2013

     1.56   

2014

     1.65   

2015

     1.53   

The following table sets forth the high and low noon buying rates for pounds sterling expressed in US dollars per pound sterling for each of the previous six months:

 

      High        Low  

October 2015

     1.55           1.52   

November 2015

     1.54           1.50   

December 2015

     1.52           1.47   

January 2016

     1.47           1.42   

February 2016

     1.46           1.39   

March 2016

     1.45           1.39   

On 1 April 2016 the latest practicable date prior to this filing, the noon buying rate was £1.00 = $1.42.

 

4


Table of Contents

Risk Factors

A number of risk factors affect Prudential’s operating results and financial condition and, accordingly, the trading price of its shares. The risk factors mentioned below should not be regarded as a complete and comprehensive statement of all potential risks and uncertainties. The information given is as of the date of this document, and any forward-looking statements are made subject to the reservations specified below under ‘Forward-Looking Statements’.

Risks relating to Prudential’s business

Prudential’s businesses are inherently subject to market fluctuations and general economic conditions

Prudential’s businesses are inherently subject to market fluctuations and general economic conditions. Uncertainty or negative trends in international economic and investment climates could adversely affect Prudential’s business and profitability. Since 2008 Prudential has operated against a challenging background of periods of significant volatility in global capital and equity markets, interest rates (which in some jurisdictions have become negative) and liquidity, and widespread economic uncertainty. For example, government interest rates remain at or near historic lows in the US, the UK and some Asian countries in which Prudential operates. These factors have, at times during this period, had a material adverse effect on Prudential’s business and profitability.

In the future, the adverse effects of such factors would be felt principally through the following items:

 

  investment impairments and/or reduced investment returns, which could reduce Prudential’s capital and impair its ability to write significant volumes of new business, increase the potential adverse impact of product guarantees, or have a negative impact on its assets under management and profit;

 

  higher credit defaults and wider credit and liquidity spreads resulting in realised and unrealised credit losses;

 

  failure of counterparties who have transactions with Prudential (e.g. banks and reinsurers) to meet commitments that could give rise to a negative impact on Prudential’s financial position and on the accessibility or recoverability of amounts due or, for derivative transactions, adequate collateral not being in place;

 

  estimates of the value of financial instruments being difficult because in certain illiquid or closed markets, determining the value at which financial instruments can be realised is highly subjective. Processes to ascertain such values require substantial elements of judgement, assumptions and estimates (which may change over time); and

 

  increased illiquidity also adds to uncertainty over the accessibility of financial resources and may reduce capital resources as valuations decline.

Global financial markets are subject to uncertainty and volatility created by a variety of factors, including concerns over the energy and commodity sectors, sovereign debt, general slowing in world growth, the monetary policies in the US, the UK and other jurisdictions and potentially negative socio-political events. In addition, a possible withdrawal of the UK from the EU would have political, legal and economic ramifications for both the UK and the EU, although these are expected to be more pronounced on the UK.

Upheavals in the financial markets may affect general levels of economic activity, employment and customer behaviour.As a result, insurers may experience an elevated incidence of claims, lapses, or surrenders of policies, and some policyholders may choose to defer or stop paying insurance premiums. The demand for insurance products may also be adversely affected. In addition, there may be a higher incidence of counterparty failures. If sustained, this environment is likely to have a negative impact on the insurance sector over time and may consequently have a negative impact on Prudential’s business and its balance sheet and profitability. For example, this could occur if the recoverable value of intangible assets for bancassurance agreements and deferred acquisition costs are reduced. New challenges related to market fluctuations and general economic conditions may continue to emerge.

 

5


Table of Contents

For some non-unit-linked investment products, in particular those written in some of the Group’s Asian operations, it may not be possible to hold assets which will provide cash flows to match those relating to policyholder liabilities. This is particularly true in those countries where bond markets are not developed and in certain markets where regulated surrender values are set with reference to the interest rate environment prevailing at the time of policy issue. This results in a mismatch due to the duration and uncertainty of the liability cash flows and the lack of sufficient assets of a suitable duration. While this residual asset/liability mismatch risk can be managed, it cannot be eliminated. Where interest rates in these markets remain lower than those used to calculate surrender values over a sustained period, this could have a material adverse effect on Prudential’s reported profit.

In the US, fluctuations in prevailing interest rates can affect results from Jackson which has a significant spread-based business, with the majority of its assets invested in fixed income securities. In particular, fixed annuities and stable value products written by Jackson expose Prudential to the risk that changes in interest rates, which are not fully reflected in the interest rates credited to customers, will reduce spread. The spread is the difference between the rate of return Jackson is able to earn on the assets backing the policyholders’ liabilities and the amounts that are credited to policyholders in the form of benefit increases, subject to minimum crediting rates. Declines in spread from these products or other spread businesses that Jackson conducts, and increases in surrender levels arising from interest rate rises, could have a material impact on its businesses or results of operations.

Jackson also writes a significant amount of variable annuities that offer capital or income protection guarantees. The value of these guarantees is affected by market factors (such as interest rates, equity values, bond spreads and realised volatility) and policyholder behaviour. There could be market circumstances where the derivatives that Jackson enters into to hedge its market risks may not fully cover its exposures under the guarantees. The cost of the guarantees that remain unhedged will also affect Prudential’s results.

Jackson hedges the guarantees on its variable annuity book on an economic basis (with consideration of the local regulatory position) and, thus, accepts variability in its accounting results in the short term in order to achieve the appropriate result on these bases. In particular, for Prudential’s Group IFRS reporting, the measurement of the Jackson variable annuity guarantees is typically less sensitive to market movements than for the corresponding hedging derivatives, which are held at market value. However, depending on the level of hedging conducted regarding a particular risk type, certain market movements can drive volatility in the economic or local regulatory results that may be less significant under IFRS reporting.

A significant part of the profit from Prudential’s UK insurance operations is related to bonuses for policyholders declared on with-profits products, which are broadly based on historical and current rates of return on equity, real estate and fixed income securities, as well as Prudential’s expectations of future investment returns. This profit could be lower in a sustained low interest rate environment.

Prudential is subject to the risk of potential sovereign debt credit deterioration owing to the amounts of sovereign debt obligations held in its investment portfolio

Prudential is subject to the risk of potential sovereign debt credit deterioration on the amounts of sovereign debt obligations held in its investment portfolio.

Investing in sovereign debt creates exposure to the direct or indirect consequences of political, social or economic changes (including changes in governments, heads of states or monarchs) in the countries in which the issuers are located and the creditworthiness of the sovereign. Investment in sovereign debt obligations involves risks not present in debt obligations of corporate issuers. In addition, the issuer of the debt or the governmental authorities that control the repayment of the debt may be unable or unwilling to repay principal or pay interest when due in accordance with the terms of such debt, and Prudential may have limited recourse to compel payment in the event of a default. A sovereign debtor’s willingness or ability to repay principal and to pay interest in a timely manner may be affected by, among other factors, its cash flow situation, its relations with its central bank, the extent of its foreign currency reserves, the availability of sufficient foreign exchange on the date a payment is due, the relative size of the debt service burden to the economy as a whole, the sovereign debtor’s policy toward local and international lenders, and the political constraints to which the sovereign debtor may be subject.

 

6


Table of Contents

Moreover, governments may use a variety of techniques, such as intervention by their central banks or imposition of regulatory controls or taxes, to devalue their currencies’ exchange rates, or may adopt monetary and other policies (including to manage their debt burdens) that have a similar effect, all of which could adversely impact the value of an investment in sovereign debt even in the absence of a technical default. Periods of economic uncertainty may affect the volatility of market prices of sovereign debt to a greater extent than the volatility inherent in debt obligations of other types of issuers.

In addition, if a sovereign default or other such events described above were to occur, other financial institutions may also suffer losses or experience solvency or other concerns, and Prudential might face additional risks relating to any debt of such financial institutions held in its investment portfolio. There is also risk that public perceptions about the stability and creditworthiness of financial institutions and the financial sector generally might be affected, as might counter party relationships between financial institutions. If a sovereign were to default on its obligations, or adopt policies that devalue or otherwise alter the currencies in which its obligations are denominated this could have a material adverse effect on Prudential’s financial condition and results of operations.

Prudential is subject to the risk of exchange rate fluctuations owing to the geographical diversity of its businesses

Due to the geographical diversity of Prudential’s businesses, Prudential is subject to the risk of exchange rate fluctuations. Prudential’s operations in the US and Asia, which represent a significant proportion of operating profit based on longer-term investment returns and shareholders’ funds, generally write policies and invest in assets denominated in local currencies. Although this practice limits the effect of exchange rate fluctuations on local operating results, it can lead to significant fluctuations in Prudential’s consolidated financial statements upon the translation of results into pounds sterling. This exposure is not currently separately managed. The currency exposure relating to the translation of reported earnings could impact on financial reporting ratios such as dividend cover, which is calculated as operating profit after tax on an IFRS basis, divided by the dividends relating to the reporting year. The impact of gains or losses on currency translations is recorded as a component of shareholders’ funds within other comprehensive income. Consequently, this could impact on Prudential’s gearing ratios (defined as debt over debt plus shareholders’ funds). The Group’s surplus capital position for regulatory reporting purposes may also be affected by fluctuations in exchange rates with possible consequences for the degree of flexibility the Prudential has in managing its business.

Prudential conducts its businesses subject to regulation and associated regulatory risks, including the effects of changes in the laws, regulations, policies and interpretations and any accounting standards in the markets in which it operates

Changes in government policy and legislation (including in relation to tax and capital controls), regulation or regulatory interpretation applying to companies in the financial services and insurance industries in any of the markets in which Prudential operates, which in some circumstances may be applied retrospectively, may adversely affect Prudential’s product range, distribution channels, competitiveness, profitability, capital requirements and, consequently, reported results and financing requirements. Also, regulators in jurisdictions in which Prudential operates may change the level of capital required to be held by individual businesses or could introduce possible changes in the regulatory framework for pension arrangements and policies, the regulation of selling practices and solvency requirements. In addition, there could be changes to the maximum level of non-domestic ownership by foreign companies in certain jurisdictions. Furthermore, as a result of interventions by governments in response to recent financial and global economic conditions, it is widely expected that there will continue to be a substantial increase in government regulation and supervision of the financial services industry, including the possibility of higher capital requirements, restrictions on certain types of transactions and enhanced supervisory powers.

The European Union’s Solvency II Directive came into effect on 1 January 2016. This measure of regulatory capital is more volatile than under the previous Solvency I regime and regulatory policy may evolve under the new regime. The European Commission will review elements of the Solvency II legislation from 2016 onwards including a review of the Long Term Guarantee measures by 1 January 2021.

 

7


Table of Contents

Currently there are also a number of other global regulatory developments which could impact the way in which Prudential is supervised in its many jurisdictions. These include the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (Dodd-Frank Act) in the US, the work of the Financial Stability Board (FSB) on Global Systemically Important Insurers (G-SIIs) and the Common Framework for the Supervision of Internationally Active Insurance Groups (ComFrame) being developed by the International Association of Insurance Supervisors (IAIS).

The Dodd-Frank Act represents a comprehensive overhaul of the financial services industry within the US that, among other reforms to financial services entities, products and markets, may subject financial institutions designated as systemically important to heightened prudential and other requirements intended to prevent or mitigate the impact of future disruptions in the US financial system. The full impact of the Dodd-Frank Act on Prudential’s businesses is not currently clear, as many of its provisions are primarily focused on the banking industry, have a delayed effectiveness and/or require rulemaking or other actions by various US regulators over the coming years.

The IAIS has various initiatives which are detailed in this section. On 18 July 2013, it published a methodology for identifying G-SIIs, and a set of policy measures that will apply to them, which the FSB endorsed. Groups designated as a G-SII are subject to additional regulatory requirements, including enhanced group-wide supervision, effective resolution planning, development of a Systemic Risk Management Plan, a Recovery Plan and a Liquidity Risk Management Plan. Prudential’s designation as a G-SII was reaffirmed on 3 November 2015. Prudential is monitoring the development and potential impact of the policy measures and is continuing to engage with the PRA on the implications of the policy measures and Prudential’s designation as a G-SII.

The G-SII regime also introduces two types of capital requirements. The first, a Basic Capital Requirement (BCR), is designed to act as a minimum group capital requirement and the second, a Higher Loss Absorption (HLA) requirement reflects the drivers of the assessment of G-SII designation. The IAIS intends for these requirements to take effect from January 2019, but G-SIIs will be expected to privately report to their group-wide supervisors in the interim.

The IAIS is also developing ComFrame which is focused on the supervision of large and complex Internationally Active Insurance Groups (IAIGs). ComFrame will establish a set of common principles and standards designed to assist regulators in addressing risks that arise from insurance groups with operations in multiple jurisdictions. As part of this, work is underway to develop a global Insurance Capital Standard (ICS) that would apply to IAIGs. Once the development of the ICS has been concluded, it is intended to replace the BCR as the minimum group capital requirement for G-SIIs. Further consultations on the ICS are expected over the coming years, and a version of the ICS is expected to be adopted as part of ComFrame in late 2019.

Various jurisdictions in which Prudential operates have created investor compensation schemes that require mandatory contributions from market participants in some instances in the event of a failure of a market participant. As a major participant in the majority of its chosen markets, circumstances could arise where Prudential, along with other companies, may be required to make such contributions.

The Group’s accounts are prepared in accordance with current International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) applicable to the insurance industry. The International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) introduced a framework that it described as Phase I, which permitted insurers to continue to use the statutory basis of accounting for insurance assets and liabilities that existed in their jurisdictions prior to January 2005. In July 2010, the IASB published its first Exposure Draft for its Phase II on insurance accounting, which would introduce significant changes to the statutory reporting of insurance entities that prepare accounts according to IFRS. A revised Exposure Draft was issued in June 2013. The IASB is currently re-deliberating the Exposure Draft proposals in light of comments by the insurance industry and other respondents. The timing of the final proposals taking effect is uncertain but not expected to be before 2020.

Any changes or modification of IFRS accounting policies may require a change in the future results or a retrospective adjustment of reported results.

 

8


Table of Contents

The resolution of several issues affecting the financial services industry could have a negative impact on Prudential’s reported results or on its relations with current and potential customers

Prudential is, and in the future may be, subject to legal and regulatory actions in the ordinary course of its business, both in the UK and internationally. These actions could involve a review of types of business sold in the past under acceptable market practices at the time, such as the requirement in the UK to provide redress to certain past purchasers of pension and mortgage endowment policies, changes to the tax regime affecting products, and regulatory reviews on products sold and industry practices, including, in the latter case, lines of business it has closed.

Regulators’ interest may include the approach that product providers use to select third party distributors and to monitor the appropriateness of sales made by them. In some cases, product providers can be held responsible for the deficiencies of third-party distributors.

In the US, there has been significant attention on the different regulatory standards applied to investment advice delivered to retail customers by different sectors of the industry. As a result of reports relating to perceptions of industry abuses, there have been numerous regulatory inquiries and proposals for legislative and regulatory reforms. This includes focus on the suitability of sales of certain products, alternative investments and the widening of the circumstances under which a person or entity providing investment advice with respect to certain employee benefit and pension plans would be considered a fiduciary which would subject the person or entity to certain regulatory requirements. There is a risk that new regulations introduced may have a material adverse effect on the sales of the products by Prudential and increase Prudential’s exposure to legal risks.

In Asia, regulatory regimes are developing at different speeds, driven by a combination of global factors and local considerations. New requirements could be introduced in these and other regulatory regimes that challenge current practices, or could retrospectively be applied to sales made prior to their introduction, which could have a negative impact on Prudential’s business or reported results.

Litigation, disputes and regulatory investigations may adversely affect Prudential’s profitability and financial condition

Prudential is, and may be in the future, subject to legal actions, disputes and regulatory investigations in various contexts, including in the ordinary course of its insurance, investment management and other business operations. These legal actions, disputes and investigations may relate to aspects of Prudential’s businesses and operations that are specific to Prudential, or that are common to companies that operate in Prudential’s markets. Legal actions and disputes may arise under contracts, regulations (including tax) or from a course of conduct taken by Prudential, and may be class actions. Although Prudential believes that it has adequately provided in all material aspects for the costs of litigation and regulatory matters, no assurance can be provided that such provisions are sufficient. Given the large or indeterminate amounts of damages sometimes sought, other sanctions that might be applicable and the inherent unpredictability of litigation and disputes, it is possible that an adverse outcome could, from time to time, have an adverse effect on Prudential’s reputation, results of operations or cash flows.

Prudential’s businesses are conducted in highly competitive environments with developing demographic trends and continued profitability depends upon management’s ability to respond to these pressures and trends

The markets for financial services in the UK, US and Asia are highly competitive, with several factors affecting Prudential’s ability to sell its products and continued profitability, including price and yields offered, financial strength and ratings, range of product lines and product quality, brand strength and name recognition, investment management performance, historical bonus levels, developing demographic trends and customer appetite for certain savings products. In some of its markets, Prudential faces competitors that are larger, have greater financial resources or a greater market share, offer a broader range of products or have higher bonus rates. Further, heightened competition for talented and skilled employees and agents with local experience, particularly in Asia, may limit Prudential’s potential to grow its business as quickly as planned.

 

9


Table of Contents

In Asia, the Group’s principal competitors in the region are international financial companies, including global life insurers such as Allianz, AXA, AIA and Manulife, and multinational asset managers such as J.P. Morgan Asset Management, Schroders, HSBC Global Asset Management and Franklin Templeton. In a number of markets, local companies have a very significant market presence.

Within the UK, Prudential’s principal competitors include many of the major retail financial services companies and fund management companies including, in particular, Aviva, Legal & General, Lloyds Banking Group, Standard Life, Schroders, Invesco Perpetual and Fidelity.

Jackson’s competitors in the US include major stock and mutual insurance companies, mutual fund organisations, banks and other financial services companies such as AIG, AXA Financial Inc., Allianz, Prudential Financial, Lincoln National, MetLife and Aegon.

Prudential believes competition will intensify across all regions in response to consumer demand, technological advances, the impact of consolidation, regulatory actions and other factors. Prudential’s ability to generate an appropriate return depends significantly upon its capacity to anticipate and respond appropriately to these competitive pressures.

Downgrades in Prudential’s financial strength and credit ratings could significantly impact its competitive position and damage its relationships with creditors or trading counterparties

Prudential’s financial strength and credit ratings, which are used by the market to measure its ability to meet policyholder obligations, are an important factor affecting public confidence in Prudential’s products, and as a result its competitiveness. Downgrades in Prudential’s ratings, as a result of, for example, decreased profitability, increased costs, increased indebtedness or other concerns, could have an adverse effect on its ability to market products; retain current policyholders; and on the Group’s financial flexibility. In addition, the interest rates Prudential pays on its borrowings are affected by its credit ratings, which are in place to measure the Group’s ability to meet its contractual obligations.

Prudential plc’s long-term senior debt is rated as A2 by Moody’s, A+ by Standard & Poor’s and A by Fitch. These ratings are all on a stable outlook.

Prudential plc’s short-term debt is rated as P-1 by Moody’s, A-1 by Standard & Poor’s and F1 by Fitch.

The Prudential Assurance Company Limited’s financial strength is rated Aa3 by Moody’s, AA by Standard & Poor’s and AA by Fitch. These ratings are all on a stable outlook.

Jackson’s financial strength is rated AA by Standard & Poor’s and Fitch, A1 by Moody’s, and A+ by AM Best. These ratings have a stable outlook.

Prudential Assurance Co. Singapore (Pte) Ltd’s financial strength is rated AA by Standard & Poor’s. This rating is on a stable outlook.

In addition, changes in methodologies and criteria used by rating agencies could result in downgrades that do not reflect changes in the general economic conditions or Prudential’s financial condition.

Adverse experience in the operational risks inherent in Prudential’s business could disrupt its business functions and have a negative impact on its results of operations

Operational risks are present in all of Prudential’s businesses, including the risk of direct or indirect loss resulting from inadequate or failed internal and external processes, systems and human error or from external events. Prudential’s business is dependent on processing a large number of transactions across numerous and diverse products, and is subject to a number of different legal and regulatory regimes. Further, because of the long-term nature of much of the Group’s business, accurate records have to be maintained for significant periods.

 

10


Table of Contents

These factors, among others, result in significant reliance on and require significant investment in information technology (IT), compliance and other operational systems, personnel and processes. In addition, Prudential outsources several operations, including a significant part of its UK back office and customer-facing functions as well as a number of IT functions, resulting in reliance upon the operational processing performance of its outsourcing partners.

Although Prudential’s IT, compliance and other operational systems and processes incorporate controls designed to manage and mitigate the operational risks associated with its activities, there can be no assurance that such controls will always be effective. Due to human error among other reasons, operational incidents do happen periodically and no system or process can entirely prevent them although there have not been any material such events to date. Prudential’s legacy and other IT systems and processes, as with operational systems and processes generally, may be susceptible to failure or breaches.

Such events could, among other things, harm Prudential’s ability to perform necessary business functions, result in the loss of confidential or proprietary data (exposing it to potential legal claims and regulatory sanctions) and damage its reputation and relationships with its business partners and customers. Similarly, any weakness in administration systems (such as those relating to policyholder records or meeting regulatory requirements) or actuarial reserving processes could have a material adverse effect on its results of operations during the effective period.

Attempts by third parties to disrupt Prudential’s IT systems could result in loss of trust from Prudential’s customers, reputational damage and financial loss

Being part of the financial services sector, Prudential and its business partners are increasingly exposed to the risk that third parties may attempt to disrupt the availability, confidentiality and integrity of its IT systems, which could result in disruption to the key operations, make it difficult to recover critical services, damage assets and compromise data (both corporate or customer). This could result in loss of trust from Prudential’s customers, reputational damage and financial loss. The cyber-security threat continues to evolve globally in sophistication and potential significance. As a result of Prudential’s increasing market profile, the growing interest by customers to interact with their insurance provider and asset manager through the internet and social media, improved brand awareness and the classification of Prudential as a G-SII, there is an increased likelihood of Prudential being considered a target by cyber criminals. Prudential has not identified a failure or breach which has had a material impact in relation to its legacy and other IT systems and processes to date. However, it has been, and likely will continue to be, subject to computer viruses, attempts at unauthorised access and cyber-security attacks such as ‘denial of service’ attacks (which, for example, can cause temporary disruption to websites and IT networks), phishing and disruptive software campaigns.

Prudential is continually enhancing its IT environment to remain secure against emerging threats, together with increasing its ability to detect system compromise and recover should such an incident occur. However, there can be no assurance that such events will not take place with adverse consequential effects on Prudential’s business and financial position.

Adverse experience relative to the assumptions used in pricing products and reporting business results could significantly affect Prudential’s results of operations

In common with other life insurers, the profitability of the Group’s businesses depends on a mix of factors including mortality and morbidity levels and trends, policy surrenders and take-up rates on guarantee features of products, investment performance and impairments, unit cost of administration and new business acquisition expenses.

Prudential needs to make assumptions about a number of factors in determining the pricing of its products, for setting reserves, and for reporting its capital levels and the results of its long-term business operations. For example, the assumption that Prudential makes about future expected levels of mortality is particularly relevant for its UK annuity business, where payments are guaranteed for at least as long as the policyholder is alive. Prudential conducts rigorous research into longevity risk, using industry data as well as its own substantial annuitant experience. As part of its pension annuity pricing and reserving policy, Prudential’s UK business assumes that current rates of mortality continuously improve over time at levels based on adjusted data and

 

11


Table of Contents

informed by models from the Continuous Mortality Investigation (CMI) as published by the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries. Assumptions about future expected levels of mortality are also of relevance to the Guaranteed Minimum Withdrawal Benefit (GMWB) of Jackson’s variable annuity business. If mortality improvement rates significantly exceed the improvement assumed, Prudential’s results of operations could be adversely affected.

A further factor is the assumption that Prudential makes about future expected levels of the rates of early termination of products by its customers (known as persistency). This is particularly relevant to its lines of business other than its UK annuity business, especially Jackson’s portfolio of traditional and variable annuities. Prudential’s persistency assumptions reflect recent past experience for each relevant line of business. Any expected change in future persistency is also reflected in the assumption. If actual levels of future persistency are significantly different than assumed, the Group’s results of operations could be adversely affected. Furthermore, Jackson’s variable annuity products are sensitive to other types of policyholder behaviour, such as the take-up of its GMWB product features.

Another example is the impact of epidemics and other effects that give rise to a large number of deaths or additional sickness claims. Significant influenza epidemics have occurred a number of times over the past century but the likelihood, timing, or the severity of future epidemics cannot be predicted. The effectiveness of external parties, including governmental and non-governmental organisations, in combating the spread and severity of any epidemics could have a material impact on the Group’s loss experience.

As a holding company, Prudential is dependent upon its subsidiaries to cover operating expenses and dividend payments

The Group’s insurance and investment management operations are generally conducted through direct and indirect subsidiaries.

As a holding company, Prudential’s principal sources of funds are remittances from subsidiaries, shareholder-backed funds, the shareholder transfer from long-term funds and any amounts that may be raised through the issuance of equity, debt and commercial paper.

Certain of Prudential’s subsidiaries are restricted by applicable insurance, foreign exchange and tax laws, rules and regulations that can limit remittances. In some circumstances, this could limit Prudential’s ability to pay dividends to shareholders or to make available funds held in certain subsidiaries to cover operating expenses of other members of the Group.

Prudential operates in a number of markets through joint ventures and other arrangements with third parties (including in China and India), involving certain risks that Prudential does not face with respect to its consolidated subsidiaries

Prudential operates, and in certain markets is required by local regulation to operate, through joint ventures (including in China and India). For the Group’s joint venture operations, management control is exercised jointly with the venture participants. The level of control exercisable by the Group depends on the terms of the joint venture agreements, in particular, the allocation of control among, and continued co-operation between, the joint venture participants. Prudential may face financial, reputational and other exposure (including regulatory censure) in the event that any of its joint venture partners fails to meet its obligations under the joint venture, encounters financial difficulty, or fails to comply with local or international regulation and standards such as those pertaining to the prevention of financial crime. In addition, a significant proportion of the Group’s product distribution is carried out through arrangements with third parties not controlled by Prudential and is dependent upon continuation of these relationships. A temporary or permanent disruption to these distribution arrangements, such as through significant deterioration in the reputation, financial position or other circumstances of the third party or material failure in controls (such as those pertaining to the prevention of financial crime) could adversely affect the results of operations of Prudential.

Prudential’s Articles of Association contain an exclusive jurisdiction provision

Under Prudential’s Articles of Association, certain legal proceedings may only be brought in the courts of England and Wales. This applies to legal proceedings by a shareholder (in its capacity as such) against Prudential and/or

 

12


Table of Contents

its directors and/or its professional service providers. It also applies to legal proceedings between Prudential and its directors and/or Prudential and Prudential’s professional service providers that arise in connection with legal proceedings between the shareholder and such professional service provider. This provision could make it difficult for US and other non-UK shareholders to enforce their shareholder rights.

Changes in tax legislation may result in adverse tax consequences

Tax rules, including those relating to the insurance industry, and their interpretation may change, possibly with retrospective effect, in any of the jurisdictions in which Prudential operates. Significant tax disputes with tax authorities, and any change in the tax status of any member of the Group or in taxation legislation or its scope or interpretation could affect Prudential’s financial condition and results of operations.

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, 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; the impact of continuing designation as a Global Systemically Important Insurer or ‘G-SII’; the impact of competition, economic uncertainty, inflation, and deflation; the effect on Prudential’s business and results from, in particular, 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 of this annual report, as well as under the ‘Risk Factors’ heading of any subsequent Prudential Half Year Financial Report furnished to the US Securities and Exchange Commission on Form 6-K.

Prudential may also make or disclose written and/or oral forward-looking statements in reports filed with or furnished to the US Securities and Exchange Commission, the UK Prudential Regulation Authority and Financial Conduct Authority or other regulatory authorities, as well as in its annual report and accounts to shareholders, proxy statements, offering circulars, registration statements, prospectuses and, prospectus supplements, press releases and other written materials and in oral statements made by directors, officers or employees of Prudential to third parties, including financial analysts. All such forward-looking statements are qualified in their entirety by reference to the factors discussed under the ‘Risk Factors’ heading of this document, as well as under the ‘Risk Factors’ heading of any subsequent Prudential Half Year Financial Report furnished to the US Securities and Exchange Commission on Form 6-K. These factors are not exhaustive as Prudential operates in a continually changing business environment with new risks emerging from time to time that it may be unable to predict or that it currently does not expect to have a material adverse effect on its business. 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.

 

13


Table of Contents

EEV Basis, New Business Results and Free Surplus Generation

In addition to IFRS basis results, Prudential’s filings with the UK Listing Authority, the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong, the Singapore Stock Exchange and Group Annual Reports include reporting by Key Performance Indicators (‘KPIs’). These include results prepared in accordance with the European Embedded Value (‘EEV’) Principles and Guidance issued by the Chief Financial Officers’ (‘CFO’) Forum of European Insurance Companies, New Business and Free Surplus Generation measures.

The EEV basis is a value-based method of reporting in that it reflects the change in the value of in-force long-term business over the accounting period. This value is called the shareholders’ funds on the EEV basis which, at a given point in time, is the value of future cash flows expected to arise from the current book of long-term insurance business plus the net worth (based on statutory solvency capital or economic capital where higher and free surplus) of Prudential’s life insurance operations. Prudential publishes its EEV results semi-annually in the UK, Hong Kong and Singapore markets.

New Business results are published quarterly and are provided as an indicative volume measure of transactions undertaken in the reporting period that have the potential to generate profits for shareholders. New business results are categorised as single premiums and annual regular premiums. New business results are also summarised by annual premium equivalents (APE) which are calculated as the aggregate of regular new business amounts and one-tenth of single new business amounts. The amounts are not, and are not intended to be, reflective of premium income recorded in the IFRS income statement. EEV basis new business profits and margins are also published quarterly.

Underlying free surplus generation is used to measure the internal cash generation by our business units. For the insurance operations it represents amounts maturing from the in-force business during the period less investment in new business and excludes other non-operating items. For asset management it equates to post-tax IFRS operating profit based on longer-term investment returns for the period.

 

14


Table of Contents

Item 4. Information on the Company

Business of Prudential

Overview and Summary of Strategy

Overview

Background

Prudential is the parent company of the Prudential group (the ‘Prudential Group’ or the ‘Group’). The Group is an international financial services group, with significant operations in Asia, the United States and the United Kingdom. It has been in existence for more than 167 years, serving circa 24 million insurance customers and with £509 billion in assets under management (as at 31 December 2015). Prudential is not affiliated with Prudential Financial, Inc. or its subsidiary, The Prudential Insurance Company of America.

Prudential is structured around four main business units: Prudential Corporation Asia (incorporating the asset management business, Eastspring Investments), Jackson, Prudential UK and Europe insurance operations and M&G (the UK and European fund manager of the Group). These are supported by central functions which are responsible for Prudential strategy, cash and capital management, leadership development and succession, reputation management and other core group functions.

Asia

Prudential Corporation Asia has operations in Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia and other Asian countries. Its core business is health, protection, either attached to a life policy or on a standalone basis, other life insurance (including participating business) and mutual funds. It also provides selected personal lines property and casualty insurance, group insurance, institutional fund management and consumer finance (Vietnam only). The product range offered is tailored to suit the individual country markets. Insurance products are distributed mainly through an agency sales force together with selected banks, while the majority of mutual funds are sold through banks and brokers. Joint venture partners are mandatory in some markets, as reflected in Prudential’s life insurance operations in China (through its joint venture with CITIC) and in India (through its joint venture with ICICI Bank) and Prudential’s Takaful business in Malaysia (through its joint venture with Bank Simpanan Nasional). In the fund management business, Prudential has joint venture operations in India (through its joint venture with ICICI Bank), China (through its joint venture with CITIC) and Hong Kong (through its joint venture with Bank of China International).

As at 31 December 2015, Prudential Corporation Asia had:

 

  over 14 million life insurance customers with life and fund management operations in 14 markets;
  distribution through over 10,000 active bank branches across Asia with relationships including Standard Chartered Bank (SCB), United Overseas Bank Limited (UOB), joint venture partners ICICI Bank in India and CITIC in China and Thanachart (Thailand);
  one of the largest networks of tied agents in Asia;
  consistently high brand recognition, outperforming many other financial services companies and had received multiple awards for its customer service; and
  a top 3 position in 9 out of the 12 life markets.(1)

United States

In the United States, Prudential offers a range of products through Jackson, including fixed annuities (fixed interest rate annuities, fixed index annuities and immediate annuities), variable annuities and institutional products (including guaranteed investment contracts and funding agreements). Jackson distributes these products through

 

(1)  Prudential’s rank in insurance market by new business APE. Based on formal (competitors results releases, local regulators, insurance associations) and informal (industry exchange) market share data.

 

15


Table of Contents

independent insurance agents, independent broker-dealers, regional broker-dealers, wirehouses, banks, credit unions and other financial institutions. Although Jackson historically also offered traditional life insurance products, it discontinued new sales of life insurance products in 2012.

As at 31 December 2015, in the United States, Jackson:

 

  was among the 15 largest life insurance companies in terms of general account assets(2);
  was the number one writer of variable annuities in the US(3);
  was once again awarded the ‘Highest Customer Satisfaction by Industry’ award—for the tenth successive year—from Service Quality Measurement Group; and
  was once again rated as a ‘World Class’ service provider—for the tenth successive year—by Service Quality Measurement Group.

 

United Kingdom

In the United Kingdom, Prudential is structured into Prudential UK & Europe (providing insurance and investment products) and M&G (the UK and European fund manager of the Group) and offers a range of retail financial products and services, including long-term insurance and asset accumulation and retirement income products (life insurance, pensions and pension annuities), retail investment and unit trust products, and fund management services. Prudential in the United Kingdom primarily distributes these products through financial advisers, partnership agreements with other financial institutions, and direct marketing, by telephone, mail, internet and face-to-face advisers.

As at 31 December 2015, Prudential UK & Europe:

 

  was one of the market leaders in the retirement income and the with-profits market(4) and
  had total company assets of £175 billion on the balance sheet, comprising £104 billion within the with-profits sub-fund, £65 billion within shareholder-backed business and £6 billion in the Scottish Amicable Insurance Fund.

As at 31 December 2015, M&G:

 

  had responsibility for £246 billion of investment on behalf of both internal and external clients; and
  has been recognised for its investment expertise with awards across nearly all its asset categories in 2015, including Investment Manager of the Year at the European Pension Awards.

Group Strategy Overview

Our clear and consistent strategy utilises our capabilities, footprint and scale to serve the global savings of our customers and protection needs of an increasingly self-reliant Asian middle class to create long term value for our customer and our shareholders.

 

(2)  Source: Fourth Quarter 2015 SNL Financial
(3)  Source: Morningstar Annuity Research Center (MARC) Fourth Quarter 2015 Sales Report©. © Morningstar, Inc. All Rights Reserved. The information contained herein: (1) is proprietary to Morningstar and/or its content providers; (2) may not be copied or distributed; and (3) is not warranted to be accurate, complete or timely. Neither Morningstar nor its content providers are responsible for any damages or losses arising from any use of this information. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.
(4)  Source: Association of British Insurers (ABI)

 

16


Table of Contents

We focus on three markets: Asia, the US and the UK where we see continued growing demand for our products:

 

  In Asia there is a growing and increasingly affluent middle class which by 2020 is forecast to become 1.9 billion people and represent over half of the global middle class. This group is increasingly wealthy but largely uninsured and have significant and growing savings, accumulation, health and protection needs.
  The US ‘baby boomer’ generation is the wealthiest demographic in the global economy. Over the next 20 years they will be retiring at a rate of 10,000 per day, creating significant demand for solutions to best help retirees with their retirement challenges.
  The UK has an ageing population which remains under-saved for the long-term. This will drive increasing demand for savings products and retirement income solutions which will provide opportunities for both life insurers and asset management.

To capture these opportunities we:

 

Focus on customers & distribution    Leverage strength & scale and proactively
manage risk

Our customers are at the heart of the decisions we make. We focus on understanding our customers’ needs and requirements in each of our chosen markets as we believe that in order to do well for our shareholders we must first serve our customers.

 

We consistently develop our product portfolio, designing it around our customers’ needs and providing them with peace of mind, whether that be in relation to saving for retirement or insuring against the risks of illness, death or critical life events. Satisfied customers become our advocates, recommending our products and services to their friends and families.

 

Distribution plays a key role in our ability to reach, attract and retain these valued customers across our regions. Building out and diversifying our distribution capabilities helps ensure that we fully capitalise on the opportunities available to us in each of our regions.

  

Balance sheet strength and proactive risk management enable us to make good our promises to customers and are therefore key drivers of long-term value creation and relative performance. In spite of the challenging macroeconomic environment we continue to strengthen our capital position through generation of organic earnings and specific management actions, which since 2010 include:

 

•    Controlling sales of US variable annuities in a manner which appropriately balances value, volume, capital generation and balance sheet risk.

 

•    Longevity reinsurance and asset portfolio optimisation in our UK life businesses.

Allocate capital with discipline, focussing on
long-term returns
   Provide balanced metrics & disclosures
We rigorously allocate capital to the highest-return products and geographical locations with the shortest payback periods, in line with our risk appetite. This has had a positive and significant impact on our capital generative growing in-force portfolio and, in turn, has transformed the capital dynamics of our Group. This transformation enabled our business operations to remit £1,625 million to the Group in 2015, compared to £1,105 million in 2011.   

We aim to have clarity and consistency internally and externally in the performance indicators that drive our businesses. Alongside this we develop our financial disclosures to enable our stakeholders to fairly assess our long-term performance. We have three main objectives:

 

•    to demonstrate how we generate profits under the different accounting regimes;

 

•    to show how we think about capital allocation via measures that highlight the returns we generate on capital invested in new business; and

 

•    to highlight the cash generation of our business, which over time is the ultimate measure of performance.

 

17


Table of Contents

Company Address and Agent

Prudential plc is a public limited company incorporated on 1 November 1978 and registered in England and Wales. Refer to Item 10, ‘Additional information—Memorandum and Articles of Association’ for further information on the constitution of the Company.

Prudential’s registered office is Laurence Pountney Hill, London EC4R 0HH, England (telephone: +44 20 7220 7588). Prudential’s agent in the United States for purposes of Item 4 of this annual report on Form 20-F is Jackson National Life Insurance Company, located at 1 Corporate Way, Lansing, Michigan 48951, United States of America.

Significant Subsidiaries

The table below sets forth Prudential’s significant subsidiaries.

 

      Main activity      Country of incorporation  

The Prudential Assurance Company Limited

     Insurance         England and Wales   

Prudential Retirement Income Limited (PRIL)*

     Insurance         Scotland   

M&G Investment Management Limited*

     Asset management         England and Wales   

Jackson National Life Insurance Company*

     Insurance         US   

Prudential Assurance Company Singapore (Pte) Limited*

     Insurance         Singapore   

PT Prudential Life Assurance*

     Insurance         Indonesia   

Prudential Hong Kong Limited*

     Insurance         Hong Kong   
* Owned by a subsidiary undertaking of the Company.

The Company has 100 per cent of the voting rights of the subsidiaries except the Indonesian subsidiary, where the Company has 94.6 per cent of the voting rights attaching to the aggregate of the shares across the types of capital in issue. The percentage of equity owned is the same as the percentage of the voting power held.

Each subsidiary operates mainly in its country of incorporation, except for PRIL, which operates mainly in England and Wales.

 

18


Table of Contents

Asian Business

Life Insurance

Introduction

Prudential has built a well-diversified Asian platform that matches our distribution and product strengths to each market’s long-term opportunities in the life sector and maximises our asset gathering capabilities in the region’s investment management industry.

Asia’s economic transformation continues to generate material increases in personal wealth and drives significant demand for solutions to individuals’ financial planning needs. During 2015, macro-economic and geopolitical turbulence continued to create some challenges but the long-term potential remains compelling.

The degree of state-sponsored financial provision for healthcare and other social services varies by market, but is typically very basic and it is widely appreciated that the private sector has a very important complementary role. Protection gaps remain high and the regulators have tasked the industry with improving levels of financial literacy and addressing this issue. Consequently, the regulations governing the industry continue to evolve in largely positive ways with good outcomes for customers and shareholders.

There is a healthy competitive environment with a good mix of domestic, regional and international companies operating in the markets. However, barriers to entry remain high in terms of the availability of new licences, the need for a significant capital investment and the challenges in building distribution scale and quality.

Given the low penetration rates of insurance and investment products we see considerable growth opportunities over the long term.

Asia (excluding Japan) is leading the world in terms of GDP growth. In the period 2014 to 2020, it is expected to generate around US$7.0 trillion(5) of new GDP, more than the US and the other advanced economies combined.

Economic growth is contributing to the rapid increase of the Asian middle class. Between 2010 and 2020 it is estimated that there will be over 700 million people who will have risen from rural subsistence to middle-class lifestyles. Families are getting smaller, life expectancies are lengthening and the incidence of chronic diseases is increasing significantly.

As people move into the middle class, their increased wealth and higher income give them the opportunity to make financial plans for the first time. Typically the priority is to provide protection for their families and establish a regular savings plan through a life insurance policy.

Social welfare provisions vary by market in Asia but generally fall well below the levels people need to sustain their families’ lifestyle in the event of a personal tragedy such as the diagnosis of a critical illness. Also, while basic medical services may be provided by the state, there can be a high level of out-of-pocket expenses, creating demand for financial solutions to significantly improve an individual’s experience through access to private medical services. Therefore, critical illness and medical riders are popular additions to life insurance policies.

Traditionally, Asians would have relied on their children to provide for them in their retirement but with family sizes decreasing people are increasingly making their own financial provisions and life insurance policies are a popular part of a retirement plan.

Once the savings and protection solutions are in place there is the opportunity to invest. Single premium insurance policies are also important in more developed markets and it is likely that customers will increasingly seek access to different asset classes through mutual funds as their wealth grows and financial needs become more sophisticated.

 

(5)  Prudential estimates based on IMF data – October 2013

 

19


Table of Contents

Although Prudential has been operating in Asia for over ninety years we began building our business in earnest in 1994 with the establishment of Prudential Corporation Asia (PCA). Since then PCA has entered new markets, added considerable agency scale and launched bank distribution, developed product capabilities—particularly unit-linked with protection—and built a customer-centric brand anchored on the tag line ‘Always Listening, Always Understanding’.

Today PCA is focused on leveraging this platform to grow in a disciplined way for the benefit of our customers, shareholders and communities. Success is defined by metrics that ensure we deliver both volume, value and good service.

Each market is unique and our overarching regional strategy is very specifically tailored to the opportunities that reflect the many differences in each country including its stage of economic development, cultural preferences, regulation, the competitive landscape and our own risk appetite.

Prudential in Asia has over 14 million life insurance customers and over 22 million in-force policies. We actively monitor customer satisfaction levels across multiple indicators but key statistics are the numbers of customers who keep their policies, (our retention rate is over 90 per cent) and the number of customers who buy more policies from us (in 2015 a significant portion of sales were from existing customers) reflecting the success of our advice-driven approach and that customers appreciate the value of the products we provide.

Innovations in service are also important to customer satisfaction. Some are technology based such as e-submissions (up 35 per cent in 2015) and automated underwriting, but a key component is also innovation with the ‘human touch’ such as Singapore’s PRUhealthcare assist.

Prudential is a committed member of the communities where we operate and through the Prudence Foundation, we drive social responsibility activities, with a focus on providing disaster relief, promoting financial literacy and children’s education.

During 2015, Prudential extended its highly successful children’s financial literacy programme, ‘Cha-Ching’ and recently launched the second stage of the SafeSteps programme focusing on road safety with ambassador Michelle Yeoh.

Distribution

Prudential in Asia is well positioned in terms of its scale and diversity of distribution. Over 500,000 agents produce the majority of the sales with the remainder mainly coming from bancassurance that includes exclusive agreements with Standard Chartered Bank, UOB and Thanachart. At the core of our distribution model is face-to-face interaction with customers that delivers high quality, needs-based advice.

Despite our strong progress over the last decade, insurance penetration in the markets in which we operate remains low and the demand for savings, health and protection products from a growing middle class continues to be high. Our scale and scope in the region, combined with proven operational expertise, enables us to execute precisely on strategic growth opportunities, invest in building the business through the economic cycle and remain flexible to resist market pressure for products we consider to be less attractive. This approach will, from time to time, lead to fluctuations in sales at a country level but allows us to conserve value without compromising the overall regional delivery.

In 2015 our sales performance continued to benefit from our broad-based multi-channel distribution platform, new product launches and continued actions to improve both distribution scale and productivity. Agency sales were strong across the region, reflecting continued investment in agency manpower and an improvement in average agent productivity. Our core bank partnerships continue to make good progress, led primarily by those with Standard Chartered Bank.

Products

The life insurance products offered by Prudential in Asia include with-profits (participating) and non-participating term, whole life and endowment and unit-linked policies often combined with protection riders and typically with regular premium payments. Prudential in Asia also offers stand-alone health, disablement, critical illness and accident cover to supplement its core life products.

 

20


Table of Contents

It is part of our strategy to focus on regular premium products which allow our customers to invest over the long term and smooth the impact of timing on their investment returns. We aim to make most of our sales as regular premiums and the proportion of regular premium has been consistently high, which ensures the profitability and resilience of our growing in-force book. Although single premium products can provide appropriate opportunities for customers with lump sums, we believe that regular premium policies with protection riders best meet the majority of our customers’ needs.

Unit-linked products combine savings with protection, with the cash value of the policy depending on the value of the underlying unitised funds. Since the end of 2014, Prudential is offering unit-linked products in all markets except Cambodia. However, given the recent volatility in the financial markets, we have seen a shift towards non-linked products. With unit-linked products, shareholders receive the profits arising from managing the policy, its investments and the insurance risk. Policyholders within the underlying unitised fund receive investment gains.

Participating products provide savings with protection where the basic sum assured can be enhanced by a profit share (or bonus) from the underlying fund as determined at the discretion of the insurer. Policyholder and insurer share the profits from participating policies.

Non-participating products offer savings with protection where the benefits are guaranteed or determined by a set of defined market-related parameters. Accident and health products provide mortality or morbidity benefits and include health, disablement, critical illness and accident cover. These products are commonly offered as supplements to main life policies, but can also be sold separately. The profits from accident and health and non-participating products come from any surplus remaining after paying policy benefits.

In Malaysia and Indonesia, Prudential also offers life insurance policies that comply with Islamic principles known as Takaful. The main principles are that policyholders co-operate amongst themselves for the common good, uncertainty is eliminated in respect of subscription and compensation and there is no investment in prohibited areas such as gambling or alcohol.

Our product portfolio is tailored to suit the savings and protection needs of customers in each market.

For example in markets such as Indonesia and Malaysia there is a high demand for regular premium unit-linked

policies that provide coverage for hospital and surgical and critical illnesses combined with savings for items such as children’s education. In Hong Kong there is high demand for participating products where the smoothed investment returns are particularly appealing as part of a broader financial plan.

New Business Premiums

In 2015, total sales of insurance products were £4,761 million, up 11 per cent from 2014 (£4,282 million). Of this amount, regular premium insurance sales increased 31 per cent to £2,641 million and single premium insurance sales decreased 7 per cent to £2,120 million.

 

21


Table of Contents

The following table shows Prudential’s Asian life insurance new business premiums by territory for the periods indicated.

 

     Actual Exchange Rate*  
Single premiums    2015 £m      2014 £m      2013 £m  
Hong Kong      546         419         326   
Indonesia      230         280         303   
Malaysia      100         117         114   
Philippines      146         121         193   
Singapore      454         677         571   
Thailand      69         92         66   

Vietnam

     6         4         2   
South East Asia operations including Hong Kong      1,551         1,710         1,575   
China (Prudential’s 50% interest in joint venture with CITIC)      308         239         114   
Korea      182         212         311   
Taiwan      45         83         102   

India (Prudential’s 26% interest in joint venture with ICICI Bank)

     34         28         34   

Total

     2,120         2,272         2,136   
Regular premiums    2015 £m      2014 £m      2013 £m  
Cambodia      8         3         1   
Hong Kong      1,158         603         455   
Indonesia      303         357         445   
Malaysia      201         189         197   
Philippines      44         39         34   
Singapore      264         289         304   
Thailand      88         74         61   

Vietnam

     82         61         54   
South East Asia operations including Hong Kong      2,148         1,615         1,551   
China (Prudential’s 50% interest in joint venture with CITIC)      111         81         71   
Korea      123         92         82   
Taiwan      127         116         107   

India (Prudential’s 26% interest in joint venture with ICICI Bank)

     132         106         100   

Total

     2,641         2,010         1,911   
      2015 £m      2014 £m      2013 £m  

Total

     4,761         4,282         4,047   
* Actual Exchange Rate (AER) for translating new business premiums are actual historical exchange rates for the specific accounting period, being the average rates over the accounting period shown.

Reserving

The overarching principles for measuring IFRS liabilities under the Group’s accounting policies stem from the broad requirements of the ABI statement of Recommended Practice which underpinned the predecessor accounting to IFRS, the Modified Statutory Basis, which codified the UK application of the Insurance Accounts Directive.

The policyholder liabilities for businesses in Asia are determined in accordance with methods prescribed by local GAAP adjusted to comply, where necessary, with the Modified Statutory Basis. A gross premium valuation method is used in those countries where a risk-based capital framework is adopted for local solvency. For operations in India, Taiwan and, up to 2015, Japan, the local GAAP is not appropriate as a starting point in the context of the Modified Statutory Basis and instead, the accounting for insurance contracts is based on US GAAP. Further information is given in Item 18 (Note C.4.2).

Eastspring Investments

Eastspring Investments, Prudential’s asset management business in Asia, manages investments for Prudential’s Asia, UK and US life companies and also has a broad base of third-party retail and institutional clients.

 

22


Table of Contents

The asset mix is well balanced with 50 per cent equities, 43 per cent fixed income and 7 per cent money market. Around 54 per cent of funds have outperformed their benchmarks over a three year period. Eastspring has been building expertise in infrastructure, negotiated credit and quantitative investment capabilities.

Distribution

In order to capitalise on the sizeable opportunities in Asia’s retail financial services market, Eastspring Investments maintained its focus on building a strong third-party customer retail franchise. The customer proposition is driven by Eastspring Investments’ investment capabilities, which enable it to develop innovative product suites, and distribute them through diverse channels including regional banks, local banks, private banks, and securities houses and an internal sales force.

The mutual fund industry continues to diversify its investments, with expectations for increasing volumes of net flows over the coming years. Bank distribution continues to be important in most markets in Asia, with Prudential having established strong relationships with both regional and local banks and placing significant emphasis on providing good service. Prudential’s Asian asset management business is also growing its third party institutional and pension fund management business.

Products

Eastspring Investments offers mutual fund investment products primarily in India, Taiwan, Japan, Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Korea, Vietnam, China and Indonesia, thus enabling customers to participate in debt, equity and money market investments across the region.

Net flows and funds under management

Eastspring Investments levies management fees on assets under management and in some countries transaction charges (initial and/or surrender depending on the type of fund and the length of the investment) and also a service charge based on assets under management. The charges vary by country and fund, with money market style funds generally having the lowest charges and equity funds the highest. Eastspring Investments also levies performance related fees on certain funds, particularly institutional mandates and life funds, if the investment performance exceeds the pre-agreed benchmark(s).

Despite significant volatility in capital markets, Eastspring Investments, our Asia asset management business, delivered strong results in 2015 with record third-party net inflows of £6.0 billion, up 11 per cent on 2014. The businesses benefited from robust inflows into equity funds, including Asian equity funds in Japan, strong investment performance in Korea and India driving excellent domestic flows and healthy net inflows into bond funds from our joint ventures in China and India. Total funds under management at 31 December 2015 were a record £89.1 billion, up 16 per cent on the prior year as a result of net inflows from both our third party and our life businesses.

The following table shows funds managed by Eastspring Investments at the dates indicated.

 

     At 31 December £bn  
      2015      2014      2013  

Internal fund management

     52.8         47.2         37.7   

External fund management

     36.3         30.1         22.2   

Total

     89.1         77.3         59.9   

 

23


Table of Contents

US Business

Prudential conducts its US insurance operations through Jackson National Life Insurance Company (‘Jackson’) and its subsidiaries. The US operations also include PPM Holdings, Inc. (‘PPM’), Prudential’s US internal and institutional investment management operation, and National Planning Holdings, Inc. (‘NPH’), Prudential’s US affiliated independent broker dealer network. As at 31 December 2015, Prudential’s US operations had more than 4.1 million policies and contracts in effect and PPM managed approximately £71.8 billion of assets. In 2015, new business premiums totalled £17,286 million.

Jackson’s subsidiaries at 31 December 2015 included Curian Capital, LLC, a registered investment advisor. In 2015, Jackson announced that Curian would no longer accept new business effective from 31 July 2015. Curian continues to actively manage existing accounts into 2016 to allow for the transition of accounts, but will have substantially exited the business by the end of the first quarter of 2016.

Jackson

Jackson is a leading provider of retirement income and savings solutions in the mass and mass-affluent segments of the US market, primarily to retirees and those planning for retirement. It offers products that help people plan for their retirement, and offers products with specialised features and guarantees to meet customers’ needs. By seeking to add value to both the representatives who sell Jackson products, and to their customers, Jackson has built a strong position in the US retirement savings and income market with an over four-fold increase in variable annuity sales over the past decade. Over the same period, Jackson improved its total annuity market share from 3.4 per cent in 2005 to 10.4 per cent in 2015 and moved from 12th in total annuity sales to 1st(6).

Prudential’s strategy in the US is well established and continues to focus on:

 

  Capitalising on ‘baby boomer’ retirement opportunities
  Maintaining a balanced product suite throughout the economic cycle
  Streamlining operating platforms, driving further operational efficiencies
  Conservative, economic based approach to pricing and risk management

Jackson’s long-term strategy is focused on profitable growth opportunities created by the demand for retirement income and accumulation products in the world’s largest retirement market. We take a disciplined approach by leveraging our distinctive distribution capabilities and asset liability management expertise to offer prudently-priced annuity products aligned with our risk appetite. There continues to be strong consumer demand for our products. We continue to respond to this demand with product innovation and distribution strategies that meet the needs of a growing retirement population while generating shareholder value. With a long-term focus on balancing the needs of multiple stakeholders, Jackson has forged a solid reputation and built strong relationships based upon its financial stability, innovative and creative products and market-leading advisor support.

Our relentless pursuit of excellence has earned us a leading position in the industry.

In 2015, we continued to see significant changes across the competitive landscape. Sales in the annuity industry were marginally down comparing the first nine months of 2015 (latest available data) to the same period in 2014, and total industry variable annuity sales were also slightly down. These results partially reflect the headwinds the industry faced in 2015 including market volatility and unknown regulatory outcomes.

Competitors continued to make product changes across many segments and we noted competitors evolving across product categories. In 2015, we saw more competitors join the fixed index annuities space. In many cases they offered living benefits on their products in an attempt to compete with variable annuities. In addition, some insurers have made changes to the fund platforms within their variable annuity products, requiring managed volatility funds with a living benefit guarantee which purportedly protect annuity customers from downside market risks. There are now seventeen Investment Only Variable Annuity (IOVA) products that compete directly with Elite Access, our variable annuity product with no guarantee benefits. The majority of those competitors have added guaranteed benefits to the IOVA products. Elite Access still commands a significant market share with strong sales in 2015.

 

(6)  Source: Fourth Quarter 2015 Life Insurance and Market Research Association.

 

24


Table of Contents

Despite positive demographic trends and the needs of retirees, these competitive activities, market volatility and regulatory headwinds have impacted the industry and further market share adjustments have resulted as customers and distributors seek insurers like Jackson that offer consistency, stability and financial strength.

In addition to the uneven economic conditions in 2015, the insurance industry continues to deal with an evolving regulatory landscape and a multitude of initiatives. Many of these initiatives began in response to the financial crisis over eight years ago and were focused on the broader financial services industry. Within the insurance industry, we continue to see changes in supervisory structures, new global group supervision and capital standards and a focus on the reduction of ‘systemic risk’.

More recently, the US Department of Labor (DOL) issued a series of new rules and amendments introducing new fiduciary obligations for distributors of investment products to holders of certain retirement/qualified retirement accounts. The industry is now dealing with a regulatory initiative that will significantly impact the delivery of advice to our customers. Prior to the rules being finalised, as a leader in the industry, we spent many hours with a wide variety of stakeholders to highlight the issues and to ensure that lawmakers and regulators understood the impact of what was proposed and the consequences it may have on various segments of the retirement market. With the rules only recently finalised, it will take some time to form a view on the impact of the new DOL rules to Jackson’s business.

Jackson has a good track record of navigating and, at times, benefiting from changes in the regulatory environment. This remains our mindset as we work to meet the needs of all of our stakeholders.

We support our industry-leading product development and distribution teams with award-winning customer service. Jackson was awarded by Service Quality Measurement Group, Inc. ‘World Class Certification’ in customer satisfaction and received the ‘Highest Customer Satisfaction by Industry’ award, achieving the top rating for the financial industry, for the tenth consecutive year.

High-quality information technology systems are critical for providing award-winning customer service. We leverage technology to enhance processing quality and reduce the time required to process new business and commissions. The flexibility of our information technology systems contributes to our ability to manufacture, distribute and service an unbundled product design unique to the industry. The focus on our operational platforms, and the efficiencies achieved as a result, has provided us with among the lowest general and administration expense to asset ratio relative to competitors.

Jackson operates within a well-defined risk framework aligned with the overall Prudential Group risk appetite. The type and number of products we sell remains balanced. Our conservative and disciplined economic approach to pricing is designed to achieve both adequate returns on our products and sufficient resources to support our hedging programme.

Our hedge philosophy has not changed in 2015. Jackson is able to aggregate financial risks across the company, obtain a unified view of our risk positions, and actively manage net risks through an economically-based hedging program. A key element of our core strategy is to protect the company from severe economic scenarios while maintaining adequate regulatory capital. We benefit from the fact that the competitive environment continues to favour companies with robust financial strength and a demonstrated track record of financial discipline, both key elements of our long-term strategy.

Products

Jackson develops and distributes products that address the retirement needs of our customers through various market cycles. These products include variable annuities, fixed annuities and fixed index annuities.

Among the main attractions of a variable annuity product are the optional lifetime guarantee whereby customers can access a stream of payments with downside protection, while still being able to invest in a broad range of assets, and the benefit of tax deferral on the investment growth within the product. The breadth of our product offering, strength of our distribution relationships, as well as our ability to maintain financial stability through the 2008 financial crisis and remain as a consistent presence within the market, has resulted in Jackson being the number one(7) writer of variable annuities in the US.

 

 

(7)  LIMRA/Secure Retirement Institute, U.S. Individual Annuities Sales Survey (Q4 2015). Jackson is ranked first in total Variable Annuities sales out of 44 participating companies in LIMRA’s quarterly survey as of 4Q YTD 2015.

 

25


Table of Contents

As of fourth quarter of 2015, Jackson offers three of the top ten best-selling variable annuity products across the industry(8). Additionally, Jackson’s success with the development, launch and execution of Elite Access demonstrates the depth and strength of our creative and distribution capabilities in the industry. We now command a leading position in a market we were not operating in prior to 2012. Elite Access is the third best-selling variable annuity product in the US(8).

The strength of our product development capabilities continues to support the diversification of our product mix with the sale of variable annuities with living benefit guarantees remaining in line with our risk appetite in 2015. As expected, in the current historically low interest rate environment, variable annuities continue to outsell fixed rate products. While sales of fixed annuities have been lower in recent years, fixed index annuities increased 15 per cent from 2014. These products still make up a significant portion of our balance sheet and earnings.

Jackson stopped selling traditional life insurance products in 2012; however, we continue to look for opportunistic ‘bolt on’ acquisitions to further diversify our earnings and balance sheet risks. In the past, these disciplined acquisitions have shaped Jackson’s earnings while helping to diversify Jackson’s overall risk profile.

We continue to proactively balance value, volume, capital and balance sheet strength across our suite of product offerings, which allows us to compete effectively throughout the economic cycle.

The following table shows total new business premiums in the United States by product line and distribution channel for the periods indicated. Total new business premiums include Jackson’s deposits for investment contracts with limited or no life contingencies.

 

    Actual Exchange Rate  
    Year Ended 31 December £m  
                         2015        2014        2013  

By Product

           

Annuities

           

Fixed annuities

           

Fixed interest rate

    462           512           533   

Fixed index

    458           370           907   

Immediate

    15           15           22   

Variable annuities

    11,977           10,899           10,795   

Elite Access (Variable annuities)

    3,144           3,108           2,585   

Total

    16,056           14,904           14,842   

Life insurance

               -           2   

Institutional products

           

GICs, funding agreements and Federal Home Loan Bank of Indianapolis (FHLBI) funding agreements

    1,230           651           868   

Total

    17,286           15,555           15,712   

By Distribution Channel

           

Independent broker dealer

    10,145           9,521           8,717   

Bank

    2,730           2,394           3,053   

Regional broker dealer

    2,634           2,477           2,527   

Independent insurance agents

    547           512           546   

Institutional products

    1,230           651           868   

Captive agents

    -           -           1   

Total

    17,286           15,555           15,712   

Of the total new business premiums of £17,286 million in 2015 (2014: £15,555 million; 2013: £15,712 million), £16,056 million (2014: £14,904 million; 2013: £14,842 million) were single premiums, nil (2014: nil; 2013: £2 million) were regular premiums and £1,230 million (2014: £651 million; 2013: £868 million) were institutional product premiums.

 

(8)  ©2016 Morningstar Inc. All Rights Reserved. The information contained herein: (1) is proprietary to Morningstar and/or its content providers: (2) may not be copied or distributed; and (3) is not warranted to be accurate, complete or timely. Neither Morningstar nor its content providers are responsible for any damages or losses arising from any use of this information. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Morningstar Annuity Research Center 4QYTD15 variable annuity sales by contract.

 

26


Table of Contents

Annuities

Fixed Annuities

Fixed Interest Rate Annuities

In 2015, fixed interest rate annuities accounted for 3 per cent (2014: 3 per cent) of total new business premiums and 9 per cent (2014: 9 per cent) of policy and contract liabilities of the US operations. Fixed interest rate annuities are primarily deferred annuity products that are used for asset accumulation in retirement planning and for providing income in retirement. They permit tax-deferred accumulation of funds and flexible payout options.

The contract holder of a fixed interest rate annuity pays Jackson a premium, which is credited to the contract holder’s account. Periodically, interest is credited to the contract holder’s account and in some cases administrative charges are deducted from the contract holder’s account. Jackson makes benefit payments at a future date as specified in the contract based on the value of the contract holder’s account at that date. On more than 93 per cent (2014: 93 per cent) of in-force business, Jackson may reset the interest rate on each contract anniversary, subject to a guaranteed minimum, in line with state regulations. When the annuity matures, Jackson either pays the contract holder the amount in the contract holder account or begins making payments to the contract holder in the form of an immediate annuity product. This latter product is similar to a UK annuity in payment.

At 31 December 2015, Jackson had fixed interest rate annuities totalling £12.1 billion (US$17.8 billion) (2014: £11.7 billion (US$18.3 billion)) in account value with minimum guaranteed rates ranging from 1.0 per cent to 5.5 per cent and a 3.00 per cent average guaranteed rate (2014: 1.0 per cent to 5.5 per cent and a 3.03 per cent average guaranteed rate).

Fixed interest rate annuities are subject to early surrender charges for the first six to nine years of the contract. In addition, the contract may be subject to a market value adjustment at the time of surrender. During the surrender charge period, the contract holder may cancel the contract for the surrender value. Jackson’s profits on fixed interest rate annuities arise primarily from the spread between the return it earns on investments and the interest credited to the contract holder’s account, less expenses. The fixed interest rate annuity portfolio could be impacted by the continued low interest rate environment as lower investment portfolio earned rates could result in reduced spread income. In addition, increased surrenders and lower sales could result if customers seek higher yielding alternative investment opportunities elsewhere.

Approximately 62 per cent (2014: 57 per cent) of the fixed interest rate annuities Jackson wrote in 2015 provide for a market value adjustment (‘MVA’) that could be positive or negative on surrenders in the surrender period of the policy. This formula-based adjustment approximates the change in value that assets supporting the product would realise as interest rates move up or down. The minimum guaranteed rate is not affected by this adjustment. While the MVA feature minimizes the surrender risk associated with certain fixed interest rate annuities, Jackson still bears a portion of the surrender risk on policies without this feature, and the investment risk on all fixed interest rate annuities.

Fixed Index Annuities

Fixed index annuities accounted for 3 per cent (2014: 2 per cent) of total new business premiums in 2015 and 6 per cent (2014: 6 per cent) of Jackson’s policy and contract liabilities. Fixed index annuities vary in structure, but generally are deferred annuities that enable the contract holder to obtain a portion of an equity-linked return (based on participation rates and caps) and provide a guaranteed minimum return. These guaranteed minimum rates are generally set at 1.0 per cent to 3.0 per cent on index funds. At 31 December 2015, Jackson had fixed index annuities allocated to index funds totalling £6.4 billion (US$9.5 billion) (2014: £6.3 billion (US$9.8 billion)) in account value with minimum guaranteed rates on index accounts ranging from 1.0 per cent to 3.0 per cent and a 1.79 per cent average guaranteed rate (2014: 1.0 per cent to 3.0 per cent and a 1.83 per cent average guaranteed rate). Jackson also offers fixed interest accounts on some fixed index annuity products. At 31 December 2015, fixed interest accounts on fixed index annuities totalled £1.9 billion (US$2.8 billion) (2014: £1.8 billion (US$2.8 billion)) in account value with minimum guaranteed rates ranging from 1.0 per cent to 3.0 per cent and a 2.52 per cent average guaranteed rate (2014: 1.0 per cent to 3.0 per cent and a 2.53 per cent average guaranteed rate).

 

27


Table of Contents

Jackson’s profit arises from the investment income earned and the fees charged on the contract, less the expenses incurred, which include the costs of hedging the equity component of the interest credited to the contract. Fixed index annuities are subject to early surrender charges for the first five to 12 years of the contract. During the surrender charge period, the contract holder may cancel the contract for the surrender value.

Jackson hedges the equity return risk on fixed index products using offsetting equity exposure in the variable annuity product. The cost of these hedges is taken into account in setting the index participation rates or caps. Jackson bears the investment risk and a portion of the surrender risk on these products.

Immediate Annuities

In 2015, immediate annuities accounted for less than one per cent (2014: less than one per cent) of total new business premiums and one per cent (2014: one per cent) of Jackson’s policy and contract liabilities. Immediate annuities guarantee a series of payments beginning within a year of purchase and continuing over either a fixed period of years and/or the life of the contract holder. If the term is for the life of the contract holder, then Jackson’s primary risks are mortality and reinvestment. This product is generally used to provide a guaranteed amount of income for contract holders and is used both in planning for retirement and in retirement itself. The implicit interest rate on these products is based on the market conditions that exist at the time the policy is issued and is guaranteed for the term of the annuity.

Variable Annuities

In 2015, variable annuities accounted for 87 per cent (2014: 90 per cent) of total new business premiums and 70 per cent (2014: 69 per cent) of Jackson’s policy and contract liabilities. Variable annuities are deferred annuities that have the same tax advantages and payout options as fixed interest rate and fixed index annuities. They are also used for asset accumulation in retirement planning and to provide income in retirement.

The contract holder can allocate the premiums between a variety of variable sub-accounts with a choice of fund managers and/or a guaranteed fixed interest rate option. The contract holder’s premiums allocated to the variable accounts are held apart from Jackson’s general account assets, in a separate account, which is analogous to a unit-linked fund. The value of the portion of the separate account allocated to variable sub-accounts fluctuates with the underlying investments. Variable annuities are subject to early surrender charges for the first four to nine years of the contract. During the surrender charge period, the contract holder may cancel the contract for the surrender value. Jackson offers one variable annuity that has no surrender charges.

At 31 December 2015, Jackson had variable annuity funds in fixed accounts totalling £5.5 billion (US$8.1 billion) (2014: £4.4 billion (US$6.8 billion)) with minimum guaranteed rates ranging from 1.0 per cent to 3.0 per cent and a 1.70 per cent average guaranteed rate (2014: 1.0 per cent to 3.0 per cent and a 1.81 per cent average guaranteed rate).

Jackson offers a choice of guaranteed benefit options within its variable annuity product portfolio, which customers can elect for additional fees. These guaranteed benefits might be expressed as the return of either a) total deposits made to the contract adjusted for any partial withdrawals, b) total deposits made to the contract adjusted for any partial withdrawals, plus a minimum return, or c) the highest contract value on a specified anniversary date adjusted for any withdrawals following that contract anniversary. These options include the guaranteed minimum death benefits (‘GMDB’), which guarantee that, upon death of the owner, the beneficiary receives at least the minimum value regardless of past market performance. In addition, there are three other types of guarantees: guaranteed minimum withdrawal benefits (‘GMWB’), guaranteed minimum accumulation benefits (‘GMAB’) and guaranteed minimum income benefits (‘GMIB’). GMWBs provide a guaranteed return of the minimum value by allowing for periodic withdrawals that are limited to a maximum percentage of the initial premium. One version of the GMWBs provides for a minimum annual withdrawal amount that is guaranteed for the contract holder’s life without annuitisation. GMABs generally provide a guarantee for a return of the defined minimum value after a specified period. Jackson no longer offers GMABs. GMIBs provide for a minimum level of benefits upon annuitisation regardless of the value of the investments underlying the contract at the time of annuitisation. Jackson no longer offers GMIBs, with existing coverage being substantially reinsured with an unaffiliated reinsurer.

As the investment return on the separate account assets is attributed directly to the contract holders, Jackson’s profit arises from the fees charged on the contracts, less the expenses incurred, which include the costs of

 

28


Table of Contents

hedging and eventual payment of any guaranteed benefits. In addition to being a profitable book of business, the variable annuity book also provides an opportunity to utilise the offsetting equity risk among various lines of business to effectively manage Jackson’s equity exposure. Jackson believes that the internal management of equity risk coupled with the utilisation of external derivative instruments where necessary, continues to provide a cost-effective method of managing equity exposure.

Profits in the variable annuity book of business will continue to be subject to the impact of market movements on both sales and allocations to the variable accounts and the effects of the economic hedging programme. Hedging is conducted based on an economic approach so the nature and duration of the hedging instruments, which are recorded at fair value through the income statement, will fluctuate and produce some accounting volatility.

Elite Access, launched in 2012, is a variable annuity without guarantees, offering customers tax deferred growth and access to a wide range of alternative investments, which were previously unavailable to retail investors. In less than four years after its launch, Elite Access is the third(8) best-selling variable annuity product in the US. As of fourth quarter 2015, Jackson offers three of the top ten best-selling variable annuity products in the industry.

The success of Elite Access has helped increase the diversification of Jackson’s product mix with a substantial portion of its 2015 variable annuities sales not featuring living benefit guarantees. As a percentage of total sales, variable annuities with living benefit guarantees were broadly in line with 2014.

Aggregate distribution of account values

The table below shows the distribution of account values for fixed annuities (fixed interest rate and fixed index) and variable annuities fixed options within the range of minimum guaranteed interest rates as described above as at 31 December 2015 and 2014:

 

    Account value £m  
Minimum guaranteed interest rates - annuities                       2015                         2014  

1.0%

    5,563        3,927   

> 1.0% - 2.0%

    7,670        7,887   

> 2.0% - 3.0%

    9,586        9,365   

> 3.0% - 4.0%

    1,263        1,239   

> 4.0% - 5.0%

    1,639        1,567   

> 5.0% - 5.5%

    212        207   

Total

    25,933        24,192   

Life Insurance

Background

Jackson discontinued new sales of life insurance products in 2012. Jackson’s life insurance products accounted for none of the total new business premiums in either 2015 or 2014 and 11 per cent (2014: 12 per cent) of Jackson’s policy and contract liabilities in 2015. Life products include term life and interest sensitive life (universal life and variable universal life.) Term life provides protection for a defined period and a benefit that is payable to a designated beneficiary upon death of the insured. Universal life provides permanent individual life insurance for the life of the insured and includes a savings element. Variable universal life is a type of life insurance policy that combines death benefit protection with the ability for the contract holder account to be invested in separate account funds. Jackson’s life insurance book has delivered consistent profitability, driven primarily by positive mortality and persistency experience. For certain fixed universal life plans, additional provisions are held to reflect the existence of guarantees offered in the past that are no longer supported by earnings on the existing asset portfolio, or for situations where future mortality charges are not expected to be sufficient to provide for future mortality costs.

 

(8)  ©2016 Morningstar Inc. All Rights Reserved. The information contained herein: (1) is proprietary to Morningstar and/or its content providers: (2) may not be copied or distributed; and (3) is not warranted to be accurate, complete or timely. Neither Morningstar nor its content providers are responsible for any damages or losses arising from any use of this information. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Morningstar Annuity Research Center 4QYTD15 variable annuity sales by contract.

 

29


Table of Contents

Aggregate distribution of account values

Excluding the business formally of the REALIC operations acquired in 2012 that is subject to the retrocession treaties, at 31 December 2015, Jackson had interest-sensitive life business in force with total account value of £6.1 billion (US$9.0 billion) (2014: £5.9 billion (US$9.3 billion)), with minimum guaranteed interest rates ranging from 2.5 per cent to 6.0 per cent with a 4.66 per cent average guaranteed rate (2014: 2.5 per cent to 6.0 per cent with a 4.65 per cent average guaranteed rate). The table below shows the distribution of the interest-sensitive life business’ account values within this range of minimum guaranteed interest rates as at 31 December 2015 and 2014:

 

    Account value £m  
Minimum guaranteed interest rates                       2015                         2014  

> 2.0% - 3.0%

    204        195   

> 3.0% - 4.0%

    2,322        2,265   

> 4.0% - 5.0%

    2,023        1,971   

> 5.0% - 6.0%

    1,574        1,514   

Total

    6,123        5,945   

Institutional Products

Institutional products consist of traditional guaranteed investment contracts (‘GICs’), funding agreements (including agreements issued in conjunction with Jackson’s participation in the US Federal Home Loan Bank of Indianapolis (‘FHLBI’) programme) and Medium-Term Note funding agreements. In 2015, institutional products accounted for 7 per cent (2014: 4 per cent) of total new business premiums and 3 per cent (2014: 3 per cent) of Jackson’s policy and contract liabilities. The GICs are marketed by Jackson’s institutional products department to defined contribution pension and profit sharing retirement plans. Funding agreements are marketed to institutional investors, including corporate cash accounts and securities lending funds, as well as money market funds, and are issued to the FHLBI in connection with its programme. Jackson makes its profit on the spread between the yield on its investments and the interest rate credited to contract holders.

Traditional Guaranteed Investment Contracts

Under a traditional GIC, the contract holder makes a lump sum deposit. Interest is paid on the deposited funds, usually on a quarterly basis. The interest rate paid is fixed and is established when the contract is issued.

Traditional GICs have a specified term, usually two to three years, and typically provide for phased payouts. Jackson tailors the scheduled payouts to meet the liquidity needs of the particular retirement plan. If deposited funds are withdrawn earlier than scheduled, an adjustment is made that approximates a market value adjustment.

Jackson sells GICs to retirement plans, in particular 401(k) plans. The traditional GIC market is extremely competitive, due in part to competition from synthetic GICs, which Jackson does not sell.

Funding Agreements

Under a funding agreement, the contract holder either makes a lump sum deposit or makes specified periodic deposits. Jackson agrees to pay a rate of interest, which may be fixed or a floating short-term interest rate linked to an external index. Interest is paid quarterly to the contract holder. The duration of the funding agreements range between one and thirty years. At the end of the specified term, contract holders may re-deposit the principal in another funding agreement.

Typically, brokerage accounts and money market mutual funds are required to invest a portion of their funds in cash or cash equivalents to ensure sufficient liquidity to meet their customers’ requirements. The funding agreements permit termination by the contract holder on seven to 90 days notice, and thus qualify as cash equivalents for the clients’ purposes. In 2015 and 2014, there were no funding agreements terminable by the contract holder with less than 90 days notice.

Jackson is a member of the FHLBI. Membership allows Jackson access to advances from FHLBI that are collateralised by mortgage related assets in Jackson’s investment portfolio. These advances are in the form of funding agreements issued to FHLBI.

 

30


Table of Contents

Medium Term Note Funding Agreements

Jackson has also established European and global medium-term note programmes. The notes offered may be denominated in any currency with a fixed or floating interest rate. Notes are issued to institutional investors by a special purpose vehicle and are secured by funding agreements issued by Jackson. Jackson’s medium-term note sales totalled £1,030 million in 2015 (2014: £485 million).

Distribution and Marketing

Jackson distributes products in all 50 states of the United States and in the District of Columbia, although not all products are available in all states. Operations in the state of New York are conducted through a New York insurance subsidiary. Jackson markets its retail products primarily through advice based distribution channels, including independent agents, independent broker-dealer firms, regional broker-dealers, wirehouses, and banks.

Our distribution teams set us apart from our competitors. Jackson’s wholesaling force is the largest in the industry, supporting thousands of advisors across multiple channels and distribution outlets.

Our wholesalers provide extensive training to these advisors. In 2015, we led the industry with the highest level of sales efficiency with gross sales per wholesaler 32 per cent higher than the nearest competitor.

Independent Agents and Broker Dealers

National Planning Holdings, an affiliate of Jackson, is the sixth(9) largest independent broker-dealer network in the US. Leveraging the collective strength of the four broker-dealers within the network, National Planning Holdings is able to meet the specific needs of three key distribution channels: independent representatives, financial institutions, and tax and accounting professionals. We offer registered representatives and investment advisors access to industry-leading mutual fund/asset management companies, insurance carriers, and to thousands of brokerage products. National Planning Holdings provides significant benefits for Jackson by offering Jackson products and providing market intelligence.

Jackson’s wholesalers meet directly with independent broker dealers and financial planners and are supported by an extensive internal sales staff. At 31 December 2015, Jackson had active selling agreements with independent broker dealer organisations throughout the United States providing access to more than 70,800 appointed representatives. Jackson provides training for its broker dealers and also provides them with product information and sales materials.

Regional Broker Dealers

Jackson’s Regional Broker Dealer (‘RBD’) team provides dedicated service and support to regional brokerage firms and wirehouses. Regional broker dealers are a hybrid between independent broker dealers and wirehouses. Like representatives who work for wirehouses, financial representatives at regional broker dealers are actual employees of the firm. However, unlike wirehouses, RBD firms have limited institutional investment banking services. The RBD team develops relationships with regional firms throughout the US and provides customised materials and support to meet their specialised advisory needs.

Jackson’s RBD team also provides support for the wirehouse channel, which produced £2.1 billion of premium in 2015.

Jackson’s RBD team supports more than 39,400 representatives in regional broker dealers and wirehouses.

Banks, Credit Unions and Other Financial Institutions

Jackson’s Institutional Marketing Group distributes annuity products through banks, credit unions and other financial institutions and through third party marketing organisations that serve these institutions. Jackson is a leading provider of annuities offered through banks and credit unions and at 31 December 2015 had access to more than 32,000 financial institution representatives through existing relationships with banks and credit unions. Jackson has established distribution relationships with medium sized regional banks, which it believes are unlikely to develop their own insurance product capability.

 

 

(9)  Paikert, C. (2015). New Paths to Scale. Financial Planning. June 2015.

 

31


Table of Contents

Independent Broker Dealers

Jackson’s retail distribution is managed by Prudential’s independent broker dealer network, NPH, which is described in more detail above. NPH had more than 3,400 registered representatives at the end of 2015.

Institutional Products Department

Jackson markets its institutional products through its institutional products department. It has direct contacts with banks, municipalities, asset management firms and direct plan sponsors. Institutional products are distributed and marketed through intermediaries to these groups.

Factors Affecting Pricing of Products and Asset Liability Management

Jackson prices products based on a variety of assumptions including, but not limited to, mortality, investment yields, expenses and contract holder behaviour. Pricing is influenced by Jackson’s objectives for return on capital and by competition. Although Jackson includes a profit margin in the price of its products, the variation between the assumptions and actual experience can result in the products being more or less profitable than originally assumed. This variation can be significant.

Jackson designs its interest sensitive products and conducts its investment operations to match closely the duration of the assets in its investment portfolio with the annuity, life, and guaranteed investment contract product obligations. Jackson seeks to achieve a target spread between what it earns on its assets and what it pays on its liabilities by investing principally in fixed-rate securities. Jackson also enters into options and futures contracts to hedge equity related movements in its products.

Jackson segregates its investment portfolio for certain investment management purposes, and as part of its overall investment strategy, into four portfolios: life and fixed annuities without market value adjustment, fixed annuities with market value adjustment, fixed index annuities and institutional liabilities. The portfolios backing life and fixed annuities with and without market value adjustments and the fixed index annuities have similar characteristics and differ primarily in duration. The portfolio backing the institutional liabilities has its own mix of investments that meet more limited duration tolerances. Consequently, the institutional portfolio is managed to permit less interest rate sensitivity and has limited exposure to mortgage backed securities. At 31 December 2015, two per cent of the institutional portfolio was invested in residential mortgage backed securities.

The fixed-rate products may incorporate surrender charges, market value adjustments, two-tiered interest rate structures or other limitations relating to when policies can be surrendered for cash, in order to encourage persistency. As of 31 December 2015, 60 per cent of Jackson’s fixed annuity reserves had surrender penalties or other withdrawal restrictions. Substantially all of the institutional portfolio had withdrawal restrictions or market value adjustment provisions.

Fixed index annuities issued by Jackson also include an equity component that is hedged using the offsetting equity exposure in the variable annuity product. The equity component of these annuities constitutes an embedded derivative that is carried at fair value, as are other derivative instruments.

Guaranteed benefits issued by Jackson in connection with the sales of variable annuity contracts expose Jackson to equity risk as the benefits generally become payable when equity markets decline and contract values fall below the guaranteed amount. As discussed previously, the liability for certain of these benefits is carried at fair value with changes in fair value recorded in income. Jackson manages the exposure of the tail risk associated with the equity exposure using equity options and futures contracts, which are also carried at fair value. Jackson seeks to manage the economic risk associated with these contracts and, therefore, has not explicitly hedged its fair value risk as determined for IAS 39. In addition, certain benefits have mortality risk and are therefore precluded from being carried at fair value. As a result of these factors, the income statement may include a timing mismatch related to changes in fair value. However, as demonstrated during the economic crisis, subsequent rebound and recent volatility in the equity markets, Jackson’s hedges have effectively operated as designed.

 

32


Table of Contents

Reserves

Except for certain non-insurance deposit-type accounts and as allowed under IFRS, Jackson uses reserves established on a grandfathered US GAAP basis as the basis for consolidation into Prudential’s IFRS accounts.

For the fixed interest rate and variable annuity contracts and institutional products, the reserve is the contract holder’s account value. For the fixed index annuities, the reserve is based on three components, 1) the imputed value of the underlying guaranteed host contract, 2) the fair value of the embedded option component of the contract, and 3) the liability for guaranteed benefits related to the optional lifetime income rider. For the immediate annuities, reserves are determined as the present value of future policy benefits. Mortality assumptions are based on company experience. Interest rate assumptions currently range from three per cent to eight per cent.

The IFRS accounting for guarantees on Jackson’s variable annuity contracts has a mixed measurement approach due to requirements of the guidance of the grandfathered US GAAP basis. GMWB ‘not for life’ contract features are fair valued under current US GAAP (similar to IAS 39) for embedded derivatives, with a capping feature to prevent early anticipation of expected fees for guarantees. However, the GMDB and GMWB ‘for life’ blocks of business are accounted for under US GAAP guidance related to valuing life-contingent guarantees, which does not, and is not intended to, fair value the liabilities.

For the traditional term life contracts, reserves for future policy benefits are determined using the net level premium method and assumptions as to mortality, interest, policy persistency and expenses. Interest rate assumptions range from two and one half per cent to six per cent. Persistency, mortality, and expense assumptions are based on Jackson’s experience.

For the interest sensitive and single premium life contracts, reserves approximate the contract holder’s account value.

Reinsurance

Jackson reinsures portions of the coverage provided by its life insurance products with other insurance companies under agreements of indemnity reinsurance. Indemnity reinsurance agreements are intended to limit a life insurer’s maximum loss on a large or unusually hazardous risk or to obtain a greater diversification of risk for the life insurer. Indemnity reinsurance does not discharge the original insurer’s primary liability to the insured. Jackson’s reinsured business is ceded to numerous unaffiliated reinsurers and, except as noted below, the amount of reserves ceded to any one reinsurer is not material to Jackson’s overall financial position. Typically, the reinsurers have an AM Best Co rating of A or higher.

As a condition to the REALIC acquisition and after receipt of all required regulatory approvals, REALIC entered into three retrocession reinsurance agreements with Swiss Re. Pursuant to these reinsurance agreements, REALIC ceded to Swiss Re on a 100 per cent coinsurance basis, subject to pre-existing reinsurance, certain blocks of business written or assumed by REALIC. The effective date of the three retrocession agreements was 1 July 2012. In addition and pursuant to these reinsurance agreements, Jackson holds certain assets, primarily in the form of policy loans and fixed maturities, as collateral. This collateral is reported as a funds held liability. The three retrocession agreements are further collateralized by Swiss Re assets held in trust accounts (total collateral exceeds the reinsurance recoverable).

At 31 December 2015, Jackson’s largest amount ceded to one reinsurer totalled £4.3 billion, which is primarily related to the retrocession reinsurance arrangements.

In force level premium term products are generally 90 per cent reinsured.

Jackson cedes the guaranteed minimum income benefit previously offered on variable annuities to an unaffiliated reinsurer.

Policy administration

Jackson provides a high level of administrative support for both new and existing contract holders. Jackson’s ability to implement new products quickly and provide quality customer service is supported by integrated computer systems that issue and administer complex life insurance and annuity contracts. Jackson continues to

 

33


Table of Contents

develop its fixed and variable annuity administration systems to enhance the service capabilities for both new and existing customers. The REALIC business is currently administered by third party administrators.

PPM

PPM is Prudential’s US institutional investment management operation, with its primary offices in Chicago and New York. PPM manages assets for Prudential’s US, UK and Asian affiliates. PPM provides affiliated and unaffiliated institutional clients with investment services including managing assets for separate accounts, US mutual funds and similar foreign pooled investment vehicles, a collateralised loan obligation and private equity funds. PPM’s strategy is focused on managing existing assets effectively, maximising the benefits derived from synergies with our international asset management affiliates, and leveraging investment management capabilities across the Group. PPM also pursues third-party mandates on an opportunistic basis.

UK Business

Introduction

As at 31 December 2015, Prudential’s UK business was structured into two business units, each focusing on its respective target customer markets. Prudential’s UK business units are Prudential UK & Europe (Prudential UK&E, providing insurance and investment products) and M&G (being the asset management business).

Prudential UK & Europe business overview

When compared to 2012 the UK pensions industry today is almost unrecognisable. Three years of unprecedented regulatory change has resulted in a structural marketplace shift in how customers view retirement with consumers being given greater flexibility to access their pension savings in retirement. Customers are engaging more frequently with their providers and the demand for financial advice and guidance is increasing. Those companies who are well-known, financially strong and create products and services to match the pension freedom needs and expectations of customers will prosper.

Prudential UK is well placed in this evolving marketplace. This is evident in our new business profile relative to a few years ago. Where once bonds and annuities were the dominant components of new business, since the emergence of greater post pension freedoms we have been writing more bond, ISA, pension saving and income drawdown business, and a significantly lower volume of annuity business, giving a better balance to our business portfolio.

The UK is the world’s fifth largest retail investment market. Wealth is concentrated in the 50+ age group with the younger generation of savers being typically less well-funded. In our target over- 50 demographic, the population growth rate is almost double the growth rate of the UK population as a whole and while the introduction of pension freedom reforms in April 2015 has fundamentally changed the way in which individuals can access their savings to help fund their income in retirement, the need to accumulate savings remains unchanged. These radical changes, when combined with our trusted brand and product capabilities, provide new and significant opportunities for the profitable and capital efficient growth of our business in the UK.

For over 167 years Prudential has been providing financial security to generations of UK customers through an unwavering focus on long-term value as evidenced by our longevity experience, multi-asset investment capabilities and our financial strength. Such attributes are highly sought after today by customers adjusting to pension freedoms and by financial advisers who require a brand they can trust to help secure dependable incomes in retirement for their clients. Our inherent brand strength, in combination with our range of market leading with-profits and retirement income products, continues to resonate more strongly than ever with customers and distributors. This is driving significant demand for our differentiated and market leading retirement solutions.

We continue to focus on meeting customer needs through the following actions:

 

    providing products and retirement solutions perfectly tailored to help customers take advantage of the new pension freedoms;
    broadening the ways in which customers can do business with us through financial adviser intermediaries, providing advice to customers in their homes through our 250 Prudential Financial Planning partners, or by telephone and increasingly online;

 

34


Table of Contents
    investing in technology that enables customers to engage more flexibly with us online;
    enhancing access to our market leading PruFund investment range through an ISA wrapper;
    introducing income drawdown specifically designed for the pension freedoms market; and
    consistently committing to customer service improvement, which was recognised at the 2015 Financial Adviser Service Awards where we received the accolade of ‘Company of the Year’, for the first time, while also retaining our two 5-Star ratings in the Life & Pensions and Investment categories for the fifth consecutive year.

Our business in Poland has established a strong customer franchise, growing steadily since launching in 2013. Headquartered in Warsaw, the business now has 18 branches across the country and 597 financial planning consultants. Its success demonstrates our ability to build a new business franchise by applying our existing product and distribution expertise to a new market.

Prudential UK & Europe has a well-established franchise in its chosen markets which continues to drive strong growth and ongoing product demand among customers. The business is focused on delivering retail growth and the optimisation of in-force business. It will continue to develop retirement solutions based on the market-leading and differentiated PruFund range. Developments will be underpinned by the latest technology including the introduction of a new policy administration system to support the launch of a Retirement Account specifically designed for the post pension freedom marketplace.

UK&E Products and profitability

Prudential UK&E’s long-term products consist of life insurance, pension products and pension annuities. In common with other UK long-term insurance companies, Prudential UK&E’s products are structured as either with-profits (or participating) products, or non-participating products including annuities in payment and unit-linked products. Depending on the structure, the level of shareholders’ interest in the value of policies and the related profit or loss varies.

With-profits policies are supported by a with-profits sub-fund and can be single premium (for example, Onshore Bonds) or regular premium (for example, certain pension products). Prudential UK&E’s primary with-profits sub-fund is part of The Prudential Assurance Company Limited (PAC). The return to shareholders on virtually all Prudential UK&E’s with-profits products is in the form of a statutory transfer to PAC shareholders’ funds. This is analogous to a dividend from PAC’s with-profits sub-fund, and is dependent upon the bonuses credited or declared on policies in that year. Prudential’s with-profits policyholders currently receive 90 per cent of the distribution from the main with-profits sub-fund as bonus additions to their policies, while shareholders receive 10 per cent as a statutory transfer.

We have a competitive advantage in with-profits with the market-leading PruFund proposition. Importantly for customers, our PruFund range provides smoothing in a volatile and uncertain investment environment. The strength of the proposition is reflected in the consistent growth we have experienced, both in terms of the number of customers invested and the assets under management. In addition to our customers, our shareholders also continue to benefit from the steady performance of our with-profits based products and the cash they generate. The performance of our with-profits fund has allowed us to add £2.0 billion to with-profits policies in the year and policyholders will typically see year-on-year increases of between 2 per cent and 4 per cent in accumulating with-profits policy values over the past year.

The Defined Charge Participating Sub-Fund (DCPSF) comprises the accumulated investment content of premiums paid in respect of the defined charge participating with-profits business issued in France and the defined charge participating with-profits business reassured into PAC from Prudential International Assurance plc and Canada Life (Europe) Assurance Ltd. It also includes the portfolio of with-profits annuity policies acquired from Equitable Life in 2007. All profits in this fund accrue to policyholders in the DCPSF.

The profits from almost all of the new non-participating business accrue solely to shareholders. Such business is written in PAC, or in various shareholder-owned direct or indirect subsidiaries. The most significant of these is Prudential Retirement Income Limited (PRIL), which writes conventional annuities including all new conventional annuities arising from vesting deferred annuity and personal pension policies in the with-profits sub-fund of PAC. There is also a substantial volume of in-force non-participating business in PAC’s with-profits sub-fund, part of which was originally written in that fund’s wholly owned subsidiary Prudential Annuities Limited (PAL). On 1 October 2014, the business of PAL transferred into PAC following a Part VII Transfer under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000.

 

35


Table of Contents

The significant reforms of the pensions industry announced by the UK Government, including removal of the requirement to purchase a pension annuity from April 2015, have resulted in an increasing proportion of customers deferring the decision to convert their pension savings into retirement income. Sales of individual annuities in 2015 were 46 per cent lower than in 2014, reflecting the market contraction since the UK Budget announcement These changes have also opened up opportunities for us to meet customer needs for alternative retirement solutions, including income drawdown. From April 2015 our Flexible Drawdown product has allowed customers to access income drawdown without limits from April 2015, and is suited to customers who want more choice over how they use their retirement savings for income. Our sales of income drawdown have almost trebled from 2014 levels to £1,024m in 2015 and our market share has doubled to 21%(10).

Prudential UK&E provides a comprehensive range of risk managed investments, including with-profits bonds, pensions and drawdown, which continue to outperform competitors’ propositions. We have continued to develop our with-profits proposition, enhancing the range of investment choices available to policyholders by launching the PruFund range of investments within an ISA wrapper in February 2015.

Distribution

Retail financial services products are distributed face to face through independent financial advisers (IFAs) and restricted advisers, or directly by mail, telephone and over the internet. IFAs dominate the advice market and offer products from a range of insurance companies selected from the whole of the market. Restricted advisers do not need to select from the whole market and are typically tied to a single insurer or a small panel of insurers. Direct and e-commerce distribution methods are generally non-advised and therefore operate on a lower-cost basis than other distribution channels. Accordingly, products distributed directly are generally aimed at more simple financial planning needs.

Prudential UK&E has a diversified distribution model focusing on intermediaries, Prudential Financial Planning (our direct advice service) and individual customers via mail, email and telephone.

In 2013-2015, Prudential UK&E’s new business premiums by channels are as follows:

 

     Year Ended 31 December £m  
                          2015                          2014                          2013  

Individual Annuities:

        

Direct & Partnerships

     107         162         284   

Intermediated

     62         139         488   

Internal Vesting*

     396         764         1,305   

Total Individual Annuities

     565         1,065         2,077   

Other Products:

        

Direct & Partnerships

     980         702         661   

Intermediated

     5,589         3,370         2,301   

Wholesale

     1,508         1,710         275   

Total Other Products

     8,077         5,782         3,237   

Department of Work and Pensions Rebates***

     -         -         1   
Total New Business Premiums (excluding PruHealth and PruProtect businesses)      8,642         6,847         5,315   

PruHealth and PruProtect businesses**

     -         23         26   

Total New Business Premiums

     8,642         6,870         5,341   
* Internal vesting business is classified as new business where the contracts include an open market option.
** Following the disposal of Prudential’s 25 per cent interest in PruProtect and PruHealth in November 2014, the 2014 and 2013 comparatives have been adjusted to show the premiums of those businesses separately.
*** Discontinued from April 2012.

Direct and Partnerships

Direct distribution channels include the telephone, mail and internet, and focus on annuities, investments and protection products. Prudential UK&E’s direct advice

 

(10)  Source: ABI

 

36


Table of Contents

service, Prudential Financial Planning (PFP), focuses primarily on the financial planning needs of our existing direct customer base. At the end of 2015, its fourth year of trading, adviser partner numbers had reached 250, assets under advice were c£2.9bn and clients under advice were c41,000.

Partnerships are primarily arrangements with other insurers whereby we offer our annuity products to their vesting pension customers.

Intermediaries

Strong growth in sales through our intermediary channel reflected the strength of our PruFund proposition and our relationships with key intermediary firms. Increased sales of with-profits bonds, individual pensions and income drawdown outweighed the impact of the slow down in the annuities market. With-profits bond sales through intermediaries grew by 13 per cent, largely due to our PruFund bond proposition, where our track record of investment performance differentiates us from our competitors. The value of UK invested assets on platforms continues to increase, and we are seeking to develop new solutions to target this opportunity.

Wholesale

Our approach to bulk transactions in the UK will continue to be one of selective participation, where we can bring both significant value to our customers and meet our shareholder return requirements. Our bulk annuity buy-in insurance agreements generated £1,508 million of new business premiums, which included four significant deals. Through our longstanding presence in this segment of the life and pensions market, we have developed considerable longevity experience, operational scale and a solid investment track record, which together represent expertise and capabilities that are increasingly in demand. Whilst our approach to bulk transactions remains selective, the financial resource requirement to write annuity business increases under Solvency II means that we can expect the market for this business to evolve over time and we will be monitoring the situation.

Long-term Products

Prudential’s long-term products in the United Kingdom consist of life insurance, pension products and pensions annuities. The following table shows Prudential UK&E’s new business insurance and investment premiums by product line for the periods indicated. New business premiums include deposits for policies with limited or no life contingencies. Prudential UK&E also distributes life insurance products, primarily investment bonds, in other European countries and has started up a business in Poland which primarily sells with-profits savings and protection products. The volume of such business is relatively small and is included in the table below.

 

     Year Ended 31 December £m  
      2015      2014      2013  

Individual annuities

     565         1,065         2,077   

Bonds

     3,327         2,934         2,188   

Corporate Pensions

     310         230         281   

Individual Pensions

     1,217         530         319   

Income drawdown

     1,024         352         146   

PruFund ISA*

     669         -         -   

Other products

     22         26         28   

Wholesale

     1,508         1,710         276   

Total New business premiums (excluding PruHealth and PruProtect businesses)

     8,642         6,847         5,315   

PruHealth and PruProtect businesses**

     -         23         26   

Total new business premiums

     8,642         6,870         5,341   
* The PruFund range of investments was launched within an ISA wrapper in February 2015
** Following the disposal of Prudential’s 25 per cent interest share in PruProtect and PruHealth in November 2014, the 2014 and 2013 comparatives have been have been adjusted to show the premiums of those businesses separately.

Of the total new business premiums of £8,642 million (2014: £6,847 million; 2013: £5,315 million), £8,463 million (2014: £6,681 million; 2013: £5,129 million) were for single premiums and £179 million (2014: £166 million; 2013: £186 million) were for regular premiums.

 

37


Table of Contents

Pension Annuities (including Wholesale)

Prudential UK&E offers individual conventional immediate annuities that are either fixed or retail price indexed (referred to as ‘RPI’), where annuity payments are guaranteed from the outset, or with-profits annuities, where annuity payments are variable dependent on the investment performance of underlying assets but with an income floor.

A total of £565 million of individual annuities were sold in 2015. Of this total, £396 million was sold through internal vesting, that is existing Prudential UK&E customers with maturing pension policies. The other £169 million were sold to new customers, typically individuals with a pension maturing with another provider who chose Prudential UK&E to provide their annuity. Prudential UK&E’s immediate annuity products provide guaranteed income for a specified time, usually the life of the policyholder, in exchange for a lump sum capital payment. No surrender value is available under any of these products. The primary risks to Prudential UK&E from immediate annuity products are mortality improvements and credit risk.

Conventional Annuities

Prudential UK&E’s conventional annuities include level (non-increasing), fixed increase and RPI annuities. Prudential UK&E’s fixed increase annuities incorporate automatic increases in annuity payments by fixed amounts over the policyholder’s life. The RPI annuities provide for a regular annuity payment to which an additional amount is added periodically based on the increase in the UK Retail Prices Index. In 2015, sales of RPI annuities were £893 million (including £887 million of bulk annuities). In 2015, sales of level and fixed increase conventional annuities amounted to £1,073 million (including £621 million of bulk annuities). The total sales of individual conventional annuities excluding the wholesale bulk annuities were £458 million.

With-profits Annuities

Prudential UK&E’s with-profits annuities combine the income features of annuity products with the investment smoothing features of with-profits products and enable policyholders to obtain equity-type returns over time. In 2009, Prudential UK&E launched the Income Choice Annuity, which allows customers to choose an income between a defined maximum and minimum level, with the option of re-setting this every year. It also provides an opportunity for pension income to grow based on the returns of the with-profits fund. Through this product, Prudential UK&E brings its product development strengths to bear while also capitalising on people’s need for protection from inflation through increasingly long periods of retirement.

Prudential is one of only a few companies in the United Kingdom which are active in the with-profits annuities market and has been operating in this market since 1991. In 2015, Prudential UK&E’s premiums for this business were £107 million.

Pension Products

Prudential UK&E provides both corporate and individual pension products. Pension products are tax advantaged long-term savings products that comply with rules established by the HM Revenue and Customs (‘HMRC’) and are designed to supplement state provided pensions.

These products provide policyholders with a number of options at retirement. From age 55 onwards, policyholders may elect to use part or all of their maturity benefits to purchase a pension annuity, they may choose to draw-down funds without purchasing an annuity, they may delay taking any benefits, take cash or take a combination of these options. They are also permitted to take a portion as a tax-free lump sum.

For products with drawdown features, the investment risk remains with the policyholder, payments are not guaranteed, and tend to cost more to administer. In the past, this has meant that the option to drawdown tended to apply mainly to more sophisticated policyholders and to larger retirement funds. The changes in the rules governing access to pension savings mean that consumers now have more choice and flexibility in how they access their retirement income.However, draw-downs from pension savings that are greater than the tax-free lump sum remain taxable at the individual’s marginal tax rate.

Many of the pension products Prudential UK&E offers are with-profits products or offer the option to have all or part of the contributions allocated to a with-profits fund. Where funds invested in the with-profits fund are

 

38


Table of Contents

withdrawn prior to the pension date specified by the policyholder, Prudential UK&E may apply a market value adjustment to the amount paid out. The remaining pension products are non-participating products, which include unit-linked products.

Corporate Pensions

There are two categories of corporate pension products: defined benefit and defined contribution. Prudential UK&E has an established defined benefit plan client base covering the small to medium sized employer market. Prudential UK&E’s defined contribution client base ranges from small unlisted companies to some of the largest companies in the United Kingdom as well as a number of clients in the public sector (in particular where Prudential UK&E offers the Additional Voluntary Contribution (‘AVC’) facility). Additional Voluntary Contribution plans enable employees to make additional pension contributions, either regularly or as a lump sum, to supplement their occupational pension plans. Prudential UK&E administers corporate pensions for over 600,000 scheme members sponsored by some of the UK’s largest employers and has also built a very strong position in the provision of with-profits AVC arrangements. Prudential UK&E provides AVCs to 73 of the 101 Local Government Authorities in the UK.

Defined benefit plans and products have previously dominated the corporate pensions market in terms of funds under management. In recent years, however, most new plans established have been defined contribution products. In addition, there is an increasing trend among companies to close defined benefit plans to new members or to convert existing schemes from defined benefit to defined contribution in order to stabilise or reduce potential pension liabilities.

Prudential UK&E offers group unit-linked policies and with-profits policies to the corporate pensions market. Prudential UK&E’s defined contribution products are AVC plans, Group Money Purchase plans, Group Personal Pension plans, Group Stakeholder Pension plans and Executive Pension plans.

In addition, Prudential UK&E has a Company Pension Transfer Plan (or ‘Bulk S32’), designed to accept benefits from both defined benefit and defined contribution pension schemes which are winding up (ceasing to exist or being replaced by a new type of scheme). Prudential UK&E also has the facility to accept enhanced transfers from deferred members of a corporate’s defined benefit pensions scheme into Prudential UK&E Personal Pension plan where the member has received advice from an independent financial adviser (often called an enhanced transfer value exercise).

From 2012, individuals who are not already in a pension scheme, who are over 21 and below retirement age and whose earnings are over a minimum amount have had to be automatically enrolled in a pension scheme by their employer, who will be required to make contributions. These requirements were applied first to larger employers and are being rolled out gradually to medium sized and smaller employers.

Individual Pensions

Prudential UK&E’s individual pension range offers unit-linked and unitised with-profits products, including products that meet the criteria of the UK government’s stakeholder pension program.

The stakeholder pension is intended for individuals earning enough to be able to afford to make contributions to a pension but who are not currently doing so. The introduction of stakeholder pensions has had implications for, among other things, how Prudential UK&E designs, administers and charges for and distributes pension products. The most significant requirements involve capped charges and a low minimum contribution which must be accepted by the provider. The UK government has capped charges at 1.5 per cent per annum of the policyholder account balance for stakeholder pensions for the first ten years, decreasing to 1 per cent thereafter, which is below the charges on personal pension products previously offered by the UK pensions industry.

Bonds

Onshore Bonds

Prudential UK&E offers customers a range of investment funds to meet different risk and reward objectives. Prudential UK&E’s main onshore bond product wrapper is the Prudential Investment Plan (‘PIP’). Through this plan, based on a single premium with no fixed term, customers have the option to invest in the with-profits fund through PruFund or in a range of unit-linked investment funds.

 

39


Table of Contents

PIP also gives financial advisers the opportunity to choose from different external fund management groups and the flexibility to make changes to portfolio and asset allocation over time. In 2015, sales of the unit-linked option within on-shore bond wrappers, including PIP were £184 million.

Prudential Dynamic Portfolios, launched in 2010, offer advisers a choice of portfolio options to match a client’s risk/reward profile as an alternative to building an individual portfolio.

Prudential UK&E offers a unitised and smoothed with-profits investment fund entitled PruFund, which is designed to provide increased transparency and smoothed investment returns to the customer with a choice of Cautious, Growth or risk-managed funds. PruFund also offers clients an optional guarantee on the initial investment in either the Cautious or Growth funds with a term from six to eight years depending on the client’s requirements. PruFund is available across Prudential UK&E’s range of tax wrappers including individual pensions, income drawdown, ISA and onshore and offshore bonds. In 2015, total new business premiums attributable to PruFund, including new business through PIP, was £2,164 million.

With-profits bonds aim to provide capital growth over the medium to long term, and access to a range of investment sectors without the costs and risks associated with direct investment into these sectors. Capital growth for the policyholder on with-profits bonds apart from PruFund is achieved by the addition of reversionary or annual bonuses, which are credited to the bond on a daily basis from investment returns achieved within PAC’s long-term with-profits fund, offset by charges and expenses incurred in the fund. A final bonus may also be added when the bond is surrendered. The PruFund return to policyholders is based on a published expected growth rate, updated quarterly, which aims to deliver more stable growth. In contrast the capital return on unit-linked bonds directly reflects the movement in the value of the assets underlying those funds. When funds invested in PAC’s long-term with-profits fund are either fully or partially withdrawn, PAC may apply a market value adjustment to the amount paid out.

The sales growth across Prudential UK&E’s with-profits range has been achieved on the back of sustained strong investment performance in its Life Fund over a number of years, reflecting the benefits of its diversified investment policy. Prudential believes that this market will continue to see further growth as investors turn to trusted and financially strong brands and products offering an element of capital protection.

Offshore Bonds

Prudential UK&E’s offshore bond products are the Prudential International Investment Bond and the Prudential International Investment Portfolio offering clients access to a wide range of quoted UK investments. Prudential UK&E’s offshore bond sales grew by 22 per cent to £753 million in 2015.

Other Products

Other products include income drawdown, PruFund ISA, life insurance and equity release mortgages.

Income Drawdown

Income drawdown products have historically provided a ‘bridge’ between pensions and annuities, allowing customers to access pension savings from age 55, subject to certain limits. These products help customers manage their pensions through the various stages of retirement, and also offer flexibility while providing potential for capital growth. Prior to the pension reforms announced in the 2014 UK Budget, the market had seen good growth, reflecting an increasingly sophisticated consumer population and the rising incidence of second careers and semi-retirement as a result of increasing longevity. This growth accelerated in the interim period created by the Budget 2014 announcement before the introduction of pension reforms in April 2015 and has continued into 2015 where Prudential UK&E sold £1,024 million of income drawdown products. Income drawdown has proved popular with customers seeking greater flexibility than that offered by a traditional annuity product, but preferring to draw funds gradually rather than withdrawing all of their savings as cash. Depending on the size of their pension pot and the individual’s tax position, it may also be more tax efficient for a customer to invest in a drawdown product rather than to take cash.

In December 2014 we launched a new Flexible Drawdown product ahead of the introduction of the April 2015 pension reforms. This product allows customers to access income drawdown without limits from April 2015, and is suited to customers who want more choice over how they use their retirement savings for income.

 

40


Table of Contents

In October 2015 Prudential UK&E launched a Pension Choices Plan product which increases the choice available to our existing customers allowing them to exercise their pensions freedoms by having direct access to their pension fund, where they are comfortable making that decision, without the help of a financial adviser. The new product is a pension and income drawdown product giving customers access to four risk managed funds in our popular PruFund range, a choice of four funds from the risk-rated Dynamic Portfolios range, as well as a cash fund.

PruFund ISA

On 26 February 2015 Prudential UK&E added the PruFund range of investment funds to the Prudential ISA to offer clients a level of smoothing in the current volatile market within a tax efficient wrapper. Sales in 2015 were £669 million.

Life Insurance Products

Prudential’s UK life insurance products are predominantly pure protection (term) products, and include the PruProtect product previously sold through an associate company. On 14 November 2014 Prudential sold its remaining 25 per cent share in PruProtect to Discovery and no further sales are included after that date. PAC continues to write PruProtect business under a “white labelling” agreement but has no economic interest in the business written.

Equity Release Mortgage

In November 2009, Prudential UK&E closed its equity release operation to new business. Existing customers may, however, still draw down additional funds, subject to their overall borrowing limits.

Reserves

In the United Kingdom, a life insurance company’s reserve and other requirements are determined by its Board, with advice from its Actuarial Function Holder (under the Solvency I regime), subject to minimum reserve requirements. These minimum reserve requirements are established by the rules and guidance of the PRA.

Under the Solvency I regime, the reserves are published in annual returns to the PRA. Under IFRS reporting, applying the modified statutory basis of reporting as grandfathered upon the adoption of IFRS in 2005, similar provisions are included with limited adjustments. The Actuarial Function Holder must pay due regard to the fair treatment of policyholders in making recommendations to the company’s board. The Actuarial Function Holder is required to report directly to the PRA any serious concerns regarding the company’s ability to treat its customers fairly.

Prudential UK&E’s regulatory reserving for with-profits products, as required by UK regulation, takes into account annual bonuses/annual interest credited to policyholders because these are ‘attached’ to the policies and are guaranteed. Realistic reserves are also calculated for with-profits products under UK regulation. These include an allowance for final bonuses based on the asset share or a prospective valuation of the policies and the cost of guarantees, smoothing and enhancements.

Prudential UK&E reserves for unit-linked products on the basis of the value of the unit fund and additional reserves are held for expenses and mortality where this is required by the contract design.

As well as the reserves, under Solvency I, the company’s assets must also cover other capital requirements set out in the PRA Prudential Sourcebook. These comprise a with-profits insurance capital component, which is a measure of the difference in the surplus assets on regulatory and realistic bases; a resilience capital requirement for entities other than PAC, which makes prudent allowance for potential future adverse movements in investment values; and the long-term insurance capital requirement, which must be held by all EU insurance companies. See ‘Financial Strength of PAC’s With-Profits Fund’ for further information on solvency.

Financial strength of PAC’s with-profits fund

The PAC’s with-profits fund is supported by a large inherited estate, with the free assets of the with-profits fund valued at approximately £7.7 billion (as at 31 December 2015 as estimated at 8 March 2016 and included in the consolidated financial statements), on a Solvency I regulatory realistic basis. This provides the working capital required to support the fund for the long-term benefit of current and future policyholders. The strength of the with-profits fund offers strong policyholder protection and assists in generating positive returns for both policyholders and shareholders.

 

41


Table of Contents

The table below shows the change in the investment mix of PAC’s main with-profits fund:

 

      2015 %        2014 %        2013 %  

UK equities

     20           19           19   

International equities

     29           24           17   

Property

     16           16           14   

Fixed Interest

     29           34           41   

Cash and other asset classes

     6           7           9   

Total

     100           100           100   

The with-profits sub-fund earned a return of 3.6 per cent before tax in 2015 on investments covering policyholder liabilities. The with-profits sub-fund has delivered investment returns of 80.8 per cent over 10 years for policyholder asset shares in the fund, compared with the FTSE All-share index (total return) of 71.8 per cent over the same period (figures are to 31 December 2015, before tax and charges).

From 1 January 2016 available capital will be measured on a Solvency II basis following the European Union’s Solvency II Directive coming into effect. The PAC with-profits fund remained well-capitalised with an estate value, representing Solvency II own funds, estimated at £7.6 billion covering its solvency capital requirement approximately 1.75 times. The reconciling items from the Solvency I basis to Solvency II mainly reflect the risk margin net of transitionals, with other items including differences in the definition of the risk-free rate and the matching adjustment impact for non-profit annuity liabilities within the with-profits funds.

Shareholders’ Interests in Prudential UK&E’s Long-term Insurance Business

In common with other UK long-term insurance companies, Prudential UK&E’s products are structured as either with-profits products or non-participating (including unit-linked) products. With-profits policies are supported by a with-profits fund. Prudential UK&E’s primary with-profits fund is part of PAC’s long-term fund. For statutory and management purposes, PAC’s long-term fund consists of a number of sub-funds in which shareholders and policyholders have varying interests.

With-profits Products

With-profits products provide an equity-type return to policyholders through bonuses that are ‘smoothed’. There are two types of bonuses: ‘annual’ and ‘final’. Annual bonuses, often referred to as reversionary bonuses, are declared once a year and, once credited, are guaranteed in accordance with the terms of the particular product. Unlike annual bonuses, final bonuses are only guaranteed until the next bonus declaration. Final bonuses are only credited on a product’s maturity or surrender or on the death of the policyholder. Final bonuses can represent a substantial portion of the ultimate return to policyholders.

With-profits products provide benefits that are generally either the value of the premiums paid, less charges and fees and with the addition of declared bonuses, or the guaranteed death benefit with the addition of declared bonuses. Smoothing of investment returns is an important feature of with-profits products. It is designed to reduce the impact of fluctuations in investment return from year to year and is accomplished predominantly through the level of final bonuses declared.

The return to Prudential’s shareholders in respect of with-profits business Prudential UK&E writes is an amount equal to up to one-ninth of the value of the bonuses Prudential UK&E credits or declares to policyholders in that year. Prudential UK&E has a large block of in-force with-profits business with varying maturity dates that generates a relatively stable stream of shareholder profits from year to year.

PAC’s board of directors, with the advice of its Actuarial Function Holder (Chief Actuary from 1 January 2016) and its With-Profits Actuary, determines the amount of annual and final bonuses to be declared each year on each group of contracts.

When determining policy payouts, including final bonuses, PAC follows an actuarial practice of considering ‘asset shares’ for specimen policies. Asset shares broadly reflect the value of premiums paid in respect of a policy accumulated at the investment return on the assets PAC notionally attributes to the policy. In calculating asset shares, PAC takes into account the following items:

 

    the cost of mortality risk and other guarantees (where applicable);

 

42


Table of Contents
    the effect of taxation;
    management expenses, charges and commissions;
    the proportion of the amount determined to be distributable to shareholders; and
    the surplus arising from surrenders, non-participating business included in the with-profits fund and other miscellaneous sources.

However, Prudential UK&E does not take into account the surplus assets of the long-term fund, or investment return earned on them, in calculating asset shares. The determination of final bonuses takes into account asset shares, as well as the need to smooth claim values and payments from year to year, competitive considerations and the desire to treat customers fairly.

Prudential UK&E is required by UK law and regulation to consider the fair treatment of its customers in setting bonus levels. The concept of treating customers fairly is established by statute but is not defined. In practice, it provides one of the guiding principles for decision making in respect of with-profits products.

The overall return to policyholders is an important competitive measure for attracting new business. The ability to declare competitive bonuses depends, in part, on the financial strength of PAC’s long-term fund, enabling it to maintain high levels of investment in equities and real estate, if it wishes to do so. Equities and real estate have historically over the long-term provided a return in excess of fixed interest securities.

In 2015, PAC declared a total surplus of £2,208 million (2014: £2,012 million) from PAC’s primary with-profits sub-fund, of which £1,994 million (2014: £1,812 million) was added to with-profits policies and £214 million (2014: £200 million) was distributed to shareholders. These amounts included annual bonus rates of 1.75 per cent for Prudence Bond and 1.75 per cent for personal pensions.

The closed Scottish Amicable Insurance Fund (‘SAIF’) declared total bonuses in 2015 of £358 million compared to £362 million in 2014. Shareholders have no interest in profits from the SAIF fund, although they are entitled to the investment management fees paid by this business. For greater detail on the SAIF fund, see ‘The SAIF sub-fund’ below.

Surplus Assets in PAC’s Long-term With-profits Fund

The assets of the main with-profits sub-fund within the long-term fund of PAC comprise the amounts that it expects to pay out to meet its obligations to existing policyholders and an additional amount used as working capital. The amount payable over time to policyholders from the with-profits sub-fund is equal to the policyholders’ accumulated asset shares plus any additional payments that may be required by way of smoothing or to meet guarantees. The balance of the assets of the with-profits sub-fund is called the ‘inherited estate’ and has accumulated over many years from various sources.

The inherited estate, as working capital, enables Prudential UK&E to support with-profits business by providing the benefits associated with smoothing and guarantees, by providing investment flexibility for the fund’s assets, by meeting the regulatory capital requirements that demonstrate solvency and by absorbing the costs of significant events or fundamental changes in its long-term business without affecting the bonus and investment policies. The size of the inherited estate fluctuates from year to year depending on the investment return and the extent to which it has been required to meet smoothing costs, guarantees and other events.

Depletion of Surplus Assets and Shareholders’ Contingencies

As a proprietary insurance company, PAC is liable to meet its obligations to policyholders even if the assets of the long-term funds are insufficient to do so. The assets, represented by the unallocated surplus of with-profits funds, in excess of amounts expected to be paid for future terminal bonuses and related shareholder transfers (‘the excess assets’) in the long-term funds could be materially depleted over time by, for example, a significant or sustained equity market downturn, costs of significant fundamental strategic change or a material increase in the pension mis-selling provision. In the unlikely circumstance that the depletion of the excess assets within the long-term fund was such that the Group’s ability to satisfy policyholders’ reasonable expectations was adversely affected, it might become necessary to restrict the annual distribution to shareholders or to contribute shareholders’ funds to the long-term funds to provide financial support.

 

43


Table of Contents

In 1998, Prudential stated that deducting personal pensions mis-selling costs from the inherited estate of the with-profits sub-fund would not impact its bonus or investment policy and it gave an assurance that if this unlikely event were to occur, it would make available support to the fund from shareholder resources for as long as the situation continued, so as to ensure that policyholders were not disadvantaged. The assurance was designed to protect both existing policyholders at the date it was announced, and policyholders who subsequently purchased policies while the pension mis-selling review was continuing.

This review was completed on 30 June 2002. The assurance will continue to apply to any policy in force at 31 December 2003, both for premiums paid before 1 January 2004, and for subsequent regular premiums (including future fixed, retail price index or salary related increases and Department of Work and Pensions rebate business). The assurance has not applied to new business issued since 1 January 2004. New business in this context consists of new policies, new members to existing pension schemes plus regular and single premium top-ups, transfers and switches to existing arrangements. The maximum amount of capital support available under the terms of the assurance will reduce over time.

The bonus and investment policy for each type of with-profits policy is the same irrespective of whether or not the assurance applies. Hence removal of the assurance for new business has had no impact on policyholder returns.

Prudential and PAC have put in place intra-group arrangements to formalise circumstances in which capital support would be made available by Prudential (including in the scenarios referred to in pension mis-selling review above). While Prudential considers it unlikely that such support will be required, the arrangements are intended to provide additional comfort to PAC and its policyholders.

In addition, Prudential has put in place intra-group arrangements to formalise undertakings by Prudential to the regulators of the Hong Kong subsidiaries, which from 1 January 2014, contain the domesticated branch business from PAC regarding their solvency levels. In addition, the scheme of transfer of the Hong Kong branch includes short-term support arrangements between Prudential and PAC to underpin similar arrangements between PAC and the newly domesticated business. It is considered unlikely that support will need to be provided under these arrangements.

The SAIF Sub-fund

The SAIF sub-fund is a ring-fenced sub-fund of PAC’s long-term fund and was formed following the acquisition of the mutual Scottish Amicable Life Assurance Society in 1997. No new business may be written in SAIF, although regular premiums are still being paid on policies in-force at the time of the acquisition and ‘top-ups’ are permitted on these policies.

This fund is solely for the benefit of those Scottish Amicable Life Assurance Society policyholders whose policies were transferred to SAIF. Shareholders have no interest in the profits of this fund, although they are entitled to the investment management fees paid on this business. The brand name and rights to profit on new business were transferred to a new PAC subsidiary, Scottish Amicable Life plc, which operated for the benefit of shareholders.

SAIF with-profits policies contain minimum levels of guaranteed benefit to policyholders. In addition, as mentioned below, certain pensions products have guaranteed annuity rates at retirement. Should the assets of SAIF be inadequate to meet the guaranteed benefit obligations of the policyholders of SAIF, the PAC long-term fund would be liable to cover any such deficiency in the first instance.

Non-participating Business

The majority of Prudential branded non-participating business is written in the non-profit sub-fund of PAC’s long-term fund or in subsidiaries owned by PAC. Since mid-2004, Prudential UK&E has written the majority of its new non-profit annuity business through Prudential Retirement Income limited (‘PRIL’), from which the profits are attributed solely to shareholders. Prior to that time, certain non-profit annuity business was written through Prudential Annuities Limited (‘PAL’), which is wholly owned by PAC’s with-profits fund. The profits on this business are attributable to the fund and not to shareholders, although indirectly shareholders get one-ninth of additional amounts paid to policyholders of the with-profits fund through the declaration of bonuses.

The unit-linked business written by PAC and Prudential International Assurance is written with capital provided by shareholders.

 

44


Table of Contents

Guaranteed Annuities

Prudential used to sell guaranteed annuity products in the United Kingdom and held a technical provision of £47 million as at 31 December 2015, within the main with-profits fund to honour guarantees on these products. PAC’s main exposure to guaranteed annuities in the United Kingdom is through SAIF and a provision of £412 million was held in SAIF as at 31 December 2015, to honour the guarantees. As SAIF is a separate sub-fund of PAC’s long-term business fund, wholly attributable to the policyholders of the fund, the movement in this provision has no impact on shareholders.

M&G

M&G is the UK and European fund manager of the Prudential Group with responsibility for investments on behalf of both internal and external clients. It manages the investments of individuals, institutions and the UK policyholders of Prudential funds.

M&G has been managing money on behalf of third-party investors for more than 80 years. We believe our active approach to investment – selecting investments on a conviction basis rather than following a market index—produces superior returns for our customers over the longer term. We offer our customers the ability to invest in a diverse range of assets: not only equities and fixed income but also unlisted investments such as property, direct lending, infrastructure and private equity. M&G is one of the UK’s largest real estate investors, with a property portfolio of £23.4 billion at 31 December 2015, and is the third largest private debt lender in the world.

M&G operates a range of UK-domiciled retail funds which are now distributed in 15 markets across Europe and Asia. At the end of 2015 clients outside the UK account for 41 per cent of our retail assets under management.

In the institutional market, M&G provides a range of strategies that help pension funds, sovereign wealth funds and other large institutional investors match liabilities and achieve growth targets. Some of these strategies were developed originally for Prudential’s insurance funds.

The European asset management market is the second-largest in the world with net assets of 12.6 trillion(11). Demand for asset management services is expected to continue to grow as governments and employers increasingly pass the responsibility for retirement planning and other long-term savings to individuals. Asset managers with records of strong investment returns and a high-level of client service are in a good position to attract flows of new money.

The UK asset management industry, M&G’s core market, is the second-largest national market in the world with £870.7 billion(12) of assets and is a global centre of excellence for investment management and a major source of long-term funding for the UK economy.

The global economy in 2015 was dominated by three factors: fears of an economic slowdown in China, which led to the Chinese stock market crash in August; the continued decline in global commodity prices; and a strong US dollar. While commodity-exporting emerging markets and currencies suffered during 2015, the US dollar strengthened in anticipation of a rise in the federal funds rate, further bolstered by investors seeking a safe haven during heightened geopolitical tensions. Despite signs of economic recovery in developed countries, 2015 saw heightened market volatility across most asset classes and regions.

In Europe, investors shifted away from fixed income and equities towards mixed asset funds and cash, accompanied by a significant increase in funds flowing to exchange traded funds. Net sales of UK domiciled mutual funds were £17.0 billion(12) during 2015, with annual net outflows of £4.7 billion from the fixed income asset class by itself, although property and money market funds held up well.

Retail fund markets are highly fragmented, with no single company dominating. This reflects the competitive nature of the business and the multiplicity of providers.

 

(11)  Based on data as at Q4 2015. European Fund & Asset Management Association (published on 22 February 2016).
(12)  Source: Investment Association, 31 December 2015.

 

45


Table of Contents

Retail clients favour pooled funds such as open-ended investment companies which they buy directly from M&G or more typically through an intermediary such as an independent financial adviser or discretionary fund manager. By total UK assets under management, M&G is the second largest retail fund manager with £35.7 billion of assets under management, equivalent to a market share of 6.8 per cent(12). In Europe, where M&G has distributed funds since 2002, it has over £23.5 billion of assets under management and a market share of 0.4 per cent(13).

Institutional clients require investment strategies that help them meet future outgoings, from a pension scheme making payments to retired employees to a sovereign wealth fund that finances schools, transport and other infrastructure developments. M&G’s ability to design and commercialise investment strategies for such clients is founded on the quality of its people and their acknowledged expertise in the world’s credit and real estate markets.

Many of the innovative strategies developed for today’s institutional clients consist of investing in long-term, illiquid investments—from infrastructure and housing to solar parks and corporate lending. Such investments often require a client to sign up for multiple years, creating long-term stability and security in the yields received by the client and the fees received by M&G.

M&G’s institutional fixed income clients include some of the UK’s largest pension funds, 51 UK local-authority pension schemes and a number of sovereign wealth funds. M&G Real Estate is one of the world’s largest international property investors enabling clients to access a wide range of investment opportunities in real estate across all the major sectors in the UK, Europe and Asia.

Our investment edge is our people. We employ more than 2,000 people operating from offices across Europe, Asia and in South Africa. We take pride in attracting, developing and retaining people of the highest calibre. In return, they are committed to working with us to meet the long-term needs of our customers.

Our investment teams are primarily based in our headquarters in London, where they benefit from the provision of high quality support staff and investment infrastructure: from analysts and dealers to operations, risk and compliance. Reflecting the need for local expertise in real estate, we also have specialist real estate teams in Paris, Frankfurt, Luxembourg, Singapore, Seoul and Tokyo in addition to those in London.

A committed focus on long-term investment returns means that the interests of M&G and its customers are aligned, whether clients are individual savers, institutional investors or the funds of Prudential’s insurance operations.

M&G has a strong investment brand, built over decades and based on a reputation for honesty, innovation and a commitment to building long-term wealth for our investors. We aim to put our customers at the heart of everything we do and seek to be a trusted partner for all of our clients.

M&G’s investment expertise spans all the principal asset classes—equities, fixed income, multi asset and real estate—so that we can always offer investment solutions to our clients as market conditions and investor sentiment change.

Equities: Our fund managers have the freedom to develop their own investment approaches. Their main strength lies in stock selection, focusing on fundamental company analysis. M&G’s size and standing enables our fund managers to develop an effective dialogue with the management teams of the companies in which they invest.

Fixed Income: M&G is one of Europe’s largest fixed income investors. Our fund managers benefit from one of the region’s largest and most experienced in-house credit research teams, whose knowledge covers the full range of fixed income investment, from the management of sovereign debt and public corporate bond portfolios through to private debt such as leveraged finance, real estate finance, direct lending and infrastructure. In a ranking of global private debt managers for 2015, M&G ranked third, with a book of over £20.7 billion(14).

 

(13)  Lipper FMI FundFile, 31 December 2015, based on Europe ex. UK and International region. M&G data sourced internally.
(14)  Private Debt Investor figures based on amount of capital raised over the last 5 years for discrete private debt strategies.

 

46


Table of Contents

Multi-asset: M&G’s Multi-Asset team, the Macro Investment Business, is responsible for the management of a range of funds for retail investors and segregated accounts for institutional clients. The team applies a top-down ‘macro’ approach, with a strong valuation framework, which can be applied across markets and regions in many market conditions.

Real Estate: M&G Real Estate is a leading global property investor and manager covering all major real estate sectors including business space, retail and leisure, residential and alternatives sectors. We actively manage our assets, drawing on our long heritage of expertise and knowledge and our extensive network of contacts. This approach enables the business to identify and capitalise on attractive investment opportunities. We also have a track record of identifying and exploiting real estate development opportunities and for the successful delivery of projects. M&G concluded 2015 with £4.2 billion of global property transactions. This included £2.6 billion of acquisitions with an average deal size of £56 million.

Since launching the UK’s first open-ended fund in 1931, we have brought a succession of new investment strategies to the retail and institutional markets. In combination with this tradition of innovative investment thinking, M&G has a proven ability to convert ideas into products that meet our clients’ needs and attract significant fund flows. It is these two qualities in combination that make M&G distinctive.

M&G saw healthy inflows to its ranges of retail multi-asset funds in 2015, as investors sought flexibility and stability in times of low yields and economic and political uncertainty. During the year, M&G launched a third fund in its popular European multi-asset range: the M&G Prudent Allocation Fund.

In the institutional market, pension funds, sovereign wealth funds and other large clients require stable, long term cashflows that help meet their liabilities. Our reputation for innovation in the institutional market continues to grow, with M&G at the forefront of a number of specialist fixed income markets, including leveraged finance and infrastructure investment. The consistency of our institutional investment returns helped earn M&G the prestigious 2015 Financial News Institutional Asset Management Awards for Infrastructure Manager of the Year for our infrastructure investment arm, Infracapital.

Diversification

M&G has pursued business diversification across:

 

    asset class: expertise across equities, fixed income, real estate and multi asset strategies;
    client type: retail customers and institutional clients including pension funds, sovereign wealth funds, and Prudential’s own long-term insurance funds;
    investment strategy: over 60 pooled retail funds covering domestic, global and emerging market strategies, 14 of which have funds under management of over £1 billion, up from 13 in 2014. Institutional clients benefit from a wide-range of pooled and/or segregated fixed income, equity and real estate strategies; and
    countries.

The following table shows funds managed by M&G at the dates indicated.

 

     At 31 December £bn  
                          2015                          2014                          2013  

Retail fund management

     61         74         67   

Institutional fund management

     65         63         59   

Internal fund management

     120         127         118   

Total

     246         264         244   

 

47


Table of Contents

Group Risk Framework

Risk Management

Introduction

The Group aims to help customers achieve their long term financial goals by providing and promoting a range of products and services that meet customer needs, are easy to understand and deliver real value. We recognise that we are implicitly committing to customers that we will maintain a healthy company, and are there to meet our long term commitments to them.

From the shareholder’s perspective, we generate value by selectively taking exposures to risks that are adequately rewarded and that can be appropriately quantified and managed. The Group’s approach is to retain risks where doing so contributes to value creation, the Group is able to withstand the impact of an adverse outcome, and has the necessary capabilities, expertise, processes and controls to manage appropriately the risk.

This section explains the main risks inherent in our business and how we manage those risks, with the aim of ensuring we maintain an appropriate risk profile.

Principles and objective

(Unaudited)

Prudential defines ‘risk’ as the uncertainty that Prudential faces in successfully implementing its strategies and objectives. This includes all internal or external events, acts or omissions that have the potential to threaten the success and survival of Prudential. As such, material risks will be retained only where this is consistent with the Group’s risk appetite framework and its philosophy towards risk-taking.

Risk governance

(Unaudited)

The organisational structures, reporting relationships, delegation of authority, and roles and responsibilities that Group Head Office and the business units establish to make decisions and control their activities on risk related matters form the foundation of Prudential’s risk governance. Effective risk governance encompasses individuals, Group-wide functions and committees involved in the management of risk.

Risk framework

(Unaudited)

The Group’s risk framework has been developed to monitor and manage the risk of the business at all levels and is owned by the Board. The aggregate Group exposure to market, credit, insurance, liquidity and operational risks is monitored and managed by the Group Risk function whose responsibility it is to seek to ensure the maintenance of an adequate risk exposure and solvency position from the Group economic, regulatory and ratings perspectives.

Our Group Risk Framework requires that all our businesses and functions establish processes for identifying, evaluating and managing the key risks faced by the Group and is based on the concept of the ‘three lines of defence’. These comprise risk taking and management, risk control and oversight, and independent assurance.

 

48


Table of Contents

The key risks inherent in the insurance and capital management operations of Prudential’s business:

Risks from our investments    Risks from our products    Risks from our business
operations
Uncertainty around investment returns can arise through credit risk via the potential of defaults, and market risks resulting from the volatility of asset values as a result of fluctuations in equity prices, interest rates, foreign exchange and property prices. Liquidity risk is also a key area of focus. Regular stress testing is undertaken to ensure the Group is able to generate sufficient cash resources to meet financial obligations as they fall due in business as usual and in stress scenarios.   

Insurance risk

The processes of determining the price of our products and reporting the results of our long-term business operations require us to make a number of assumptions.

 

In common with other life insurers, the profitability of our businesses depends on a mix of factors including mortality and morbidity levels and trends, persistency, and claim inflation.

  

Operational risk

As a group we are dependent on the successful processing of a large number of transactions, utilising various IT systems and platforms across numerous and diverse products.

 

We also operate under the ever-evolving requirements set out by different regulatory and legal regimes (including tax), as well as utilising a significant number of third parties to distribute products and to support business operations; all of which add to the complexity of the operating model if not properly managed.

Risk mitigation and hedging

(Unaudited)

We manage our risk profile according to our desired acceptance of risk. To do this, Group Head Office and the business units maintain risk registers that include details of the risks identified and of the controls and mitigating actions used in managing them. Our identified keys risks are set out in the table below.

Key Risks

 

Risk Type    Risk Definition
Market Risk    The risk of loss for our business, or of adverse change in the financial situation, resulting, directly or indirectly, from fluctuations in the level or volatility of market prices of assets and liabilities.
Equity   
Investment risk   
Interest rates   
Foreign exchange   
Credit Risk    The risk of loss for our business, or of adverse change in the financial situation, resulting from fluctuations in the credit standing of issuers of securities, counterparties and any debtors in the form of default or other significant credit event (eg downgrade or spread widening).
Counterparty   
Invested credit   
Insurance Risk    The risk of loss for our business, or of adverse change in the value of insurance liabilities, resulting from changes in the level, trend, or volatility of a number of insurance risk drivers. This includes adverse mortality, longevity, morbidity, persistency and claim inflation.
Mortality/Longevity   
Morbidity/Health   
Persistency   
Medical expense inflation risk   
Liquidity Risk    The risk of the Group being unable to generate sufficient cash resources to meet financial obligations as they fall due in business as usual and stress scenarios.
Operational Risk    The risk of loss (or unintended gain/profit) arising from inadequate or failed internal processes, or from personnel and systems, or from external events (other than those external events covered under Business Environment Risk).
Regulatory and legislative compliance   
Third party management   
IT and information (including cybersecurity)   
Business continuity   
Business Environment Risk    Exposure to forces in the external environment that could significantly change the fundamentals that drive the business’s overall strategy
Strategic Risk    Ineffective, inefficient or inadequate senior management processes for the development and implementation of business strategy in relation to the business environment and the Group’s capabilities.

 

49


Table of Contents

The drivers of each of the key risks vary by business unit, and depend primarily on the value of locally held products.

Market Risk

Investment Risk

(Audited)

In Prudential UK, investment risk arising out of the assets in the with-profits fund impacts the shareholders’ interest in future transfers and is driven predominantly by equities in the fund as well as by other investments such as property and bonds. The value of the future transfers is partially protected against equity falls by hedging conducted outside of the fund. The fund’s large inherited estate—estimated at £7.6 billion (representing Solvency II own funds of the UK with-profits funds) as at 31 December 2015 on a Solvency II basis—can absorb market fluctuations and protect the fund’s solvency. The inherited estate is partially protected against falls in equity markets through an active hedging programme within the fund.

In Asia, our shareholder exposure to equities arises from unit-linked products where revenue is linked to funds under management and on its with-profits businesses where bonuses declared are broadly based on historical and current rates of return on equity.

In Jackson, investment risk arises in relation to the assets backing the policies. In the case of ‘spread business’, including fixed annuities, these assets are generally bonds and our shareholder exposure comes from the minimum asset return required to be generated to meet the guaranteed rates of return offered to policyholders. For the variable annuity business, these assets include equities as well as other assets such as bonds. In this case the impact on the shareholder comes from the guarantees on return on investments embedded in variable annuity products. Shareholders’ exposure to these guarantees is mitigated through a hedging programme, as well as reinsurance. Further measures have been undertaken including re-pricing initiatives and the introduction of variable annuities without guarantees. Furthermore, it is our philosophy not to compete on price; rather, we seek to sell at a price sufficient to fund the cost incurred to hedge or reinsure the risks and to achieve an acceptable return.

Jackson hedges the guarantees on its variable annuity book on an economic basis and, thus, accepts variability in its accounting results in the short term in order to achieve the appropriate economic result. In particular, under Prudential’s Group IFRS reporting, the measurement of the Jackson variable annuity guarantees is typically less sensitive to market movements than the corresponding hedging derivatives, which are held at market value. However, depending on the level of hedging conducted regarding a particular risk type, certain market movements can drive volatility in the economic result which may be either more or less significant under IFRS reporting. The Jackson IFRS shareholders’ equity and US statutory capital are also sensitive to the effects of policyholder behaviour on the valuation of guarantees.

Interest Rate Risk

(Audited)

Long-term rates remain close to historic lows. Products that we offer are sensitive to movements in interest rates. We have already taken a number of actions to de-risk the in-force business as well as re-price and restructure new business offerings in response to historically low interest rates. However, this remains an area of sensitivity and persistently low rates may impact policyholders’ savings patterns and behaviour.

Interest rate risk arises in our UK business from the need to match cash flows for annuity payments with those from investments; movements in interest rates may have an impact on profits where durations are not perfectly matched. As a result, we aim to match the duration of assets and liabilities as closely as possible and the position is monitored regularly. Under the European Union’s Solvency II Directive, additional interest rate exposure is created due to the nature of the construction of this balance sheet, such as the inclusion of the risk margin. The UK business continually assesses the need for any derivative overlays in managing this sensitivity. The with-profits business is exposed to interest rate risk as a result of underlying guarantees. Such risk is largely borne by the with-profits fund but shareholder support may be required in extremis.

In Asia, exposure to interest rate risk arises from the guarantees of some non-unit-linked investment products. This exposure arises because it may not be possible to hold assets which will provide cash flows to match exactly those relating to policyholder liabilities. While this residual asset/liability mismatch risk can be managed, it cannot be eliminated.

 

50


Table of Contents

Jackson is exposed to interest rate risk in its fixed, fixed index and variable annuity books. Movements in interest rates can influence the cost of guarantees in such products, in particular the cost of guarantees may increase when interest rates fall.

Interest rate risk across the entire business is managed through the use of interest rate swaps, interest rate options and hybrid options (options protecting against simultaneous decreases in equity values and interest rates).

Foreign Exchange Risk

(Audited)

We principally operate in Asia, the US and the UK. The geographical diversity of our businesses means that we are inevitably subject to the risk of exchange rate fluctuations. Our operations in the US and Asia, which represent a significant proportion of our operating profit and shareholders’ funds, generally write policies and invest in assets denominated in local currencies. Although this practice limits the effect of exchange rate fluctuations on local operating results, it can lead to significant fluctuations in our consolidated financial statements when results are expressed in UK Sterling.

We retain revenues locally to support the growth of our business and capital is held in the local currency of the business to meet local regulatory and market requirements, accepting the accounting balance sheet translation risks this can produce. However, in cases where a surplus arising in an overseas operation supports Group capital or where a significant cash remittance is due from an overseas subsidiary to the Group, this exposure is hedged where we believe it is economically optimal to do so. We do not have appetite for significant shareholder exposure to foreign exchange risks in currencies outside the local territory. Where this arises, currency borrowings, swaps and other derivatives are used to manage exposures.

Credit Risk

(Audited)

We invest in fixed income assets in order to match policyholder liabilities and enter into reinsurance and derivative contracts to mitigate various types of risk. As a result, we are exposed to credit and counterparty credit risk across our business. We employ a number of risk management tools to manage credit risk, including limits defined on an issuer/counterparty basis as well as on average credit quality to seek to ensure the diversification of the portfolio and have in place collateral arrangements in derivative transactions. The Group Credit Risk Committee oversees credit and counterparty credit risk across the Group and conducts sector and/or name specific reviews as required. In particular, in 2015 it has conducted sector reviews in the banking, commodities and energy sectors.

Debt and loan portfolio

(Audited)

Our UK business is primarily exposed to credit risk in the shareholder-backed portfolio, with fixed income assets of £32.1 billion. Credit risk arising from a further £44.5 billion of fixed income assets is largely borne by the with-profits fund, although in extremis shareholder support may be required should the with-profits fund become unable to meet its liabilities.

The debt portfolio of our Asia business totalled £28.3 billion at 31 December 2015. Of this, approximately 68 per cent was in unit-linked and with-profits funds with minimal shareholder risk. The remaining 32 per cent is shareholder exposure.

Credit risk arises in the general account of our US business, where £34.1 billion of fixed income assets back shareholder liabilities including those arising from fixed annuities, fixed index annuities and life insurance.

The shareholder-owned debt and loan portfolio of the Group’s asset management operations of £2.2 billion as at 31 December 2015 is principally related to Prudential Capital operations. Prudential Capital generates revenue by providing bridging finance, managing investments and operating a securities lending and cash management business for the Prudential Group and our clients.

Certain sectors have seen specific pressure during 2015 and into early 2016. The Group’s credit exposure to the oil and gas sector represents approximately 4 per cent or £3.1 billion of the shareholder credit portfolio. Prolonged, depressed oil prices are expected to exert downward rating pressure within the sector, which is being monitored

 

51


Table of Contents

closely through Group risk processes and the Group Credit Risk Committee. The Group’s credit exposure to the metal and mining sector represents 1 per cent of the total shareholder debt portfolio (£78 billion). Similarly, this sector is subject to ongoing monitoring and regular management information reporting to the Group’s risk committees.

Further details of the composition and quality of our debt portfolio, and exposure to loans, can be found in the IFRS financial statements.

Group sovereign debt

(Audited)

Sovereign debt represented 17 per cent or £12.8 billion of the debt portfolio backing shareholder business at 31 December 2015 (31 December 2014: 15 per cent or £11.0 billion). 44 per cent of this was rated AAA and 94 per cent investment grade (31 December 2014: 43 per cent AAA, 95 per cent investment grade). At 31 December 2015, the Group’s shareholder-backed business’s holding in Eurozone sovereign debt(14a) was £546 million. 75 per cent of this was AAA rated (31 December 2014: 82 per cent AAA rated). We do not have any sovereign debt exposure to Greece.

Bank debt exposure and Counterparty Credit Risk

(Audited)

Our bank exposure is a function of our core investment business, as well as of the hedging and other activities undertaken to manage our various financial risks. Given the importance of our relationship with our banks, exposure to the banking sector is a key focus of management information provided to the Group’s risk committees and the Board.

The exposures held by the shareholder-backed business and with-profits funds in sovereign debt and bank debt securities at 31 December 2015 are given in Note C3.3(f) of the Group’s IFRS financial statements.

Our exposure to derivative counterparty and reinsurance counterparty credit risk is managed using an array of risk management tools, including a comprehensive system of limits.

Where appropriate, we reduce our exposure, purchase credit protection or make use of additional collateral arrangements to control our levels of counterparty credit risk. At 31 December 2015, shareholders exposure to corporate debt by rating and sector is shown below:

 

    95 per cent of the Shareholder portfolio is investment grade rated. In particular, 67 per cent of the portfolio is rated A- and above(14b).
    The Group’s Shareholder portfolio is well diversified: no individual sector makes up more than 10 per cent of the total portfolio (excluding the financial and utilities sectors).

Insurance Risk

(Audited)

Insurance risk constitutes a sizeable proportion of the Group’s exposure; the profitability of our businesses depends on a mix of factors including mortality and morbidity levels and trends, persistency, investment performance and claim inflation.

Longevity risk (people’s propensity to live longer) is a significant contributor to our insurance risk exposure and is also capital intensive under the Solvency II regime. One tool used to manage this risk is reinsurance. During 2015, we completed deals on a number of tranches of bulk and retail annuity liabilities when terms were sufficiently attractive and aligned with our risk management framework. The recently enhanced pensions freedoms in the UK have greatly reduced the demand for retail annuities and further liberalisation is anticipated. However, given our significant UK annuity portfolio, the assumptions that we make about future rates of mortality improvement will remain key to the measurement of insurance liabilities and to the assessment of any subsequent reinsurance transactions.

We continue to conduct research into longevity risk using both experience from our annuity portfolio and industry data. Although the general consensus in recent years is that people are living longer, there remains considerable volatility in year-on-year longevity experience, which is why we need expert judgement in setting our longevity assumptions.

 

(14a)  Excludes Group’s proportionate share in joint ventures and unit-linked assets and holdings of consolidated unit trust and similar funds.
(14b)  In the Shareholder exposure by rating: 75 per cent of non-rated assets are internally rated, privately held loans.

 

52


Table of Contents

Morbidity risk is mitigated by appropriate underwriting when policies are issued and claims are received. Our morbidity assumptions reflect our recent experience and expectation of future trends for each relevant line of business.

In Asia, a key assumption is the rate of medical inflation, typically in excess of general price inflation. This is the risk that the expenses of medical treatment increase more than expected, so that the medical claim cost passed on to Prudential is much higher. Medical expense inflation risk is best mitigated through retaining the right to re-price our products each year and by having suitable overall claim limits within our policies, either limits per type of claim or in aggregate across policies.

Our persistency assumptions similarly reflect recent experience for each relevant line of business, and future expectations. Persistency risk is mitigated by appropriate training and sales processes and managed locally post-sale through regular experience monitoring and the identification of common characteristics of poor persistency business. Where appropriate, allowance is also made for the relationship—either assumed or historically observed—between persistency and investment returns, and for the resulting additional risk. Modelling this ‘dynamic’ policyholder behaviour is particularly important when assessing the likely take-up rate of options embedded within product features.

Liquidity Risk

(Audited)

The Group has significant internal sources of liquidity which are sufficient to meet all of its expected requirements, for a period of at least 12 months from the date the financial statements are approved, without having to make use of external funding. In aggregate the Group currently has £2.6 billion of undrawn committed facilities, expiring in 2020. In addition, the Group has access to liquidity via the debt capital markets. We also have in place an unlimited commercial paper programme and have maintained a consistent presence as an issuer in this market for the last decade.

Liquidity uses and sources have been assessed at the Group and at a business unit level under base case and stressed assumptions. The liquidity resources available and the subsequent Liquidity Coverage Ratio are regularly monitored and are assessed to be sufficient.

Operational Risk

(Unaudited)

The Group does not actively seek to take operational risk to generate returns. Instead, it accepts a level of risk whereby the controls in place should prevent material losses, but should also not excessively restrict business activities. Direct and/or indirect financial losses are likely to arise if there is a failure to develop, implement and monitor appropriate controls.

For each business unit, accountabilities for operational risk management and oversight are based on the principles of the ‘three lines of defence’ model of risk taking and management, risk control and oversight, and independent assurance. The approach adopted is proportional to the size, nature and complexity of the business unit and the risks it manages.

We have an operational risk management framework in place that facilitates both the qualitative and quantitative analysis of operational risk exposures. The output of this framework, in particular management information on key operational risk and control assessments, scenario analysis, internal incidents and external incidents, is reported by the business units and presented to the Group Operational Risk Committee.

This information also supports business decision-making and lessons-learned activities, the ongoing improvement of the control environment, and determination of the adequacy of our corporate insurance programme.

Top Operational Risks

Key areas of focus within the operational risk framework are:

 

  the risk of non-compliance due to the momentum of regulatory change in both our developed and developing markets, as well as recognising that Prudential’s designation as a Global Systemically Important Insurer which requires the Group to comply with additional policy measures including enhanced Group-wide supervision;

 

53


Table of Contents
  the risk of improper, or mis-selling of Prudential products and the resulting risk of censure from local regulators;
  the risk of regulatory censure due to poor conduct or weaknesses in systems and controls;
  the risk of censure for money laundering, sanctions or anti-bribery and corruption failures;
  the risk that reliance on IT infrastructures which support core activities/processes of the business, could fail or otherwise negatively impact business continuity and scalability needed to support the growth and changing needs of the business;
  the risk of a significant failure of a third-party provider impacting critical services;
  the risk of trading, transacting or modelling errors having a material cost across Group;
  the risk of the Group failing to attract and retain quality senior managers and other key employees;
  the risk that key people, processes and systems are unable to operate (thus impacting the on-going operation of the business) due to a significant unexpected external event occurring (e.g. a pandemic, terrorist attack, natural disaster, political unrest); and
  the risk of losses resulting from damage to the firm’s reputation. This can be either real or perceived reputational damage but which could nevertheless diminish the standing of the organisation in the eyes of key stakeholders (e.g. customers, shareholders), destroy shareholder value, adversely impact revenues or result in significant costs to rectify.

Cyber Security

Cyber security is an increasingly important risk facing the Group. The risk is that a member of the Group could be the target of a cyber-related attack which could result in disruption to the key operations, make it difficult to recover critical services, damage assets, and compromise data (both corporate and customer). This is a global issue which is rising in prominence across the financial services industry. As a result of Prudential’s increasing market profile, the growing interest by customers to interact with their insurance provider and asset manager through the internet and social media, improved brand awareness and the classification of Prudential as a Global Systemically Important Insurer, there is an increased likelihood of Prudential being considered a target by cyber criminals. A number of industry, company-wide and local business unit-specific initiatives are underway in response to this risk.

Business environment and strategic risks

(Unaudited)

Global Regulatory and Political Risk

There are a number of on-going policy initiatives and regulatory developments that are having, and will continue to have, an impact on the way Prudential is supervised. These include addressing Financial Conduct Authority reviews, on-going engagement with the Prudential Regulation Authority and includes the work of the Financial Stability Board and standard-setting institutions such as the International Association of Insurance Supervisors.

The International Association of Insurance Supervisors has various initiatives. On 18 July 2013, it published a methodology for identifying Global Systemically Important Insurers, and a set of policy measures that will apply to them, which the Financial Stability Board endorsed. Groups designated as a Global Systemically Important Insurer are subject to additional regulatory requirements, including enhanced group-wide supervision, effective resolution planning, development of a Systemic Risk Management Plan, a Recovery Plan and a Liquidity Risk Management Plan. Prudential’s designation as a Global Systemically Important Insurer was reaffirmed on 3 November 2015. Prudential is monitoring the development and potential impact of the policy measures and is continuing to engage with the Prudential Regulation Authority on the implications of the policy measures and Prudential’s designation as a Global Systemically Important Insurer.

The Global Systemically Important Insurer regime also introduces two types of capital requirements. The first, a Basic Capital Requirement, is designed to act as a minimum group capital requirement and the second, a Higher Loss Absorption requirement reflects the drivers of the assessment of Global Systemically Important Insurer designation. The International Association of Insurance Supervisors intends for these requirements to take effect from January 2019, but Global Systemically Important Insurers will be expected to report privately to their group-wide supervisors in the interim.

The International Association of Insurance Supervisors is also developing a Common Framework (ComFrame) which is focused on the supervision of large and complex Internationally Active Insurance Groups. ComFrame will establish a set of common principles and standards designed to assist regulators in addressing risks that arise

 

54


Table of Contents

from insurance groups with operations in multiple jurisdictions. As part of this, work is underway to develop a global Insurance Capital Standard that would apply to Internationally Active Insurance Groups. Once the development of the Insurance Capital Standard has been concluded, it is intended to replace the Basic Capital Requirement as the minimum group capital requirement for Global Systemically Important Insurers. Further consultations on the Insurance Capital Standard are expected over the coming years and a version of the Insurance Capital Standard is expected to be adopted as part of ComFrame in late 2019.

The International Association of Insurance Supervisors’ Insurance Core Principles, which provide a globally accepted framework for the supervision of the insurance sector and ComFrame evolution, are expected to create continued development in both prudential and conduct regulations over the next two to three years, particularly in the emerging markets of Asia.

The European Union’s Solvency II Directive came into effect on 1 January 2016. The European Commission will review elements of the Solvency II legislation from 2016 onwards including a review of the Long Term Guarantee measures by 1 January 2021.

Similar national and regional efforts to curb systemic risk and promote financial stability are also underway in certain jurisdictions in which Prudential operates, including the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act in the US, and other European Union legislation related to the financial services industry.

The UK Government has committed to holding a “remain/leave” referendum on EU membership which will be held on 23 June 2016. The possible withdrawal of the UK from the EU would have political, legal and economic ramifications for both the UK and the EU, although these are expected to be more pronounced on the UK.

In the US, the implementation of the Department of Labor rules introducing new fiduciary obligations for distributors of investment products to holders of regulated accounts has the potential to dramatically reshape the distribution of retirement products. Jackson’s strong relationships with distributors, history of product innovation and efficient operations should help mitigate any impacts.

Emerging Risks

(Unaudited)

Generally, emerging risks are qualitative in nature and are not amenable to modelling using statistical techniques. The emerging risk identification process at Prudential seeks to leverage the expertise of the organisation through a combination of top-down and bottom-up assessments of risks. Following two years of development, the emerging risk identification process is now well-embedded across the Group.

The use of ‘brainstorming’ sessions at various levels of the organisation is used as a central pillar of the emerging risk identification process to identify, develop and challenge potential emerging risks. Input is also taken from external speakers, forums and databases.

The Group has also sought to maintain contacts with industry experts and peers to benchmark and refine the emerging risk management process. For example, Prudential has been a member of the Emerging Risk Initiative at the CRO Forum for two years, and chaired this initiative for 2015.

Risk factors

(Unaudited)

Our disclosures covering risk factors can be found in Item 3, ‘Key information—Risk Factors’.

Risk Management Cycle and Governance

Our Group Risk Framework requires that all our businesses and functions establish processes for identifying, evaluating and managing the key risks faced by the Group. The framework is based on the concept of ‘three lines of defence’ comprising risk taking and management, risk control and oversight and independent assurance.

Risk identification

(Unaudited)

The Group’s risk profile is a robust assessment of the principal risks facing the Group, including those that would threaten its business model, future performance, solvency or liquidity. The risk profile is a key output from the risk

 

55


Table of Contents

identification and risk measurement processes, and is used as a basis for setting Group-wide limits, management information, assessment of solvency needs, and determining appropriate stress and scenario testing.

An annual ‘top-down’ identification of our key risks assesses the risks that have the greatest potential to impact the Group’s operating results and financial condition. The bottom up approach of risk identification is more granular and refers to the processes by which the business units identify, assess and document risks, with the appropriate coordination and challenge from the risk functions.

The Group Own Risk and Solvency Assessment Report pulls together the analysis performed by a number of risk and capital management processes, which are embedded across the Group, and provides quantitative and qualitative assessments of the Group’s risk profile, risk management and solvency needs on a forward looking basis. The scope of the Group Own Risk and Solvency Assessment Report covers the full known risk universe of the Group.

Insurers are also required to undertake Reverse Stress Testing, which requires firms to work backwards from an assumed point of business model failure, to identify the stress scenarios that could result in such adverse outcomes. Each firm must then consider whether the likelihood of these scenarios, taking into account likely management actions, is consistent with its risk appetite and, if not, must initiate actions to address any inconsistencies. The actions considered form a part of our Recovery Plan.

Risk measurement and assessment

(Unaudited)

All identified risks are assessed based on an appropriate methodology for that risk. All quantifiable risks which are material and mitigated by holding capital are modelled in the Group’s Internal Model, which is used to determine capital requirements under the Solvency II Pillar 1 and economic capital bases. Governance arrangements are in place to support the internal model. This includes independent validation and process and controls around model changes and limitations.

Manage and control

(Unaudited)

The control procedures and systems established within the Group are designed to manage the risk of failing to meet business objectives. This can of course only provide reasonable and not absolute assurance against material misstatement or loss. They focus on aligning the levels of risk-taking with the achievement of business objectives.

The management and control of risks are set out in the Group risk policies. These risk policies define:

 

  the Group’s risk appetite in respect of material risks, and the framework under which the Group’s exposure to those risks is limited;
  the processes to enable Group senior management to effect the measurement and management of the Group material risk profile in a consistent and coherent way; and
  the flows of management information required to support the measurement and management of the Group material risk profile and to meet the needs of external stakeholders.

Monitoring and reporting

(Unaudited)

The management information received by the Group Risk Committees and the Board is tailored around the risks identified in the annual ‘top-down’ process, and also covers on-going developments in other key and emerging risks.

Risk Appetite and Limits

(Audited)

The extent to which the Group is willing to take risk in the pursuit of its objective to create shareholder value is defined by a number of risk appetite statements, operationalised through measures such as limits, triggers and indicators.

 

56


Table of Contents

Risk appetite has been set at a Group aggregate level and by risk type, and covers all risks to shareholders, including those from participating and third party business. The qualitative statements are operationalised down to the local business units through measures such as limits, triggers and indicators, and cover the most significant exposures to the Group, particularly those that could impact the Group’s aggregate risk appetite metrics.

The Group Risk function is responsible for reviewing the scope and operation of these measures at least annually, to determine that they remain relevant. On the recommendation of the Group Risk Committee, the Board approves all changes made to the Group’s risk appetite framework.

We define and monitor aggregate risk limits based on financial and non-financial stresses for our earnings volatility, liquidity and capital requirements as follows:

Earnings volatility:

The objectives of the aggregate risk limits seek to manage that:

 

    the volatility of earnings is consistent with the expectations of stakeholders;
    the Group has adequate earnings (and cash flows) to service debt, expected dividends and to withstand unexpected shocks; and
    earnings (and cash flows) are managed properly across geographies and are consistent with funding strategies.

The two measures used to monitor the volatility of earnings are IFRS operating profit and EEV operating profit, although IFRS and EEV total profits are also considered.

Liquidity:

The objective is to monitor that the Group is able to generate sufficient cash resources to meet financial obligations as they fall due in business as usual and stressed scenarios.

Capital requirements:

The limits aim to manage that:

 

    the Group meets its internal economic capital requirements;
    the Group achieves its desired target rating to meet its business objectives; and
    supervisory intervention is avoided.

The two measures used to define the limits are Solvency II capital requirements and internal economic capital requirements. In addition, outside the UK capital requirements are monitored on local statutory bases.

We use an internal economic capital assessment calibrated on a multi-term basis to monitor our capital requirements across the Group. This approach considers, by risk drivers, the timeframe over which each risk can threaten the ability of the Group to meet claims as they fall due, allowing for realistic diversification benefits. This assessment provides valuable insights into our risk profile and for continuing to maintain a strong capital position.

With the introduction of Solvency II, the existing European Union Insurance Group Directives risk appetite statement has been replaced with a Solvency II Pillar 1 risk appetite. As part of our annual business planning cycle the risk appetite framework plays an integral role. The Group Risk Committee is responsible for reviewing the risks inherent in the Group’s business plan and for providing the Board with input on the risk/reward trade-offs implicit therein. This review is supported by the Group Risk function, which uses submissions from our local business units to calculate the Group’s aggregated position (allowing for diversification effects between local business units) relative to the aggregate risk limits.

Risk policies

(Unaudited)

Risk policies set out specific requirements for the management of, and articulate the risk appetite for, key risk types. There are core risk policies for credit, market, insurance, liquidity and operational risks and a number of internal control policies covering, internal model risk, underwriting, dealing controls and tax risk management.

 

57


Table of Contents

They form part of the Group Governance Manual, which was developed to make a key contribution to the sound system of internal control that we maintain in line with the UK Corporate Governance Code and the Hong Kong Code on Corporate Governance Practices.

Risk Culture

(Unaudited)

The increasing regulatory focus on market participants instilling corporate cultures that support prudent management and outcomes for consumers is indelibly linked to what we do and how we do it. The ‘risk culture’ (as a subset of the broader business culture) is reflected in the values and behaviours the Group displays when managing risk. It therefore permeates throughout the Group’s Risk Framework and governance processes.

The Group promotes a responsible risk culture in three main ways:

 

    By the leadership and behaviours demonstrated by management;
    By building skills and capabilities to support risk management; and
    By including risk management (through the balance of risk with profitability and growth) in the performance evaluation of individuals.

Senior management leadership

Senior management promote a responsible culture of risk management by emphasising the importance of balancing risk with profitability and growth in decision making, while seeking to ensure compliance with regulatory requirements and internal policies. As part of this, they encourage all employees to be risk-aware and to take personal responsibility for identifying and helping to address risk issues.

Building skills and capabilities

The Group works to build skills and capabilities in risk management, which are needed by both senior management and risk management specialists, while attempting to allocate scarce resources appropriately.

Performance management

The Group includes risk management measures that balances risk taken with profitability and growth achieved in the performance evaluation of key individuals, including both senior management and those directly responsible for risk management (objectives may be quantitative or qualitative as appropriate).

The remuneration strategy at Prudential is designed to be consistent with its risk appetite, and the Group Chief Risk Officer advises the Group Remuneration Committee on adherence to our risk framework and appetite.

 

58


Table of Contents

Capital Management

(Unaudited)

Solvency II capital position at 31 December 2015

The estimated Group Solvency II surplus at 31 December 2015 was £9.7 billion, before allowing for the 2015 second interim ordinary and special dividend.

 

Estimated Group Solvency II capital position    31 December
2015 £bn
 

Own funds

     20.1   

Solvency capital requirement

     10.4   

Surplus

     9.7   

Solvency ratio

     193%   

These results allow for:

 

  Capital in Jackson in excess of 250 per cent of the US local Risk Based Capital requirement. As agreed with the Prudential Regulation Authority, this is incorporated in the result above as follows:
    Own funds: represent Jackson’s local US Risk Based available capital less 100 per cent of the US Risk Based Capital requirement (Company Action Level); and
    Solvency Capital Requirement: represent 150 per cent of Jackson’s local US Risk Based Capital requirement (Company Action Level);
  Non-recognition of a portion of Solvency II surplus capital relating to the Group’s Asian life operations, reflecting regulatory prudence;
  Matching adjustment for UK annuities, based on the 31 December 2015 calibration published by the European Insurance and Occupational Pensions Authority; and
  Transitional measures which have the effect of preserving the Solvency II surplus for our UK business at the same level as under Solvency I, for business written before 1 January 2016.

The Group’s Solvency II capital surplus excludes:

  Diversification benefits between Jackson and the rest of the Group;
  Surplus in ring-fenced with-profits funds including the shareholder’s share of the estate of with-profits funds; and
  Surplus in pension funds.

Analysis of movement in capital position

We previously reported our economic capital results at year end 2013 and year end 2014 before there was certainty in the final outcome of Solvency II and before we received internal model approval. The Solvency II results now reflect the output from our approved internal model under the final Solvency II rules. Allowing for this change in basis, the movement from the previously reported economic capital basis solvency surplus at 31 December 2014 to the Solvency II approved internal model surplus at 31 December 2015 is set out in the table below:

 

Analysis of movement in Group surplus    £bn  

Economic capital surplus as at 1 January 2015

     9.7   

Operating experience

     2.4   

Non-operating experience (including market movements)

     (0.6)   

Other capital movements

  

Subordinated debt issuance

     0.6   

Foreign currency translation impacts

     0.2   

Dividends paid

     (1.0)   

Methodology and calibration changes

  

Changes to Own Funds (net of transitionals) and Solvency Capital Requirement calibration strengthening

     (0.2)   

Effect of partial derecognition of Asia Solvency II surplus

     (1.4)   

Estimated solvency II surplus as at 31 December 2015

     9.7   

 

59


Table of Contents

The movement in Group surplus over 2015 is driven by:

  Operating experience of £2.4 billion: generated by in-force business and new business written in 2015, including £0.4 billion of benefit from the specific actions taken in the second half of the year to position the balance sheet more efficiently under the new Solvency II regime;
  Non-operating experience of £0.6 billion: mainly arising from negative market experience during the year; and
  Other capital movements: comprising an increase in capital from subordinated debt issuance, a gain from positive foreign currency translation effects and a reduction in surplus from payment of dividends.

In addition, the methodology and calibration changes arose as part of the internal model approval process and related to:

 

  A £0.2 billion reduction in surplus due to an increase in the Solvency Capital Requirement from strengthening of internal model calibrations, mainly relating to longevity risk, operational risk, credit risk and correlations, and a corresponding increase in the risk margin, which is partially offset by UK transitionals; and
  A £1.4 billion reduction in surplus due to the negative impact of Solvency II rules for “contract boundaries” and a reduction in the capital surplus of the Group’s Asian life operations, as agreed with the Prudential Regulation Authority.

The change in US treatment from including 150 per cent, rather than 250 per cent of US Risk Based Capital (Company Action Level) in the Group Solvency Capital Requirement, is offset by a corresponding reduction in the Group Own Funds and therefore has no impact on surplus despite the positive impact on the solvency ratio.

The impacts above, including the impact of the change in basis from economic capital to Solvency II, represent an overall reduction in the Group solvency ratio from 218 per cent to 193 per cent.

 

Analysis of movement in Group solvency position (£ billion)   

Own

Funds

    

Solvency

Capital

Requirement

     Surplus     

Solvency

ratio

 

Economic capital position at 1 January 2015

     17.9         8.2         9.7         218%   

Capital generation and other movements

     2.0         0.4         1.6         13%   

Methodology and calibration changes

           
Changes to Own Funds (net of transitionals) and Solvency Capital Requirement calibration strengthening      2.3         2.5         (0.2)         (32)%   

Effect of partial derecognition of Asia Solvency II surplus

     (1.4)         -         (1.4)         (12)%   

US Risk Based Capital treatment

     (0.7)         (0.7)         -         6%   

Estimated Solvency II position at 31 December 2015

     20.1         10.4         9.7         193%   

Analysis of Group Solvency Capital Requirements

The split of the Group’s estimated Solvency Capital Requirement by risk type including the capital requirements in respect of Jackson’s risk exposures based on 150 per cent of US Risk Based Capital requirements (Company Action Level) but with no diversification between Jackson and the rest of the Group, is as follows:

 

     31 December
2015
     31 December
2015
 
Split of the Group’s estimated Solvency Capital Requirements   

% of
undiversified

Solvency
Capital

Requirements

    

% of
diversified

Solvency
Capital

Requirements

 

Market

     55%         72%   

Equity

     11%         16%   

Credit

     28%         47%   

Yields (interest rates)

     13%         6%   

Other

     3%         3%   

Insurance

     27%         20%   

Mortality/morbidity

     5%         2%   

Lapse

     14%         14%   

Longevity

     8%         4%   

Operational/expense

     11%         7%   

FX translation

     7%         1%   

 

60


Table of Contents

Reconciliation of IFRS equity to Group Solvency II Own Funds

 

Reconciliation of IFRS equity to Group Solvency II Own Funds   

31 December 2015

£bn

 

IFRS shareholders’ equity

     13.0   

Restate US insurance entities from IFRS onto local US statutory basis

     (1.5)   

Remove DAC, goodwill & intangibles

     (3.7)   

Add subordinated-debt

     4.4   

Impact of risk margin (net of transitionals)

     (2.5)   

Add value of shareholder-transfers

     3.1   

Liability valuation differences

     8.6   

Increase in value of net deferred tax liabilities

(resulting from valuation differences above)

     (0.9)   

Other

     (0.4)   

Estimated Solvency II Own Funds

     20.1   

The key items of the reconciliation are:

 

  £1.5 billion represents the adjustment required to the Group’s shareholders’ funds in order to convert Jackson’s contribution from an IFRS basis to the local statutory valuation basis. This item also reflects a derecognition of Own Funds of £0.7 billion, equivalent to the value of 100 per cent of Risk Based Capital requirements (Company Action Level), as agreed with the Prudential Regulation Authority;
  £3.7 billion due to the removal of DAC, goodwill and intangibles from the IFRS balance sheet;
  £4.4 billion due to the addition of subordinated debt which is treated as available capital under Solvency II but as a liability under IFRS;
  £2.5 billion due to the inclusion of a risk margin for UK and Asia non-hedgeable risks, net of transitionals, all of which are not applicable under IFRS;
  £3.1 billion due to the inclusion of the value of future shareholder transfers from with-profits business (excluding the shareholder’s share of the with-profits estate, for which no credit is given under Solvency II), which is excluded from the determination of the Group’s IFRS shareholders’ funds;
  £8.6 billion due to differences in insurance valuation requirements between Solvency II and IFRS, with Solvency II Own Funds partially capturing the value of in-force business which is excluded from IFRS;
  £0.9 billion due to the impact on the valuation of deferred tax assets and liabilities resulting from the other valuation differences noted above; and
  £0.4 billion due to other items, including the impact of revaluing loans, borrowings and debt from IFRS to Solvency II.

Sensitivity analysis

Solvency II as a measure of regulatory capital is more volatile than under the previous Solvency I regime. At 31 December 2015, the estimated sensitivity of the Group Solvency II surplus to significant changes in market conditions is as follows:

 

  An instantaneous 20 per cent fall in equity markets would reduce surplus by £1.0 billion and reduce the solvency ratio to 186 per cent;
  A 40 per cent fall in equity markets (comprising an instantaneous 20 per cent fall followed by a further 20 per cent fall over a four-week period) would reduce surplus by £1.8 billion and reduce the solvency ratio to 179 per cent;
  A 50 basis points reduction in interest rates (subject to a floor of zero and allowing for transitional recalculation) would reduce surplus by £1.1 billion and reduce the solvency ratio to 179 per cent;
  A 100 basis points increase in interest rates (allowing for transitional recalculation) would increase surplus by £1.1 billion and increase the solvency ratio to 210 per cent; and
  A 100 basis points increase in credit spreads (with credit defaults of 10 times the expected level in Jackson) would reduce surplus by £1.2 billion and reduce the solvency ratio to 187 per cent.

UK Solvency II capital position1, 2

On the same basis as above, the estimated UK Solvency II surplus at 31 December 2015 was £3.3 billion. This relates to shareholder-backed business including the shareholders’ share of future with-profits transfers, but excludes the shareholders’ share of the estate in line with Solvency II requirements.

 

61


Table of Contents

While the surplus position of the UK with-profits funds remains strong on a Solvency II basis, it is ring-fenced from the shareholder balance sheet and is therefore excluded from both the Group and the UK shareholder Solvency II surplus results. The estimated UK with-profits funds Solvency II surplus at 31 December 2015 was £3.2 billion.

 

Estimated solvency II capital position

31 December 2015

  

UK
Shareholder

£bn

    

UK

with-profits

£bn

 

Own Funds

     10.5         7.6   

Solvency Capital Requirement

     7.2         4.4   

Surplus

     3.3         3.2   

Solvency ratio

     146%         175%   

The UK with-profits funds surplus has reduced from £3.7 billion at 30 June 2015 to £3.2 billion at 31 December 2015. This is principally due to an increase in the equity backing ratio of the Prudential Assurance Company with-profits sub-fund by 5 per cent, in order to utilise the strength of the fund in line with the Principles and Practices of Financial Management, and strong new business growth.

 

Reconciliation of UK with-profits funds IFRS unallocated surplus to Solvency II own funds2    31 December 2015
£bn
 

IFRS unallocated surplus of UK with-profits funds

     10.5   

Existing adjustments from IFRS to Solvency I in Capital Position Statement:

  

Value of shareholder transfers

     (2.1)   

Other valuation differences

     (0.7)   

With-profits fund estate (Solvency I Pillar 1 Peak 2 basis)

     7.7   

Adjustments to Solvency II:

  

Risk margin (net of transitional)

     (0.7)   

Other valuation differences

     0.6   

Estimated Solvency II Own Funds

     7.6   

A reconciliation from IFRS to Solvency I is disclosed annually in the Capital Position Statement in the Group IFRS financial statements. The additional reconciling items to Solvency II mainly reflect the risk margin net of transitionals, with other items including differences in the definition of the risk-free rate and the matching adjustment impact for non-profit annuity liabilities within the with-profits funds.

UK shareholder sensitivity analysis

At 31 December 2015, the estimated sensitivity of the UK shareholder Solvency II surplus to significant changes in market conditions is as follows:

 

  An instantaneous 20 per cent fall in equity markets would reduce surplus by £0.4 billion;
  40 per cent fall in equity markets would reduce surplus by £0.8 billion;
  A 50 basis points reduction in interest rates (subject to a floor of zero and allowing for transitional recalculation) would reduce surplus by £0.7 billion;
  A 100 basis points increase in interest rates (allowing for transitional recalculation) would increase surplus by £0.9 billion;
  A 100 basis points increase in credit spreads would reduce surplus by £0.2 billion; and
  15 per cent of the UK annuity portfolio downgrading by one whole letter rating would reduce surplus by £0.5 billion.

Notes:

 

  1. The UK shareholder capital position represents the consolidated capital position of the shareholder funds of Prudential Assurance Company Ltd and all its subsidiaries.
  2. The UK with-profits capital position includes the Prudential Assurance Company with-profits sub-fund, the Scottish Amicable Insurance Fund and the Defined Charge Participating Sub-Fund.

 

 

62


Table of Contents

IGD capital position at 31 December 2015

Up to 31 December 2015, Prudential was subject to the capital adequacy requirements of the European Union Insurance Groups Directive as implemented by the Prudential Regulation Authority in the UK. The Insurance Groups Directive capital surplus represents the aggregated surplus capital (on a Prudential Regulation Authority consistent basis) of the Group’s regulated subsidiaries less the Group’s borrowings. No diversification benefit is recognised. We estimate that our Insurance Groups Directive capital surplus is £5.5 billion at 31 December 2015 (before taking into account 2015 second interim ordinary and special dividends), with available capital covering our capital requirements 2.5 times. This compares to a capital surplus of £4.7 billion at the end of 2014 (before taking into account the 2014 final dividend).

The movements in 2015 mainly comprise:

 

  net capital generation (inclusive of market and foreign exchange movements) mainly through operating earnings (in-force releases less investment in new business, net of tax) of £1.8 billion; and
  £0.6 billion of subordinated debt issuance;

Offset by:

 

  Final 2014 dividend of £0.7 billion and first interim 2015 dividend of £0.3 billion; and
  External financing costs and other central costs, net of tax, of £0.6 billion;

IGD surplus represents the accumulation of surpluses across all of our operations based on local regulatory minimum capital requirements with some adjustments, pursuant to the requirements of Solvency I. The calculation does not fully adjust capital requirements for risk nor does it capture the true economic value of assets.

Local statutory capital

All of our subsidiaries continue to hold appropriate capital positions on a local regulatory basis. Jackson’s Risk-Based Capital ratio at the end of 2015 was 481 per cent, having remitted £470 million to Group earlier in the year. The Prudential Assurance Company Limited, our main UK operation, has an estimated Solvency II surplus of £3.3 billion in respect of its shareholder business, equivalent to a ratio of 146 per cent. Separately the UK with-profits funds remained well capitalised with an estate value of £7.6 billion(15), covering its solvency capital requirements approximately 1.75 times.

Debt Portfolio

The Group continues to maintain a high quality defensively positioned debt portfolio. Shareholders’ exposure to credit is concentrated in the UK annuity portfolio and the US general account, mainly attributable to Jackson’s fixed annuity portfolio. The credit exposure is well diversified and 98 per cent of our UK portfolio and 96 per cent of our US portfolio are investment grade. We experienced no default losses and reported impairments of £26 million (2014: £7 million) across these two fixed income securities portfolios.

 

(15)  Representing Solvency II own funds of the UK with-profits funds.

 

63


Table of Contents

Investments

General

The overall financial strength of Prudential and the results, both current and future, of the insurance business are in part dependent upon the quality and performance of the various investment portfolios in the United Kingdom, the United States and Asia.

Prudential’s Total Investments

The following table shows Prudential’s insurance and non-insurance investments, net of derivative liabilities, at 31 December 2015. In addition, at 31 December 2015 Prudential had £151.6 billion of external funds under management. Assets held to cover linked liabilities relate to unit-linked and variable annuity products. In this table, investments are valued as set out in note A3.1 to the consolidated financial statements in Item 18.

 

    At 31 December 2015 £m  
     UK
Insurance
    US
Insurance
    Asia
Insurance
    Total
Insurance
    Asset
Management(a)
    Other     Total     Less:
assets to
cover linked
liabilities
and
external
unit
holders(b)
    Group
excluding
assets to
cover
linked
liabilities
and
external
unit
holders
 
Investment properties     13,412        5        5        13,422        -        -        13,422        (3,026)        10,396   
Investments accounted for using the equity method     434        -        475        909        125        -        1,034        -        1,034   
Financial investments:           -             

Loans

    3,571        7,418        1,084        12,073        885        -        12,958        -        12,958   

Equity securities

    47,593        91,216        18,532        157,341        85        27        157,453        (108,452)        49,001   

Debt securities

    83,101        34,071        28,292        145,464        2,204        3        147,671        (19,007)        128,664   

Other investments

    5,486        1,715        57        7,258        94        1        7,353        (189)        7,164   

Deposits

    11,226        -        773        11,999        89        -        12,088        (1,049)        11,039   
Total financial investments     150,977        134,420        48,738        334,135        3,357        31        337,523        (128,697)        208,826   
Total investments     164,823        134,425        49,218        348,466        3,482        31        351,979        (131,723)        220,256   

Derivative liabilities

    (2,125)        (249)        (140)        (2,514)        (283)        (322)        (3,119)        92        (3,027)   
Total investments, net of derivative liabilities     162,698        134,176        49,078        345,952        3,199        (291)        348,860        (131,631)        217,229   

 

(a) Investments held by asset management operations are further split in note C2.4 to the consolidated financial statements in Item 18.

 

(b) Prudential’s Group statement of financial position includes the line by line investments of unit-linked and the consolidated unit-trusts and similar funds. In the table above, these amounts have been deducted in deriving the underlying investments in the right-hand column.

The disclosure below has been provided on a consistent basis as that included in previous Form 20-F submissions, with analysis focusing on the investments attributable to shareholders and consequently excluding those held to cover linked liabilities or attributable to unit holders of consolidated unit trusts and similar funds.

In addition to the detail provided below further analysis is included in the consolidated financial statements, in accordance with IFRS 7 ‘Financial Instruments: Disclosures’. The further analysis is included in notes C2 and C3 to Prudential’s consolidated financial statements in Item 18.

 

64


Table of Contents

Prudential’s Average Investment Return

The following table shows the income from the investments of Prudential’s operations, net of derivative liabilities, by asset category for the periods indicated. This table does not include investment income from assets held to cover linked liabilities and those attributable to external unit holders of consolidated unit trusts and similar funds. Average investment return has been calculated using the average of opening and closing balances for the appropriate asset.

 

    Actual Exchange Rate  
    Year Ended 31 December  
    2015     2014     2013  
     Average
investment
return
    Amount
£m
    Average
investment
return
    Amount
£m
    Average
investment
return
    Amount
£m
 

Investment properties

           

Net investment income

    5.6%        562        5.7%        533        5.2%        477   

Net realised investment (losses) gains

    2.0%        201        0.4%        41        (0.1)%        (6)   

Net unrealised investment (losses) gains

    6.5%        659        8.9%        831        4.1%        376   

Ending assets

      10,396          9,852          8,768   
Investments accounted for using the equity method            

Ending assets

      1,034          1,017          809   

Loans

           

Net investment income

    5.9%        764        5.9%        745        6.5%        787   

Net realised investment (losses) gains

    (0.3)%        (34)        (0.9)%        (116)        (0.2)%        (21)   

Net unrealised investment gains

    (0.1)%        (14)        0.1%        10        0.2%        19   

Ending assets

      12,957          12,841          12,566   

Equity securities

           

Net investment income

    2.5%        1,135        2.6%        997        2.6%        929   

Net realised investment gains

    2.0%        901        2.3%        881        3.8%        1,354   

Net unrealised investment gains (losses)

    (2.5)%        (1,149)        1.9%        743        4.9%        1,766   

Ending assets

      49,001          42,444          35,442   

Debt securities

           

Net investment income

    3.9%        4,933        4.0%        4,937        4.4%        5,188   

Net realised investment gains (losses)

    1.2%        1,534        1.0%        1,173        1.1%        1,299   

Net unrealised investment gains (losses)

    (3.1)%        (3,936)        5.5%        6,688        (3.7)%        (4,308)   

Ending assets

      128,662          127,570          117,675   
Other investments (including derivative liabilities)            

Net investment income

    15.5%        725        16.7%        812        12.5%        597   

Net realised investment (losses) gains

    (8.7)%        (408)        (1.0)%        (50)        (25.5)%        (1,218)   

Net unrealised investment (losses) gains

    (19.8)%        (927)        12.9%        626        (4.6)%        (218)   

Ending assets, net of derivative liabilities

      4,138          5,228          4,484   

Deposits

           

Net investment income

    0.7%        85        0.7%        85        0.8%        85   

Ending assets

      11,039          12,158          11,191   

Total

           

Net investment income

    3.8%        8,204        4.0%        8,109        4.2%        8,063   

Net realised investment gains (losses)

    1.0%        2,194        1.0%        1,929        0.7%        1,408   

Net unrealised investment gains (losses)

    (2.5)%        (5,367)        4.4%        8,898        (1.2)%        (2,365)   

Ending assets, net of derivative liabilities

      217,227          211,110          190,935   

 

65


Table of Contents

Prudential’s Insurance Investment Strategy and Objectives

Prudential’s insurance investments support a range of businesses operating in many geographic areas. Each of the operations formulates a strategy based on the nature of its underlying liabilities, its level of capital and its local regulatory requirements.

Internal Funds Under Management

Prudential manages 68 per cent of its group funds principally through its fund management businesses, M&G in the UK, PPM America in the United States and Eastspring Investments in Asia. The remaining 32 per cent of the Group’s funds mainly relate to assets held to back unit-linked, unit trust and variable annuity liabilities.

In each of the operations, local management analyses the liabilities and determines asset allocation, benchmarks and permitted deviations from these benchmarks appropriate for its operation. These benchmarks and permitted deviations are agreed with internal fund managers, who are responsible for implementing the specific investment strategy through their local fund management operations.

Investments Relating to UK Insurance Business

Strategy

In the UK, Prudential tailors its investment strategy for long-term business, other than unit-linked business, to match the type of product a portfolio supports. The primary distinction is between with-profits portfolios and non-participating portfolios, which include the majority of annuity portfolios. Generally, the objective is to maximise returns while maintaining investment quality and asset security and adhering to the appropriate government regulations.

Consistent with the product nature, in particular regarding guarantees, the with-profits fund’s investment strategy emphasises a well-diversified equity portfolio (containing some international equities), real estate (predominantly in the UK), UK and international fixed income securities and cash.

For Prudential’s UK pension annuities business and other non-participating business the objective is to maximise profits while ensuring stability by closely matching the cash flows of assets and liabilities. To achieve this matching, the strategy is to invest in fixed income securities of appropriate maturity dates.

For Prudential’s unit-linked business, the primary objective is to maximise investment returns subject to following an investment policy consistent with the representations Prudential has made to its unit-linked product policyholders.

Investments

The following table summarises the total investments, net of derivative liabilities, of the UK insurance business at 31 December 2015.

 

     At 31 December 2015 £m  
      SAIF      PAC with-
profits fund
     Other      Total     

Less: assets

to cover

linked

liabilities

and external

unit holders(a)

    

Total

excluding

assets to

cover linked

liabilities and

external unit

holders

 
Investment properties      358         10,757         2,297         13,412         (3,026)         10,386   
Investment accounted for using the equity method      -         434         -         434         -         434   
Financial investments:                  

Loans

     61         1,998         1,512         3,571         -         3,571   

Equity securities

     2,530         29,804         15,259         47,593         (11,394)         36,199   

Debt securities

     2,331         42,204         38,566         83,101         (8,930)         74,171   

Other investments

     210         4,807         469         5,486         (174)         5,312   

Deposits

     399         8,383         2,444         11,226         (835)         10,391   

Total financial investments

     5,531         87,196         58,250         150,977         (21,333)         129,644   

Total investments

     5,889         98,387         60,547         164,823         (24,359)         140,464   

Derivative liabilities

     (76)         (1,436)         (613)         (2,125)         89         (2,036)   
Total investment, net of derivative liabilities      5,813         96,951         59,934         162,698         (24,270)         138,428   

 

(a) Please refer to the notes in the total Group investments table within the “Prudential’s Total Investments” section

 

66


Table of Contents

The following table shows additional analysis of the investments relating to Prudential’s UK insurance business, excluding assets to cover linked liabilities and those attributable to external unit holders of consolidated unit trusts and similar funds, at 31 December 2015. The ‘Other’ column includes investments relating to solvency capital of unit-linked funds and investments relating to non-life long-term business.

 

     At 31 December 2015 £m  
     

With-

Profits

     PRIL      SAIF      Other      Total      Total %  

Investment properties

     8,436         1,383         358         209         10,386         7.5   
Investments accounted for using the equity method      434         -         -         -         434         0.3   

Financial investments:

                 

Loans:

                 

Mortgage loans

     727         290         -         1,218         2,235      

Policy loans

     5         -         3         -         8      

Other loans

     1,266         4         58         -         1,328            

Total loans and receivables

     1,998         294         61         1,218         3,571         2.6   

Equity securities:

                 

United Kingdom:

                 

Listed

     11,827         -         890         37         12,754      

Unlisted

     820         -         9         -         829            

Total United Kingdom

     12,647         -         899         37         13,583         9.8   

International:

                 

United States

     4,241         -         373         1         4,615      

Europe (excluding the United Kingdom)

     10,930         -         814         1         11,745      

Japan

     2,078         -         173         -         2,251      

Pacific (excluding Japan)

     2,500         -         169         1         2,670      

Other

     1,233         -         102         -         1,335            

Total international

     20,982         -         1,631         3         22,616         16.3   

Total equity securities

     33,629         -         2,530         40         36,199         26.1   

Debt securities:

                 

UK government

     1,761         3,342         38         909         6,050      

US government

     1,499         -         196         1         1,696      

Other

     36,501         24,683         2,097         3,144         66,425            

Total debt securities

     39,761         28,025         2,331         4,054         74,171         53.6   

Other investments:

                 

Other financial investments

     3,274         -         185         1         3,460      

Derivative assets

     1,380         440         25         7         1,852            

Total other investments

     4,654         440         210         8         5,312         3.8   

Deposits

     8,383         1,142         399         467         10,391         7.5   

Total investments

     97,295         31,284         5,889         5,996         140,464         101.5   

Derivative liabilities

     (1,364)         (533)         (76)         (63)         (2,036)         (1.5)   

Total investment, net of derivative liabilities

     95,931         30,751         5,813         5,933         138,428         100.0   

 

67


Table of Contents

Equity Securities

Prudential’s UK insurance operations, excluding assets to cover linked liabilities and those attributable to external unit holders of consolidated unit trusts and similar funds, had £36,199 million invested in equities at 31 December 2015. Most of these equities support Prudential Assurance’s with-profits fund and the SAIF fund, both of which are managed using the same general investment strategy.

The following table shows the geographic spread of this equity portfolio by market value in accordance with the policies described in note A3.1 to the consolidated financial statements in Item 18.

 

     At 31 December 2015  
     

Market Value

£m

     %  

United Kingdom

     13,583         37.5   

United States

     4,615         12.7   

Europe (excluding United Kingdom)

     11,745         32.4   

Japan

     2,251         6.2   

Pacific (excluding Japan)

     2,670         7.4   

Other

     1,335         3.8   

Total

     36,199         100.0   

The equity holdings of the UK insurance operations are well diversified. Prudential held direct equities in 363 companies at 31 December 2015. The ten largest holdings in direct equities at 31 December 2015 amounted to £3,136 million, accounting for 8.7 per cent of the total equity holdings of £36,199 million supporting the UK insurance operations. The following table shows the market value of the ten largest holdings in direct equities at 31 December 2015.

 

     At 31 December 2015  
     

        Market Value

£m

     Percentage of Total
UK equities
 

British American Tobacco

     419         1.2   

HSBC Holdings

     384         1.1   

BP

     380         1.0   

GlaxoSmithKline

     337         0.9   

Royal Dutch Shell

     331         0.9   

Vodafone Group

     275         0.8   

BT

     272         0.8   

Astrazeneca

     252         0.7   

Imperial Tobacco

     244         0.7   

Roche Holdings

     242         0.6   

Total

     3,136         8.7   

A wide variety of industry sectors are represented in UK insurance operations’ equity portfolio. At 31 December 2015, within the £36,199 million in equities supporting the UK insurance operations, Prudential had £27,484 million, or 75.9 per cent of the holdings, invested in ten industries. The following table shows the primary industry concentrations based on market value of the portfolio of direct equities relating to the UK insurance business at 31 December 2015.

 

     At 31 December 2015  
     

        Market Value

£m

     Percentage of total
UK equities
 

Financial

     7,139         19.7   

Consumer, non-cyclical

     6,244         17.2   

Consumer, cyclical

     3,006         8.3   

Communications

     2,895         8.0   

Industrial

     2,392         6.6   

Energy

     1,822         5.0   

Technology

     1,489         4.1   

Basic Materials

     1,151         3.2   

Utilities

     1,070         3.0   

Diversified

     276         0.8   

Total

     27,484         75.9   

 

68


Table of Contents

Debt Securities

At 31 December 2015, of the debt securities held by the UK insurance operations, excluding assets to cover linked liabilities and those attributable to external unit holders of consolidated unit trusts and similar funds, 97.7 per cent were issued by corporations and overseas governments other than the US, 8.2 per cent were issued or guaranteed by the UK government and 2.3 per cent were issued or guaranteed by the US government. These guarantees relate only to payment and, accordingly, do not provide protection against fluctuations in market price that may occur during the term of the fixed income securities.

The following table shows the market value of the debt securities portfolio by maturity at 31 December 2015, in accordance with the policies described in note A3.1 to the consolidated financial statements in Item 18.

 

     At 31 December 2015  
     

Market Value

£m

     %  

Securities maturing:

     

Within one year

     2,069         2.8   

Over one year and up to five years

     14,569         19.6   

Over five years and up to ten years

     13,549         18.3   

Over ten years and up to fifteen years

     10,650         14.4   

Over fifteen years

     33,334         44.9   

Total debt securities

     74,171         100.0   

The following table shows debt securities by rating:

 

     At 31 December 2015  
     

Market Value

£m

     %  

S&P—AAA

     8,495         11.5   

S&P—AA+ to AA–

     10,346         13.9   

S&P—A+ to A–

     15,217         20.5   

S&P—BBB+ to BBB–

     15,578         21.0   

S&P—Other

     2,232         3.0   
       51,868         69.9   

Moody’s—Aaa

     1,710         2.3   

Moody’s—Aa1 to Aa3

     6,738         9.1   

Moody’s—A1 to A3

     2,626         3.5   

Moody’s—Baa1 to Baa3

     924         1.2   

Moody’s—Other

     178         0.2   
       12,176         16.3   

Fitch

     506         0.7   

Other

     9,621         13.1   

Total debt securities

     74,171         100.0   

In the table above, Standard & Poor’s (S&P) ratings have been used where available. For securities where S&P ratings are not immediately available, those produced by Moody’s and then Fitch have been used as an alternative. Where no external ratings are available, internal ratings produced by the Group’s asset management operation, which are prepared on the Company’s assessment of a comparable basis to external ratings, are used where possible. Further information is provided in note C3.3 to the consolidated financial statements in Item 18.

 

69


Table of Contents

Real Estate

At 31 December 2015, Prudential’s UK insurance operations, excluding assets to cover linked liabilities and those attributable to external unit holders of consolidated unit trusts and similar funds, had £10,386 million of investments in real estate. The following table shows the real estate portfolio by type of investment. The real estate investments are shown at market value in accordance with the policies described in note A3.1 to the consolidated financial statements in Item 18.

 

     At 31 December 2015  
      Market Value £m      %  

Office buildings

     4,363         41.9   

Shopping centers/commercial

     3,644         35.1   

Retail warehouses/industrial

     1,608         15.5   

Development

     434         4.2   

Other

     337         3.3   

Total

     10,386         100.0   

Approximately 54.7 per cent of the UK held real estate investment is located in London and Southeast England with 40.3 per cent located throughout the rest of the UK and the remaining 5.0 per cent located overseas.

Investments Relating to Prudential’s US Insurance Business

Strategy

The investment strategy of the US insurance operations, for business other than the variable annuity business, is to maintain a diversified and largely investment grade debt securities portfolio that maintains a desired investment spread between the yield on the portfolio assets and the rate credited on policyholder liabilities. Interest rate scenario testing is continually used to monitor the effect of changes in interest yields on cash flows, the present value of future profits and interest rate spreads.

The investment portfolio of the US insurance operations consists primarily of debt securities, although the portfolio also contains investments in mortgage loans, policy loans, common and preferred stocks, derivative instruments, cash and short-term investments and miscellaneous other investments.

Investments

The following table shows total investments, net of derivative liabilities, relating to the US insurance operations at 31 December 2015.

 

     31 December 2015 £m  
      Variable
annuity
separate
account assets
     Fixed annuity,
GIC and other
business
     Total  

Investment properties

     -         5         5   

Financial investments:

        

Loans

     -         7,418         7,418   

Equity securities*

     91,022         194         91,216   

Debt securities

     -         34,071         34,071   

Other investments

     -         1,715         1,715   

Total financial investments

     91,022         43,398         134,420   

Total investments

     91,022         43,403         134,425   

Derivative liabilities

     -         (249)         (249)   

Total investment, net of derivative liabilities

     91,022         43,154         134,176   
* Equity securities include investments in mutual funds, the majority of which are equity-based.

 

70


Table of Contents

The following table further analyses the investments, net of derivative liabilities, of the US insurance operations, excluding the separate account investments supporting the variable annuity business, at 31 December 2015.

 

     31 December 2015  
      £m      %  

Non-institutional

     

Investment properties

     5         -   

Loans

     6,876         15.9   

Equity securities

     135         0.3   

Debt Securities

     

Corporate securities

     22,673         52.6   

Government securities

     4,241         9.8   

Residential mortgage-backed securities

     1,207         2.8   

Commercial mortgage-backed securities

     2,157         5.0   

Other debt securities

     436         1.0   

Total debt securities

     30,714         71.2   

Other investments

     1,632         3.8   

Derivative liabilities

     (50)         (0.1)   

Total non-institutional

     39,312         91.1   

Institutional

     

Loans

     542         1.3   

Equity securities

     59         0.1   

Debt Securities

     

Corporate securities

     2,837         6.6   

Government securities

     -         -   

Residential mortgage-backed securities

     77         0.2   

Commercial mortgage-backed securities

     246         0.6   

Other debt securities

     197         0.5   

Total debt securities

     3,357         7.9   

Other investments

     83         0.2   

Derivative liabilities

     (199)         (0.5)   

Total institutional

     3,842         9.0   

Total

     

Investment properties

     5         -   

Loans

     7,418         17.2   

Equity securities

     194         0.4   

Debt Securities

     

Corporate securities

     25,509         59.2   

Government securities

     4,242         9.8   

Residential mortgage-backed securities

     1,284         3   

Commercial mortgage-backed securities

     2,403         5.6   

Other debt securities

     633         1.5   

Total debt securities

     34,071         79.1   

Other investments

     1,715         3.9   

Derivative liabilities

     (249)         (0.6)   

Total

     43,154         100.0   

Under IFRS, for the insurance operations, debt securities are shown at fair value and loans are at amortised cost (with the exception of certain policy loans which are held to back liabilities for funds withheld under reinsurance arrangements, which are also accounted on a fair value basis). Equity securities and investment properties are shown at fair value. The fair value of unlisted securities is estimated by Jackson using independent pricing services or analytically determined values.

 

71


Table of Contents

Debt Securities

Corporate Securities

At 31 December 2015, the US insurance operations had £25,509 million of corporate securities representing 59.2 per cent of the US insurance operations total investments excluding separate account investments. Of the £25,509 million, £21,776 million consisted of debt securities that are publicly traded or trade under Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (‘Rule 144A’) and £3,733 million consisted of investments in non-Rule 144A privately placed fixed income securities.

Rule 144A is a 1990 United States Securities and Exchange Commission (‘SEC’) rule that facilitates the resale of privately placed securities that are without SEC registration to qualified institutional investors. The rule was designed to develop a more liquid and efficient institutional resale market for unregistered securities.

For statutory reporting in the US, debt securities are classified into six quality categories specified by the Securities Valuation Office of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC). The categories range from Class 1 (the highest) to Class 6 (the lowest). Performing securities are designated as Classes 1 to 5. Securities in or near default are designated Class 6. Securities designated as Class 3, 4, 5 and 6 are non-investment grade securities. Generally, securities rated AAA to A by nationally recognised statistical ratings organisations are reflected in Class 1, BBB in Class 2, BB in Class 3 and B and below in Classes 4 to 6. If a designation is not currently available from the NAIC, Jackson’s investment adviser, PPM America, provides the designation for the purposes of disclosure below.

The following table shows the quality of the publicly traded and SEC Rule 144A debt securities by NAIC classifications:

 

     2015  
     Carrying value  
      £m          % of total  

NAIC designation:

     

1

     8,777         40   

2

     12,151         56   

3

     594         3   

4

     230         1   

5

     22         -   

6

     2         -   
       21,776         100   

The following table shows the quality of the non-SEC Rule 144A private placement portfolio by NAIC classifications:

 

     2015  
     Carrying value  
      £m          % of total  

NAIC designation:

     

1

     1,775         48   

2

     1,832         49   

3

     87         2   

4

     38         1   

5

     1         -   

6

     -         -   
       3,733         100   

Residential Mortgage-Backed Securities

At 31 December 2015, the US insurance operations had £1,284 million of residential mortgage-backed securities, representing 3.0 per cent of US insurance operations total investments, excluding separate account investments. At 31 December 2015, of the £1,284 million, of which £902 million were ‘prime’ securities with 77 per cent of the balance rated AA.

 

72


Table of Contents

The primary investment risk associated with residential mortgage-backed securities is that a change in the interest rate environment or other economic conditions could cause payment of the underlying obligations to be made slower or quicker than was anticipated at the time of their purchase. If interest rates decline, then this risk is called ‘pre-payment risk’ and the underlying obligations will generally be repaid quicker when the yields on reinvestment alternatives are lower. Alternatively, if interest rates rise, the risk is called ‘extension risk’ and the underlying obligations will generally be repaid slower when reinvestment alternatives offer higher returns. Residential mortgage-backed securities offer additional yield to compensate for these risks. The US operations can manage pre-payment risk, in part, by reducing crediting rates on its products.

Commercial Mortgage-Backed Securities

At 31 December 2015, the US insurance operations had £2,403 million of commercial mortgage-backed securities, representing 5.6 per cent of US insurance operations total investments, excluding separate account investments. Of this total, 56.9 per cent were rated AAA (Standard & Poor’s ratings have been used where available and for securities where S&P ratings are not immediately available, those produced by Moody’s and then Fitch have been used as an alternative). Due to the structures of the underlying commercial mortgages, these securities do not present the same pre-payment or extension risk as residential mortgage-backed securities.

Other Debt Securities

At 31 December 2015, the US insurance operations had £633 million of other debt securities, representing 1.5 per cent of US insurance operations total investments, excluding separate account investments.

Loans

At 31 December 2015, loans totaled £7,418 million, representing 17.2 per cent of US insurance operations total investments, excluding separate account investments. Of the total, £4,367 million related to commercial mortgage loans and £3,051 million to policy loans. Of the £3,051 million policy loans, £2,183 million were held to back the liabilities for funds withheld under reinsurance arrangement attaching to the purchase of REALIC in 2012.

Commercial Mortgage Loans

At 31 December 2015, commercial mortgage loans represented 10.1 per cent of US insurance operations total investments, excluding separate account investments. The average loan size is £8.6 million, collateralised by properties located in the United States.

Jackson has addressed the risk of these investments by building a portfolio that is diverse both in geographic distribution and property type.

The property types are mainly industrial, multi-family residential, suburban office, retail and hotel. The breakdown of the market value by property type is as follows:

 

      31 December 2015 %  

Multi-family residential mortgage loans

     29.9   

Industrial mortgage loans

     27.5   

Retail mortgage loans

     17.3   

Suburban office mortgage loans

     11.3   

Hotel mortgage loans

     10.1   

Other loans

     3.9   

Total

     100.0   

The following table shows the geographic split of the collateral for these loans:

 

      31 December 2015 %  

California

     11.8   

Florida

     6.9   

Texas

     7.0   

Ohio

     6.5   

Washington

     5.2   

Other (sum of all states < 5% each)

     62.6   

Total

     100.0   

 

73


Table of Contents

Commercial mortgages generally involve more credit risk than residential mortgages due to several factors, including larger loan size, general and local economic conditions, local real estate conditions and the credit quality of the underlying tenants for the properties. Jackson’s investment policy and strict underwriting standards are designed to reduce these risks while maintaining attractive yields. In contrast to residential mortgage loans, commercial mortgage loans have minimal or no pre-payment and extension risk.

Policy Loans

Policy loans represented 7.0 per cent of US insurance operations total investments, excluding separate account investments at 31 December 2015. Policy loans are fully secured by individual life insurance policies or annuity policies and are contractual arrangements made under the policy. As described above, £2,183 million out of the £3,051 million policy loans were held to back the liabilities for funds withheld under reinsurance arrangement attaching to the purchase of REALIC in 2012.

Equity Securities

Equity securities supporting US insurance operations, excluding separate account investments, totaled £194 million at 31 December 2015.

Other

Other financial investments of £1,715 million, representing 3.8 per cent of US insurance operations total investments, excluding separate account investments at 31 December 2015 were made up of £810 million of limited partnership interests and derivative assets of £905 million.

The largest investment in the limited partnerships category is a £72 million interest in the PPM America Private Equity Fund. The remainder of this category consists of diversified investments in 162 other partnerships managed by independent money managers that generally invest in various equity and fixed income loans and securities.

Investments Relating to Asian Insurance Business

Prudential’s Asian insurance operations’ investments, excluding assets to cover linked liabilities and those attributable to external unit holders of consolidated unit trusts and similar funds, largely support the business of Prudential’s Singapore, Hong Kong and Malaysia operations.

The following table shows Asia’s investments, net of derivative liabilities, at 31 December 2015. In this table, investments are valued in accordance with the policies described in note A3.1 to the consolidated financial statements in Item 18.

 

     31 December 2015 £m  
      With-profits
business
     Unit-linked
assets
     Other      Total      Less: assets
to cover
linked
liabilities
and external
unit holders(a)
     Total
excluding
assets to
cover
linked
liabilities
and
external
unit holders
     %  

Investment properties

     -         -         5         5         -         5         -   
Investments accounted for using the equity method      -         -         475         475         -         475         1.5   

Financial investments:

                    

Loans

     540         -         544         1,084         -         1,084         3.3   

Equity securities

     6,861         10,831         840         18,532         (6,036)         12,496         38.2   

Debt securities

     16,335         2,809         9,148         28,292         (10,076)         18,216         55.6   

Other investments

     28         16         13         57         (16)         41         0.1   

Deposits

     188         214         371         773         (214)         559         1.7   

Total financial investments

     23,952         13,870         10,916         48,738         (16,342)         32,396         98.9   

Total investments

     23,952         13,870         11,396         49,218         (16,342)         32,876         100.4   

Derivative liabilities

     (124)         (2)         (14)         (140)         3         (137)         (0.4)   
Total investment, net of derivative liabilities      23,828         13,868         11,382         49,078         (16,339)         32,739         100.0   

 

(a) Please refer to notes in the total Group investments table.

 

74


Table of Contents

Prudential manages interest rate risk in Asia by matching liabilities with fixed interest assets of the same duration to the extent possible. Asian fixed interest markets however generally have a relatively short bond issue term, which makes complete matching challenging. A large proportion of the Hong Kong liabilities are denominated in US dollars and Prudential holds US fixed interest securities to back these liabilities.

Debt Securities

The following table shows rating categorisation of the debt security investments of Prudential Corporation Asia’s long-term insurance fund, excluding assets to cover linked liabilities and those attributable to external unit holders of consolidated unit trusts and similar funds, at 31 December 2015.

 

     31 December 2015  
      Market Value £m      %  

S&P—AAA

     804         4.4   

S&P—AA+ to AA–

     6,485         35.6   

S&P—A+ to A–

     2,504         13.7   

S&P—BBB+ to BBB–

     1,731         9.5   

S&P—Other

     1,166         6.4   
       12,690         69.6   

Moody’s—Aaa

     816         4.5   

Moody’s—Aa1 to Aa3

     1,355         7.4   

Moody’s—A1 to A3

     322         1.8   

Moody’s—Baa1 to Baa3

     247         1.4   

Moody’s—Other

     14         0.1   
       2,754         15.2   

Fitch

     834         4.6   

Other*

     1,938         10.6   

Total debt securities

     18,216         100.0   
* Further information is provided in note C3.3 to the consolidated financial statements in item 18.

Equity Securities

The following table shows a geographic analysis of equity security investments of Asia’s long-term insurance fund, excluding assets to cover linked liabilities and those attributable to external unit holders of consolidated unit trusts and similar funds, at 31 December 2015.

 

     31 December 2015  
      Market Value £m      %  

Hong Kong

     6,686         53.5   

Singapore

     4,941         39.5   

Taiwan

     538         4.3   

Malaysia

     243         1.9   

Other

     88         0.8   

Total

     12,496         100.0   

Description of Property — Corporate Property

As at 31 December 2015, Prudential’s UK headquartered businesses occupied 71 properties in the United Kingdom, Europe, India and Africa. These properties are primarily offices with some ancillary storage facilities. Prudential’s global headquarters is located in London and is held on a freehold basis. Of the remainder, the most significant holdings are offices in London and Reading in England, Stirling in Scotland and Mumbai in India. The property in Stirling is held on a freehold basis, and is leased by the business from PAC’s with-profits fund. The rest of the properties occupied by Prudential’s UK based businesses, in the UK and India, are held leasehold. Elsewhere in Europe, 25 of the properties are occupied leasehold and the rest (eleven) are short-term serviced offices. Seventeen properties are leased in Ghana, Kenya and Uganda, Africa. The leasehold properties range in size from 500 to 225,000 sq. ft. Overall, the UK, Europe, Africa and Asia occupied property portfolio totals approximately 835,000 sq. ft.

 

75


Table of Contents

Prudential’s UK headquartered businesses also hold one surplus owned property and approximately 18 surplus leasehold properties in the United Kingdom, spread geographically throughout the country. This surplus accommodation (i.e. not occupied by the Group but including those sublet) totals approximately 263,000 sq. ft. There are also two surplus land holdings in the United Kingdom, totalling 57 acres. A high proportion of the surplus estate has been sublet to third party occupiers generating income for the Group to cover this overhead. As at 31 December 2015 vacancy within the surplus estate stood at 47,000 sq. ft.

In the United States, Prudential owns Jackson National Life’s executive and principal administrative office located in Michigan. Prudential owns a total of eight facilities in Lansing, Michigan, which total approximately 867,665 sq. ft. Prudential also leases premises in Michigan, Colorado, Tennessee, California, Illinois, New York, New Jersey, Georgia, Florida, Wisconsin, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, Texas, Maryland and North Dakota for certain of its operations. Prudential holds 31 operating leases with respect to office space, throughout the United States. The leasehold properties range in size from 500—180,000 sq. ft. In the United States, Prudential owns and leases a total of approximately 1,489,000 sq. ft. of property. In addition to the owned and leased properties, Prudential also owns a total of 446 acres of surplus land, all located in Lansing, Michigan.

Prudential’s United States headquartered business also sublets two surplus office properties in Lansing, Michigan, totalling approximately 14,200 sq. ft., located in one of its owned properties.

In Asia, Prudential owns or leases properties principally in Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, the Philippines, China (50 per cent joint venture), Taiwan, Japan, Vietnam, India (26 per cent joint venture), Korea, United Arab Emirates, Myanmar, Laos and Cambodia.

Within these countries, Prudential owns 59 property assets (including those owned by its with-profits funds), ranging from office space to land holdings. The breakdown of these owned assets by country is as follows:

Malaysia (including the Malaysia Takaful joint venture): thirty two individually saleable owned assets—Office and residential space totalling 307,104 sq. ft.

Philippines: two owned assets—Office space totalling 4,278 sq. ft.

Singapore: one owned asset—Office space totalling 11,883 sq. ft.

Taiwan: sixteen owned assets—All surplus land holdings totalling 30,137 sq. ft.

Thailand: eight owned assets—Office space and surplus land holdings totalling 36,481 sq. ft.

Prudential has (excluding India but including the China and Malaysia Takaful joint ventures), a total of 504 external operating leases, totalling approximately 4.43 million square feet of property.

In India, Prudential holds a minority stake (26 per cent) with ICICI in a joint venture which holds the property interests. The property is occupied by the ICICIPru Life and ICICIPru AMC businesses. The holding comprises approximately 660 leased properties, totalling approximately 930,000 sq. ft. There is one owned and occupied asset comprising approximately 40,000 sq. ft. in Mumbai.

Prudential Corporation Asia’s real estate strategy involves consolidation of its existing property portfolio to support its local business strategies throughout the region, to take advantage of opportunities in the regional markets in securing long term cost savings for the business while maintaining competitive advantage.

M&G has agreed a pre-let transaction with a developer to lease 323,000 sq ft of offices in Central London, commencing in 2018. The building is currently under construction. The Malaysian headquartered businesses (forming part of Prudential Corporation Asia) have agreed a pre-let transaction with a developer to lease 326,500 sq ft of offices in Kuala Lumpur, commencing in 2018. Building groundworks have commenced.

There have been no other property transactions subsequent to 31 December 2015 which would have a material impact on the financial position of Prudential.

 

76


Table of Contents

Prudential believes that its facilities are suitable for the conduct of its businesses. We periodically review our space requirements and may acquire or lease new space as needed to accommodate any future needs of our businesses. Prudential’s operating leases have no material commercial value.

In summary, Prudential owns 43 properties which it also occupies and which are accounted for as owner occupied. These properties are comprised of thirty four in Asia, one in the UK and eight in the US. ICICI Pru also owns and occupies one property in India. The total value of Prudential’s owner occupied properties at 31 December 2015 was £411 million. This represents less than 1 per cent of Prudential’s total assets.

Prudential is the lessee under 592 operating leases used as office accommodation, comprising 504 leases held by the Asia business, 31 leases held by the US business and 57 leases held by the UK businesses. For the UK based businesses, Prudential holds 13 short-term serviced offices.

Investment Interests

Prudential also holds interests in properties within its investment portfolios accounted for as investment property. At 31 December 2015 the total value of investment properties was £13,422 million and comprised 471 properties held by the UK,3 held in Asia and 6 held by the US. In total they comprised 3.5 per cent of Prudential’s total assets. The UK business’ holdings account for over 99 per cent by value of the total investment properties.

Competition

General

There are other significant participants in each of the financial services markets in which Prudential operates. Its competitors include both mutual and stock financial companies. In addition, regulatory and other developments in many of Prudential’s markets have blurred traditional financial service industry lines and opened the market to new competitors and increased competition. In some of the Prudential’s markets, other companies may have greater financial resources, allowing them to benefit from economies of scale, and may have stronger brands than Prudential does in that market.

The principal competitive factors affecting the sale of Prudential’s products in its chosen markets are:

 

    price and yields offered,

 

    financial strength and ratings,

 

    commission levels, charges and other expenses,

 

    range of product lines and product quality,

 

    brand strength, including reputation and quality of service,

 

    distribution channels,

 

    investment management performance and

 

    historical bonus/contract enhancement and bonus interest levels.

An important competitive factor is the ratings Prudential receives in some of its target markets, most notably in the United States, from recognised rating organisations. The intermediaries with whom the Prudential works, including financial advisers, tied agents, brokers, wholesalers and financial institutions consider ratings as one factor in determining which provider to purchase financial products from.

Prudential offers different products in its different markets in Asia, the United Kingdom and the United States and, accordingly, faces different competitors and different types of competition in these markets. In all of the markets in which Prudential operates, its products are not unique and, accordingly, it faces competition from market participants who manufacture a varying range of similar and identical products.

 

77


Table of Contents

Asia

The competitive landscape across the Asia Pacific region differs widely by geographical market, reflecting differing levels of market maturity and regulation. Prudential’s competitors include both the subsidiaries of global life insurers and local domestic (including state-owned) entities. Subsidiaries of global life insurance groups that operate in the Asia Pacific region tend to operate in multiple markets in the region, and some currently have top five market shares in a small number of markets. The majority of local domestic life insurers in the Asia Pacific region remain focused on their core home markets. The developed and liberalised markets of Hong Kong and Singapore are dominated by subsidiaries and branches of global life insurance groups. The developing markets in South East Asia such as Indonesia, Vietnam and the Philippines also see a high level of participation by global life insurance groups. The large and relatively mature markets of Korea and Taiwan are dominated by local domestic insurers. In certain countries with continued foreign ownership restrictions (such as China and India), the life insurance markets are dominated by local domestic insurers or by joint venture entities between global insurance groups and local companies.

The global life insurers that are Prudential’s competitors in the Asia Pacific region include AIA, Allianz, Aviva, AXA, and Manulife. Other competitors relevant in some of Prudential’s key markets include HSBC Life in Hong Kong, Hanwha Life (formerly Korea Life), Kyobo Life and Samsung Life in Korea, Thai Life in Thailand, Great Eastern in Singapore and Malaysia, and China Life, China Pacific and Ping An in China. Prudential’s principal competitors in respect of its fund management operations across the region largely comprise multinational asset manager such as J.P. Morgan Asset Management, Schroders, HSBC Global Asset Management, Franklin Templeton, Fidelity Worldwide Investment and Aberdeen Asset Management.

United States

Prudential’s insurance operations in the United States operate under the Jackson brand. Prudential is not affiliated with Prudential Financial, Inc. or its subsidiary, The Prudential Insurance Company of America.

Jackson’s competitors in the United States include major stock and mutual insurance companies, mutual fund organisations, banks and other financial services companies. National banks, in particular, may become more significant competitors in the future for insurers who sell annuities, due to current legislation, court decisions and regulatory actions. Jackson’s principal life insurance company competitors in the United States include AIG, Prudential Financial, MetLife, Lincoln National, AXA Financial, AEGON and Allianz.

Jackson does not have a career agency sales force to distribute its annuity products in the United States and, consequently, competes for distributors such as banks, broker-dealers and independent agents.

United Kingdom

Prudential’s principal competitors include many of the major retail financial services and fund management companies operating in the United Kingdom. These companies include Aviva, Legal & General, Standard Life, Scottish Widows, Aegon, AXA, Just Retirement, Zurich Financial Services, Liverpool Victoria, Fidelity, Invesco Perpetual, Jupiter, Threadneedle, Schroders and BlackRock. Prudential competes with other providers of financial products to be included on financial advisors’ panels of preferred providers.

Intellectual Property

Prudential conducts business under the ‘Prudential’, ‘Jackson’, ‘M&G’ and ‘Eastspring Investments’ brand names and logos. It is also the registered owner of over 100 domain names, including ‘www.prudential.co.uk’, ‘www.prudentialcorporation-asia.com’, ’www.jackson.com’, ’www.mandg.co.uk’, ‘www.eastspringinvestments.com’ and ’www.pru.co.uk’.

Prudential does not operate in the United States under the Prudential name and there have been long-standing arrangements between it and Prudential Financial, Inc. and its subsidiary, the Prudential Insurance Company of America, relating to their respective uses of the Prudential name. Under these arrangements Prudential Financial Inc has the right to use the Prudential name in the Americas and certain parts of the Caribbean, Japan, Korea and Taiwan and Prudential has the right to use the name everywhere else in the world although third parties have rights to the name in certain countries.

 

78


Table of Contents

Legal Proceedings

The Group is involved in a number of litigation and regulatory issues. These include civil proceedings involving Jackson, which appear to be substantially similar to other class action litigation brought against many life insurers in the US, alleging misconduct in the sale of insurance products. Whilst the outcome of such litigation and regulatory issues cannot be predicted with certainty, the Company believes that their ultimate outcome will not have a material adverse effect on the Group’s financial condition, results of operations, or cash flows.

Sources

Throughout this annual report, Prudential describes the position and ranking of its overall business and individual business units in various industry and geographic markets. The sources for such descriptions come from a variety of conventional sources generally accepted as relevant business indicators by members of the financial services industry. These sources include information available from the Annuity Specs, Asia Asset Management Magazine, Asosiasi Asuransi Jiwa Indonesia, Association of British Insurers, Association of Vietnamese Insurers, Association of Unit Trusts and Investment Funds, Fitch, Hong Kong Federation of Insurers, Hong Kong Office of the Commissioner of Insurance, HSBC Global Research, Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India, Insurance Services Malaysia Berhad, Investment Management Association, Life Insurance Marketing and Research Association (LIMRA), Life Insurance Association of Malaysia, Life Insurance Association of Singapore, Life Insurance Association of Taiwan, Lipper Inc., Morningstar, Moody’s, Neilsen Net Ratings, Propriety Research, Service Quality Management Group, SNL Financial, Standard & Poor’s, Thai Life Assurance Association, The Asset Benchmark Research, The Advantage Group, The Asset, Townsend and Schupp and UBS.

 

79


Table of Contents

SUPERVISION AND REGULATION OF PRUDENTIAL

Prudential’s principal insurance and investment operations are in Asia, the United Kingdom (‘UK’), and the United States (‘US’). Accordingly, it is subject to applicable Asian, UK and US insurance and other financial services regulation which is discussed below.

Since April 2013, the Prudential Regulation Authority (the ‘PRA’) has been Prudential’s ‘lead supervisor’ and played a principal role in assessing and ensuring the adequacy of Prudential’s solvency and financial stability on a Group-wide basis. Draft UK legislation in the Bank of England Financial Services Bill proposes to change the PRA’s status as a separate legal entity and subsidiary of the Bank of England and instead make it an integral part of the Bank of England itself. A new committee of the Bank of England, the Prudential Regulation Committee (the ‘PRC’) will be established to exercise the functions of the PRA. It is anticipated that the draft Bill will be enacted and come into force in the spring of 2016. The PRA brand and objectives will remain unchanged.

The regulators supervising the Group do so on a cross-border basis through a ‘regulatory college’. The college meets at an annual event hosted by the PRA and includes a number of non-UK regulators who supervise Prudential’s overseas operations, as well as representatives from the Financial Conduct Authority (‘FCA’) and European Insurance and Occupational Pensions Authority (‘EIOPA’). In 2015, other participants included representatives from regulators in Singapore, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Ireland and Michigan (US). The annual PRA college process began in 2014 and EIOPA has full participation rights. The aim of the college is to enhance cooperation and coordination of activities between the Group’s key regulators.

As well as coordinating EU-level local regulators and hosting the college described above, since both Prudential’s parent company and a significant proportion of its global insurance operations are in the UK, the PRA plays an important coordinating role in regulatory initiatives at a global level. This role is less formal than within the EU and depends principally on the various memoranda of understanding signed with non-EU regulators, including in the US and Asia. In consequence, although the PRA’s role as a lead supervisor does not restrict the role of individual local regulators or override the local insurance and other financial services regimes described in the following sections, the PRA’s rules and its regulatory agenda impact Prudential’s operations globally.

Moreover, because the UK regulatory framework is considerably shaped and influenced by regulations, directives and subsidiary legislation and rules emanating from the EU, the significant Group-wide impact of such rules may, at times, result in legal and regulatory developments in the EU having a significant impact on the business and operations of the Group as a whole.

Global Regulatory Developments and Trends

There are a number of ongoing policy initiatives and regulatory developments at a global level that are having, and will continue to have, an impact on the way Prudential is supervised. These include the work of the Financial Stability Board (‘FSB’) (an international body established to coordinate, develop and promote effective regulatory, supervisory and other financial sector policies in the interests of financial stability) and the work of standard-setting institutions such as the International Association of Insurance Supervisors (‘IAIS’).

The IAIS has various initiatives which are detailed in this section. On 18 July 2013, it published a methodology for identifying G-SIIs, and a set of policy measures that will apply to them, which the FSB endorsed. Groups designated as a G-SII are subject to additional regulatory requirements, including enhanced group-wide supervision, effective resolution planning, development of a Systemic Risk Management Plan, a Recovery Plan and a Liquidity Risk Management Plan. Prudential’s designation as a G-SII was reaffirmed on 3 November 2015. Prudential is monitoring the development and potential impact of the policy measures and is continuing to engage with the PRA on the implications of the policy measures and Prudential’s designation as a G-SII. The IAIS is also developing ComFrame which is focused on the supervision of large and complex Internationally Active Insurance Groups (IAIGs). ComFrame will establish a set of common principles and standards designed to assist regulators in addressing risks that arise from insurance groups with operations in multiple jurisdictions.

See the Group Risk Framework section in Item 4 of this document for more on these two regulatory developments.

 

80


Table of Contents

Similar national and regional efforts to curb systemic risk and promote financial stability are also underway in certain of the jurisdictions in which Prudential operates, including the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (the ‘Dodd-Frank Act’) in the US (further discussed in ‘US Supervision and Regulation—Financial services regulatory and legislative issues’), and legislation in the European Union related to the financial services industry. The aggregate impact and possible interaction of these regulatory developments is difficult to determine at this stage.

At the national level, regulation and supervisory practice is evolving rapidly as regulators seek to strengthen their regimes in light of the lessons of the financial crisis and the influence of international standards (eg IAIS). The following points are discussed in greater detail in the regional sections below, but are referenced here due to their significant impact.

The European Union’s Solvency II Directive came into effect on 1 January 2016. The European Commission will review elements of the Solvency II legislation from 2016 onwards including a review of the Long Term Guarantee measures by 1 January 2021.

The IAIS Insurance Core Principles (‘ICP’), which provide a globally accepted framework for the supervision of the insurance sector and ComFrame evolution, are expected to create continued development in both prudential and conduct regulations over the next two to three years, particularly in the emerging markets of Asia.

The regulatory environment continues to evolve in Asia, where economies in the region are in various phases of maturity. In general (though there are exceptions), regulators in developing economies continue to build the regulatory framework relevant to their level of economic development. This increased regulatory pressure will continue to affect Prudential’s Asian businesses as Asian regulators begin to adopt the new IAIS standards, which is expected to cause sharper focus on risk management systems and in some jurisdictions may result in a requirement to hold more capital to manage asset and liability positions.

Consumer protection continues to be a key theme influencing regulatory change in Asia. For example, in 2015 Bank Negara Malaysia (‘BNM’) finalised the Life Insurance and Family Takaful Framework with the aim of increasing the professionalism of intermediaries, enhancing the transparency around the provision of products and services to consumers and achieving higher levels of insurance and Takaful penetration in Malaysia. Specific initiatives based on this framework will follow during 2016 up to early 2019.

A major focus of regulators and policymakers in recent years has been combating money laundering, terrorist financing, bribery and corruption, as well as enforcing compliance with economic sanctions. Such matters are not limited to certain jurisdictions, although the risks of non-compliance in developing markets are considered higher than in more established markets. In addition, laws in one country can affect how a firm operates in another country. For example, the UK Bribery Act 2010 and the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (as amended in 1998) have a very broad jurisdictional reach, allowing for the prosecution of an individual or company with links to the UK or U.S., regardless of where the crime or potential crime occurred.

UK Supervision and Regulation

The Financial Services and Markets Act 2000

Prudential’s insurance and investment businesses in the UK are regulated under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (‘FSMA 2000’), as amended by the 2012 Financial Services Act (‘FS Act’). In addition, those businesses are subject to various UK laws (for example, the Data Protection Act 1998 in relation to the processing of customer data and various Pension Acts) some of which require the relevant Prudential entity to be licensed or registered.

UK regulatory regime

There are two principal financial services regulators in the UK:

 

  The PRA, which oversees micro-prudential regulation of deposit-takers, insurers and some systemically important investment firms; and

 

81


Table of Contents
  The FCA, which is responsible for conduct of business regulation of all authorised firms and the prudential regulation of firms not regulated by the PRA. The FCA has also inherited the majority of the market regulatory functions (excluding certain functions which are the responsibility of the Bank of England) previously held by the FSA.

In discharging their respective functions, the PRA and FCA have separate objectives as defined in FSMA 2000 as amended by the FS Act. The general objective of the PRA is to promote the safety and soundness of PRA-authorised persons. The PRA also has an insurance objective, which is to contribute to the securing of an appropriate degree of protection for those who are or may become policyholders. The strategic objective of the FCA is to ensure that the relevant markets that it regulates function properly. The FCA has three operational objectives: to secure an appropriate degree of protection for consumers; to protect and enhance the integrity of the UK financial system; and to promote effective competition in the interests of consumers.

The approach of the PRA and FCA

Close and regular contact between the PRA and FCA and senior management and those individuals in firms performing controlled functions remains a feature of the UK regulatory regime. Both regulators have continued to focus on risk, but with their approaches informed by separate statutory objectives and pursued through distinct supervisory programmes.

Both the PRA and FCA have sought to adopt a more judgement-led approach to supervision while also being more forward-looking in relevant judgments by assessing firms against both current and future risks. The approach of both the PRA and the FCA is also principles-based; reliance on technical rules is insufficient to ensure the correct outcomes are met. This has resulted in a more intrusive and proactive approach to supervision.

The PRA is weighting its supervision towards those issues and those insurers that, in its judgment, pose the greatest risk to its statutory objectives, conducting its assessment work on a continuous cycle. For significant firms such as Prudential, the PRA conducts detailed analysis of their business models including, in the case of an insurer, forming its own projection of the insurer’s ability to generate returns and the associated risks. In line with a more interventionist approach, the PRA has indicated that it will require the insurer to change its business model if it believes that mitigating measures alone cannot adequately reduce material risks to safety and soundness and policyholder protection. Both the PRA and the FCA have placed a significant focus on assessing the governance frameworks and culture that exist within financial firms.

The FCA’s supervision model is built upon three pillars of supervision activity:

 

  Pillar I is a programme of proactive, firm-specific supervision for the largest firms and groups;

 

  Pillar II is event-driven, reactive supervision, which is focused on dealing with crystallised or crystallising risks in accordance with the FCA’s risk appetite; and

 

  Pillar III is the FCA’s thematic approach, where it focuses on risks and issues for a sector as a whole.

The FCA is responsible for supervising around 73,000 firms and thus has to allocate its resources by perceived risk. All authorised firms have been allocated to one of the two following conduct categories.

 

  Fixed portfolio firms: Fixed portfolio firms are the largest firms and groups across both retail and wholesale markets. These firms, which include subsidiaries of Prudential, have an ongoing proactive relationship with a dedicated team of supervisors at the FCA and are subject to an ongoing cycle of proactive supervision.

 

  Flexible portfolio firms: Flexible portfolio firms are supervised through thematic and market-based work, along with programmes of communication, engagement and education activity aligned to the key risks identified in the relevant sector.

 

82


Table of Contents

While the PRA has prudential responsibility for all deposit takers, insurers and significant investment firms, the FCA is the prudential supervisor for most firms across the financial services industry, such as asset managers, financial advisers, and mortgage and insurance brokers. The FCA is the conduct supervisor for all UK regulated financial services firms.

The FCA’s approach aims to minimise the harm to consumers, wholesale market participants and market stability when firms experience financial stress or fail in a disorderly manner. The starting principle is that, if firms are failing, they should be allowed to do so in an orderly manner, regardless of their size. Firms that are solely regulated by the FCA are allocated to one of three prudential categories:

 

  P1 firms, whose failure would cause lasting and widespread financial and reputational damage to their customers, client assets and the marketplace beyond, are subject to periodic capital and, if applicable, liquidity assessment, conducted by the FCA’s prudential specialists every 24 months.

 

  P2 firms are those whose disorderly failure would damage consumers and client assets but are more easily dealt with than the failure of a P1 firm. They are subject to periodic capital and, if applicable, liquidity assessment, conducted by prudential specialists every 48 months.

 

  P3 firms are those whose failure, even if disorderly, is unlikely to cause any significant harm to consumers or market integrity. These firms are supervised on a reactive basis.

Whilst some of the UK regulated entities in the Prudential Group are dual regulated, the relevant entities in our M&G fund management business are solely regulated by the FCA and are classified as P1 on the above scale.

Overview of FSMA 2000 regulatory regime

Principles for Businesses and Fundamental Rules

An authorised firm is subject to a range of ongoing regulatory requirements supervised by the FCA and, for dual-regulated firms, the PRA. These include the requirement to meet at all times specified threshold conditions, which include possession of adequate resources for the carrying on of its business and being fit and proper. Key features of the regime are the FCA’s 11 ‘Principles for Businesses’ and the PRA’s 8 ‘Fundamental Rules’. These cover key areas such as the firm’s relationship with the FCA and PRA, the need to conduct business with integrity and the requirement to pay due regard to the interests of customers and treat them fairly.

Main features of regulation applicable to Prudential’s insurance and investment businesses

Supervision of management of authorised firms

Until 7 March 2016, the PRA and FCA supervised the management of all authorised firms through the ‘approved persons’ regime, under which any appointment of a person who performed a ‘controlled function’, including functions that enable the exercise of significant influence over an authorised firm, must have been pre-approved by the PRA or FCA, as applicable. Increasingly the regulators are looking to understand how senior managers discharge their responsibilities and are holding them to account for regulatory failings.

A number of senior managers in the Group Head Office were registered as approved persons for certain of the regulated subsidiaries with either just the PRA or both the PRA and FCA, even though in most cases they were not directors or senior managers of those entities. This was in recognition of the significant influence these managers exerted over the regulated subsidiaries.

The new Senior Insurance Managers’ Regime (‘SIMR’) has applied since 7 March 2016. It was proposed by the PRA in November 2014 and is broadly in line with the regime implemented for the banking sector in the UK, following the Financial Services (Banking Reform) Act 2013. The SIMR replaced the approved persons regime previously in place for insurance firms, and brings extra emphasis on the conduct of senior managers and their individual responsibility for decisions, which could lead to firms facing regulatory censure. Senior managers have core responsibilities prescribed to them, according to their role.

 

83


Table of Contents

Under the SIMR, firms have to maintain a governance map that describes their management and governance arrangements and to ensure there are no gaps in the allocation of responsibilities. There are also some changes to the “fit and proper” requirements under Solvency II, which were implemented at the same time as the SIMR came into force. In addition to the new regime for senior managers, a new set of conduct standards have been introduced which apply to senior managers as well as to a wider class of insurance firm employees to the extent that they perform a ‘key function’. A grandfathering exercise took place before the end of March 2016 to ensure staff authorised under the previous regime were transitioned across to SIMR, as appropriate, including those in Group Head Office.

The PRA published a Consultation Paper in May 2015 on corporate governance and board responsibilities. This paper sought views on a draft supervisory statement which drew on the PRA’s regulatory experience to identify some key issues for boards to consider, and to which the PRA pays close attention in the conduct of its supervision. The draft statement underscores the collective responsibilities shared by board members, and as such, complements the individual accountabilities which the PRA has introduced through SIMR.

The PRA published a Consultation Paper in September 2015 relating to the implementation of audit committee requirements under the revised Statutory Audit Directive. The requirements apply to a range of firms, including Solvency II insurers. Key provisions include a requirement that the audit committee should be a sub-committee of the Board and membership should consist entirely of independent NEDs. The requirements are consistent with the way that the Group Audit Committee currently functions. However the proposals may have a significant impact on the composition of subsidiary audit committees. The changes will apply to financial years beginning on or after 17 June 2016.

Conduct of Business Rules

The FCA’s Conduct of Business Rules regulate the day-to-day conduct of business standards to be observed by authorised persons in carrying on regulated activities.

The scope and range of obligations imposed on an authorised firm under the Conduct of Business Rules varies according to its business and the range of its clients. Generally, however, the obligations imposed on an authorised firm include the need to categorise its clients according to their level of sophistication, provide them with information about the firm, meet certain standards of product disclosure, ensure that promotional materials which it produces are clear, fair and not misleading, assess suitability when advising on certain products, manage conflicts of interest, report appropriately to its clients and provide certain protections in relation to client assets. Additional details of relevance to the insurance and investment businesses are discussed below.

Authorised firms which advise and sell to retail customers packaged products such as life insurance policies are subject to detailed conduct of business obligations relating to product disclosure, assessment of suitability, the range and scope of the advice which the firm provides, and fee and remuneration arrangements.

Financial Advice and Fairness

In August 2015, HM Treasury and the FCA announced the launch of the Financial Advice Market Review (‘FAMR’), which is intended to consider the current regulatory and legal frameworks governing the provision of financial advice to consumers, and its effectiveness in ensuring that all consumers have access to the information, advice and guidance necessary to enable them to make effective decisions about their finances. This review:

 

  examined the “advice gap” for people who do not have sufficient wealth;

 

  ensured the regulatory and legislative environment allows and encourages firms to innovate and grow their business models to include affordable and accessible financial advice; and

 

  considered ways to encourage people to seek financial advice, addressing unnecessary barriers that currently deter them.

 

84


Table of Contents

This review considered all types of retail financial products including pensions, savings, mortgages and insurance and reported ahead of the Budget in March 2016. On 14 March 2016, the FCA and HM Treasury published their final report setting out 28 recommendations to increase the accessibility and affordability of the advice and guidance that consumers get in the UK. The recommendations focus on three key areas:

 

  Affordability: advice and guidance to the mass market should be more cost-effective. Firms should develop more streamlined services and engage with customers in a more effective way. There is a proposal for the FCA to set up a dedicated team to help firms develop large-scale automated advice models to bring these to market more quickly.

 

  Accessibility: implementing procedures to help consumers engage more effectively with advice. These include making consumers’ own information more easily available to them and those who advise them; the development of “rules of thumb” and the use of nudges to encourage customers to seek support at key life stages. The report also recommends measures to help employers to give more support to their staff on financial matters.

 

  Liabilities and consumer redress: recommendations to increase clarity and transparency about the way in which the Financial Ombudsman Service deals with consumer complaints. The report also makes recommendations in relation to the FCA’s review of funding of the Financial Services Compensation Scheme to assist advisers struggling to predict and budget for the levy they have to pay.

The FCA announced in 2014 that it would assess whether life insurance firms are operating historic (often termed ‘legacy’ or ‘heritage’) products in a fair manner. For example, the project assessed:

 

  whether firms’ strategies towards these business lines adequately consider the fair treatment of customers;

 

  to what extent firms review legacy products to ascertain whether they remain fit for purpose;

 

  whether customers receive appropriate information about policy benefits;

 

  the causes of poor fund performance and whether apportionment of costs and expenses to these products is fair; and

 

  the nature and extent of discontinuance charges that potentially inhibit customers from switching to better performing products.

On 3 March 2016, the FCA published a report setting out its findings from the above thematic review covering eleven firms, including Prudential’s UK business. The FCA has issued a statement clarifying that in order to address the findings identified by the thematic review, it will consult on guidance which will provide firms with extra detail on the actions they should be taking in order to treat their closed-book customers fairly in the future. In addition, the FCA will convene an industry-wide discussion with the aim that the industry reaches a voluntary solution to capping or removing exit and/or paid-up charges on relevant products.

In addition, the FCA announced in its statement that further work is required to consider whether six of the eleven firms (including Prudential’s UK business) have failed to meet the FCA’s standards in relation to disclosure to customers of exit and paid-up charges and, if so, whether remedial and/or disciplinary action is necessary or appropriate in relation to these firms or others across the market. These investigations have commenced and will enable the FCA to establish the reasons for the practices within firms; whether customers have suffered detriment as a result and how widespread any practices are within the six firms. The FCA has stated that no conclusion has been reached as to whether there have been any breaches of regulatory requirements.

The Independent Project Board (‘IPB’), which was responsible for overseeing the audit of charges and benefits in legacy defined contribution workplace pension schemes, issued its report in December 2014. Providers of schemes where savers are potentially exposed to high charges or where savers face exit charges were asked to review their data and identify what actions could be taken to improve outcomes for savers. Prudential considered the report findings and, working alongside governance bodies, an implementation plan was agreed by the end of 2015, to be delivered during 2016.

 

85


Table of Contents

Consumer protection, the Financial Ombudsman Service (‘FOS’), the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (‘FSCS’) and the Pension Protection Fund (‘PPF’)

The consumer protection agenda in the UK is within the remit of the FCA. The FCA’s focus is on product scrutiny, sales practices and firms’ cultures, including assessment of how remuneration structures affect consumer outcomes. In addition, the FCA has a specific remit to promote competition within the financial services industry.

Authorised firms must have appropriate complaints handling procedures, the standards for which are defined in the FCA Handbook. However, once these procedures have been exhausted, qualifying complainants may turn to the FOS. The Ombudsman is empowered to order firms to pay fair compensation for loss and damage and may order a firm to take such steps as the Ombudsman determines to be just and appropriate in order to remedy a complaint.

The FSCS is intended to compensate individuals and other groups of ‘eligible claimants’, including certain trustees for claims against an authorised firm where the authorised firm is unable or unlikely to be able to meet those claims (generally, when it is insolvent or has gone out of business). Both the PRA and the FCA have rule-making powers for the FSCS, and the FSCS is accountable to both regulators.

In addition, the PPF is a statutory fund aimed at protecting members of eligible pension schemes where their employer (or a past employer) has become insolvent and the pension scheme can no longer afford to pay the promised pension.

All the above schemes are funded by levies on the UK financial services industry.

Financial Crime

The prevention of financial crime is a key element of the FCA’s statutory remit to protect the integrity of the UK financial system. The FCA has responsibility for preventing firms from being used as a channel for financial crime. This includes anti-money laundering, sanctions, and anti-bribery and corruption. As one of the lead supervisors of Prudential, the FCA has this responsibility for the whole Group. The FCA requires firms to put in place systems and controls to mitigate financial crime, and it examines these as part of its proactive supervision agenda on an ongoing basis.

The UK is a member of the Financial Action Task Force (‘FATF’), an international body that sets the standard for anti-money laundering and sanctions. The FATF conducts scheduled mutual evaluation reviews of member countries and these help anticipate future regulatory expectations. The UK will be subject to its next evaluation by 2018.

The UK financial crime landscape is set for changes as Member States must implement the Fourth EU Money Laundering Directive by December 2016. UK firms will be required to comply with the updated requirements.

UK firms are required to disclose suspicions of money-laundering to the National Crime Agency. The FCA can take enforcement action against firms that fail to effectively manage their financial crime risks.

Regulation of insurance business

Most of Prudential’s subsidiaries that carry on insurance business in the UK, including The Prudential Assurance Company Limited (‘PAC’), Prudential Retirement Income Limited, Prudential Pensions Limited and Prudential Holborn Life Limited are ‘dual-regulated’ firms, meaning that they are regulated by the PRA for prudential purposes and by the FCA for conduct purposes. The exceptions are Prudential Distribution Limited, Prudential Financial Planning Limited and Scottish Amicable ISA Managers Limited, which are regulated by the FCA only due to their business model.

 

86


Table of Contents

Capital requirements for insurers

As noted above, in order to maintain authorised status under the FSMA 2000, firms must continue to satisfy certain threshold conditions, which, inter alia, require firms to have adequate resources for the carrying on of their business. The majority of the rules which govern the prudential regulation of insurers are currently found in the ‘Minimum Capital Requirement’, ‘Own Funds’ and ‘Solvency Capital Requirement’ parts of the PRA Rulebook, which came into force to implement Solvency II on 1 January 2016.

‘Solvency II’ is the new prudential framework for insurance companies. This repeals and replaces the existing Life, Non-life, Re-insurance and IGD directives. The main aim of this framework is to ensure the financial stability of the insurance industry and protect policyholders through solvency requirements better matched to the true risks of the business. The framework is outlined in the Solvency II Directive, with much of the detail in the rules set out in ‘Level 2’ implementing measures. These measures are accompanied by further requirements developed by EIOPA, namely the Implementing Technical Standards, which aim to ensure the uniform application of the Solvency II Directive and Guidelines necessary to guarantee convergence of the Solvency II implementation.

In the UK, the PRA was responsible for implementation of the Solvency II framework. Solvency II adopts a three-pillar approach to prudential regulation, which is similar to the “CRD IV” approach that has already been adopted in the banking sector in Europe.

Although the Solvency II Directive has similarities to the previous UK regime set out in GENPRU and INSPRU in terms of its risk-based approach to the calculation of capital requirements and use of capital tiering, there are also many differences both in terms of substance and terminology. For example, while both regimes share the principle of a market consistent valuation of assets and liabilities, there are differences in the detailed valuation methodologies.

A key aspect of Solvency II is the focus on a supervisory review at the level of the individual legal entity. Insurers have been encouraged to improve their risk management processes and are allowed to make use of internal economic capital models to calculate capital requirements, subject to approval by the local regulator (the PRA in the UK). In addition, Solvency II requires firms to develop and embed an effective risk management system as a fundamental part of running the firm.

The new regime also requires firms to disclose a considerably greater level of qualitative and quantitative information than under current rules, both to their own supervisor through Regular Supervisory Reporting (‘RSR’) and to the market through the publication of a Solvency and Financial Condition Report (‘SFCR’). This is intended to increase transparency, allowing easier comparison across the industry and enabling supervisors to identify sooner if firms are heading for financial difficulty. In turn, increased transparency is intended to drive market discipline, arising from the reaction of ratings agencies and the capital markets to firms’ performance.

During 2015, Prudential submitted a number of Solvency II applications to the PRA. Following review of these applications the PRA confirmed that Prudential has been granted the following Solvency II approvals:

 

  Approval for use of a partial internal model to calculate the Group Solvency Capital Requirement (‘SCR’) as well as solo SCRs for each European based insurance entity

 

  Approval for use of the Deduction & Aggregation (‘D&A’) method to bring material US insurance entities and their subsidiaries into the Group SCR. This approval was granted for a period of three years (until 31 December 2018) following approval of final Delegated Acts relating to US provisional Solvency II equivalence.

 

  Approval for use of both the matching adjustment and transitional measures for relevant UK solo insurance entities.

 

  Approval to exclude a small number of immaterial entities from the scope of Group supervision under Solvency II.

 

87


Table of Contents

Further details on the Group Solvency II capital position at 31 December 2015 are set out in the Capital Management section within Item 4.

Key insurance functions

From 1 January 2016, the PRA Rulebook has contained the concept of ‘Key Functions”’. These are functions whose operation, if not properly managed and overseen, could potentially lead to significant losses being incurred or to a failure in the ongoing ability of the firm to meet its obligations to policyholders. The system of governance of each Solvency II insurance firm and group needs to cover at least the following key functions: risk management, compliance, internal audit, and actuarial.

Solvency II insurers were required to notify the PRA of its Key Function Holders by 1 January 2016. In addition, as part of the SIMR which came into force on 7 March 2016, firms are required to make an ongoing assessment of the fit and proper status of all Key Function Holders. Solvency II insurers also need to prepare and maintain a governance map. This should set out clearly the key functions at the firm and the Key Function Holders responsible for these functions, along with their lines of accountability and responsibility both within that firm and any wider group.

There is a requirement for every insurance company that carries on long-term business to appoint one or more actuaries to perform the actuarial function in respect of all classes of its long-term insurance business and the with-profits actuary function in respect of all classes of its with-profits business (if any). Alongside the with-profits actuary, and also forming part of the ‘second line of defence’ from a compliance perspective, with-profits businesses are required to appoint a with-profits committee. This committee is composed of independent persons and acts in an advisory capacity to inform the decision-making of an insurer’s governing body and to ensure that the interests of with-profits policyholders are adequately considered. The with-profits committee advises on the appointment of, and works closely with, the with-profits actuary.

The actuary performing the actuarial function must prepare, at least annually, a report for the company’s directors quantifying the company’s long-term liabilities attributable to the insurance company’s long-term insurance business, determining the value of any excess over those liabilities of the assets representing the long-term insurance fund and, where any rights of long-term policyholders to participate in profits relate to particular parts of such a fund, a valuation of any excess of assets over liabilities in respect of each of those parts.

The actuary performing the with-profits actuary function must, amongst other responsibilities, advise the firm’s management on key aspects of the discretion to be exercised affecting these classes of the with-profits business of the firm, and, at least once a year report to the firm’s governing body on key aspects (including those aspects of the firm’s application of its Principles and Practices of Financial Management (‘PPFM’) on which the advice described above has been given) of the discretion exercised in respect of the period covered by his report. All firms that carry on with-profits business are required to publish the PPFM that are applied in the management of their with-profits funds.

With-profits business

The with-profits business has long been an area of focus for regulators, including: the costs charged to a with-profits fund by the firm managing the fund; penalties and charges levied on policyholders who surrender their policies early; the need for funds to be managed with the objective of ensuring that maturity payouts fall within a target range set for the fund; and the provision of information to with-profits policyholders or potential policyholders in a format that they can readily understand.

The PRA and FCA share responsibility for the supervision of with-profits business. Certain rules in relation to the with-profits business are contained in the ‘With Profits’ part of the PRA Rulebook following the implementation of Solvency II on 1 January 2016. Changes in rules are proposed to align the UK’s with-profits regulatory regime with Solvency II. The PRA views the regulation of with-profits business as an important element of its approach to insurance supervision. The PRA and FCA will continue to liaise on the regulation and supervision of with-profits business according to the framework set out in the with-profits Memorandum of Understanding dated 1 April 2013. The PRA seeks to ensure that any discretionary benefit allocations or other changes with financial implications that

 

88


Table of Contents

the insurer has proposed are compatible with its continued safety and soundness, whereas the FCA has responsibility for monitoring whether the proposed changes are consistent with the insurer’s previous communications, the FCA’s conduct rules and the overriding obligation to treat customers fairly. The PRA has the power to prevent allocations being made if they would materially impair the firm’s safety and soundness.

Pensions

In April 2005, the Pensions Regulator was set up as the statutory regulator for all work-based pension schemes. Pensions schemes are regulated independently of the PRA and FCA, by the Pensions Regulator, although there is also a role for the FCA in respect of contract-based schemes. A work-based pension scheme is any scheme that an employer makes available to employees. There is also a separate Ombudsman, the Pensions Ombudsman, who investigates and decides complaints and disputes over the manner in which pension schemes are run.

In March 2014, the UK government announced wide-ranging changes affecting pensions to allow people the freedom to choose how and when to access their pensions during retirement. There have been impacts on the retirement market specifically for drawdown. Individuals, up until the time of this announcement, opted for an annuity at retirement that would pay an income for life, unless their pots were de minimis. The alternate to an annuity was for individuals in Direct Contribution schemes to consider income drawdown, with compulsory annuitisation at age 75 at the latest. From April 2015, it has been the case that, regardless of size of pension pot, people aged 55 and over have been able to access their pension funds at their discretion, subject to their applicable marginal rate of income tax that year. The age 75 limit has now been removed.

From April 2015, defined contribution workplace pensions have been subject to new regulatory measures, including charging constraints and additional requirements for scheme governance and disclosure. This has entailed changes to the fund proposition and system enhancements. Active members of ‘qualifying schemes’ for auto-enrolment who previously contributed to default funds that are not “charge cap” compliant, have only been able to continue to contribute to such funds where they specify to do so. For contract-based schemes, the Department of Work and Pensions and the FCA have required providers to set up Independent Governance Committees (“IGCs”) with a broad ‘Treating Customers Fairly and Value for Money’ remit. The IGC will also monitor progress in respect of the IPB initiative on fair treatment for individual leavers.

HM Treasury consulted in July 2015 on strengthening the incentive to save and how pensions tax relief influences this.

The direct financial impact of these changes has included an increase in ongoing operating costs and probable reductions in profit margins for all firms operating in this sector. This may be offset by an increase in market share, if the measures lead to further industry consolidation. It is still too early to know the impact of these changes on Prudential UK in particular.

Regulation of investment business

Certain of Prudential’s subsidiaries are authorised to carry on investment business and are subject to regulation and supervision under FSMA 2000. UK asset management can also be subject to additional regulation in other jurisdictions in which they operate. For example, certain M&G UK subsidiaries which operate outside of the UK are also subject to regulation by local regulatory authorities.

Markets in Financial Instruments Directive (‘MiFID’)

MiFID sets out detailed authorisation and operating conditions for investment firms and regulated markets. In October 2011, the European Commission published proposals to amend MiFID, the ‘MiFID2’ Directive and introduce a new Markets in Financial Instruments Regulation (‘MiFIR’). Implementation of the new laws was due to take effect from 3 January 2017. However, the detailed ‘Level 2’ rules are still in consultation and as a result it was confirmed by the European Commission in February 2016 that implementation of the new markets framework in the EU has been delayed by one year. However, firms still face a challenging implementation period, with the detailed rules yet to be finalised.

 

89


Table of Contents

Once they take effect, MiFID and MiFIR will have a broad impact on the financial markets in Europe. The new regulations are wide ranging and the greatly increased pre- and post-trade transparency around fixed income trading and ban on all independent advisors and discretionary portfolio managers from retaining most inducements are likely to impact the M&G investment management business. M&G has begun taking measures to comply with the draft rules, though further changes may need to be made once these rules are finalised.

Packaged Retail Insurance-Based and Investment Products Regulation (‘PRIIPs’)

In order to facilitate similar disclosure for all investment products sold to retail clients (including insurance contracts), the European Commission proposed adopting a modified version of the Key Investor Information Document (‘KIID’) for all such products. The KIID will be a two-sided information sheet that will give investors all the key facts and figures about a fund. PRIIPs was agreed by the European Parliament and EU Council of Ministers in March 2014 and will take effect in December 2016. The relevant entities in the M&G Group to which PRIIPs will apply are currently reviewing the draft ‘Level 2’ rules and expect to begin an implementation project shortly.

Undertakings in Collective Investments and Transferable Securities Directive (‘UCITS V’)

Following the publication of the Alternative Investment Fund Managers Directive (AIFMD), the European Commission proposed to incorporate some of its provisions on depositaries, remuneration and sanctions into the existing mutual funds directive, UCITS IV. UCITS V was agreed by the European Parliament and EU Council of Ministers in March 2014 and entered into effect in March 2016. The relevant M&G Group entities to which UCITS V will apply are currently reviewing the draft ‘Level 2’ rules concerning increased depository liability, in order to incorporate the relevant provisions into the depository contracts. Given that these rules are not likely to be agreed by the EU legislators until after March 2016, it is expected that full implementation of UCITS V will be delayed by at least six months.

European Market Infrastructure Regulation (‘EMIR’)

The Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on OTC derivative transactions, central counterparties (‘CCPs’) and trade repositories, widely known as European Market Infrastructure Regulation, or ‘EMIR’, came into force on 16 August 2012, with its key provisions taking effect on a phased basis. Full implementation is expected to be achieved by the end of 2019. EMIR’s rules are intended to lessen risk and increase transparency within the OTC derivative markets by introducing for most counterparties: (i) a reporting obligation for all derivatives; (ii) a clearing obligation for eligible OTC derivatives; (iii) measures to reduce counterparty credit risk and operational risk for bilaterally traded OTC derivatives, including through collateral requirements; (iv) common rules for CCPs and for trade repositories; and (v) rules on the establishment of interoperability between CCPs.

The relevant EU-domiciled Prudential Group entities have implemented the necessary changes to comply with EMIR requirements currently in effect, including the start of reporting practices and measures to reduce risk for bilaterally traded OTC derivatives. The clearing obligation for certain interest-rate derivatives will apply to Prudential Group entities and a few M&G funds on 21 December 2016 and preparation of the operational capacity to clear OTC derivatives trades is well underway.

Market Abuse Directive / Regulation (‘MAD2’/‘MAR’)

Following a review of the EU’s Market Abuse Directive (‘MAD’), the European Commission proposed a new Market Abuse Regulation (‘MAR’) and a new Market Abuse Directive (‘MAD2’) in October 2011. The proposals included extending the scope of MAD to new trading venues, determining that attempted manipulation and use of inside information constitute market abuse, and providing for a minimum EU-wide level of administrative sanctions and criminal liability for more serious market abuse.

MAD2 and MAR were adopted by the European Parliament in June 2014 and will take effect in July 2016. The UK Government has announced that it will not exercise its right under the Lisbon Treaty to opt into MAD2, preferring instead to maintain a modified version of the existing UK current regime for market abuse. M&G is currently implementing the revised rules based on the draft ‘Level 2’ implementing legislation and standards; further changes may follow once these standards have been agreed.

 

90


Table of Contents

Financial Transaction Tax (‘FTT’)

In February 2013, the European Commission proposed a Council Directive implementing a procedure of ‘enhanced cooperation’ on a common FTT for a sub-group of eleven EU Member States. One of these eleven EU member States (Estonia) withdrew its support for the FTT in December 2015. Although the UK is not one of the participating Member States, under the current proposal, the FTT could in certain circumstances apply to transactions in the UK. If a FTT were to be implemented in its proposed form, M&G may need to review its trading strategy and, from an operational perspective, make changes necessary to comply with any tax collection mechanism established. The FTT remains subject to negotiation amongst the participating Member States and may be the subject of a legal challenge.

Regimes for the exchange of tax information

Financial institutions in the UK are increasingly being required to provide certain information about their customers, or persons who control their customers, to HMRC. This is due to the introduction and domestic implementation of various international reporting and transparency regimes, including FATCA, the OECD’s Common Reporting Standard (the ‘CRS’) and the EU directive on administrative cooperation in the field of taxation (the ‘DAC’). The information obtained by HMRC may be exchanged with tax authorities in other countries. The obligations of UK financial institutions to report information to HMRC for the purposes of FATCA, the CRS and the DAC are set out in International Tax Compliance Regulations 2015 (SI 2015/878) (the “International Tax Compliance Regulations”).

For further information about the impact of FATCA, please see ‘US Supervision and Regulation—Implementation of US Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (‘FATCA’) provisions’ below.

Asian Supervision and Regulation

 

1.    Regulation of insurance business

Prudential’s businesses in Asia are subject to all relevant local regulatory and supervisory schemes. These laws and regulations vary from country to country, but it is the local regulators that typically grant (or revoke) licenses and therefore control the ability to operate a business.

Industry regulations are usually widely drawn and include provisions governing both financial matters and the way business is conducted. In general, regulatory regimes will include features governing the registration of agents, regulation of product features, approval of products, asset allocation, minimum capital, the basis for calculating the company’s solvency and reserves, the valuation of policyholder liabilities, conditions for outsourcing non-core functions, policyholder and investor protection, as well as anti-money laundering (‘AML’) and ‘know your client’ requirements and data protection requirements. Regulatory authorities may also regulate affiliations with other financial institutions, shareholder structures and the injection of capital and payment of dividends. Financial statements and other returns are filed with the regulators. The regulators may also conduct physical inspections of the operations from time to time. A number of jurisdictions across Asia require insurance companies to participate in policyholder protection schemes (ie contribute to a fund to support policyholders in the event of an insurance company failing).

The increasingly extraterritorial approach of certain regulators outside Asia, aimed among other things at protecting financial systems from systemic risks and curbing tax avoidance, could have wider consequences on financial groups in the Asia-Pacific region. For example, financial institutions are increasingly being required to comply with new tax information exchange/disclosure regulations or standards with extraterritorial reach such as FATCA (see ‘US Supervision and Regulation—Implementation of US Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (‘FATCA’) provisions’ below) and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development’s Common Reporting Standard (see further sections on FATCA under US regulations below) which aims to increase global tax transparency and improve international tax compliance. Significant changes to business processes and systems are required by Prudential’s businesses in Asia in order to comply with the new requirements to identify and report on non-local tax residents.

 

91


Table of Contents

The effects of anti-bribery legislation in the UK, US and elsewhere have also become increasingly significant outside of such legislations’ home jurisdictions. Further, Prudential Corporation Asia’s (‘PCA’s’) business units will be required to adhere to Prudential’s group-wide policy designed to comply with the EU Solvency II requirements (although they will not each be required to comply with the Solvency II capital requirements on a solo entity basis). Asian regulators are monitoring closely how Solvency II is developed and implemented but are not currently requiring regulated insurance entities to comply.

Certain additional details of the regulatory regimes to which PCA’s insurance operations are subject are discussed below:

Indonesia—PT. Prudential Life Assurance

Overview

PT. Prudential Life Assurance is authorised to carry on long-term (ie, for an indefinite period) insurance business in Indonesia. Prudential’s operations in Indonesia are authorised to distribute life insurance products based on either conventional or Shariah principles, through agency and bancassurance (including direct marketing) channels.

The Otoritas Jasa Keuangan (‘OJK’) is the regulator responsible for supervising the banking industry, capital markets and the insurance industry. Established as an independent regulator in 2013, the OJK has assumed supervisory responsibility of the non-bank financial institutions from the Ministry of Finance (‘MoF’) and the banking sector from Bank Indonesia (‘BI’). The financial regulatory regime in Indonesia now operates on a ‘twin peaks’ model with the OJK responsible for microprudential supervision and BI retaining its macroprudential responsibilities. The Indonesia Life Insurance Association (‘AAJI’) continues to act as a conduit between insurers and the MoF and OJK in terms of the development of new regulations and guidelines. Insurance sales forces are licensed by the AAJI. The Indonesia Sharia Insurance Association (‘AASI’) acts in the similar capacity as AAJI in relation to the Shariah (known as Syariah in Indonesia) business. The implementation of AML controls in the insurance industry is monitored by the Indonesian Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Center (or Pusat Pelaporan dan Analisis Transaksi Keuangan in Indonesian (the ‘PPATK’)).

While the regulations for life products based on conventional principles are fully developed (in accordance with current market conditions), the government has promulgated new regulations in relation to life products with Shariah principles. OJK is expected to provide more clarity on the implementation plan and timelines in 2016. An OJK consultation on “Regulation on Insurance Products and Marketing of Insurance Products”, initiated in November 2014, proposed further requirements on product design, risk profiling questionnaire and disclosure. The regulation came into effect in November 2015.

Pursuant to Law Number 40, year 2014, the Indonesia Government will discuss in the Indonesia Parliament the maximum cap on foreign ownership and issue new regulations in due course. The Indonesia Ministry of Finance is responsible for drafting definitive rules on the maximum cap for foreign ownership, but to date nothing has been issued, including any implementation timeline.

Capital requirements

The minimum capital requirement for insurers who operate in Indonesia is Indonesian Rupiah (‘IDR’) 100 billion. Further, the minimum regulatory requirement for solvency margin is 120 per cent, which is a percentage of net admitted assets, as defined by the regulation, to the minimum risk-based capital for regulatory solvency.

In March 2014, the OJK instituted an annual levy on insurance companies for general OJK supervision in accordance to Regulation 11 of 2014. The quantum of the levy imposed is 0.045 per cent of the value of the assets, with a minimum of IDR 10 million (US$770).

In December 2015, the OJK issued a draft regulation on minimum integrated capital for financial conglomerates. The draft regulation requires the minimum paid-up capital of the holding company/main entity of a financial conglomerate to be equal to the total amount of the minimum capital requirement imposed on each of its existing business units in Indonesia.PT. Prudential Life Assurance is the holding company and main entity of its financial conglomerate in Indonesia with PT. Eastspring investments Indonesia as its sole member.

 

 

92


Table of Contents

Singapore—Prudential Assurance Company Singapore (Pte.) Limited

Overview

Prudential Assurance Company Singapore (Pte.) Limited is registered by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (the ‘MAS’) to design and sell both life and accident & health insurance products pursuant to the Singapore Insurance Act and Financial Advisers Act.

Under the Singapore Insurance Act, the MAS is responsible for insurance regulation and supervision of insurance companies. MAS regulation covers, among other things, product development, pricing and management of insurance products, market conduct standards, investments undertaken, public disclosure requirements, reinsurance management, maximum representatives tier structure, loans and advances and product disclosure. The MAS also has responsibility for supervising compliance with AML provisions, though suspicious transactions must also be notified to the Commercial Affairs Department, an enforcement agency of the Singapore Police Force.

In addition, the Singapore Financial Adviser Act gives the MAS the authority to regulate and supervise all financial advisory activities conducted by insurance companies. MAS regulation covers, among other things, the appointment and training of representatives, disciplinary action, mandatory clients’ disclosure, sales and recommendations process on investment products, replacement (switching) of investment products and fair dealings with customers. Mandatory clients’ disclosure covers both product information and basic data about the representatives and the firm.

In 2012, the MAS conducted the Financial Advisory Industry Review (‘FAIR’) with the aim of raising the standards and professionalism of the financial advisory industry and enhancing the market efficiency of the distribution of life insurance and investment products in Singapore. Arising from the FAIR Panel’s recommendations, the MAS implemented in 2015 some key changes to the industry, namely a balanced scorecard remuneration framework that rewards the provision of quality advice in order to align the interest of representatives with that of customers, a direct channel through which basic insurance products can be purchased with a nominal administration fee and a web aggregator to enhance comparability amongst life insurance products.

Another relevant regulatory authority for the Singapore business is the Central Provident Fund (the ‘CPF’) Board, which acts as a trustee of social security savings schemes jointly supported by employees, employers and the government. The CPF Board regulates insurers in the operation of various CPF schemes including the CPF Investment Scheme where CPF monies are used by policyholders to purchase insurance policies such as annuities and investment linked policies.

The MAS and CPF Board have very detailed regulatory frameworks to govern insurance companies and the distribution of insurance products in Singapore.

Capital requirements

The capital adequacy requirement of a registered insurer shall at all times be such that the financial resources of the insurer are not less than—(a) the sum of: (i) the aggregate of the total risk requirement of all insurance funds established and maintained by the insurer under the Singapore Insurance Act; and (ii) where the insurer is incorporated in Singapore, the total risk requirement arising from the assets and liabilities of the insurer that do not belong to any insurance fund established and maintained under the Singapore Insurance Act; or (b) a minimum amount of $5 million Singapore Dollars (US$3.58 million), whichever is the higher.

Registered insurers in Singapore are subject to a Risk Based Capital (‘RBC’) framework. The framework sets out the valuation methodology for assets and liabilities, rules relating to the operations of life insurance funds, capital requirement rules, the role of actuaries, and a set of statutory reporting standards. An insurer must notify the MAS when it has failed or is likely to fail to comply with the mandated RBC indicators or when a financial resources warning event, defined as an event that results in the financial resources of the insurer being less than 20 per cent of the aggregate of (a) mentioned immediately above, or a minimum amount of 5 million Singapore Dollars, has occurred or is likely to occur.

 

 

93


Table of Contents

The MAS also has the authority to direct that the insurer satisfy capital adequacy requirements in addition to those set forth under the Singapore Insurance Act if the MAS considers such additional requirements appropriate.

Hong Kong

Overview

Prior to 2014, the Hong Kong insurance business operated as a branch of PAC. Accordingly, the branch was indirectly regulated by UK regulators, as a result of PAC’s requirements to satisfy relevant UK capital requirements in addition to those of the local laws and regulations. Its insurance operations were directly regulated by the relevant Hong Kong regulators.

The Hong Kong branch of PAC was domesticated on 1 January 2014, creating two subsidiaries, Prudential Hong Kong Limited (‘PHKL’) and Prudential General Insurance Hong Kong Limited (‘PGHK’), to separately manage the life and general businesses. Both entities market conduct is regulated by the relevant regulators in Hong Kong.

The Office of the Commissioner of Insurance (the ‘OCI’) is currently the regulatory body that administers the Insurance Companies Ordinance (the ‘ICO’). The OCI is headed by the Commissioner of Insurance who has been appointed as the Insurance Authority (the ‘IA’) for administering the ICO. The principal functions of the IA are to ensure that the interests of policyholders or potential policyholders are protected and to promote the general stability of the insurance industry, including by authorising insurers to carry on insurance business in Hong Kong, regulating insurers’ conduct primarily through the examination of the annual audited financial statements and business returns insurers submit, and development of legislation and guidelines on insurance supervision. A key supervisory responsibility relates to solvency margin requirements contemplated by the ICO, as further discussed below.

In October 2013, a working group was established to ensure a smooth transition to the statutory licensing regime under the Independent Insurance Authority (‘IIA’). Legislation was enacted by way of the Insurance Companies (Amendment) Ordinance 2015 to facilitate the establishment of the Provisional Insurance Authority in 2015 and the IIA tentatively by 2016/2017. Both subsidiaries are also subject to the codes and guidance developed by a self-regulatory body—the Hong Kong Federation of Insurers (the ‘HKFI’). HKFI actively promotes its self-regulatory regime with respect to areas like conduct of insurers and insurance intermediaries, cooling off initiatives, policy replacement and initiative on needs analysis. The Insurance Agents Registration Board of the HKFI is responsible for administering the registration and approval of insurance agents, their responsible officers and technical representatives; and handling complaints against them and providing enquiry services to and handling complaints from the public relating to insurance agents.

In addition, the sale of mandatory pension products by agents is regulated by the Mandatory Provident Fund Authority (the ‘MPFA’), which licenses and supervises the conduct of MPF intermediaries.

The Hong Kong Life business is also regulated by the Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission (the ‘SFC’) for its offering of investment linked products.

The OCI published two guidance notes (GN15 and GN16), on 30 July 2014 and 30 July 2015, respectively. GN15 came into operation on 1 January 2015 and sets out the comprehensive requirements for insurers underwriting Class C business (ie investment linked assurance scheme policies) from product design to clarification of illustration, sales and underwriting processes, as well as post-sales control. GN16 applies to long term insurance other than Class C business and aims to promote transparency and fair customer treatment. The key requirements of GN 16 include management supervision, product design, clear information disclosure, suitability assessment, advice to customers, appropriate remuneration structure, ongoing monitoring, and post-sale control. GN16 applies to all new products from 1 April 2016 and existing products from 1 January 2017.

Capital requirements

Under the ICO, an insurer is required to maintain at all times an excess of assets over liabilities of not less than a required solvency margin. The objective is to provide a reasonable safeguard against the risk that the insurer’s

 

94


Table of Contents

assets may be inadequate to meet its liabilities arising from unpredictable events, such as adverse fluctuations in its operating results or the value of its assets and liabilities.

For long-term business insurers, the ICO stipulates an absolute minimum solvency margin of HK$2 million. Above this minimum level, solvency margins are determined in accordance with the Insurance Companies (Margin of Solvency) Regulation (Chapter 41 F of the Laws of Hong Kong), which sets out a series of calculations to be used depending on the particular class of long-term business involved.

For general business insurers, the ICO stipulates an absolute minimum solvency margin of HK$10 million. Above these minimum levels, solvency margins are calculated on the basis of the greater of an insurer’s relevant premium income (defined as the greater of gross premium income after deduction of reinsurance premium payments or 50 per cent of gross premium income) or relevant outstanding claims (defined as the additional amount for unexpired risks plus the greater of 50 per cent of claims outstanding before deduction of sums recoverable from reinsurers or the amount of claims outstanding after deduction of sums recoverable from reinsurers, plus the insurance fund for classes accounted for on a fund accounting basis, if any).

There was also a consultation by the IA in considering moving towards a risk-based capital (‘RBC’) regime. The IA published in September 2015 the conclusions on the RBC framework stating, inter alia, that the RBC regime would be developed in four phases.

Malaysia—Prudential Assurance Malaysia Berhad

Overview

Prudential Assurance Malaysia Berhad has a composite licence to carry out both life and general insurance business in Malaysia.

The Bank Negara Malaysia (‘BNM’) is the central bank of Malaysia and is the regulatory body responsible for supervising and regulating the financial services sector, including the conduct of insurance and Takaful business. BNM places considerable emphasis on fair market conduct by the insurance industry and protection of consumers’ interests. BNM is also responsible for administering legislation in relation to AML matters. Further, under the Financial Services Act, 2013 (the ‘FSA’), BNM may enforce sanctions on financial institutions.

In addition, Prudential Assurance Malaysia Berhad is a member of the Life Insurance Association of Malaysia and the General Insurance Association of Malaysia, which are both self-regulated bodies. Resolutions and circulars issued by these associations are binding on the member insurance companies.

The regulatory and supervisory framework of Malaysia entered a new stage of its development with the introduction of the FSA on 30 June 2013. The FSA is now the principal legislation governing insurance business in Malaysia. Under this new statutory framework, insurers are required to restructure their lines of business. Composite insurers will be required to establish separate entities or divest one of their lines of business within a period of five years. The regulations also require additional resources to be allocated to address any weaknesses of internal controls within the business. The FSA also places greater accountability on the board of directors and senior management in their management and oversight of an insurer. Prudential Assurance Malaysia Berhad, to the extent applicable, has established policies and procedures to ensure compliance with the FSA.

During 2014, BNM issued a number of guidelines aimed at further enhancing the effectiveness of the control functions, governance framework and overall supervision of both conventional insurers and Takaful operators. In 2015, BNM has continued doing so by issuing two separate policy documents on Management of Participating Life (‘PAR’) Business and Compliance. The policy document on PAR business sets out requirements for management of PAR business so as to promote sustainability of the business and the protection of policyowners’ interests. The policy document on compliance aims to promote higher standards of compliance in financial institutions, highlighting the importance of a strong compliance culture underpinned by high ethical standards and integrity and clear responsibilities of the board and senior management, compliance function and internal audit function. This policy document also stressed the importance of setting the ‘tone from the top’ and encouraged management not only to adhere to regulatory requirements, but also high standards of ethical conduct.

 

95


Table of Contents

Following up on the concept paper on Life Insurance and Family Takaful Framework (‘LIFE Framework’) which BNM published in November 2013, BNM issued the finalised LIFE Framework in November 2015. The LIFE Framework aims to promote innovation and a more competitive market supported by higher levels of professionalism and transparency in the provision of insurance and Takaful products and services. This will be achieved through specific initiatives introduced under the 3 Pillars of the LIFE Framework.

 

  Under Pillar 1, limits on operational costs will gradually be removed to promote product innovation while preserving policy value.
  Under Pillar 2, distribution channels will be widened. Life insurance/family Takaful products will be accessible to consumers through a wide range of delivery channels that are most convenient and appropriate.
  Under Pillar 3, market conduct in general will be strengthened to enhance consumer protection. The level of professionalism of intermediaries is proposed to be enhanced so as to ensure consumers are given proper advice.

The LIFE Framework is expected to be implemented in phases by BNM between 1 December 2015 to 1 January 2019 to take into account the current state of readiness of the life insurers, family Takaful operators and intermediaries, and the level of consumer awareness and literacy.

Capital requirements

Minimum paid up share capital for insurers is RM 100 million (US$24 million).

BNM has introduced an RBC framework aimed at improving the risk management practices of insurers. Under the RBC framework, insurers are required to maintain a capital adequacy level that is commensurate with their risk profiles. Each insurer is required to determine the adequacy of the capital available in its insurance and shareholders’ fund to support the total capital it requires. This serves as a key indicator of the insurer’s financial resilience and is used by BNM to determine the need for supervisory interventions.

Under the RBC framework guidelines, the Board of Directors and senior management of an insurer are also expected to identify, monitor and control risks which are not adequately addressed under the framework. An insurer is also expected to manage actively its capital adequacy by taking into account the potential impact of its business strategies on its risk profile and overall financial resilience. BNM has set a Supervisory Target Capital Adequacy Level of 130 per cent.

BNM implemented the internal capital adequacy assessment process (ICAAP) regime for the insurance sector in September 2012. This set out the framework for meeting risk-based capital requirements. The ICAAP is a comprehensive and forward-looking assessment which requires insurance companies to consider material risks and to demonstrate how these risks will be addressed by their capital management program.

Malaysia (Takaful business)—Prudential BSN Takaful Berhad

Overview

Prudential BSN Takaful Berhad (‘Prudential Takaful’) (a Prudential joint venture with Bank Simpanan Nasional) was among the first overseas insurer to be granted a domestic Takaful License in Malaysia.

The Takaful business in Malaysia is also regulated by BNM. In addition, Prudential Takaful is required to be a member of the Malaysian Takaful Association (‘MTA’), an association for Takaful operators that seeks to improve industry self-regulation through uniformity in market practice and to promote a higher level of co-operation.

Takaful in Malaysia is considered to be part of mainstream mercantile law, and is subject to the civil court structure at the federal level. It is not regulated by Shariah law in Shariah courts as the Shariah courts do not deal with commercial transactions. However, the operations of a Takaful Operator (‘TO’) must conform to the rules and requirements of Shariah as regulated in the Islamic Financial Services Act 2013 (‘IFSA’), which came into effect from 30 June 2013, repealing the earlier Takaful Act 1984. The IFSA now provides a comprehensive legal framework that is fully consistent with Shariah in all aspects of regulation and supervision, from licensing to the winding-up of an institution. The IFSA is similar to the FSA issued for conventional insurers.

 

96


Table of Contents

The IFSA recognises the BNM’s Shariah Advisory Council (‘SAC’) as the sole authority on Shariah matters. As the reference body and advisor to BNM on Shariah matters, the SAC is also responsible for validating all Takaful products to ensure their compatibility with Shariah principles. A TO is also required to establish a Shariah Committee, approved by BNM, to which the SAC will give guidance and advice on operations and business activities. BNM has also issued a specific Shariah Governance Framework that prescribes governance arrangements for Islamic Financial Institutions, including TOs.

The BNM’s LIFE Framework and policy document on compliance referred to in the subsection above also impacts on the family Takaful industry.

Capital requirements

The Takaful Operational Framework, which came into force on 2 January 2012, strengthens the operational and valuation requirements of Shariah law such that the paid-up capital requirement is RM 100 million (US$24 million). The regulator has also published a new RBC framework for Takaful which aims to facilitate sound management of capital, aligned to the TO’s risk profile. Full implementation began in January 2014.

In August 2015, BNM issued a concept paper on the internal capital adequacy assessment process (‘ICAAP’) regime for Takaful operators. This paper set out the framework for meeting risk-based capital requirements. The ICAAP is a comprehensive and forward-looking assessment regime that requires Takaful operators to consider material risks and to demonstrate how these risks will be addressed by their capital management program. BNM has not confirmed the implementation date of the ICAAP regime.

Vietnam—Prudential Vietnam Assurance Private Limited

Overview

Prudential Vietnam Assurance Private Limited (‘PVA’) is licensed and regulated by the Ministry of Finance of Vietnam (the ‘MoF’) as a life insurance company. In September 2015, the MoF approved the PVA’s application to commercialise individual pension products. An insurance company is not permitted to operate both life and non-life insurance at the same time, except in the case of a life insurance company that offers personal health and protection care insurance as a supplement to life insurance.

The Insurance Supervision Authority of the MoF specifically undertakes the supervision of insurance companies. The fundamental principles of the operation of insurance companies are set out in the Insurance Business Law.

Generally, the Insurance Business Law and its guiding regulations focus on administrative supervision of insurance operations. In practice, the Insurance Business Law reserves most of its items for insurance contracts (ie, for the terms and conditions of policies) in order to protect policyholders’ interests. Furthermore, the MoF has issued the new regulation on bankruptcy procedures for insurers, securities and financial institutions in late 2008, to allow it to take timely intervention to control the solvency of insurance companies.

AML controls in the insurance industry are monitored by the Anti-Money Laundering Department under the Banking Inspection, State Bank of Vietnam. In relation to AML, a new circular was published in February 2014 to establish electronic reporting of large cash transactions and enhanced due diligence, including ongoing diligence of high risk customers. A circular on insurance business carried out by credit institutions and branches of foreign banks was also effected in September 2014, strengthening market conduct requirements on licensing and training, including monitoring of credit institutions and bank staff.

Other significant regulatory developments include the draft amendment to Circulars 194 on 17 December 2014, amending Circulars 124 and 125 (issued previously). Circular 194 provides further guidance in relation to the implementation of the Insurance Business Law, and took effect on 1 February 2015. Significant changes include the requirement that insurance businesses use the same compensation scheme for new and current agents, removal of the requirements of training time and trainer’s criteria, and agent licence examination to also be organised by the MoF.

 

 

97


Table of Contents

Capital requirements

Insurers are required to have funds of at least Vietnamese Dong 600 billion (US$26.4 million) in capital, throughout the course of their operations. Further, solvency capital requirement is determined as 4 per cent of reserves plus a specified percentage of 0.1 per cent of sums at risk for policies with original term less than or equal to five years or 0.3 per cent of sums at risk for policies with original term of more than five years. Additional capital requirements of Vietnamese Dong 200 billion and 1,000 billion are also required for companies transacting unit-linked business and pension business.

Thailand—Prudential Life Assurance (Thailand) Public Company Limited

Overview

Prudential Life Assurance (Thailand) Public Company Limited (‘PLT’) holds a life insurance license and is authorised to offer life insurance products. This also includes an authorisation to offer products with an investment linked feature.

PLT is regulated and supervised by the Office of Insurance Commission (‘OIC’), the independent regulatory organisation handling day-to-day insurance business affairs and reporting to the Ministry of Finance. The OIC has the power to manage and supervise insurance companies, protect insured persons and the general public, implement policies with respect to insurance funds, and regulate the professional conduct, qualifications and licensing of insurance brokers, agents and actuaries.

In respect of AML, all life insurance businesses are also regulated by the Anti-Money Laundering Office (‘AMLO’). All suspicious transaction reporting is to be made to the AMLO.

In the fourth quarter of 2015, the OIC released the Insurance Development Plan Volume 3 (2016-2020). The vision is to further develop and strengthen the insurance industry as well as to ensure sustainable growth and to better gain trust from the public. This plan has set four important strategies, which will foster the development of the insurance system: (i) increasing the financial stability of the insurance industry, improving the insurance industry standard and marketing behaviour of the insurance system; (ii) improving assurance awareness as well as increasing the insurance accessibility to the public; (iii) creating and supporting a competitive and entrepreneurial environment; and (iv) strengthening the infrastructure of the insurance business.

Furthermore, regulations covering audit, internal controls and governance were implemented in 2014 to strengthen the management and oversight of insurance companies. Key requirements include mandating more independent directors in the various governance fora and prescribing terms of conduct for audit committee members. These regulations also prescribe formal reporting procedures for companies to bring matters to their boards of directors or to their audit committees.

Capital requirements

Since 2011, all insurance companies have been required to comply with the RBC framework. Capital adequacy is measured based on the Capital Adequacy Ratio (‘CAR’), which is determined as the Total Capital Available divided by the Total Capital Required, using the appraisal value of assets and liabilities as prescribed by OIC Notifications. The capital to be preserved should be not less than the sum of capital for all risks and assets as prescribed in the regulation, subject to a minimum requirement of 50 million Thai Baht (US$1.4 million).

Insurers are required by law to maintain capital greater than the prescribed minimum CAR of not less than 100 per cent. However, in case the insurer has a CAR of less than 140 per cent, the OIC may intervene to oversee the insurer’s financial status.

 

India—ICICI Prudential Life Insurance Company Limited

Overview

ICICI Prudential Life Insurance Company Limited (Prudential’s joint venture with ICICI Bank Limited in which Prudential has a 26 per cent share) is authorised to carry on long-term life insurance business in India.

 

98


Table of Contents

Insurance is subject to federal regulation in India. The Insurance Regulatory & Development Authority (‘IRDA’) which was set-up under the IRDA Act, 1999, is the regulator for insurance business in India. The IRDA’s duties include issuing certificates of registration to insurance companies, protecting the interests of policyholders, and regulating, promoting and ensuring the orderly growth of the insurance industry.

The principal legislation for insurance business is the Insurance Act, 1938. Regulations and guidelines on specific matters have also been notified to carry out the purposes of the Insurance Act and to provide rules and norms for conduct of operations. In relation to AML & CFT requirements, insurers must also adhere to requirements of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 and specific guidelines issued by the IRDA in this regard. The Financial Intelligence Unit-India (‘FIU-IND’) is entrusted with the responsibility of receiving cash/suspicious transaction reports, analysing them and, as appropriate, disseminating valuable financial information to intelligence/enforcement agencies and regulatory authorities.

In October 2012, the cabinet approved an amendment to the Insurance Bill 2008 to raise the Foreign Direct Investment (‘FDI’) from 26 per cent to 49 per cent. Besides raising the FDI ceiling, the Insurance Bill proposes about 100 amendments, which include key changes such as placing responsibility on insurers for the acts and omissions of its agents. The Insurance Bill was made effective from 26 December 2014 with the issue of The Insurance Laws (Amendment) Ordinance, 2014. The Insurance Amendment Bill was passed by both the upper and lower houses by the Indian Parliament in March 2015. In October 2015, IRDA issued guidelines on ‘Indian Owned and Controlled’, which set out the criteria on which control can be exercised through shareholdings, management rights, shareholders’ agreements, voting agreements or any other manner as per the applicable laws. These guidelines also require the nomination/ appointment of the majority of directors (excluding independent directors) and key management personnel (ie, Chief Executive Officer/Managing Director/Principal Officer) by Indian promoters or investors. In addition, the guidelines require that control over significant policies of the insurance company should be exercised by the company’s board, provided that its bylaws comply with the nomination/appointment requirement mentioned above.

In September 2015, IRDA issued the regulations on Registration of Corporate Agents (‘CA’s). The regulations allow a CA to have arrangements with a maximum of three insurers in each category (ie Life, General and Health). Any change to such arrangements shall be done only with prior approval of the IRDA and after due arrangements for servicing policyholders. The regulations prohibit insurers paying any sign up fees or incentives to CAs or their employees.

Capital requirements

According to the Insurance Act 1938 (as amended by the Insurance Laws (Amendment) Act 2015, every insurer shall have a paid-up equity capital of Rs.1 billion (US$15 million). In addition, every insurer shall at all times maintain an excess of value of assets over liabilities of not less than 50 per cent of the amount of minimum capital, calculated in the manner specified by the regulations.

South Korea—PCA Life Insurance Company Limited

Overview

PCA Life Insurance Company Limited is authorised to carry on life insurance business in South Korea including but not limited to casualty insurance, illness insurance, nursing insurance and incidental business and services related thereto.

South Korea’s financial supervision structure is composed of the Financial Services Commission (the ‘FSC’) and the Financial Supervisory Service (the ‘FSS’). As South Korea’s principal supervisory authority, the FSC is given a broad statutory mandate to carry out three key functions: financial policy formulation, financial institution and market oversight, and anti-money laundering. It also issues regulatory licenses to financial institutions. The FSS acts as the executive supervisory authority for the FSC and principally carries out examination of financial institutions along with enforcement and other oversight activities as directed or charged by the FSC.

 

 

99


Table of Contents

The Korea Financial Intelligence Unit leads the government’s AML and CFT efforts by formulating and implementing AML/CFT policies and regulations, supervising and overseeing financial institutions’ compliance to the AML/CFT obligations and collecting and analysing reports filed by financial institutions.

In recent years, the FSC has moved away from its interventionist approach in response to the evolving and liberalised landscape. The most prominent change has been a deregulation in asset management and product design activities. However, in connection with deregulation, the FSC has also sought to strengthen supervision.

Capital requirements

A risk-based supervision framework applies to insurers, encompassing an RBC solvency requirement, a risk assessment and application system (‘RAAS’), which assesses insurers’ various risks, relevant internal controls, and risk disclosure.

Under the RBC solvency requirement, the ratio of an insurer’s available capital to required capital is calculated, and the analysis of equity capital used to determine capital adequacy must take into account market, credit, operational, insurance and interest rate risks. The scheme requires the RBC ratio be calculated based on integrated financial statements reflecting assets, liabilities and capital of affiliates and subsidiaries.

In the event an insurer fails to satisfy the applicable capital adequacy requirement and this poses a threat to the financial soundness of that insurer in South Korea, the FSC may take corrective action, ranging from issuing a recommendation to an insurer to increase its capital reserves or to restrict its investments in high-risk securities and other assets to issuing an order to an insurer to suspend its business or transfer its business to a third party.

On 31 July 2014, FSS announced plans to improve their supervisory system on the insurers’ financial solvency. New changes are expected in phases and would involve strengthening RBC capital requirement from various risk assessments, adopting the “Own Risk & Solvency Assessment” (“ORSA”) system & disclosure and introducing IFRS reporting. These actions are part of the regulator’s efforts to improve financial consumer protection, achieving greater consistency with global regulatory standards and adopting a new accounting standard. Actual implementation is expected to be in 2018.

China—CITIC-Prudential Life Insurance Company Limited

Overview

CITIC-Prudential Life Insurance Company Limited (Prudential’s joint venture with CITIC in which Prudential has a 50 per cent share) is authorised to conduct life insurance business in China. To date, CITIC-Prudential Life had business across China including the key markets of Guangdong, Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Hubei, Shandong, Zhejiang, Jiangsu, Tianjin, Guangxi, Fujian, Hebei, Liaoning, Shanxi and Henan.

The body responsible for regulation of the insurance sector is the China Insurance Regulatory Commission (‘CIRC’). CIRC reports directly to the State Council. CIRC is authorised to conduct the administration, supervision and regulation of the Chinese insurance market, and to ensure that the insurance industry operates in a stable manner in compliance with the law. CIRC also has local offices in all 41 provinces and selected direct administrative cities and regions across the country which set and administer implementation rules and guidelines in the application of the regulations introduced by CIRC.

CIRC has focused specific attention on the area of risk prevention, with five identified lines of defence against risks, namely internal management and control systems, supervision of solvency adequacy, on-site inspection, fund management regulation and insurance security fund. In response to the global financial crisis, more importance has been attached to the supervision of internal control systems, corporate governance, and market conduct and information disclosure by insurance companies.

Market conduct remains a key topic for CIRC with detailed guidelines and rules introduced in 2013 related to the areas of complaint handling and dealing with specific illegitimate sales activities.

 

 

100


Table of Contents

The People’s Bank of China (‘PBOC’) is entrusted with responsibility and authority to regulate all anti-money laundering activities in China and has actively been developing rules and guidance, requiring insurance companies to abide by the PRC’s main AML law and regulations in connection with capital investment, transfers and set-up of new branches, and specify senior management’s responsibilities on AML.

Capital requirements

The minimum registered paid-up capital of a foreign invested insurance company is RMB200 million (US$31.3 million). A similar requirement is imposed on a Chinese branch of a foreign insurance company. Both foreign invested insurance companies and Chinese branches of foreign insurance companies are required to maintain an adequate solvency ratio as per the relevant PRC regulations. Under the new solvency regulation on the China Risk Oriented Solvency System, or ‘C-ROSS’, insurers will be required to maintain a core solvency ratio (core capital over minimum capital) and an overall solvency ratio (actual capital over minimum capital) of not lower than 50 per cent and 100 per cent respectively. The actual capital is the difference between the admitted assets and admitted liabilities. The CIRC requires solvency reports to be submitted quarterly, annually or ad hoc as requested by the regulator. Where an insurer is not able to meet its solvency requirement, it is required to report immediately to the CIRC.

CIRC published 17 solvency regulatory rules on 13 February 2015 to launch C-ROSS. The system is similar to Solvency II, given the adoption of a “three-pillar” solvency framework encompassing quantitative capital requirements, qualitative supervisory requirements and a market discipline mechanism. By including appropriately both the quantitative and qualitative solvency requirements covering various key aspects of insurance business management, CIRC hopes to improve both the overall enterprise risk management and the capital efficiency of the industry. Insurers are required to comply with C-ROSS from 2016 onwards.

Philippines—Pru Life Insurance Corporation of UK

Overview

Pru Life Insurance Corporation of UK is licensed in the Philippines as a life insurance company and is also permitted to offer health, accident and disability insurance.

The Insurance Code of the Philippines, as amended (‘Insurance Code’), gives the power to supervise and regulate the operations and business of insurance companies to the Insurance Commission (‘IC’). The IC is a government agency under the Department of Finance, and is headed by the Insurance Commissioner. IC regulation and supervision seeks, amongst other things, to ensure that adequate insurance protection is available to the public at a fair and reasonable cost and to ensure the financial stability of the insurance industry so that all legitimate claims of the insured public are met promptly and equitably, and to safeguard the rights and interests of the insured.

Major revisions were made to the Insurance Code in 2013 with the objectives of promoting Bancassurance by removing the equity ownership of banks in insurance companies and preparing insurance companies for the implementation of ASEAN Free Trade Area in 2015 by requiring staggered increases in capitalisation.

Capital requirements

The revised Insurance Code requires new insurance companies to have a paid-up capital of at least Php 1 billion (US$21.3 million), whilst all existing insurance companies must comply with the staggered increase in “net worth” of Php 250 million from June 2013 to Php 1.3 billion by the end of 2022. According to the Insurance Code, “net worth” shall consist of (a) paid-up capital, (b) retained earnings, (c) unimpaired surplus, and (d) revaluation of assets as may be approved by the Insurance Commissioner.

The Insurance Code also provides the President of the Philippines with the authority to order a periodic review every two years of the capital structure set out above to determine the capital adequacy of the local insurance industry. For this purpose, a review committee consisting of representatives from Department of Finance, the

 

101


Table of Contents

Insurance Commission, the National Economic and Development Authority, the Securities and Exchange Commission (of the Philippines) and other agencies which the President may designate, shall conduct the review and may recommend to the President to adopt adjustments to the capital requirements of insurance companies.

Taiwan—PCA Life Assurance Company Limited

Overview

PCA Life Assurance Company Limited is licensed to conduct life insurance business in Taiwan.

The Financial Supervisory Commission (‘FSC’) is responsible for regulating the entire financial services industry, including the banking, securities and insurance sectors. The FSC’s responsibilities include supervision, examination and investigation. The Insurance Bureau (‘IB’) under the FSC acts as the executive supervisory authority for the FSC and is responsible for the insurance sector, while the Financial Examination Bureau (the ‘FEB’) principally carries out examinations and on-site visits of all financial institutions, including insurance companies, generally every two years. The Investigation Bureau under the Ministry of Justice is responsible for supervision of AML and counter financing of terrorism (‘CFT’) efforts.

The International Financial Business Act was amended on 4 February 2015, allowing insurance companies to set up Offshore Insurance Units (‘OIUs’) to conduct offshore insurance business. The FSC subsequently issued regulations on 25 May 2015 related to the governing of such units. OIUs will be branches of the insurance companies with separate accounting arrangements and capital requirements (currently set as a minimum of US$2 million). The units will also be subjected to different tax and foreign exchange rules. All businesses are to be conducted in Taiwan but are sold to foreigners and are foreign-currency-denominated. PCA Life Assurance Company Limited obtained approval to establish an OIU in July 2015 and received all required certificates to operate in September 2015.

Capital requirements

The Insurance Act requires all insurance companies to maintain an RBC ratio of not less than 200 per cent. The ratio is determined as the adjusted net capital compared against the risk-based capital. This measurement takes into consideration asset, insurance, interest and other relevant risks as required in calculating the capital on a risk-adjusted basis. Any company failing the threshold may be subjected to measures ranging from restrictions in business operations to receivership by the regulator. In 2015, the Insurance Act was revised, granting the regulator specific authority to take differentiated supervisory actions, depending on the severity of the capital insufficiency, over any insurance companies whose RBC ratios are less than 200 per cent.

The regulator may also introduce different ratio limits for the purpose of qualifying insurance companies to conduct certain business activities, such as imposing limitations on foreign investment by such companies.

Cambodia—Prudential (Cambodia) Life Assurance Plc

Prudential (Cambodia) was granted in-principle approval in June 2012 to establish life insurance operations in Cambodia and received its full operating licence from the Ministry of Economy and Finance (MEF) on 31 December 2012 and started selling life insurance policies in January 2013.

The Insurance and Pension Department of the General Department of Financial Industry, a division of the MEF, is the insurance regulator.

Insurance activities are principally governed under the Insurance Law, which came into effect in 2000 (and was further amended in 2014) and the Sub-Decree on Insurance, which was adopted by the Government in September 2001. The MEF has also published specific guidelines on aspects of insurance operations and corporate governance.

 

 

102


Table of Contents

Capital requirements

A life insurance company is required to have a minimum capital of International Monetary Fund special drawing rights (‘SDR’) 5 million (equivalent to approximately US$6.9 million). Insurers must maintain a deposit with the National Treasury, equivalent to 10 per cent of registered capital, and also a solvency margin determined on the basis of years of operation and net premium income. In order to provide new requirements on the administration of investment of the minimum capital and strengthen the controlling and auditing capitalisation and solvency standards, the MEF issued draft regulations titled the Capitalisation and Solvency Standards for Insurance in November 2015. The draft regulations are still at an industry consultation stage and it is unclear when they will become effective.

 

2. Regulation of investment and funds businesses and other regulated operations

Prudential conducts investment and fund businesses through subsidiaries or joint ventures in the following countries in Asia through Eastspring Investments: Hong Kong, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, The People’s Republic of China, India, Singapore, Malaysia, Dubai, Vietnam and Indonesia. Eastspring Investments also has entities in the US and Luxembourg. All operations are authorised and licensed by the relevant authorities, or exempted from licensing under the relevant regulations, where applicable.

All of the relevant authorities generally have broad supervisory and disciplinary powers, including, among others, the power to set minimum capital requirements, to temporarily or permanently revoke the authorisation to carry on regulated business, to suspend registered employees/licensed representatives, and to invoke censures and fines for both the regulated business and its registered employees/licensed representatives. Although the detail of regulation varies, common features of the regulatory regimes in each jurisdiction tend to include investment restrictions, advertising codes, disclosure requirements in prospectuses and/or marketing materials, and requirements to seek unit holders’ approvals in certain instances, provision of financial statements and other periodic disclosures to regulators and audits by regulators.

Indonesia

PT Eastspring Investments Indonesia (‘Eastspring Investments Indonesia’) is regulated and supervised by the OJK (as defined above, the Indonesian financial service authority). The OJK is responsible for establishing and coordinating an integrated regulatory and supervisory system towards the overall activities in the Indonesian financial sector. Eastspring Investments Indonesia has been licensed as an Investment Manager Company since 25 April 2012 and is therefore authorised to manage collective investment portfolios as well as discretionary portfolios. In addition, Eastspring Investments Indonesia may also act as an investment advisor for the sale or purchase of securities by its clients, but may not receive any financial compensation for this service (due to regulatory restriction).

In a move towards achieving financial system stability and establishing more robust corporate governance, the OJK now requires the designation of financial conglomerate among financial institutions that meet certain regulatory criteria. Eastspring Investments Indonesia and PT Prudential Life Assurance have formed a financial conglomerate in 2015.

Singapore

Eastspring Investments (Singapore) Limited (‘Eastspring Singapore’), an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of Prudential plc, is regulated by the MAS. Eastspring Singapore holds a Capital Markets Services (‘CMS’) license, to conduct the regulated activities of fund management and dealing in securities. Eastspring Singapore is also an exempt financial adviser under the Financial Advisers Act. In addition, Eastspring Singapore is admitted by the CPF as a Fund Management Company (‘FMC’) under the CPF Investment Scheme (‘CPFIS’) and manages unit trusts included under the CPFIS. It also holds certain registrations in foreign jurisdictions including the US, South Korea, India, Japan and Australia.

 

 

103


Table of Contents

Hong Kong

Products and services offered by Prudential in Hong Kong are regulated under separate statutory regimes by different regulatory bodies, including the Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission (‘HKSFC’), the Hong Kong Monetary Authority and the Mandatory Provident Fund Schemes Authority (‘MPFA’).

The MPFA regulates the compulsory Mandatory Provident Fund (‘MPF’). In addition, the selling of MPF products by agents is regulated by the MPFA. The MPFA is responsible for the licensing and supervision of trustees who wish to administer MPF schemes and MPF intermediaries.

The Securities and Futures Ordinance (‘SFO’) and other subsidiary legislation govern the key regulatory requirements in Hong Kong relating to licensing requirements for persons carrying out regulated activities, including dealing in securities, advising on securities, fund management, market conduct, disclosure of interests, offering document requirements for securities and products including mutual funds and unit trusts, as well as investment-linked assurance products. The HKSFC is the statutory body responsible for the administration of the SFO and the related subsidiary legislations and rules.

Eastspring Investments (Hong Kong) Limited (‘Eastspring HK’), incorporated in Hong Kong, is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Prudential Plc. Eastspring HK is licensed with the HKSFC and authorised to deal in and advise on securities and undertake asset management activities in Hong Kong. It also holds a QFII (Qualified Foreign Institutional Investors) license issued by the China Securities Regulatory Commission (‘CSRC’). The company is also registered with the Korea Financial Supervisory Service (KFFS) as an offshore investment advisor for investment advisory business and investment discretionary management business. The funds authorised for offering in Hong Kong by Eastspring HK are also registered in Macau with the Monetary Authority of Macau.

Material regulatory developments in Hong Kong in 2015 include the implementation of a resolution regime for financial institutions, in accordance with the standards set by the FSB.

BOCI-Prudential Asset Management Limited (‘BOCIP’), incorporated in Hong Kong, is a joint venture between Prudential Corporation Holdings Limited (36 per cent) and BOCI Asset Management Limited (64 per cent). BOCIP is licensed by the HKSFC and is authorised to deal in and advise on securities, advise on corporate finance, advise on futures contracts and undertake asset management activities. It is also registered with the MPFA as an MPF corporate intermediary. It also holds a QFII license issued by the CSRC. The investment funds registered in Hong Kong by BOCIP are also registered in Macau with the Monetary Authority of Macau.

BOCI-Prudential Trustee Limited is a joint venture between Prudential Corporation Holdings Limited (36 per cent) and BOC Group Trustee Company Limited (64 per cent). The company is incorporated in Hong Kong and is an approved trustee under the Mandatory Provident Fund Schemes Ordinance and an associated entity to the BOCIP under the SFO.

Malaysia

Eastspring Investments Berhad was incorporated in November 2000 in Malaysia and holds a licence for dealing in securities and fund management. Eastspring Al-Wara’ Investments Berhad was incorporated in June 2009 in Malaysia and holds a licence for fund management.

Both companies are regulated by the Securities Commission Malaysia (‘SC’), a statutory body formed under the Securities Commission Act 1993, which reports to the Minister of Finance.

Eastspring Investments Berhad is also an appointed Fund Management Institution for Unit Trust Fund under the Employees Provident Fund’s (‘EPF’) Members Investment Scheme. The EPF is a social security institution formed according to the Laws of Malaysia, Employees Provident Fund Act 1991 (Act 452) which provides retirement benefits for members through management of their savings in an efficient and reliable manner.

Vietnam

Eastspring Investments Fund Management Limited Liability Company (‘Eastspring Investments Vietnam’) was established in May 2005 and operates under a business registration for securities investment fund management and securities portfolio management and securities investment advisory services.

 

 

104


Table of Contents

Eastspring Investments Vietnam is regulated by the State Securities Commission of Vietnam (‘SSC’), which is overseen by the MoF. In keeping with its mandate to establish and develop the securities markets, the SSC supervises the organisation and operation of securities investment funds and fund management companies.

India

ICICI Prudential Asset Management Company Limited (‘AMC’), a joint venture between Prudential plc and ICICI Bank Ltd., is approved by the Securities and Exchange Board of India (‘SEBI’) to act as an Investment Manager of ICICI Prudential Mutual Fund (the ‘Fund’). The Fund was set up as a Trust sponsored by Prudential (through its wholly owned subsidiary Prudential Corporation Holdings Ltd) and ICICI Bank Ltd. ICICI Prudential Trust Limited (the ‘Trust Company’), is the Trustee to the Fund.

Mutual funds in India are comprehensively regulated by SEBI (Mutual Funds) Regulations, 1996, the Indian Trusts Act, 1882, relevant provisions of Companies Act, 2013, and other applicable laws. All mutual funds are required to be in the form of trusts. The trustee functions are carried out by separately established trust companies or boards of trustees. In all cases, the trust deed must be approved by the SEBI. AMC has obtained registration from the SEBI to act as a Portfolio Manager under SEBI (Portfolio Managers) Regulations 1993. AMC under its portfolio management license has also been appointed as the investment manager by the Trust for managing the scheme launched under the ICICI Prudential Venture Capital Fund.

ICICI Prudential Venture Capital Fund (‘VCF’) also has registration from SEBI under the SEBI (Venture Capital Funds) Regulations, 1996 (the VCF Regulations). Our joint venture in India now has three licences as a result of this, in mutual fund, portfolio management and venture capital, and is also permitted to act as the investment manager to funds launched under Securities and Exchange Board of India (Alternative Investment Funds) Regulations, 2012.

South Korea

Prudential conducts a fund business in South Korea through an indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary, Eastspring Asset Management Korea Co. Ltd. The bodies responsible for the regulation of asset management companies, investment advisers and discretionary management companies are the FSC and its executive arm, the FSS.

China

CITIC-Prudential Fund Management Company Limited, a joint venture between Prudential and CITIC Group (China International Trust and Investment Corporation), was incorporated in Shanghai in September 2005. It is regulated by the China Securities Regulatory Commission (‘CSRC’) and holds the license of mutual funds, DAM products, QDII products and advisory services. The CSRC supervises the establishment of fund management companies (‘FMCs’) and the launch of securities investment funds.

The legislative framework of China’s fund industry comprises the China Securities Investment Funds Law (the ‘Fund Law’) and a set of ancillary regulations (the ‘Fund Regulations’). The Fund Law was revised, and supplemental measures thereto were enacted on 1 June 2013. This revision to the Fund Law allows individual ownership of fund management companies and removes personal trading and investment restrictions, granting more discretion to FMCs in their daily operation. While the Fund Law and Fund Regulations articulate the rules and requirements which must be adhered to by all FMCs, the supervisory approach of CSRC, to a certain extent, is also principles- based. The Chinese authorities aim to protect the legitimate rights and interests of investors and other relevant parties, and thereby to promote the healthy development of securities investment funds and securities markets.

Taiwan

In Taiwan, Prudential conducts a fund business through Eastspring Securities Investment Trust Co. Ltd. The Taiwanese body responsible for regulation of securities investment trust enterprises (‘SITE’), securities investment consulting enterprises (‘SICE’) and discretionary investment businesses is the Securities and Futures Bureau (‘SFB’) under the FSC. The SFB is responsible for promulgating laws, regulations and policies in relation to these business areas.

 

 

105


Table of Contents

Eastspring Securities Investment Trust Co. Ltd is registered as a SITE with the FSC. It is compulsory that all SITEs are members of the Securities Investment Trust and Consulting Association (‘SITCA’), a self-regulatory organisation (‘SRO’). SITCA supports the regulatory and administrative operations entrusted to the SFB by adopting self-regulatory rules and overseeing self-regulation by its members, establishing a membership disciplinary framework and carrying out matters that the SFB has authorised it to handle, such as previewing product filing documents before submission for the SFB’s final review. SITCA also acts as liaison between the SFB and its members for matters of business development.

Japan

Eastspring Investment Limited is registered with the Kanto Local Finance Bureau under the JFSA to engage in (a) second financial instruments business, (b) investment management business, (c) investment advisory & agency business and (d) ancillary business under the Financial Instruments and Exchange Act (‘FIEA’).

The company is also a member of the Investment Trusts Association, Japan and the Japan Investment Advisers Association. Both associations are self-regulatory bodies under FIEA. Eastspring Investment Limited is required to comply with the policies and regulations issued by these associations, which are authorised to conduct on and off-site inspection in addition to the inspection conducted by the Securities and Exchange Surveillance Commission which is an inspection arm of the JFSA.

Under its registration in respect of the second financial instruments business, the company is permitted to explain and solicit products but the actual sales of Eastspring Investments Limited’s funds are made to investors through distributors. It does not therefore set up or maintain customer accounts for the purposes of direct distribution and settlement of Eastspring Investments Limited’s funds to both retail and institutional investors. The customer account should be opened by the distributors, which are financial institutions registered as type one financial instruments business operators, like securities brokers and certified banks.

Dubai

Eastspring Investments Limited (‘Eastspring Investments Dubai’) was incorporated in the Dubai International Financial Centre (‘DIFC’) in September 2006. Eastspring Investments Dubai is an ultimately wholly-owned subsidiary of Prudential Plc. Eastspring Investments Dubai is regulated by the Dubai Financial Services Authority (‘DFSA’), which is the independent regulator for DIFC. Eastspring Investments Dubai holds a license for arranging credit or deals in investments, advising on financial products or credit and has a retail endorsement on its license. The supervisory approach of DFSA is risk-based.

United States

Eastspring Investments Incorporated (‘Eastspring Investments USA’) was incorporated in the State of Delaware in April 2012 and the business was launched in August 2012. Eastspring Investments USA is an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Prudential plc.

On behalf of its affiliate, Eastspring Singapore, Eastspring Investments USA serves as a marketing office and a ‘solicitor’ as defined under the provisions of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended (‘Investment Advisers Act’) and the rules thereunder. Eastspring Investments USA is registered with the SEC as an ‘investment adviser’ pursuant to the US Investment Advisers Act of 1940.

Certain US states and local governmental bodies may also require that individuals engaged in solicitation activity be either registered or otherwise qualify for an exemption to solicit investors in that jurisdiction. Based on its solicitation activity on behalf of Eastspring Singapore, Eastspring Investments USA is subject to the solicitation restrictions and filings of those individual states, as applicable.

 

106


Table of Contents

Luxembourg

Eastspring Investments (Luxembourg) S.A. is fully licensed by the Luxembourg supervisory authority (ie, CSSF) to operate as a management company of undertaking for collective investments in transferable securities (eg UCITS and other types of investment products) since 1 April 2013.

Eastspring Investments (Luxembourg) S.A. was appointed in particular to act as management company of Eastspring Investments, a UCITS open-ended investment company organised under the laws of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, regulated by the CSSF and passported for sale in many countries, including European and Asian jurisdictions.

Eastspring Investments (Luxembourg) S.A. has been operating a branch in the UK since September 2013, concentrating sales and marketing activities across Europe. The UK branch of Eastspring Investments (Luxembourg) S.A. falls under the supervision of both FCA and CSSF.

The material regulatory developments in Luxembourg in 2015 include the preparation of the implementation of the UCITS V Directive, which will become effective in early 2016 (see ‘UCITS V’ above for more on this).

US Supervision and Regulation

Overview

Prudential conducts its US insurance activities through Jackson, a life insurance company licensed to transact its insurance business in, and which is subject to regulation by and supervision of, the District of Columbia, and 49 of the 50 states. Jackson operates a subsidiary, Jackson National Life Insurance Company of New York, in the state of New York. The extent of any such regulation varies, but most jurisdictions have laws and regulations governing the financial aspects of insurance companies, including standards of solvency, reserves, reinsurance and capital adequacy and the business conduct of insurance companies. In addition, statutes and regulations usually require the licensing of insurers and their agents and the approval of policy forms and related materials. These statutes and regulations in a US insurance company’s state of domicile (Michigan, in the case of Jackson) also regulate the investment activities of insurers.

Insurance regulatory authorities in all the jurisdictions in which Jackson does business require it to file detailed quarterly and annual financial statements, and these authorities have the right to examine its operations and accounts. In addition, Jackson is generally subject to US federal and state laws and regulations that affect the conduct of its business as well as similar laws and regulations in Canada and the Cayman Islands. New York and Michigan require their state insurance authorities to conduct an examination of an insurer under their jurisdiction at least once every five years. Both Michigan and New York are in the process of conducting an examination for the three years ended December 31, 2014. The examinations are expected to be completed in 2016.

Jackson has historic small books of business in places such as the Cayman Islands, Puerto Rico, Guam and Argentina and the business is being managed in run off. In addition, Jackson acquired some policies in Canada from its acquisition of Reassure America Life Insurance Company (REALIC) in 2012.

Jackson’s ability to pay shareholder dividends is limited under Michigan insurance law. The Director of the Michigan Department of Insurance & Financial Services (the ‘Michigan Director of Insurance’) may limit, or not permit, the payment of shareholder dividends if it determines that an insurer’s surplus, with regards to policyholders, is not reasonable in relation to its outstanding liabilities and is not adequate to meet its financial needs as required by Michigan insurance law. Unless otherwise approved by the Michigan Director of Insurance, dividends may only be paid from earned surplus. Jackson must report any shareholder dividends to the Michigan Director of Insurance before they can be paid. In the case of an extraordinary shareholder dividend or distribution, an insurer may not pay the dividend or distribution until 30 days after the Michigan Director of Insurance has received notice of the declaration and has not disapproved, or has approved, the payment within that period. For this purpose, an extraordinary dividend or distribution means any dividend or distribution of cash or other property

 

107


Table of Contents

where the fair market value, together with that of other dividends or distributions that an insurer made within the preceding twelve months, exceeds the greater of 10 per cent of the insurer’s surplus, as regards policyholders as of 31 December of the immediately preceding year, or the net gain from operations of the insurer, not including realised capital gains, for the prior year. In 2013, 2014 and 2015, Jackson paid shareholder dividends to Prudential plc of US$470.0 million, US$680.0 million, and US$710.0 million, respectively.

State regulators also require prior notice or regulatory approval of changes in control of an insurer or its holding company and of certain material transactions with affiliates. Under New York and Michigan insurance laws and regulations, no person, corporation or other entity may acquire control of an insurance company or a controlling interest in any parent company of an insurance company, unless that person, corporation or entity has obtained the prior approval of the regulator. For the purpose of each of New York and Michigan law, any person acquiring, directly or indirectly, 10 per cent or more of the voting securities of an insurance company is presumed to have acquired ‘control’ in the company. To obtain approval of any change in control, the proposed acquirer must file an application with the New York Superintendent of Financial Services and the Michigan Director of Insurance. This application requires the proposed acquirer to disclose, among other information, its background, financial condition, the financial condition of its affiliates, the source and amount of funds by which it will affect the acquisition, the criteria used in determining the nature and amount of consideration to be paid for the acquisition, proposed changes in the management and operations of the insurance company and other related matters. The Michigan Director of Insurance can grant an exemption from filing an application if an acquisition does not have the effect of changing or influencing control.

Guaranty associations and similar arrangements

Each of the 50 states of the United States, the District of Columbia and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico have laws requiring insurance companies doing business within their jurisdictions to participate in various types of guaranty associations or other similar arrangements. These associations and arrangements provide certain levels of protection to policyholders from losses under insurance policies issued by insurance companies that become impaired or insolvent. Typically, these associations levy assessments, up to prescribed limits, on member insurers on a basis that is related to the member insurer’s proportionate share of the business in the relevant jurisdiction of all member insurers in the lines of business in which the impaired or insolvent insurer is engaged. Some jurisdictions permit member insurers to recover assessments that they paid through full or partial premium tax offsets, usually over a period of years. Guarantee funds in both the UK and the US provide for payments to be made to policyholders on behalf of insolvent life insurance companies and are financed by payments assessed on solvent insurance companies based on location, volume and types of business.

Asset valuation reserve

State regulators generally require that insurers establish an asset valuation reserve that consists of two components: a ‘default component’ to provide for future credit-related losses on fixed income investments and an ‘equity component’ to provide for losses on all types of equity investments. The asset valuation reserve establishes statutory reserves for fixed maturity securities, equity securities, mortgage loans, real estate, derivative instruments and other invested assets. The reserve is designed to provide for a normalised level of future losses based on the credit rating of each individual investment. The level of reserves is based on both the type of investment and its rating. Contributions to the reserve may result in a reduction in Jackson’s unassigned surplus, which, in turn, may reduce funds available for shareholder distributions. The extent of the impact of the asset valuation reserve on Jackson’s statutory surplus depends in part on the future composition of the investment portfolio.

Interest maintenance reserve

State regulators generally require that insurers establish an interest maintenance reserve to defer non-credit-related realised capital gains and losses, net of taxes, on fixed income investments (primarily bonds, derivative instruments and mortgage loans) which are amortised into net income over the estimated remaining periods to maturity of the investments sold and to defer material gains or losses, net of taxes, resulting from market value adjustments on policies and contracts backed by assets carried at book value. The extent of the impact of the

 

108


Table of Contents

interest maintenance reserve on earnings and surplus depends on the amount of future interest rate-related realised capital gains and losses on fixed maturity investments, derivatives and mortgage loans and deferred gains or losses resulting from market value adjustments on policies and contracts backed by assets that are valued at book value.

The National Association of Insurance Commissioners ratios

On the basis of statutory financial statements that insurers file with state insurance regulators, the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (‘NAIC’), in connection with the Insurance Regulatory Information System, annually calculates 12 financial ratios to assist state regulators in monitoring the financial condition of insurance companies. A usual range of results for each ratio is used as a benchmark and departure from the usual range on four or more of the ratios can lead to inquiries from individual state insurance departments. The usual range of results is established by the NAIC for each ratio from studies of the ratios for companies that have become insolvent or have experienced financial difficulties in recent years. As at 31 December 2015, none of Jackson’s ratios fell outside the usual range.

Policy and contract reserve sufficiency analysis

State insurance laws require life insurance companies to conduct annually an analysis of the sufficiency of its life and annuity reserves. A qualified actuary must submit an opinion that states that the reserves, when considered in the light of the assets that an insurance company holds with respect to such reserves, make good and sufficient provision for the associated contractual obligations and related expenses of the insurance company. If a qualified actuary cannot provide such an opinion, then the insurance company must set up additional reserves by moving funds from surplus. The 2015 opinion has been submitted to the Michigan Department of Insurance & Finance Services without any qualifications.

Jackson’s capital and surplus

Michigan insurance law requires Jackson, as a domestic life insurance company, to maintain at least US$7,500,000 in unimpaired capital and surplus. In addition, insurance companies are required to have sufficient capital and surplus to be safe, reliable and entitled to public confidence.

As a licensed insurer in the District of Columbia and every state but New York, where it operates through a subsidiary, Jackson is subject to the supervision of the regulators of each jurisdiction. In connection with the continual licensing of Jackson, regulators have discretionary authority to limit or prohibit the new issuance of business to policyholders when, in their judgment, the regulators determine that such insurer is not maintaining minimum surplus or capital or if the further transaction of business will be hazardous to policyholders.

As a Michigan domiciled insurer, Jackson is subject to a prescribed accounting practice that, under certain circumstances, allows an insurer to include the ‘value of business acquired’ as an admitted asset in excess of the amount allowed under NAIC guidance. At 31 December 2015, as a result of the acquisition of REALIC, Jackson admitted US$327.5 million of value of business acquired in excess of the amount allowed under NAIC guidance.

Jackson has received approval from the Michigan Department of Insurance & Financial Services regarding the use of a permitted accounting practice. This permitted practice allows Jackson to carry certain interest rate swaps at book value as if statutory hedge accounting were in place instead of at fair value as would have been otherwise required. The permitted practice is effective 31 December 2014 and expires 1 October 2016 unless extended by the Michigan Director of Insurance. The effects of this permitted practice may not be considered by the company when determining the surplus available for dividends, nor the nature of dividends as ordinary or extraordinary. As at December 31, 2015 and 2014, the effect of the permitted practice decreased statutory surplus by US$355.5 million and US$555.0 million, net of tax, respectively. The permitted practice had no impact on statutory net income.

 

109


Table of Contents

Risk-based capital

The NAIC has developed risk-based capital standards for life insurance companies as well as a model act for state legislatures to enact. The model act requires that life insurance companies report on a risk-based capital formula standard that they calculate by applying factors to various asset, premium and reserve items and separate model based calculations of risk associated primarily with variable annuity products. The risk-based capital formula takes into account the risk characteristics of a company, including asset risk, insurance risk, interest rate risk, market risk and business risk. The NAIC designed the formula as an early warning tool to identify potentially inadequately capitalised companies for purposes of initiating regulatory action.

Any state adopting the model act gives the state insurance commissioner explicit regulatory authority to require various actions by, or take various actions against, insurance companies whose adjusted capital does not meet minimum risk-based capital standards. The Michigan Department of Insurance & Financial Services takes into account the NAICs’ risk-based capital standards to determine compliance with Michigan insurance law.

At 31 December 2015 Jackson’s total adjusted capital under the NAIC’s definition substantially exceeded Michigan standards.

Regulation of investments

Jackson is subject to state laws and regulations that require diversification of its investment portfolio, limit the amount of investments in certain investment categories, such as below investment grade fixed income securities, common stock, real estate and foreign securities, and forbid certain other types of investments altogether. Jackson’s failure to comply with these laws and regulations would cause investments exceeding regulatory limitations to be treated by the Michigan Director of Insurance as non-admitted assets for purposes of measuring surplus and, in some instances, the Michigan Director of Insurance could require divestiture of non-qualifying investments.

Implementation of US Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (‘FATCA’) provisions

US federal tax legislation and rules, including those relating to the insurance industry or insurance products, can have a significant impact on Prudential’s business. Tax legislation and rules, and their interpretation, may change, possibly with retrospective effect, and proposals that would affect such changes are debated periodically by the US Congress.

FATCA was introduced in the US as part of the Hiring Incentives to Restore Employment (Hire) Act on 18 March 2010. FATCA requires Foreign Financial Institutions (‘FFI’s) (such as Prudential plc and many of its subsidiaries) to identify US customers and report certain information on accounts held by US persons and US-owned foreign entities, to either their domestic tax authority (where there is an intergovernmental agreement to do so) for onwards transmission to the IRS, or directly to the IRS on an annual basis. Failure to report can lead to a 30 per cent withholding tax on certain US payments made to the FFI. The start date for implementation of the FATCA regime was 1 July 2014 with the first reports required in 2015. The majority of countries where Prudential plc has affected subsidiaries have now entered into intergovernmental agreements with the US to simplify compliance for FFIs in those countries and minimise the risk of withholding, while still meeting the reporting obligations to the US. Prudential plc and its affected subsidiaries have established policies and procedures to ensure compliance with FATCA. The first FATCA reports were made in 2015 in relation to the 2014 year.

Securities laws

Jackson, certain of its affiliates and certain policies and contracts that Jackson issues are subject to regulation under the federal securities laws administered by the SEC. The primary intent of these laws and regulations is to protect investors in the securities markets and generally grant supervisory agencies broad administrative powers, including the power to limit or restrict the conduct of business for failure to comply with such laws and regulations and (in the case of broker dealers) to impose capital and related requirements. Jackson may also be subject to similar laws and regulations in the states in which it provides investment advisory services, offers the products described above or conducts other securities-related activities.

 

110


Table of Contents

Jackson National Asset Management, LLC (‘JNAM’) is registered with the SEC as an investment adviser pursuant to the Investment Advisers Act. JNAM is registered as a transfer agent pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the ‘Securities Exchange Act’). The investment companies (mutual funds) for which JNAM serves as an investment adviser are subject to SEC registration and regulation pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the ‘Securities Act’), and the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the ‘Investment Company Act’). Certain of the mutual funds advised by JNAM underlie variable products offered by Jackson. In addition, each variable annuity and variable life product sponsored by Jackson is subject to SEC registration and regulation pursuant to the Securities Act and the Investment Company Act, and applicable state insurance and securities laws. Each variable annuity and variable life product is funded under a separate account that is registered with the SEC as a unit investment trust.

Effective 31 December 2012, the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (‘CFTC’) eliminated an exclusion previously available to the mutual funds advised by JNAM from the definition of a ‘commodity pool’ under the Commodity Exchange Act (‘CEA’). Consequently, certain of the mutual funds became commodity pools and became subject to the requirements of the CEA and the rules of the CFTC promulgated thereunder. JNAM is registered as a ‘commodity pool operator’ with the National Futures Association (‘NFA’) pursuant to CFTC regulations and is acting as a ‘commodity pool operator’ with respect to the operation of certain of the mutual funds. JNAM and the mutual funds have incurred additional regulatory compliance and reporting expenses as a result. The effects of these regulatory changes could reduce investment returns or harm the mutual fund’s ability to implement its investment strategy.

Curian Capital, LLC (“Curian Capital”) is Jackson’s registered investment adviser channel, which offered personalised investment advice through its separately managed account program to a range of clients. Curian Clearing, LLC is registered as a broker-dealer with the SEC pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act, registered as a broker-dealer in all applicable states, and has served exclusively as the clearing broker-dealer for the Curian Capital separately managed account program. In addition, Curian Clearing, LLC is a member firm of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (the ‘FINRA’), subject to its oversight and regulatory requirements.

After concluding a business review of Curian Capital and its position in the marketplace, Curian Capital stopped accepting new business as of 31 July 2015. Curian Capital continued to actively manage existing accounts into 2016 to allow financial professionals and clients sufficient time to plan for the transition of accounts and the Curian Capital separately managed account program terminated on 19 February 2016.

Jackson National Life Distributors LLC is registered as a broker-dealer with the SEC pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act, and is registered as a broker-dealer in all applicable states. In addition, Jackson National Life Distributors LLC is a member firm of the FINRA, subject to its oversight and regulatory requirements.

National Planning Holdings, Inc. (‘NPH’) owns four retail broker dealers, being IFC Holdings, Inc. (doing business as INVEST Financial Corporation), (‘IFC’), Investment Centers of America, Inc (‘ICA’), National Planning Corporation (‘NPC’) and SII Investments, Inc. (‘SII’). These entities conduct business as securities broker-dealers, investment advisers, and insurance agencies (or affiliated with insurance agencies), and are licensed and qualified to transact business pursuant to their respective registration or licensure with the SEC, state securities and insurance authorities, and membership with FINRA and the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board. NPC, SII, and ICA are also registered with the CFTC, and are members of the NFA for purposes of commodities and futures trading.

Prudential also conducts certain of its US institutional investment management activities through PPM America, Inc., which is registered with the SEC as an investment adviser under the Investment Advisers Act. PPM America serves as the investment adviser to Jackson and as the primary US institutional investment adviser for certain Prudential subsidiaries, including The Prudential Assurance Company Limited, among others. PPM America also acts as investment sub-adviser to certain US and foreign advisers affiliated with Prudential with respect to certain primarily US portfolios of accounts or products sponsored or managed by such affiliates. These include US mutual funds, a UK-based pooled investment vehicle, Japanese investment trusts, funds organised under Luxembourg-based SICAVs, a South Korean investment trust fund, and Taiwanese investment trust funds for which PPM America serves as investment consultant and dealing services agent. PPM America also serves as an investment adviser to other affiliated and unaffiliated institutional clients such as a Collateralized Loan Obligation, a

 

111


Table of Contents

Collateralized Debt Obligation or similar structured vehicles and private investment funds (in which PPM America affiliates such as Prudential UK entities and Jackson and employees of PPM America are generally investors), and a limited number of other unaffiliated accounts. The US mutual funds for which PPM America serves as sub-adviser are subject to regulation under the Securities Act and the Investment Company Act, and other similar vehicles organised outside of the US are also subject to regulation under applicable local law.

PPM America and certain of its subsidiaries are subject to various levels of regulation under the federal securities laws that the SEC administers as well as state securities laws. In connection with providing investment advisory services to certain of its clients, PPM America may also be subject to regulation under applicable foreign laws.

To the extent that Curian, PPM America or the NPH broker-dealers manage accounts with assets of employee benefit plans, individual retirement accounts (‘IRAs’) or similar qualified accounts subject to the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (‘ERISA’), or the Internal Revenue Code, they may be subject to certain restrictions imposed by ERISA or the Internal Revenue Code. Such restrictions are summarised in ‘Employee Benefit Plan Compliance’ in the Section below. The US Department of Labor (‘DOL’) and the IRS have interpretive and enforcement authority over the applicable provisions of ERISA and the Internal Revenue Code.

Disclosure obligations under the US Securities Exchange Act and in particular under Section 219 of the Iran Threat Reduction and Syria Human Rights Act of 2012

Under Section 219 of the Iran Threat Reduction and Syria Human Rights Act of 2012, which added Section 13(r) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Prudential is required to disclose certain of its activities and those of its affiliates related to Iran and to persons sanctioned by the US under programs relating to terrorism and proliferation of weapons of mass destruction that occurred in the twelve-month period covered by this report.

Two of Prudential’s non-US affiliates have engaged in transactions with persons sanctioned by the US under Executive Order 13224, relating to terrorism. These transactions were entered into in compliance with laws and regulations applicable to the relevant affiliates. The first individual took out a one-off takaful certificate (a Shariah compliant life policy) with Prudential’s Malaysian insurance subsidiary in October 2011. It was discovered in March 2012 through automated checking that his name matched various sanctions lists. The policy was for RM600 per month and RM 7,200 was paid for the year in 2015 (equivalent to around US$144 and US$1,728, respectively). The matter was reported to the Malaysian governmental sanctions authority, the Bank Negara Malaysia Financial Intelligence Unit, in March 2012. Currently, the said policy has been frozen with no top-up, withdrawal or claims permitted, although regular premium payment is still allowed. The policy is in force, with no claims submitted or any payment made to date.

The second individual is a beneficiary to three life insurance policies in his wife’s name, the first taken out in December 2010 and two others taken out in November 2011 with Prudential’s Indonesian insurance subsidiary. The annual premium of the three life insurance policies is IDR 6,000,000 (approximately US$439), IDR 12,000,000 (US$877) and IDR 12,000,000 (US$877), respectively. The matter was notified to the Indonesian governmental sanctions authority, the PPATK, in August 2012. All three policies remain in force, with no claims or other payouts in 2015.

As the provisioning of insurance liabilities is undertaken on a portfolio basis, it is not practical to estimate the 2015 net profits on the contracts referred to above. Prudential does not intend to engage in further new business dealings with these individuals.

In the UK, the Prudential Assurance Company Ltd operates a pension scheme for employees of the UK branch of a government-owned Iranian bank. A total of 66 scheme members are receiving benefits, with 36 deferred members. All members are inactive in that no member contributions are being made. The scheme is closed to new members. Due to the long term nature of a pension scheme it is not practical to advise the net profit, but the fund value at 31 December 2015 stood at £7,259,550.00 (US$10,367,000). In return for administering the scheme there are standard Prudential scheme charges: an annual fee of £737 (US$1,052), plus £11 (US$15.7) per member, £60 (US£85.7) per quote and a Trustee Accounts charge. The annual fees up to 31 July 2015 were £3,736 (US$5,335) (made up of £1,882 (US$2,688) scheme fee and £1,854 (US$2,648) Trustee Accounts). In addition to this an Annual Management Charge of 1.25 per cent is reflected in the fund value. The UK governmental sanctions

 

112


Table of Contents

authority, HM Treasury, has been informed of this arrangement and in 2008 advised Prudential that following an analysis of the deeds, the fund is not owned, held or controlled by the Iranian bank. Payments out of the fund have been approved by HM Treasury through a license. There are no plans to discontinue with this contract in light of this license.

Employee benefit plan compliance

Jackson issues certain types of general account stable value products, such as GICs and funding agreements, to employee benefit plans and to investment vehicles that pool the investments of such plans. Many of these plans are retirement plans that are subject to the fiduciary standards of ERISA and that are tax-qualified under the Internal Revenue Code. As such, Jackson may be subject to certain restrictions imposed by ERISA and taxes imposed by the Internal Revenue Code. These restrictions include:

 

    the requirement under ERISA that fiduciaries must perform their duties solely in the interests of ERISA plan participants and beneficiaries,
    the requirements under ERISA that fiduciaries may not engage in ‘conflict of interest’ transactions, and
    the requirements under ERISA that a fiduciary may not cause a covered plan to engage in certain ‘prohibited transactions’ with certain persons who provide services to the plan or are affiliated with the plan sponsor or a plan service provider.

In general, the Internal Revenue Code imposes taxes on persons involved in certain of the transactions described above.

The DOL and the IRS have interpretive and enforcement authority over the applicable provisions of ERISA and the Internal Revenue Code.

In the instance where an insurer issues a guaranteed benefit policy to a plan, ERISA provides that the insurer need not become a fiduciary with respect to the plan solely as a result of the issuance of the policy. Under Section 401 of ERISA, a guaranteed benefit policy means an insurance policy to the extent such policy provides for benefits the amount of which the insurer guarantees.

In 1993, in John Hancock Mutual Life Insurance Company v. Harris Trust & Savings Bank, the US Supreme Court held that a portion of the funds held under a certain type of general account annuity contract did not constitute a ‘guaranteed benefit policy’ within the meaning of ERISA, a holding which potentially exposes insurers with similar types of contracts to the application of ERISA’s fiduciary and prohibited transaction provisions in connection with the management of assets in their general accounts.

Although no assurances can be given, Jackson believes that none of its contracts are of the type to which the holding in Harris Trust would be applicable. Moreover, the DOL has issued PTE 95-60, which generally exempts external, unaffiliated investment transactions from ERISA’s prohibited transaction provisions. If the Harris Trust holding is applied to its contracts, Jackson would be subject to ERISA’s fiduciary and prohibited transaction provisions described above

Financial services regulatory and legislative issues

The DOL released a proposed regulation in April 2015 accompanied by new class exemptions and proposed amendments to long-standing exemptions from the prohibited transaction provisions under ERISA. The DOL announced that it had finalised a series of new rules and amendments on 6 April 2016. The new rules redefine who is considered a “fiduciary” for purposes of transactions with qualified plans, plan participants and Individual Retirement Accounts. Jackson is evaluating the final rules (independently and in consultation with its business partners) and will, among other things, need to consider changing its sales practices and compensation paid to sales personnel and the types of services or products Jackson makes available.

The Dodd-Frank Act, which represents a comprehensive overhaul of the financial services industry within the US, was enacted in July 2010. The full impact of the Dodd-Frank Act on Prudential’s businesses is not currently clear,

 

113


Table of Contents

however, as many of its provisions primarily affect the banking industry, have a delayed effective date and/or require rulemaking or other actions by various US regulators over the coming years.

The Dodd-Frank Act vests the Financial Stability Oversight Council (‘the Council’) with the power to designate domestic systemically important non-bank institutions which will be subject to special regulatory supervision and other provisions intended to prevent or mitigate the impact of future disruptions in the US financial system. If Jackson is designated in the US as a systemically important non-bank institution, it may be subject to heightened prudential standards to be administered by the US Federal Reserve Board, including heightened capital, leverage and liquidity standards, risk management requirements, single counterparty credit concentration limits, resolution plans and stress tests, and potential discretionary requirements relating to contingent capital, enhanced public disclosure and short term debt limits. As discussed under the Global Regulatory Developments and trends section, Prudential Group was designated as a G-SII in July 2013, but that is separate from a Dodd-Frank designation.

Dodd-Frank Rules and guidance outlining the manner in which the Council will determine which companies should be so designated in the US were adopted in April 2012. The rules set forth a three-stage process of increasingly in-depth evaluation and analysis, drawing on both qualitative and quantitative information (but preserving significant Council discretion). The rules do not, however, permit a definitive view as to whether Jackson would or would not be designated as systemically important in the US context.

The Dodd-Frank Act also established the Federal Insurance Office (‘FIO’). The FIO has no direct regulatory authority over US insurers, but it does have certain authority to represent the US government on prudential aspects of international insurance matters, including at the IAIS. The FIO is also authorised to monitor all aspects of the insurance industry, including identifying issues or gaps in the regulation of insurers that could contribute to a systemic crisis in the insurance industry.

In addition, Title VII of the Dodd-Frank Act created a new regulatory regime for certain derivatives called swaps and security-based swaps. Prudential and Jackson have determined that they are not required to register as swap dealers, security-based swap dealers, major swap participants, or major security-based swap participants under Title VII of the Dodd-Frank Act. However, CFTC regulations requiring that swaps be reported to trade repositories and, in some cases, cleared through registered central counterparties and traded on registered exchanges, may apply to certain derivatives entered into by Jackson and, in some circumstances, Prudential. Similar rules for security-based swaps have been proposed, and in some cases finalised, but not yet implemented.

Under Title VII of the Dodd-Frank Act, certain derivatives instruments, including standardised interest rate swaps and index credit default swaps, are required to be cleared and traded on an exchange. While the transition to exchange-traded derivative instruments may limit counterparty risk, it could increase costs associated with such investments, including transaction and exchange fees. The standardisation of exchange-traded derivative instruments may also limit the ability of Jackson and the mutual funds to customise certain derivative instruments with their counterparties. Exchange-traded derivative instruments may also require Jackson and the mutual funds to post additional collateral or limit the types of collateral that may be used for such transactions. Additionally, requirements to post margin for uncleared swaps are expected to come into effect in phases over the next few years. These developments may limit the ability of Jackson and the mutual funds that its subsidiaries advise to effectively deploy assets in a timely manner.

The timing and the ultimate impact on the management and operations of Prudential and the regulations promulgated, or to be promulgated, pursuant to these statutory provisions, cannot yet be definitively determined.

Proposals to change the laws and regulations governing the financial services industry are frequently introduced in the US Congress, in the state legislatures and before the various regulatory agencies. The likelihood and timing of any proposals or legislation, and the impact they might have on Jackson, its subsidiaries, or other Prudential subsidiaries doing business in the US, cannot be determined at this time.

State legislatures and/or state insurance regulatory authorities frequently enact laws and/or regulations that significantly affect insurers supervised by such authorities. Although the US federal government does not directly regulate the insurance business, federal initiatives may also have an impact on the insurance industry.

 

114


Table of Contents

Federal and state regulators have focused on the mutual fund and variable annuity and insurance product industries including the broker-dealer system. As a result of publicity relating to widespread perceptions of industry abuses, including fraudulent and anti-competitive practices among insurance brokers and mutual funds, there have been numerous regulatory inquiries and proposals for legislative and regulatory actions that could affect the operations and management of market participants. It is difficult to predict at this time whether changes resulting from industry investigations and/or new laws and regulations will affect the Group’s insurance or investment management businesses, and, if so, to what degree.

Additional Jurisdictions

The Group has also invested in businesses located in various new markets.

A new sales operation was launched in Poland during 2013 under the auspices of Prudential UK with an agency network rolled out in the country during 2014. The business is currently offering two simple life and protection products.

The Myanmar business unit is not yet fully operational as a business, although Prudential was awarded a licence to establish a representative office in Yangon, Myanmar in late 2013.

Prudential completed the purchase of Ghana’s Express Life Co. in April 2014, marking the entry of the firm into the African life insurance market. Three more acquisitions have since been made in Africa, in Kenya (2014), Uganda (2015) and Zambia (2016, expected to complete shortly).

These developments and such incremental regulation remain immaterial at present in terms of the overall business of the Group.

Capital Expenditure and Divestitures

Please refer to Item 5 ‘Operating and Financial Review’—Liquidity and Capital Resources—Corporate transactions for a discussion of the principal capital expenditures and divestitures during the period under review.

Item 4A. Unresolved Staff Comments

None

 

 

115


Table of Contents

Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects

The following discussion and analysis should be read in conjunction with Prudential’s consolidated financial statements and the related notes to Prudential’s consolidated financial statements included in this document.

A summary of the critical accounting policies which have been applied to these statements is set forth in the section below entitled ‘IFRS Critical Accounting Policies’.

The results discussed below are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected in any future periods. This discussion contains forward-looking statements based on current expectations, which involve risks and uncertainties. Actual results and the timing of certain events may differ significantly from those projected in these forward-looking statements due to a number of factors, including those set forth in the section below entitled ‘—Principal Factors Affecting Results of Operations’ and in Item 3, ‘Key Information—Risk Factors’ and elsewhere in this document.

Introduction and Overview

Prudential plc is an international financial services group serving circa 24 million insurance customers and with £509 billion of assets under management. We are listed on stock exchanges in London, Hong Kong, Singapore and New York.

Prudential Corporation Asia has leading insurance and asset management operations across 14 markets in Asia and serves the emerging middle class families of the region’s outperforming economies. Prudential has been operating in Asia for over 90 years and has built high performing businesses with effective multichannel distribution, a product portfolio centred on regular savings and protection, award winning customer services and a widely recognised brand.

Eastspring Investments, part of the Group’s asset management operations since 1994, is a leading asset manager in Asia and provides investment solutions across a broad range of asset classes.

Founded 50 years ago, Jackson is one of the largest life insurance companies in the US, providing retirement savings and income solutions aimed at the 75 million ‘baby-boomers’. Jackson’s pursuit of excellence in product innovation and distinctive distribution capabilities has helped it forge a solid reputation for meeting customer needs. Jackson has a long and successful record of providing advisers with the products, tools and support to design effective retirement solutions for their clients.

Founded in the UK in 1848, Prudential is a long established leading provider of life and pensions, with a relentless focus on the needs of the age cohorts where wealth is most heavily concentrated. Our core strengths in with-profits and retirement are underpinned by our expertise in areas such as longevity, risk management and multi-asset investment, together with our financial strength and widely recognised brand. These attributes position Prudential UK well to meet customer needs in the UK’s evolving marketplace.

M&G has been investing money for individual and institutional clients for over 80 years. M&G has grown to be one of Europe’s largest retail and institutional fund managers by developing its expertise in active investment. M&G has a conviction-led and long-term approach to investment, developing a deep understanding of the companies and organisations in whose equities, bonds or property it invests.

Summary of Performance

Prudential reported a strong performance in 2015.

Our strategy continues to serve us well, focusing on the three long term opportunities across our geographic markets—(i) serving the protection and investment needs of the growing middle class in Asia; (ii) providing asset accumulation and retirement income products to US baby boomers and (iii) meeting the savings and retirement needs of an ageing British population. The strength of the Group’s execution capabilities, combined with our leading market positions, growing in-force book and excellent diversification by geography, currency, product and distribution enable us to create value for our customers while generating sustainable earnings and cash for our shareholders.

 

 

116


Table of Contents

Currency volatility

We continue to comment on our international business performance in local currency terms (expressed on a constant exchange rate basis) to show the underlying business trends in a period of currency volatility. We have used this basis in discussions below for our Asian and US businesses to maintain comparability. Currency values in the countries in which we operate have fluctuated in the course of 2015. As a significant proportion of our earnings and capital are US dollar denominated, the weaker sterling benefited our reported results, shareholders’ equity and solvency.

In 2014 we adopted the approach of evaluating the financial performance of the Group by presenting percentage growth rates before the impact of the fluctuations in the value of sterling against local currencies in the US and Asia. In a period of currency volatility this approach allows a more meaningful assessment of underlying performance trends. This is because our businesses in the US and Asia receive premiums and pay claims in local currencies and are, therefore, not exposed to any cross-currency trading effects. To maintain comparability in the discussion below the same basis has been applied. Growth rates based on actual exchange rates are also shown in the financial tables presented in this report. Consistent with previous reporting periods, the assets and liabilities of our overseas businesses are translated at period-end exchange rates so the effect of currency movements has been fully incorporated within reported shareholders’ equity.

The table below presents a summary of the Group’s profit before tax on an IFRS basis. The table presents the full year 2014 results on both an actual exchange rate and constant exchange rate basis so as to eliminate the impact of exchange translation. Actual Exchange Rates (AER) are actual historical exchange rates for the specific accounting period, being the average rates over the period for the income statement and the closing rates for the balance sheet at the balance sheet date. Constant Exchange Rates (CER) results 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.

 

IFRS Profit                                     
     Actual Exchange Rate          Constant Exchange Rate      Actual
Exchange
Rate
 
      2015 £m      2014 £m      Change %          2014 £m      Change %      2013 £m  

Operating profit before tax

                   

Long-term business:

                   

Asia

     1,209         1,050         15           1,040         16         1,001   

US

     1,691         1,431         18           1,543         10         1,243   

UK1

     1,167         729         60             729         60         695   

Long-term business operating profit1

     4,067         3,210         27           3,312         23         2,939   

UK general insurance commission

     28         24         17           24         17         29   

Asset management business:

                   

M&G

     442         446         (1)           446         (1)         395   

Prudential Capital

     19         42         (55)           42         (55)         46   

Eastspring Investments

     115         90         28           91         26         74   

US

     11         12         (8)           13         (15)         59   

Other income and expenditure

     (675)         (661)         (2)           (661)         (2)         (599)   
Results of the sold PruHealth and PruProtect business      -         23         (100)             23         (100)         11   
Total operating profit based on longer-term investment returns before tax      4,007         3,186         26             3,290         22         2,954   

Non-operating items

     (859)         (572)         (50)             (654)         (31)         (1,319)   
Profit before tax attributable to shareholders      3,148         2,614         20           2,636         19         1,635   
Tax charge attributable to shareholders’ returns      (569)         (398)         (43)             (396)         (44)         (289)   
Profit for the year attributable to shareholders      2,579         2,216         16             2,240         15         1,346   

 

 

117


Table of Contents

In the remainder of this ‘Introduction and Overview’, every time we comment on the performance of our businesses, (except with respect to cash remittances), we focus on their performance measured in local currency (presented here by reference to percentage growth expressed at constant exchange rates) unless otherwise stated.

Group performance

Our Group IFRS operating profit based on longer-term investment returns increased by 22 per cent in 2015 to £4,007 million. On an actual exchange rate basis, the Group’s IFRS operating profit grew by 26 per cent.

 

    Asia life and asset management operating profit of £1,324 million grew by 17 per cent, reflecting the growing recurring income from our life in-force book (up 14 per cent to £7.2 billion) and higher assets under management in Eastspring. The recurring premium focus underpins our earnings growth in the region and is key to the resilience of our financial performance across the cycle.

 

    US life IFRS operating profit of £1,691 million was up 10 per cent, driven by growth in fee income earned on separate account assets that have continued to benefit from robust net inflows.

 

    UK life IFRS operating profit of £1,167 million grew by 60 per cent(16), and included £339 million arising in the second half of 2015 from specific management actions taken to position the balance sheet more efficiently under the new Solvency II regime.

 

    M&G delivered operating profit of £442 million, broadly in line with 2014. Funds under management (including internal funds) were 7 per cent lower at £246.1 billion, reflecting retail outflows during 2015.

The Group is focused on delivering strong cash generation, which underpins both our strategic and financial flexibility. In total, our businesses remitted cash to the corporate centre of £1,625 million, up 10 per cent on an actual exchange rate basis. Cash remittances of £467 million from Asia were 17 per cent higher while those from the US increased by 13 per cent to £470 million, both on an actual exchange rate basis. In the UK, our life operation remitted £331 million in line with last year and M&G delivered a 6 per cent increase in remittances to £302 million.

The sales increase of the Group is led by Asia. In the US, sales were higher as demand for our sales of variable annuities remained strong. In 2015, Jackson continued to proactively manage sales of variable annuities with living benefits while diversifying sales mix. In the UK, sales grew, based on our attractive with-profits product propositions sold through an expanding range of wrappers including income drawdown, individual pensions, ISAs and investment bonds. M&G experienced net outflows of £7.0 billion (2014: net inflows of £7.1 billion) driven by retail net outflows of £10.9 billion, due to redemptions from bond funds reflecting softer consumer sentiment on fixed income assets. Eastspring Investments, our Asia asset management business, delivered a strong performance in 2015, with third party net inflows of £6.0 billion (2014: net inflows of £5.4 billion).

Our balance sheet continues to be defensively positioned and our Solvency II outcome, following approval by the Prudential Regulation Authority of our internal model in December 2015, underscores the strength and resilience of the Group’s capital position.

2017 Objectives

The objectives discussed below 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.

 

 

(16)  Following the disposal of the Group’s 25 per cent interest in PruHealth and PruProtect in November 2014, the 2014 comparative results of UK insurance operations have been adjusted to exclude results of those businesses.

 

118


Table of Contents

We announced new objectives for 2017 at our investor conference in December 2013 in London. These objectives are:

 

  (i) Asia Underlying Free Surplus Generation(17),(18) of £0.9 billion to £1.1 billion in 2017 (2012: £484 million on an actual exchange rate basis)

 

  (ii) Asia life and asset management pre-tax IFRS operating profit to grow at a compound annual rate of at least 15 per cent over the period 2012—2017 to reach at least £1,858 million in 2017 (2012: £924 million(19) on an actual exchange rate basis)

 

  (iii) Group Underlying Free Surplus Generation(18) of at least £10 billion cumulatively over the four-year period from 2014 to end- 2017.

We are continuing to make good progress towards our 2017 objectives announced in December 2013.

Our operating performance by business unit

Asia

Asia has delivered strong financial results in 2015 across all of our key metrics, demonstrating the resilient performance of our well diversified and increasingly large in-force business portfolio. IFRS operating profit of £1,324 million was up 17 per cent (16 per cent on an actual exchange rate basis), and net cash remittances of £467 million were up 17 per cent.

Our life business strategy is centred on Asia’s rapidly growing life insurance markets with a focus on regular premium, protection orientated policies distributed primarily through high quality agency and bank partners. We have over 14 million customers across the region, one of the largest and most productive agency sales forces, a well- established bancassurance franchise and leadership positions in 9 out of 12 markets. Despite our strong progress over the last decade, insurance penetration in the markets in which we operate remains low and the demand for savings, health and protection products from a growing middle class continues to be high. Our scale and scope in the region, combined with proven operational expertise, enables us to execute on strategic growth opportunities, invest in building the business through the economic cycle and remain flexible to resist market pressure for products we consider to be less attractive. This approach will, from time to time, lead to fluctuations in sales at a country level but allows us to conserve value without compromising the overall regional delivery.

In 2015 new business sales increased driven by growth in regular premium new business offsetting the reduction in single premiums, which are more susceptible to softer economic conditions. Our sales performance continues to benefit from our broad-based multi-channel distribution platform, new product launches and continued actions to improve both distribution scale and productivity. Agency sales were higher across the region, reflecting continued investment in agency manpower and an improvement in average agent productivity of 25 per cent. Our core bank partnerships continue to make good progress, led by Standard Chartered Bank.

In Hong Kong, sales grew driven by increases in agency headcount and productivity and also from our successful inroads into Hong Kong’s broker network. During 2015, we have also seen acceleration in demand from Mainland China-based customers, with around 70 per cent of this business having an annual premium below US$5,000. We remain well placed to satisfy the growing demand for savings and protection products from both domestic and Mainland Chinese customers.

 

 

(17)  Underlying free surplus generated 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 one-off gain of £51 million from the sale of the Group’s holding in China Life Insurance Company of Taiwan.
(18)  Underlying free surplus generation is defined in the section ‘EEV Basis, New Business Results and Free Surplus Generation’.
(19)  Asia 2012 IFRS operating profit of £924 million is based on the retrospective application of new and amended accounting standards, and excludes the one-off gain of £51 million from the sale of the Group’s holding in China Life Insurance Company of Taiwan.

 

119


Table of Contents

Our joint venture with CITIC in China continues to perform well, with good sales growth and operations now in 64 cities. The second half of the year was marked by significantly higher levels of volatility in investment markets, which impacted single premium business through the bancassurance channel. However, regular premium sales remain strong, with strong growth in the fourth quarter and during the year. Furthermore, sales of health and protection business nearly doubled during the year, contributing nearly half of sales in China. We are well prepared for the implementation in 2016 of China’s Risk Oriented Solvency System (C-ROSS) and we do not expect this to cause any issues for our business.

In Singapore, we continue to lead the market for regular premium products with a market share of 23 per cent(20) and the largest agency force in the industry. During 2015, we have focused on growing regular premium agency-sourced protection sales, which has enhanced the mix of business through this channel. Reflecting the lower average case size of this business, our pro-active de-emphasis of universal life sales, and the effect of cessation of distribution relationships with Maybank and Singpost, total sales were lower in 2015.

Indonesia continues to generate material levels of new business value for our Asia business, and the recurring regular premium nature of our in-force portfolio has driven a 21 per cent increase in IFRS operating profit (15 per cent on an AER basis). Our sales performance reflects both softer market conditions and the impact of deliberate, pro-active actions to further improve the quality of our distribution. While this might affect shorter-term sales progression, it conserves value and positions us well to capitalise on the eventual upturn. Market conditions for new business sales remain challenging, with suppressed consumer sentiment making it harder to close sales, reflected in lower sales. However, average agency case sizes increased by 9 per cent in 2015. We remain confident about our long-term prospects in Indonesia given the low insurance penetration levels and we are continuing to invest in building our agency force nationwide.

In Malaysia, we have seen continued success from our strategy to increase our penetration of the Bumi sector, where we are the largest provider with a 37 per cent share of the Takaful market. In addition to growing the agency force, we have also increased our activity in bancassurance with sales from this channel up strongly.

All of our other markets have delivered good quality growth. In the Philippines, we have continued to focus on the agency channel, with increased manpower and higher average case sizes driving moderate sales growth in this channel. Overall sales were up slightly, reflecting our decision of being selective in how we participate in bancassurance. Thailand’s sales were up, driven by strong growth from our main bancassurance partners, United Overseas Bank and Thanachart. Vietnam had an excellent year, with sales growing on higher levels of agency activity. Our green field operations in Cambodia continue to move ahead well with sales up strongly. While our larger, more established markets are progressing well, our ability to execute across the spectrum, covering markets at different stages of development, is key to driving long-term, profitable growth in the region.

Our joint venture with ICICI Bank in India remains the leader in the private sector with a market share of 12 per cent and good sales growth. In Taiwan and Korea, we remain selective in our participation and as a result we are content to tolerate fluctuations in new business volumes. Both businesses have generated a higher level of IFRS operating profit.

Despite significant volatility in capital markets, Eastspring Investments, our Asia asset management business, delivered strong results in 2015 with record third-party net inflows of £6.0 billion, up 11 per cent on 2014. The businesses benefited from robust inflows into equity funds, including Asian equity funds in Japan, good investment performance in Korea and India driving excellent domestic flows and healthy net inflows into bond funds from our joint ventures in China and India. Total funds under management at 31 December 2015 were a record £89.1 billion, up 16 per cent on the prior year as a result of net inflows from both our third party and our life businesses.

The fundamentals of our Asian business remain compelling and we have the capabilities and market positions to be able to deliver long-term, profitable growth.

 

 

(20)  Source: Based on Life Insurance Association, Singapore data as at December 2015.

 

120


Table of Contents

US

Our US business delivered a strong performance in 2015, with total IFRS operating profit of £1,702 million, up 9 per cent (18 per cent on an actual exchange rate basis). Jackson’s life IFRS operating profit grew 10 per cent (18 per cent on an actual exchange rate basis) to £1,691 million, driven by increased fee income from higher levels of separate account assets. The growth in operating profit underpinned significant levels of capital generation in the year, enabling Jackson to remit a record £470 million of cash to the Group (2014: £415 million), while maintaining a healthy balance sheet. Jackson’s Risk-Based Capital ratio at the end of 2015 was 481 per cent, compared to 456 per cent at the end of 2014.

The US economy experienced uneven performance during 2015, with a noticeable deceleration in consumer spending and a contraction in business investment in the fourth quarter. Employment data was more positive, with non-farm payrolls in the last two months of the year exceeding expectations. This contributed to the Federal Reserve decision to increase the Federal Funds target rate by 25 basis points in December. The S&P 500 Index ended the year roughly in line with year-end 2014 levels and the 10-year Treasury rate rose 10 basis points to 2.28 per cent at the end of 2015.

Overall, in 2015 the US competitive landscape remained relatively stable, although the industry continued to adjust its products and benefits in reaction to regulatory developments and economic conditions. Within variable annuities, providers are mainly choosing to modify their product offerings through reductions in fund availability and increased fees. A final set of rules and amendments were announced by the US Department of Labor on 6 April 2016. We had been working on contingency plans in advance of the rules being published and will now consider how the rules should be implemented. Given Jackson’s proven record of product innovation, best-in-class infrastructure, access to competitive intelligence and integration of product design with distribution, we believe we are well positioned to respond, adapt and take advantage of any market disruptions.

Jackson achieved sales levels in 2015 which are broadly consistent with the levels in 2014. Including institutional sales, sales increased slightly.

Total variable annuity sales in 2015 remained flat compared to 2014, reflecting Jackson’s continued focus on proactively managing sales of products with living benefits to maintain an appropriate balance of revenue streams and match our annual risk appetite. The proportion of variable annuity sales without living benefits remains significant ,broadly in line with last year. Elite Access continues to be the undisputed leader in the investment-only variable annuity market with the proportion of business from non-qualified accounts representing 69 per cent of the total (up from 66 per cent in 2014). With £9.6 billion in assets since its launch in March 2012, Elite Access not only reflects Jackson’s strength in commercialising a low cost, no guarantee product but in also navigating a demand shift from qualified to non-qualified accounts. In relation to Variable Annuities with living benefit guarantees, during 2015 we introduced a broader range of living benefit features to policyholders, creating additional product capacity to meet the underlying customer demand. Overall, Jackson’s statutory separate account assets increased by 5 per cent, from £86.5 billion in 2014 to £91.0 billion in 2015 (up 11 per cent on an actual exchange rate basis), reflecting positive business flows.

Jackson’s strategy is unchanged, serving the 75 million US baby boomers as they enter retirement. We continue to price new business on a conservative basis, targeting value over volume and the economics of our business remain very attractive. Our hedging remains focused on optimising the economics of our exposures over time while maintaining a strong balance sheet. Our hedging programme continued to perform well throughout 2015 and under the recent volatility experienced in the markets. Our credit book is in good shape and we have continued to take actions to improve further its quality, increasing our Treasury position and reducing our high yield energy exposure. With this strategy, Jackson has been able to deliver significant profitable growth across the cycle and since 1 January 2008 has remitted nearly US$3.3 billion of cash to the Group. Our performance continues to demonstrate that Jackson’s approach has successfully translated into value for customers and into profits and cash for shareholders.

UK and Europe

Our UK business delivered strong growth in IFRS operating profit. We continue to execute successfully our UK strategy, focusing on our core strength of investment-based retail offerings, selective participation in the wholesale

 

121


Table of Contents

business segment and active management of our in-force book. Life IFRS operating profit was 60 per cent(21) higher at £1,167 million and includes £339 million from the positive impact of specific management actions undertaken in the second half to position the balance sheet more efficiently under the new Solvency II regime, which are not expected to recur going forward. Cash remitted to the Group increased to £331 million (2014: £325 million).

In 2015, sales grew demonstrating the strength of our customer propositions in retail risk-managed investment products, combined with our diversified distribution capability. In 2015, we continued to participate in the pensions de-risking market in a disciplined manner, and delivered a robust performance from this sector.

Our retail business achieved sales growth driven by a growing demand for our savings and retirement products and specifically the distinctive PruFund range, with momentum increasing through the year as additional products and services came online including PruFund ISA, Flexible Income Drawdown and our simplified non-advised drawdown Pension Choices Plan. Our capabilities in multi-asset investing, the strength of our brand and diversified distribution, collectively position us well to meet evolving customer needs in a post-pension freedoms retirement market. Retail business benefitted from increased sales volumes partially offset by a lower contribution from individual annuity sales. Sales of individual annuities decreased sharply from 2014 levels to and now represent a smaller proportion of retail sales.

Demand for our PruFund multi-asset funds among our target customer base remains strong as customers continue to be attracted by both the performance track record and the benefits of a smoothed return in managing market volatility and reducing customer investment risk. Our successful launch in February 2015 of the PruFund range of investment funds within an ISA wrapper generated strong sales with assets under management totalling £674 million at the end of December 2015. In total across all products, PruFund sales of increased significantly, with total assets under management having increased 42 per cent since the start of the year to £16.5 billion.

Onshore bonds sales and offshore bonds sales rose over the previous year. Reflecting increased demand for our wider range of retirement solutions post-pension reforms, income drawdown sales have grown significantly and individual pensions sales have more than doubled compared to 2014. We continue to diversify our product portfolio in response to the expanding market for flexible retirement income and pensions products.

Corporate pensions sales were marginally higher than in 2014. We remain the largest provider of Additional Voluntary Contribution plans within the public sector, where we provide schemes for 73 of the 101 public sector authorities in the UK (2014: 72 of the 99).

Our bulk annuity business concluded four deals, generating IFRS operating profit of £89 million (2014: £105 million). Our approach to bulk transactions in the UK continued to be one of disciplined participation, focusing on those opportunities where we can bring both significant value to our customers and meet our shareholder return requirements. The implementation of Solvency II has increased significantly the capital intensity of annuity business and this will significantly reduce our appetite to transact bulk business going forward.

In Poland, our life business continues to grow steadily. The business now has 18 branches across the country and 597 financial planning consultants. Its success demonstrates our ability to build a new business franchise by transferring our existing product and distribution strengths to new markets.

Our strategy in the UK and Europe remains to leverage our investment expertise, distribution scale and well-established brand in order to deliver capital light profitable growth in retail investment products, while managing our in-force business to generate long-term earnings and cash.

Africa

During 2015 we continued to develop our businesses in Sub-Sahara Africa. We entered the Uganda insurance market through the acquisition of Goldstar Life Assurance in June 2015 and established bank distribution agreements with Societe Generale and Fidelity Bank in Ghana, and with Standard Chartered in Kenya. In January 2016 we announced entry into Zambia via our acquisition of Professional Life Assurance. Once the Zambia acquisition is complete, our footprint in Africa will have expanded to four countries with access to nearly 1,300 agents and 200 bank branches.

 

 

(21)  Following the disposal of the Group’s 25 per cent interest in PruHealth and PruProtect in November 2014, the 2014 comparative results of UK insurance operations have been adjusted to exclude results of those businesses.

 

122


Table of Contents

M&G

M&G’s focus on producing superior long-term investment returns, coupled with well-established distribution in the UK and across Europe, underpins its financial results. IFRS operating profit of £442 million was broadly in line with 2014, with cash remittances to Group of £302 million up 6 per cent. At the end of 2015 M&G’s total funds under management were 7 per cent lower at £246.1 billion (2014: £264 billion), with external funds under management of £126.4 billion accounting for 51 per cent of the total compared with 45 per cent five years ago. Despite outflows in 2015, M&G’s total funds under management have grown from £198.0 billion at the end of 2010 to £246.1 billion at the end of 2015, reflecting M&G’s continued focus towards innovation and asset class diversification.

Gross retail and institutional inflows amounted to £33.6 billion (2014: £38.0 billion). Redemptions in the retail business, however, resulted in overall net outflows of £7.0 billion in 2015. Retail net outflows of £10.9 billion (2014: net inflows of £6.7 billion) were partially offset by institutional net inflows of £3.9 billion (2014: £0.4 billion).

In the fourth quarter of 2015, M&G experienced net retail outflows of £3.5 billion, including £2.4 billion from Europe. This reflected the continuation of a market-wide change in investor sentiment away from fixed income, against a backdrop of high levels of volatility and macroeconomic uncertainties, conditions that have continued into the early part of 2016. These conditions also resulted in a period of lower relative performance in some of our well established retail funds. Our strategy of diversification by asset class has helped attract good net inflows into several M&G multi-asset funds totalling (£2 billion) and into our retail property fund (£0.5 billion) in 2015.

At the end of 2015, retail funds under management were 18 per cent lower at £60.8 billion (2014: £74.3 billion). Retail funds under management from Continental Europe represent 39 per cent of total retail assets.

A track record of innovation in the institutional market has enabled M&G to be at the forefront of a number of specialist fixed income markets, including leveraged finance and infrastructure investment. Net institutional inflows were £3.9 billion, compared with £0.4 billion in 2014. The M&G Alpha Opportunities Fund has been particularly popular with institutional investors, attracting £2.0 billion of net inflows during 2015.

M&G had a multi-billion pound pipeline of institutional commitments at the end of 2015 across a diverse range of fixed income, real estate and alternative investment strategies that have yet to be invested. External institutional funds under management increased 5 per cent in 2015 to £65.6 billion (2014: £62.8 billion).

M&G’s disciplined approach to cost management is reflected in a small improvement in the cost income ratio to 57 per cent (2014: 58 per cent), despite the impact of lower revenues from reductions in the level of average assets managed.

On 1 February 2016, Michael McLintock announced that he is retiring as Chief Executive of M&G Investments after 19 years in the role. Under his leadership M&G has grown to become one of Europe’s largest fund managers by offering innovative investment solutions to meet the needs of our customers and clients. He will be succeeded later this year by Anne Richards, whose prior role was Chief Investment Officer and Head of EMEA at Aberdeen Asset Management. Anne joins the Board in June 2016.

M&G remains focused on producing superior long-term investment returns for clients, while continuing to diversify its business by geography and asset class and providing capital efficient profits and cash generation for the Group.

Capital and risk management

We continue to take a disciplined approach to capital management and have implemented a number of measures over the last few years to enable us to make our capital work more efficiently for the Group. Our Solvency II outcome, following approval by the Prudential Regulation Authority of our internal model in December 2015, underscores the strength and resilience of the Group’s capital position. At 31 December 2015, Group Solvency II capital surplus(22),(23) was estimated at £9.7 billion, which is equivalent to a Group Solvency II capital ratio of 193 per cent.

 

 

(22)  The methodology and assumptions used in calculating the Group Solvency II capital results are set out in the Capital Management Section in Item 4. The Group Solvency II capital ratio is based on outputs from the Group’s Solvency II internal model, approved by Prudential Regulation Authority in December 2015.
(23)  Before allowing for second interim ordinary and special dividends.

 

123


Table of Contents

Based on the Insurance Groups Directive solvency measure, our surplus position(23) at 31 December 2015 was estimated at £5.5 billion (31 December 2014: £4.7 billion(24)), equivalent to a cover of 2.5 times.

In July 2013, Prudential plc was listed by the Financial Stability Board as one of nine companies to be designated as a Global Systemically Important Insurer, a classification that was reaffirmed in November 2015. Prudential is monitoring the development and potential impact of the related framework of policy measures and is engaging closely with the Prudential Regulation Authority on the implications of this designation.

Dividend

The Board has decided to increase the full-year ordinary dividend by 5 per cent to 38.78 pence per share, reflecting the continued strong financial performance of the Group in 2015. In line with this, the directors have approved a second interim ordinary dividend of 26.47 pence per share (2014: final dividend of 25.74 pence) which brings the total ordinary dividend for the year to 38.78 pence (2014: 36.93 pence). In addition, the Board has decided to award a special dividend of 10 pence per share reflecting the additional contribution to earnings from the specific management actions taken to position the balance sheet more efficiently under the new Solvency II regime.

Although the Board has been able to approve a special dividend of 10 pence per share in 2015, the Group’s dividend policy remains unchanged. The Board will maintain its focus on delivering a growing ordinary dividend, 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.

Outlook

The strength of our 2015 results demonstrates the successful execution of our strategy and our distinctive ability to deliver profitable growth across the cycle. Asia remains at the heart of the Group and our progress this year is underlined by the strong growth that we have delivered across sales, earnings and cash from the region. This has been well complemented by our disciplined progress in our more mature markets of the US and the UK.

The current significant macroeconomic uncertainty and market instability is resulting in a more unpredictable near-term outlook for global growth prospects. While this creates a headwind for our fee-based businesses, our progress continues to remain underpinned by the structural demand for regular premium savings and protection products in Asia. Through proactive management of our product mix and balance sheet and the growing scale of stable, recurring income from our in-force portfolio, the Group has the flexibility and resilience to adapt to changes in the market and deliver robust earnings and shareholder value.

The Group’s strategy remains centred on the long-term opportunity of servicing an increasingly self-reliant middle class through the provision of savings globally and health and protection in Asia. We have premium franchises in our chosen markets of Asia, the US and the UK with significant structural competitive advantages to deliver effectively conservative products to protect our consumers’ health and wealth and provide absolute and good relative returns to our shareholders.

In Asia, the growing savings and protection needs of a rapidly emerging and increasingly wealthy population underpin our long-term, structural growth prospects in the region. The high quality, recurring nature of our income and the scale and diversity of our pan-regional platform position us well to smooth out the inevitable country level fluctuations to deliver value across the cycle.

In the US, our business is focused on the provision of products for the savings and income needs of the baby boomers entering retirement. While the new regulations issued by the US Department of Labor may reduce the access to valuable retirement products and services to the American middle class, our competitive advantages of superior product performance, low costs and strong commercialisation skills align the business well to meet these growing needs in the new landscape. We are in the advanced stages of executing our contingency plans which are designed to underpin our future prospects for both earnings and cash.

In the UK, our life business is proving adept at navigating the significant changes brought about by pension reforms and is successfully extending its product offering to meet evolving consumer needs. In asset management, M&G is currently experiencing headwinds but benefits from its scale and the diversity of its asset base. Our well-regarded brands, investment performance track record and strong market positioning are key attributes that support our execution in this market.

 

 

(24)  Before allowing for 2014 final dividend.

 

124


Table of Contents

We remain well capitalised with a defensive, high quality balance sheet.

The disciplined execution of our strategy, underpinned by the recurring income and cash generating nature of our business, positions us well to continue to deliver sustainable, long-term profitable value to both our customers and shareholders.

 

Principal factors affecting Prudential’s results of operations

Prudential’s results of operations are affected, to a greater or lesser degree, by a variety of factors, including demographics, general economic and market conditions, government policy and regulation and exchange rate fluctuations, as discussed in greater detail below. In addition, changes in interest rates and returns from equity, real estate and other investments as well as volatility in these items may affect Prudential’s profitability.

Please refer to ‘Introduction and Overview’, Item 3 ‘Key Information—Risk Factors’ and Item 4 ‘Information on the Company—Business of Prudential’ for additional discussion of factors that may affect Prudential’s results of operations.

General economic and market conditions

Prudential’s results of operations are impacted by general economic and market conditions and are sensitive to the pace of and extent of changes in equity markets and interest rates, as well as the changes in behaviour of individuals and institutions that these changes in economic and market conditions may cause. Particular features of relevance to the Prudential’s geographic areas of operations are shown below:

Asia

Asia (excluding Japan) is leading the world in terms of GDP growth. In the period 2014 to 2020, it is expected to generate around US$7.0 trillion(25) of new GDP, more than the US and the other advanced economies combined.

Economic growth is contributing to the rapid increase of the Asian middle class. Between 2010 and 2020 it is estimated that there will be over 700 million people who will have risen from rural subsistence to middle-class lifestyles. Families are getting smaller, life expectancies are lengthening and the incidence of chronic diseases is increasing significantly.

As people move into the middle class, their increased wealth and higher income give them the opportunity to make financial plans for the first time. Typically the priority is to provide protection for their families and establish a regular savings plan through a life insurance policy.

Social welfare provisions vary by market in Asia but generally fall well below the levels people need to sustain their families’ lifestyle in the event of a personal tragedy such as the diagnosis of a critical illness. Also, while basic medical services may be provided by the state, there can be a high level of out-of-pocket expenses, creating demand for financial solutions to significantly improve an individual’s experience through access to private medical services. Therefore, critical illness and medical riders are popular additions to life insurance policies.

Traditionally, Asians would have relied on their children to provide for them in their retirement but with family sizes decreasing people are increasingly making their own financial provisions and life insurance policies are a popular part of a retirement plan.

Once the savings and protection solutions are in place there is the opportunity to invest. Single premium insurance policies are also important in more developed markets and it is likely that customers will increasingly seek access to different asset classes through mutual funds as their wealth grows and financial needs become more sophisticated.

United States

The US is the world’s largest retirement savings market with total assets in the annuity sector of over US$2.6 trillion(26). Each year, approximately four million ‘baby boomers’ reach retirement age.

 

 

(25)  Prudential estimates based on IMF data – October 2013
(26)  LIMRA, Annuity U.S. Individual Annuities Survey Participant’s Report (Q3 2015).

 

125


Table of Contents

The number of retirees entering this stage of their life are triggering a shift from savings accumulation to retirement income generation of more than US$10 trillion(27).

However, as a group, baby boomers are under-saved and, in addition, their life expectancies continue to rise. They are in need of insurance products that offer the opportunity to grow their assets and to provide with guaranteed lifetime income to support them through these challenges.

The US retirement market continues to offer significant opportunities for profitable growth by providing solutions to the millions of baby boomers and to the future generations that will follow.

Despite a noticeable deceleration in consumer spending and a contraction in business investment in the fourth quarter, the US economy continued its trend of modest annual growth. While some sectors were disappointing, notably manufacturing, the US economy created 2.7 million new jobs(28), pushed unemployment down to 5.0 per cent and showed continued improvement in the housing market.

In December, the Federal Reserve raised the Fed Funds rate by 25 basis points, their first increase in almost 10 years. The S&P 500 returned approximately negative 1 per cent in 2015, after much stronger returns in 2013 and 2014, while the benchmark 10 years US Treasury note yield rose from 2.18 per cent at the end of 2014 to 2.28 per cent at 31 December 2015.

In general, Jackson’s results are significantly affected by fluctuations in economic and market conditions, especially interest rates, credit conditions and equity markets. The profitability of Jackson’s spread based business depends largely on its ability to manage interest rate exposure, as well as the credit and other risks inherent in its investment portfolio. Jackson designs its products and manages the investments and liabilities to reduce overall interest rate sensitivity. This has the effect of moderating the impact on Prudential’s results of changes in prevailing interest rates.

Jackson’s exposure to interest rate risk relates primarily to the market price and cash flow variability associated with changes in interest rates. Changes in interest rates, either upward or downward, including changes in the difference between the levels of prevailing short-term and long-term rates, can expose Jackson to the risk of not earning anticipated spreads. For example, if interest rates increase and/or competitors offer higher crediting rates, withdrawals on annuity contracts may increase as contract holders seek higher investment returns elsewhere. In response, Jackson could (i) raise its crediting rates to stem withdrawals, decreasing its spread; (ii) sell assets which may have depressed values in a high interest rate environment to fund policyholder payments, creating realised investment losses; or (iii) pay out from existing cash which would otherwise have been invested and earned interest at the higher interest rates.

Conversely, if interest rates decrease, withdrawals from annuity contracts may decrease relative to original expectations, creating more cash than expected to be invested at lower rates. Jackson may have the ability to lower the rates it credits to contract holders as a result, but may be forced to maintain crediting rates for competitive reasons or because there are minimum interest rate guarantees in certain contracts. In either case, the spread earned by Jackson would be compressed.

The majority of assets backing the spread-based business are invested in fixed income securities. Jackson actively manages its investment and derivative portfolio, considering a variety of factors, including the relationship between the expected duration of its assets and its liabilities.

Recent periods have been characterised by low interest rates. The current low interest rate environment is likely to be prolonged. A prolonged low interest rate environment may result in a lengthening of maturities of the contract holder liabilities from initial estimates, primarily due to lower policy lapses. As interest rates remain at low levels, Jackson may also have to reinvest the cash it receives as interest or proceeds from investments that have matured or that have been sold at lower yields, reducing its investment margins. Moreover, borrowers may prepay or redeem the securities in its investment portfolio with greater frequency in order to borrow at lower market rates, which exacerbates this risk.

 

 

(27)  US Census Bureau.
(28)  Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor.

 

126


Table of Contents

The majority of Jackson’s fixed interest rate annuities and life products were designed with contractual provisions that allow crediting rates to be re-set annually subject to minimum crediting rate guarantees. Therefore, on new business written, as well as on in-force business above minimum guarantees, Jackson has adjusted, and will continue to adjust, crediting rates in order to maintain targeted interest rate spreads.

Lowering crediting rates helps to mitigate the effect of spread compression but the spreads could still decline as Jackson is typically only entitled to reset the crediting rates at limited pre-established intervals and the re-setting is subject to the guaranteed minimum rates. As at 31 December 2015, approximately 87 per cent of Jackson’s fixed interest rate annuities and interest-sensitive life business account values correspond to crediting rates that are at the minimum guaranteed interest rates (2014: 87 per cent). Tabular disclosures are provided in note C4.2(b) to the consolidated financial statements in Item 18 on the distribution of the account values of these businesses within the range of their contractual minimum guaranteed interest rates. The tables demonstrate that approximately 72 per cent (2014: 71 per cent) of Jackson’s combined fixed interest rate annuities and interest sensitive life business account values of £23 billion (2014: £21 billion) have contractual minimum rates of 3 per cent or less.

Jackson’s expectation for future spreads is also an important component in the amortisation of deferred acquisition costs. Significantly lower spreads may cause it to accelerate amortisation, thereby reducing total IFRS profit in the affected reporting period. Low market interest rates could also reduce Jackson’s return on investments that are held to support the company’s capital. In addition, changes in interest rates will affect the net unrealised gain or loss position of Jackson’s available-for-sale fixed income securities which is reported as a component of other comprehensive income. Further information on the factors affecting the pricing of products and asset liability management of Jackson is provided in Item 4. ‘Information on the Company—Business of Prudential—US Business’.

In addition to the impact on Jackson’s spread product profitability, a prolonged period during which interest rates remain at levels lower than those anticipated in its pricing may result in greater costs associated with certain of Jackson’s product features which guarantee benefits, and also result in higher costs for derivative instruments used to hedge certain of its product risks. Reflecting these impacts in recoverability and loss recognition testing under U.S. GAAP as ‘grandfathered’ under IFRS may require Jackson to accelerate the amortisation of DAC as noted above, as well as to increase required reserves for future contract holder benefits. In addition, certain statutory capital and reserve requirements are based on formulas or models that consider interest rates, and a prolonged period of low interest rates may increase the statutory reserves and capital Jackson is required to hold.

Accordingly, without active management, a prolonged low interest rate environment may materially affect Jackson’s financial position, results of operations and cash flows. However, Jackson has and continues to proactively adapt its asset-liability management, hedging programme, product design and pricing and crediting rate strategies to mitigate the downward pressures created by the prolonged low interest rate environment.

The sensitivity of Jackson’s IFRS basis profit or loss and shareholders’ equity to changes in interest rates is provided in note C7.3 to the consolidated financial statements in Item 18.

The profitability of Jackson’s fee-based business depends largely on its ability to manage equity market risk. As the investment return on the separate account assets is attributed directly to the contract holders, Jackson’s profit arises from the fees charged on the contracts, less the expenses incurred, which include the costs of guarantees. In addition to being a profitable book of business, the variable annuity book also provides an opportunity to utilise the offsetting equity risk among various lines of business to effectively manage Jackson’s equity exposure. Jackson believes that the internal management of equity risk, coupled with the utilisation of external derivative instruments where necessary, continues to provide a cost-effective method of managing equity exposure. Profits in the variable annuity book of business will continue to be subject to the impact of market movements both on sales and allocations to the variable accounts and the effects of the economic hedging program. While Jackson hedges its risk on an economic basis, the nature and duration of the hedging instruments, which are recorded at fair value through the income statement, will fluctuate and produce some accounting volatility.

Jackson continues to believe that, on a long-term economic basis, its equity exposure remains well managed.

 

 

127


Table of Contents

United Kingdom

The UK is the world’s fifth largest retail investment market. Wealth is concentrated in the 50+ age group, with the younger generation of savers being typically less well-funded. In our target over-50 demographic, the population growth rate is almost double the growth rate of the UK population as a whole and while the introduction of pension freedom reforms in April 2015 has fundamentally changed the way in which individuals can access their savings to help fund their income in retirement, the need to accumulate savings remains unchanged. These radical changes, when combined with our trusted brand and product capabilities, provide new and significant opportunities for the profitable and capital efficient growth of our business in the UK.

In the UK, where Prudential’s with-profits fund invests in debt and other fixed income securities, equity securities and real estate, shareholders’ profits under IFRS are strongly related to the bonuses it declares. The most important influences on the bonus rates are the overall rate of return earned on investments and Prudential’s expectation of future investment returns. Further information on with-profits products is provided in Item 5 ‘Basis of Profits’, ‘—With-Profits Products’ and ‘—Bonus Rates’ below. In addition, shareholders’ profits under IFRS are significantly influenced by the contribution from the shareholder backed annuity business. The key factors affecting the profitability of this business are described in note C4.2 to the consolidated financial statements in Item 18.

Government policy and regulation

Changes in government policy or regulation applying to companies in the financial services and insurance industries in any of the jurisdictions in which Prudential operates, particularly in Asia, the United Kingdom and the United States, may adversely affect the result of its operations. These include possible changes in the tax treatment of financial products and services, government pension arrangements and policies, the regulation of selling practices and solvency standards.

These changes may affect Prudential’s existing and future business by, for example, causing customers to cancel existing policies, requiring Prudential to change its range of products and services, redesign its technology or other systems, retrain staff, pay increased tax or incur other costs.

In Asia, each Asian market has evolved its own regulatory regime depending on the heritage of the industry, experiences and developmental priorities. Regulators across the region are generally keen to promote the growth of the life insurance industry as they appreciate the social utility of providing financial security to individuals and the way insurers can channel unproductive cash savings into long-term investments in the economy. However, they are imposing higher standards on the industry and monitoring compliance more actively, with increasing focus on the quality of advice distributors provide and the suitability of the products offered. Although assessments of solvency can vary considerably market by market, there is increasing convergence on risk-based calculations.

In the US, in addition to the uneven economic conditions in 2015, the insurance industry continues to deal with an evolving regulatory landscape and a multitude of initiatives. Many of these initiatives began in response to the financial crisis over eight years ago and were focused on the broader financial services industry. Within the insurance industry, we continue to see changes in supervisory structures, new global group supervision and capital standards and a focus on the reduction of ‘systemic risk’. The US Department of Labor (DOL) has also introduced new fiduciary obligations for distributors of investment products of holders of regulated accounts.

The UK life and pensions industry continues to undergo significant change. When compared to 2012, the UK pensions industry today is almost unrecognisable. Three years of unprecedented regulatory change has resulted in a structural marketplace shift in how customers view retirement with consumers being given greater flexibility to access their pension savings in retirement. Customers are engaging more frequently with their providers and the demand for financial advice and guidance is increasing. Those companies who are well-known, financially strong and create products and services to match the pension freedom needs and expectations of customers will prosper.

Prudential is well placed in this evolving marketplace. This is evident in our new business profile relative to a few years ago. Where once bonds and annuities were the dominant components of new business, since the emergence of greater post ‘pension freedoms’ we have been writing more bond, ISA, pension saving and income drawdown business, and a significantly lower volume of annuity business, giving a better balance to our business portfolio.

 

128


Table of Contents

Further details on the regulatory supervision which Prudential is subject to in the UK and internationally are provided in Item 4 ‘Information on the Company—Supervision and Regulation’.

Exchange rates

Due to the geographical diversity of Prudential’s businesses, it is subject to the risk of exchange rate fluctuations. Prudential’s international operations in Asia, the United States and Europe, which represent a significant proportion of total group income and expenses, generally write policies and invest in the same local currency, which although limiting the effect of exchange rate fluctuations on local operating results, can lead to fluctuations in Prudential’s consolidated financial information upon translation of results into pounds sterling. Please refer to Item 4 ‘Information on the Company—Business of Prudential—Group Risk Framework—Financial Risks—Foreign Exchange Risk’, Item 5 ‘Other results based information—Foreign currency source of IFRS key metrics’ and Notes C7.2, C7.3 and C7.4 to the consolidated financial statements in Item 18 for additional information on the impact of foreign currency fluctuations on the Group.

IFRS Critical Accounting Policies

Prudential’s discussion and analysis of its financial condition and results of operations are based upon Prudential’s consolidated financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with IFRS as issued by the IASB and as endorsed by the EU. EU-endorsed IFRS may differ from IFRS as issued by the IASB if, at any point in time, new or amended IFRSs have not been endorsed by the EU. As at 31 December 2015, there were no unendorsed standards effective for the three years ended 31 December 2015 affecting the consolidated financial information of Prudential and there were no differences between IFRSs endorsed by the EU and IFRSs issued by the IASB in terms of their application to Prudential. Accordingly, Prudential’s financial information for the three years ended 31 December 2015 is prepared in accordance with IFRS as issued by the IASB. Prudential adopts mandatory requirements of new or altered EU-adopted IFRS standards when required, and may consider earlier adoption where permitted and appropriate in the circumstances.

The preparation of these financial statements requires Prudential to make estimates and judgements that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, and revenues and expenses, and related disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities. On an ongoing basis, Prudential evaluates its estimates, including those related to long-term business provisioning and the fair value of assets.

Critical accounting policies are defined as those that are reflective of significant judgements and uncertainties, and potentially give rise to different results under different assumptions and conditions. Prudential believes that its critical accounting policies are limited to the policies referenced below which are described further in the notes to the consolidated financial statements in Item 18.

 

Critical accounting policies

  Reference to the disclosure notes in Item 18

Classification of insurance and investment contracts

  A3.1(c)

Measurement of policyholder liabilities and unallocated surplus of with-profits fund

  A3.1(d)

Measurement and presentation of derivatives and debt securities of US insurance operations

  A3.1(j)(v)

Presentation of results before tax

  A3.1(k)

Segmental analysis of results and earnings distributable to shareholders

  A3.1(m)

The critical accounting policies referenced above are critical for those that relate to the Group’s shareholder financed business. In particular this applies for Jackson which is the largest shareholder backed business in the Group. The policies are not critical in respect of the Group’s with-profits business. This distinction reflects the basis of recognition of profit and accounting treatment of unallocated surplus of with-profits funds as a liability, as described elsewhere in these financial statements.

 

129


Table of Contents

In determining the measurement of the Group’s assets and liabilities and in preparing financial statements, more generally, estimates and judgements are required. The critical aspects are set out below by reference to and discussed in the following accounting policies and other notes to the consolidated financial statements in Item 18.

 

Critical accounting estimates and assumptions

  Reference to the disclosure notes in Item 18

Classification of insurance and investment contracts

  A3.1(c)

Measurement of policyholder liabilities

  A3.1(d); C4.2 and C7

Measurement of deferred acquisition costs

  A3.1(f); and C4.2

Determination of fair value of financial investments

  A3.1(j)(ii)

Determining impairment related to financial assets

  A3.1 (j)(iii)
   

Additional quantitative information on the impairment and realised gains/losses recognised on the available-for-sale debt securities of US insurance operations

  C3.5 (d)
   

Additional quantitative information on the movement in the statement of financial position value of the available-for-sale debt securities of US insurance operations and those which are in a gross unrealised loss position.

  C3.3(b)(ii)

 

130


Table of Contents

Summary Consolidated Results and Basis of Preparation of Analysis

The following table shows Prudential’s consolidated total profit for the years indicated.

 

     Actual Exchange Rate  
     Year Ended 31 December £m  
      2015      2014      2013  

Total revenue, net of reinsurance

     41,305         60,126         52,375   

Total charges, net of reinsurance

     (38,222)         (57,275)         (50,440)   

Share of profits from joint ventures and associates, net of related tax

     238         303         147   

Profit before tax (being tax attributable to shareholders’ and policyholders’ returns)*

     3,321         3,154         2,082   

Tax attributable to policyholders’ returns

     (173)         (540)         (447)   

Profit before tax attributable to shareholders

     3,148         2,614         1,635   

Tax charge

     (742)         (938)         (736)   

Less: tax attributable to policyholders’ returns

     173         540         447   

Tax charge attributable to shareholders’ returns

     (569)         (398)         (289)   

Profit for the year

     2,579         2,216         1,346   
* This measure is the formal profit before tax measure under IFRS but it is not the result attributable to shareholders. This is principally because the corporate taxes of the Group include those on the income of consolidated with-profits and unit-linked funds that, through adjustments to benefits, are borne by policyholders. These amounts are required to be included in the tax charge of the Company under IAS 12. Consequently, the profit before all taxes measure (which is determined after deducting the cost of policyholder benefits and movements in the liability for unallocated surplus of the PAC with-profits fund after adjusting for taxes borne by policyholders) is not representative of pre-tax profits attributable to shareholders. See ‘Presentation of results before tax’ under IFRS Critical Accounting Policies section above for further explanation.

Under IFRS, the pre-tax GAAP measure of profits is profit before policyholder and shareholder taxes. This measure is not relevant for reflecting pre-tax results attributable to shareholders for two reasons. Firstly, this profit measure represents the aggregate of pre-tax results attributable to shareholders and a pre-tax amount attributable to policyholders. Secondly, the amount is determined after charging the transfer to the liability for unallocated surplus, which in turn is determined in part by policyholder taxes borne by the ring-fenced with-profits funds. It is noted that this circular feature is specific to with-profits funds in the UK, and other similarly structured overseas funds, and should be distinguished from other products, which are referred to as ‘with-profits’ and the general accounting treatment of premium or other policy taxes.

Accordingly, Prudential has chosen to explain its consolidated results by reference to profits for the year, reflecting profit after tax. In explaining movements in profit for the year, reference is made to trends in profit before shareholder tax and the shareholder tax charge. The explanations of movement in profit before shareholder tax are shown below by reference to the profit analysis applied for segmental disclosure as shown in note B1 to the consolidated financial statements in Item 18. This basis is used by management and reported externally to the holders of shares listed on the UK, Hong Kong and Singapore exchanges and to the financial markets in those countries. Separately, in this section, analysis of movements in profits before shareholder tax is provided by nature of revenue and charges.

Explanation of Movements in Profits after Tax and Profits before Shareholder Tax by Reference to the Basis Applied for Segmental Disclosure

(a) Group overview

Profit for the year after tax for 2015 was £2,579 million compared to £2,216 million for 2014. The increase primarily reflects the movement in profit before tax attributable to shareholders, which increased from a profit of £2,614 million in 2014 to a profit of £3,148 million in 2015, which was partially offset by an increase in the tax charge attributable to shareholders from £398 million in 2014 to £569 million in 2015.

The increase in the total profit before tax attributable to shareholders from £2,614 million in 2014 to £3,148 million in 2015 reflects an improvement in operating profit based on longer-term investment returns from £3,186 million in 2014 to £4,007 million in 2015 and an unfavourable change in non-operating items of £287 million, from negative £572 million to negative £859 million. The increase of £821 million or 26 per cent in operating profit based on longer-term investments includes a positive exchange translation impact of £104 million. Excluding the currency volatility, on a constant exchange rate basis, the Group operating profit based on longer-term investment returns increased by £717 million or 22 per cent to £4,007 million, driven by the improved performance in our life operations in Asia, the US and the UK.

 

131


Table of Contents

The increased charge for non-operating items of £287 million is primarily due to the unfavourable change in short-term fluctuations in investment returns from negative £574 million in 2014 to negative £737 million in 2015. In addition, in 2014, the Group sold its 25 per cent equity stake in the PruHealth and PruProtect businesses resulting in a profit on disposal of £86 million recorded as a non-operating item.

During 2015, investment markets have remained volatile, reflecting growing concerns on the outlook for global growth, the consequences of monetary policy actions and unease caused by the steep decline in commodities prices. The fourth quarter in particular saw weakening equity markets and widening credit spreads across most of the major global economies. Although we have taken steps to reduce the investment market sensitivity of our earnings and balance sheet in recent years, we remain significant long-term holders of financial assets. Short-term fluctuations in the value of these assets are reported outside the operating result, which is based on longer-term assumptions for investment returns.

Currency values in the countries in which we operate have also fluctuated in the course of 2015. As a significant proportion of our earnings and capital is US dollar denominated, the weaker sterling benefited our reported results, shareholders’ equity and solvency.

The effective rate of tax at the total profit level was 18 per cent in 2015 compared to 15 per cent in 2014. The increased rate principally reflects a larger overall contribution to the total profit from Jackson which attracts a higher rate of tax than other operations. Further details are provided in note B5 to the consolidated financial statements in Item 18.

Profit for the year after tax for 2014 was £2,216 million compared to £1,346 million for 2013. The increase primarily reflected the movement in profit before tax attributable to shareholders, which increased from 1,635 million in 2013 to a profit of £2,614 million in 2014, which was partially offset by an increase in the tax charge attributable to shareholders from £289 million in 2013 to £398 million in 2014.

The increase in the total profit before tax attributable to shareholders from £1,635 million in 2013 to £2,614 million in 2014 reflected an improvement in operating profit based on longer-term investment returns from £2,954 million in 2013 to £3,186 million in 2014 and a favourable change in non-operating items of £747 million from negative £1,319 million to negative £572 million. The increase of £232 million or 8 per cent in operating profit based on longer-term investments included a negative exchange translation impact of £167 million. Excluding the currency volatility, on a constant exchange rate basis, the Group operating profit based on longer-term investment returns increased by £399 million or 14 per cent, to £3,186 million, which was driven by the broad-based improvement in profitability in all four of our business operations in Asia, the US, UK life and M&G.

The improvement in non-operating items of £747 million from 2013 to 2014 was primarily due to the favourable change in short-term fluctuations in investment returns, from negative £1,110 million in 2013 to negative £574 million in 2014 and no loss attaching to the held-for-sale Japan Life business in compared to a loss of £102 million in 2013. This improvement of £747 million in non-operating items also included an IFRS profit on disposal of PruHeatlh and PruProtect businesses of £86 million in 2014 and a positive exchange translation impact of £64 million. During 2014, the performance of the equity markets in the countries that we operate in was broadly positive. Further, most markets experienced a significant decline in 10-year bond yields during 2014, largely reversing the increases seen in 2013.

The effective rate of tax at the total profit level was 15 per cent in 2014, compared to 18 per cent in 2013. The reduced rate was principally due the negative impact of the sale of Japan Life on the full year Asia 2013 tax rate, the combination of a favourable deduction in respect of portfolio dividends received in Variable Annuity business and the impact of tax relief on negative net unrealised value movement on derivatives held to manage the Group’s exposure to market movements, following rises in equity values in the US, and the absence of the restatement of deferred tax balances in 2013 to reflect the reduction in the main rate of UK corporate tax. Further details are provided in note B5 to the consolidated financial statements in Item 18.

 

132


Table of Contents

(b) Summary by business segment and geographical region

The Group’s operating segments as determined under IFRS 8 are insurance operations split by territories in which the Group conducts business, which are Asia, the United States and the United Kingdom, and asset management operations split into M&G, which is the Group’s UK and European asset management business, Eastspring Investments, which is the Asian asset management business and the US broker-dealer and asset management business.

The following table shows Prudential’s IFRS consolidated total profit (loss) for the years indicated presented by summary business segment and geographic region. The accounting policies applied to the segments below are the same as those used in the Group’s consolidated accounts.

 

     Year ended 31 December 2015 £m  
      Asia      US      UK      Unallocated
corporate**
     Total  

Insurance operations

                   871                       963                       872         -                   2,706   

Asset management*

     101         7         323         -         431   

Total profit attributable to the segments

     972         970         1,195         -         3,137   

Unallocated corporate

     -         -         -         (558)         (558)   

Total profit (loss) for the year

     972         970         1,195         (558)         2,579   
     Year ended 31 December 2014 £m (AER)  
      Asia      US      UK+      Unallocated
corporate**
     Total  

Insurance operations

     1,048         249         1,050         -         2,347   

Asset management*

     78         6         372         -         456   

Total profit attributable to the segments

     1,126         255         1,422         -         2,803   

Unallocated corporate

     -         -         -         (587)         (587)   

Total profit (loss) for the year

     1,126         255         1,422         (587)         2,216   
     Year ended 31 December 2013 £m (AER)  
      Asia      US      UK+      Unallocated
corporate**
     Total  

Insurance operations

     540         452         374         -         1,366   

Asset management*

     64         39         363         -         466   

Total profit attributable to the segments

     604         491         737         -         1,832   

Unallocated corporate

     -         -         -         (486)         (486)   

Total profit (loss) for the year

     604         491         737         (486)         1,346   

* For the US, including the broker-dealer business.

** Representing central operations.

+ Includes the results of the sold PruHealth and PruProtect businesses

Profit from insurance operations

Total profit from insurance operations in 2015 was £2,706 million compared to £2,347 million in 2014 and £1,366 million in 2013. All of the profits from insurance operations in 2015, 2014 and 2013 were from continuing operations. The movement in profits for insurance operations can be summarised as follows:

 

     Year Ended 31 December £m  
                    2015                    2014                    2013  

Profit before shareholder tax

     3,310         2,798         1,687   

Shareholder tax

     (604)         (451)         (321)   

Profit after tax

     2,706         2,347         1,366   

The increase of £512 million in profit before tax attributable to shareholders, from £2,798 million in 2014 to £3,310 million in 2015 is primarily driven by an increase in operating profit based on longer-term investment

 

133


Table of Contents

returns of £821 million. This increase offset by an increased loss in non-operating losses of £287 million, from a loss of £572 million in 2014 to a loss of £859 million in 2015. The increase of £821 million in operating profit based on longer-term investments includes a positive exchange translation impact of £104 million. The increase in operating profit based on longer-term investment returns reflects the growth in the scale of the insurance operations, driven primarily by positive business inflows.

The effective shareholder tax rate on profits from insurance operations increased to 18 per cent in 2015 compared to 16 per cent in 2014. The increased rate reflects a larger overall contribution to the total profit from Jackson which attracts a higher rate of tax. Further details are included in Note B5 to the financial statements at item 18.

The increase of £1,111 million in profit before tax attributable to shareholders, from £1,687 million in 2013 to a profit of £2,798 million in 2014, was primarily driven by an increase in operating profit based on longer-term investment returns of £278 million and an improvement in non-operating items of £833 million, reducing the non-operating loss from £1,292 million in 2013 to a loss of £459 million in 2014. The increase of £278 million in operating profit based on longer-term investments included a negative exchange translation impact of £158 million. The increase in operating profit based on longer-term investment returns reflected the growth in the scale of the insurance operations, driven primarily by positive business inflows.

The effective shareholder tax rate on profits from insurance operations decreased from 19 per cent in 2013 to 16 per cent in 2014. The reduced rate was principally due to the negative impact of the sale of Japan Life on the full year 2013 tax rate, the combination of a favourable deduction in respect of portfolio dividends received in Variable Annuity business and the impact of tax relief on negative net unrealised value movement on derivatives held to manage the Group’s exposure to market movements following rises in equity values and the absence of the change in deferred tax balances in 2013 to reflect the reduction in the main rate of UK corporate tax. Further details are included in Note B5 to the financial statements at item 18.

In order to understand how Prudential’s results are derived it is necessary to understand how profit emerges from its business. This varies from region to region, primarily due to differences in the nature of the products and regulatory environments in which Prudential operates.

Asia

Basis of profits

The assets and liabilities of contracts classified as insurance under IFRS 4 are determined in accordance with methods prescribed by local GAAP and adjusted to comply, where necessary, with grandfathered UK GAAP. Under IFRS 4, subject to the conditions of that standard, the continued application of grandfathered UK GAAP in this respect is permitted.

For Asia operations in countries where local GAAP is not well established and in which the business is primarily non-participating and linked business, the measurement of the insurance assets and liabilities is determined substantially by reference to US GAAP principles. This basis is applied in India, Taiwan and, until its sale in 2015, Japan. For with-profits business in Hong Kong, Singapore and Malaysia, the basis of profit recognition is bonus driven as described under ‘United Kingdom—Basis of Profits’ below.

Comparison of total profit arising from Asia insurance operations

The following table shows the movement in profit arising from Asia insurance operations for the years indicated.

 

     Year Ended 31 December £m  
                    2015                    2014                    2013  

Profit before shareholder tax

     1,036         1,220         688   

Shareholder tax

     (165)         (172)         (148)   

Profit after tax

     871         1,048         540   

The decrease of £184 million from the profit before tax attributable to shareholders in 2014 of £1,220 to a profit of £1,036 million in 2015 primarily reflects adverse change in non-operating items of £343 million, which was partially

 

134


Table of Contents

offset by an increase of £159 million in operating profit based on longer-term investment. The increase of £159 million in operating profit based on longer-term investments includes a negative exchange translation impact of £10 million. Excluding the currency volatility, Asia insurance operations operating profit based on longer-term investment returns was up 16 per cent on a constant exchange basis driven by the contribution from the in-force business, reflecting both its larger scale and our regular premium health and protection oriented focus.

The change of £343 million from a non-operating profit of £170 million in 2014 to a non-operating loss of £173 million in 2015 was primarily due to adverse changes in the short-term fluctuations in investment returns of £297 million and a recycled £46 million cumulative exchange loss related to the sale of Japan Life business in 2015. The adverse change of £343 million in 2015 in non-operating items includes a negative exchange translation impact of £11 million. The negative short-term fluctuations in investment returns primarily reflect net unrealised losses on fixed income securities, primarily due to rises in bond yields.

The effective shareholder tax rate increased to 16 per cent in 2015 compared to 14 per cent in 2014, with the movement principally due to an increase in losses arising in the current year for which no deferred tax asset has been recognised.

The increase of £532 million from the profit before tax attributable to shareholders in 2013 of £688 million to a profit of £1,220 million in 2014 primarily reflected an increase of £49 million in operating profit based on longer term investment and a positive change in non-operating items of £483 million. The increase of £49 million in operating profit based on longer-term investments included a negative exchange translation impact of £96 million. Excluding the currency volatility, Asia insurance operations operating profit based on longer-term investment returns was up 16 per cent on a constant exchange basis, driven by the increasing scale of the in force book and our regular premium health and protection oriented product focus.

The change of £483 million from a non-operating loss of £313 million in 2013 to a non-operating profit of £170 million in 2014 arose from an improvement in the short-term fluctuations in investment returns of £382 million, no loss attaching to the held-for-sale Japan Life business in 2014 (2013: £102 million) and an adverse change of £1 million in other non-operating items. The positive change of £483 million in 2014 in non-operating items included a positive exchange translation impact of £28 million. The positive short-term fluctuations in investment returns primarily reflected net unrealised movement in bond holdings following falls in bond yields across the region during 2014.

The effective shareholder tax rate changed from 22 per cent in 2013 to 14 per cent in 2014, with the movement principally due to the negative impact of the sale of Japan Life on the full year 2013 tax rate.

United States

Basis of profits

The operating profit on Jackson’s business predominantly arises from fee income on variable annuity business, spread income from interest sensitive products, such as fixed annuities and institutional products and insurance margin, net of expenses measured on a US GAAP basis. In addition, the profit (including non-operating item) in any period include the incidence of gains and losses (including impairment) on assets classified as available-for-sale, fair value movements on derivatives and securities classified as fair valued through profit and loss and value movements on product guarantees.

Comparison of total profit arising from US insurance operations

The following table shows the movement in profit arising from US insurance operations for the years indicated.

 

     Year Ended 31 December £m  
                    2015                    2014                    2013  

Profit before shareholder tax

     1,199         257         553   

Shareholder tax

     (236)         (8)         (101)   

Profit after tax

     963         249         452   

 

135


Table of Contents

The £942 million increase in profit before tax attributable to shareholders in 2015 against 2014, is primarily due to an increase of £260 million in operating profit based on longer-term investment returns to £1,691 million, together with a decrease in the non-operating loss, which fell by £682 million to £492 million.

The increase of £260 million in operating profit based on longer term investment returns includes a positive translation impact of £112 million. Excluding the currency volatility, the increase in operating profit based on longer-term investment return in 2015 on a constant exchange rate basis compared to 2014 was £148 million or 10 per cent primarily as a result of an increase in fee income, which is now the US operations’ main income source, and efficient management of costs.

The decrease in non-operating loss was mainly driven by a favourable change in short-term fluctuations in investment returns of £679 million, which decreased by £679 million from a £1,103 million loss in 2014 to a loss of £424 million in 2015. The positive movement in short-term fluctuations in investment returns mainly reflects the net value movement on the guarantees offered by Jackson and the associated derivatives held to manage market exposures, as described further in the “Charges for short-term fluctuations in investment returns” section below.

The effective tax rate on profits from US operations increased to 20 per cent in 2015 from 3 per cent in 2014 principally due to the absence of tax relief on the negative net unrealised value movement on derivatives held to manage the Group’s exposure to market movements following rises in equity values in 2014. The S&P index ended 2015 roughly in line with year end 2014 levels.

The £296 million decrease in profit before tax attributable to shareholders in 2014 against 2013 was primarily due to an increase of £188 million in operating profit based on longer term investment returns to £1,431 million, which was more than offset by an adverse change in non-operating loss of £484 million.

The increase of £188 million in operating profit based on longer term investment returns in 2014 against 2013 included a negative translation impact of £62 million. Excluding the currency volatility, the increase in operating profit based on longer-term investment return in 2014 on a constant exchange rate basis compared to 2013 was £250 million, or 21 per cent, primarily driven by increased fee income reflecting the growth in average separate account assets.

The increase in non-operating loss was mainly driven by an adverse change in short-term fluctuations in investment returns of £478 million, increasing the loss from £625 million in 2013 to a loss of £1,103 million in 2014. The negative movement in short-term fluctuations in investment returns mainly reflected the net value movement on the guarantees offered by Jackson and the associated derivatives held to manage market exposures, as described further in the “Charges for short-term fluctuations in investment returns” section below.

The effective tax rate on profits from US operations decreased from 18 per cent in 2013 to 3 per cent in 2014 principally due to a combination of a favourable deduction in respect of portfolio dividends received in Variable Annuity business and the impact of tax relief on negative net unrealised value movement on derivatives held to manage the Group’s exposure to market movements following rises in equity values.

United Kingdom

Basis of profits

Prudential’s results comprise an annual profit distribution to shareholders from its UK long-term with-profits fund as well as profits from its annuity and other businesses.

For Prudential’s UK insurance operations, the primary annual contribution to shareholders’ profit comes from its with-profits products. With-profits products are designed to provide policyholders with smoothed investment returns through a mix of regular and final bonuses.

For with-profits business (including non-participating business owned by the PAC with-profits fund), adjustments to liabilities and any related tax effects are recognised in the income statement. However, except for any impact on the annual declaration of bonuses, shareholder profit for with-profits business is unaffected. This is because IFRS basis profits for the with-profits business, which are determined on the same basis as on grandfathered UK GAAP,

 

136


Table of Contents

solely reflect one-ninth of the cost of bonuses declared for the year. Further details on the determination of the bonuses (‘regular’ and ‘final’) are provided in note C4.2(c)(i) to the consolidated financial statements in Item 18.

The results of the UK shareholder-backed annuity business reflect the inclusion of investment return including realised and unrealised gains and losses. The charge for benefits reflects the valuation rate of interest applied to discount future anticipated payments to policyholders. This rate in turn reflects current market yields adjusted for factors including default risks on the assets backing the liabilities. The level of allowance for default risk is a key assumption. Details are included in note B4 to the consolidated financial statements in Item 18.

Comparison of total profit arising from UK insurance operations

The following table shows the movement in profit arising from UK insurance operations for the years indicated.

 

     Year Ended 31 December £m  
                    2015                    2014                    2013  

Profit before shareholder tax

     1,075         1,321         446   

Shareholder tax

     (203)         (271)         (72)   

Profit after tax

     872         1,050         374   

Profit after tax from UK insurance operations of £872 million in 2015 is £178 million lower than the £1,050 million in 2014.

The decrease in profit before tax attributable to shareholders of £246 million to £1,075 million in 2015 was driven by an increase of £419 million in operating profit based on longer term investments return, which was more than offset by an adverse movement in the short-term fluctuations in investment returns for shareholder-backed business of £584 million from £464 million gain in 2014 to £120 million loss in 2015 and an adverse movement of £81 million in the other non-operating items.

The £419 million, or 54 per cent, increase in operating profit based on longer-term investment returns was driven by our focused approach on active management of our in-force portfolio and the positive impact of specific management actions taken to position the balance sheet more efficiently under the new Solvency II regime. Operating profit based on longer term investment returns included general insurance commissions of £28 million in 2015 compared with £24 million for 2014.

The adverse short term fluctuations in investment returns of £120 million include net unrealised movements on fixed income assets supporting the capital of the shareholder-backed annuity business. The adverse movement in other non-operating items of £81 million was primarily due to the one-off gain of £86 million arising from the sale of UK insurance operation’s 25 per cent equity stake in PruHealth and PruProtect businesses in 2014.

The effective shareholder tax rate on profits from UK insurance operations decreased to 19 per cent compared to 21 per cent for 2014, principally due to the change in the deferred tax balances in 2015 to reflect the reduction in the main rate of UK corporate tax in 2017 and 2020.

Profit after tax from UK insurance operations of £1,050 million in 2014 was £676 million higher than the £374 million in 2013.

The increase in profit before tax attributable to shareholders of £875 million to £1,321 million in 2014 was driven by an increase of £41 million in operating profit based on longer-term investments return, combined with an improvement in the short-term fluctuations in investment returns for shareholder-backed business of £718 million and a favourable change in other non-operating items of £116 million. The favourable change in the UK insurance non-operating items in 2014 includes a one-off gain of £86 million arising from the sale of UK insurance operation’s 25 per cent equity stake in PruHealth and PruProtect businesses.

The £41 million, or 6 per cent increase in operating profit based on longer-term investment returns in 2014 against 2013 was principally driven by a £105 million profit contribution from bulk annuity transactions (2013: £25 million),

 

137


Table of Contents

partially offset by a £53 million decline in profit from new retail annuity sales which was affected by the UK market reforms announced in March 2014. Operating profit based on longer-term investment returns included general insurance commissions of £24 million in 2014 compared with £29 million for 2013. The positive short-term fluctuations in investment returns of £464 million includes net unrealised movements on fixed income assets supporting the capital of the shareholder-backed annuity business.

The effective shareholder tax rate on profits from UK insurance operations for 2014 of 21 per cent compares with the effective tax rate of 16 per cent in 2013, principally due to the absence of the restatement of deferred tax balances in 2013 to reflect the reduction in the main rate of UK corporate tax.

Profit from asset management

The following table shows the movement in profits from asset management for the years indicated.

 

     Year Ended 31 December £m  
                    2015                    2014                    2013  

Profit before shareholder tax

     522         573         596   

Shareholder tax

     (91)         (117)         (130)   

Profit after tax

     431         456         466   

Total profit from asset management decreased from £456 million in 2014 to £431 million in 2015. The decrease of £51 million in profit before shareholder tax in 2015 compared to 2014 resulted mainly from a decrease for Prudential Capital of £62 million from a profit of £17 million in 2014 to a loss of £45 million in 2015. Further, the M&G profit before shareholder tax decreased by £13 million. These decreases were partially offset by an increase in the profit before shareholder tax for Eastspring Investments of £25 million from £90 million to £115 million.

The £62 million decrease in the profit before shareholder tax of Prudential Capital in 2015 reflected a decrease of £23 million in operating profit based on longer-term investment returns and an adverse change in short-term fluctuations in investment returns of £39 million. During 2015, we started to refocus activity away from revenue generation towards internal treasury services and this reprioritisation will continue into 2016.

The effective tax rate on profits from asset management operations decreased to 17 per cent in 2015 from 20 per cent in 2014, principally due to an increase in the proportion of income received which is not subject to tax or taxed at a concessionary rate and a reduction in the main rate of UK corporate tax that affects M&G and Prudential Capital.

Total profit from asset management decreased from £466 million in 2013 to £456 million in 2014. The decrease of £23 million in profit before shareholder tax in 2014 compared to 2013 resulted mainly from a decrease for US broker-dealer and asset management operations of £47 million (from £59 million in 2013 to £12 million in 2014) and a decrease for Prudential Capital of £52 million (from £69 million in 2013 to £17 million in 2014). These decreases were partially offset by an increase in profit before shareholder tax for M&G of £60 million from £394 million in 2013 to £454 million in 2014 and an increase in profit before shareholder tax for Eastspring Investments of £16 million from £74 million to £90 million.

The £60 million increase in the profit before shareholder tax of M&G in 2014 primarily reflected an increase of £51 million in operating profit based on longer-term investment returns to £446 million. The £52 million decrease in the profit before shareholder tax of Prudential Capital in 2014 primarily reflected an adverse change in short-term fluctuations in investment returns of £48 million.

The £16 million increase in profit before tax attributable to shareholders for Eastspring Investments in 2014 included a negative exchange translation impact of £6 million. Excluding the currency volatility, the increase in £22 million, or 32 per cent, reflected the benefit of higher average funds under management. The decrease in US broker-dealer and asset management operations of £47 million followed a provision related primarily to the potential refund of certain fees by Curian.

The effective shareholder tax rate on profits from asset management operations for 2014 of 20 per cent compared with the effective tax rate of 22 per cent in 2013, principally due to a reduction in the main rate of UK corporate tax.

 

138


Table of Contents

Unallocated corporate result

The following table shows the movement in the unallocated corporate result for the years indicated.

 

     Year Ended 31 December £m  
                    2015                    2014                    2013  

Loss before shareholder tax

     (684)         (757)         (648)   

Shareholder tax

     126         170         162   

Loss after tax

     (558)         (587)         (486)   

Total net charges for unallocated corporate activity decreased by £29 million in 2015 from £587 million in 2014 to £558 million in 2015.

The loss before shareholder tax decreased by £73 million from £757 million in 2014 to £684 million in 2015. Net other expenditure (including restructuring and Solvency II implementation costs) increased by £14 million from £661 million in 2014 to £675 million in 2015. This was more than offset by a favourable change of £87 million in short-term fluctuations in investment returns from a loss of £96 million in 2014 to a loss of £9 million in 2015.

The effective tax credit on unallocated corporate result changed to 18 per cent at 2015 from 22 per cent at 2014, with 2014 benefiting from the release of provisions no longer required.

Total net charges for unallocated corporate activity increased by £101 million from £486 million in 2013 to £587 million in 2014.

The loss before shareholder tax increased by £109 million from £648 million in 2013 to £757 million in 2014. Net other expenditure (including restructuring and Solvency II implementation costs) increased by £62 million from £599 million in 2013 to £661 million in 2014. This was combined with an adverse change of £47 million in short-term fluctuations in investment returns from a loss of £49 million in 2013 to a loss of £96 million in 2014.

The effective tax credit on unallocated corporate result changed from 25 per cent at 2013 to 22 per cent at 2014, reflecting a release of provisions no longer required.

 

(c) Additional explanation of performance measures and analysis of consolidated results by business segment and geographical region

Prudential uses a performance measure of operating profit based on longer-term investment returns. The directors believe that this performance measure better reflects underlying performance. It is the basis used by management for the reasons outlined below. It is also the basis on which analysis of the Group’s results has been provided to UK shareholders and the UK financial market for some years under long standing conventions for reporting by proprietary UK life assurers.

Prudential determines and presents operating segments based on the information that is internally provided to the Group Executive Committee (‘GEC’), which is Prudential’s chief operating decision maker.

An operating segment is a component of Prudential that engages in business activities from which it may earn revenues and incur expenses, including revenues and expenses that relate to transactions with any of Prudential’s other components. An operating segment’s operating results are reviewed regularly by the GEC to make decisions about resources to be allocated to the segment and assess its performance, and for which discrete financial information is available.

The operating segments identified by Prudential reflect its organisational structure, which is by both geography (Asia, US and UK) and by product line (insurance operations and asset management).

 

139


Table of Contents

The Group’s operating segments, determined in accordance with IFRS 8 ‘Operating Segments’, are as follows:

 

Insurance operations:   Asset management operations:

–      Asia

 

–      Eastspring Investments

–      US (Jackson)

 

–      US broker-dealer and asset management

–      UK

 

–      M&G

–      Prudential Capital

The Group’s operating segments are also its reportable segments for the purposes of internal management reporting. Prior to 2015, the Group incorporated Prudential Capital into the M&G operating segment for the purposes of segment reporting. To better reflect the economic characteristics of the two businesses, the Group has in 2015 made a change to present Prudential Capital as a separate reportable segment rather than aggregating this segment within M&G. The change to present Prudential Capital as a separate reportable segment is reflected in our consolidated financial statements and has been applied retrospectively.

The performance measure of operating segments utilised by the Company is IFRS operating profit attributable to shareholders based on longer-term investment returns, as described below. This measurement basis distinguishes operating profit based on long-term investment returns from other constituents of the total profit as follows:

 

  Short-term fluctuations in investment returns on shareholder-backed business*;
  Gain on the sale of the Group’s stake in the PruHealth and PruProtect businesses in 2014;
  Amortisation of acquisition accounting adjustments arising on the purchase of business. This comprises principally the charge for the adjustments arising on the purchase of REALIC in 2012;
  The recycling of the cumulative exchange translation loss on the sold Japan life business from other comprehensive income to the income statement in 2015. See note D1 to the financial statements at item 18 for further details;
  The costs associated with the domestication of the Hong Kong branch which became effective on 1 January 2014; and
  Loss in 2013 attaching to the held for sale Japan life business. See note D1 to the financial statements at item 18 for further details.

Segment results that are reported to the Group Executive Committee include items directly attributable to a segment as well as those that can be allocated on a reasonable basis. Unallocated items are mainly in relation to the Group Head Office and the Asia Regional Head Office.

 

* Including the impact of short-term market effects on the carrying value of Jackson guarantee liabilities and related derivatives as explained below.

Determination of operating profit based on longer-term investment returns for investment and liability movements:

 

(a) General principles

 

(i) UK style with-profits business

The operating profit based on longer-term returns reflects the statutory transfer gross of attributable tax. Value movements in the underlying assets of the with-profits funds do not affect directly the determination of operating profit.

 

(ii) Unit-linked business

The policyholder unit liabilities are directly reflective of the underlying asset value movements. Accordingly, the operating results based on longer-term investment returns reflect the current period value movements in both the unit liabilities and the backing assets.

 

(iii) US variable annuity and fixed index annuity business

This business has guarantee liabilities which are measured on a combination of fair value and other US GAAP derived principles. These liabilities are subject to an extensive derivative programme to manage equity and, with those of the general account, interest rate exposures. The principles for determination of the operating profit and short-term fluctuations are necessarily bespoke, as discussed in section (c) below.

 

140


Table of Contents
(iv) Business where policyholder liabilities are sensitive to market conditions

Under IFRS, the degree to which the carrying values of liabilities to policyholders are sensitive to current market conditions varies between territories depending upon the nature of the ‘grandfathered’ measurement basis. In general, in those instances where the liabilities are particularly sensitive to routine changes in market conditions, the accounting basis is such that the impact of market movements on the assets and liabilities is broadly equivalent in the income statement, and operating profit based on longer-term investments returns is not distorted. In these circumstances, there is no need for the movement in the liability to be bifurcated between the elements that relate to longer-term market conditions and short-term effects.

However, some types of business movements in liabilities do require bifurcation to ensure that at the net level (ie after allocated investment return and charge for policyholder benefits) the operating result reflects longer-term market returns.

Examples of where such bifurcation is necessary are in Hong Kong and for UK shareholder-backed annuity business, as explained in sections b(i) and d(i), respectively.

 

(v) Other shareholder-financed business

The measurement of operating profit based on longer-term investment returns reflects the particular features of long-term insurance business where assets and liabilities are held for the long-term and for which the accounting basis for insurance liabilities under current IFRS is not generally conducive to demonstrating trends in underlying performance of life businesses exclusive of the effects of short-term fluctuations in market conditions. In determining the profit on this basis, the following key elements are applied to the results of the Group’s shareholder-financed operations.

Except in the case of assets backing liabilities which are directly matched (such as linked business) or closely correlated with value movements (as discussed below) operating profit based on longer-term investment returns for shareholder-financed business is determined on the basis of expected longer-term investment returns.

Debt, equity-type securities and loans

Longer-term investment returns comprise actual income receivable for the period (interest/dividend income) and for both debt and equity-type securities longer-term capital returns.

In principle, for debt securities and loans, the longer-term capital returns comprise two elements:

 

  Risk margin reserve based charge for the expected level of defaults for the period, which is determined by reference to the credit quality of the portfolio. The difference between impairment losses in the reporting period and the risk margin reserve charge to the operating result is reflected in short-term fluctuations in investment returns; and
  The amortisation of interest-related realised gains and losses to operating results based on longer-term investment returns to the date when sold bonds would have otherwise matured.

At 31 December 2015, the level of unamortised interest-related realised gains and losses related to previously sold bonds for the Group was a net gain of £567 million (2014: £467 million; 2013: £461 million).

Equity-type securities

For equity-type securities, the longer-term rates of return are estimates of the long-term trend investment returns for income and capital having regard to past performance, current trends and future expectations. Equity-type securities held for shareholder-financed operations other than the UK annuity business, unit-linked and US variable annuity are of significance for the US and Asia insurance operations. Different rates apply to different categories of equity-type securities.

Derivative value movements

Generally, derivative value movements are excluded from operating results based on longer-term investment returns (unless those derivative value movements broadly offset changes in the accounting value of other assets and liabilities included in operating profit). The principal example of non-equity based derivatives (for example interest rate swaps and swaptions) whose value movements are excluded from operating profit arises in Jackson, as discussed below in section (c).

 

141


Table of Contents
(b) Asia insurance operations

 

(i) Business where policyholder liabilities are sensitive to market conditions

For certain Asia non-participating business, for example in Hong Kong, the economic features are more akin to asset management products with policyholder liabilities reflecting asset shares over the contract term. For these products, the charge for policyholder benefits in the operating results should reflect the asset share feature rather than volatile movements that would otherwise be reflected if the local regulatory basis (also applied for IFRS basis) was used.

For certain other types of non-participating business, longer-term interest rates are used to determine the movement in policyholder liabilities for determining operating results.

 

(ii) Other Asia shareholder-financed business

Debt securities

For this business the realised gains and losses are principally interest related. Accordingly, all realised gains and losses to date for these operations are being amortised over the period to the date those securities would otherwise have matured, with no explicit risk margin reserve charge.

Equity-type securities

For Asia insurance operations, investments in equity securities held for non-linked shareholder-financed operations amounted to £840 million as at 31 December 2015 (2014: £932 million; 2013: £571 million). The rates of return applied in the years 2015, 2014 and 2013 ranged from 2.73 per cent to 13.75 per cent with the rates applied varying by territory. These rates are determined after consideration by the Group’s in-house economists of long-term expected real government bond returns, equity risk premium and long-term inflation. These rates are broadly stable from period to period but may be different between countries reflecting, for example, differing expectations of inflation in each territory. The assumptions are for returns expected to apply in equilibrium conditions. The assumed rates of return do not reflect any cyclical variability in economic performance and are not set by reference to prevailing asset valuations.

The longer-term investment returns for the Asia insurance joint ventures accounted for using the equity method are determined on a similar basis as the other Asia insurance operations described above.

 

(c) US Insurance operations

 

(i) Separate account business

For such business the policyholder unit liabilities are directly reflective of the asset value movements. Accordingly, the operating results based on longer-term investment returns reflect the current period value movements in unit liabilities and the backing assets.

 

(ii) US variable and fixed index annuity business

The following value movements for Jackson’s variable and fixed index annuity business are excluded from operating profit based on longer-term investment returns. See note B1.2 note (ii) to the consolidated financial statements in Item 18:

 

  Fair value movements for equity-based derivatives;
  Fair value movements for embedded derivatives for the ‘not for life’ portion of Guaranteed Minimum Withdrawal Benefit and fixed index annuity business, and Guaranteed Minimum Income Benefit reinsurance (see below);
  Movements in the accounts carrying value of Guaranteed Minimum Death Benefit and the ‘for life’ portion of Guaranteed Minimum Withdrawal Benefits and Guaranteed Minimum Income Benefit liabilities, for which, under the ‘grandfathered’ US GAAP applied under IFRS for Jackson’s insurance assets and liabilities, the measurement basis gives rise to a muted impact of current period market movements;
  A portion of the fee assessments as well as claim payments, in respect of guarantee liabilities; and
  Related amortisation of deferred acquisition costs for each of the above items.

 

142


Table of Contents

Embedded derivatives for variable annuity guarantee minimum income benefit

The Guaranteed Minimum Income Benefit liability, which is essentially fully reinsured, subject to a deductible and annual claim limits, is accounted for in accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) Subtopic 944-80 Financial Services—Insurance—Separate Accounts (formerly SOP 03-1) under IFRS using ‘grandfathered’ US GAAP. As the corresponding reinsurance asset is net settled, it is considered to be a derivative under IAS 39, ‘Financial Instruments: Recognition and Measurement’, and the asset is therefore recognised at fair value. As the Guaranteed Minimum Income Benefit is economically reinsured, the mark to market element of the reinsurance asset is included as a component of short-term fluctuations in investment returns.

 

(iii) Other derivative value movements

The principal example of non-equity based derivatives (for example, interest rate swaps and swaptions) whose value movements are excluded from operating profit, arises in Jackson. Non-equity based derivatives are primarily held by Jackson as part of a broadly-based hedging programme for features of Jackson’s bond portfolio (for which value movements are booked in the statement of comprehensive income rather than the income statement), product liabilities (for which US GAAP accounting as ‘grandfathered’ under IFRS 4 does not fully reflect the economic features being hedged), and the interest rate exposure attaching to equity-based embedded derivatives.

 

(iv) Other US shareholder-financed business

Debt securities

Jackson is the shareholder-backed operation for which the distinction between impairment losses and interest-related realised gains and losses is in practice relevant to a significant extent. Jackson has used the ratings by Nationally Recognised Statistical Ratings Organisations (NRSRO) or ratings resulting from the regulatory ratings detail issued by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) developed by external third parties such as BlackRock Solutions to determine the average annual risk margin reserve to apply to debt securities held to back general account business. Debt securities held to back separate account and reinsurance funds withheld are not subject to risk margin reserve charge. Further details of the risk margin reserve charge, as well as the amortisation of interest-related realised gains and losses, for Jackson are shown in note B1.2 to the consolidated financial statements in Item 18.

Equity-type securities

As at 31 December 2015, the equity-type securities for US insurance non-separate account operations amounted to £1,004 million (2014: £1,094 million; 2013: £1,118 million). For these operations, the longer-term rates of return for income and capital applied in 2015 and 2014, which reflect the combination of the average risk-free rates over the period and appropriate risk premiums are as follows:

 

      2015      2014      2013  
Equity-type securities such as common and preferred stock and portfolio holdings in mutual funds      5.7% to 6.4%         6.2% to 6.7%         5.7% to 6.8%   
Other equity-type securities such as investments in limited partnerships and private equity funds      7.7% to 8.4%         8.2% to 8.7%         7.7% to 9.0%   

 

(d) UK Insurance operations

 

(i) Shareholder-backed annuity business

For this business, policyholder liabilities are determined by reference to current interest rates. The value movements of the assets covering liabilities are closely correlated with the related change in liabilities. Accordingly, asset value movements are recorded within the ‘operating results based on longer-term investment returns’. Policyholder liabilities include a margin for credit risk. Variations between actual and best estimate expected impairments are recorded as a component of short-term fluctuations in investment returns.

The operating result based on longer-term investment returns reflects the impact of value movements on policyholder liabilities for annuity business in PRIL and the PAC non-profit sub-fund after adjustments to allocate the following elements of the movement to the category of ‘short-term fluctuations in investment returns’:

 

  The impact on credit risk provisioning of actual upgrades and downgrades during the period;

 

143


Table of Contents
  Credit experience compared to assumptions; and
  Short-term value movements on assets backing the capital of the business.

Credit experience reflects the impact of defaults and other similar experience, such as asset exchanges arising from debt restructuring by issuers that include effectively an element of permanent impairment of the security held. Positive or negative experience compared to assumptions is included within short-term fluctuations in investment returns without further adjustment. The effects of other changes to credit risk provisioning are included in the operating result, as is the net effect of changes to the valuation rate of interest due to portfolio rebalancing to align more closely with management benchmark.

 

(ii) Non-linked shareholder-financed business

For debt securities backing non-linked shareholder-financed business of the UK insurance operations (other than the annuity business) the realised gains and losses are principally interest related. Accordingly, all realised gains and losses to date for these operations are being amortised over the period to the date those securities would otherwise have matured, with no explicit risk margin reserve charge.

 

(e) Fund management and other non-insurance businesses

For these businesses, the particular features applicable for life assurance noted above do not apply. For these businesses it is inappropriate to include returns in the operating result on the basis described above. Instead, it is appropriate to generally include realised gains and losses in the operating result with temporary unrealised gains and losses being included in short-term fluctuations. In some instances it may also be appropriate to amortise realised gains and losses on derivatives and other financial instruments to operating results over a time period that reflects the underlying economic substance of the arrangements.

 

144


Table of Contents

Reconciliation of total profit (loss) by business segment and geography to IFRS operating profit based on longer-term investment returns

Analysis of IFRS operating profit based on longer-term investment returns and IFRS total profit

A reconciliation of profit (loss) before tax (including tax attributable to policyholders’ returns) to profit (loss) before tax attributable to shareholders and profit for the year is shown below.

 

IFRS Profit                                   
           AER     CER*     AER     CER**  
     2015 £m     2014 £m     2014 £m     2013 £m     2013 £m  

Operating profit before tax

         

Long-term business:

         

Asia

    1,209        1,050        1,040        1,001        905   

US

    1,691        1,431        1,543        1,243        1,181   

UK***

    1,167        729        729        695        695   

Long-term business operating profit

    4,067        3,210        3,312        2,939        2,781   

UK general insurance commission(iii)

    28        24        24        29        29   

Asset management business:

         

M&G

    442        446        446        395        395   

Prudential Capital

    19        42        42        46        46   

Eastspring Investments

    115        90        91        74        68   

US broker-dealer and asset management

    11        12        13        59        56   
    4,682        3,824        3,928        3,542        3,375   

Other income and expenditure

    (617)        (619)        (619)        (558)        (558)   

Solvency II implementation costs

    (43)        (28)        (28)        (29)        (29)   

Restructuring costs

    (15)        (14)        (14)        (12)        (12)   

Result of the sold PruHealth and PruProtect businesses***

    -        23        23        11        11   
Total IFRS basis operating profit based on longer-term investment returns(i)     4,007        3,186        3,290        2,954        2,787   

Short-term fluctuations in investment returns:

         

Insurance operations

    (663)        (461)        (537)        (1,083)        (1,036)   

Other operations

    (74)        (113)        (113)        (27)        (27)   

Total short-term fluctuations in investment returns

    (737)        (574)        (650)        (1,110)        (1,063)   

Amortisation of acquisition accounting adjustments

    (76)        (79)        (85)        (72)        (68)   

Gain on sale of PruProtect and PruHealth

    -        86        86        -        -   
Cumulative exchange loss on sold the Japan life business recycled from other comprehensive income     (46)        -        -        -        -   

Loss attaching to held for sale Japan life business

    -        -        -        (102)        (89)   

Cost of domestication of Hong kong branch

    -        (5)        (5)        (35)        (35)   

Profit before tax attributable to shareholders

    3,148        2,614        2,636        1,635        1,532   

Tax charge attributable to shareholders’ returns

    (569)        (398)        (396)        (289)        (262)   

Profit for the year attributable to equity holders of Prudential

    2,579        2,216        2,240        1,346        1,270   
* For 2014, the CER results were calculated using the 2015 average exchange rates.
** For 2013, the CER results were calculated using the 2014 average exchange rates.
*** In order to show the UK long-term business on a comparable basis, the 2014 and 2013 comparative results excluded the contribution from the sold PruHealth and PruProtect businesses

Notes

(i) The Group provides supplementary analysis of IFRS profit before tax attributable to shareholders so as to distinguish operating profit based on longer-term investment returns from other elements of total profit. Operating profit based on longer-term investment returns is the basis on which management regularly reviews the performance of Prudential’s segments as defined by IFRS 8. Further discussion on the determination of operating profit based on longer-term investment returns is provided in B1.3 to the consolidated financial statements in Item 18 and section (c) “Additional explanation of performance measures and analysis of consolidated results by business segment and geographical region” above.
(ii) The results of the Group’s long-term business operations are affected by changes to assumptions, estimates and bases of preparation. Where applicable, these are described in note B4 to the consolidated financial statements in Item 18.
(iii) UK operations transferred its general insurance business to Churchill in 2002, with general insurance commission representing the commission received net of expenses for Prudential-branded general insurance products as part of this arrangement. Restructuring costs are incurred in the UK and represent one-off expenses incurred in securing expense savings.

 

145


Table of Contents
(iv) Short-term fluctuations in investment returns on shareholder-backed business comprise:

 

      2015 £m      2014 £m      2013 £m  

Insurance operations:

        

Asia

     (119)         178         (204)   

US

     (424)         (1,103)         (625)   

UK

     (120)         464         (254)   

Other operations

     (74)         (113)         (27)   

Total

     (737)         (574)         (1,110)   

Further details on the short-term fluctuations in investment returns are provided below under ‘Charge for short-term fluctuations in investment returns’ and also in note B1.2 in the consolidated financial statements in Item 18.

Reconciliation of IFRS operating profit based on longer-term investment returns to IFRS total profit

The following tables reconcile Prudential’s operating profit based on longer-term investment returns to Prudential’s total profit after tax for the years indicated.

 

    2015 £m  
    Insurance operations         Asset management                    
     Asia     US     UK          M&G    

Prudential

Capital

    US     Eastspring
Investments
    Total
segment
   

Unallo-

cated

to a

segment

(central

operations)

    Group
total
 
Operating profit (loss) based on longer-term investment returns     1,209        1,691        1,195          442        19        11        115        4,682        (675)        4,007   
Short-term fluctuations in investment returns on shareholder-backed business     (119)        (424)        (120)          (1)        (64)        -        -        (728)        (9)        (737)   
Amortisation of acquisition accounting adjustments     (8)        (68)        -          -        -        -        -        (76)        -        (76)   
Cumulative exchange loss on the sold Japan life business     (46)        -        -            -        -        -        -        (46)        -        (46)   
Profit (loss) before tax attributable to shareholders     1,036        1,199        1,075            441        (45)        11        115        3,832        (684)        3,148   

Tax attributable to shareholders

                        (569)   

Profit for the year

                        2,579   
    2014 £m (AER)  
    Insurance operations         Asset management                    
     Asia     US     UK***          M&G    

Prudential

Capital

    US     Eastspring
Investments
    Total
segment
   

Unallo-

cated

to a

segment

(central

operations)

    Group
total
 
Operating profit based on longer-term investment returns     1,050        1,431        776          446        42        12        90        3,847        (661)        3,186   
Short-term fluctuations in investment returns on shareholder-backed business     178        (1,103)        464          8        (25)        -        -        (478)        (96)        (574)   
Amortisation of acquisition accounting adjustments     (8)        (71)        -          -        -        -        -        (79)        -        (79)   
Gain on sale of PruHealth and PruProtect     -        -        86          -        -        -        -        86        -        86   
Costs of domestication of Hong Kong branch     -        -        (5)            -        -        -        -        (5)        -        (5)   
Profit (loss) before tax attributable to shareholders     1,220        257        1,321            454        17        12        90        3,371        (757)        2,614   
Tax attributable to shareholders                         (398)   

Profit for the year

                        2,216   

 

146


Table of Contents
    2014 £m (CER)*  
    Insurance operations         Asset management                    
     Asia     US     UK***          M&G    

Prudential

Capital

    US     Eastspring
Investments
    Total
segment
   

Unallo-

cated

to a

segment

(central

operations)

    Group
total
 
Operating profit (loss) based on longer-term investment returns     1,040        1,543        776          446        42        13        91        3,951        (661)        3,290   
Short-term fluctuations in investment returns on shareholder-backed business     188        (1,189)        464          8        (25)        -        -        (554)        (96)        (650)   
Amortisation of acquisition accounting adjustments     (9)        (76)        -          -        -        -        -        (85)        -        (85)   
Loss attaching to held for sale Japan life business     -        -        86          -        -        -        -        86        -        86   
Costs of domestication of Hong Kong branch     -        -        (5)            -        -        -        -        (5)        -        (5)   
Profit (loss) before tax attributable to shareholders     1,219        278        1,321            454        17        13        91        3,393        (757)        2,636   
Tax attributable to shareholders                         (396)   

Profit for the year

                        2,240   
    2013 £m (AER)         
    Insurance operations         Asset management                    
     Asia     US     UK***          M&G    

Prudential

Capital

    US     Eastspring
Investments
    Total
segment
   

Unallo-

cated

to a

segment

(central

operations)

   

Group

total

 
Operating profit based on longer-term investment returns     1,001        1,243        735          395        46        59        74        3,553        (599)        2,954   
Short-term fluctuations in investment returns on shareholder-backed business     (204)        (625)        (254)          (1)        23        -        -        (1,061)        (49)        (1,110)   
Amortisation of acquisition accounting adjustments     (7)        (65)        -          -          -        -        (72)        -        (72)   
Loss attaching to held for sale Japan life business     (102)        -        -          -          -        -        (102)        -        (102)   
Costs of domestication of Hong Kong branch     -        -        (35)            -                -        -        (35)        -        (35)   
Profit (loss) before tax attributable to shareholders     688        553        446            394        69        59        74        2,283        (648)        1,635   
Tax attributable to shareholders                         (289)   
Profit for the year                         1,346   

 

147


Table of Contents
    2013 £m (CER)**         
    Insurance operations         Asset management                    
     Asia     US     UK***          M&G    

Prudential

Capital

    US     Eastspring
Investments
    Total
segment
   

Unallo-

cated

to a

segment

(central

operations)

   

Group

total

 
Operating profit based on longer-term investment returns     905        1,181        735          395        46        56        68        3,386        (599)        2,787   
Short-term fluctuations in investment returns on shareholder-backed business     (189)        (593)        (254)          (1)        23        -        -        (1,014)        (49)        (1,063)   
Amortisation of acquisition accounting adjustments     (7)        (61)        -          -          -        -        (68)        -        (68)   
Loss attaching to held for sale Japan life business     (89)        -        -          -          -        -        (89)        -        (89)   
Costs of domestication of Hong Kong branch     -        -        (35)            -                -        -        (35)        -        (35)   
Profit (loss) before tax attributable to shareholders     620        527        446            394        69        56        68        2,180        (648)        1,532   
Tax attributable to shareholders                         (262)   
Profit for the year                         1,270   

 

* For 2014, the CER results were calculated using the 2015 average exchange rates.
** For 2013, the CER results were calculated using the 2014 average exchange rates.
*** Includes the results of the sold PruHealth and PruProtect businesses (£23 million for 2014 and £11 million for 2013).

IFRS operating profit based on longer-term investment returns

2015 has been another year of progress, delivering a strong financial performance across our ‘growth and cash’ metrics including IFRS operating profit based on longer-term investment returns. This performance was broad-based with strong contributions from our principal business operations. The Group’s financial performance and its resilience increasingly benefits from on-going improvement in the quality of our income delivered through stronger growth in non-interest sensitive sources and from the balance of profit and cash across different geographies, currencies, products and distribution channel.

Consistent with the explanations made in the currency volatility section above comparison of the 2015 and 2014 performance is partially affected by the movements in average exchange rates used to translate into sterling the results of our overseas operations. Therefore, to facilitate explanations of changes in underlying performance, in the commentary on 2015 compared to 2014 discussions below, every time we comment on the performance of our businesses, we focus on their performance measured on the constant exchange rates basis unless otherwise stated. The 2014 compared to 2013 discussions provided below are on a constant exchange rate basis, and the 2013 CER numbers have been computed by applying 2014 average rates of exchange to the 2013 income and rates of exchange on 31 December 2014 to the balance sheet at 31 December 2013. These comparative discussions were on the basis as published in the 2014 20-F and reflected how management reviewed the results at that time.

Total IFRS operating profit based on longer-term investment returns increased by 22 per cent to £4,007 million in 2015 (26 per cent on an AER basis), driven by improved performance in our life operations in Asia, the US and the UK.

 

148


Table of Contents

Insurance Operations

2015 compared to 2014 (CER)

Taken together, IFRS operating profit based on longer-term investment returns from our insurance operations in Asia, the US and the UK increased 23 per cent(29) to £4,095 million (27 per cent on an AER basis). This increase reflects the growth in the scale of these operations, driven primarily by positive business inflows. We track the progress that we make in growing our life insurance business by reference to the scale of our obligations to our customers, which are referred to in the financial statements as policyholder liabilities. Each year these liabilities increase as we collect premiums and decrease as we pay claims and policies mature. The overall scale of these policyholder liabilities is relevant in evaluating our profit potential, in that it reflects, for example, our ability to earn fees on the unit-linked element and it sizes the risk that we carry on the insurance element, for which Prudential needs to be compensated.

IFRS operating profit based on longer-term investment returns from our portfolio of life insurance operations in Asia was up 16 per cent to £1,209 million (15 per cent on an AER basis), driven by a 14 per cent increase in the contribution from the in-force business, reflecting both its larger scale and our regular premium health and protection oriented product focus. Indonesia IFRS operating profit based on longer-term investment returns, our largest market on this measure, increased 21 per cent to £356 million (15 per cent on an AER basis), reflecting the addition of new savings and protection sales in the year to an already sizeable recurring premium in-force business. Hong Kong IFRS operating profit based on longer-term investment returns was 27 per cent higher at £150 million (38 per cent on an AER basis), mainly due to the increasing profit contribution from a growing customer base purchasing health and protection cover. Malaysia IFRS operating profit based on longer-term investment returns grew by 12 per cent to £120 million (2 per cent on an AER basis), reflecting a growing contribution from the in-force business. IFRS operating profit based on longer-term investment returns in Singapore declined 4 per cent to £204 million (5 per cent on an AER basis), the result of our deliberate decision to discontinue universal life sales as the returns of these products in the current interest rate environment are unattractive. We are also encouraged to see further progress among our fast-growing businesses in China, Thailand, the Philippines and Vietnam which collectively generated £220 million of Asia’s IFRS operating profit based on longer-term investment returns, up 28 per cent compared to the prior year (33 per cent on an AER basis) and now account for 18 per cent of the total life result compared to just 7 per cent only 3 years ago.

In the US, IFRS operating profit based on longer-term investment returns increased by 10 per cent to £1,691 million (18 per cent on an AER basis), primarily as a result of an 11 per cent increase in fee income, which is now Jackson’s main income source, and efficient management of costs. The uplift in fee income reflects the growth in average separate account assets from £78.1 billion in 2014 to £86.9 billion in 2015, equating to an increase of 11 per cent on a constant exchange rate basis (20 per cent on an AER basis), driven by sizeable variable annuity net premium inflows. Contribution from insurance margin also increased by 10 per cent. Lower yields impacted the spread income which decreased by 6 per cent on a constant exchange rate basis.

UK insurance operations’ IFRS operating profit based on longer-term investment returns was 60 per cent higher than 2014 at £1,195 million (2014: £753 million(29)) with general insurance commissions increasing to £28 million (2014 £24 million). New annuity business contributed £123 million (2014: £162 million) including £89 million (2014: £105 million) from the four bulk transactions completed in 2015. The balance of £1,044 million (2014: £567 million) reflects a robust level of profit from our core annuity in-force and with-profits business and includes a £339 million benefit from specific management actions taken in the second half of the year to position the balance sheet more efficiently under the new Solvency II regime. Of this amount, £170 million related to profit on longevity reinsurance transactions executed in the second half of the year, with a further £169 million reflecting the effect of repositioning the fixed income asset portfolio and other actions. The non-recurring nature of these actions and our reduced appetite for annuities post-Solvency II will mean that, going forward, IFRS earnings from our UK life business will be predominantly driven by the contribution from core annuity in-force and with-profits business.

 

(29)  Following the disposal of the Group’s 25 per cent interest in PruHealth and PruProtect in November 2014, the 2014 comparative results of UK insurance operations have been adjusted to exclude results of those businesses.

 

149


Table of Contents

2014 (AER) VS 2013 (CER based on 2014 exchange rates)

Operating profit based on longer-term investment returns from our insurance operations in Asia, the US and the UK increased 15 per cent to £3,257 million (9 per cent on an AER basis). This increase reflected the growth in the scale of these operations, driven primarily by positive business inflows. We track the progress that we make in growing our life business by reference to the scale of our obligations to our customers, which are referred to in the financial statements as policyholder liabilities. Each year these liabilities increase as we collect premiums and decrease as we pay claims and policies mature. The overall scale of these policyholder liabilities is relevant in evaluating our profit potential, in that it reflects our ability to earn fees on the unit-linked element and it sizes the risk that we carry on the insurance element, for which Prudential needs to be rewarded.

IFRS operating profit from Asia life insurance was up 16 per cent (5 per cent on an AER basis) to £1,050 million, driven by the increasing scale of the in-force portfolio and our emphasis on growing the proportion of our income that was sourced from regular premium health and protection business. Indonesia IFRS operating profit, our largest market on this measure, was up by 27 per cent (6 per cent on an AER basis) to £309 million, reflecting growth in insurance and fee income following the high level of protection and savings product sales in recent years. We also saw further progress among our smaller, fast-growing businesses in South-east Asia, with Thailand, the Philippines and Vietnam now accounting for 15 per cent of Asia’s life operating profit compared to just 5 per cent only 2 years ago.

In the US, life IFRS operating profit increased by 21 per cent (15 per cent on an AER basis) to £1,431 million, primarily as a result of a 26 per cent increase in fee income, which was Jackson’s main source of income. The uplift in fee income reflected the growth in average separate account assets from £57.1 billion in 2013 to £72.5 billion in 2014, equating to an increase of 27 per cent on a constant exchange rate basis, driven by variable annuity net premium inflows and appreciation in US equity markets. The contribution from insurance margin also increased by 20 per cent, as we continued to realise the benefits of the REALIC acquisition. We remained focused on improving the balance of Jackson’s profits and diversifying its sources of earnings and we were pleased with the growing contribution to sales of Elite Access, our variable annuity product without living benefits.

UK life IFRS operating profit was 7 per cent higher than 2013 at £752 million (2013: £706 million), principally due to a £105 million profit contribution from bulk annuity transactions (2013: £25 million), reflecting our selective approach of only writing this business on attractive returns. The UK market reforms announced in March 2014 had a dramatic effect on the overall individual annuity market. Our business was equally impacted, experiencing a sharp decline in profits from new retail annuity sales of £53 million (from £110 million in 2013 to £57 million in 2014). Operating profit included a contribution of £23 million which related to earnings from our 25 per cent equity stake in the PruHealth and PruProtect businesses.

Asset management business

2015 compared to 2014 (CER)

In 2015, our asset management businesses in the UK and Asia collectively increased their contribution to IFRS operating profit based on longer-term investment returns compared to the previous year. Similar to the trend observed in our life operations, asset management operating profit primarily reflects the scale of these businesses, as measured by funds managed on behalf of external institutional and retail customers and our internal life insurance operations.

M&G delivered a broadly unchanged IFRS operating profit based on longer-term investment returns of £442 million (2014: £446 million), reflecting a 2 per cent rise in underlying profit to £406 million (2014: £400 million), lower performance-related fees of £22 million (2014: £33 million) and a similar level of earnings from associates of £14 million (2014: £13 million). While underlying revenues in the first half of 2015 benefited from higher levels of funds under management, the large net outflows from retail funds since May contributed to a 2 per cent decrease in underlying revenues for the year overall. Actions on costs mitigated the effect of lower overall revenues to deliver a modest increase in underlying profit compared to 2014. However, the lower level of assets under management at the end of 2015 will impact the revenue prospects for 2016 absent a meaningful recovery in M&G’s overall third-party net flows or a significant uplift in the market value of assets.

 

150


Table of Contents

Our Asia asset management business, Eastspring Investments, has benefited from significant growth in funds under management during 2015, with IFRS operating profit based on longer-term investment returns higher by 26 per cent at £115 million. An 11 per cent increase in third party net inflows to £6.0 billion saw external funds managed rise by 20 per cent on an actual exchange rate basis to £30.3 billion at end-2015. Average total funds under management, including funds managed on behalf of Prudential’s life operations, increased by 25 per cent to £85.1 billion compared to 2014. Eastspring Investments’ growth in fee revenue outpaced the increase in operating costs, resulting in a modestly improved cost income ratio of 58 per cent (59 per cent on an actual exchange rate basis).

In the US, our non-insurance businesses collectively generated IFRS operating profit based on longer-term investment returns of £11 million (2014: £13 million). In July, Jackson announced that Curian would no longer accept new business effective from 31 July 2015. Curian continues to actively manage existing accounts into 2016 to allow for the transition of accounts, but is expected to exit the business around the end of the first quarter of 2016. Total IFRS operating losses in Curian in 2015 were £16 million and included £13 million of cost related to exiting the business.

Prudential Capital produced IFRS operating profit based on longer-term investment returns of £19 million in 2015 (2014: £42 million). During 2015 we started to refocus activity away from revenue generation towards internal treasury services and this reprioritisation will continue into 2016.

2014 (AER) compared to 2013 (CER based on 2014 exchange rates)

Our asset management businesses in the UK and Asia collectively contributed IFRS operating profit of £578 million, up 14 per cent on 2013 (12 per cent on an AER basis). Similar to our life operations, growth in asset management operating profit primarily reflected the increased scale of this business, as measured by funds managed on behalf of external institutional and retail customers and our internal life insurance operations. Net flows from external parties into these funds, excluding Money Market Funds (MMF), were £12.5 billion in 2014 (2013: £11.1 billion on an actual exchange rate basis) and helped drive external retail and institutional funds under management (excluding MMF) to £162.4 billion at 31 December 2014 compared to £143.9 billion at 31 December 2013.

M&G’s IFRS operating profit increased 13 per cent to £446 million (2013: £395 million), reflecting a 12 per cent rise in underlying profit to £400 million (2013: £358 million), contributions of £33 million from performance-related payments and £13 million from earnings from associates were also higher in 2014 (2013: £25 million and £12 million, respectively). The increase in underlying profit was principally driven by higher average levels of funds under management, following a year of strong net inflows and positive market movements. The increasing proportion of higher-margin external retail business improved M&G’s average fee income to 38 basis points (2013: 37 basis points), with higher income helping to absorb the current phase of increased headcount and infrastructure investment. Reflecting this, the underlying cost income ratio, which excluded revenue from performance-related payments and earnings from associates, improved to 58 per cent (2013: 59 per cent).

Our Asia asset management business, Eastspring Investments, also saw the benefit of higher average funds under management, with IFRS operating profit of £90 million up 32 per cent (22 per cent on an AER basis). In the US, our asset management businesses, PPM America and Curian, and our broker-dealer network, National Planning Holdings, collectively generated an IFRS operating profit of £12 million (2013: profit of £56 million on a CER basis; profit of £59 million on an AER basis) after a £38 million charge related primarily to the refund of certain fees by Curian.

Unallocated corporate result

Operating loss based on longer-term investment returns for 2015 of £675 million (2014: £638 million; 2013: £588 million) comprises the following items:

 

      2015 £m      2014 £m      2013 £m  

Investment return and other income

     14         15         10   

Interest payable on core structural borrowings

     (312)         (341)         (305)   

Corporate expenditure for Group Head Office and Asia Regional Head Office

     (319)         (293)         (263)   

Solvency II implementation costs

     (43)         (28)         (29)   

Restructuring costs

     (15)         (14)         (12)   

Results of the sold PruHealth and PruProtect businesses

     -         23         11   

Total

     (675)         (638)         (588)   

 

151


Table of Contents

Analysis of long-term insurance business pre-tax IFRS operating profit based on longer-term investment returns by driver

This schedule classifies the Group’s pre-tax operating earnings from long-term insurance operations into the underlying drivers of those profits, using the following categories:

 

  Spread income represents the difference between net investment income (or premium income in the case of the UK annuities new business) and amounts credited to certain policyholder accounts. It excludes the operating investment return on shareholder net assets, which has been separately disclosed as expected return on shareholder assets.

 

  Fee income represents profits driven by net investment performance, being asset management fees that vary with the size of the underlying policyholder funds net of investment management expenses.

 

  With-profits business represents the gross of tax shareholders’ transfer from the with-profits fund for the year.

 

  Insurance margin primarily represents profits derived from the insurance risks of mortality and morbidity.

 

  Margin on revenues primarily represents amounts deducted from premiums to cover acquisition costs and administration expenses.

 

  Acquisition costs and administration expenses represent expenses incurred in the year attributable to shareholders. It excludes items such as restructuring costs and Solvency II costs which are not included in the segment profit for insurance as well as items that are more appropriately included in other sources of earnings lines (eg investment expenses are netted against investment income as part of spread income or fee income as appropriate).

 

  DAC adjustments comprise DAC amortisation for the year, excluding amounts related to short-term fluctuations in investment returns, net of costs deferred in respect of new business.

Analysis of pre-tax IFRS operating profit by source and margin analysis of Group long-term insurance business

The following analysis expresses certain of the Group’s sources of operating profit as a margin of policyholder liabilities or other suitable driver. Details on the calculation of the Group’s average policyholder liability balances are given in note (iv).

 

     2015 £m  
     Asia      US      UK      Total     

Average

liability

    

Total

bps

 
                                      note (iv)      note (ii)  

Spread income

     153         746         258         1,157         73,511         157   

Fee income

     162         1,672         62         1,896         125,380         151   

With-profits

     45         -         269         314         106,749         29   

Insurance margin

     783         796         180         1,759         

Margin on revenues

     1,732         -         179         1,911         

Expenses:

                 

Acquisition costsnote (i)

     (1,161)         (939)         (86)         (2,186)         5,607         (39)%   

Administration expenses

     (701)         (828)         (159)         (1,688)         206,423         (82)   

DAC adjustmentsnote (vi)

     124         218         (2)         340         

Expected return on shareholder assets

     72         26         127         225                     
     1,209         1,691         828         3,728         
Impact of specific management actions in second half of 2015 ahead of Solvency II      -         -         339         339                     

Long-term business operating profit

     1,209         1,691         1,167         4,067                     

See notes at the end of this section.

 

152


Table of Contents
     2014 AER £m  
     Asia      US      UK      Total     

Average

liability

    

Total

bps

 
                      note (v)              note (iv)      note(ii)  

Spread income

     125         734         272         1,131         67,252         168   

Fee income

     155         1,402         61         1,618         110,955         146   

With-profits

     43         -         255         298         101,290         29   

Insurance margin

     675         670         73         1,418         

Margin on revenues

     1,545         -         176         1,721         

Expenses:

                 

Acquisition costsnote (i)

     (1,031)         (887)         (96)         (2,014)         4,627         (44)%   

Administration expenses

     (618)         (693)         (143)         (1,454)         186,049         (78)   

DAC adjustmentsnote (vi)

     92         191         (6)         277         

Expected return on shareholder assets

     64         14         137         215                     

Long-term business operating profit

     1,050         1,431         729         3,210                     

See notes at the end of this section.

 

    

2014 CER* £m

note (iii)

 
     Asia      US      UK      Total     

Average

liability

    

Total

bps

 
                      note (v)              note (iv)      note (ii)  

Spread income

     126         791         272         1,189         69,628         171   

Fee income

     154         1,511         61         1,726         116,507         148   

With-profits

     44         -         255         299         101,653         29   

Insurance margin

     669         722         73         1,464         

Margin on revenues

     1,532         -         176         1,708         

Expenses:

                 

Acquisition costsnote (i)

     (1,025)         (956)         (96)         (2,077)         4,778         (43)%   

Administration expenses

     (615)         (747)         (143)         (1,505)         194,588         (77)   

DAC adjustmentsnote (vi)

     92         206         (6)         292         

Expected return on shareholder assets

     63         16         137         216                     

Long-term business operating profit

     1,040         1,543         729         3,312                     

 

* For 2014, the CER results were calculated using the 2015 average exchange rates.

See notes at the end of this section.

 

     2013 AER £m  
     Asia      US      UK      Total     

Average

liability

    

Margin

bps

 
      note (v)                              note (iv)      note (ii)  

Spread income

     115         730         228         1,073         64,312         167   

Fee income

     154         1,172         65         1,391         96,337         144   

With-profits

     47         -         251         298         97,393         31   

Insurance margin

     679         588         89         1,356         

Margin on revenues

     1,562            187         1,749         

Expenses:

                 

Acquisition costs

     (1,015)         (914)         (110)         (2,039)         4,423         (46)%   

Administration expenses

     (634)         (670)         (124)         (1,428)         169,158         (84)   

DAC adjustments

     35         313         (14)         334         

Expected return on shareholder assets

     58         24         134         216                     

Long-term business operating profit

     1,001         1,243         706         2,950                     

 

153


Table of Contents
    

2013 CER** £m

note (iii)

 
     Asia      US      UK      Total     

Average

Liability

    

Total

bps

 
      note (v)                              note (iv)      note (ii)  

Spread income

     107         694         228         1,029         62,909         164   

Fee income

     140         1,113         65         1,318         93,339         141   

With-profits

     44         -         251         295         97,374         30   

Insurance margin

     616         559         89         1,264         

Margin on revenues

     1,413         -         187         1,600         

Expenses:

                 

Acquisition costsnote (i)

     (921)         (868)         (110)         (1,899)         4,165         (46)   

Administration expenses

     (578)         (636)         (124)         (1,338)         164,362         (81)   

DAC adjustmentsnote (vi)

     32         297         (14)         315         

Expected return on shareholder assets

     52         22         134         208                     

Long-term business operating profit

     905         1,181         706         2,792                     

 

** For 2013, the CER results were calculated using the 2014 average exchange rates.

See notes at the end of this section.

Margin analysis of long-term insurance business—Asia

 

    Asia  
    2015         2014 AER        

2014 CER*

note (iii)

 
          Average                     Average                     Average        
    Profit     Liability     Margin         Profit     liability     Margin         Profit     liability     Margin  
          note (iv)     note (ii)               note (iv)     note (ii)               note (iv)     note (ii)  
Long-term business   £m     £m     bps          £m     £m     bps          £m     £m     bps  
Spread income     153        11,039        139          125        9,183        136          126        9,333        135   
Fee income     162        16,088        101          155        14,987        103          154        14,967        103   
With-profits     45        17,446        26          43        14,823        29          44        15,186        29   
Insurance margin     783              675              669       
Margin on revenues     1,732              1,545              1,532       
Expenses:                      

Acquisition costsnote (i)

    (1,161)        2,853        (41)%          (1,031)        2,237        (46)%          (1,025)        2,267        (45)%   

Administration expenses

    (701)        27,127        (258)          (618)        24,170        (256)          (615)        24,300        (253)   

DAC adjustmentsnote (vi)

    124              92              92       
Expected return on shareholder assets     72                            64                            63                   

Operating profit

    1,209                            1,050                            1,040                   

 

* For 2014, the CER results were calculated using the 2015 average exchange rates.

 

154


Table of Contents
    Asia  
   

2013 AER

note (ii)

         2013 CER**  
          Average                     Average        
    Profit     liability     Margin         Profit     liability     Margin  
          note (iv)     note (ii)               note (iv)     note (ii)  
Long-term business   £m     £m     bps          £m     £m     bps  
Spread income     115        7,446        154          107        7,419        144   
Fee income     154        13,714        112          140        13,317        105   
With-profits     47        13,263        35          44        13,244        33   
Insurance margin     679              616       
Margin on revenues     1,562              1,413       
Expenses:              

Acquisition costsnote (i)

    (1,015)        2,125        (48)%          (921)        1,946        (47)%   

Administration expenses

    (634)        21,160        (300)          (578)        20,736        (279)   

DAC adjustmentsnote (vi)

    35              32       

Expected return on shareholder assets

    58              52       
Gain on China Life (Taiwan) shares     -                            -                   

Operating profit

    1,001                            905                   

 

** For 2013, the CER results were calculated using the 2014 average exchange rates.

See notes at the end of this section.

Analysis of Asia operating profit drivers: 2015 Compared to 2014 (CER unless otherwise stated)

  Spread income increased by 21 per cent at constant exchange rates to £153 million in 2015, predominantly reflecting the growth of the Asia non-linked policyholder liabilities (22 per cent on AER basis).
  Fee income increased by 5 per cent at constant exchange rates from £154 million in 2014 to £162 million in 2015, broadly in line with the increase in movement in average unit-linked liabilities (5 per cent on AER basis).
  Insurance margin increased by 17 per cent at constant exchange rates to £783 million in 2015 (16 per cent on AER basis), predominantly reflecting the continued growth of the in-force book, which contains a relatively high proportion of risk-based products.
  Margin on revenues increased by £200 million at constant exchange rates to £1,732 million in 2015, primarily reflecting higher premium income recognised in the year (£187 million on AER basis).
  Acquisition costs increased by 13 per cent at constant exchange rates (AER 13 per cent) to £1,161 million in 2015, compared to the 26 per cent increase in APE sales (AER 28 per cent increase), resulting in a decrease in the acquisition costs ratio. The analysis above uses shareholder acquisition costs as a proportion of total APE sales. If with-profits APE sales were excluded from the denominator the acquisition cost ratio would become 68 per cent (2014: 66 per cent at CER), the small increase being the result of changes to product and country mix.
  Administration expenses increased by 14 per cent at constant exchange rates to £701 million in 2015 as the business continues to expand (13 per cent on AER basis). At constant exchange rates, the administration expense ratio has increased from 253 basis points in 2014 (and from 256 basis points on AER basis) to 258 basis points in 2015, the result of changes to product and country mix.

2014 (AER) compared to 2013 (CER based on 2014 exchange rates, unless otherwise stated)

  Spread income increased by 17 per cent at constant exchange rate (AER 9 per cent) to £125 million in 2014, predominantly reflecting the growth of the Asia non-linked policyholder liabilities.
  Fee income increased by 11 per cent at constant exchange rates (AER 1 per cent) from £140 million in 2013 to £155 million in 2014, broadly in line with the increase in movement in average unit-linked liabilities.
  Insurance margin increased by £59 million at constant exchange rates to £675 million in 2014 (and decreased by £4 million on AER basis) predominantly reflecting the continued growth of the in-force book, which contained a relatively high proportion of risk-based products. 2014 insurance margin included non-recurring items of £27 million (2013: £52 million at AER; £48 million on CER).
  Excluding the adverse impact of currency fluctuations, margin on revenues increased by £132 million from £1,413 million in 2013 to £1,545 million in 2014 primarily reflecting higher premium income recognised in the year.

 

155


Table of Contents
  Acquisition costs increased by 12 per cent at constant exchange rates (AER 2 per cent) to £1,031 million in 2014, compared to the 15 per cent increase in sales (AER 5 per cent increase), resulting in a modest decrease in the acquisition costs ratio. The analysis above uses shareholder acquisition costs as a proportion of total APE. If with-profits sales were excluded from the denominator the acquisition cost ratio would become 66 per cent (2013: 65 per cent at CER), broadly consistent with the prior year.
  Administration expenses increased by 7 per cent at constant exchange rates (AER 3 per cent decrease) to £618 million in 2014 as the business continues to expand. On constant exchange rates, the administration expense ratio reduced from 279 basis points in 2013 (and from 300 basis points on AER basis) to 256 basis points in 2014.
  Expected return on shareholder assets increased from £52 million in 2013 (and by £58 million on AER basis) to £64 million in 2014 primarily due to higher income from increased shareholder assets.

Margin analysis of long-term insurance business—US

 

    US  
    2015         2014 AER        

2014 CER*

note (iii)

 
          Average                     Average                     Average        
    Profit     liability     Margin         Profit     liability     Margin         Profit     liability     Margin  
          note (iv)     note (ii)               note (iv)     note (ii)               note (iv)     note (ii)  
Long-term business   £m     £m     bps          £m     £m     bps          £m     £m     bps  
Spread income     746        30,927        241          734        28,650        256          791        30,876        256   
Fee income     1,672        86,921        192          1,402        72,492        193          1,511        78,064        194   
Insurance margin     796              670              722       
Expenses                      

Acquisition costsnote (i)

    (939)        1,729        (54)%          (887)        1,556        (57)%          (956)        1,677        (57)%   

Administration expenses

    (828)        125,380        (66)          (693)        108,984        (64)          (747)        117,393        (64)   

DAC adjustments

    218              191              206       
Expected return on shareholder assets     26                            14                            16                   

Operating profit

    1,691                            1,431                            1,543                   

 

* For 2014, the CER results were calculated using the 2015 average exchange rates.

 

    US  
    2013 AER          2013 CER**  
          Average                     Average        
    Profit     liability     Margin         Profit     liability     Margin  
          note (ii)                     note (ii)        
Long-term business   £m     £m     bps          £m     £m     bps  
Spread income     730        29,648        246          694        28,272        246   
Fee income     1,172        59,699        196          1,113        57,098        195   
Insurance margin     588              559       
Expenses              

Acquisition costsnote (i)

    (914)        1,573        (58)%          (868)        1,494        (58)%   

Administration expenses

    (670)        97,856        (68)          (636)        93,484        (68)   

DAC adjustments

    313              297       
Expected return on shareholder assets     24                            22                   

Operating profit

    1,243                            1,181                   

 

** For 2013, the CER results were calculated using the 2014 average exchange rates.

See notes at the end of this section.

 

156


Table of Contents

Analysis of US operating profit drivers:

2015 Compared to 2014 (CER unless otherwise stated)

  Spread income declined by 6 per cent at constant exchange rates (AER increased by 2 per cent) to £746 million in 2015. The reported spread margin decreased to 241 basis points from 256 basis points in 2014 (2014 AER: 256 basis points) primarily due to lower investment yields. Spread income benefited from swap transactions previously entered into to more closely match the asset and liability duration. Excluding this effect, the spread margin would have been 166 basis points (2014 CER: 182 basis points and AER: 183 basis points).
  Fee income increased by 11 per cent at constant exchange rates (AER 19 per cent) to £1,672 million in 2015, primarily due to higher average separate account balances reflecting positive net cash flows from variable annuity business. Fee income margin has remained broadly in line with the prior year at 192 basis points (2014 CER: 194 basis points and AER: 193 basis points).
  Insurance margin represents operating profits from insurance risks, including variable annuity guarantees and other sundry items. Insurance margin increased to £796 million in 2015 compared to £722 million in the previous year at constant exchange rates(AER £670 million) primarily due to higher fee income from variable annuity guarantees following positive net flows in recent periods into variable annuity business with guarantees. REALIC contributed £215 million to this total (2014: £233 million at constant exchange rates).
  Acquisition costs, which are commissions and expenses incurred to acquire new business, including those that are not deferrable, decreased in absolute terms at constant exchange rates in line with trends observed in recent years. As a percentage of APE sales, acquisition costs have decreased to 54 per cent, compared to 57 per cent in 2014. This is due to the continued increase in producers selecting asset-based commissions which are treated as an administrative expense in this analysis, rather than front-end commissions.
  Administration expenses increased to £828 million in 2015 compared to £747 million for 2014 at constant exchange rates (AER £693 million), primarily as a result of higher asset-based commissions paid on the larger 2015 separate account balance subject to these trail commissions. These are paid on policy anniversary dates and are treated as an administration expense in this analysis. Excluding these trail commissions, the resulting administration expense ratio would be unchanged at 36 basis points (2014: CER 36 basis points and AER 36 basis points).

2014 (AER) compared to 2013 (CER based on 2014 exchange rates, unless otherwise stated)

  Spread income increased by 6 per cent at constant exchange rates (AER increased by 1 per cent) to £734 million during 2014. The reported spread margin increased to 256 basis points from 246 basis points in 2013 (2013 AER: 246 basis points). Spread income benefited from swap transactions previously entered into to more closely match the asset and liability duration. Excluding this effect, the spread margin would have been 182 basis points (2013 CER: 183 basis points)
  Fee income increased by 26 per cent at constant exchange rates (AER 20 per cent) to £1,402 million during 2014, primarily due to higher average separate account balances resulting from positive net cash flows from variable annuity business and overall market appreciation. Fee income margin remained broadly consistent with the prior year at 193 basis points (2013 CER: 195 basis points and AER: 196 basis points), with the decrease primarily attributable to a change in the mix of business.
  Insurance margin represents operating profits from insurance risks, including variable annuity guarantees and other sundry items. Positive net flows from variable annuity business with life contingent and other guarantee fees, coupled with a benefit from repricing actions and an increased contribution from REALIC, increased the insurance margin by 20 per cent at constant exchange rates (AER 14 per cent) to £670 million during 2014.
  Acquisition costs, which are commissions and expenses incurred to acquire new business, including those that are not deferrable, decreased slightly in absolute terms and as a percentage of APE compared to 2013. As a percentage of APE, acquisition costs remained relatively flat in comparison to 2013.
  Administration expenses increased to £693 million during 2014 compared to £636 million for 2013 at a constant exchange rate (AER £670 million), primarily as a result of higher asset-based commissions paid on the larger 2014 separate account balance subject to these trail commissions. These are paid upon policy anniversary dates and are treated as an administration expense in this analysis. Excluding these trail commissions, the resulting administration expense ratio would be lower at 36 basis points (2013: CER 44 basis points and AER 44 basis points), reflecting the benefits of operational leverage.
  DAC adjustments decreased to £191 million during 2014 compared to £297 million at a constant exchange rate (AER £313 million) during 2013, with 2013 benefiting from a £78 million (AER £82 million) deceleration in DAC amortisation due to strong equity market returns in that year. This was not repeated in 2014, which experienced an accelerated DAC amortisation charge of £13 million.

 

157


Table of Contents

Analysis of pre-tax operating profit before and after acquisition costs and DAC adjustments

 

    2015 £m         2014 AER £m        

2014 CER* £m

note (iii)

 
   

Acquisition costs

       

Acquisition costs

             

Acquisition costs

 
     Other
operating
profits
    Incurred     Deferred     Total          Other
operating
profits
    Incurred     Deferred     Total          Other
operating
profits
    Incurred     Deferred     Total  
Total operating profit before acquisition costs and DAC adjustments     2,412            2,412          2,127            2,127          2,293            2,293   

Less new business strain

      (939)        734        (205)            (887)        678        (209)            (956)        731        (225)   
Other DAC adjustments - amortisation of previously deferred acquisition costs:                            

Normal

        (514)        (514)              (474)        (474)              (511)        (511)   

(Accelerated)/Decelerated (acceleration)

                    (2)        (2)                            (13)        (13)                            (14)        (14)   
Total     2,412        (939)        218        1,691            2,127        (887)        191        1,431            2,293        (956)        206        1,543   

 

* For 2014, the CER results were calculated using the 2015 average exchange rates.

 

    2013 AER £m         2013 CER** £m       
    Acquisition costs         Acquisition costs      
     Other
operating
profits
    Incurred     Deferred     Total          Other
operating
profits
    Incurred     Deferred     Total       
Total operating profit before acquisition costs and DAC adjustments     1,844            1,844          1,752            1,752     

Less new business strain

      (914)        716        (198)            (868)        680        (188)     
Other DAC adjustments - amortisation of previously deferred acquisition costs:                    

Normal

        (485)        (485)              (461)        (461)     

(Accelerated)/Decelerated (acceleration)

                    82        82                            78        78       

Total

    1,844        (914)        313        1,243            1,752        (868)        297        1,181       

 

** For 2013, the CER results were calculated using the 2014 average exchange rates.

Margin analysis of long-term insurance business – UK

 

    UK              
    2015        

2014

note (v)

        2013  
          Average                     Average                     Average        
Long-term business  

Profit

£m

   

liability

note (iv)

£m

   

Margin

note (ii)

bps

        

Profit

£m

   

liability

note (iv)

£m

   

Margin

note (ii)

bps

        

Profit

£m

   

liability

note (iv)

£m

   

Margin

note (ii)

bps

 

Spread income

    258        31,545        82          272        29,419        92          228        27,218        84   

Fee income

    62        22,371        28          61        23,476        26          65        22,924        28   

With-profits

    269        89,303        30          255        86,467        29          251        84,130        30   
Insurance margin     180              73              89       
Margin on revenues     179              176              187       
Expenses:                      

Acquisition costsnote (i)

    (86)        1,025        (8)%          (96)        834        (12)%          (110)        725        (15)%   

Administration expenses

    (159)        53,916        (29)          (143)        52,895        (27)          (124)        50,142        (25)   

DAC adjustments

    (2)              (6)              (14)       

Expected return on shareholder’s assets

    127                            137                            134                   
    828              729              706       
Impact of specific management actions in second half of 2015 ahead of Solvency II     339                            -                            -                   

Operating profit

    1,167                            729                            706                   

See notes at the end of this section.

 

158


Table of Contents

Analysis of UK operating profit drivers: 2015 compared to 2014

    Spread income reduced from £272 million in 2014 to £258 million in 2015, mainly due to lower annuity new business profit post the reforms brought about by pension freedoms.
    Fee income principally represents asset management fees from unit-linked business, including direct investment only business to group pension schemes, where liability flows are driven by a small number of large single mandate transactions and fee income mostly arises within our UK asset management business. Excluding these schemes, the fee margin on the remaining balances was 43 bps (2014: 41 bps).
    With-profits transfers increased from £255 million in 2014 to £269 million in 2015, due to an increase in terminal bonus rates.
    Insurance margin increased to £180 million in 2015, reflecting the higher contribution from longevity reinsurance transactions undertaken during the first half of the year, positive experience in the year and the modest net effect of the annual review of assumptions.
    Margin on revenues represents premium charges for expenses and other sundry net income received by the UK. The 2015 margin remained stable at £179 million compared to the previous year.
    Acquisition costs incurred declined to £86 million, equivalent to 8 per cent of total APE sales in 2015 (2014: 12 per cent). The decline reflects a shift in business mix towards with-profits business where acquisition costs are funded by the estate. The acquisition cost ratio is also distorted by the high contribution to APE of bulk annuity sales in the year, where acquisition costs are comparatively lower. Acquisition costs expressed as a percentage of shareholder-backed APE sales (excluding the bulk annuity transactions) were 36 per cent (2014: 36 per cent).
    Administration expenses increased by £16 million to £159 million in 2015 largely due to increased spend associated with UK pension reforms.
    The contribution from specific management actions undertaken in the second half of 2015 to position the balance sheet more effectively under the new Solvency II regime was £339 million. Further explanation and analysis is provided in “Contribution to the UK life IFRS metrics from specific management actions undertaken to position the balance sheet more effectively under the new Solvency II regime” section below.

2014 compared to 2013

    Spread income increased from £228 million in 2013 to £272 million in 2014 following an increase in bulk annuity sales which contributed £105 million (2013: £25 million) in the year partially offset by lower individual annuity sales.
    Fee income reduced from £65 million in 2013 to £61 million in 2014 due to a change in product mix towards those with lower asset management charges, partly offset by an increase in funds under management.
    Insurance margin increased from £89 million for 2013 to £96 million for 2014 primarily due to improved profits from protection business.
    Margin on revenues represents premiums charges for expenses and other sundry net income received by the UK. 2014 income was £176 million, £11 million lower than in 2013.
    Acquisition costs as a percentage of new business sales for 2014 decreased to 11 per cent from 2013 at 15 per cent, principally driven by the effect on this percentage ratio of business mix. The ratio above expresses the percentage of shareholder acquisition costs as a percentage of total APE sales. It is therefore impacted by the level of with-profit sales in the year. Acquisition costs as a percentage of shareholder-backed new business sales, excluding the bulk annuity transactions, were 36 per cent in 2014 (2013: 35 per cent).
    Administration expenses increased from £124 million in 2013 to £143 million in 2014 largely due to increased investment spend to realign our business following the pension reforms announced in the UK Budget.

 

159


Table of Contents

Contribution to UK Life IFRS metrics from specific management actions undertaken to position the balance sheet more effectively under the new Solvency II regime

In the second half of 2015 and ahead of securing Solvency II internal model approval, a number of specific actions were taken by Prudential’s UK life business to position the balance sheet more efficiently under the new regime. These actions included extending the reinsurance of longevity risk to cover £8.7 billion of annuity liabilities (on a Pillar 1 basis) by the end of 2015 (end 2014: programme covered £2.3 billion of liabilities). It also included the repositioning of the fixed income asset portfolio, increasing from around 90 per cent to 95 per cent the proportion that would benefit from the matching adjustment under Solvency II. The effect of these actions on the UK’s long term IFRS operating profit is shown in the tables below.

 

     IFRS operating profit of UK long-term business  
     

First

half

2015

    

Second

half

2015

    

Full

year

2015

    

Full

year

2014

 

Shareholder annuity new business

     66         57         123         162   

In-force business:

           

Longevity reinsurance transactions

     61         170         231         30   

Impact of specific management actions ahead of Solvency II

     -         169         169         -   
     61         339         400         30   

With-profits and other in-force

     309         335         644         537   

Total Life IFRS operating profit

     436         731         1,167         729   

Notes to sources of earnings tables

(i) The ratio for acquisition costs is calculated as a percentage of APE sales including with-profits sales. Acquisition costs include only those relating to shareholder-backed business. APE is defined under the section “EEV Basis, New Business Results and Free Surplus Generation” in Item 3 of this annual report.
(ii) Margin represents the operating return earned in the year as a proportion of the relevant class of policyholder liabilities excluding unallocated surplus.
(iii) The 2014 comparative information has been presented at AER and CER so as to eliminate the impact of exchange translation. The 2014 CER results as shown above are calculated by translating the 2014 results using the current year foreign exchange rates except where stated otherwise. The 2013 CER results as shown above were as published in the 2014 20-F and were calculated by translating the 2013 results using 2014 foreign exchange rates.
(iv) For UK and Asia, opening and closing policyholder liabilities have been used to derive an average balance for the year, as a proxy for average balances throughout the year. The calculation of average liabilities for Jackson is derived from month end balances throughout the year as opposed to opening and closing balances only. Average liabilities for spread income are based on the general account liabilities to which spread income attaches. Average liabilities used to calculate the administrative expense margin exclude the REALIC liabilities reinsured to third parties prior to the acquisition by Jackson.
(v) The 2015, 2014 and 2013 analyses exclude the results of the held for sale life insurance business of Japan in both the individual profit and average liability amounts shown in the table above.
(vi) The DAC adjustments contain a charge of £3 million in respect of joint ventures in 2015 (2014: AER credit of £11 million; 2013: AER credit of £1 million).

 

160


Table of Contents

Asia operations—analysis of operating profit by territory

Operating profit based on longer-term investment returns for Asia operations are analysed as follows:

 

      2015 £m         

AER

2014 £m

    

CER**

2014 £m

        

2014 AER

vs 2015

    

2014 CER

vs 2015

        

AER

2013 £m

    

CER***

2013 £m

 

Hong Kong

     150           109         118           38%         27%           101         96   

Indonesia

     356           309         295           15%         21%           291         244   

Malaysia

     120           118         107           2%         12%           137         125   

Philippines

     32           28         29           14%         10%           18         16   

Singapore

     204           214         213           (5)%         (4)%           219         205   

Thailand

     70           53         54           32%         30%           53         48   

Vietnam

     86           72         75           19%         15%           54         51   

SE Asia Operations inc. Hong Kong

     1,018           903         891           13%         14%           873         785   

China

     32           13         14           146%         129%           10         10   

India

     42           49         49           (14)%         (14)%           51         47   

Korea

     38           32         32           19%         19%           17         17   

Taiwan

     25           15         15           67%         67%           12         11   

Other

     (4)           (9)         (9)           56%         56%           (4)         (4)   

Non-recurrent itemsnote (ii)

     62           49         50           27%         24%           44         41   

Total insurance operationsnote (i)

     1,213           1,052         1,042           15%         16%           1,003         907   

Development expenses

     (4)           (2)         (2)           100%         100%           (2)         (2)   

Total long-term business operating profit

     1,209           1,050         1,040           15%         16%           1,001         905   

Eastspring Investments

     115           90         91           28%         26%           74         68   

Total Asia operations

     1,324             1,140         1,131             16%         17%             1,075         973   

Notes

(i) Analysis of operating profit between new and in-force business

The result for insurance operations comprises amounts in respect of new business and business in force as follows:

 

     2015 £m          2014 £m          2013 £m      2013 £m  
                  AER      CER**          AER      CER***  

New business strain*

     (4)           (18)         (23)           (15)         (18)   

Business in force

     1,155           1,021         1,015           974         884   

Non-recurrent itemsnote (ii)

     62             49         50             44         41   

Total

     1,213             1,052         1,042             1,003         907   

 

* The IFRS new business strain corresponds to approximately 0.1 per cent of new business APE premiums for 2015 (2014: approximately 0.8 per cent of new business APE).
** For 2014, the CER rates were calculated using the 2015 average exchange rates.
*** For 2013, the CER results were calculated using the 2014 average exchange rate.

The strain reflects the aggregate of the pre-tax regulatory basis strain to net worth after IFRS adjustments for deferral of acquisition costs and deferred income where appropriate.

 

(ii) Other non-recurrent items of £62 million in 2015 (2014: £49 million; 2013: £44 million) represent a number of items none of which are individually significant and that are not anticipated to reoccur in subsequent years.

 

161


Table of Contents

Analysis of asset management operating profit based on longer-term investment returns

 

     2015 £m  
     M&G     

Eastspring

Investments

    

Prudential

Capital

     US      Total  
      note (ii)      note (ii)                          
Operating income before performance-related fees      939         304         118         321         1,682   
Performance-related fees      22         3         -         -         25   
Operating income (net of commission)note (i)      961         307         118         321         1,707   
Operating expensenote (i)      (533)         (176)         (99)         (310)         (1,118)   
Share of associate’s results      14         -         -            14   
Group’s share of tax on joint ventures’ operating profit      -         (16)         -                  (16)   
Operating profit based on longer-term investment returns      442         115         19         11         587   

Average funds under management

     £252.5bn         £85.1bn            

Margin based on operating income*

     37bps         36bps            

Cost / income ratio**

     57%         58%            
     2014 £m  
     M&G     

Eastspring

Investments

    

Prudential

Capital

     US      Total  
      note (ii)      notes (ii),(iii)                          
Operating income before performance-related fees      954         240         130         303         1,627   
Performance-related fees      33         1         -         -         34   
Operating income (net of commission)note (i)      987         241         130         303         1,661   
Operating expensenote (i)      (554)         (140)         (88)         (291)         (1,073)   
Share of associate’s results      13         -         -         -         13   
Group’s share of tax on joint ventures’ operating profit      -         (11)         -         -         (11)   
Operating profit based on longer-term investment returns      446         90         42         12         590   

Average funds under management

     £250.0bn         £68.8bn            

Margin based on operating income*

     38bps         35bps            

Cost / income ratio**

     58%         59%            
     2013 £m  
     M&G     

Eastspring

Investments

     Prudential
Capital
     US      Total  
      note (ii)      note (ii)                          

Operating income before performance-related fees

     863         215         121         362         1,561   

Performance-related fees

     25         1         -         -         26   

Operating income (net of commision)note (i)

     888         216         121         362         1,587   

Operating expense

     (505)         (134)         (75)         (303)         (1,017)   

Share of associate’s results

     12         -         -         -         12   

Group’s share of tax on joint ventures’ operating profit

     -         (8)         -         -         (8)   

Operating profit based on longer-term investment returns

     395         74         46         59         574   

Average funds under management*

     £233.8 bn         £61.9 bn            

Margin based on operating income*

     37 bps         35 bps            

Cost / income ratio**

     59%         62%            

Notes

(i) Operating income and expense includes the Group’s Share of contributions from Joint Ventures (but excludes any contribution from associates. In the incomes statement as showing in note B2 to the Prudential’s consolidated financial statements in Item 18.

 

162


Table of Contents
(ii) M&G and Eastspring investments can be further analysed as follows:

 

M&G         Eastspring Investments  
Operating income before performance related fees         Operating income before performance related fees  
    Retail    

Margin

of FUM*

   

Institu-

tional+

   

Margin

of FUM*

    Total    

Margin

of FUM*

            Retail    

Margin

of FUM*

   

Institu-

tional+

   

Margin

of FUM*

    Total    

Margin

of FUM*

 
     £m     bps     £m     bps     £m     bps              £m     bps     £m     bps     £m     bps  

2015

    582        87        357        19        939        37        2015     188        61        116        21        304        36   

2014

    593        84        361        20        954        38        2014     139        60        101        22        240        35   

2013

    550        89        313        18        863        37        2013     127        60        88        22        215        35   

 

* Margin represents operating income before performance-related fees as a proportion of the related funds under management (FUM). Monthly closing internal and external funds managed by the respective entity have been used to derive the average. Any funds held by the Group’s insurance operations which are managed by third parties outside of the Prudential Group are excluded from these amounts.
** Cost/income ratio represents cost as a percentage of operating income before performance-related fees.
Institutional includes internal funds.

Charge for short-term fluctuations in investment returns

IFRS operating profit is based on longer-term investment return assumptions. The difference between actual investment returns recorded in the income statement and the assumed longer-term returns is reported within short-term fluctuations in investment returns. In 2015 the total short-term fluctuations in investment returns relating to the life operations were negative £663 million, comprising negative £119 million for Asia, negative £424 million in the US and negative £120 million in the UK.

In Asia, the negative short-term fluctuations of £119 million reflected net unrealised losses on fixed income securities, primarily due to rises in bond yields.

Short-term fluctuations in the US mainly reflect the net value movement on the guarantees offered by Jackson and the associated derivatives held to manage market exposures. Under IFRS accounting the movement in the valuation of derivatives, which are fair valued, is asymmetrical to the movement in the guarantee liabilities, which are not fair valued in all cases. Jackson designs its hedge programme to protect the economics of the business from large movements in investment markets and therefore accepts variability in the accounting results. The negative short-term fluctuations of £424 million in 2015 were primarily attributable to the net value movement in the year of the hedge instruments held to manage market exposures.

Negative short-term fluctuations of £120 million in the UK reflected net unrealised losses on fixed income assets supporting the excess capital held within the shareholder-backed annuity business following a rise in interest rates during the year.

In 2014 the total short-term investment fluctuations relating to the life operations were negative £461 million, comprising positive £178 million for Asia, negative £1,103 million in the US and positive £464 million in the UK.

In Asia, the positive short-term fluctuations of £178 million in 2014 primarily reflected net unrealised gains on fixed income securities following falls in bond yields across the region during the year.

Negative short-term fluctuations of £1,103 million in the US in 2014 mainly reflected the net value movement on the guarantees offered by Jackson and the associated derivatives held to manage market exposures. Under IFRS accounting the movement in the valuation of derivatives, which are fair valued, is asymmetrical to the movement in the guarantee liabilities, which are not fair valued in all cases. The rise in equity markets in 2014 generated negative value movements on the equity derivatives that are held to mitigate against the downside risk of a decline in equity markets. Due to the IFRS accounting practice, the corresponding offset in the valuation of obligations to customers is not fully recognised leading to a negative movement overall within IFRS profits. Declining interest

 

163


Table of Contents

rates and unfavourable movements in implied volatility also led to net negative value movements, due to similar accounting asymmetries. Jackson designs its hedge programme to protect the economics of the business from large movements in investment markets and therefore accepts a degree of accounting volatility. Viewed through the regulatory surplus lens, the hedge programme was essentially breakeven on this basis, as movements in hedge assets and guarantee reserves broadly offset. Jackson’s regulatory risk-based capital ratio was broadly unchanged at 456 per cent at the end of 2014 (31 December 2013: 456 per cent).

The positive short-term fluctuations of £464 million in the UK in 2014 included net unrealised gains on fixed income assets supporting the capital of the shareholder-backed annuity business.

Amortisation of acquisition accounting adjustments

This comprises principally the charge for the adjustments arising on the purchase of REALIC in 2012.

Gain on sale of PruProtect and PruHealth

In November 2014, PAC sold its 25 per cent equity stake in the PruHealth and PruProtect business to Discovery Group Europe Limited for £155 million, giving rise to a gain on disposal of £86 million in 2014.

Costs associated with the domestication of the Hong Kong branch

On 1 January 2014, following consultation with policyholders of PAC and regulators and court approval, the Hong Kong branch of PAC was transferred to separate subsidiaries established in Hong Kong. The costs of enabling the domestication in 2013 were £35 million. Within the Group’s supplementary analysis of profit, these costs have been presented as a separate category of items excluded from operating profit based on longer-term investment returns.

IFRS effective tax rates

In 2015, the effective tax rate on IFRS operating profit based on longer-term investment returns was 20 per cent (2014: 23 per cent; 2013: 22 per cent). The reduction is due to lower corporate tax rates in certain jurisdictions and a higher benefit from non-recurring tax credits specifically in Jackson.

The 2015 effective tax rate on the total IFRS profit was 18 per cent (2014: 15 per cent; 2013: 18 per cent) reflecting a larger overall contribution to the total profit from Jackson which attracts a higher rate of tax.

Total tax contribution

The Group continues to make significant tax contributions in the countries in which it operates, with £3,004 million remitted to tax authorities in 2015. This was higher than the equivalent amount of £2,237 million in 2014, principally due to higher corporation tax payments. In the US a change of basis for taxing derivatives which affects the timing but not the quantum of tax payable, has accelerated future tax payable into 2015. Tax payments in the UK in 2015, which relate to both the current and prior year, reflect positive investment returns in 2014.

 

     2015 £m          2014 £m  
      Corporation
taxes
     Other
taxes
     Taxes
collected
    

Total

remitted

         Corporation
taxes
     Other
taxes
     Taxes
collected
    

Total

remitted

 

Taxes paid in:

                         

Asia

     258         77         111         446           199         52         87         338   

US

     556         51         433         1,040           205         35         375         615   

UK

     521         184         786         1,491           314         202         759         1,275   

Other

     5         20         2         27           3         4         2         9   

Total tax paid

     1,340         332         1,332         3,004           721         293         1,223         2,237   

Corporation taxes include amounts paid on taxable profits which, in certain countries such as the UK, include policyholder investment returns on certain life insurance products. Other taxes include property taxes, withholding taxes, employer payroll taxes and irrecoverable indirect taxes. Taxes collected are other taxes that Prudential remits to tax authorities which it is obliged to collect from employees, customers and third parties which include sales taxes, employee and annuitant payroll taxes.

 

164


Table of Contents
Earnings per share                                                     
     Actual Exchange Rate          Constant Exchange Rate     

Actual

Exchange

Rate

 
      2015 pence      2014 pence      Change%          2014 pence      Change%      2013 pence  
Basic earnings per share based on operating profit after tax      125.8         96.6         30           99.5         26         90.9   
Basic earnings per share based on total profit after tax      101.0         86.9         16           87.9         15         52.8   

 

165


Table of Contents

Explanation of Movements in Profits before Shareholder Tax by Nature of Revenue and Charges

The following table shows Prudential’s consolidated total revenue and consolidated total charges for the years presented:

 

    Actual Exchange Rate  
     2015 £m     2014 £m     2013 £m  
Gross premiums earned(a)     36,663        32,832        30,502   
Outward reinsurance premiums     (1,157)        (799)        (658)   
Earned premiums, net of reinsurance     35,506        32,033        29,844   
Investment return(b)     3,304        25,787        20,347   
Other income     2,495        2,306        2,184   
Total revenue, net of reinsurance     41,305        60,126        52,375   
Benefits and claims     (30,547)        (50,736)        (42,227)   
Outward reinsurers’ share of benefit and claims     1,389        631        622   
Movement in unallocated surplus of with-profits funds     (498)        (64)        (1,549)   
Benefits and claims and movement in unallocated surplus of with-profits funds, net of reinsurance(c)     (29,656)        (50,169)        (43,154)   
Acquisition costs and other expenditure(d)     (8,208)        (6,752)        (6,861)   
Finance costs: interest on core structural borrowings of shareholder-financed operations     (312)        (341)        (305)   
Disposal of Japan life business:      

Cumulative exchange loss recycled from other comprehensive income

    (46)        -        -   

Remeasurement adjustments

    -        (13)        (120)   
Total charges, net of reinsurance     (38,222)        (57,275)        (50,440)   

Share of profits from joint ventures and associates, net of related tax

    238        303        147   
Profit before tax (being tax attributable to shareholders’ and policyholders’ returns)*     3,321        3,154        2,082   
Less tax charge attributable to policyholders’ returns     (173)        (540)        (447)   
Profit before tax attributable to shareholders     3,148        2,614        1,635   
Total tax charge attributable to policyholders and shareholders     (742)        (938)        (736)   
Adjustment to remove tax charge attributable to policyholders’ returns     173        540        447   
Tax charge attributable to shareholders’ returns     (569)        (398)        (289)   
Profit for the year attributable to equity holders of the Company     2,579        2,216        1,346   
* This measure is the formal profit before tax measure under IFRS but it is not the result attributable to shareholders.

This is principally because the corporate taxes of the Group include those on the income of consolidated with-profits and unit-linked funds that, through adjustments to benefits, are borne by policyholders. These amounts are required to be included in the tax charge of the Company under IAS 12. Consequently, the profit before all taxes measure (which is determined after deducting the cost of policyholder benefits and movements in the liability for unallocated surplus of the PAC with-profits fund after adjusting for taxes borne by policyholders) is not representative of pre-tax profits attributable to shareholders.

 

(a) Gross earned premiums

 

     Year ended 31 December £m  
                  2015                  2014                  2013  
Asian operations*      10,814         9,820         9,061   
US operations      16,887         15,654         15,661   

UK operations*

     8,962         7,358         5,780   
Total      36,663         32,832         30,502   
* The Asia and UK premiums exclude intra-group transactions.

Gross earned premiums for insurance operations totalled £36,663 million in 2015, up 12 per cent from £32,832 million in 2014. The increase of £3,831 million was driven by growth of £1,604 million in the UK operations; £1,233 million in the US operations; and £994 million in the Asia operations.

Gross earned premiums for insurance operations totalled £32,832 million in 2014, up 8 per cent from £30,502 million in 2013. The increase of £2,330 million was driven by growth of £1,578 million in the UK operations; £759 million in the Asia operations offset by a reduction of £7 million in the US operations.

 

166


Table of Contents

Asia

Gross earned premiums increased by 10 per cent from £9,820 million in 2014 to £10,814 million in 2015 and by 8 per cent from £9,061 million in 2013 to £9,820 million in 2014 on an actual exchange rate basis. The premiums reflect the aggregate of single and recurrent premiums of new business sold in the year and premiums on annual business sold in previous years. The growth in earned premiums reflects increases for both factors.

Excluding the impact of exchange translation, gross earned premiums in Asia increased by 8 per cent from 2014 to 2015, from £10,004 million on a constant exchange rate in 2014 to £10,814 million in 2015. Our sales performance in Asia continues to benefit from our broad-based multi-channel distribution platform, new product launches and continued actions to improve both distribution scale and productivity. Single premium sales, which are more susceptible to softer economic conditions, reduced by 8 per cent in 2015.

Excluding the impact of exchange translation, gross earned premiums in Asia increased 17 per cent from 2013 to 2014, from £8,380 million on a constant exchange rate in 2013 (based on the average exchange rates in 2014) to £9,820 million in 2014, driven by our businesses in Indonesia, Singapore, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Philippines, Vietnam and Thailand. Our strategy is to be strongly diversified in terms of geography, products and distribution in a world economy that is increasingly hard to predict. That diversification is at the heart of our ability to continue to perform well across a broad range of metrics as the breadth of our portfolio provides considerable resilience against the impacts of short-term market disturbances in individual countries, such as the elections and natural disasters experienced during 2014. We also continued to innovate with new benefits and features, with a significant proportion of sales in 2014 coming from products that were launched in the past two years.

United States

Gross premiums increased by 8 per cent from £15,654 million in 2014 to £16,887 million in 2015 on an actual exchange rate basis. Excluding the impact of exchange translation, gross premiums in the US remained broadly flat from 2014 to 2015 from £16,876 million on a constant exchange rate in 2014 to £16,887 million in 2015. Total variable annuity sales remained flat compared to 2014, reflecting Jackson’s continued focus on proactively managing sales of products with living benefits to maintain an appropriate balance of revenue streams and match its annual risk appetite. The proportion of variable annuity sales without living benefits remains significant and broadly in line with last year with Elite Access continuing to be the leader in the investment-only variable annuity market.

Gross premiums in 2014 of £15,654 million were in line with the 2013 amount of £15,661 million on an actual exchange rate basis. Excluding the impact of exchange translation, gross premiums in the US increased by 5 per cent from 2013 to 2014, from £14,872 million on a constant exchange rate in 2013 (based on the exchange rates in 2014) to £15,654 million in 2014. The increase from 2013 to 2014 was due to increase in total variable annuity sales driven by a continuing increase in sales of Elite Access. Fixed annuity sales remained relatively flat in 2014 compared to 2013, while fixed index annuity sales decreased significantly, primarily as a result of product changes implemented in late 2013 to ensure appropriate returns on shareholder capital.

Jackson’s strategy is unchanged, serving the 75 million US baby boomers as they enter retirement. Jackson continues to price new business on a conservative basis, targeting value over volume.

United Kingdom

Gross premiums for UK operations increased from £7,358 million in 2014 to £8,962 million in 2015, mainly due to the sales growth in our retail business, which has been driven by a growing demand for our savings and retirement products and specifically the distinctive PruFund range, with momentum increasing through the year as additional products and services came online including PruFund ISA, flexible income drawdown and our simplified non-advised drawdown pension choices plan.

Gross premiums for UK operations increased from £5,780 million in 2013 to £7,358 million in 2014, mainly due to seven new bulk annuity deals in 2014 (2013: three) with premiums of £1,710 million (2013: £276 million) and increased sales of onshore bonds and other retail products, partially offset by the decline in the sales of individual annuities.

The UK market continues to be heavily influenced by a high level of regulatory and legislative change. The decline in the sale of individual annuities reflected the market contraction since the 2014 UK Budget announcement. Our

 

167


Table of Contents

approach to bulk transactions in the UK will continue to be one of selective participation, where we can bring both significant value to our customers and meet our shareholder return requirements.

 

(b) Investment return

 

     Year ended 31 December £m  
              2015              2014              2013  

Asia operations

     (296)         3,891         894   

US operations

     (789)         5,436         10,014   

UK operations

     4,417         16,551         9,515   

Unallocated corporate and intra-group elimination

     (28)         (91)         (76)   

Total

     3,304         25,787         20,347   

Investment return principally comprises interest income, dividends, investment appreciation/depreciation (realised and unrealised gains and losses) on investments designated as fair value through profit and loss and realised gains and losses, including impairment losses, on securities designated as amortised cost and available-for-sale. Movements in unrealised appreciation/depreciation of Jackson’s debt securities designated as available-for-sale are not reflected in investment return but are recorded in other comprehensive income.

Allocation of investment return between policyholders and shareholders

Investment return is attributable to policyholders and shareholders. A key feature of the accounting policies under IFRS is that the investment return included in the income statement relates to all investment assets of the Group, irrespective of whether the return is attributable to shareholders, or to policyholders or the unallocated surplus of with-profits funds, the latter two of which have no direct impact on shareholders’ profit. The table below provides a breakdown of the investment return for each regional operation attributable to each type of business.

 

              2015 £m              2014 £m              2013 £m  

Asia operations

        

Policyholder returns

        

Assets backing unit-linked liabilities

     (626)         1,069         542   

With-profits business

     (75)         1,915         82   
       (701)         2,984         624   

Shareholder returns

     405         907         270   

Total

     (296)         3,891         894   

US operations

        

Policyholder returns - Assets held to back separate account (unit-linked) liabilities

     (2,033)         3,793         10,254   

Shareholder returns

     1,244         1,643         (240)   

Total

     (789)         5,436         10,014   

UK operations

        

Policyholder returns

        

Scottish Amicable Insurance Fund (SAIF)

     212         608         585   

Assets held to back unit-linked liabilities

     699         1,848         2,604   

With-profits fund (excluding SAIF)

     3,131         8,958         5,761   
       4,042         11,414         8,950   

Shareholder returns

        

Prudential Retirement Income Limited (PRIL)

     213         3,657         380   

Other business

     162         1,480         185   
       375         5,137         565   

Total

     4,417         16,551         9,515   

Unallocated corporate

        

Shareholder returns

     (28)         (91)         (76)   

Group Total

        

Policyholder returns

     1,308         18,191         19,828   

Shareholder returns

     1,996         7,596         519   

Total

     3,304         25,787         20,347   

 

168


Table of Contents

Policyholder returns

The returns as shown in the table above are delineated between those returns allocated to policyholders and those allocated to shareholders. In making this distinction, returns allocated to policyholders are those from investments in which shareholders have no direct economic interest, namely:

 

    Unit-linked business in the UK and Asia, and Scottish Amicable Insurance Fund (SAIF) in the UK, for which the investment returns are wholly attributable to policyholders;
    Separate account business of US operations, the investment returns of which are also wholly attributable to policyholders; and
    With-profits business (excluding SAIF) in the UK and Asia (in which the shareholders’ economic interest, and the basis of recognising IFRS basis profits, is restricted to a share of the actuarially determined surplus for distribution (in the UK 10 per cent)). Except for this surplus the investment returns of the with-profits funds are attributable to policyholders (through the asset-share liabilities) or the unallocated surplus, which is accounted for as a liability under IFRS 4.

The investment returns related to the types of business mentioned above do not impact shareholders’ profits directly. However, there is an indirect impact, for example, investment-related fees or the effect of investment returns on the shareholders’ share of the cost of bonuses of with-profits funds.

Investment returns for unit-linked and similar products have a reciprocal impact on benefits and claims, with an increase/decrease in market returns on the attached pool of assets affecting policyholder benefits on these products. Similarly for with-profits funds there is a close correlation between increases or decreases in investment returns and the level of combined charge for policyholder benefits and movement on unallocated surplus that arises from such returns.

Shareholder’ returns

For shareholder-backed non-participating business in the UK (comprising PRIL and other non-linked non-participating business) and of the Asia operations, the investment returns are not directly attributable to policyholders and therefore, impact shareholders’ profit directly. However, for UK shareholder-backed annuity business, principally PRIL, where the durations of asset and liability cash flows are closely matched, the discount rate applied to measure liabilities to policyholders (under ‘grandfathered’ UK GAAP and under IFRS 4) reflects movements in asset yields (after allowances for the future defaults) of the backing portfolios. Therefore, the net impact on the shareholders’ profits of the investment returns of the assets backing liabilities of the UK shareholder-backed annuity business is determined after taking into account the consequential effect on the movement in policyholder liabilities.

Changes in shareholders’ investment returns for US operations reflect primarily movements in the investment income, and realised gains and losses together with movements in the value of the derivative instruments held to manage interest rate exposures and durations within the general account (including variable annuity and fixed index annuity guarantees), GMIB reinsurance and equity derivatives held to manage the equity risk exposure of guarantee liabilities. Separately, reflecting Jackson’s types of business, an allocation is made to policyholders through the application of crediting rates.

The majority of the investments held to back the US general account business are debt securities for which the available-for-sale designation is applied for IFRS basis reporting. Under this designation the return included in the income statement reflects the aggregate of investment income and realised gains and losses (including impairment losses). However, movements in unrealised appreciation or depreciation are recognised in other comprehensive income. The return on these assets is attributable to shareholders.

Reasons for year-on-year changes in investment returns

With two exceptions, all Prudential investments are carried at fair value in the statement of financial position with fair value movements, which are volatile from year to year, recorded in the income statement. The exceptions are for:

 

(i)

debt securities in the general account of US operations, the return on which is attributable to shareholders and which are accounted for on an IAS 39 available-for-sale basis. In this respect realised gains and losses

 

169


Table of Contents
  (including impairment losses) are recorded in the income statement, while movements in unrealised appreciation (depreciation) are booked as other comprehensive income. As a result, the changes in unrealised fair value of these debt securities are not reflected in Prudential’s investment returns in the income statement. The unrealised gains and losses in the income statement of US operations primarily arise on the assets of the US separate account business; and

 

(ii) loans and receivables, which are carried at amortised cost.

Subject to the effect of these two exceptions, the year-on-year changes in investment returns primarily reflect the generality of overall market movements for equities, debt securities and, in the UK, for investment property mainly held by with-profits funds. In addition for Asia and US separate account business, foreign exchange rates affect the sterling value of the translated income. Consistent with the treatment applied for other items of income and expenditure, investment returns for overseas operations are translated at average exchange rates.

Asia

The table below provides an analysis of investment return attributable to Asia operations for the years presented:

 

     Year ended 31 December £m  
              2015              2014              2013  

Interest/dividend income (including foreign exchange gains and losses)

     1,028         1,030         772   

Investment (depreciation) appreciation

     (1,324)         2,861         122   

Total

     (296)         3,891         894   

In Prudential’s Asia operations, debt securities accounted for 57 per cent, 52 per cent and 53 per cent of the total investment portfolio as at 31 December 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively, with equities comprising 38 per cent, 43 per cent and 41 per cent, respectively. The remaining 5 per cent, 5 per cent and 6 per cent of the total investment portfolio, respectively, primarily comprised loans and deposits with credit institutions. Investment return decreased from £3,891 million in 2014 to £(296)million in 2015. This decrease was due primarily to a decrease of £4,185 million in investment (depreciation) appreciation from £2,861 million of appreciation in 2014 to a depreciation of £1,324 million in 2015. The charge of £4,185 million was driven primarily by adverse movements on debt securities values following movements in bond yields across the region during the year and less favourable equity market movements compared to 2014.

Investment return increased from £894 million in 2013 to £3,891 million in 2014. This increase was due to an increase of £258 million in interest and dividend income (including foreign exchange gains and losses) and an increase of £2,739 million in investment appreciation. The increase of £2,739 million in investment appreciation was driven primarily by favourable movements on debt securities values following falls in bond yields across the region during the year and more favourable equity market movements compared to 2013.

United States

The table below provides an analysis of investment return attributable to US operations for the years presented:

 

     Year ended 31 December £m  
              2015              2014              2013  

Investment return of investments backing US separate account liabilities

     (2,033)         3,793         10,254   

Other investment return

     1,244         1,643         (240)   

Total

     (789)         5,436         10,014   

In the US, investment return decreased from £5,436 million in 2014 to £(789) million in 2015. This £6,225 million adverse change arose from a decrease of £5,826 million in the investment return on investments backing variable separate account liabilities from a gain of £3,793 million in 2014 to a loss of £(2,033) million in 2015 and an decrease in other investment return from £1,643 million to £1,244 million. The primary driver for the £5,826 million decrease in investment return on investments backing variable annuity separate account liabilities as compared to 2014 was the adverse movements in the US equity markets in 2015 on a larger separate account asset balance. The decrease in other investment return reflects the value movements in derivatives held to manage interest rate and equity risk exposures as discussed in note B1.2 to the consolidated financial statements in Item 18.

 

170


Table of Contents

Investment return decreased from £10,014 million in 2013 to £5,436 million in 2014. This £4,578 million adverse change arose from a decrease of £6,461 million in the investment return on investments backing variable separate account liabilities from £10,254 million in 2013 to £3,793 million in 2014 and an increase in other investment return from negative £(240) million to positive £1,643 million. The primary driver for the decrease in investment return on investments backing variable annuity separate account liabilities as compared to 2013 was relatively less favourable movements in the US equity markets in 2014 on a larger separate account asset balance. The increase of £1,883 million in other investment return reflected the value movements in derivatives held to manage interest rate and equity risk exposures as discussed in note B1.2 to the consolidated financial statements in Item 18.

United Kingdom

The table below provides an analysis of investment return attributable to UK operations for the years presented:

 

     Year ended 31 December £m  
                  2015                  2014*                  2013*  

Interest/dividend income

     6,430         6,056         6,385   

Investment (depreciation) appreciation and other investment return

     (2,013)         10,495         3,130   

Total

     4,417         16,551         9,515   

In Prudential’s UK operations, equities accounted for 28 per cent, 26 per cent and 25 per cent of the total investment portfolio as at 31 December 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively. Debt securities comprised 51 per cent, 53 per cent and 54 per cent, respectively, with investment properties accounting for 8 per cent, 8 per cent and 7 per cent of the total investment portfolio in each respective year. The remaining 13 per cent, 13 per cent and 14 per cent of the total investment portfolio as at 31 December 2015 , 2014 and 2013, respectively, related to loans, deposits with credit institutions, investments in partnerships in investment pools and derivative assets. Within debt securities of £85 billion (2014: £89 billion; 2013: £84 billion) as at 31 December 2015, 68 per cent (2014: 70 per cent; 2013: 71 per cent) was comprised of corporate debt securities.

Interest and dividend income increased by £374 million from £6,056 in 2014 to £6,430 million in 2015, and decreased by £329 million from £6,385 million in 2013 to £6,056 in 2014.

The charge in investment depreciation and other investment return of £12,508 million from a gain £10,495 million in 2014 to a loss of £2,013 million in 2015 principally reflects negative valuation movement in debt securities due to rising bond yields and unfavourable equity market movements.

The increase in investment appreciation and other investment return of £7,365 million from £3,130 million in 2013 to £10,495 million in 2014 principally reflected value movement on debt securities due to falling bond yields partially offset by less favourable equity market movements.

Unallocated corporate and intragroup elimination

Investment return for unallocated corporate and intragroup elimination was negative £28 million in 2015 compared to the negative £91 million in 2014 and negative £76 million in 2013.

 

(c) Benefits and claims and movement in unallocated surplus of with-profits funds, net of reinsurance

 

     Year ended 31 December £m  
                  2015                  2014                  2013  

Asia operations*

     (6,555)         (9,794)         (6,930)   

US operations

     (13,029)         (19,761)         (23,706)   

UK operations*

     (10,072)         (20,614)         (12,518)   

Total

     (29,656)         (50,169)         (43,154)   
* The Asia and UK benefits and claims exclude intra-group transactions.

Benefits and claims represent payments, including final bonuses, to policyholders in respect of maturities, surrenders and deaths plus changes in technical provisions (which primarily represent the movement in amounts owed to policyholders). Benefits and claims are amounts attributable to policyholders. The movement in unallocated surplus of with-profits funds represents the transfer to (from) the unallocated surplus each year through a charge (credit) to the income statement of the annual excess (shortfall) of income over expenditure of the with-profits funds, after declaration and attribution of the cost of bonuses to policyholders and shareholders.

 

171


Table of Contents

The underlying reasons for the year-on-year changes in benefits and claims and movement in unallocated surplus in each of Prudential’s regional operations are changes in the incidence of claims incurred, increases or decreases in policyholders’ liabilities, and movements in unallocated surplus of with-profits funds.

Total benefit and claims and movements in unallocated surplus of with-profits funds decreased by £20,513 million in 2015 to a charge of £29,656 million compared to a charge of £50,169 million in 2014 and a charge of £43,154 million in 2013. The amounts of this year-on-year charge attributable to each of the underlying reasons as stated above are shown below.

Benefits and claims and movements in unallocated surplus of with-profits funds net of reinsurance can be further analysed as follows.

 

     Year ended 31 December £m  
                  2015                  2014                  2013  

Claims incurred

     (23,763)         (22,331)         (21,881)   

Increase in policyholder liabilities

     (5,395)         (27,774)         (19,724)   

Movement in unallocated surplus of with-profits funds

     (498)         (64)         (1,549)   

Benefits and claims and movement in unallocated surplus

     (29,656)         (50,169)         (43,154)   

The charge for benefits and claims and movements in unallocated surplus, net of reinsurance of £29,656 million (2014: £50,169 million; 2013: £43,154 million) shown in the table above includes the effect of accounting for investment contracts without discretionary participation features (as defined by IFRS 4) in accordance with IAS 39 to reflect the deposit nature of the arrangement.

Additionally the movement in policyholder liabilities and unallocated surplus of with-profits funds represents the amount recognised in the income statement and therefore excludes the effect of foreign exchange translation differences on the policyholder liabilities of foreign subsidiaries and the movement in liabilities arising on acquisition and disposals of subsidiaries in the year.

The principal driver for variations in amounts allocated to policyholders is changes to investment return reflected in the statement of financial position measurement of liabilities for Prudential’s with-profits, SAIF and unit-linked policies (including US separate account business). In addition, for those liabilities under IFRS, in particular, liabilities relating to the UK annuity business (principally PRIL), where the measurement reflects the yields on assets backing the liabilities, the year-on-year changes in investment yields also contribute significantly to variations in the measurement of policyholder liabilities. The principal driver for variations in the change in unallocated surplus of with-profits funds is the value movements on the investment assets of the with-profits funds to the extent not reflected in policyholder liabilities.

The principal variations are for the increases or decreases in policyholder liabilities and movements in unallocated surplus of with-profits funds for each regional operation are discussed below.

Asia

In 2015, benefits and claims and movements in unallocated surplus of with-profits funds totalled £6,555 million, representing a decrease of £3,239 million compared to the charge of £9,794 million in 2014. In 2014, benefits and claims and movements in unallocated surplus of with-profits funds totalled £9,794 million, representing an increase of £2,864 million compared to the charge of £6,930 million in 2013.

The amounts of the year-on-year change attributable to each of the underlying reasons are shown below:

 

     Year ended 31 December £m  
                  2015                  2014                  2013  

Claims incurred

     (4,151)         (4,351)         (3,976)   

Increase in policyholder liabilities

     (2,074)         (5,463)         (2,699)   

Movement in unallocated surplus of with-profits funds

     (330)         20         (255)   

Benefits and claims and movement in unallocated surplus

     (6,555)         (9,794)         (6,930)   

The growth in the policyholder liabilities in Asia over the three-year period partially reflected the strong growth in new business in the region. The variations in the increases or decreases in policyholder liabilities in individual

 

172


Table of Contents

years were, however, primarily due to movement in investment returns. This was as a result of asset value movements that are reflected in the unit value of the unit-linked policies, which represent a significant proportion of the Asia operations’ business. In addition, the policyholder liabilities of the Asia operations’ with-profits policies also fluctuated with the investment performance of the funds.

United States

Except for institutional products and certain term annuities which are classified as investment products under IAS 39 for the purpose of IFRS reporting, deposits into the US operations’ products are recorded as premiums, withdrawals and surrenders and are included in benefits and claims, and the resulting net movement is recorded under other reserve movements within benefits and claims. Benefits and claims also include interest credited to policyholders in respect of deposit products less fees charged on these policies.

In 2015, the accounting charge for benefits and claims decreased by £6,732 million to £13,029 million compared to £19,761 million in 2014. In 2014, the accounting charge for benefits and claims decreased by £3,945 million to £19,761 million compared to £23,706 million in 2013.

The amounts of the year-on-year change attributable to each of the underlying reasons are shown below:

 

     Year ended 31 December £m  
                  2015                  2014                  2013  

Claims incurred

     (9,688)         (8,506)         (7,560)   

Increase in policyholder liabilities

     (3,341)         (11,255)         (16,146)   

Benefits and claims

     (13,029)         (19,761)         (23,706)   

The movements year-on-year in the claims incurred for the US operations as shown in the table above also included the effects of translating the US dollar results into pounds sterling at the average exchange rates for the relevant years.

The charges in each year comprise amounts in respect of variable annuity and other business. For variable annuity business, there are two principal factors that contribute to the variations in the charge, and for which the fluctuations in the years presented broadly offset each other. First, the investment return on the assets backing the variable annuity separate account liabilities changed to a £2,033 million debit in 2015 from a £3,793 million credit in 2014 and a £10,254 million credit in 2013 as shown in the section ‘Investment return (b) United States’ above. The second principal effect is the growth of the variable annuity business in force. This can be illustrated by the net cash flows of the US insurance operations’ variable annuity separate account liabilities in note C4.1(c) ‘Reconciliation of movement in policyholder liabilities’ to the consolidated financial statements in Item 18 of this annual report. The net flows of the variable annuity separate account liabilities shown in that note for 2015 were £7,887 million as compared with £7,974 million for 2014 and £7,986 million for 2013.

United Kingdom

Overall, benefits and claims and the movement in unallocated surplus recorded in the income statement was a charge of £10,072 million in 2015 compared to a £20,614 million charge in 2014 and a £12,518 million charge in 2013. The year-on-year changes attributable to each of the underlying reasons are shown below, together with a further analysis of the amounts included in respect of the movements in policyholder liabilities by type of business:

 

     Year ended 31 December £m  
                  2015                  2014                  2013  

Claims incurred

     (9,924)         (9,474)         (10,346)   

Decrease/(increase) in policyholder liabilities

        

SAIF

     752         366         780   

PRIL

     301         (2,157)         155   

Unit-linked and other non-participating business

     171         (3,536)         (1,616)   

With-profits (excluding SAIF)

     (1,204)         (5,729)         (197)   
     20         (11,056)         (878)   

Movement in unallocated surplus of with-profits funds

     (168)         (84)         (1,294)   

Benefits and claims and movement in unallocated surplus

     (10,072)         (20,614)         (12,518)   

 

173


Table of Contents

Claims incurred in the UK operations in 2015 were £9,924 million, compared to £9,474 million in 2014 and £10,346 million in 2013.

As has been explained above, the principal driver for variations in amounts allocated to the policyholders is changes to investment returns.

In aggregate, as a result of the lower market returns in 2015 compared to 2014 there has been a corresponding impact on benefits and claims and movements in unallocated surplus of with-profits funds in the year, moving from a net charge of £20,614 million in 2014 to a net charge of £10,072 million in 2015. Conversely, the market returns in 2014 were more positive compared to 2013, resulting in a movement from a net charge of £12,518 million in 2013 to a net charge of £20,614 million in 2014.

SAIF is a ring-fenced fund with no new business written. The decrease in policyholder liabilities in SAIF reflects the underlying decreasing policyholder liabilities as the liabilities run off. The variations from year to year are, however, affected by the market valuation movement of the investments held by SAIF, which are wholly attributable to policyholders.

For PRIL, the decreases/(increases) in policyholder liabilities reflect the effect of altered investment yield reflected in the discount rate applied in the measurement of the liabilities, together with other factors such as changes in premium income for new business and altered assumptions.

For unit-linked business, the primary driver of the variations in the decreases/(increases) in the policyholder liabilities were due to the movement in the market value of the unit-linked assets as reflected in the unit value of the unit-linked policies.

The part of Prudential where variations in amounts attributed to policyholder liabilities and unallocated surplus are most significant is the UK with-profits business (excluding SAIF). As explained in note C4.2 to the consolidated financial statements in Item18, the liabilities for UK with-profits policyholders are determined on an asset-share basis that incorporates the accumulation of investment returns and all other items of income and outgoings that are relevant to each policy type. Accordingly, the movement in policyholder liabilities in the income statement will fluctuate with the investment return of the fund. Separately, the excess of assets over liabilities of the fund represents the unallocated surplus. This surplus will also fluctuate on a similar basis to the market value movement on the investment assets of the fund with the movement reflected in the income statement. In addition, other items of income and expenditure affect the level of movement in policyholder liabilities (to the extent reflected in assets shares) and unallocated surplus.

The correlation between total net income (loss) before benefits and claims and movement in unallocated surplus, on the one hand, and the (charge) credit for benefits and claims and movement in unallocated surplus, on the other, for the UK component of the PAC with-profits fund (excluding SAIF) is illustrated numerically by the following table each of the years presented. In summary, the correlation principally arises due to the following factors:

 

  (a) Investment return is included in full in the income statement and is attributable either to contracts or unallocated surplus.

 

  (b) Investment return, to the extent attributable to contracts, directly affects asset share liabilities, which are reflected in the income statement through changes in policyholder liabilities.

 

  (c) Investment return, to the extent attributable to unallocated surplus, forms the majority part of the movement in such surplus in the income statement.

 

174


Table of Contents
     Year ended 31 December £m  
                  2015                  2014                  2013  
Earned premiums, net of reinsurance(i)      6,507         3,007         3,801   
Investment return      3,130         8,958         5,757   
Other income      210         72         52   
Acquisition costs and other expenditure      (1,318)         (961)         (1,025)   
Share of profit from joint ventures      53         129         88   
Tax charge      (148)         (440)         (308)   
Total net income before benefit and claims and movement in unallocated surplus, net of reinsurance      8,434         10,765         8,365   
Charges of:         
Claims incurred      (6,745)         (6,115)         (6,681)   
(Increase)/decrease in policyholder liabilities(i)      (1,307)         (4,366)         (197)   
Movement in unallocated surplus of with-profits funds      (168)         (84)         (1,294)   
Benefits and claims and movements in unallocated surplus of with-profits funds, net of reinsurance      (8,220)         (10,565)         (8,172)   
Shareholders’ profit after tax      214         200         193   

Note

(i) For the purposes of presentation in Prudential’s consolidated financial information, references to the UK with-profits fund also include, for convenience, the amounts attaching to Prudential’s UK Defined Charge Participating Sub-fund which includes the with-profits annuity business transferred to Prudential from the Equitable Life Assurance Society on 31 December 2007. Profits to shareholders emerge on a ‘charges less expenses’ basis and policyholders are entitled to 100 per cent of the investment earnings.

Separately, the cost of current year bonuses which is attributable to policyholders is booked within the movement in policyholder liabilities. One-ninth of the declared cost of policyholders’ bonus is attributable to shareholders and represents the shareholders’ profit. Both of these amounts, by comparison with the investment return, movement in other constituent elements of the change in policyholder liabilities and the change in unallocated surplus, are relatively stable from year to year.

In 2015, the income statement of the UK component of the PAC with-profits funds was charged with a transfer of £168 million to the unallocated surplus. This transfer, together with a corresponding transfer in the unallocated surplus of the Asia with-profits funds and the effect of exchange rate movements, resulted in an increase in Prudential’s unallocated surplus from £12.5 billion in 2014 to £13.1 billion in 2015. This movement reflected the net effect of changes in the value of assets, liabilities (incorporating policyholder bonuses and other elements of asset shares attributable to policyholders), and the shareholders’ share of the cost of bonuses for 2015.

The surplus for distribution in future years will reflect the aggregate of policyholder bonuses and the cost of bonuses attributable to shareholders, which is currently set at 10 per cent. The policyholder bonuses comprise the aggregate of regular and final bonuses. When determining policy payouts, including final bonuses, Prudential considers asset shares of specimen policies.

Prudential does not take into account the surplus assets of the long-term fund, or the investment return, in calculating asset shares. Asset-shares are used in the determination of final bonuses, together with treating customers fairly, the need to smooth claim values and payments from year to year and competitive considerations.

In the unlikely circumstance that the depletion of excess assets within the long-term fund was such that Prudential’s ability to treat its customers fairly was adversely affected, it might become necessary to restrict the annual distribution to shareholders or to contribute shareholders’ funds to the long-term funds to provide financial support.

The factors that the PAC Board considers in setting bonus rates are described in more detail in the section headed ‘With-profits products’ in Item 4, in the section headed ‘United Kingdom—Basis of profits—Bonus Rates’ and are summarised in note C4.1(d)(ii) to the consolidated financial statements in Item 18.

 

175


Table of Contents
(d) Acquisition costs and other expenditure

 

     Year ended 31 December £m  
                  2015                  2014                  2013  

Asia operations

     (2,929)         (2,616)         (2,208)   

US operations

     (2,376)         (1,589)         (1,919)   

UK operations

     (2,917)         (2,580)         (2,790)   

Unallocated corporate and intra-group elimination

     14         33         56   

Total

     (8,208)         (6,752)         (6,861)   

Total acquisition costs and other expenditure of £8,208 million in 2015 were 22 per cent higher than the £6,752 million incurred in 2014. Total acquisition costs and other expenditure of £6,752 million in 2014 were 2 per cent lower than the £6,861 million incurred in 2013.

Asia

Total acquisition costs and other expenditure for Asia in 2015 were £2,929 million compared to £2,616 million in 2014 and £2,208 million in 2013. The increase of £313 million from 2014 to 2015 and £408 million from 2013 to 2014 were due to increased acquisition costs, net of change in deferred acquisition costs, and increases in other operating expenses as the business continues to expand. The increase from 2014 to 2015 in these expenses was partially offset by a decrease in the charge for investment gains attributable to external unit-holders relating to investment funds managed on behalf of third parties which are consolidated but have no recourse to Prudential.

United States

Total acquisition costs and other expenditure for the US of £2,376 million in 2015 represented an increase of £787 million over the amount of £1,589 million in 2014. The £1,589 million in 2014 in turn represented a decrease of £330 million from the £1,919 million in 2013.

The increase of £787 million from 2014 to 2015 includes an exchange translation impact of £124 million. Excluding the currency volatility, total acquisition costs and other expenditure increased by £663 million from 2014 to 2015.

The year-on-year movements primarily reflected increases in the charge for acquisition costs in the income statement, net of change in deferred acquisition costs, of which an element is due to the amortisation attaching to the varying level of short-term fluctuations in investment returns in each year. In addition, operating expenses in 2015 have also increased primarily as a result of higher asset based commissions paid on the larger separate account balance.

United Kingdom

Total acquisition costs and other expenditure for the UK increased by 13 per cent from £2,580 million in 2014 to £2,917 million in 2015. In turn, total acquisition costs and other expenditure for the UK decreased by 8 per cent from £2,790 million in 2013 to £2,580 million in 2014.

The year-on-year movements were primarily affected by the changes in the charge for investment gains relating to funds managed on behalf of third parties which are consolidated but have no recourse to the Group, which increased by £361 million from £408 million in 2014 to £769 million in 2015 and conversely decreased by £331 million from 2013 to 2014.

Unallocated corporate and intra-group elimination

Other net expenditure represented a credit of £14 million in 2015, a credit of £33 million in 2014 and a credit of £56 million in 2013.

 

176


Table of Contents

IFRS Shareholders’ Funds and Policyholder Liabilities

Movement on Shareholders’ Funds

The following table sets forth a summary of the movement in Prudential’s IFRS shareholders’ funds for 2015 and 2014:

 

Shareholders’ Funds            2015 £m              2014 £m  

Profit after tax for the year

     2,579         2,216   

Exchange movements, net of related tax

     118         220   
Unrealised gains and losses on Jackson fixed income securities classified as available for sale, net of related changes to deferred acquisition costs and tax*      (629)         565   

Dividends

     (974)         (895)   

Other

     50         55   

Net increase in shareholders’ funds

     1,144         2,161   

Shareholders’ funds at beginning of the year

     11,811         9,650   

Shareholders’ funds at end of the year

     12,955         11,811   

Shareholders’ value per share

     504p         460p   

Return on Shareholders’ funds**

     27%         26%   
* Net of related changes to deferred acquisition costs and tax.
** Operating profit after tax and non-controlling interests as percentage of opening shareholders’ funds.

In a period of currency volatility, UK sterling weakened relative to non-sterling currencies in particular the US dollar. With approximately 54 per cent of the Group’s IFRS net assets denominated in non-sterling currencies this generated a positive foreign exchange movement on net assets in the year. In addition, the increase in US 10-year treasury rate and higher spreads produced unrealised losses on fixed income securities held by Jackson that are accounted for as available-for-sale under IFRS.

Taking these non-operating movements into account, the Group’s IFRS shareholders’ funds at 31 December 2015 increased by 10 per cent to £13.0 billion (31 December 2014: £11.8 billion on an actual exchange rate basis).

Shareholder-backed policyholder liabilities and net liability flows*

 

     2015 £m          2014 £m  
     Actual Exchange Rate          Actual Exchange Rate  
     

At 1

January

2015

    

Net liability

flows**

    

Market and

other

movements

    

At 31

December

2015

        

At 1

January

2014

    

Net liability

flows**

    

Market and

other

movements

    

At 31

December

2014

 

Asia

     26,410         1,867         (433)         27,844           21,931         1,937         2,542         26,410   

US

     126,746         8,476         3,691         138,913           107,411         8,263         11,072         126,746   

UK

     55,009         (2,694)         509         52,824           50,779         (610)         4,840         55,009   

Total Group

     208,165         7,649         3,767         219,581           180,121         9,590         18,454         208,165   
* Includes Group’s proportionate share of the liabilities and associated flows of the insurance joint ventures in Asia.
** Defined as movements in shareholder-backed policyholder liabilities arising from premiums (net of charges), surrenders/withdrawals, maturities and deaths.

Focusing on the business supported by shareholder capital, which generates the majority of the life profit, in the course of 2015 policyholder liabilities increased from £208.2 billion at the start of the year to £219.6 billion at 31 December 2015. The consistent addition of high-quality profitable new business and proactive management of the existing in-force portfolio underpins this increase, resulting in positive net flows4,5 into policyholder liabilities of £7.6 billion in 2015 driven by our US and Asia businesses. Net flows into our US business were £8.5 billion in 2015, reflecting continued success in attracting new variable annuity business. The consistency of our net flows into Asia is underpinned by our focus on recurring premium new business and strong customer retention. Across this business net liability flows continue to be positive at £1.9 billion. Net outflows in the UK are partly due to the impact of large investment only corporate pension schemes transfers combined with annuity payments that are no longer offset by new business inflows following the reduction in retail annuity sales. Positive foreign currency translation effects together with favourable investment market and other movements have contributed a further £3.8 billion to the increase in policyholder liabilities since the start of the year.

 

177


Table of Contents

Other Results Based Information

Funds under Management

 

(a) Summarynote (i)

 

              2015 £bn              2014 £bn  

Business area:

     

Asia operations

     54.0         49.0   

US operations

     134.6         123.6   

UK operations

     168.4         169.0   

Prudential Group funds under managementnote (i)

     357.0         341.6   

External fundsnote (ii)

     151.6         154.3   

Total funds under management

     508.6         495.9   

Notes

(i) Prudential Group funds under management of £357.0 billion (2014: £341.6 billion) comprise:

 

              2015 £bn              2014 £bn  

Total financial investments per the consolidated statement of financial position

     352.0         337.4   

Less: investments in joint ventures and associates accounted for using the equity method

     (1.0)         (1.0)   
Investment properties which are held for sale or occupied by the Group (included in other IFRS captions)      0.4         0.3   

Internally managed funds held in joint ventures

     5.6         4.9   

Prudential Group funds under management

     357.0         341.6   

 

(ii) External funds shown above as at 31 December 2015 of £151.6 billion (2014: £154.3 billion) comprise £162.7 billion (2014: £167.2 billion) of funds managed by M&G and Eastspring Investments as shown in note (b) below less £11.1 billion (2014: £12.9 billion) that are classified within Prudential Group’s funds.

 

(b) Investment products – external funds under management

 

     2015 £m          2014 £m  
     

Eastspring

Investments
note

     M&G     

Group

total

         

Eastspring

Investments
note

     M&G     

Group

total

 

1 January

     30,133         137,047         167,180           22,222         125,989         148,211   

Market gross inflows

     110,396         33,626         144,022           82,440         38,017         120,457   

Redemptions

     (103,360)         (40,634)         (143,994)           (77,001)         (30,930)         (107,931)   
Market exchange translation and other movements      (882)         (3,634)         (4,516)             2,472         3,971         6,443   

31 December

     36,287         126,405         162,692             30,133         137,047         167,180   

Note

The £162.7 billion (2014: £167.2 billion) investment products comprise £156.7 billion (2014: £162.4 billion) plus Asia Money Market Funds of £6.0 billion (2014: £4.8 billion)

 

(c) M&G and Eastspring Investments—total funds under management

 

    

Eastspring

Investments

         M&G  
     2015 £bn          2014 £bn          2015 £bn          2014 £bn  
      note           note                            

External funds under management

     36.3           30.1           126.4           137.0   

Internal funds under management

     52.8             47.2             119.7             127.0   

Total funds under management

     89.1             77.3             246.1             264.0   

Note

The external funds under management for Eastspring Investments include Asia Money Market Funds at 31 December 2015 of £6.0 billion (2014: £4.8 billion).

 

178


Table of Contents

Foreign currency source of IFRS key metrics

The tables below show the Group’s key IFRS analysis by contribution by currency group:

IFRS 2015 results

 

     

Pre-tax

        operating profit %
notes (2),(3),(4)

    

        Shareholders’

funds %

notes (2),(3),(4)

 

US$ linked(1)

     16         14   

Other Asia currencies

     17         19   

Total Asia

     33         33   

UK sterling(3),(4)

     25         46   

US$ (4)

     42         21   

Total

     100         100   

Notes

(1) US$ linked—comprising the Hong Kong and Vietnam operations where the currencies are pegged to the US dollar and the Malaysia and Singapore operations where the currencies are managed against a basket of currencies including the US dollar.
(2) Includes long-term, asset management business and other businesses.
(3) For operating profit and shareholders’ funds, UK sterling includes amounts in respect of central operations as well as UK insurance operations and M&G.
(4) For shareholders’ funds, the US$ grouping includes US$ denominated core structural borrowings. Sterling operating profits include all interest payable as sterling denominated, reflecting interest rate currency swaps in place.

 

179


Table of Contents

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Prudential Capital operates a central treasury function for Prudential, which has overall responsibility for managing Prudential’s capital funding program as well as its central cash and liquidity positions. Prudential arranges the financing of each of its subsidiaries primarily by raising external finance either at the parent company level (including through finance subsidiaries whose obligations the parent company guarantees) or at the operating company level.

After making sufficient enquiries the directors of Prudential have a reasonable expectation that the Company and the Group have adequate resources to continue their operations for a period of at least 12 months from the date that the financial statements are approved.

Overview

Prudential’s balance sheet remains conservatively positioned, our Group solvency under the Insurance Groups Directive (IGD) is robust and our Solvency II outcome, following approval by the Prudential Regulation Authority of our internal model in December 2015, underscores the strength and resilience of the Group’s capital position.

We continue to operate with a strong solvency position, while maintaining high levels of liquidity and capital generation, which we accomplish through our capital discipline, the effectiveness of our hedging activities, our low direct Eurozone exposure, the minimal level of credit impairments and the natural offsets in our portfolio of businesses. The estimated Group Solvency II capital surplus(30),(31) at 31 December 2015 is £9.7 billion, which is equivalent to a Group solvency ratio of 193 per cent.

Further information on the Group’s capital position is provided in the Capital Management section of Item 4.

Group and holding company cash flow

Prudential’s consolidated cash flow includes the movement in cash included within both policyholders’ and shareholders’ funds, such as cash in the with-profits fund. Prudential therefore believes that it is more relevant to consider individual components of the movement in holding company cash flow which relate solely to the shareholders.

We continue to manage cashflows across the Group with a view to achieving a balance between ensuring sufficient remittances are made to service central requirements (including paying the external dividend) and maximising value to shareholders through retention and reinvestment of capital in business opportunities.

Operating holding company cash flow for 2015 before the shareholder dividend was £1,271 million, £142 million higher than 2014. After deducting the shareholder dividend the operating holding company cash flow was £297 million (2014: £234 million).

Cash remittances to the Group from business units

Cash remitted by the business units to the corporate centre in 2015 increased by 10 per cent to £1,625 million with significant contributions from each of our four major business operations. Asia’s remittances increased to £467 million from £453 million and included the proceeds from the sale of the Japan Life business of £42 million. The higher remittances from the US of £470 million in 2015 (2014: £415 million) reflect Jackson’s disciplined approach to growing this business and its effective risk management. The remittances from the UK are in line with 2014 and we continue to invest in upgrading our UK pre and postretirement customers propositions. M&G’s remittances of £302 million and Prudential Capital’s remittances of £55 million reflected the level of post-tax earnings delivered in the year.

 

(30)  The methodology and assumptions used in calculating the Solvency II capital results are set out in the Solvency II capital position at 31 December 2015 section within Item 4_Capital Management. The Group Solvency II capital ratio is based on output from the Group’s Solvency II internal model, approved by Prudential Regulation Authority in December 2015.
(31)  Before allowing for second interim ordinary and special dividends.

 

180


Table of Contents

Net central outflows and other movements

Net central outflows stayed constant at £354 million in 2015 (2014: £353 million), with similar corporate costs and lower net interest payments offset by lower tax received.

Cash remitted to the Group in 2015 was used to meet central costs of £354 million (2014: £353 million), pay the dividends and finance the second of three up-front payments for the renewal of the distribution agreement with Standard Chartered Bank. The issue of hybrid debt in June 2015 raised £590 million. Reflecting these movements in the year, total holding company cash at the end of 2015 was £2,173 million compared to £1,480 million at the end of 2014.

Dividend payments

The total cost of dividends settled by Prudential was £974 million and £895 million for the years ended 31 December 2015 and 2014, respectively.

The Board has decided to increase the full year ordinary dividend by 5 per cent to 38.78 pence per share, reflecting the continued strong financial performance of the Group in 2015. In line with this, the directors have approved a second interim ordinary dividend of 26.47 pence per share (2014: final dividend of 25.74 pence), which brings the total ordinary dividend for the year to 38.78 pence (2014: 36.93 pence). In addition, the Board has decided to award a special dividend of 10 pence per share reflecting the additional contribution to earnings from the specific management actions taken to position the balance sheet more efficiently under the new Solvency II regime.

Although the Board has been able to approve a special dividend of 10 pence per share in 2015, the Group’s dividend policy remains unchanged. The Board will maintain its focus on delivering a growing ordinary dividend, 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.

Debt service costs

Debt service costs charged to profit in respect of core borrowings paid by Prudential in 2015 were £312 million compared with £341 million in 2014. Of total consolidated borrowings of £5,011 million as at 31 December 2015, the parent company had core borrowings of £4,567 million outstanding, all of which have contractual maturity dates of more than five years.

Liquidity sources

The parent company including the central finance subsidiaries held cash and short-term investments of £2,173 million, £1,480 million and £2,230 million as at 31 December 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively. The sources of cash in 2015 included dividends, loans and interest received from operating subsidiaries. Prudential received £1,726 million in cash remittances from business units in 2015, compared to £1,595 million received in 2014 and £1,451 million received in 2013. These remittances primarily comprise dividends from business units and the shareholders’ statutory transfer from the PAC long-term with-profits fund (UK Life Fund) relating to earlier bonus declarations. Offset against these cash remittances were £101 million, £113 million and £110 million of capital invested in 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively. Overall net remittances from business units had increased from £1,482 million in 2014 to £1,625 million in 2015.

Shareholders’ statutory transfer

In 2015, PAC declared a total surplus of £2,208 million from PAC’s primary with-profits sub-fund, of which £1,994 million was added to with-profits policies and £214 million was distributed to shareholders. In 2014, PAC declared a total surplus of £2,012 million from PAC’s primary with-profits sub-fund, of which £1,812 million was added to with-profits policies and £200 million was distributed to shareholders. In 2013, PAC declared a total surplus of £2,134 million from PAC’s primary with-profits sub-fund, of which £1,922 million was added to with-profits policies and £212 million was distributed to shareholders.

 

181


Table of Contents

Dividends, loans and interest received from subsidiaries

Under UK company law, dividends can only be paid if a company has distributable reserves sufficient to cover the dividend. In PAC, Prudential’s largest operating subsidiary, distributable reserves arise from the emergence of profits from the company’s long-term business. For the company’s with-profits business the profits reflect the profit transfer to shareholders that occurs upon the declaration of bonuses to policyholders of with-profit products. See ‘Shareholders’ statutory transfer’ above. Prudential’s insurance and fund management subsidiaries’ ability to pay dividends and loans to the parent company is restricted by various laws and regulations. Jackson is subject to state laws that limit the dividends payable to its parent company. Dividends in excess of these limitations generally require approval of the state insurance commissioner. The table below shows the dividends, loans and other amounts received by Prudential from the principal operating subsidiaries for 2015 and 2014:

 

     Dividends, loan and
interest received in:
 
                  2015 £m                  2014 £m  

Asia operations

     568         513   

US operations

     470         415   

UK Insurance operations (mainly PAC)

     331         325   

M&G and Prudential Capital

     357         342   

Total

     1,726         1,595   

Each of Prudential’s main operations generates sufficient profits to pay dividends to the parent. The amount of dividends paid by the operations is determined after considering the development, growth and investment requirements of the operating businesses. Prudential does not believe that the legal and regulatory restrictions on the ability of any one of its businesses to pay dividends to the parent, constitutes a material limitation on the ability of Prudential plc to meet its cash obligations.

Corporate transactions

Entrance into Uganda life insurance market

In June 2015, we completed the acquisition of Ugandan company Goldstar Life Assurance and signed a long-term co-operation agreement with Crane Bank of Uganda. In January 2016 we announced entry into Zambia via our acquisition of Professional Life Assurance, which is expected to complete shortly.

Shareholders’ net core structural borrowings

 

     31 December  
                  2015 £m                  2014 £m  

Shareholders’ borrowings in holding company

     4,567         3,869   

Prudential Capital

     275         275   

Jackson surplus notes

     169         160   

Total

     5,011         4,304   

Less: Holding company cash and short-term investments

     (2,173)         (1,480)   

Net core structural borrowings of shareholder-financed operations

     2,838         2,824   

Our financing and liquidity position remained strong throughout the year. Our central cash resources amounted to £2.2 billion at 31 December 2015, compared with £1.5 billion at the end of 2014, and we currently retain a further £2.6 billion of untapped committed liquidity facilities.

On an IFRS basis the Group’s core structural borrowings at 31 December 2015 were £5,011 million (31 December 2014: £4,304 million on an actual exchange rate basis) and comprised £4,567 million (31 December 2014: £3,869 million on an actual exchange rate basis) of debt held by the holding company, and £444 million (31 December 2014: £435 million on an actual exchange rate basis) of debt held by the Group’s subsidiaries, Prudential Capital and Jackson. In June 2015, Prudential issued £600 million 5.0 per cent tier 2 subordinated notes, increasing funds available for general corporate purposes.

In addition to its net core structural borrowings of shareholder-financed operations set out above, the Group also has access to funding via the money markets and has in place an unlimited global commercial paper programme. As at 31 December 2015, we had issued commercial paper under this programme, totalling £138 million and US$1,428 million, to finance non-core borrowings.

 

182


Table of Contents

Prudential’s holding company currently has access to £2.6 billion of syndicated and bilateral committed revolving credit facilities, provided by 19 major international banks, expiring in 2020. Apart from small drawdowns to test the process, these facilities have never been drawn, and there were no amounts outstanding at 31 December 2015. The medium-term note programme, the SEC registered US shelf programme, the commercial paper programme and the committed revolving credit facilities are all available for general corporate purposes and to support the liquidity needs of Prudential’s holding company and are intended to maintain a strong and flexible funding capacity.

Prudential manages the Group’s core debt within a target level consistent with its current debt ratings. At 31 December 2015, the gearing ratio (debt, net of cash and short-term investments, as a proportion of IFRS shareholders’ funds plus net debt) was 18 per cent, compared to 19 per cent at 31 December 2014. Prudential plc has strong debt ratings from Standard & Poor’s, Moody’s and Fitch. Prudential plc’s long-term senior debt is rated A+, A2 and A from Standard & Poor’s, Moody’s and Fitch, while short-term ratings are A-1, P-1 and F1 respectively. The Prudential Assurance Company Limited was downgraded by Moody’s in September 2015 from Aa2 to Aa3. All ratings on Prudential and its subsidiaries are on stable outlook.

The financial strength of The Prudential Assurance Company Limited is rated AA by Standard & Poor’s, Aa3 by Moody’s and AA by Fitch.

Jackson National Life Insurance Company’s financial strength is rated AA by Standard & Poor’s, A1 by Moody’s and AA by Fitch.

Prudential Assurance Co. Singapore (Pte) Ltd.’s (Prudential Singapore) financial strength is rated AA by Standard & Poor’s.

Liquidity resources and requirements by operating business

UK life insurance

The liquidity sources for Prudential’s UK life insurance businesses comprise premiums, deposits and charges on policies, investment income, proceeds from the sale and maturity of investments, external borrowings and capital contributions from the parent company. The liquidity requirements comprise benefits and claims, operating expenses, interest on debt, purchases of investments and dividends to the parent company.

The liquidity requirements of Prudential’s UK life insurance businesses are regularly monitored to match anticipated cash inflows with cash requirements. Cash needs are forecast and projected sources and uses of funds, as well as the asset, liability, investment and cash flow assumptions underlying these projections are reviewed periodically. Adjustments are made periodically to the investment policies with respect to, among other things, the maturity and risk characteristics of the investment assets to reflect changes in the business’ cash needs and also to reflect the changing competitive and economic environment.

The liquidity of Prudential’s UK insurance operations is affected by the payment of guaranteed benefits and terminal bonuses on maturing and surrendering policies by the UK insurance operations. In addition, the non-cash bonus declaration to policyholders results in a cash transfer to shareholders’ funds. A large proportion of Prudential’s liabilities contains discretionary surrender values or surrender charges. In addition, pension annuity policies cannot be surrendered by the policyholder.

Under Solvency I basis, as at 31 December 2015, 2014 and 2013, PAC’s long-term fund assets in excess of its minimum capital requirements were £20,074 million, £21,564 million and £20,956 million, respectively. The ‘with-profits’ insurance capital component of the enhanced capital requirement, as at 31 December 2015, 2014 and 2013 amounted to £8,933 million, £10,998 million and £9,674 million respectively. Under Solvency II basis, PAC has an estimated Solvency II surplus of £3.3 billion in respect of its shareholder business, equivalent to a ratio of 146 per cent. Separately the UK with-profits funds had an estate value of £7.6 billion(32), covering its Solvency II capital requirements approximately 1.75 times.

 

(32) Representing Solvency II own funds of the UK with-profits funds.

 

183


Table of Contents

M&G

The principal liquidity source for M&G is fee income for managing retail, institutional and the internal investment funds of Prudential’s UK operations. The principal liquidity requirements are for operating expenses and to meet CASS requirements. Amounts are distributed to the parent company after considering capital requirements. Capital requirements are driven by fixed operating expenses. As at 31 December 2015, M&G met the relevant regulatory requirements.

US life insurance

The liquidity sources for Jackson are its cash, short-term investments and publicly traded bonds, premium income deposits received on certain annuity and institutional products, investment income, repurchase agreements, utilisation of a short-term borrowing facility with the Federal Home Loan Bank of Indianapolis and capital contributions from the parent company.

Liquidity requirements are principally for purchases of new investments and businesses, repayment of principal and interest on debt, payments of interest on surplus notes, funding of insurance product liabilities including payments for policy benefits, surrenders, maturities and new policy loans, and funding of expenses including payment of commissions operating expenses and taxes. As at 31 December 2015, Jackson’s outstanding notes and bank debt included:

 

    US$98 million of bank loans collaterised by mortgage-related securities and mortgage loans from the Federal Home Loan Bank of Indianapolis,

 

    US$249 million of surplus notes maturing in 2027.

Significant increases in interest rates and disintermediation can create sudden increases in surrender and withdrawal requests by policyholders and contract holders. Other factors that are not directly related to interest rates can also give rise to disintermediation risk, including but not limited to changes in ratings from rating agencies, general policyholder concerns relating to the life insurance industry (eg the unexpected default of a large, unrelated life insurer) and competition from other products, including non-insurance products such as mutual funds, certificates of deposit and newly developed investment products. Most of the life insurance, annuity and institutional products Jackson offers permit the policyholder or contract holder to withdraw or borrow funds or surrender cash values. At 31 December 2015, a majority of Jackson’s fixed annuity reserves include policy restrictions such as surrender charges and market value adjustments to discourage early withdrawal of policy and contract funds.

Jackson uses a variety of asset-liability management techniques to provide for the orderly provision of cash flow from investments and other sources as policies and contracts mature in accordance with their normal terms. Jackson’s principal sources of liquidity to meet unexpected cash outflows associated with sudden and severe increases in surrenders and withdrawals are its portfolio of liquid assets and its net operating cash flows. As at 31 December 2015, the portfolio of cash, short-term investments and publicly traded bonds and equities amounted to US$45.8 billion. Operating net cash inflows for Jackson in 2015 were US$3.3 billion.

As at 31 December 2015, the statutory capital and surplus of Jackson was US$4.7 billion, which was in excess of the requirements set out under Michigan insurance law. Jackson is also subject to risk-based capital guidelines that provide a method to measure the adjusted capital that a life insurance company should have for regulatory purposes, taking into account the risk characteristics of Jackson’s investments and products. As at 31 December 2015, Jackson’s total risk based capital ratio under the National Association of Insurance Commissioners’ definition exceeded the Michigan standards.

Asia life insurance

The liquidity sources for Prudential’s Asia life insurance businesses comprise premiums, deposits and charges on policies, investment income, proceeds from the sale and maturity of investments, external borrowings and capital contributions from the parent company. The liquidity requirements comprise benefits and claims, operating expenses, interest on debt, purchases of investments and dividends to the parent company.

 

184


Table of Contents

The liquidity requirements of Prudential’s Asia life insurance businesses are regularly monitored to match anticipated cash inflows with cash requirements. Cash needs are forecast and projected sources and uses of funds, as well as the asset, liability, investment and cash flow assumptions underlying these projections are reviewed periodically. Adjustments are made periodically to the investment policies with respect to, among other things, the maturity and risk characteristics of the investment assets to reflect changes in the business cash needs and also to reflect the changing competitive and economic environment.

Derivative financial instruments and commitments

Derivatives

The Group enters into a variety of exchange traded and over-the-counter derivative financial instruments, including futures, options, forward currency contracts and swaps such as interest rate swaps, cross-currency swaps, swaptions and credit default swaps.

All over-the-counter derivative transactions, with the exception of some Asia transactions, are conducted under standardised ISDA (International Swaps and Derivatives Association Inc) master agreements and the Group has collateral agreements between the individual Group entities and relevant counterparties in place under each of these market master agreements.

The derivative assets are included in ‘other investments’ in the statement of financial position and are used for efficient portfolio management to obtain cost effective and efficient management of exposure to various markets in accordance with the Group’s investment strategies and to manage exposure to interest rate, currency, credit and other business risks. The Group also uses interest rate derivatives to reduce exposure to interest rate volatility. In particular:

 

  UK with-profits funds use derivatives for efficient portfolio management or reduction in investment risks. For UK annuity business derivatives are used to assist with asset and liability cash flow matching.
  US operations and some of the UK operations hold large amounts of interest-rate sensitive investments that contain credit risks on which a certain level of defaults is expected. These businesses have purchased some swaptions to manage the default risk on certain underlying assets and hence reduce the amount of regulatory capital held to support the assets; and
  Some products, especially in the US, have guarantee features linked to equity indices. A mismatch between guaranteed product liabilities and the performance of the underlying assets exposes the Group to equity index risk. In order to mitigate this risk, the relevant business units purchase swaptions, equity options and futures to better match asset performance with liabilities under equity-indexed products.

The principal types of derivatives used by Jackson and their purpose are as follows:

 

Derivative   Purpose
Interest rate swaps   These generally involve the exchange of fixed and floating payments over the period for which Jackson holds the instrument without an exchange of the underlying principal amount. These agreements are used for hedging purposes.
Swaption contracts   These contracts provide the purchaser with the right, but not the obligation, to require the writer to pay the present value of a long-duration interest rate swap at future exercise dates. Jackson both purchases and writes swaptions in order to hedge against significant movements in interest rates.
Equity index futures contracts and equity index options   These derivatives (including various call and put options and interest rate contingent options) are used to hedge Jackson’s obligations associated with its issuance of certain VA guarantees. Some of these annuities and guarantees contain embedded options which are fair valued for financial reporting purposes.
Cross-currency swaps
  Cross-currency swaps, which embody spot and forward currency swaps and additionally, in some cases, interest rate swaps and equity index swaps, are entered into for the purpose of hedging Jackson’s foreign currency denominated funding agreements supporting trust instrument obligations.
Credit default swaps   These swaps, represent agreements under which Jackson has purchased default protection on certain underlying corporate bonds held in its portfolio. These contracts allow Jackson to sell the protected bonds at par value to the counterparty if a default event occurs in exchange for periodic payments made by Jackson for the life of the agreement. Jackson does not write default protection using credit derivatives.

 

185


Table of Contents

Commitments

The Group has provided, from time to time, certain guarantees and commitments to third-parties including funding the purchase or development of land and buildings and other related matters. The contractual obligations to purchase or develop investment properties at 31 December 2015 were £409 million.

At 31 December 2015, Jackson has unfunded commitments of £299 million related to its investments in limited partnerships and £64 million related to commercial mortgage loans. These commitments were entered into in the normal course of business and the Company does not expect a material adverse impact on the operations to arise from them.

Contractual obligations

Contractual obligations with specified payment dates as at 31 December 2015 were as follows:

 

      Total    

Less than

1 year

     1-3 years      3-5 years    

More than

5 years

 
     £m  

Policyholder liabilities(i)

     512,875        30,014         58,547         56,047        368,267   

Long-term debt(ii)

     5,011        -         275         -        4,736   

Other borrowings(ii)

     3,292        1,430         992         68        802   

Capital lease obligations

     78        4         7         7        60   

Operating lease obligations

     445        98         150         81        116   

Purchase obligations(iii)

     772        655         117         -        -   
Obligations under funding, securities lending and sale and repurchase agreements      3,765        3,765         -         -        -   

Other long-term liabilities(iv)

     8,581        8,200         195         66        141   

Total

     534,819        44,166         60,283         56,269        374,122   

 

      £m      £m  

Reconciliation to consolidated statement of financial position:

     
Total contractual obligations per above         534,819   
Difference between policyholder liabilities per above (based on undiscounted cash flows) and total policyholder liabilities and unallocated surplus of with-profits funds per balance sheet:      
Total policyholder liabilities and unallocated surplus of with-profits funds per the consolidated statement of financial position      335,614      
Policyholder liabilities (undiscounted) per above              (512,875)                 (177,261)   
Other short-term/non-contractual obligations:      
Current tax liabilities      325      
Deferred tax liabilities      4,010      
Accruals and deferred income      952      
Other creditors (excluding capital and operating lease obligations and purchase obligations)      3,581      
Derivative liabilities      3,119      
Other liabilities      4,588         16,575   
Other items               (104)   

Total liabilities per consolidated statement of financial position

              374,029   

Notes

(i) Amounts shown in respect of policyholder liabilities represent estimated undiscounted cash flows for Prudential’s life assurance contracts. In determining the projected payments, account has been taken of the contract features, in particular that the amount and timing of policyholder benefit payments reflect either surrender, death, or contract maturity. In addition, the undiscounted amounts shown include the expected payments based on assumed future investment returns on assets backing policyholder liabilities. The projected cash flows exclude the unallocated surplus of with-profits funds. As at 31 December 2015, on the IFRS basis of reporting, the unallocated surplus was £13,096 million. The unallocated surplus represents the excess of assets over liabilities, including policyholder ‘asset share’ liabilities, which reflect the amount payable under the realistic Peak 2 reporting regime of the PRA. Although accounted for as a liability, as permitted by IFRS 4, there is currently no expected payment date for the unallocated surplus.

 

(ii)

The amounts represent the contractual maturity of amounts of borrowings included in the consolidated statement of financial position (i.e. excludes future interest payments) as shown in note C6.2 to Prudential’s consolidated financial statements in Item 18. Long-term debt comprises the core structural borrowings of shareholder-financed operations and

 

186


Table of Contents
  the £100 million 8.5 per cent undated subordinated guaranteed bonds of Scottish Amicable Finance plc. Other borrowings comprise operational borrowings attributable to shareholder-financed operations and borrowings attributable to with-profits operations but excluding the £100 million 8.5 per cent undated subordinated guaranteed bonds of Scottish Amicable Finance plc.

 

(iii) Comprising unfunded commitments for investments in limited partnerships of £299 million (2014: £332 million) and unfunded commitments related to mortgage loans of £64 million (2014: £73 million) and commitments to purchase or develop investment properties of £409 million (2014: £232 million).

 

(iv) Amounts due in less than one year include amounts attributable to unit holders of consolidated unit trusts and similar funds of £7,873 million.

Group consolidated cash flows

The discussion that follows is based on the consolidated statement of cash flows prepared under IFRS and presented in Item 18 of this Form 20-F.

Net cash inflows in 2015 were £1,390 million. This amount comprised inflows of £2,533 million from operating activities less outflows of £469 million from investing activities less outflows of £674 million from financing activities.

Net cash outflows in 2014 were £383 million. This amount comprised inflows of £1,828 million from operating activities less outflows of £545 million from investing activities less outflows of £1,666 million from financing activities.

Net cash inflows in 2013 were £789 million. This amount comprised inflows of £1,324 million from operating activities less outflows of £584 million from investing activities plus inflows of £49 million from financing activities.

The Group held cash and cash equivalents of £7,782 million at 31 December 2015 compared with £6,409 million and £6,785 million at 31 December 2014 and 2013, respectively.

 

 

187


Table of Contents

Item 6. Directors, Senior Management and Employees

The Prudential Board consists of 17 directors as at 7 April 2016.

Set forth below are the names, ages, positions, business experience and principal business activities performed by the current Directors, as well as the dates of their initial appointment to the Prudential Board. This includes those Directors who joined the Board up to the date of filing. Ages are given as at 7 April 2016.

 

Board of Directors  

Paul Manduca, 64

Chairman

 

Appointment: October 2010

Chairman: July 2012

Committees: Nomination

(Chair)

 

 

Paul is the Chairman of the Board. He initially joined the Board as the Senior Independent Director and member of the Audit and Remuneration Committees, and latterly, the Nomination Committee.

 

Relevant skills and experience

 

Paul retired as Chairman of JPM European Smaller Companies Investment Trust Plc in December 2012 and was the Chairman of Aon UK Limited until September 2012. He was also a non-executive director and Chairman of the Audit Committee of KazMunaiGas Exploration & Production until the end of September 2012. From September 2005 until March 2011, Paul was a non-executive director of Wm Morrison Supermarkets Plc. During his tenure, he was the Senior Independent Director, the first Audit Committee Chairman and Chair of the Remuneration Committee. Paul was the Senior Independent Director and Chairman of the Audit Committee of Development Securities plc until March 2010, Chairman of Bridgewell Group plc until 2007 and a director of Henderson Smaller Companies Investment Trust plc until 2006. Prior to that, he was European CEO of Deutsche Asset Management from 2002 to 2005, global CEO of Rothschild Asset Management from 1999 to 2002 and founding CEO of Threadneedle Asset Management Limited from 1994 to 1999 when he was also a director of Eagle Star and Allied Dunbar. Paul has also served as Chairman of the Association of Investment Companies from 1991 to 1993 and is a former member of the Takeover Panel.

 

Other appointments

 

Paul is a member of the Securities Institute and Chairman of Henderson Diversified Income Limited. In 2015, Paul became Chairman of TheCityUK’s Advisory Council and Chairman of the Templeton Emerging Markets Investment Trust (TEMIT).

Michael Wells, 55

Group Chief Executive

 

Appointment: January 2011

Group Chief Executive: June 2015

 

Mike is Group Chief Executive, a position he has held since June 2015.

 

Relevant skills and experience

 

Mike joined Jackson National Life Insurance Company (Jackson), the North American unit of Prudential, in 1995, and became Chief Operating Officer and Vice-Chairman in 2003. In 2011 he was appointed President and Chief Executive Officer of Jackson, and joined the Board of Prudential.

 

Mike began his career at the brokerage house Dean Witter going on to become a managing director at Smith Barney Shearson. At Jackson, Mike was responsible for the establishment of the broker-dealer network National Planning Holdings and the development of Jackson’s market-leading range of variable annuities. He was also part of the Jackson teams that purchased and successfully integrated a savings institute, three broker dealers and two life companies.

 

188


Table of Contents
Executive Directors  

Nicolaos Nicandrou ACA, 50

Chief Financial Officer

 

Appointment: October 2009

 

Nic is Chief Financial Officer, a position he has held since October 2009.

 

Relevant skills and experience

 

Before joining Prudential, Nic worked at Aviva, where he held a number of senior finance roles, including Norwich Union Life Finance Director and Board Member, Aviva Group Financial Control Director, Aviva Group Financial Management and Reporting Director and CGNU Group Financial Reporting Director. Nic started his career at PricewaterhouseCoopers where he worked in both London and Paris. In December 2014 Nic was appointed Chairman of the European Insurance CFO Forum.

Penelope James ACA, 46

Group Chief Risk Officer

 

Appointment: September 2015

 

Penny is the Group Chief Risk Officer, a position she has held since September 2015.

 

Relevant skills and experience

 

Penny joined Prudential in 2011 as the Director of Group Finance, a position she held until her appointment to the Board. Before joining Prudential, Penny was Group Chief Financial Officer of Omega Insurance Holdings, a company formerly listed on the Main Market of the London Stock Exchange. She previously held a number of senior finance positions during her 12 years with Zurich Financial Services, most recently serving as Chief Financial Officer of the UK General Insurance Division. Penny qualified as a chartered accountant with Coopers & Lybrand Deloitte (now part of PwC) prior to joining Zurich.

Other appointments

 

In January 2015, Penny was appointed as a non-executive director of Admiral Group plc and is a member of Admiral’s audit committee.

John Foley, 59

Executive Director

 

Appointment: January 2016

 

John is Chief Executive of Prudential UK & Europe, a position he has held since January 2016.

 

Relevant skills and experience

 

John joined Prudential as Deputy Group Treasurer in 2000, before being appointed Managing Director, Prudential Capital, and Group Treasurer in 2001. He was appointed Chief Executive, Prudential Capital, and to the Group Executive Committee in 2007. John was appointed Group Chief Risk Officer and joined the Prudential plc Board in 2011. In 2013, he was appointed to the new role of Group Investment Director, leaving the Board but remaining a member of the Group Executive Committee. He was appointed as Interim Chief Executive of Prudential UK & Europe in October 2015. Before joining Prudential, he spent three years with National Australia Bank as General Manager, Global Capital Markets. John began his career at Hill Samuel & Co. Limited where, over a 20-year period, he worked in every division of the bank, culminating in senior roles in risk, capital markets and treasury of the combined TSB and Hill Samuel Bank.

 

189


Table of Contents

Michael McLintock, 55

Executive Director

 

Appointment: September 2000

 

Michael is the Chief Executive of M&G, a position he held at the time of M&G’s acquisition by Prudential in 1999.

 

Relevant skills and experience

 

Michael joined M&G in 1992. He also served on the Board of Close Brothers as a non-executive director from 2001 to 2008.

 

Other appointments

 

Michael has been a Trustee of the Grosvenor Estate since October 2008 and was appointed as a non-executive director of Grosvenor Group Limited in March 2012. He has been a member of the Finance Committee of the MCC since October 2005. Michael was appointed to The Takeover Appeal Board on 1 March 2016.

Barry Stowe, 58

Executive Director

 

Appointment: November 2006

 

Barry is Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the North American Business Unit, a position he has held since June 2015. The North American Business Unit comprises Jackson, Curian Capital, Jackson National Asset Management, PPM America and National Planning Holdings.

 

Relevant skills and experience

 

Barry was the Chief Executive of Prudential Corporation Asia from October 2006 to June 2015. Before joining Prudential, Barry was President, Accident & Health Worldwide for AIG Life Companies. He joined AIG in 1995 after having held senior positions at Pan-American Life and Willis in the United States.

 

Other appointments

 

Barry is a member of the Board of Directors of the International Insurance Society.

Tony Wilkey, 56

Executive Director

Appointment: June 2015

 

Tony is Chief Executive of Prudential Corporation Asia, a position he has held since June 2015.

Relevant skills and experience

 

Tony joined Prudential in 2006 as Chief Executive of Prudential Corporation Asia’s network of life insurance operations in Asia across 12 markets, a position he held until his appointment to the Board. Under Tony’s leadership, Prudential’s life insurance operations grew into significant market-leading positions. Before he joined Prudential, Tony served as Chief Operating Officer of American International Assurance (AIA), based in Hong Kong, overseeing AIA’s life companies in South-east Asia.

Non-Executive Directors  

The Hon. Philip Remnant CBE FCA, 61

Senior Independent Director

 

Appointment: January 2013

Committees: Audit, Nomination and Remuneration

 

Relevant skills and experience

 

Philip was a senior adviser at Credit Suisse until December 2013. Philip was previously a Vice Chairman of Credit Suisse First Boston (CSFB) Europe and Head of the UK Investment Banking Department. Philip was seconded to the role of Director General of the Takeover Panel from 2001 to 2003, and again in 2010. He served on the Board of Northern Rock plc from 2008 to 2010, and from 2007 to 2012 was Chairman of the Shareholder Executive.

 

Other appointments

 

Philip is a Deputy Chairman of the Takeover Panel, a non-executive director of Severn Trent plc (since March 2014) and Senior Independent Director of UK Financial Investments Limited. Philip is also Chairman of City of London Investment Trust plc (since 2011). Philip is Chairman of M&G Group Limited, a subsidiary of the Company.

 

190


Table of Contents

Sir Howard Davies, 65

Non-executive Director

 

Appointment: October 2010

Committees: Risk (Chair), Audit and Nomination

 

Relevant skills and experience

 

Sir Howard has a wealth of experience in the financial services industry, across civil service, consultancy, asset management, regulatory and academia. Sir Howard was previously Chairman of the Phoenix Group and an independent director of Morgan Stanley Inc.

 

Other appointments

 

Sir Howard is Chairman of the Royal Bank of Scotland and a Professor at Institut d’Études Politiques (Sciences Po). He is Chairman of the International Advisory Board of the China Securities Regulatory Commission and a member of the International Advisory Board of the China Banking Regulatory Commission.

Ann Godbehere FCPA

FCGA, 60

Non-executive Director

 

Appointment: August 2007

Committees: Audit (Chair), Nomination and Risk

 

Relevant skills and experience

 

Ann began her career in 1976 with Sun Life of Canada, joining Mercantile & General Reinsurance Group in 1981, where she held a number of management roles rising to Senior Vice President and Controller for life and health and property/casualty businesses in North America in 1995. Between 1996 and 2003 Ann held a number of CFO and CEO posts in different businesses within Swiss Re and from 2003 until February 2007, Ann was Chief Financial Officer of the Swiss Re Group. From its nationalisation in 2008 until January 2009, Ann was Interim Chief Financial Officer and Executive Director of Northern Rock. She was also a director of Atrium Underwriting Group Limited and Atrium Underwriters Limited (until March 2014), as well as Arden Holdings Limited (until November 2014).

 

Other appointments

 

Ann is a non-executive director of British American Tobacco p.l.c., Rio Tinto plc, Rio Tinto Limited, UBS Group AG and UBS AG.

Alexander (Alistair) Johnston CMG FCA, 63

Non-executive Director

 

Appointment: January 2012

Committees: Audit

 

Alistair will retire from the Board with effect from the close of the Company’s 2016 Annual General Meeting on 19 May 2016.

 

Relevant skills and experience

 

Alistair was a partner of KPMG from 1986 to 2010. He joined KPMG (then Peat Marwick Mitchell) in 1973 and held a number of senior leadership positions. These included Vice Chairman of UK Financial Services and Head of UK Insurance Practice, International Managing Partner—Global Markets and UK Vice Chairman. Latterly he served as a Global Vice Chairman of KPMG from 2007 to 2010. Alistair acted as a non-executive director of the Foreign & Commonwealth Office from 2005 to 2010 and chaired the audit committee until 2009.

 

Other Appointments

 

Alistair is a Visiting Professor at Cass Business School, a Trustee of the Design Museum in London and a Trustee of The Royal Academy of Arts.

 

191


Table of Contents

David Law ACA, 55

Non-executive Director

 

Appointment: September 2015

Committees: Audit

 

Relevant skills and experience

 

David began his career at PwC, where he worked in a variety of roles in the United Kingdom, Switzerland and Hong Kong. He was the Global Leader of PwC’s insurance practice, a Partner in PwC’s UK firm and worked as the Lead Audit Partner for multinational insurance companies until his retirement on 30 June 2015. David has also been responsible for PwC’s insurance and investment management assurance practice in London and the firm’s Scottish assurance division.

 

Other appointments

 

David is a Director of L&F Holdings Limited and Chief Executive of L&F Indemnity Limited, the professional indemnity captive insurance group that serves the PricewaterhouseCoopers network and its member firms.

Kaikhushru Nargolwala

FCA, 65

Non-executive Director

 

Appointment: January 2012

Committees: Remuneration and Risk

 

Relevant skills and experience

 

Kai was a non-executive director of Singapore Telecommunications Limited until July 2015. He was also non-executive Chairman of Credit Suisse Asia Pacific until December 2011, having joined Credit Suisse in 2008 as a member of the Executive Board and CEO of the Asia Pacific region. From 1998 to 2007, Kai worked for Standard Chartered PLC where he was a Group Executive Director responsible for Asia Governance and Risk. Prior to that, he spent 19 years at Bank of America and from 1990 was based in Asia as Group Executive Vice President and Head of the Asia Wholesale Banking Group. From 2004 to 2007, he was a non-executive director at Tate & Lyle plc and at Visa International, where he served on the Asia Pacific Board.

 

Other appointments

 

Kai is a member of the Board of the Casino Regulatory Authority of Singapore, a non-executive director of PSA International Pte. Limited and a director and Chairman of Clifford Capital Pte. Limited. Kai was appointed as a director of Credit Suisse Group AG in April 2013 and became a member of the Singapore Capital Markets Committee of the Monetary Authority of Singapore in January 2014. Kai is also Chairman of Prudential Corporation Asia Limited, a subsidiary of the Company.

Anthony Nightingale CMG SBS JP, 68

Non-executive Director

 

Appointment: June 2013

Committees: Remuneration (Chair) and Nomination

 

Relevant skills and experience

 

Anthony was Managing Director of the Jardine Matheson Group from 2006 to 2012. He joined that Group in 1969 and held a number of senior positions before joining the Board of Jardine Matheson Holdings in 1994.

 

Other appointments

 

Anthony is now a non-executive director of Jardine Matheson Holdings and of other Jardine Matheson group companies. These include Dairy Farm, Hongkong Land, Jardine Cycle & Carriage, Jardine Strategic and Mandarin Oriental. Anthony is also a commissioner of Astra International and a non-executive director of Schindler Holding Limited, Vitasoy International Holdings Limited and Shui On Land Limited. He is a Hong Kong representative to the APEC Business Advisory Council and Chairman of The Hong Kong-APEC Trade Policy Study Group. He is also a member of the Securities and Futures Commission Committee on Real Estate Investment Trusts, a council member of the Employers’ Federation of Hong Kong, a member of the UK-ASEAN Business Council Advisory Panel and a non-official member of the Commission on Strategic Development in Hong Kong.

 

192


Table of Contents

Alice Schroeder, 59

Non-executive Director

 

Appointment: June 2013

Committees: Audit

 

Relevant skills and experience

 

Alice began her career as a qualified accountant at Ernst & Young in 1980 where she worked for 11 years before leaving to join the Financial Accounting Standards Board as a manager. From September 1993 she worked at various investment banks leading teams of analysts specialising in property-casualty insurance before joining Morgan Stanley, where she became a Managing Director in 2001 heading the Global Insurance Equity Research team. In May 2003 Alice became a senior adviser at Morgan Stanley leaving in November 2009. Alice was an independent board member of the Cetera Financial Group until April 2014. She is author of the official biography of Warren Buffett.

 

Other appointments

 

Alice is a non-executive director of Bank of America Merrill Lynch International, CEO and Chairman of WebTuner Corp. and a member of WomenCorporateDirectors.

Lord Turner, 60

Non-executive Director

 

Appointment: September 2015

Committees: Risk

 

Relevant skills and experience

 

Lord Turner began his career with McKinsey & Co, where he advised companies across a range of industries. He has served as Director-General of the Confederation of British Industry, Vice-Chairman of Merrill Lynch Europe, Chairman of the Pensions Commission and as a non-executive director of Standard Chartered Bank. Lord Turner was Chairman of the UK’s Financial Services Authority (FSA), a member of the international Financial Stability Board and a non-executive director of the Bank of England between 2008 and 2013.

 

Other appointments

 

Lord Turner has been a crossbench member of the House of Lords since 2005. He is also a non-executive director of OakNorth Bank, Chairman of the Institute for New Economic Thinking, a Visiting Professor at both the London School of Economics and the Cass Business School, and a Visiting Fellow at Nuffield College, Oxford University.

Other Executive Officers

The heads of Prudential’s business units, Prudential UK & Europe, M&G, Jackson National Life Insurance Company and Prudential Corporation Asia, are also directors of Prudential as set forth above. For information relating to the compensation paid or accrued to all Prudential directors see Item 6, ‘Compensation’.

Compensation

Summary of Directors’ remuneration policy

The Company’s Directors’ remuneration policy was approved by shareholders at the 2014 AGM. This policy came into effect following the AGM on 15 May 2014 and will apply for a period of three years unless shareholders approve a revised policy within that time.

The pages that follow present a summary of the Directors’ remuneration policy.

 

 

193


Table of Contents

Remuneration for Executive Directors

 

     Element   Operation   Opportunity
Fixed Pay   Salary  

The Committee reviews salaries annually, considering factors such as:

•     Salary increases for all employees;

•     The performance and experience of the executive;

•     Group or business unit financial performance;

•     Internal relativities; and

•     Economic factors such as inflation

Market data is also reviewed so that salaries remain a competitive range relative to each Executive Director’s local market.

  Annual salary increases for Executive Directors will normally be in line with the increases for other employees across our business units. However, there is no prescribed maximum annual increase.
  Benefits  

Executive Directors are offered benefits which reflect their individual circumstances and are competitive within their local market, including:

•     Health and wellness benefits;

•     Protection and security benefits;

•     Transport benefits;

•     Family and education benefits;

•     All employee share plans and savings plans; and

•     Relocation and expatriate benefits.

  The maximum paid will be the cost to the Company of providing benefits. The cost of benefits may vary from year to year but the Committee is mindful of achieving the best value from providers.
  Provision for an income in retirement  

Current executives have the option to:

•     Receive payments into a defined contribution scheme, and/ or

•     Take a cash supplement in lieu of contributions.

Jackson’s Defined Contribution Retirement Plan has a guaranteed element (6 per cent of pensionable salary) and additional contributions (up to a further 6 per cent of pensionable salary) based on the profitability of JNL.

 

Executive Directors are entitled to receive pension contributions or a cash supplement (or combination of the two) up to a total of 25 per cent of base salary.

In addition, the Chief Executive, PCA receives statutory contributions into the Mandatory Provident Fund.

Variable pay   Annual bonus  

Currently all Executive Directors participate in the Annual Incentive Plan (AIP).

AIP awards for all Executive Directors are subject to the achievement of financial and personal objectives. Business unit chief executives either have measures of their business unit’s financial performance in the AIP or they may participate in a business unit specific bonus plan. For example, the President and CEO, JNL currently participates in the Jackson Senior Management Bonus Pool as well as in the AIP.

The financial measures used for the annual bonus will typically include profit, cash and capital adequacy. Jackson’s profitability and other key financial measures determine the value of the Jackson Senior Management Bonus Pool.

In specific circumstances, the Committee also has the power to recover all (or part of) bonuses for a period after they are awarded to executives. These clawback powers apply to the cash and deferred elements of 2015 and subsequent bonuses made in respect of performance in 2015 and subsequent years.

 

The Chief Executive, M&G has a bonus opportunity of the lower of six times salary or 0.75 per cent of M&G’s IFRS profit. For other Executive Directors the maximum AIP opportunity is up to 200 per cent of salary. Annual awards are disclosed in the relevant annual report on remuneration.

In addition to the AIP, the President & CEO, JNL receives a ten per cent share of the Jackson Senior Management Bonus Pool.

    Deferred bonus shares  

Executive Directors are required to defer a percentage (currently 40 per cent) of their total annual bonus into Prudential shares for three years.

The release of awards is not subject to any further performance conditions. The Committee has the authority to apply a malus adjustment to all, or a portion of, an outstanding deferred award in specific circumstances. From 2015 and future awards, the Committee also has the power to recover all, or a portion of, amounts already paid in specific circumstances and within a defined timeframe (clawback).

  The maximum vesting under this arrangement is 100 per cent of the original deferral plus accrued dividend shares.

 

194


Table of Contents
     Element   Operation   Opportunity
    Prudential Long Term Incentive Plan  

Currently all Executive Directors participate in the Prudential Long Term Incentive Plan (“PLTIP”). The PLTIP has a three-year performance period. Vesting of outstanding awards is dependent on:

•    Relative TSR (50 per cent of award); and

•    Group IFRS profit (50 per cent of award); or

•    Business unit IFRS profit (50 per cent of award).

 

The performance measures attached to each award are dependent on the role of the executive and will be disclosed in the relevant annual report on remuneration. The Chief Executive, M&G’s PLTIP awards are subject only to the TSR performance condition as the IFRS profit of M&G is a performance condition under the M&G Executive LTIP.

The Committee has the authority to apply a malus adjustment to all, or a portion of, an outstanding award in specific circumstances. For 2015 and future awards, the Committee also has the power to recover all, or a portion of, amounts already paid in specific circumstances and within a defined timeframe (clawback).

 

The value of shares awarded under the PLTIP (in any given financial year) may not exceed 550 per cent of the executive’s annual basic salary.

Awards made in a particular year are usually significantly below this limit and are disclosed in the relevant annual report on remuneration. The Committee would consult with major shareholders before increasing award levels during the life of this policy.

The maximum vesting under the PLTIP is 100 per cent of the original share award plus accrued dividend shares.

    M&G Executive LTIP  

The Chief Executive, M&G currently receives awards under this plan. He receives an annual award of phantom shares each with a notional starting share price of £1. The phantom share price at vesting is currently determined by M&G’s profitability, with profit and investment performance adjustments, over the three year performance period. Awards are settled in cash.

The Committee has the authority to apply a malus adjustment to all, or a portion of, an outstanding award in specific circumstances. For 2015 and future awards, the Committee also has the power to recover all, or a portion of, amounts already paid in specific circumstances and within a defined timeframe (clawback).

  The Chief Executive, M&G receives an award with an initial value of 300 per cent of salary under this plan. Maximum vesting is 100 per cent of the number of phantom shares originally awarded.
Share ownership guidelines  

The guidelines for share ownership are as follows:

•    350 per cent of salary for the Group Chief Executive; and

•    200 per cent of salary for other Executive Directors.

Executives have five years from the implementation of these increased guidelines (or from the date of their appointment, if later) to build this level of ownership.

The full policy sets out the Committee’s powers in respect of Executive Directors joining or leaving the Board, where a change in performance conditions is appropriate or in the case of corporate transactions (such as a takeover, merger or Rights Issue). The policy also describes legacy long-term incentive plans under which some Executive Directors continue to hold awards.

Remuneration for Non-Executive Directors and the Chairman

 

     Fees   Benefits   Share ownership guidelines
Non-executive Directors  

All Non-executive Directors receive a basic fee for their duties as a Board member. Additional fees are paid for added responsibilities such as chairmanship and membership of committees or acting as the Senior Independent Director. Fees are paid to non-executives in cash. Fees are reviewed annually by the Board with any changes effective from 1 July.

 

If, in a particular year, the number of meetings is materially greater than usual, the Company may determine that the provision of additional fees is fair and reasonable.

  Travel and expenses for Non-executive Directors are incurred in the normal course of business, for example in relation to attendance at Board and Committee meetings. The costs associated with these are all met by the Company.  

It is expected that Non-executive Directors will hold shares with a value equivalent to one times the annual basic fee (excluding additional fees for chairmanship and membership of any committees).

Non-executive Directors are expected to attain this level of share ownership within three years of their appointment.

 

195


Table of Contents
     Fees   Benefits   Share ownership guidelines
Non-executive Chairman  

The Chairman receives an annual fee for the performance of the role. On appointment, the fee may be fixed for a specified period of time. Fees will otherwise be reviewed annually with any changes effective from 1 July.

 

The Chairman is not eligible to participate in annual bonus plans or long-term incentive plans.

 

The Chairman may be offered benefits including:

•    Health and wellness benefits

•    Protection and security benefits

•    Transport benefits; and

•    Relocation and expatriate benefits (where appropriate)

 

The Chairman is not eligible to receive a pension allowance or to participate in the Group’s employee pension schemes.

  The Chairman has a share ownership guideline of one times his annual fee and is expected to attain this level of share ownership within five years of the date of his appointment.

In setting the Directors’ remuneration policy, the Committee considers a range of factors including:

Conditions elsewhere in the Company

Across the Group, remuneration is reviewed regularly with the intention that all employees are paid appropriately in the context of their local market and given their individual skills, experience and performance. Each business unit’s salary increase budget is set with reference to local market conditions. The Remuneration Committee considers salary increase budgets in each business unit when determining the salaries of Executive Directors.

Prudential does not consult with employees when setting the Directors’ remuneration policy; Prudential is a global organisation with employees, and agents in multiple business units and geographies. As such, there are practical challenges associated with consulting with employees directly on this matter. As many employees are also shareholders, they are able to participate in binding votes on the Directors’ remuneration policy and annual votes on the annual report on remuneration.

Shareholder views

The Remuneration Committee and the Company undertake regular consultation with key institutional investors on the Directors’ remuneration policy and its implementation. This engagement is led by the Remuneration Committee Chairman and is an integral part of the Company’s investor relations programme. The Committee is grateful to shareholders for their feedback and takes this into account when determining executive remuneration.

Remuneration in respect of performance in 2015

Base salary

Executive Directors’ salaries were reviewed in 2014 with changes effective from 1 January 2015. When the Committee took these decisions it considered:

 

    The salary increases awarded to other employees;
    The performance and experience of each executive;
    The relative size of each Director’s role; and
    The performance of the Group.

Salary increases for the wider workforce vary across our business units, reflecting local market conditions; in 2015 salary budgets increased between 2.5 per cent and 5 per cent for the wider workforce.

 

 

196


Table of Contents

To provide context for this review, information was also drawn from the following market reference points:

 

Executive   Role   Benchmark(s) used to assess remuneration
Pierre-Olivier Bouée   Group Chief Risk Officer   - FTSE 40
Jackie Hunt   Chief Executive, UK & Europe  

- FTSE 40

- International Insurance Companies

Michael McLintock   Chief Executive, M&G  

- McLagan UK Investment Management Survey

- International Insurance Companies

Nic Nicandrou   Chief Financial Officer  

- FTSE 40

- International Insurance Companies

Barry Stowe   Chief Executive, PCA   - Towers Watson Asian Insurance Survey
Tidjane Thiam   Group Chief Executive  

- FTSE 40

- International Insurance Companies

Mike Wells   President & CEO, JNL  

- Towers Watson US Financial Services Survey

- LOMA US Insurance Survey

As reported in last year’s report, after careful consideration the Committee decided to increase salaries by 3 per cent for all Executive Directors, other than the Chief Executive, Prudential Corporation Asia, whose salary was increased by 5 per cent to reflect the inflationary environment in Asia.

The Committee also approved changes to 2015 incentive opportunities for two Executive Directors: the Chief Executive, Prudential Corporation Asia’s maximum AIP and LTIP awards were increased to 180 per cent and 250 per cent of salary, respectively. This reflects the importance of Prudential Corporation Asia’s strategic initiatives which are crucial to the achievement of Group wide objectives. The Chief Executive, Prudential UK & Europe’s maximum AIP and LTIP awards were increased to 175 per cent and 250 per cent of salary, respectively. This reflects the fact that the scope of the incumbent’s role had increased due to the Group’s expansion into Africa. Additionally, this reflects the ambition of the UK & Europe business as it relates to the Group’s growth and cash ambitions.

 

Executive

     2014 salary           2015 salary   

Pierre-Olivier Bouée

     £630,000           £649,000   

Jackie Hunt

     £644,000           £664,000   

Michael McLintock

     £382,000           £394,000   

Nic Nicandrou

     £682,000           £703,000   

Barry Stowe1

     HK$8,490,000           HK$8,920,000   

Tidjane Thiam

     £1,061,000           £1,093,000   

Mike Wells2

     US$1,114,000           US$1,148,000   

Notes

1 Barry Stowe was appointed Chairman & CEO, NABU on 1 June 2015. The annualised 2015 salary above was paid in respect of his service as Chief Executive, PCA.
2 Mike Wells was appointed Group Chief Executive on 1 June 2015. The annualised 2015 salary above was paid in respect of his service as President & CEO, JNL.

Penny James was appointed to the Board as Group Chief Risk Officer on 1 September 2015 with a salary of £600,000 and Tony Wilkey was appointed to the Board as Chief Executive, PCA on 1 June 2015 with a salary of HK$8,800,000. On his promotion to Group Chief Executive on 1 June 2015, Mike Wells’s salary was £1,070,000 and on appointment as Chairman & CEO, NABU, on 1 June 2015, Barry Stowe’s salary was US$1,100,000.

 

 

197


Table of Contents

Annual bonus

2015 annual bonus opportunities

Executive Directors’ bonus opportunities, the weighting of performance measures for 2015 and the proportion of annual bonuses deferred are set out below:

 

                    Weighting of measures  
                 Financial measures         
Executive    Maximum AIP
opportunity (%
of salary)
                 Deferral requirement                Group          Business Unit      Personal
    objectives
 

Pierre-Olivier Bouée1

     160%       40% of total bonus      50%         -         50%   

Jackie Hunt2

     175%       40% of total bonus      20%         60%         20%   

Penny James3

     160%       40% of total bonus      50%         -         50%   

Michael McLintock4

     600%       40% of total bonus      20%         60%         20%   

Nic Nicandrou

     175%       40% of total bonus      80%         -         20%   

Barry Stowe5

     160%       40% of total bonus      80%         -         20%   

Tidjane Thiam6

     200%       40% of total bonus      80%         -         20%   

Mike Wells7

     200%       40% of total bonus      80%         -         20%   

Tony Wilkey8

     180%       40% of total bonus      20%         60%         20%   

Notes

1 Pierre-Olivier Bouée stepped down from the Board on 31 May 2015. The maximum bonus opportunity shown represents his annual opportunity as an Executive Director but no bonus was paid.
2 Jackie Hunt stepped down from the Board on 3 November 2015. The maximum bonus opportunity shown represents her annual opportunity as an Executive Director.
3 Penny James was appointed to the Board on 1 September 2015. The maximum bonus opportunity shown represents her annual opportunity as an Executive Director – this was pro-rated for the portion of the year for which she was an executive director.
4 Michael McLintock’s annual bonus opportunity in 2015 was the lower of 0.75 per cent of M&G’s IFRS profit and six times annual salary. M&G’s IFRS profit in 2015 was £473.2 million.
5 Barry Stowe was Chief Executive, PCA until 31 May 2015 and was appointed Chairman & CEO, NABU on 1 June 2015. The maximum opportunity shown represents his annual opportunity in his current role – this was pro-rated for the portion of the year he was in this role and he also receives a pro-rated AIP in respect of the portion of the year he was Chief Executive, PCA. In addition to the AIP, he receives 10 per cent share of the Jackson Senior Management Bonus Pool pro-rated for the period he was in his current role. This is determined by the financial performance of Jackson.
6 Tidjane Thiam stepped down from the Board on 31 May 2015. The maximum bonus opportunity shown represents his annual opportunity as an Executive Director – this was pro-rated for the portion of the year for which he was an Executive Director.
7 Mike Wells was President & CEO, Jackson until 31 May 2015 and was appointed Group Chief Executive on 1 June 2015. The maximum opportunity shown represents his annual opportunity in his current role – this was pro-rated for the portion of the year he was in this role and he also receives a pro-rated AIP in respect of the portion of the year he was President & CEO, Jackson. In addition to the AIP, he received 10 per cent share of the Jackson Senior Management Bonus Pool pro-rated for the period he was in that role. This is determined by the financial performance of Jackson.
8 Tony Wilkey was appointed to the Board on 1 June 2015. The maximum bonus opportunity shown represents his annual opportunity as an Executive Director – this was pro-rated for the portion of the year for which he was an Executive Director.

2015 AIP performance measures and achievement

Financial performance

The financial performance measures set for 2015 are shown below. Prior to the start of the year, the Committee set stretching performance ranges for each of these measures in line with the Group’s business plan targets. The Committee reviewed performance against these ranges at its meeting in February 2016; in all of our bonus performance metrics, other than the new measure of ECap surplus, the Group’s 2015 results exceeded its stretch plan targets.

The Committee also considered a report from the Group Chief Risk Officer which confirmed that these results were achieved within the Group’s and business units’ risk appetite and framework. The Group Chief Risk Officer also considered the effectiveness of risk management and internal controls, and specific actions taken to mitigate risks, particularly where these may be at the expense of profits or sales. The Group Chief Risk Officer’s recommendations were taken into account by the Committee when determining AIP outcomes for Executive Directors.

 

 

198


Table of Contents

The performance measures, their weightings and the achievement compared to the performance range, is illustrated below. The performance range (the levels of performance required for threshold and maximum bonuses to be paid) for the 2015 Group financial measures will be disclosed in the 2016 report.

LOGO

Personal performance

As set out in the Directors’ remuneration policy, a proportion of the annual bonus for each Executive Director is based on the achievement of personal objectives. These objectives include the Executive’s contribution to Group strategy as a member of the Board and specific goals related to their functional and/or business unit role. Performance against these objectives was assessed by the Committee at its meeting in February 2016.

2015 Annual Incentive Plan payments

On the basis of the strong performance of the Group and its business units, and the Committee’s assessment of each executive’s personal performance, the Committee determined the following 2015 AIP payments:

 

                        2015 AIP         
                 Maximum 2015      payment      2015 AIP  
Executive    Role    2015 salary*      AIP      (% of maximum)      payment  

Pierre-Olivier Bouée1

   Group Chief Risk Officer      £649,000         160%         0%         £nil   

Jackie Hunt2

   Chief Executive, UK & Europe      £664,000         175%         89.4%         £1,039,160   

Penny James

   Group Chief Risk Officer      £600,000         160%         99.3%         £317,740   

Michael McLintock

   Chief Executive, M&G      £394,000         600%         90.0%         £2,127,600   

Nic Nicandrou

   Chief Financial Officer      £703,000         175%         99.5%         £1,223,782   

Barry Stowe

   Chairman & CEO, NABU      US$1,100,000         160%         99.5%         US$1,021,277   
   Chief Executive, PCA      HK$8,920,000         180%         95.9%         HK$6,413,852   

Tidjane Thiam3

   Group Chief Executive      £1,093,000         200%         77.3%         £703,857   

Mike Wells

   Group Chief Executive      £1,070,000         200%         99.7%         £1,244,214   
   President & CEO, JNL      US$1,148,000         160%         99.7%         US$762,846   

Tony Wilkey

   Chief Executive, PCA      HK$8,800,000         180%         95.9%         HK$8,858,593   
* (at 31 December 2015 or stepping down from the Board if earlier)

Notes

1 Pierre-Olivier Bouée stepped down from the Board on 31 May 2015 and no bonus was paid.
2 Jackie Hunt stepped down from the Board on 3 November 2015. The bonus shown above was paid in respect of her service as an Executive Director. Please see the ‘Payments to past Directors’ section for details.
3 Tidjane Thiam stepped down from the Board on 31 May 2015. The bonus shown above was paid in respect of his service as an Executive Director. Please see the ‘Payments to past Directors’ section for details.
4 Where individuals joined the Board during the year, or their roles changed during the year, the bonus paid reflected the time they spent as Executive Directors in their respective roles.

2015 Jackson bonus pool

In 2015 the Jackson bonus pool was determined by Jackson’s profitability, capital adequacy, remittances to Group, in-force experience, ECap solvency ratio and credit rating. Across all of these measures Jackson delivered strong performance and exceeded prior year performance. As a result of this performance the Committee determined that Mike Wells’s share of the bonus pool would be US$2,261,250 and Barry Stowe’s share of the bonus pool would be US$3,165,750.

 

 

199


Table of Contents

Disclosure of targets and achievement for the 2014 Annual Incentive Plan

The Group’s financial performance range and the results achieved in respect of the 2014 Annual Incentive Plan are disclosed below. The Board believe that, due to the commercial sensitivity of the business unit targets, disclosing further details of these targets may damage the competitive position of the Group.

 

LOGO

Remuneration in respect of performance in 2015

Long-term incentive plans with performance periods ending on 31 December 2015

Our long-term incentive plans have stretching performance conditions which are aligned to the strategic priorities of the Group. In deciding the portion of the awards to be released, the Committee considered actual financial results against these performance targets. The Committee also reviewed underlying Company performance to ensure vesting levels were appropriate. The Directors’ remuneration policy contains further details of the design of Prudential’s long-term incentive plans.

Further details may also be found in note B3.2 to the consolidated financial statements in Item 18.

Prudential Long-Term Incentive Plan (PLTIP) and Group Performance Share Plan (GPSP)

In 2013, all Executive Directors were made awards under the PLTIP or GPSP. The awards were subject to challenging targets. The weightings of these measures are detailed in the table below.

 

      Weighting of measures  
Executive    Group TSR1      IFRS profit (Group or business unit)2  

Michael McLintock

     100%         -   

Jackie Hunt

     50%         50% (business unit target)   

Barry Stowe

     50%         50% (business unit target)   

Mike Wells

     50%         50% (business unit target)   

All other Executive Directors

              50% (Group)   

Notes

1 Group TSR is measured on a ranked basis over three years relative to peers.
2 IFRS profit is measured on a cumulative basis over three years.

Under the Group TSR measure, 25 per cent of the award vests for TSR at the median of the peer group increasing to full vesting for performance within the upper quartile. The peer group for the awards is:

 

Aegon    Aflac    AIA    AIG
Allianz    Aviva    AXA    Generali
Legal & General    Manulife    MetLife    Munich Re
Old Mutual    Prudential Financial    Standard Life    Sun Life Financial
Swiss Re    Zurich Insurance Group      

Prudential’s TSR performance during the performance period (1 January 2013 to 31 December 2015) was in the upper quartile of the peer group above (ranked 5). The portion of the awards related to TSR therefore vested in full.

 

 

200


Table of Contents

Under the IFRS measure, 25 per cent of the award vests for meeting the threshold IFRS profit set at the start of the performance period increasing to full vesting for performance at or above the stretch level. The table below illustrates the cumulative performance achieved over 2013 to 2015 compared to the Group targets set in 2013:

 

Group  

Cumulative target

(2013-15)

   

Cumulative achievement

(2013-15)

    Overall vesting  

IFRS Operating Profit

    £8,329m          £10,147m          100%     

The Committee determined that the cumulative IFRS operating profit target established for the PLTIP should be expressed using exchange rates consistent with our reported disclosures. All the individual business units exceeded their stretch performance target and achieved 100% vesting, other than Asia which exceeded plan performance, but not stretch performance, and therefore vested at 95%. The individual business unit IFRS targets have not been disclosed as the Committee considers that these are commercially sensitive and disclosure of targets at such a granular level would put the Company at a disadvantage compared to its competitors. The Committee will keep this disclosure policy under review based on whether, in its view, disclosure would compromise the Company’s competitive position.

M&G Executive Long-Term Incentive Plan

The phantom share price at vesting for the 2013 M&G Executive Long-Term Incentive Plan award is determined by the increase or decrease in M&G’s profitability over the three-year performance period with adjustments for the investment performance of its funds. M&G performance and the resulting phantom share price for Michael McLintock are shown below:

 

Award    3-year profit growth of
M&G
     3-year investment
performance
     2015 Phantom share
price
     Value of awards
vesting
 

2013 M&G Executive LTIP

     36%           2nd quartile         £ 1.79         £ 1,991,196     

Prudential Corporation Asia Long-Term Incentive Plan

Tony Wilkey received awards under the Prudential Corporation Asia Long-Term Incentive Plan before he was appointed to the Board, which vested during 2015. The Prudential Corporation Asia Long-Term Incentive Plan does not have performance conditions.

2015 LTIP vesting

On the basis of the performance of the Group and its business units, and the Committee’s assessment that the awards should vest, the vesting of each executive’s LTIP awards are set out below.

 

Executive    Maximum value of award
at full vesting1
     Percentage of the
LTIP award vesting
     Number of shares
vesting5
     Value of shares
vesting1
 

Pierre-Olivier Bouée2

   £ 500,638         69.4%         22,993       £ 347,654   

Jackie Hunt2

   £ 1,922,024         100%         127,118       £ 1,922,024   

Penny James

   £ 409,994         100%         27,116       £ 409,994   

Michael McLintock3

   £ 760,158         100%         50,275       £ 760,158   

Nic Nicandrou

   £ 1,995,522         100%         131,979       £ 1,995,522   

Barry Stowe

   £ 2,124,954         97.5%         68,952       £ 2,071,801   

Tidjane Thiam2

   £ 5,552,986         66.7%         244,840       £ 3,701,981   

Mike Wells

   £ 4,426,975         100%         147,335       £ 4,426,975   

Tony Wilkey4

   £ 1,750,647         97.5%/100%         118,132       £ 1,740,350   

Notes

1 Other than for Tony Wilkey’s award which vested on 14 September 2015, the share price used to calculate the value of the LTIP awards which vest in 2016 was the average share price/ADR price for the three months up to 31 December 2015, being £15.12/£30.05.
2 Pierre-Olivier Bouée, Jackie Hunt and Tidjane Thiam left the Board during 2015. For details of arrangements in respect of their long-term incentive awards, please see the ‘Payments to Past Directors’ section.
3 This does not include the vesting of Michael McLintock’s M&G Executive Long-Term Incentive Plan award.
4 Tony Wilkey’s awards include an award which vested on 14 September 2015 (the share price on that date was £13.85) in addition to the awards which vest in 2016.
5 The number of shares vesting include accrued dividend shares.

 

 

201


Table of Contents

Malus and clawback policy

During the year the Committee adopted a clawback policy that applies to Executive Directors and members of the GEC. A summary of both this policy and the malus policy is set out below.

 

     Circumstances when the Committee may exercise its discretion to apply malus or clawback to an award

Malus (applies in respect of any annual bonus or long-term incentive award)

 

Allows unvested shares awarded under deferred bonus and LTIP plans to be forfeited in certain circumstances.

  

Where a business decision taken during the performance period by the participant’s business unit at the time of the decision has resulted in a material breach of any law, regulation, code of practice or other instrument which applies to companies or individuals within the business unit.

 

There is a materially adverse restatement of the accounts for any year during the performance period of (i) the business unit in which the participant worked at any time in that year; and/or (ii) any member of the Group which is attributable to incorrect information about the affairs of that business unit.

 

Any matter arises which the Committee believes affects or may affect the reputation of the Company or any member of the Group.

Clawback (applies in respect of any annual bonuses paid in respect of performance in 2015 and subsequent years, and the deferred portions of these bonuses. Also applies to long-term incentive awards made on or after 1 January 2015)

 

Allows cash and share awards to be recovered before or after release in certain circumstances.

  

Where at any time before the fifth anniversary of the start of the performance period, either (i) there is a materially adverse restatement of the Company’s published accounts in respect of any financial year which (in whole or part) comprised part of the performance period; or (ii) it becomes apparent that a material breach of a law or regulation took place during the performance period which resulted in significant harm to the Company or its reputation.

 

And the Committee considers it appropriate, taking account of the extent of the participants’ responsibility for the relevant restatement or breach, that clawback be applied to the relevant participant.

Pension entitlements

Pension provisions in 2015 were:

 

Executive   2015 pension arrangement   Life assurance provision
Barry Stowe  

As Chief Executive, PCA: pension supplement in lieu of pension of 25 per cent of salary and a HK$15,000 payment to the Hong Kong Mandatory Provident Fund.

 

As Chairman & CEO, NABU: pension supplement of 25 per cent of salary, part of which is paid as a contribution to an approved US retirement plan.

 

As Chief Executive, PCA, four times salary

 

As Chairman & CEO, NABU, two times salary

Tony Wilkey   Pension supplement in lieu of pension of 25 per cent of salary and a HK$10,500 payment to the Hong Kong Mandatory Provident Fund.   Four times salary

 

202


Table of Contents
Executive   2015 pension arrangement   Life assurance provision
Mike Wells  

Mike Wells did not qualify for matching contributions when he was Chairman & Chief Executive, Jackson, as he was not in that role for the qualifying period during 2015.

 

As Group Chief Executive: pension supplement in lieu of pension of 25 per cent of salary.

  As Group Chief Executive: four times salary plus a dependants’ pension
All other UK-based executives   Pension supplement in lieu of pension of 25 per cent of salary.   Up to four times salary plus a dependants’ pension

Michael McLintock previously participated in a contributory defined benefit scheme which was open at the time he joined the Company. The scheme provided a target pension of two thirds of final pensionable earnings on retirement for an employee with 30 years or more potential service who remained in service to Normal Retirement Date. He is now a deferred member of the scheme. Mr McLintock’s Normal Retirement Date under the scheme is age 60, should he claim his deferred pension before this age it will be subject to an actuarial reduction. There are no additional benefits payable should Mr McLintock retire early.

At the end of 2015 the transfer value of this entitlement was £1,462,621. This equates to an annual pension of £59,686 which will increase broadly in line with inflation in the period before Mr McLintock’s retirement.

Table of 2015 Executive Director total remuneration ‘The Single Figure’

 

£000’s                     Of which:                    
  2015 salary     2015 taxable
benefits*
    2015 total
bonus
    Amount paid
in cash
    Amount
deferred into
Prudential
shares**
    2015 LTIP
releases†
    2015
pension
benefits‡
   

Total 2015
remuneration

“The Single
FigureӤ

 

Pierre-Olivier Bouee1

    270        38        -        -        -        348        68        724   

Jackie Hunt2

    557        76        1,039        623        416        1,922        139        3,733   

Penny James3

    200        21        318        191        127        410        50        999   

Michael McLintock

    394        71        2,128        1,277        851        2,751        98        5,442   

Nic Nicandrou4

    703        377        1,224        734        490        1,996        176        4,476   

Barry Stowe5

    729        558        3,281        1,969        1,312        2,072        188        6,828   

Tidjane Thiam6

    455        44        704        422        282        3,702        114        5,019   

Mike Wells7

    942        1,283        3,223        1,934        1,289        4,427        156        10,031   

Tony Wilkey8

    433        402        748        449        299        1,740        109        3,432   

Total

    4,683        2,870        12,665        7,599        5,066        19,368        1,098        40,684   

 

* Benefits include (where provided) the cost of providing the use of a car and driver, medical insurance, security arrangements and relocation/expatriate benefits.
** The deferred part of the bonus is subject to malus and clawback in accordance with the Malus and Clawback policies.
In line with the regulations, the estimated value of LTIP releases in 2016 has been calculated based on the average share/ADR price over the last three months of 2015 (£15.12/£30.05). The actual value of LTIPs, based on the share price on the date awards are released, will be shown in the 2016 report.
2015 pension benefits include cash supplements for pension purposes and contributions into DC schemes as outlined on the previous page.
§ Each remuneration element is rounded to the nearest £1,000 and totals are the sum of these rounded figures. Total remuneration is calculated using the methodology prescribed by Schedule 8 of the Companies Act.

Notes

1 Pierre-Olivier Bouée stepped down from the Board on 31 May 2015. The remuneration above was paid in respect of his service as an Executive Director.
2 Jackie Hunt stepped down from the Board on 3 November 2015. The remuneration shown above was paid in respect of her service as an Executive Director.
3 Penny James was appointed to the Board on 1 September 2015. The remuneration above was paid in respect of her service as an Executive Director, other than the LTIP releases which related to her previous role.
4 Nic Nicandrou’s 2015 benefits relate primarily to a legacy relocation clause in his contract agreed on his appointment and disclosed in the 2009 Annual Report. The figure includes costs of £243,750 to cover stamp duty.
5 Barry Stowe’s 2015 benefits relate primarily to his expatriate status while he was located in Hong Kong in his previous role as Chief Executive, PCA, including costs of £139,405 for housing, £62,586 home leave and a £152,978 Executive Director Location Allowance. In addition, to facilitate his move back to the US, his benefits include relocation support including costs of £110,101 for relocation, shipping and tax return preparation. His bonus figure excludes a contribution of £10,404 from a profit sharing plan which has been made into a 401(k) retirement plan in respect of his role as Chairman & CEO, NABU. This is included under 2015 pension benefits.
6 Tidjane Thiam stepped down from the Board on 31 May 2015. The remuneration shown above was paid in respect of his service as an Executive Director.
7 To facilitate his move to the UK, Mike Wells’s benefits include relocation support including an allowance of £200,000 for relocation and shipping, £177,890 for temporary accommodation, £513,750 to cover stamp duty and £56,604 to cover mortgage interest.
8 Tony Wilkey was appointed to the Board on 1 June 2015. The remuneration above was paid in respect of his service as an Executive Director, other than the LTIP releases which related to his previous role. Tony Wilkey’s 2015 benefits include costs of £140,134 for housing and a £214,169 Executive Director Location Allowance.

 

 

203


Table of Contents

Table of 2014 Executive Director total remuneration “The Single Figure”

 

                          Of which:                       
£000’s   2014 salary     2014 taxable
benefits*
    2014 total
bonus
    Amount paid
in cash
    Amount
deferred into
Prudential
shares**
    2014 LTIP
releases†
    2014
pension
benefits‡
   

Total 2014
remuneration

“The Single
FigureӤ

 

Pierre-Olivier Bouee1

    473        75        752        451        301        886        118        2,304   

John Foley2

    162        24        255        153        102        3,740        41        4,222   

Jackie Hunt

    644        163        1,016        610        406        1,687        161        3,671   

Michael McLintock

    382        94        2,292        1,375        917        2,865        96        5,729   

Nic Nicandrou

    682        96        1,186        712        474        3,488        171        5,623   

Barry Stowe3

    665        710        1,046        628        418        3,394        169        5,984   

Tidjane Thiam

    1,061        132        2,122        1,273        849        9,838        265        13,418   

Mike Wells4

    676        58        4,348        2,609        1,739        7,292        19        12,393   

Total

    4,745        1,352        13,017        7,811        5,206        33,190        1,040        53,344   

 

* Benefits include (where provided) the cost of providing the use of a car and driver, medical insurance, security arrangements and relocation/expatriate benefits.
** The deferred part of the bonus is subject to malus in accordance with the Malus and Clawback policies.
In line with the regulations, the value of the LTIP releases has been re-calculated based on the closing share/ADR price on the date awards were released, 30 March 2015 (£16.97/£33.09). The value also includes the cash payment relating to the final dividend declared in March 2015, approved at the AGM and paid after the vesting date.
2014 pension benefits include cash supplements for pension purposes and contributions into DC schemes.
§ Each remuneration element is rounded to the nearest £1,000 and totals are the sum of these rounded figures. Total remuneration is calculated using the methodology prescribed by Schedule 8 of the Companies Act.

Notes

1 Pierre-Olivier Bouée was appointed to the Board on 1 April 2014. The remuneration above was paid in respect of his service as an Executive Director.
2 John Foley stepped down from the Board on 1 April 2014. The remuneration above was paid in respect of his service as an Executive Director.
3 Barry Stowe’s 2014 benefits relate primarily to his expatriate status, including costs of £217,393 for housing, £18,272 for children’s education, £76,319 for home leave and a £340,473 Executive Director Location Allowance.
4 Mike Wells’s bonus figure excludes a contribution of £9,469 from a profit sharing plan which has been made into a 401(k) retirement plan. This is included under 2014 pension benefits.

Performance graph and table

The chart below illustrates the TSR performance of Prudential, the FTSE 100 and the peer group of international insurers used to benchmark the Company’s performance for the purposes of the PLTIP.

 

LOGO

Note

The peer group average represents the average TSR performance of the peer group currently used for PLTIP awards (excluding companies not listed at the start of the period).

 

 

204


Table of Contents

The information in the table below shows the total remuneration for the Group Chief Executive over the same period:

 

£000   2009     2009     2010     2011     2012     2013     2014     2015     2015  

Group Chief Executive

    M Tucker        T Thiam        T Thiam        T Thiam        T Thiam        T Thiam        T Thiam        T Thiam        M Wells   

Salary, pension and

benefits

    1,013        286        1,189        1,241        1,373        1,411        1,458        613        1,992   

Annual bonus payment

    841        354        1,570        1,570        2,000        2,056        2,122        704        1,244   

(As% of maximum)

    (92%)        (90%)        (97%)        (97%)        (100%)        (99.8%)        (100%)        (77.3%)        (99.7%)   
LTIP vesting     1,575        -        2,534        2,528        6,160        5,235        9,838        3,702        4,427   

(As% of maximum)

    (100%)        -        (100%)        (100%)        (100%)        (100%)        (100%)        (100%)        (100%)   

Other payments

    308        -        -        -        -        -        -        -        -   
Group Chief Executive Single Figure of total remuneration     3,737        640        5,293        5,339        9,533        8,702        13,418        5,019        7,663   

Notes

1 Mark Tucker left the Company on 30 September 2009. Tidjane Thiam became Group Chief Executive on 1 October 2009. The figures shown for Tidjane Thiam’s remuneration in 2009 relate only to his service as Group Chief Executive.
2 Tidjane Thiam left the Company on 31 May 2015. Mike Wells became Group Chief Executive on 1 June 2015. The figures shown for Mike Wells’s remuneration in 2015 relate only to his service as Group Chief Executive.

Percentage change in remuneration

The table below sets out how the change in remuneration for the Group Chief Executive between 2014 and 2015 compared to a wider employee comparator group:

 

                               Salary                               Benefits                               Bonus  

Group Chief Executive

     1.75%         824.6%         -8.2%   

All UK employees

     3.3%         17.1%         10%   

The employee comparator group used for the purpose of this analysis is all UK employees. This includes employees in the UK Insurance Operations business, M&G and Group Head Office, and reflects the average change in pay for employees employed in both 2014 and 2015. The salary increase includes uplifts made through the annual salary review as well as any additional changes in the year, for example to reflect promotions or role changes. The UK workforce has been chosen as the most appropriate comparator group as it reflects the economic environment for the location in which the Group Chief Executive is employed.

The Group Chief Executive’s salary, benefits and bonus percentage change has been calculated by taking the amounts received by both Tidjane Thiam and Mike Wells in this role in 2015 and calculating the percentage increase or decrease from the amount received by Tidjane Thiam in 2014. Mike Wells was required to relocate to London to assume the Group Chief Executive role and the increase in benefits received by the Group Chief Executive role reflects this relocation support.

Relative importance of spend on pay

The table below sets out the amounts payable in respect of 2014 and 2015 on all employee pay and dividends:

 

                               2014                                 2015                           Percentage change  

All employee pay (£m)note

     1,543           1,475         -4.4%   

Dividends (£m)

     945           1,253         32.6%   

Note

All employee pay as taken from note B3.1 to the financial statements.

 

205


Table of Contents

Long-term incentives awarded in 2015

2015 share-based long-term incentive awards

The table below shows the awards made to executive directors in 2015 under share based long-term incentive plans and the performance conditions attached to these awards:

 

                     

Percentage of

awards released

for achieving

threshold

targets†

         
       

Number

of shares

or ADRs

subject to
award*

              Weighting of performance
         

Face value*

of award*

     

End of

performance

period

  conditions
                Group TSR      IFRS profit
Executive   Role             Group   Asia   US   UK

Pierre-Olivier Bouée

  Group Chief Risk Officer   96,119   £ 1,622,489      25%   31 Dec 17     50%      50%      

Penny James1

  Group Chief Risk Officer   24,348   £ 410,994      25%   31 Dec 17     50%      50%      

Jackie Hunt

  Chief Executive, UK & Europe   98,341   £ 1,659,996      25%   31 Dec 17     50%            50%

Michael McLintock2

  Chief Executive, M&G   35,011   £ 590,986      25%   31 Dec 17     100%           

Nic Nicandrou

  Chief Financial Officer   104,117   £ 1,757,495      25%   31 Dec 17     50%      50%      

Barry Stowe3

  Chief Executive, PCA   56,970   £ 1,881,728      25%   31 Dec 17     50%        50%    
  Chairman & CEO, NABU   25,334   £ 833,637      25%   31 Dec 17     50%          50%  

Tony Wilkey3,4

  Chief Executive, Insurance, Asia   21,091   £ 712,049      25%   31 Dec 17     50%        50%    
    42,183   £ 356,016      n/a   n/a          
  Chief Executive, PCA   29,008     £473,701      25%   31 Dec 17     50%        50%    

Mike Wells3

  President & CEO, JNL   104,611   £ 3,455,319      25%   31 Dec 17     50%          50%  
  Group Chief

Executive

  15,066   £ 495,759      25%   31 Dec 17     50%      50%            

 

* Awards over shares were awarded to all Executive Directors other than Barry Stowe and Mike Wells whose awards were over ADRs.
** Awards for Executive Directors are calculated based on the average share price over the three dealing days prior to the grant date. Annual awards were granted on 31 March 2015 (using a share price of £16.88 and an ADR price of £33.03) and additional awards were granted on 1 June 2015 (using a share price of £16.33 and an ADR price of £32.91).
The percentage of award released for achieving maximum targets is 100 per cent.

Notes

1 Penny James’ award was made before she was appointed to the Board.
2 PLTIP awards made to the Chief Executive, M&G are subject only to the TSR performance condition. The IFRS profit of M&G is a performance condition under the M&G Executive LTIP.
3 Barry Stowe, Tony Wilkey and Mike Wells received additional awards following the changes to their roles. These awards were based on a pro-rated total 2015 award in line with their revised salaries using the average share price over the three dealing days prior to the grant date.
4 Tony Wilkey’s first two 2015 awards were made before he was appointed to the Board. One award was made under the Prudential LTIP and the other under the PCA LTIP. The latter has no performance conditions. All future awards will be made under the Prudential LTIP.

Group total shareholder return (TSR) performance will be measured on a ranked basis. 25 per cent of the award will vest for TSR performance at the median of the peer group increasing to full vesting for performance at the upper quartile. The peer group for 2015 awards is the same for 2013 awards as detailed on page 200.

Performance ranges for IFRS operating profit measured on a cumulative basis over three years are set at the start of the performance period. Due to commercial sensitivities these are not published in advance but Group targets will be disclosed when awards vest.

2015 cash long-term incentive awards

In addition to his PLTIP award, Michael McLintock receives an annual cash-settled award under the M&G Executive LTIP. In 2015 he received the following award:

 

Executive   Role   Face value of
award (% of salary)
  Face value of
award
 

Percentage of
award released
for achieving

threshold target

 

End of performance

period

Michael McLintock

  Chief Executive, M&G   300%   £1,182,000   See note   31 Dec 17

Note

The value of the award on vesting will be based on the profitability and investment performance of M&G over the performance period as described in the Directors’ remuneration policy.

 

 

206


Table of Contents

Non-executive Director remuneration in 2015

Chairman’s fees

As reported in last year’s report, the annual fee paid to the Chairman, Paul Manduca, was increased from £600,000 to £700,000 with effect from 1 July 2015 to recognise the increased demands of the role. This fee will next be reviewed in 2016.

Non-executive Director fees

An increase of around 1.5 per cent was made to the basic Non-executive Director fee with effect from 1 July 2015. As the fees for membership of the Audit, Remuneration and Risk Committees had remained unchanged since 2011, an increase of ten per cent was made to the membership fee for these Committees. There have been no changes to the Committee Chair or Senior Independent Director fees. The revised fees are shown below:

 

Annual fees    From
1 July 2014
(£)
     From
1 July 2015
(£)
 

Basic fee

     92,500         94,000   

Additional fees:

     

Audit Committee Chairman

     70,000         70,000   

Audit Committee member

     25,000         27,500   

Remuneration Committee Chairman

     60,000         60,000   

Remuneration Committee member

     25,000         27,500   

Risk Committee Chairman

     65,000         65,000   

Risk Committee member

     25,000         27,500   

Nomination Committee member

     10,000         10,000   

Senior Independent Director

     50,000         50,000   

Note

If, in a particular year, the number of meetings is materially greater than usual, the Company may determine that the provision of additional fees is fair and reasonable.

The resulting fees paid to Non-executive Directors are:

 

£000s    2015 fees      2014 fees      2015 taxable
benefits*
     2014 taxable
benefits*
    

Total 2015
remuneration:

“The Single
FigureӠ

    

Total 2014
remuneration:

“The Single
FigureӠ

 

Chairman

                 

Paul Manduca

     650         600         78         114         728         714   

Non-executive Directors

                 

Howard Davies

     195         191         -         -         195         191   

Ann Godbehere

     200         196         -         -         200         196   

Alistair Johnston

     120         116         -         -         120         116   

David Law1

     36         -         -         -         36         -   

Kai Nargolwala

     146         141         -         -         146         141   

Anthony Nightingale

     147         116         -         -         147         116   

Philip Remnant

     206         201         -         -         206         201   

Alice Schroeder

     120         116         -         -         120         116   

Lord Turnbull2

     70         186         -         -         70         186   

Lord Turner3

     36         -         -         -         36         -   

Total

     1,926         1,863         78         114         2,004         1,977   

 

* Benefits include the cost of providing the use of a car and driver, medical insurance and security arrangements.
Each remuneration element is rounded to the nearest £1,000 and totals are the sum of these rounded figures. Total remuneration is calculated using the methodology prescribed by Schedule 8 of the Companies Act. The Chairman and Non-executive Directors are not entitled to participate in annual bonus plans or long-term incentive plans.

Notes

1    David Law was appointed to the Board on 15 September 2015.
2    Lord Turnbull retired from the Board on 14 May 2015.
3    Lord Turner was appointed to the Board on 15 September 2015.

 

207


Table of Contents

Statement of Directors’ shareholdings

The interests of Directors in ordinary shares of the Company are set out below. ‘Beneficial interest’ includes shares owned outright, shares acquired under the Share Incentive Plan and deferred annual incentive awards, detailed in the ‘Supplementary information’ section. It is only these shares that count towards the share ownership guidelines.

 

    01/01/2015
(or on date
of
appointment)
    During 2015     31/12/2015 (or on date of
retirement)
    01/04/2016     Share ownership
guideline
 
     Total
beneficial
interest
(number of
shares)
    Number of
shares
acquired
    Number of
shares
disposed
    Total
beneficial
interest
(number of
shares)
    Number of
shares
subject to
performance
conditions†
    Total
interest in
shares
    Total
beneficial
interest
(number of
shares) ¥
    Approximate
percentage
of ordinary
shares
    Share
ownership
guideline °
(% of
salary/fee)
    Beneficial
interest as
a
percentage
of basic
salary/
basic
fees§
 

Chairman

                   

Paul Manduca

    42,500        -        -        42,500        -        42,500        42,500        0.0017        100%        93%   

Executive directors

                   

Pierre-Olivier Bouée1

    81,630        74,690        62,747        93,573        249,458        343,031        n/a        n/a        n/a        n/a   

Jackie Hunt2

    86,788        123,458        99,082        111,164        328,881        440,045        n/a        n/a        n/a        n/a   

Penny James3

    14,373        127        -        14,500        79,808        94,308        25,977        0.001        200%        37%   

Michael McLintock

    443,744        109,687        342,547        210,884        126,185        337,069        195,229        0.0076        200%        819%   

Nic Nicandrou

    289,809        232,623        257,213        265,219        359,046        624,265        283,268        0.011        200%        578%   

Barry Stowe4

    284,288        231,744        269,376        246,656        410,698        657,354        347,162        0.0135        200%        525%   

Tidjane Thiam5

    690,867        641,139        679,460        652,546        675,334        1,327,880        n/a        n/a        n/a        n/a   

Mike Wells6

    445,580        554,975        535,270        465,285        751,778        1,217,063        532,179        0.0207        350%        666%   

Tony Wilkey7

    152,471        37,121        -        189,592        358,024        547,616        153,386        0.006        200%        391%   

Non executive directors

                   

Howard Davies

    8,521        209        -        8,730        -        8,730        8,730        0.0003        100%        142%   

Ann Godbehere

    15,914        -        -        15,914        -        15,914        15,914        0.0006        100%        259%   

Alistair Johnston

    10,000        -        -        10,000        -        10,000        10,000        0.0004        100%        163%   

David Law8

    -        3,327        -        3,327        -        3,327        3,327        0.0001        100%        54%   

Kaikhushru Nargolwala

    50,000        -        -        50,000        -        50,000        70,000        0.0027        100%        814%   

Anthony Nightingale

    30,000        -        -        30,000        -        30,000        30,000        0.0012        100%        489%   

Philip Remnant

    5,816        -        -        5,816        -        5,816        6,916        0.0003        100%        95%   

Alice Schroeder9

    2,500        6,000        -        8,500        -        8,500        8,500        0.0003        100%        138%   

Lord Turnbull 10

    16,624        -        `-        16,624        -        16,624        n/a        n/a        n/a        n/a   

Lord Turner11

    -        2,000        -        2,000        -        2,000        2,000        0.0001        100%        33%   

†Further information on share awards subject to performance conditions are detailed in the ‘share-based long-term incentive awards’ section of the Supplementary information.

°Holding requirement of the Articles of Association (2,500 ordinary shares) must be obtained within one year of appointment to the Board. The increased guidelines for Executive Directors were introduced with effect from January 2013. Executive Directors have 5 years from this date (or date of joining or role change, if later) to reach the enhanced guideline. The guideline for Non-executive Directors was introduced on 1 July 2011. Non-executive Directors have 3 years from their date of joining to reach the guideline.

§ Based on the closing price on 31 December 2015 (£15.31). Where applicable, all Directors are in compliance with the share ownership guideline.

The Company and its directors, chief executives and shareholders have been granted a partial exemption from the disclosure requirements under part XV of the SFO. As a result of this exemption, Directors, chief executives and shareholders do not have an obligation under the SFO to notify the Company of shareholding interests, and the Company is not required to maintain a register of Directors’ and chief executives’ interests under section 352 of the SFO, nor a register of interests of substantial shareholders under section 336 of the SFO. The Company is, however, required to file with the Hong Kong Stock Exchange any disclosure of interests notified to it in the United Kingdom.

¥John Foley was appointed to the Board on 19 January 2016. His beneficial ownership on 1 April 2016 was 264,414 ordinary shares, which equates to approximately 0.01 per cent of the Company’s issued share capital.

Notes

1 Pierre-Olivier Bouée stepped down from the Board on 31 May 2015. Total interests in shares are shown as at this date.
2 Jackie Hunt stepped down from the Board on 3 November 2015. Total interests in shares are shown as at this date.
3 Penny James was appointed to the Board on 1 September 2015. Total interests in shares are shown from this date.
4 For the 1 January 2015 figure Barry Stowe’s beneficial interest in shares is made up of 142,144 ADRs (representing 284,288 ordinary shares), (8,513.73 of these ADRs are held within an investment account which secures premium financing for a life assurance policy). For the 31 December 2015 figure the beneficial interest in shares is made up of 123,328 ADRs (representing 246,656 ordinary shares).
5 Tidjane Thiam stepped down from the Board on 31 May 2015. Total interests in shares are shown as at this date.

 

208


Table of Contents
6 For the 1 January 2015 figure Mike Wells’s beneficial interest in shares is made up of 222,790 ADRs (representing 445,580 ordinary shares). For the 31 December 2015 figure his beneficial interest in shares is made up of 232,594 ADRs (representing 465,188 ordinary shares) and 97 ordinary shares.
7 Tony Wilkey was appointed to the Board on 1 June 2015. Total interests in shares are shown from this date.
8 David Law was appointed to the Board on 15 September 2015. Total interests in shares are shown from this date.
9 For the 1 January 2015 figure Alice Schroeder’s beneficial interest in shares is made up of 1,250 ADRs (representing 2,500 ordinary shares). For the 31 December 2015 figure her beneficial interest in shares is made up of 4,250 ADRs (representing 8,500 ordinary shares).
10 Lord Turnbull stepped down from the Board on 14 May 2015. Total interests in shares are shown as at this date.
11 Lord Turner was appointed to the Board on 15 September 2015.

Outstanding share options

The following table sets out the share options held by the Directors in the UK Savings-Related Share Option Scheme (SAYE) as at the end of the period. No other Directors held shares in any other option scheme.

 

                      Exercise period         Number of options  
     Date of
grant
    Exercise
price
(pence)
   

Market

price
at

31 Dec
2015
(pence)

    Beginning     End          Beginning
of period
    Granted     Exercised     Cancelled     Forfeited     Lapsed     End of
period
 
Pierre-Olivier Bouée     23 Sep 14        1155        1531        01 Dec 17        31 May 18          1,558        -        -        -        -        1,558        -   
Jackie Hunt     23 Sep 14        1155        1531        01 Dec 17        31 May 18          1,558        -        -        -        -        -        1,558   
Penny James     21 Sep 12        629        1531        01 Dec 15        31 May 16          858        -        -        -        -        -        858   
Penny James     22 Sep 15        1111        1531        01 Dec 18        31 May 19          -        1,620        -        -        -        -        1,620   
Michael McLintock     23 Sep 14        1155        1531        01 Dec 19        31 May 20          2,622        -        -        -        -        -        2,622   
Nic Nicandrou     16 Sep 11        466        1531        01 Dec 16        31 May 17          3,268        -        -        -        -        -        3,268   
Nic Nicandrou     23 Sep 14        1155        1531        01 Dec 19        31 May 20          1,311        -        -        -        -        -        1,311   
Tidjane Thiam     16 Sep 11        466        1531        01 Dec 14        29 May 15          965        -        965        -        -        -        -   
Tidjane Thiam     20 Sep 13        901        1531        01 Dec 16        31 May 17          499        -        -        -        -        499        -   
Tidjane Thiam     23 Sep 14        1155        1531        01 Dec 17        31 May 18          1,168        -        -        -        -        1,168        -   
Mike Wells     22 Sep 15        1111        1531        01 Dec 18        31 May 19          -        1,620        -        -        -        -        1,620   

Notes

1 A gain of £11,880.43 was made by Directors in 2015 on the exercise of SAYE options.
2 No price was paid for the award of any option.
3 The highest and lowest closing share prices during 2015 were 1752 pence and 1330.5 pence respectively.
4 All exercise prices are shown to the nearest pence.
5 Pierre-Olivier Bouée and Tidjane Thiam participated in the plan during their time as Executive Directors and their options lapsed following the cessation of their employment.
6 Jackie Hunt participated in the plan during her time as an Executive Director.

Directors’ terms of employment and external appointments

The Directors’ remuneration policy contains further details of the terms included in executive director service contracts. Details of the service contracts of each Executive Director are outlined in the table below.

Subject to the Group Chief Executive’s or the Chairman’s approval, Executive Directors are able to accept external appointments as Non-executive Directors of other organisations. Fees payable are retained by the executive directors.

 

      Service contracts      External appointment  
      Date of contract      Notice period to
the Company
     Notice period
from the
Company
     External
appointment
during 2015
     Fee received in
the period the
executive director
was a Group
director
 

Executive directors

              

Pierre-Olivier Bouée1

     6 August 2013         12 months         12 months         -         -   

Jackie Hunt2

     25 April 2013         12 months         12 months         Yes       £ 25,833   

Penny James3

     13 August 2015         12 months         12 months         Yes       £ 22,333   

Michael McLintock

     21 November 2001         6 months         12 months         Yes       £ 70,000   

Nic Nicandrou

     26 April 2009         12 months         12 months         -         -   

Barry Stowe

     18 October 2006         12 months         12 months         -         -   

Tidjane Thiam4

     20 September 2007         12 months         12 months         Yes       £ 71,700   

Mike Wells

     21 May 2015         12 months         12 months         -         -   

Tony Wilkey3

     1 June 2015         12 months         12 months         -         -   

 

209


Table of Contents

Other Directors served on the boards of educational, charitable and cultural organisations without receiving a fee for these services.

Notes

1. Pierre-Olivier Bouée stepped down from the Board on 31 May 2015.
2. Jackie Hunt stepped down from the Board on 3 November 2015.
3. Penny James and Tony Wilkey were appointed to the Board on 1 September 2015 and 1 June 2015 respectively.
4. Tidjane Thiam stepped down from the Board on 31 May 2015.

Letters of appointment of the Chairman and non-executive directors

The Directors’ remuneration policy contains further details on Non-executive Directors’ letters of appointment. Details of their individual appointments are outlined below:

 

Chairman/Non-executive
Director
   Appointment by the
Board
     Initial election by
shareholders at
the AGM
     Notice period      Expiration of
the current term of
appointment

Chairman

                 

Paul Manduca1

   15 October 2010      AGM 2011      12 months      AGM 2018

Non-executive Directors

                 

Philip Remnant

   1 January 2013      AGM 2013      6 months      AGM 2016

Howard Davies

   15 October 2010      AGM 2011      6 months      AGM 2017

Ann Godbehere2

   2 August 2007      AGM 2008      6 months      AGM 2016

Alistair Johnston3

   1 January 2012      AGM 2012      6 months      AGM 2018

David Law

   15 September 2015      AGM 2016      6 months      AGM 2019

Kai Nargolwala

   1 January 2012      AGM 2012      6 months      AGM 2018

Anthony Nightingale

   1 June 2013      AGM 2014      6 months      AGM 2017

Alice Schroeder

   10 June 2013      AGM 2014      6 months      AGM 2017

Lord Turner

   15 September 2015      AGM 2016      6 months      AGM 2019

Notes

1. Paul Manduca was appointed as Chairman on 2 July 2012.
2. Ann Godbehere was reappointed in 2015 for one year.
3. Alistair Johnston will retire from the Board at the Annual General Meeting on 19 May 2016.

Recruitment arrangements

In making decisions about the remuneration arrangements for those joining the Board, the Committee worked within the Directors’ remuneration policy approved by shareholders and was mindful of:

    The skills, knowledge and experience that each new Executive Director brought to the Board;
    The need to support the relocation of executives to enable them to assume their roles; and
    Its commitment to honour legacy arrangements.

Appointing high calibre executives to the Board and to different roles on the Board is necessary to ensure the Company is well positioned to develop and implement its strategy and deliver long-term value. As the Company operates in an international market place for talent, the best internal and external candidates are sometimes asked to move location to assume their new roles. Where this happens, the Company will offer relocation support. The support offered will depend on the circumstances of each move but may include shipping services, the provision of temporary accommodation and other housing benefits. Executives may receive support with the preparation of tax returns, but no current Executive Director is tax equalised.

Barry Stowe and Mike Wells changed Board roles during the year. As both these changes resulted in those Executive Directors relocating to enable them to assume their roles, relocation support in line with the approved Directors’ remuneration policy was provided. Details of this support are included in the notes to the 2015 Single Figure table.

During the year, a relocation payment was made to Nic Nicandrou in line with a commitment made to him when he joined the Company in 2009 (and disclosed in the 2009 annual report on remuneration). Details of this payment are included in the notes to the 2015 Single Figure table.

 

210


Table of Contents

Penny James and Tony Wilkey were promoted to the Board during the year. Their outstanding share awards under deferred bonus plans and long-term incentives awarded before their appointment to the Board will continue to vest on the normal timescale and subject to the original conditions.

In addition, each of Barry Stowe, Mike Wells and Tony Wilkey received an additional LTIP award following the changes to their roles as detailed in the ‘Long-term incentives awarded in 2015’ table.

Payments to past Directors and payments for loss of office

During the year, the Committee considered the application of the Company’s payments on loss of office policy. The objective was to ensure that the application of the policy was aligned to individual circumstances and ensure there was no reward for failure. The Committee’s approach when exercising its discretion under the policy is to be mindful of the particular circumstance of the departure and the contribution the individual had made to the Group.

Pierre-Olivier Bouée

Pierre-Olivier Bouée stepped down from the Board on 31 May 2015. Pierre-Olivier did not receive a loss of office payment. His remuneration arrangements were in line with the approved Directors’ remuneration policy and disclosed in stock exchange announcements and the remuneration he received in respect of his services as an Executive Director is set out in the 2015 Single Figure table.

Following his retirement from the Board, Pierre-Olivier received £72,850 in respect of salary, benefits and pension for the period from the date he ceased to be a Director to his termination date on 30 June 2015 in accordance with his contract of employment. His deferred bonus awards will be released in accordance with the plan rules and remain subject to malus provisions. Pierre-Olivier did not receive a 2015 bonus. In line with market practice, the Group paid the professional legal fees incurred by him in respect of finalising his termination arrangements, which amounted to £7,551. In addition, in consideration of agreeing to a confidentiality clause, Pierre-Olivier received £1,000.

The Committee also exercised its discretion in accordance with the approved Directors’ remuneration policy and determined that Pierre-Olivier should be allowed to retain his unvested PLTIP awards granted in 2013 and 2014, but his PLTIP awards granted in 2015 should lapse. The 2013 and 2014 awards will vest in accordance with the original timetable, remain subject to malus provisions and were pro-rated for service.

Jackie Hunt

Jackie Hunt stepped down from the Board on 3 November 2015. Jackie did not receive a loss of office payment. Her remuneration arrangements were in line with the approved Directors’ remuneration policy and disclosed in stock exchange announcements and the remuneration she received in respect of her services as an executive director is set out in the 2015 Single Figure table.

Following her retirement from the Board, Jackie received £133,924 in respect of salary, benefits and pension for the period from the date she ceased to be a Director to the end of the year in accordance with her contract of employment. Her deferred bonus awards will be released in accordance with the plan rules and remain subject to malus provisions. In line with market practice, the Group paid the professional legal fees incurred by her in respect of finalising her termination arrangements, which amounted to £17,400.

In addition, recognising her contribution to the Company’s success, the Committee determined that Jackie should be awarded a bonus in respect of the 2015 performance year which was calculated in the usual way. Sixty per cent of this bonus will be paid in 2016 and 40 per cent will be deferred in shares for three years, subject to malus and clawback provisions.

The Committee also exercised its discretion in accordance with the approved Directors’ Remuneration Policy and determined that Jackie should be allowed to retain her unvested GPSP and PLTIP awards granted in 2013 and 2014, but her PLTIP awards granted in 2015 should lapse. The 2013 and 2014 awards will vest in accordance with the original timetable, remain subject to malus and were pro-rated for service.

 

211


Table of Contents

Tidjane Thiam

Tidjane Thiam stepped down from the Board on 31 May 2015. Tidjane did not receive a loss of office payment. His remuneration arrangements were in line with the approved Directors’ remuneration policy and disclosed in stock exchange announcements and the remuneration he received in respect of his services as an Executive Director is set out in the 2015 Single Figure table.

Tidjane’s deferred bonus awards will be released in accordance with the plan rules and remain subject to malus provisions. In line with market practice, the Group paid the professional legal fees incurred by him in respect of finalising his termination arrangements, which amounted to £14,121. In addition, in consideration of agreeing to a confidentiality clause, Tidjane received £1,000.

In addition, recognising his contribution to the Company’s success, the Committee determined that Tidjane should be awarded a bonus in respect of the 2015 performance year which was calculated in the usual way and pro-rated for service to 31 May 2015. Sixty per cent of this bonus will be paid in 2016 and 40 per cent will be deferred in shares for three years, subject to malus and clawback provisions.

The Committee also exercised its discretion in accordance with the approved Directors’ remuneration policy and determined that Tidjane should be allowed to retain his unvested PLTIP awards granted in 2013 and 2014. The 2013 and 2014 awards will vest in accordance with the original timetable, remain subject to malus provisions and were pro-rated for service. Tidjane did not receive a 2015 long-term incentive award.

Rob Devey

Rob Devey’s employment with the Group ended on 31 October 2013. The 2013 Directors’ remuneration report provided details of the remuneration arrangements that would apply to Rob after his resignation. As set out in the section ‘Remuneration in respect of performance in 2015’ the performance conditions attached to Rob’s 2013 PLTIP awards were met in full and 100 per cent of these awards will be released in 2016. These awards were pro-rated for service (10 of 36 months) and the details of the release are set out below. This represents the last long-term incentive award which Rob had outstanding under the Company’s remuneration plans.

 

Number of shares vesting1    Value of share vesting2

34,914

   £527,900

Notes

1 The number of shares vesting include accrued dividend shares.
2 The share price used to calculate the value was the average share price for the three month up to 31 December 2015, being £15.12.

Other Directors

A number of former Directors receive retiree medical benefits for themselves and their partner (where applicable). This is consistent with other senior members of staff employed at the same time. A de minimis threshold of £10,000 has been set by the Committee; any payments or benefits provided to a past Director under this amount will not be reported.

Statement of implementation in 2016

Executive Directors

Executive Directors’ remuneration packages were reviewed in 2015 with changes effective from 1 January 2016. When the Committee took these decisions, it considered the salary increases awarded to other employees in 2015 and the expected increases in 2016. The external market reference points used to provide context to the Committee were identical to those used for 2015 salaries.

 

212


Table of Contents

All Executive Directors received a salary increase of one per cent. The 2016 salary increase budgets for other employees across our business units were between 3 per cent and 6.5 per cent. No changes have been made to executives’ maximum opportunities under either the annual incentive or the long-term incentive plans.

As part of the implementation of Solvency II, part of Executive Directors’ 2016 bonuses will be determined by the achievement of Solvency II surplus targets. This metric will replace the IGD capital surplus measure (part of the Solvency I framework). The Solvency II measure will operate alongside the economic capital targets introduced in 2015. Otherwise no changes are proposed to the performance measures for the 2016 annual incentive plan nor for the 2016 long-term incentive awards.

Also as part of the implementation of Solvency II, the weightings of Penny James’s AIP performance targets (with effect from 2016) have been changed so that 50 per cent relate to financial targets, 30 per cent relate to functional targets and 20 per cent relate to personal targets.

John Foley was appointed Chief Executive of Prudential UK & Europe and Executive Director of Prudential plc with effect from 19 January 2016. His basic salary for 2016 will be £750,000. He will have a maximum AIP opportunity of 180 per cent of base salary, with 40 per cent of any bonus deferred into the Company’s shares. Long-term incentive awards will be 250 per cent of base salary. John’s service contract contains a notice provision under which either party may terminate upon 12 months’ notice.

Michael McLintock will retire as Chief Executive of M&G Investments and as an Executive Director of Prudential plc later this year. He will be succeeded by Anne Richards. Anne’s basic salary will be £400,000. She will have a maximum AIP opportunity of the lower of 0.75 per cent of M&G’s IFRS profit or 600 per cent of base salary. Forty per cent of any bonus will be deferred into the Company’s shares. Long-term incentive awards will be 150 per cent of base salary under the PLTIP and 300 per cent of salary under the M&G Executive Long Term Incentive Plan. Any unvested share awards that Anne forfeits as a consequence of joining the Group will be replaced on a like-for-like basis, with replacement awards released in accordance with the original vesting timeframe attached to the forfeited awards. Anne’s service contract contains a notice provision under which either party may terminate upon 12 months’ notice.

Non-executive Directors

Non-executive Directors’ fees were reviewed in 2015 with changes effective from 1 July 2015 as set out in the ‘Non-executive fee’ section. The next review will be effective 1 July 2016.

As set out in the report of the Nomination Committee, the appointment of chairmen of the boards of M&G Limited and Prudential Corporation Asia Limited has been proposed. The Remuneration Committee has approved a fee of £250,000 per annum for each of these roles, fixed for a period of two years from the date of the appointment. The fee for the chair of Prudential Corporation Asia Limited will be payable in Hong Kong dollars using an exchange rate fixed on the date of appointment.

 

213


Table of Contents

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION

Directors’ outstanding long-term incentive awards

Share-based long-term incentive awards

 

   

Plan

name

   

Year of

award

    Conditional
share awards
outstanding
at 1 Jan 2015
    Conditional
awards in
2015
    Market
price at
date of
award
    Dividend
equivalents
on vested
shares
    Rights
exercised
in 2015
    Rights
lapsed in
2015
    Conditional
share awards
outstanding
at 31 Dec
2015
   

Date of

end of

performance

period

 
                   (Number of
shares)
    (Number of
shares)
    (pence)     (Number of
shares
released)
(note 2)
                  (Number of
shares)
        
Penny James     GPSP        2012        37,925          678        3,351        37,925          -        31-Dec-14   
    PLTIP        2013        25,181          1203              25,181        31-Dec-15   
    PLTIP        2014        30,279          1317              30,279        31-Dec-16   
      PLTIP        2015                24,348        1672                                24,348        31-Dec-17   
                      93,385        24,348                3,351        37,925                79,808           

Michael McLintock

    GPSP        2012        47,079          678        4,163        47,079          -        31-Dec-14   
    PLTIP        2013        46,687          1203              46,687        31-Dec-15   
    PLTIP        2014        44,487          1317              44,487        31-Dec-16   
      PLTIP        2015                35,011        1672                                35,011        31-Dec-17   
                      138,253        35,011                4,163        47,079                126,185           
Nic Nicandrou     GPSP        2012        185,374          678        16,399        185,374          -        31-Dec-14   
    PLTIP        2013        122,554          1203              122,554        31-Dec-15   
    PLTIP        2014        132,375          1317              132,375        31-Dec-16   
      PLTIP        2015                104,117        1672                                104,117        31-Dec-17   
                      440,303        104,117                16,399        185,374                359,046           

Barry Stowe1

    GPSP        2012        95,642          678        8,516        95,642          -        31-Dec-14   
    BUPP        2012        95,642          678        8,000        89,864        5,778        -        31-Dec-14   
    PLTIP        2013        131,266          1203              131,266        31-Dec-15   
    PLTIP        2014        114,824          1317              114,824        31-Dec-16   
    PLTIP        2015          113,940        1672              113,940        31-Dec-17   
      PLTIP        2015                50,668        1611.5                                50,668        31-Dec-17   
                      437,374        164,608                16,516        185,506        5,778        410,698           

Mike Wells1

    GPSP        2012        199,256          678        17,742        199,256          -        31-Dec-14   
    BUPP        2012        199,256          678        17,742        199,256          -        31-Dec-14   
    PLTIP        2013        273,470          1203              273,470        31-Dec-15   
    PLTIP        2014        238,954          1317              238,954        31-Dec-16   
    PLTIP        2015          209,222        1672              209,222        31-Dec-17   
      PLTIP        2015                30,132        1611.5                                30,132        31-Dec-17   
                      910,936        239,354                35,484        398,512                751,778           

Tony Wilkey3

    GPSP        2012        33,272          663.5        2,940        33,272          -        31-Dec-14   
    PCA LTIP        2012        66,008          663.5          66,008          -        31-Dec-14   
    PCA LTIP        2012        35,926          854          35,926          -        31-Dec-14   
    PLTIP        2013        25,244          1203              25,244        31-Dec-15   
    PCA LTIP        2013        55,705          1203              55,705        31-Dec-15   
    PCA LTIP        2013        47,182          1178              47,182        31-Dec-15   
    PLTIP        2014        22,935          1317              22,935        31-Dec-16   
    PCA LTIP        2014        45,870          1317              45,870        31-Dec-16   
    PCA LTIP        2014        68,806          1317              68,806        31-Dec-17   
    PLTIP        2015          21,091        1672              21,091        31-Dec-17   
    PCA LTIP        2015          42,183        1672              42,183        31-Dec-17   
      PLTIP        2015                29,008        1611.5                                29,008        31-Dec-17   
                      400,948        92,282                2,940        135,206                358,024           

Notes

1 The awards for Barry Stowe and Mike Wells were made in ADRs (1 ADR = 2 ordinary shares). The figures in the table are represented in terms of ordinary shares.
2 A DRIP dividend equivalent was accumulated on these awards.
3 The PCA LTIP is an arrangement for executives and senior management of PCA. Tony Wilkey was a participant of this plan until his appointment to the Board on 1 June 2015 and will no longer be eligible to new awards from this date.

 

214


Table of Contents

Business-specific cash-based long-term incentive plans

 

             
     Year of
initial award
   

Face value of
conditional share
awards
outstanding at
1 January 2015

£000

   

Conditionally
awarded in 2015

£000

   

Payments made in
2015

£000

   

Face value of
conditional
share awards
outstanding at
31 December
2015

£000

    Date of end
of
performance
period
 

Michael McLintock

           

M&G Executive LTIP

    2012        953          1,973        -        31-Dec-14   

M&G Executive LTIP

    2013        1,112            1,112        31-Dec-15   

M&G Executive LTIP

    2014        1,146            1,146        31-Dec-16   

M&G Executive LTIP

    2015                1,182                1,182        31-Dec-17   

Total payments made in 2015

                            1,973                   

Note

Under the M&G Executive LTIP, the value of each unit at award is £1. The value of units changes based on M&G’s profit growth and investment performance over the performance period. For the 2012 award of 952,960 units, the unit price at the end of the performance period was £2.07, which resulted in a payment of £1,972,627 to Michael McLintock in 2015. For the 2013 award of 1,112,400 units, the unit price at the end of the performance period was £1.79, which will result in a payment of £1,991,196 to Michael McLintock in 2016.

Other share awards

The table below sets out Executive Directors’ deferred bonus share awards.

 

     Year
of
grant
 

Conditional
share
awards
outstanding

at 1 Jan

2015

  Conditionally
awarded in
2015
 

Dividends

accumulated

in 2015

(note 2)

  Shares
released
in 2015
  Conditional
share
awards
outstanding
at 31 December
2015
 

Date
of
end

of
restricted

period

  Date of
release
 

Market price
at

date of

award

  Market
price at
date of
vesting
or
release
           (Number of
shares)
  (Number of
shares)
  (Number of
shares)
  (Number of
shares)
  (Number of
shares)
            (pence)   (pence)
Penny James                     
Deferred 2011 Group deferred bonus plan award    2012   7,069       7,069   -   31-Dec-14   30-Mar-15   783   1697
Deferred 2012 Group deferred bonus plan award    2013   5,542     135     5,677   31-Dec-15     1083  
Deferred 2013 Group deferred bonus plan award    2014   4,764     116     4,880   31-Dec-16     1317  
Deferred 2014 Group deferred bonus plan award    2015       3,850   93       3,943   31-Dec-17       1672    
         17,375   3,850   344   7,069   14,500                
Michael McLintock                     
Deferred 2011 annual incentive award    2012   39,191       39,191   -   31-Dec-14   30-Mar-15   750   1697
Deferred 2012 annual incentive award    2013   37,741     923     38,664   31-Dec-15     1055  
Deferred 2013 annual incentive award    2014   70,801     1,732     72,533   31-Dec-16     1317  
Deferred 2014 annual incentive award    2015       54,312   1,329       55,641   31-Dec-17       1672    
         147,733   54,312   3,984   39,191   166,838                

 

215


Table of Contents
     Year
of
grant
 

Conditional
share
awards
outstanding

at 1 Jan

2015

  Conditionally
awarded in
2015
 

Dividends

accumulated

in 2015

(note 2)

  Shares
released
in 2015
  Conditional
share
awards
outstanding
at 31 December
2015
 

Date
of
end

of
restricted

period

  Date of
release
 

Market price
at

date of

award

  Market
price at
date of
vesting
or
release
           (Number of
shares)
  (Number of
shares)
  (Number of
shares)
  (Number of
shares)
  (Number of
shares)
            (pence)   (pence)
Nic Nicandrou                     
Deferred 2011 annual incentive award    2012   47,365       47,365   -   31-Dec-14     750   1697
Deferred 2012 annual incentive award    2013   40,823     998     41,821   31-Dec-15     1055  
Deferred 2013 annual incentive award    2014   35,765     874     36,639   31-Dec-16     1317  
Deferred 2014 annual incentive award    2015       28,112   687       28,799   31-Dec-17       1672    
         123,953   28,112   2,559   47,365   107,259                
Barry Stowe (note 1)                     
Deferred 2011 annual incentive award    2012   55,154       55,154   -   31-Dec-14   30-Mar-15   750   1697
Deferred 2012 annual incentive award    2013   39,674     972     40,646   31-Dec-15     1055  
Deferred 2013 annual incentive award    2014   30,996     758     31,754   31-Dec-16     1317  
Deferred 2014 annual incentive award    2015       27,324   668       27,992   31-Dec-17       1672    
         125,824   27,324   2,398   55,154   100,392                
Mike Wells (note 1)                     
Deferred 2011 annual incentive award    2012   101,314       101,314   -   31-Dec-14   30-Mar-15   750   1697
Deferred 2012 annual incentive award    2013   84,514     2,072     86,586   31-Dec-15     1055  
Deferred 2013 annual incentive award    2014   102,130     2,506     104,636   31-Dec-16     1317  
Deferred 2014 annual incentive award    2015       113,518   2,786       116,304   31-Dec-17       1672    
         287,958   113,518   7,364   101,314   307,526                
Tony Wilkey                     
Deferred 2012 PCA deferred bonus plan award    2013   80,570       80,570   -   31-Dec-15   30-Mar-15   1083   1697
Deferred 2013 PCA deferred bonus plan award    2014   69,571     1,260     70,831   31-Dec-16     1317  
Deferred 2014 PCA deferred bonus plan award    2015       80,833   1,457       82,290   31-Dec-17       1672    
         150,141   80,833   2,717   80,570   153,121                

Notes

1 The deferred share awards for Barry Stowe and Mike Wells were made in ADRs (1 ADR = 2 ordinary shares). The figures in the table are represented in terms of ordinary shares.
2 The number of shares awarded initially awarded is calculated using the average share price over the three business days prior to the date of grant For the awards from the 2014 annual incentives, made in 2015, the average share price was 1688 pence.
3 A DRIP dividend equivalent was accumulated on these awards.

 

216


Table of Contents

All-employee share plans

It is important that all employees are offered the opportunity to own shares in Prudential, connecting them both to the success of the Company and to the interests of other shareholders. Executive directors are invited to participate in these plans on the same basis as other staff in their location.

Save As You Earn (SAYE) schemes

UK based Executive Directors are eligible to participate in the HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) approved Prudential Savings-Related Share Option Scheme. This scheme allows all eligible employees to save towards the exercise of options over Prudential plc shares with the option price set at the beginning of the savings period at a discount of up to 20 per cent of the market price.

In 2014 participants could elect to enter into savings contracts of up to £500 per month for a period of three or five years. At the end of this term, participants may exercise their options within six months and purchase shares. If an option is not exercised within six months, participants are entitled to a refund of their cash savings plus interest if applicable under the rules. Shares are issued to satisfy those options which are exercised. No options may be granted under the schemes if the grant would cause the number of shares which have been issued, or which remain issuable pursuant to options granted in the preceding 10 years under the scheme and any other option schemes operated by the Company, or which have been issued under any other share incentive scheme of the Company, to exceed 10 per cent of the Company’s ordinary share capital at the proposed date of grant.

Details of executive directors’ rights under the SAYE scheme are set out in the “Statement of Directors’ shareholdings.”

Share Incentive Plan (SIP)

UK based Executive Directors are also eligible to participate in the Company’s Share Incentive Plan (SIP). From April 2014, all UK based employees were able to purchase Prudential plc shares up to a value of £150 per month from their gross salary (partnership shares) through the SIP. For every four partnership shares bought, an additional matching share is awarded which is purchased by Prudential on the open market. Dividend shares accumulate while the employee participates in the plan. If the employee withdraws from the plan, or leaves the Group, matching shares may be forfeited.

The table below provides information about shares purchased under the SIP together with Matching Shares (awarded on a 1:4 basis) and dividend shares.

 

     Year of initial
grant
    Share Incentive
Plan awards held
in Trust at 1 Jan
2015(Number of
shares)
    Partnership
shares
accumulated in
2015(Number of
shares)
    Matching shares
accumulated in
2015(Number of
shares)
    Dividend shares
accumulated in
2015(Number of
shares)
    Share Incentive
Plan awards held
in Trust at
31 Dec
2015(Number of
shares)
 
               

Michael McLintock

    2014        106        116        29        4        255   

Nic Nicandrou

    2010        1,246        117        29        33        1,425   

Mike Wells

    2015        -        78        19        -        97   

 

217


Table of Contents

PCA All Employee Share Purchase Plan (PruSharePlus)

From August 2014, all Asia based employees were able to purchase Prudential plc shares up to a value of £5,000 per year from their gross salary through the PruSharePlus. For every two shares bought by the employee, one additional matching share is awarded which is purchased by Prudential on the open market. Dividend shares accumulate while the employee participates in the plan. If the employee withdraws from the plan, or leaves the Group, matching shares may be forfeited. The table below provides information about shares purchased under the PruSharePlus together with Matching Shares (awarded on a 1:2 basis) and dividend shares.

 

     Year of initial
grant
    PruSharePlus
awards held
in Trust at 1 Jan
2015(Number of
shares)
    Purchased
shares
accumulated in
2015(Number of
shares)
    Matching shares
accumulated in
2015(Number of
shares)
    Dividend shares
accumulated in
2015(Number of
shares)
    PruSharePlus
awards held
in Trust at
31 December
2015(Number of
shares)
 
               

Tony Wilkey*

    2014        140        266        133        6        545   

 

* Following his appointment to the Board, Tony Wilkey is no longer eligible to participate in the PSP with effect from the anniversary of his joining the plan.

Dilution

Releases from the Prudential Long Term Incentive Plan and GPSP are satisfied using new issue shares rather than by purchasing shares in the open market. Shares relating to options granted under all-employee share plans are also satisfied by new issue shares. The combined dilution from all outstanding shares and options at 31 December 2015 was 0.1 per cent of the total share capital at the time. Deferred shares will continue to be satisfied by the purchase of shares in the open market.

Share Ownership

Directors shareholdings

The current shareholding policy and the interests of directors in ordinary shares of Prudential are shown under the sections ‘Compensation Shareholding guidelines’ and ‘Compensation Directors’ Shareholdings’ above.

Prudential is not owned or controlled directly or indirectly by another corporation or by any government or by any other natural or legal person severally or jointly and Prudential does not know of any arrangements that might result in a change in Prudential’s control.

In addition, Prudential’s directors held, as at 1 April 2016, options to purchase 12,218 shares, all of which were issued under Prudential’s Savings-Related Share Option Scheme (SAYE). These options and plans are described in more detail below under ‘Options to purchase securities from Prudential’ in this section.

Outstanding options of directors and other executive officers

The SAYE is open to all UK and certain overseas employees. Options under this scheme up to HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) limits are granted at a 20 per cent discount and cannot normally be exercised until a minimum of three years has elapsed. No payment is made for the grant of any options.

The share options held by the directors and other executive officers as at the end of period are shown under the section ‘Compensation Outstanding share options’ above.

Options to purchase and discretionary awards of securities from Prudential

As of 1 April 2016, 8,421,889 options were outstanding, which Prudential issued under the SAYE schemes. As of 1 April 2016 directors and other executive officers held 12,218 of such outstanding options. Except as described above in ‘Outstanding options of directors and other executive officers’, each option represents the right of the bearer to subscribe for one share at a particular pre-determined exercise price at a pre-set exercise date.

 

 

218


Table of Contents

As of 1 April 2016, 38,205,246 shares were outstanding under other awards. Of those, 1,434,396 shares were outstanding under the Annual Incentive Plan, 509,506 shares were outstanding under the PruCap Deferred Bonus Plan, 127,380 shares were outstanding under the Momentum Retention Plan, 397,514 shares were outstanding under the One Off Awards, 22,227,280 shares were outstanding under the PLTIP, 118,040 shares were outstanding under the GPSP, 2,705,810 shares were outstanding under the Deferred Share Plans and 7,342,905 shares were outstanding under the PCA LTIP and 3,342,415 were outstanding under the Prudential Agency Long Term Incentive Plan. Such outstanding awards held by directors or other executive officers at 31 December 2015 are included under ‘Long-term incentive plans’ in the ‘Compensation’ section above.

The aggregate proceeds that would arise if all outstanding options under the SAYE schemes were exercised is £81 million. The latest expiration dates for exercise or release of the securities underlying the options or awards and the number of options or shares are set out in the table below.

 

Year of Expiration   

Options Outstanding

Under Savings Related

Share Option Scheme

     Shares Outstanding
Under Other Awards
     Total  
     £m  

2016

     8.421         1.475         9.896   

2017

     8.945         2.543         11.488   

2018

     9.281         1.815         11.096   

2019

     11.478         1.414         12.892   

2020

     -        0.751         0.751   

2021

     -        0.424         0.424   

2022

     -        -        -  

2023

     0.08         -        0.08   

Total

     38.205         8.422         46.627   

Information concerning the Group’s share award and share option plans for its employees is provided in ‘Compensation’ above as well as in note B3.2 to the consolidated financial statements in Item 18.

 

219


Table of Contents

Board Practices

HOW WE OPERATE

Board Roles

 

CHAIRMAN

 

Paul Manduca

 

The Chairman has overall responsibility for leadership of the Board and ensuring its overall effectiveness. He sets the Board’s agendas to ensure the Board has adequate time for discussion of all agenda items, in particular strategic issues. The Chairman promotes a culture of openness and debate, and fosters constructive relations between Executive and Non-executive Directors. The Chairman ensures directors receive relevant information in a timely fashion. Externally, the Chairman is a key contact for shareholders to discuss governance and strategy.

       

GROUP CHIEF EXECUTIVE

 

Mike Wells

 

The Group Chief Executive is responsible for the operational management of the Group on behalf of the Board and for ensuring the implementation of the Board’s decisions. The Group Chief Executive leads the executive directors and other senior executives in the management of all aspects of the day to day business of the Group. The Group Chief Executive ensures that the Chairman is kept informed of all key issues.

   

SENIOR INDEPENDENT DIRECTOR

 

Philip Remnant

 

The Senior Independent Director acts as a sounding board for the Chairman and is available to shareholders to address any concerns or issues not resolved through normal channels.

 

The Senior Independent Director leads the Non-executive Directors in conducting the Chairman’s annual evaluation.

   

COMMITTEE CHAIRS

 

Paul Manduca, Howard Davies, Ann Godbehere, Anthony Nightingale

 

The committee chairs are responsible for the leadership and governance of the Board’s principal committees and report matters of significance to the Board.

The Board is collectively responsible for the long term success of the Group and for providing leadership within a framework of effective controls. The control environment enables the Board to identify significant risks and apply appropriate measures to manage and mitigate them. The Board is responsible for approving the Group strategy and for ensuring that the Group is suitably resourced to achieve it. In doing so, the Board takes account of its responsibilities to the Group’s stakeholders, including its shareholders, employees, suppliers and the communities in which Prudential operates.

The Non-executive Directors are responsible for constructively challenging, and helping to develop, proposals on Group strategy, offering input based on individual and collective experience. They scrutinise the performance of management in meeting agreed goals and objectives and take on specific duties as members of the Board’s principal Committees.

The Board has terms of reference which specifically set out matters reserved for its decision. These include matters such as approving the Group’s strategy and monitoring its implementation, the approval of annual budgets and business plans, as well as the risk appetite of the Group and its capital and liquidity positions. The Board has approved a governance framework that requires all business units to seek authority from the Board to carry out actions exceeding pre-determined limits.

The Board has delegated authority to a number of Board Committees which assist the Board in delivering its responsibilities and ensuring that there is appropriate independent oversight of internal control and risk management.

 

220


Table of Contents

Authority for the operational management of the Group’s businesses has been delegated to the Group Chief Executive for execution or further delegation by him in respect of matters which are necessary for the effective day-to-day running and management of the business. The chief executive of each business unit has responsibility for the management of that business unit.

Changes to Board roles and membership

During 2015, and in the year to date, Board roles and membership changed as follows:

 

Board changes

   Role changes

•    Tidjane Thiam stepped down as Group Chief Executive and Executive Director (May 2015)

 

•    Lord Turnbull stepped down as Chairman of the Remuneration Committee, member of the Nomination Committee and Non-executive Director (May 2015)

 

•    Pierre-Olivier Bouée stepped down as Executive Director (May 2015) and as Group Chief Risk Officer (June 2015)

 

•    Tony Wilkey, previously Chief Executive of Prudential Corporation Asia’s network of life insurance operations, was appointed as Executive Director of Prudential Plc and Chief Executive, Prudential Corporation Asia (June 2015)

 

•    Penny James, previously Director of Group Finance, was appointed as Executive Director and Group Chief Risk Officer (September 2015)

 

•    David Law and Lord Turner were appointed as Non-executive Directors (September 2015)

 

•    Jackie Hunt’s departure as Chief Executive, Prudential UK & Europe was announced (October 2015) and Ms Hunt resigned as Executive Director (November 2015)

 

•    John Foley, previously Group Investment Director, was appointed as Executive Director and Chief Executive of Prudential UK & Europe (January 2016)

 

  

•    Anthony Nightingale took on the role of the Chair of the Remuneration Committee and was appointed as a member of the Nomination Committee, continuing in his role as Non-executive Director (May 2015)

 

•    Mike Wells, previously President and Chief Executive Officer of Jackson National Life Insurance Company, became Group Chief Executive, continuing in his role as Executive Director (June 2015)

 

•    Barry Stowe, previously Chief Executive of Prudential Corporation Asia, became Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the North American Business Unit, continuing in his role as Executive Director (June 2015)

Mr McLintock has indicated his intention to retire from the Board in 2016. We have announced that Mr McLintock will be succeeded by Anne Richards, who will join Prudential from Aberdeen Asset Management PLC, where she held the position of Chief Investment Officer and was responsible for operations in Europe, the Middle East and Africa. She has held senior roles at JP Morgan Investment Management, Mercury Asset Management and Edinburgh Fund Managers.

Mr Johnston will retire at the end of the 2016 Annual General Meeting.

 

221


Table of Contents

Board Decision Making

 

The Board has established a number of committees comprising Non-executive Directors in line with corporate governance guidelines, to ensure independent oversight and challenge and to assist the Board in operating effectively. The responsibilities of the principal committees are key components of the Group’s governance framework.

 

 

NOMINATION COMMITTEE

 

Paul Manduca

 

 

 

AUDIT COMMITTEE

 

Ann Godbehere

 

 

 

RISK COMMITTEE

 

Howard Davies

 

 

 

REMUNERATION COMMITTEE

 

Anthony Nightingale

 

 

The Nomination Committee ensures that the Board retains an appropriate balance of skills to support the strategic objectives of the Group and that an effective framework for senior succession planning is in place.

 

 

The Audit Committee monitors the integrity of the Group’s financial reporting, including the effectiveness of internal control and risk management systems and the effectiveness of internal and external auditors.

 

 

The Risk Committee oversees the Group’s overall risk appetite and risk tolerance, as well as the Group’s investment and risk management frameworks.

 

 

The Remuneration Committee determines the overall remuneration policy for the Group, including the individual remuneration packages of the Chairman and Executive Directors, and oversees the remuneration arrangements of senior management.

 

Key areas of focus – how the Board spent its time

 

LOGO

 

222


Table of Contents

Meetings

The Board met on 10 occasions during the year, which included two overseas meeting held at the Group’s operations in the US and Hong Kong. The Board also held a separate strategy event during the year. Individual Directors’ attendance at meetings throughout the year is set out in the table below.

During the year, the Chairman met with the Non-executive Directors without the Executive Directors being present on five occasions.

In the ordinary course, Board and Committee papers are provided one week in advance of each meeting and where a Director was unable to attend a meeting, their views were canvassed in advance by the Chairman of that meeting.

Board and Committee meeting attendance during 2015

 

      Board     

Audit

Committee

    

Nomination

Committee

    

Remuneration

Committee

    

Risk

Committee

     General
Meeting
 
Number of meetings held    10      10      5      7      6      1  

Chairman

                 

Paul Manduca

     10         -         5         -         -         1   

Executive Directors

                 

Tidjane Thiam1

     4/4         -         -         -         -         1   

Mike Wells2

     10         -         -         -         -         1   

Nic Nicandrou

     10         -         -         -         -         1   

Pierre-Olivier Bouée3

     4/4         -         -         -         -         1   

Jackie Hunt4

     8/8         -         -         -         -         1   

Penny James5

     3/3         -         -         -         -         n/a   

Michael McLintock

     10         -         -         -         -         1   

Barry Stowe

     10         -         -         -         -         1   

Tony Wilkey6

     5/6         -         -         -         -         n/a   

Non-executive Directors

                 

Philip Remnant

     10         10         4/5         7         -         1   

Howard Davies

     10         10         4/5         -         6         1   

Ann Godbehere

     10         10         5         -         6         1   

Alistair Johnston

     10         10         -         -         -         1   

David Law7

     3/3         3/3         -         -         -         n/a   

Kai Nargolwala

     10         -         -         7         6         1   

Anthony Nightingale8

     10         -         4/4         7         -         1   

Alice Schroeder

     10         10         -         -         -         1   

Lord Turner7

     3/3         -         -         -         2/2         n/a   

Lord Turnbull9

     4/4         -         0/1         3/3         3/3         1   

Notes

1) Tidjane Thiam stepped down as an Executive Director and Group Chief Executive on 31 May 2015.
2) Mike Wells was appointed as Group Chief Executive on 1 June 2015.
3) Pierre-Olivier Bouée stepped down as an Executive Director on 31 May 2015.
4) Jackie Hunt resigned as an Executive Director on 3 November 2015.
5) Penny James was appointed as an Executive Director on 1 September 2015.
6) Tony Wilkey was appointed as an Executive Director on 1 June 2015.
7) David Law and Lord Turner were appointed as Non-executive Directors on 15 September 2015.
8) Anthony Nightingale was appointed as a member of the Nomination Committee on 14 May 2015.
9) Lord Turnbull stepped down as a Non-executive Director on 14 May 2015.
10) The Audit and Risk Committees held two meetings jointly during the year in addition to those listed above, which were attended by all members from both Committees.

Powers of the Board

The Board may exercise all powers conferred on it by the Company’s Articles of Association (the Articles) and the Companies Act 2006. This includes the powers of the Company to borrow money and to mortgage or charge any of its assets (subject to the limitations set out in the Companies Act 2006 and the Company’s Articles) and to give a guarantee, security or indemnity in respect of a debt or other obligation of the Company.

 

223


Table of Contents

Board Balance And Effectiveness

Succession planning

The Board continues to be actively engaged in succession planning for both executive and non-executive roles to ensure that Board composition is progressively refreshed and that the Board retains its effectiveness. The Board carries out its succession planning primarily through the Nomination Committee. The Board is kept fully apprised of the review process applied across all businesses which covers both executive director and senior management succession and development. The Board considers annually the outcome of the review and any actions arising from the review are implemented as part of the management development agenda. Egon Zehnder supported the succession planning process, undertook external searches for candidates and evaluated internal candidates for both Board and non-Board roles. Aside from these activities, Egon Zehnder did not undertake any other significant work for Prudential.

Diversity

Given the global reach of the Group’s operations, the Board makes every effort to ensure it is able to recruit directors from different backgrounds, with diverse experience, perspectives and skills. This diversity not only contributes towards Board effectiveness but is essential for successfully delivering the strategy of an international Group. The Board is committed to recruiting the best available talent and appointing the most appropriate candidate for each role. This approach, including due consideration of gender is followed as part of the Nomination Committee’s ongoing activities carried out during 2015 in respect of succession planning for Executive and Non-executive Directors.

The Board does not endorse quotas, but continues to commit to having an increasing representation of women in senior positions in the Group and on the Board.

 

224


Table of Contents

Directors’ ongoing development

Prudential offers each Director an induction programme on joining the Board and provides opportunities for ongoing development.

 

   
Induction   Ongoing development

The Chairman is responsible for ensuring that induction programmes are provided for all new directors. These are tailored to reflect the experience of each director and their position as either Executive or Non-executive Directors.

 

On appointment, Non-executive Directors embark upon a wide-ranging induction programme covering, amongst other things, the principal bases of accounting for the Group’s results, the role of the Board and its principal Committees, the Group’s key risks and the risk management framework, as well as the compliance environment in which the Group operates.

 

The programme also includes detailed briefings on the Group’s business units, its product range, the markets in which it operates and the overall competitive environment.

 

Both Mr Law and Lord Turner started their induction programme in 2015, which included sessions with key management in the Group’s businesses.

 

Executive Directors receive an induction tailored to their skills and experience.

 

The Chairman is also responsible for ensuring that all Directors continually update their skills, knowledge and familiarity with the Group. Directors regularly receive reports on the Group’s businesses and the regulatory and industry-specific environments in which it operates.

 

In 2015, the Board took time for particular focus on the Group’s US and Asian businesses. During visits to the US and Asia, the Board received updates on key products and distribution in the US and in the Asian businesses, including an investor’s perspective. The Board’s overseas visits have allowed the Directors to meet with the local senior management teams.

 

Throughout the year, the Board focussed on regulatory developments, particularly Solvency II, and the introduction of a new regulatory responsibility framework for the industry, applicable to Senior Insurance Managers. A separate session was held updating the Board on risk and capital models. In addition, Directors were provided with updates at each Board meeting on other legal and regulatory changes and developments that could impact the industry and the Group.

 

Committee members received updates at Committee meetings on areas of particular relevance to the respective committees and were kept updated on ongoing developments in these areas, as well as the impact these have on the Group. In 2015, the Audit Committee and Risk Committee held two joint sessions in which they were provided with an update on Solvency II and related disclosures.

 

Directors may request individual in-depth briefings from time to time, which is valuable to Non-executive Directors wishing to improve their knowledge of particular developments affecting the Group or particular parts of the business.

 

225


Table of Contents

Performance evaluation

2014

The table below sets out the actions taken by the Board in 2015 in response to themes arising from the 2014 externally-facilitated evaluation.

 

Theme   Action   Outcome
Board composition   Prioritise operational experience, gender balance and relevant geographical representation where possible in making new appointments to the Board. Keep the balance of Executive and Non-executive Directors under review.  

This is an ongoing focus of the work of the Nomination Committee on succession planning and is one of the key criteria included when identifying and recommending individuals for Board succession.

 

The appointment of Penny James as Group Chief Risk Officer and Executive Director, effective 1 September 2015, maintains gender balance at Board level.

 

The appointment of two further Non-executive Directors to the Board ensures the composition of the Board remains balanced between Executive and Non-Executive Directors.

 

In addition, the appointment of David Law to the Board and Audit Committee provides detailed expertise around the audit processes of global insurance groups and the appointment of Lord Turner to the Board and Risk Committee adds extensive high-level experience of international regulation and financial services.

 

Relationship with senior management   Consider ways of further increasing informal contact between Non-executive Directors and senior management, for example, inviting additional senior managers to attend Committee meetings where appropriate and continuing to create opportunities for contact with local management during overseas visits.  

Both the Audit and Risk Committees widened the pool of attendees at their meetings during 2015, including senior management from business units presenting updates where relevant.

 

As during previous overseas meetings, the Board met various senior management at Jackson and Prudential Corporation Asia as part of the overseas Board visits. These additional visits provided in-depth information and an opportunity for questions to be put directly to local management.

 

Selection processes   Provide more detailed updates and information on potential Board candidates to the whole Board as early as possible.  

The Chairman continued to ensure that the Board was updated as early as possible on potential candidates.

 

As part of the selection process leading to the appointment of David Law and Lord Turner, individual meetings with a number of Directors took place and the Board was kept updated on the appointment process throughout.

 

Board papers   Continue to review and streamline Board and Committee papers.  

Board papers remained subject to continuous improvement throughout the year to provide relevant, high quality information and strike the right balance between detail and overview.

 

 

226


Table of Contents

2015

The performance evaluation of the Board and its principal Committees for 2015 was conducted internally at the end of 2015. The assessment was carried out by the Chairman and Group General Counsel and Company Secretary through a questionnaire. The findings were presented to the Board in February 2016 and an action plan agreed to address areas of focus identified by the evaluation.

The performance of the Non-executive Directors and the Group Chief Executive was evaluated by the Chairman in individual meetings. Philip Remnant, the Senior Independent Director, led the Non-executive Directors in a performance evaluation of the Chairman.

Executive Directors are subject to regular review and the Group Chief Executive individually appraised the performance of each of the Executive Directors as part of the annual Group-wide performance evaluation of all staff.

The review confirmed that the Board continued to operate effectively during the year and no major areas requiring improvement were highlighted. Progress has been made on the actions identified in 2014 and addressed in 2015, as reported above.

The following themes were identified as areas for focus in 2016:

Governance of subsidiary boards

The Board evaluation recognised that, following agreement with the PRA to appoint independent non-executive directors to certain of the Group’s larger subsidiaries, more formal oversight of the governance arrangements for their boards would be required. In addition, a process for appointing the subsidiary independent directors and the relationship between them and the Chairman and chairs of the Group Audit and Risk Committees would need to be implemented.

Post action reviews

The evaluation noted that the Board should continue to analyse past decisions closely, testing assumptions and projections made in the past.

Board papers

On Board processes, the feedback highlighted progress made during the year, in particular improvements in clarity of papers. This is another area we will continue to focus on during 2016 to ensure that the right balance is struck regarding the level of detail provided in papers, especially for technically complex matters. This will continue to assist the Board in managing a growing agenda and keeping regulatory and strategic issues balanced appropriately.

Products and customers

The Board intends to continue holding in-depth focus sessions on products and customers of the Group, including using Board visits to the business units in the UK, Asia and the US as a key opportunity to do this.

The Board will track its progress in addressing these themes at its meetings throughout the course of 2016 and report on actions taken in its next Annual Report.

Shareholder Engagement

As a major institutional investor, the Board recognises the importance of maintaining a high level of two-way communication with shareholders. The Company holds an ongoing programme of regular contact with major shareholders, conducted by the Chairman, Group Chief Executive, Chief Financial Officer and the Director of

 

227


Table of Contents

Strategy and Capital Market Relations. Shareholder feedback from these meetings and general market views, for example from analyst research reports, are communicated to the Board.

The Senior Independent Director and other Non-executive Directors are available to meet with major shareholders on request.

The Group maintains a corporate website containing a wide range of relevant information for private and institutional investors, including the Group’s financial calendar. The Company’s Registrar, Equiniti, operates an internet access facility for registered shareholders, providing details of their shareholdings at www.shareview.co.uk.

A full programme of engagement with shareholders, potential investors and analysts, in the UK and overseas, is led each year by the Director of Strategy and Capital Market Relations. In addition, a conference for investors and analysts has been held on a regular basis since 2010, with in-depth business presentations and opportunities for attendees to meet with members of the Board and senior management through the course of the event. Most recently, the Group held a conference for investors in January 2016. The Group Chief Executive, Chief Financial Officer and investor relations team also attend major financial services conferences to present to and meet with the Company’s shareholders. In 2015, as part of the investor relations programme, over 440 meetings were held with approximately 700 individual institutional investors across the UK, in continental Europe, US and Asia.

The Chairman and Senior Independent Director also held individual meetings with major shareholders, primarily to discuss governance and strategy.

The Annual General Meeting is an opportunity for further shareholder engagement, for the Chairman to explain the Company’s progress and along with other members of the Board, to answer any questions. All Directors then in office attended the 2015 Annual General Meeting.

Details of the 2016 Annual General Meeting are available on www.prudential.co.uk, under ‘Investors’.

Further Information On Directors

Information on a number of regulations and processes relevant to Directors and how these are addressed by Prudential is given below.

 

Area   Prudential’s approach
  Non-executive Directors   Executive Directors
Rules governing appointment and
removal
 

•    The Board, or members in a general meeting, may appoint a maximum of 20 directors as set out in the Company’s Articles.

•    Their appointment and removal is also governed by other provisions in the Articles, the UK Corporate Governance Code (the UK Code), the Hong Kong Corporate Governance Code (HK Code) as appended to Hong Kong Listing Rules (the HK Listing Rules) and the Companies Act 2006.

Terms of appointment  

•    Non-executive Directors are appointed for an initial term of three years.

•    Subject to review by the Nomination Committee and re-election by shareholders, it would be expected that they serve a second term of three years.

•    After six years, Non-executive Directors may be appointed for a further year, up to a maximum of three years in total, subject to rigorous review and re-election by shareholders.

•    The Compensation Section sets out the terms of the Non-executive Directors’ letters of appointment.

 

•    The Compensation Section sets out the terms of Executive Directors’ service contracts.

 

228


Table of Contents
Area   Prudential’s approach
  Non-executive Directors   Executive Directors
   

Independence of the Non-executive Directors

 

•    Prudential is one of the UK’s largest institutional investors and the Board does not believe that this compromises the independence of those Non-executive Directors who are on the boards of companies in which the Group has a shareholding. The Board also believes that such shareholdings should not preclude the Company from having the most appropriate and highest calibre Non-executive Directors.

•    The independence of the Non-executive Directors is determined by reference to the UK Code and HK Listing Rules. Prudential is required to affirm annually the independence of all Non-executive Directors under the HK Listing Rules and the independence of its Audit Committee members under Sarbanes Oxley legislation.

•    For the purposes of the UK Code, throughout the year, all Non-executive Directors were considered by the Board to be independent in character and judgement and to have met the criteria for independence as set out in the UK Code.

•    For the HK Listing Rules purposes, the Company will consider Mr. Law independent from 1 July 2016, the date one year after his retirement from PwC. The Company has received confirmation of independence from each of the other Non-executive Directors as required by the HK Listing Rules.

•    The Board does not consider that Mr. Law’s previous position at PwC affects his status as an independent Director for the purposes of the UK Code (or in relation to his membership of the Audit Committee, under applicable Sarbanes-Oxley legislation). Mr. Law does not retain any ongoing involvement with PwC other than his pension entitlements and his current position as CEO of L&F Indemnity, the captive insurance group that serves the PricewaterhouseCoopers network (this group of companies has no involvement in the operation of PwC).

•    There were no other material factors which were deemed to affect the Non-executive Directors’ independence.

External appointments  

•    Directors may hold directorships or other significant interests in companies outside the Group which may have business relationships with the Group.

   

•    Non-executive Directors may hold positions on a number of external company boards or other bodies provided that they are able to demonstrate satisfactory time commitment to their role at Prudential and that they discuss any new appointment with the Chairman prior to accepting. This ensures that they do not compromise their independence and that any potential conflicts of interest or possible issues arising out of the time commitments required by the new role can be identified and addressed appropriately.

•    The major commitments of the Non-executive Directors are detailed in their biographies in Item 6.

 

•    Executive Directors may accept external directorships and retain any fees earned from those directorships subject to prior discussion with either the Chairman or Group Chief Executive and, where necessary, consideration by the Nomination Committee. Permission is granted provided that the appointments do not lead to any conflicts of interest.

•    In line with the UK Code, we would not expect our Executive Directors to hold more than one non-executive directorship in another FTSE 100 company nor chair such a company.

•    Details of any fees retained from such appointments are included in the Compensation section in Item 6.

 

229


Table of Contents
Area   Prudential’s approach
  Non-executive Directors   Executive Directors
Conflicts of interest  

•    Directors have a statutory duty to avoid conflicts of interest with the Company. The Company’s Articles allow its Directors to authorise conflicts of interest and the Board has adopted a policy and effective procedures to manage and, where appropriate, approve conflicts or potential conflicts of interest.

•    Under these procedures, Directors are required to notify all directorships in companies which are not part of the Group, along with other positions which could result in a conflict or could give rise to a potential conflict, before they take on their additional positions.

•    The Chairman and the Group General Counsel and Company Secretary assess new appointments which Board members are considering, in order to identify any conflicts or potential conflicts. Where a conflict or potential conflict is identified, the Nomination Committee, or the Board where appropriate, considers, and if thought fit, approves each such situation individually.

•    Authorisations of conflicts are reviewed annually prior to the publication of the Annual Report.

Election and re-election  

•    Proposals for election and re-election are supported by the annual performance evaluation of each Director, which concluded that each director continues to make an effective contribution.

•    All Directors will retire from the Board at the 2016 Annual General Meeting.

•    John Foley, Penny James, David Law, Lord Turner and Tony Wilkey will seek election for the first time.

•    All other Directors, except Alistair Johnston, wish to seek re-election.

Indemnities and protections  

•    The Company’s Articles permit the Directors and Officers of the Company to be indemnified in respect of liabilities incurred as a result of their office.

•    Suitable insurance cover is in place in respect of legal action against directors and senior managers of companies within the Group.

•    This includes qualifying third party indemnity provisions for the benefit of the Directors of the Company and other such persons in their capacity as directors of other companies within the Group.

•    These indemnities were in force during 2015 and remain so.

Independent legal advice  

•    Directors have the right to seek independent professional advice at the Group’s expense and copies of such advice are circulated to other Directors where applicable and appropriate.

Share dealing and

inside information

 

•    Prudential has adopted share dealing rules relating to securities transactions by Directors on terms no less exacting than required by Appendix 10 to the HK Listing Rules and by the UK Model Code. The Directors have complied with this code of conduct throughout the period. Relevant controls are applied to the handling and dissemination of inside information which form part of the Group’s internal governance framework.

Compensation for loss of office  

•    The Company’s policy on loss of office payments for directors forms part of the Directors’ Remuneration Policy which was approved by shareholders at the Annual General Meeting in 2014. A copy of the policy is available on the Company’s corporate website www.prudential.co.uk.

Significant contracts  

•    At no time during the year did any Director hold a material interest in any contract of significance with the Company or any subsidiary undertaking.

For additional information on the date of expiration of the Directors’ current terms of office, the period during which Directors have served and details of Executive Directors service contracts and Non-executive Directors letters of appointments (and certain benefits thereunder upon termination), please see Item 6—“Compensation Section”.

 

230


Table of Contents

Board Committee Reports

The principal Committees of the Board are the Nomination, Audit, Risk and Remuneration Committees. These Committees form a key element of the Group Governance framework, facilitating effective independent oversight of the Group’s activities by the Non-executive Directors.

Each Committee Chairman provides an update to the Board of each Committee meeting, supported by a short written summary of the Committee business considered.

Nomination Committee report

 

Committee members    Regular attendees

Paul Manduca (Chairman)

Howard Davies

Ann Godbehere

Anthony Nightingale (from May 2015)

Philip Remnant

Lord Turnbull (until May 2015)

  

Group Chief Executive

Group Human Resources Director

Group General Counsel and Company Secretary

Number of meetings in 2015: five

The role and responsibilities of the Committee are set out in its terms of reference, which are reviewed by the Committee and approved by the Board on an annual basis. The principal responsibilities of the Committee are:

 

    Keeping under review the leadership needs of the Group and ensuring suitable Board successions plans are in place;
    Reviewing the size, structure and composition of the Board including knowledge, experience and diversity, and making recommendations to the Board with regard to any changes;
    Identifying and nominating candidates, based on merit and against objective criteria, for approval by the Board to fill any Board vacancies;
    Regularly reviewing the independence of the Non-executive Directors;
    Annually reviewing the time required from a Non-executive Director to fulfil the obligations of the position;
    Recommending to the Board the re-appointment of any Non-executive Director at the conclusion of their specified term of office and making recommendations as to their re-election by shareholders;
    Considering and authorising any actual or potential situational conflicts arising from either new or existing appointments.

 

231


Table of Contents

How the Committee discharged its responsibilities during 2015

 

Matter considered    How the Committee addressed the matter

Succession planning

•    Appointments

•    Non-executive Directors

  

The Committee kept succession plans for executive and non-executive Board roles under continuous review.

 

During 2015, the Committee led a search for additional candidates to be appointed to the Board as Non-executive Directors, in order to ensure Board composition was progressively refreshed, assisted by Egon Zehnder as the search consultant.

 

An initial list of candidates was provided to the Committee and comments fed back to the Chairman. A shortlist was prepared and the Committee agreed that the Chairman would continue the search process. The Chairman coordinated the continued search, keeping the other Committee members closely involved in the process. This included conversations with potential candidates, who met the Chairman, the Group Chief Executive and other members of the Committee, including the Senior Independent Director and key management. The Board was kept regularly updated on progress.

 

Mr Law and Lord Turner were identified through this process. Mr Law has excellent knowledge and in-depth experience of the issues in the financial services industry gained throughout his lengthy career at PwC which included five years as Global Leader of their insurance practice. He also has extensive experience working with clients in an industry regulated by the Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) and the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).

 

Lord Turner has held a number of non-executive positions since 2000, which provided him with extensive involvement in audit, risk and remuneration committees across a range of industries He has in-depth knowledge of financial services gained during his appointment as Chairman of the FSA (2008-2013) and as non-executive director of the Bank of England.

 

    

The Committee recommended the appointment of Mr Law and Lord Turner to the Board for approval.

 

•    Executive Directors

  

The Committee also led searches for the executive Board vacancies which arose during the year. During 2015, the appointments of the Group Chief Executive, the Group Chief Risk Officer and the Chief Executives of the Northern American, Asian and UK & Europe businesses were recommended by the Committee.

 

Egon Zehnder were again appointed as the search consultant to review the external market and, where required, to provide support in the assessment of internal candidates.

 

Initial longlists of potential internal and external candidates were considered. After a review of the longlists, shortlisted candidates met the Chairman, the Group Chief Executive and other members of the Committee, including the Senior Independent Director and key management where appropriate. Additionally, candidates were assessed by Egon Zehnder against the role specification requirements. The outcomes of these searches are set out below.

 

Mr Wells was selected for the role of Group Chief Executive. Mr Wells has served on the Board since January 2011 as President and Chief Executive of Jackson. He has extensive experience of life insurance, retirement services and asset management, having worked in the sector for 29 years, with 20 of those years spent in senior and strategic positions at Jackson.

 

 

232


Table of Contents
Matter considered    How the Committee addressed the matter
    

Mr Stowe was selected as Chairman and Chief Executive of the North American business unit. He had served on the Board since November 2006 as Chief Executive of Prudential Corporation Asia and altogether has 35 years of experience of leading life insurance organisations in the US and Asia.

 

Mr Wilkey was selected as Chief Executive, Prudential Corporation Asia. He has 28 years of experience in life insurance. Prior to joining Prudential in 2006 as Chief Executive, Insurance, at Prudential Corporation Asia, Mr Wilkey was Deputy President and Chief Operating Officer of American International Assurance (AIA), responsible for AIA’s life companies in South East Asia.

 

Ms James was selected as Group Chief Risk Officer. She previously served as Director of Group Finance, responsible for the delivery of the Group’s financial results, business planning and performance monitoring. In that role, she also led Prudential’s Solvency II programme and was a member of the Group Executive Risk Committee.

 

Mr Foley was selected as Chief Executive, UK & Europe in January 2016. He has more than 35 years’ experience and an in-depth knowledge of Prudential UK & Europe. Mr Foley acted as Interim Chief Executive of the UK & Europe business from October 2015 in addition to his duties as Group Investment Director. Between 2011 and 2013, he served on the Company’s Board as Group Chief Risk Officer.

 

Ms Richards, will join Prudential as successor to Mr McLintock as Chief Executive of M&G Investments. Mr McLintock announced in February 2016 his intention to retire from the Board. Ms Richards joins from Aberdeen Asset Management PLC, where she held the position of Chief Investment Officer and was responsible for operations in Europe, the Middle East and Africa. She has held senior roles at JP Morgan Investment Management, Mercury Asset Management and Edinburgh Fund Managers.

    

 

The Board were kept informed throughout the process and the Committee recommended the appointment of Mr Wells, Mr Stowe, Mr Foley, Mr Wilkey, Ms James and Ms Richards to the Board for approval.

 

•    Re-election of directors

  

As part of its ongoing work on Board succession planning, the Committee considered the terms of appointment for the Chairman, Committee Chairmen and Non-executive Directors taking into account time commitment and the general balance of skills, experience and knowledge on the Board and assessing length of service in their roles. Having reviewed the performance of relevant Non-executive Directors in office at the time, the Committee recommended to the Board that those Non-executive Directors should stand for re-election at the 2015 Annual General Meeting.

 

The Chairman was appointed by the Board in July 2012 for an initial three-year term, due to expire in 2015. The performance of the Chairman is reviewed annually through a process led by the Senior Independent Director. Following review in 2015, the Committee, led by the Senior Independent Director, recommended to the Board that the Chairman be appointed for a further term of three years expiring in 2018, subject to re-election by shareholders.

 

The Committee further considered the term of appointment of Ann Godbehere, who has been a Non-executive Director since 2007 and Chairman of the Audit Committee from 2010. In line with corporate governance guidelines, any reviews of Non-executive Director terms beyond six years are particularly rigorous. The Committee invited Ann to serve an additional year expiring at the conclusion of the Annual General Meeting in 2016.

 

 

233


Table of Contents
Matter considered    How the Committee addressed the matter
    

Alistair Johnston and Kai Nargolwala completed their first term of three years following their initial appointment by shareholders at the 2012 Annual General Meeting. Following performance evaluation by the Committee and re-election by shareholders in 2015, both were invited to serve a further term of three years, expiring at the conclusion of the 2018 Annual General Meeting.

 

Independence   

 

The Committee considered the independence of the Non-executive Directors against relevant requirements as outlined in Item 6, ‘Board Practices’.

 

Conflicts of interest   

 

The Board has delegated authority to the Committee to consider, and authorise where necessary, any actual or potential conflicts of interest in accordance with relevant legislation, the provisions in the Company’s Articles and the procedures approved by the Board.

 

In February 2016, the Committee considered the external appointments of all Directors and reviewed existing conflict authorisations, reaffirming or updating any terms or conditions attached to authorisations where required.

 

New positions were reviewed during the year as they arose and conflicts authorised as relevant.

 

Governance

•    Committee effectiveness

  

 

The effectiveness of the Committee was assessed as part of the overall performance evaluation of the Board. This assessment confirmed that the Committee continued to operate effectively during the year. More information on the Board evaluation can be found in Item 6, ‘Board Practices’.

•    Group subsidiaries

  

 

At the request of the Board, and as agreed with the PRA, the Committee undertook preparatory work during 2015 in order to put in place independent chairs and directors on certain of the Group’s subsidiary boards. From February 2016, the duties of the Committee were extended to reflect the new responsibilities in relation to the governance arrangements for such subsidiary boards and the independent chairs and directors.

 

The Committee has been re-named the Nomination & Governance Committee to reflect these new duties.

 

•    Terms of reference

  

 

The Committee considered and made recommendations to the Board regarding its terms of reference during the year. The terms of reference, which are reviewed annually, can be found on the Company’s website: www.prudential.co.uk. These recommendations included provisions setting out the Committee’s new duties in respect of independent directors of certain of the Group’s subsidiaries.

Audit Committee report

 

Committee members

   Regular attendees

Ann Godbehere (Chairman)

Howard Davies

Alistair Johnston

David Law (from September 2015)

Philip Remnant

Alice Schroeder

  

Chairman of the Board

Group Chief Executive

Chief Financial Officer

Group Chief Risk Officer

Group Regulatory and Government Affairs Director

Group General Counsel and Company Secretary

Director of Group Compliance

Director of Group-wide Internal Audit

External Audit Partner

 

234


Table of Contents

Number of meetings in 2015: 10 (in addition, 2 joint meetings were held with the Risk Committee)

The role and responsibilities of the Committee are set out in its terms of reference, which are reviewed by the Committee and approved by the Board on an annual basis. The principal responsibilities of the Committee are:

 

    Monitoring the integrity of the Group’s Annual Report and Accounts and any other periodic financial reporting, reviewing the accounting policies adopted, decisions taken regarding major areas of judgement and the going concern assumption;
    Reviewing and providing advice to the Board as to whether the Group’s Annual Report and Accounts are fair, balanced and understandable;
    Keeping under review the framework and effectiveness of the Group’s systems of internal control and approving the statements to be included in financial reports concerning their effectiveness;
    Assessing the performance, independence and objectivity of the external auditor, making recommendations to the Board regarding their appointment and approving their terms of engagement;
    Reviewing the effectiveness and performance of the service provided by the internal audit function and approving the internal audit programme;
    Considering the effectiveness of compliance arrangements across the Group and approving the annual compliance plan;
    Reviewing procedures for managing allegations from whistleblowers and arrangements for employees to raise any concerns about possible financial reporting improprieties;
    Reviewing the effectiveness of the Group Governance framework and any material approvals for deviations from the Group’s governance policies;
    Approving the standard terms of reference for the Business Unit audit committees and annually reviewing their effectiveness.

How the Committee discharged its responsibilities during 2015

 

Matter considered    How the Committee addressed the matter

Financial reporting

•    Overview

  

The Committee assessed whether appropriate accounting policies had been adopted throughout the accounting period and whether management had made appropriate estimates and judgements over recognition, measurement and presentation of the financial results. There were no new or altered accounting standards in 2015 that had a material effect on the Group’s financial statements.

 

The Committee also focused on the accounting for material transactions, clarity of disclosures in financial reports, the going-concern assumptions, and compliance with accounting standards and obligations under applicable laws, regulations and governance codes. As part of this focus it reviewed the changes to the UK Corporate Governance Code with particular attention given to the Group’s planned disclosures on the required new statement discussing the longer term viability of the Group. The Committee further considered the fair, balanced and understandable requirement under the UK Code, providing advice to the Board in respect of this requirement.

 

•    Key assumptions and judgements

  

The Committee reviewed the key assumptions and judgements made in valuing the Group’s investments, insurance liabilities and deferred acquisition costs under IFRS, together with reports on the operation of internal controls to derive these amounts. It also reviewed the assumptions underpinning the Group’s European Embedded Value (EEV) metrics. The Committee considered information, including peer comparisons if relevant and available, on the following key assumptions:

 

•    Persistency, mortality, morbidity and expense assumptions within the Asia life businesses;

•    Economic and policyholder behaviour assumptions affecting the measurement of Jackson guarantee liabilities and amortisation of deferred acquisition costs; and

•    Mortality and credit risk for UK annuity business;

 

235


Table of Contents
Matter considered    How the Committee addressed the matter

•    

  

The Committee also received information on the nature of goodwill and intangible asset values and the carrying value of investments in the Group’s balance sheet. In relation to investments this included the results of independent valuations by the external auditor.

 

No significant issues arose in respect of these items.

 

•    Other financial reporting matters

  

The Audit Committee also considered the nature of non-recurrent items and judgemental matters regarding provisions for certain open tax items. The Committee was satisfied that management’s approach was reasonable in these areas.

 

The Committee considered various analyses from management regarding Group and subsidiary capital and liquidity prior to recommending to the Board that it could conclude that the financial statements should continue to be prepared on the going-concern basis and the disclosures on the Group’s longer-term viability were both reasonable and appropriate.

 

As part of its assessment of the description of performance within the Annual Report and Accounts, the Committee considered judgemental aspects of the Group’s reporting across the Group’s IFRS and EEV metrics. This assessment included a review to ensure that the allocation of items between operating and non-operating profit was in accordance with the Group’s accounting policy. The Committee considered the impact of equity and interest rate movements on the IFRS results of the Group’s US business and after discussion, the Committee was satisfied that the presentation and disclosure of such impacts was appropriate and consistent with prior periods.

 

In addition, in relation to the Group’s supplementary reporting on the EEV basis, the Committee considered the appropriateness of the economic assumptions underpinning the projected rates of return and risk discount rates, and of changes to EEV operating assumptions and the level of operating experience variances. It also reviewed the impact of changes to the Group’s EEV as a result of changes to the UK corporation tax rate enacted in the last quarter of 2015. The Committee was satisfied that the assumptions adopted by the Group were appropriate.

 

In relation to the Group’s Solvency II disclosures, the Committee considered management’s planned approach to disclosures in advance of formal implementation of Solvency II at 1 January 2016 in conjunction with the Group Risk Committee. It considered detailed papers in advance of the December announcement of internal model approval by the PRA and the investor day presentation in January 2016. It also reviewed the methodology for the basis of calculation and the disclosures within the supplementary information included in the full-year results announcement and Annual Report and Accounts. The Committee concluded the disclosure was reasonable.

 

The Committee considered the effects of volatility in equity market movements, and changes in interest and foreign currency translation rates on the Group’s results. The impact of these market-driven effects on the accounting, presentation and disclosure of the Group’s longer-term investment return assumptions and short-term fluctuations in investment return was an area of focus. No significant issues arose in respect of these items.

 

For all the above areas, the Committee received input from management and the external auditor prior to reaching its conclusions.

 

236


Table of Contents
Matter considered    How the Committee addressed the matter
     In addition to these reporting matters, the Committee also received and considered regular updates from management on the status and implications for the Group of financial reporting developments, including updates on discussions by the International Accounting Standards Board on the development of the Phase II Insurance Standard and proposed ‘Overlay’ and ‘Temporary Exemption’ options to permit altered presentation of the profit and loss account or deferral of IFRS 9 by insurers.
 
Internal control   

In conjunction with the Risk Committee, the Committee considered the outcome of the annual review of the systems of internal control and risk management. The report considered all material controls, including financial, operational and compliance controls and reflected changes in the UK Code which became effective for financial years commencing on or after 1 October 2014.

 

Having considered the review, the Committee made recommendations to the Board regarding the effectiveness of the internal control and risk management systems in place.

External audit    The Group’s external auditor is KPMG LLP and oversight of the relationship with them is one of the Committee’s key responsibilities. The Committee approved KPMG’s terms of engagement for the statutory audit, and approved fees for both audit and non-audit services in accordance with the Group’s policy.
 

•    External audit effectiveness

  

To assess the effectiveness of the auditor, the Committee reviewed the audit approach and strategy and received an internal report on their performance. They also considered findings contained in a report issued following inspection of KPMG’s audit by the Financial Reporting Council’s Audit Quality Review team.

 

The Committee discussed the findings of this external report and the actions undertaken by KPMG to address the matters raised as part of the 2015 audit. It agreed that the audit was effective overall and that any identified areas for further improvement had been addressed or had appropriate action plans in place.

 

The internal evaluation was conducted using a questionnaire which was circulated to the Committee, the Chief Financial Officer and the Group’s senior financial leadership for completion. In total 80 people provided input on the performance of the auditor.

 

The feedback provided was reviewed and compiled into a report for the Committee which covered areas such as the knowledge and expertise of the partners and team members, their understanding of the Group, the resourcing applied to the audit and continuity of the team, liaison with Group-wide internal audit and approach to resolution of issues, as well as factors such as their coordination across the Group’s multiple jurisdictions and quality of their written and oral communication. The degree of challenge and robustness of approach to the audit were key components of the evaluation.

 

The Committee Chairman invited other Group stakeholders to provide their views on the performance of the auditor, and KPMG was given the opportunity to respond to the findings in the report.

 

On completion of the activities outlined above, the Committee concluded that the audit had been effective and the challenge appropriately robust across all parts of the Group.

 

237


Table of Contents
Matter considered    How the Committee addressed the matter

•    Auditor independence and objectivity

  

The Committee has responsibility for monitoring auditor independence and objectivity and is supported in doing so by the Group’s Auditor Independence Policy (‘the Policy’). The Policy is updated annually and approved by the Committee. It sets out the circumstances in which the external auditor may be permitted to undertake non-audit services and is based on four key principles which specify that the auditor should not:

 

•    audit its own firm’s work;

•    make management decisions for the Group;

•    have a mutuality of financial interest with the Group; or

•    be put in the role of advocate for the Group.

 

The Policy has two permissible service types: those that require specific approval by the Committee on an engagement basis and those that are pre-approved by the Committee with an annual monetary limit. In accordance with the Policy, the Committee approved these permissible services, classified as either audit or non- audit services, and monitored the annual limits on a quarterly basis. All non-audit services undertaken by KPMG were agreed prior to the commencement of work and were confirmed as permissible for the external auditor to undertake under the provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.

 

During the year, the Committee considered updates to the policy required to reflect proposed changes to permissible non-audit services issued for consultation by the Financial Reporting Council, in connection with the implementation of broader EU reforms to the audit market. This will include adopting the schedule of prohibited non-audit services specified in the EU-directive. The proposed changes will begin to be implemented during the 2016 reporting period in preparation for the required full implementation for 2017.

 

In keeping with professional ethical standards, KPMG also confirmed their independence to the Committee and set out the supporting evidence for their conclusion in a report which was considered by the Committee prior to the publication of the financial results.

•    Fees paid to the auditor

  

The fees paid to KPMG for the year ended 31 December 2015 amounted to £16.6 million (2014: £16.6 million) of which £4.3 million (2014: £5.1 million) was payable in respect of non-audit services. Non-audit services accounted for 26 per cent of total fees payable (2014: 31 per cent).

 

A breakdown of the fees paid to KPMG can be found in Note B3.4 to the financial statements in Item 18.

 

Further information can also be found in Item 16C, ‘Principal Accountant Fees and Services’.

 

•    Re-appointment

  

 

Based on the outcome of the effectiveness evaluation and all other considerations, the Committee recommended to the Board that KPMG be re-appointed as the auditor. A resolution to this effect will be proposed to shareholders at the 2016 Annual General Meeting.

 

•    Audit tender

   The external audit was last put out to competitive re-tender in 1999 when the present auditor, KPMG, was appointed. Since 2005, the Committee has annually considered the need to re-tender the external audit service and it again considered this in February 2016, concluding that there was nothing in the performance of the auditor which required such a tender.

 

238


Table of Contents
Matter considered    How the Committee addressed the matter
    

The Committee acknowledges the provisions contained in the UK Code in respect of audit tendering, along with European rules on mandatory audit rotation and audit tendering. In light of this and conforming to the requirements of the European Union rules, the Company will be required to change auditor no later than for the 2023 financial year-end. The Committee also recognises that the industry is in a period of unprecedented change with the introduction of Solvency II from this January and the IASB expecting to issue a new insurance accounting standard for implementation not before 2019. The Committee currently believes any change of auditor should be scheduled to limit operational disruption during such a period of change and, as a consequence, is not currently planning to re-tender the audit ahead of 2019, subject to the Committee’s normal annual review.

 

In line with the Auditing Practices Board Ethical Statements and the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, a new lead audit partner is appointed every five years. A new lead audit partner was appointed in respect of the 2012 financial year who will be replaced post 2016 reporting.

 

Internal audit

•    Regular reporting

  

The independent assurance provided by Group-wide Internal Audit formed a fundamental part of the Committee’s deliberations on the Group’s overall control environment. The Committee received regular updates on audits conducted and management’s progress in addressing audit findings.

 

Each of the Group’s business units has an internal audit team, the heads of which report to the Director of Group-wide Internal Audit. The function also has a Quality Assurance Director, whose primary role is to monitor and evaluate adherence to industry practice guidelines and Group-wide Internal Audit’s own standards and methodology. Internal audit resources, plans, budgets and its work are overseen by both the Committee and the relevant business unit audit committee. The Director of Group-wide Internal Audit reports functionally to the Chairman of the Committee and for management purposes to the Group Chief Executive.

•    Annual plan and focus for 2016

  

The Committee approved the half year update of the 2015 plan. It also considered and approved the Internal Audit plan, resource and budget for 2016.

 

At the half-year, the Committee considered recommendations to refresh the Audit Plan in response to changes in the Business Unit operating environments and an update to the Group’s top risks. The 2016 Plan was formulated based on a bottom-up risk assessment of audit needs mapped to the Group Risk Framework,. It also considered a top-down challenge by GwIA Leadership Team of the extent of coverage of key themes, ensuring extensive coverage of Group Tier 1 and Tier 2 Top Risks as identified by the Group Risk Committee and delivering audit coverage of other key areas of risk within a tiered cycle of coverage (i.e two- three- and four-year cycles).

 

•    Internal audit effectiveness

  

In addition to the periodic external effectiveness review required every five years (last conducted in 2012), the Committee annually assesses the performance and effectiveness of the internal audit function. A 2015 internal effectiveness review, performed by the Group-wide Internal Audit Quality Assurance Director, was conducted in accordance with the professional practice standards of the Chartered Institute of Internal Auditors (CIIA). The review concluded that Group-wide Internal Audit continues to comply with the requirements of internal audit policies, procedures and practices, and standards in all material respects relating to audit planning and execution, and continued to be aligned with its mandated objectives and maintained general conformance with the CIIA guidance for Effective Internal Audit in the Financial Services Sector.

 

Having considered the findings of the 2015 internal effectiveness review, the Committee concluded that Group-wide Internal Audit had continued to operate in compliance with the requirements of Group-wide Internal Audit policies, procedures

 

239


Table of Contents
Matter considered    How the Committee addressed the matter
    

and practice standards in all material respects and remained aligned to mandated objectives during 2015.

 

•    BU audit committee effectiveness

  

 

The Committee is supported by the work carried out by the business unit audit committees and annually reviews the effectiveness of these committees. These committees provide oversight of the respective business units. During the year, membership comprised senior management who were independent of the Business Unit and in some cases included independent Non-executive Directors. The minutes of these committees were provided to the Committee and their meetings were attended by the external auditor as well as senior management from the business unit (including the Business Unit Chief Executive, heads of Finance, Risk, Compliance and Group-wide Internal Audit).

 

The Committee’s assessment of the Business Unit audit Committees was carried out by local teams from Group-wide Internal Audit and considered whether each of the committees fulfilled the responsibilities documented in their terms of reference. Attendance rates by committee members and evidence of the committees’ coverage of key business unit issues, as well as the appropriate escalation of concerns to the Committee, formed part of the criteria used for the evaluation.

•    BU model terms of reference

  

The Committee approved the Group’s standard terms of reference for business unit audit committees, which were updated to reflect changes in the Committee’s own responsibilities to align them with best practice. These were adopted by the business unit audit committees with minor variations to address local regulations or the particular requirements of the business.

 

Group Compliance

•    Regular reporting

  

Regular updates were provided to the Committee by the Group Regulatory and Government Affairs Director and the Director of Group Compliance. The reports kept the Committee apprised of communications with the principal UK regulators, international regulatory developments and compliance with the Group’s Compliance policies. The introduction of the new Senior Insurance Managers Regime (‘SIMR’), the PRA’s workplan for Prudential and the US Department of Labor’s consultation on fiduciary duties were areas of focus for the Committee. Group Compliance led the development of the Group’s framework for the implementation of the new SIMR regime and kept the Committee updated on developments in this area.

 

 

•    Compliance plan and focus for 2016

  

The Committee considered and approved the 2016 Group Compliance Plan. Areas of focus included strengthening the Compliance framework, a focus on key risk drivers which have caused compliance issues across the industry, including: conflicts of interest; culture, values and the fair treatment of customers; the articulation of compliance risk appetite; and the assessment and mitigation of key risks, including anti-money laundering and sanctions, continued proactive engagement with the PRA and FCA and a number of Business Unit-specific risk areas, which were cascaded down to the Business Units for implementation and oversight by the respective Business Unit audit committees.

 

In 2016, Group Compliance intends to take forward the policy initiatives developed in 2015 and to review and refresh the Group Compliance Policy standards against which Business Units are assessed.

 

   
Financial Crime    The Committee received the Money Laundering Prevention Officer’s report which assessed the operation and effectiveness of the Group’s systems and controls in relation to managing money laundering and sanctions risk.

 

240


Table of Contents
Matter considered    How the Committee addressed the matter
   
  

The Committee noted the regulatory developments relating to the strengthening of the regimes in Asia ahead of various Financial Action Task Force reviews and the drive for transparency of beneficial ownership, led by the G20 and UK regulators.

 

   
Whistleblowing   

Regular updates were provided to the Committee on matters raised through the Group’s Confidential Reporting Lines and the actions taken in response to these. The role of the whistleblowing champion for the purpose of the Senior Insurance Managers Regime will be carried out by the Chair of the UK business unit risk committee. At Group Level, the Chair of the Group Audit Committee remains responsible for oversight of whistleblowing activities across the whole of the Group.

 

   
Group Governance Framework   

The Group Governance Framework links together internal controls, authorisation requirements, Business Unit reporting and escalation, as well as the policies adopted by the Group. The Framework comprises a central repository of information, the Group Governance Manual, which contains these controls, plus a number of processes to ensure polices remain accurate and up to date. The Group Governance Manual is also used to promote awareness and educate colleagues across the Group about their obligations. Procedures to assess to what extent all Business Units in the Group meet these obligations are in place and the outcome is monitored by the Committee.

 

The Committee reviewed the outcomes of the Governance Quality Assurance reviews undertaken during 2015, the update on the annual Group Governance Manual content review and results of the year-end certification of compliance with the Group Governance Manual requirements for the period ended 31 December 2015.

 

   

Governance

•    Committee effectiveness

  

The Committee reviewed compliance with various applicable regulations and codes of conduct. The results of this assessment were presented to the meeting in December 2015.

The effectiveness of the Committee was assessed as part of the overall performance evaluation of the Board. This assessment confirmed that the Committee continued to operate effectively during the year. More information on the Board evaluation can be found in Item 6, “Board Practices”.

 

   

•    Private meetings

  

Periodically during the year, the Committee met with each of the external and internal auditors and with Group Security without the presence of management.

 

   

•    Terms of reference

   The Committee considered and made recommendations to the Board regarding its terms of reference during the year. The terms of reference, which are reviewed annually, can be found on the Company’s website: www.prudential.co.uk. These recommendations reflected the Committee’s new responsibilities regarding the longer-term viability statement and auditor rotation.

 

241


Table of Contents

Risk Committee report

 

Committee members    Regular attendees

Howard Davies (Chairman)

Ann Godbehere

Kai Nargolwala

Lord Turner (from September 2015)

Lord Turnbull (until May 2015)

  

Chairman of the Board

Group Chief Executive

Chief Financial Officer

Group Chief Risk Officer

Group Regulatory and Government Affairs Director

Group General Counsel and Company Secretary

Group Investment Director

Director of Group-wide Internal Audit

Number of meetings in 2015: six (in addition 2 joint meetings were held with the Audit Committee)

The role and responsibilities of the Committee are set out in its terms of reference, which are reviewed by the Committee and approved by the Board on an annual basis. The principal responsibilities of the Committee are:

 

    Recommending the Group’s overall risk appetite to the Board for approval;
    Reviewing the Group’s risk and investment frameworks and approving the policies forming part of the frameworks;
    Reviewing the Group’s material risk exposures against the risk methodologies and management’s actions to monitor and control such exposures;
    Reviewing the Group’s stress testing;
    Reviewing the overall effectiveness of the Internal Model used for the purposes of the Solvency II regime and making recommendations to the Board as required in respect of changes to the Model;
    Advising the Board on the risks inherent in strategic acquisitions and the business plan;
    Advising the Remuneration Committee on risk weightings to be applied to performance objectives for Executive remuneration;
    Monitoring the effectiveness of the Group Chief Risk Officer.

 

242


Table of Contents

How the Committee discharged its responsibilities during 2015

 

Matter considered    How the Committee addressed the matter
Risk appetite    The Committee considered the Group’s risk appetite including conducting a benchmarking exercise undertaken against comparator businesses considered relevant in terms of size, complexity, geography and business lines. Having reviewed the report and taking account of the Group’s business environment, the Committee concluded that the current risk metrics continued to be appropriate. The Committee considered the effect of the introduction of Solvency II, and recommended alterations to the Group’s Risk Appetite to the Board, reflecting the introduction of the new capital metric.
Risk management   

The Committee received deep dive reports on areas of interest from across the Group and carried out post transaction reviews of certain of the Group’s transactions.

 

The Group Risk Development Plan for the year was considered and approved by the Committee. The Plan underpins the ongoing enhancement of the Group Risk Framework and drives the development of the Group Risk function’s capability across the Group. The Plan included recommendations aimed at further embedding the Economic Capital model in risk processes and decision making, enhancing the understanding and interpretation of the Group Risk Framework and the review of the appropriateness of the limit framework, the development of the risk appetite to reflect the introduction of Solvency II and certain enhancements to the limit framework.

 

The Committee was provided with regular updates from the Group Treasury function as part of its oversight of liquidity management. It also received reports from Group-wide Internal Audit, minutes from the Group Executive Risk Committee and matters escalated by other Group-level risk management committees.

Group top risks   

The Committee evaluated the Group’s top risks, considering recommendations for promoting additional risks, expanding the scope of existing risks and removing those risks no longer requiring particular focus from the Committee. The Committee received regular reporting on these risks and mitigating actions.

 

The Group Chief Risk Officer regularly provided the Committee with updates on market conditions likely to have an impact on Group and policyholder investments, such as the implications of a sustained low interest rate environment and falling oil prices.

 

The Group Chief Risk Officer regularly reported to the Committee on compliance with the Group Risk Framework and the composition of the Group’s ‘Watch Lists’ of credit counterparties.

 

The Group Chief Risk Officer’s reports also provided the Committee with regulatory updates, particularly regarding Solvency II and submission of the Group’s Internal Model to the PRA, development of the Group’s global capital standards and the deliverables required as a result of the Group’s designation as a Global Systemically Important Insurer.

Solvency II and Pillar 3 reporting    The Committee considered the Own Risk and Solvency Assessment report based on the outcomes of the Group’s 2015-17 Business Plan and the FY14 risk and solvency positions prior to its approval by the Board. The report was also considered in light of the results of the Group’s regular stress testing. The 2015

 

243


Table of Contents
Matter considered    How the Committee addressed the matter
    

Own Risk and Solvency Assessment report enhanced the 2014 report through improved alignment with business planning and strategy processes and better linkage with the Group’s risk profile.

 

The Committee continued to oversee the submission of the Group’s Internal Model Approval Process application, including reviewing the methodology and assumptions in the model and receiving input from the independent model validation team and made recommendations to the Board in respect of its submission to the PRA. The Committee also considered and provided feedback on the overall governance process and the approach to the disclosures of the internal model outcome. This activity was undertaken working closely with the Audit Committee.

Global Systemically Important Insurer    In light of its designation as a Global Systemically Important Insurer, the Company is required to annually agree a number of deliverables with its Crisis Management Group consisting of the Group’s principal regulators. The Committee played a key part in considering and approving a number of these including the Group’s Liquidity Risk Management Plan, Systemic Risk Management Plan and Recovery Plan.
Reverse Stress Testing    The Reverse Stress Test exercise was carried out to confirm the Group’s position as being significantly resilient to certain business failure scenarios. The report related to the Group’s year end 2015 position and was submitted to the PRA.
Internal control and risk management    In conjunction with the Audit Committee, the Committee reviewed the outcome of the annual review of the Group’s systems of internal control and risk management.

Governance

•    Committee effectiveness

   The effectiveness of the Committee was assessed as part of the overall performance evaluation of the Board. This assessment confirmed that the Committee continued to operate effectively during the year. More information on the Board evaluation can be found in Item 6, ‘Board Practices’.

•    Terms of reference

   The Committee considered and made recommendations to the Board regarding its terms of reference during the year. The terms of reference, which are reviewed annually, can be found on the Company’s website: www.prudential.co.uk. These recommendations incorporated changes to reflect the Committee’s role in assessing the effectiveness of the Group’s Internal Model and making recommendations to the Board regarding proposed changes to the Group’s Internal Model.

 

244


Table of Contents

NYSE Corporate Governance Rules compared to Prudential plc’s Corporate Governance Practice

Pursuant to NYSE rule 303A Prudential has disclosed the differences between the NYSE Corporate Governance Rules and its Corporate Governance Practices on its website at www.prudential.co.uk/site-services/governance-and-policies/nyse-and-prudential-plcs-corporate-governance-rules-and-practice. See also Item 16G ‘Corporate Governance’.

Employees

The average numbers of staff employed by the Prudential group, excluding employees of the venture investment subsidiaries of the PAC with-profits fund, for the following periods were:

 

      2015      2014      2013  

Business operations:

        

Asia operations

     15,030         13,957         12,239   

US operations

     4,562         4,494         4,414   

UK operations

     5,920         5,464         5,533   

Total

             25,512                 23,915                 22,186   

At 31 December 2015, Prudential employed 21,820 permanent employees representing an increase in the year from 20,544 employees as at 31 December 2014. Most of the increase relates to Asia due to regular business growth, supporting growth in operations along with expansions in certain countries. Of the 21,820 employees, approximately 27 per cent were located in the United Kingdom, 52 per cent in Asia and 21 per cent in the United States. In the United Kingdom at 31 December 2015, Prudential had 310 employees paying union subscriptions through the payroll. At 31 December 2015, Prudential had 528 temporary employees in the United Kingdom, 3,583 in Asia and 96 in the United States. At 31 December 2015, Prudential had 244 fixed term contractors in the United Kingdom, 652 in Asia and none in the United States.

Item 7. Major Shareholders and Related Party Transactions

Major Shareholders

The Disclosure and Transparency Rules issued by the FCA provide that a person or corporate entity that acquires an interest of 3 per cent or more in Prudential ordinary shares is required to notify Prudential of that interest. If such interest subsequently reaches, exceeds or falls below a whole percentage point, this must also be notified. Similarly, a notification is required once the interest falls below 3 per cent. At 5 April 2016 Prudential had received the following notifications:

Significant Changes in Ownership

2013

 

    In May 2013, Capital Group Companies Inc. notified a decrease in interest to 255,851,954 shares, representing 9.99 per cent of the issued share capital.
    In July 2013, Capital Group Companies, Inc. notified an increase in interest to 259,009,041 shares representing 10.12 per cent of the issued share capital.
    In September 2013, Legal and General plc notified a decrease in interest to 101,803,187 shares, representing less than 3 per cent of the issued share capital.

2014

 

    No notifications were received during 2014.

2015 and 2016

 

    In 2015, one notification was received in February from Capital Group Companies notifying a decrease in their interest to 255,928,904 representing 9.96 per cent of the issued share capital.
    In 2016, up to 5 April 2016, the latest practicable date prior to the filing of this report, one notification was received in February from Capital Group companies notifying an increase in their interest to 260,722,745 representing 10.135 per cent of the issued share capital.

 

245


Table of Contents

Table: Notifications received from major shareholders as at 5 April 2016

 

Shareholder            Date advised              Percentage of
share capital
             Shareholding  

Capital Group Companies, Inc.

     04/02/2016         10.135%         260,722,745   

BlackRock Inc

     05/04/2012         5.080%         129,499,098   

Norges Bank

     26/11/2010         4.030%         102,495,000   

Major shareholders of Prudential have the same voting rights per share as other shareholders. See Item 10, ‘Additional Information Memorandum and Articles of Association—Voting Rights’.

As at 5 April 2016, there were 129 shareholders with a US address on Prudential’s register of shareholders. These shares represented approximately 0.21 per cent of Prudential’s issued ordinary share capital. As at 5 April 2016 there were 54 registered Prudential ADR holders. The shares represented by these ADRs amounted to approximately 2.26 per cent of Prudential’s issued ordinary share capital.

Prudential does not know of any arrangements which may at a subsequent date result in a change of control of Prudential.

Related Party Transactions

Information on the related party transactions of the Group is provided in note D4 to the consolidated financial statements in Item 18.

Item 8. Financial Information

See Item 18, ‘Financial Statements’.

Item 9. The Offer and Listing

Comparative Market Price Data

The tables below set forth the highest and lowest closing middle-market quotations for Prudential shares, as derived from the Daily Official List of the London Stock Exchange, the actual ADRs high and low closing sale prices for the periods indicated on the New York Stock Exchange and the highest and lowest closing prices on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange and Singapore Stock Exchange.

 

     Prudential Ordinary
Shares
     Prudential ADRs      Prudential Ordinary
Shares (Hong Kong)*
     Prudential Ordinary
Shares (Singapore)*
 
Year    High      Low      High      Low      High      Low      High      Low  
     (pence)      (US Dollars)      (HK Dollars)      (US Dollars)  

2011

     777.0         509.0         25.8         16.2         100.0         62.4         12.6         8.0   

2012

     911.5         628.5         29.4         19.6         113.8         74.0         12.3         9.9   

2013

     1,340.0         901.5         45.0         28.6         175.0         111.0         16.0         13.1   

2014

     1,552.5         1,204.0         48.7         38.9         193.0         165.4         21.5         15.8   

2015

     1,761.5         1,046.0         52.6         40.4         205.0         156.0         25.0         21.0   

 

246


Table of Contents
     Prudential Ordinary
Shares
     Prudential ADRs      Prudential Ordinary
Shares (Hong Kong)
     Prudential Ordinary
Shares (Singapore)
 
Quarter    High      Low      High      Low      High      Low      High      Low  
     (pence)      (US Dollars)      (HK Dollars)      (US Dollars)  

2014

                       

First quarter

     1,398.0         1,204.0         46.7         38.9         193.0         165.4         16.0         16.0   

Second quarter

     1,412.0         1,274.5         47.6         43.0         185.0         167.6         21.5         15.8   

Third quarter

     1,455.0         1,326.5         48.7         44.5         186.8         173.5         21.5         21.5   

Fourth quarter

     1,552.5         1,321.5         48.7         42.4         187.0         168.0         21.5         21.5   

2015

                       

First quarter

     1,761.5         1,433.0         52.6         43.35         205.0         171.0         21.7         21.5   

Second quarter

     1,720.0         1,354.2         52.2         47.6         201.0         185.1         25.0         21.9   

Third quarter

     1,641.0         1,046.0         51.3         40.36         198.0         156.0         23.8         21.0   

Fourth quarter

     1,578.5         1,388.0         48.5         42.0         185.4         164.0         25.0         21.1   
    
 
Prudential Ordinary
Shares (UK)
  
  
     Prudential ADRs        
 
Prudential Ordinary
Shares (Hong Kong)
  
  
    
 
Prudential Ordinary
Shares (Singapore)**
  
  
Month    High      Low      High      Low      High      Low      High      Low  
     (pence)         (US Dollars)         (HK Dollars)         (US Dollars)   

October 2015

     1,548.5         1,388.0         47.5         42.0         185.0         164.0         21.1         21.1   

November 2015

     1,578.5         1,453.5         47.5         42.0         185.4         173.0         25.0         22.8   

December 2015

     1,576.0         1,439.0         47.3         43.5         183.8         173.0         25.0         22.8   

January 2016

     1,519.0         1,262.0         43.5         36.7         174.9         148.5         21.9         19.5   

February 2016

     1,379.5         1,085.0         38.6         31.3         150.0         127.0         21.9         19.5   

March 2016

     1,398.5         1,244.7         40.0         35.8         154.0         135.0         21.9         19.5   

 

* Prudential listed on these stock exchanges on 25 May 2010. Accordingly, the market price data shown above for these stock exchanges is only from this date.
** Trading on the Singapore Stock Exchange was infrequent during the periods listed above.

Market Data

Prudential ordinary shares are listed on the Premium Listing segment of the Official List of the UK Listing Authority and traded on the London Stock Exchange under the symbol ‘PRU’. On 25 May 2010, Prudential ordinary shares were admitted to listing on the Main Board of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange and are traded in board lots of 500 shares with the short name ‘PRU’ and stock code 2378; and as a secondary listing on the Singapore Stock Exchange, also traded in board lots of 500 shares, with the abbreviated name ‘PRU 500’.

Prudential American Depositary Shares (ADSs) have been listed for trading on the New York Stock Exchange since 28 June 2000 under the symbol ‘PUK’.

Item 10. Additional Information

Memorandum and Articles of Association

Prudential plc is incorporated and registered in England and Wales, under registered number 1397169. Its objects are unrestricted, in line with the default position under the Companies Act 2006.

The following is a summary of both the rights of Prudential shareholders and certain provisions of Prudential’s Articles of Association (the Articles). Rights of Prudential shareholders are set out in the Articles or are provided for by English law. This document is a summary and, therefore, does not contain full details of the Articles. A complete copy of the Articles was filed as an exhibit to Form 20-F for the year ended 31 December 2008. In addition, the Articles may be viewed on Prudential’s website.

 

247


Table of Contents

Issued share capital

The issued share capital as at 31 December 2015 consisted of ordinary shares of 5 pence each, all fully paid up and listed on the London Stock Exchange and the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. Further information can be found in Note C10 to the consolidated financial statements in Item 18.

 

      Issued share capital  

2015

     2,572,454,958   

2014

     2,567,779,950   

2013

     2,560,381,736   

As at 6 April 2016, the issued share capital of Prudential was 2,572,678,226.

Prudential also maintains secondary listings on the Singapore Stock Exchange; and the New York Stock Exchange in the form of American Depositary Receipts which are referenced to ordinary shares on the main UK register.

Prudential has maintained a sufficiency of public float throughout the reporting period as required by the Hong Kong Listing Rules.

A number of dividend waivers are in place and these relate to shares issued but not allocated under the Group’s employee share plans. These shares are held by the Trustees and will, in due course, be used to satisfy requirements under the Group’s employee share plans.

The issued share capital of Prudential is not currently divided into different classes of shares. The Companies Act 2006 abolished the requirement for a company to have an authorised share capital.

As at 7 April 2016, the directors retained authority granted at the Company’s Annual General Meeting on 14 May 2015, to allot before the earlier of 30 June 2016 and the Annual General Meeting of the Company to be held in 2016, ordinary shares of up to an aggregate nominal value of £42,805,731 subject to limitations and reductions in certain circumstances. Of those shares, directors retained authority to allot equity securities for cash up to a maximum nominal value of £6,427,286 without first being required to offer such securities to shareholders in proportion with their existing holding. In the case of a rights issue, directors retained authority to allot equity securities in favor of ordinary shareholders up to an aggregate nominal amount equal to £42,805,731 subject to reduction in certain circumstances.

At the Annual General Meeting scheduled to be held on 19 May 2016, the shareholders are to vote on granting the directors a similar authority to allot (up to approximately 33 per cent of the issued share capital) before the earlier of 30 June 2017 and the Company’s 2017 Annual General Meeting.

In addition the directors have authority to allot Sterling preference shares up to a maximum nominal amount of £20 million, Dollar preference shares up to a maximum nominal amount of US$20 million, and Euro preference shares up to a maximum nominal value of 20 million, the terms of which will be determined by the Board on allotment. This authority, originally granted in 2009, was renewed by shareholders at the 2014 Annual General Meeting and is due to expire in May 2019.

The Board shall determine whether the preference shares are to be redeemable, their dividend rights, their rights to a return of capital or to share in the assets of the Company on a winding up or liquidation and their rights to attend and vote at general meetings of the Company prior to the date on which the preference shares are allotted. Under the Company’s Articles of Association, the Board has discretion to determine the terms and manner of redemption of redeemable shares when the shares are allotted.

The Board may only capitalise any amounts available for distribution in respect of any series or class of preference shares if to do so would mean that the aggregate of the amounts so capitalised would be less than the multiple, if any, determined by the Board of the aggregate amount of the dividends payable in the 12 month period following the capitalisation on the series or class of preference shares and on any other preference shares in issue which rank pari passu in relation to participation in profits. This restriction may be overturned with either: (i) the written consent of the holders of at least three-quarters in nominal value; or (ii) a special resolution passed at a general meeting of the holders of the class or series of preference shares.

 

248


Table of Contents

Dividends

Under English law, Prudential may pay dividends only if distributable profits are available for that purpose. Distributable profits are accumulated, realised profits not previously distributed or capitalised, less accumulated, realised losses not previously written off in a reduction or reorganisation of capital. Even if distributable profits are available, Prudential may only pay dividends if the amount of its net assets is not less than the aggregate of its called-up share capital and undistributable reserves (including, for example, the share premium account) and the payment of the dividend does not reduce the amount of the net assets to less than that aggregate. Subject to these restrictions, Prudential’s directors may recommend to ordinary shareholders that a final dividend be declared and recommend the amount of any such dividend or determine whether to pay a distribution by way of an interim dividend, and the amount of any such interim dividend, but must take into account Prudential’s financial position. Final dividends become a legal liability of a company upon the later of the date they are declared by shareholders and the date the shareholder approval expresses them to be payable. Interim dividends only become a legal liability of a company at the point they are paid.

The Company or its directors determine the date on which Prudential pays dividends. Prudential pays dividends to the shareholders on its share registers on the record date in proportion to the number of shares held by each shareholder. There are no fixed dates on which entitlements to dividends arise. Interest is not payable on dividends or other amounts payable in respect of shares.

If a shareholder does not claim a dividend within 12 years of such dividend becoming due for payment, such shareholder forfeits their right to receive it. Such unclaimed amounts may be invested or otherwise used for Prudential’s benefit.

Shareholder meetings

English law provides for shareholders to exercise their power to decide on corporate matters at general meetings. In accordance with English law, the Company is required to call and hold annual general meetings. At annual general meetings the following business is typically undertaken: shareholders receive and consider the statutory accounts and the reports by the Company’s auditor and its directors, approve the directors’ remuneration report (and policy every 3 years), elect and re-elect directors, declare final dividends (unless the Directors decide to pay an interim dividend), approve the appointment of the Company’s auditor, authorise the directors to determine the auditor’s remuneration, and transact any other business which ought to be transacted at a general meeting, either pursuant to the Articles or English law. General meetings to consider specific matters may be held at the discretion of Prudential’s directors or must be convened, in accordance with English law, following the written request of shareholders representing at least five per cent of the voting rights of the issued and paid-up share capital. The quorum required under the Articles for a general meeting is two shareholders present in person or by proxy and entitled to vote on the business to be transacted.

Under English law, notice periods for all general meetings have to be 21 days, except for a meeting (i) which is not an annual general meeting, (ii) for which an electronic facility for voting and appointing proxies is available to all members, and (iii) in respect of which a company obtains shareholder approval annually to retain the shorter 14-day notice period. Prudential has been able to call general meetings (other than annual general meetings) on 14-days’ notice and obtained initial shareholder approval at the Annual General Meeting on 19 May 2010 to enable it to continue to do so. A similar resolution has been put to shareholders for approval at each subsequent Annual General Meeting and the current authority will be effective until the Company’s 2016 Annual General Meeting when it will once again be proposed.

Voting rights

Voting at any meeting of shareholders is by show of hands unless the Company’s intention to call a poll is stated in the notice to the general meeting or, before or on the declaration of the result of a vote on the show of hands or on the withdrawal of any other demand for a poll, a poll is duly demanded. The Company’s practice is for all votes at its Annual General Meeting to be conducted by way of poll. A poll may be demanded as described below. On a show of hands, every shareholder holding ordinary shares who is present in person, or a duly appointed proxy or in the case of a corporation, its duly authorised corporate representative, has one vote. On a poll, every shareholder who is present

 

249


Table of Contents

in person or by proxy and every duly authorised corporate representative has one vote for every share held. Only the holders of fully paid shares are allowed to attend, be counted in the quorum at meetings and vote. If more than one joint shareholder votes, only the vote of the shareholder whose name appears first in the register is counted. A shareholder whose shareholding is registered in the name of a nominee may only attend and vote at a general meeting if appointed by his or her nominee as a proxy or a corporate representative.

Resolutions of Prudential’s shareholders generally require the approval of a majority of the shareholders to be passed. Such resolutions, referred to as ordinary resolutions, require:

 

    on a show of hands, a majority in number of the shareholders present and voting in person or by duly appointed proxies or (in the case of corporate shareholders) by authorised corporate representatives to vote in favor, or
    on a poll, more than 50 per cent of the votes cast to be in favor.

Some resolutions, referred to as special resolutions, such as a resolution to amend the Articles, require a 75 per cent majority. Such special resolutions require:

 

    on a show of hands, at least 75 per cent of the shareholders present and voting in person or by duly appointed proxies or (in the case of corporate shareholders) by authorised corporate representative to vote in favor, or
    on a poll, at least 75 per cent of the votes cast to be in favor.

Any shareholder who is entitled to attend and vote at a general meeting may appoint one or more proxies to attend and vote at the meeting on his or her behalf.

The following persons may demand a poll:

 

    the chairman of the meeting,
    at least five shareholders present in person, by corporate representative or by proxy having the right to vote on the resolution,
    any shareholder or shareholders present in person, by corporate representative or by proxy and representing at least 10 per cent of the total voting rights of all shareholders having the right to vote on the resolution, or
    any shareholder or shareholders present in person, by corporate representative or by proxy and holding shares conferring a right to vote on the resolution on which an aggregate sum has been paid up equal to at least 10 per cent of the total sum paid up on all shares conferring that right.

Transfer of shares

Transfers of shares may be made by an instrument of transfer. An instrument of transfer must be signed by or on behalf of the transferor and, unless the share is fully paid, by or on behalf of the transferee. The transferor remains the holder of the relevant shares until the name of the transferee is entered in the share register. Transfers of shares may also be made by a computer-based system and transferred without a written instrument in accordance with English law. The directors may in certain circumstances refuse to register transfers of shares, but only if such refusal does not prevent dealings in the shares from taking place on an open and proper basis. If the directors refuse to register a transfer they must send the transferee notice of the refusal within two months after the date on which the instrument of transfer was lodged, stating the reason(s) for such refusal.

Changes in share capital

Directors require authority to allot from shareholders before issuing new shares. The class and other rights attaching to new classes of shares may be determined by resolution of the shareholders or may be delegated by the shareholders to the directors. The following changes in share capital may only take place after approval by an ordinary resolution of the shareholders:

 

    share consolidations, and
    subdivisions of shares.

Reductions in Prudential’s issued share capital and share premium account must be approved by a special resolution of the shareholders and must be confirmed by an order of the court.

 

250


Table of Contents

Variation of rights

If the share capital is divided into different classes of shares, the rights of any class of shares may be changed or deemed varied, only if such measure is approved by a special resolution passed at a separate meeting of the members of that class, or with the written consent of at least three quarters of the members of that class. Two persons holding or representing by proxy at least one-third in nominal amount of the issued shares of the class must be present at such a meeting in person or by proxy to constitute a quorum.

The Board may not authorise, create or increase the amount of, any shares of any class or any security convertible into shares of any class or any security which is convertible into shares of any class ranking, as regards rights to participate in the profits or assets in the company, in priority to a series or class of preference shares without the consent in writing of at least three-quarters in nominal value of, or the sanction of a special resolution of, the holders of such series or class of preference shares.

Lien

Prudential has a lien on every share that is not a fully paid share.

Accidental omission to give notice

Accidental omission to send notice of a meeting to any person entitled to receive it, or the non-receipt for any reason of any such notice, shall not invalidate the proceedings of that meeting.

Shareholders resident abroad

There are no limitations on non-resident or foreign shareholders’ rights to own Prudential securities or exercise voting rights where such rights are given under English company law.

Winding-up

Prudential is subject to the general insolvency law applicable to UK companies.

Board of directors

Subject to the Articles of Association and to any directions given by special resolution by shareholders, the business of the Company is managed by the Board, which may exercise all the powers of the Company. However, the Company’s shareholders must approve certain matters, such as changes to the share capital and the election and re-election of directors. Directors are appointed subject to the Articles. The Board may appoint directors to fill vacancies and appoint additional directors who hold office until the next Annual General Meeting. The Articles require that each director must have beneficial ownership of a given number of ordinary shares. The number of shares is determined by ordinary resolution at a general meeting and is currently 2,500. The minimum number of directors is eight and the maximum number is 20. Shareholders may vary the limits on the number of directors by ordinary resolution. There are currently 17 directors on Prudential’s Board.

Any director who has been appointed by the Board since the last Annual General Meeting; or who held office at the time of the two preceding Annual General Meetings and who did not retire at either of them; or who has held office with the Company, other than employment or executive office, for a continuous period of nine years or more at the date of the meeting, shall retire from office and may offer himself or herself for re-election by shareholders. Shareholders may remove any director before the end of his or her term of office by ordinary resolution and may appoint another person in his or her place by ordinary resolution. The UK Corporate Governance Code contains a provision recommending that directors stand for annual re-election at the Annual General Meeting. In line with these provisions, all directors, subject to those who are retiring or being appointed for the first time, are expected to stand for re-election at the 2016 Annual General Meeting.

The directors may exercise all the powers of the Company to borrow money and to mortgage or charge any of its assets provided that the total amount borrowed does not, when aggregated with the total borrowing (which excludes, amongst other things, intra-group borrowings and amounts secured by policies, guarantees, bonds or

 

251


Table of Contents

contracts issued or given by Prudential or its subsidiaries in the course of its business) of all of Prudential’s subsidiaries, exceed the aggregate of the share capital and consolidated reserves and of one-tenth of the insurance funds of Prudential and each of its subsidiaries as shown in the most recent audited consolidated balance sheet of the Group prepared in accordance with the English law.

There is no age restriction applicable to directors in the Articles.

Disclosure of interests

There are no provisions in the Articles that require persons acquiring, holding or disposing of a certain percentage of Prudential’s shares to make disclosure of their ownership percentage. The basic disclosure requirement under Part 6 of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 and Rule 5 of the UK Disclosure and Transparency Rules of the FCA imposes a statutory obligation on a person to notify Prudential and the FCA of the percentage of the voting rights he or she directly or indirectly holds or controls, or has rights over, through his direct or indirect holding of certain financial instruments, if the percentage of those voting rights:

 

    reaches, exceeds or falls below 3 per cent and/or any subsequent whole percentage figure as a result of an acquisition or disposal of shares or financial instruments; or
    reaches, exceeds or falls below any such threshold as a result of any change in the number of voting rights attached to shares in Prudential.

The UK Disclosure and Transparency Rules set out in detail the circumstances in which an obligation to disclose will arise, as well as certain exemptions from those obligations for specified persons. Under section 793 of the UK Companies Act 2006, Prudential may, by notice in writing, require a person that Prudential knows or has reasonable cause to believe is or was during the three years preceding the date of notice interested in Prudential’s shares, to indicate whether or not that is the case and, if that person does or did hold an interest in Prudential’s shares, to provide certain information as set out in that Act.

Where a company serves notice under the provisions described above on a person who is or was interested in shares of the company and that person fails to give the company the information required by the notice within the time specified in the notice, the company may apply to an English court for an order directing that the shares in question be subject to restrictions prohibiting, among other things, any transfer of those shares, the exercise of voting rights in respect of those shares and, other than in liquidation, payments in respect of those shares.

In addition, under the Articles, a shareholder may lose the right to vote his shares if he or any other person appearing to be interested in those shares fails to comply within a prescribed period of time with such a request to give the required information with respect to past or present ownership or interests in those shares, or makes a statement in response to such a request which is in the opinion of the directors false or misleading in any material manner. In the case of holders of 0.25 per cent or more of the issued share capital of Prudential (or any class of the share capital), in addition to disenfranchisement, the sanctions that may be applied by the Company under its Articles include withholding the right to receive payment of dividends on those shares, and restrictions on transfers of those shares. In the case of holders of less than 0.25 per cent of the issued share capital of Prudential, the sanction is disenfranchisement alone.

The UK Disclosure and Transparency Rules further deal with the disclosure by certain persons, including Persons Discharging Managerial Responsibility, of interests in shares of the listed companies of which they are directors or senior managers, and in derivatives or other financial instruments relating to those shares. The City Code on Takeovers and Mergers also imposes strict disclosure requirements with regard to dealings in the securities of an offeror or offeree company on all parties to a takeover and also on their respective associates during the course of an offer period.

Directors’ interests in contracts

A director may hold positions with, or be interested in, other companies and, subject to applicable legislation, contract with the Company or any other company in which Prudential has an interest, provided he has declared his interest to the Board.

 

252


Table of Contents

A director may not vote or be counted in the quorum in relation to any resolution of the Board in respect of any contract in which he or she has an interest. This prohibition does not, however, apply to any resolution where that interest cannot reasonably be regarded as likely to give rise to a conflict of interest or where that interest arises only from certain matters specified in the Articles, including the following:

 

    certain matters that benefit the Group (such as a guarantee, indemnity or security in respect of money lent or obligations undertaken by the director at the request of or for the benefit of the Company or one of its subsidiaries);
    certain matters that are available to all other directors and/or employees (such as the provision to the director of an indemnity where all other directors are being offered indemnities on substantially the same terms or in respect of any contract for the benefit of Group employees under which the director benefits in a similar manner to the employees); and
    certain matters that arise solely from the director’s interest in shares or debentures of the Company (such as where Prudential or one of its subsidiaries is offering securities in which offer the director is entitled to participate as a holder of securities or in respect of any contract in which a director is interested by virtue of his interest in securities in the Company).

The Company may by ordinary resolution suspend or relax these provisions to any extent or ratify any contract not properly authorised by reason of a contravention of these provisions contained in its Articles.

In accordance with English company law, the Articles allow the Board to authorise any matter which would otherwise involve a director breaching his duty under the Companies Act 2006 to avoid conflicts of interest or potential conflicts of interest and the relevant director is obliged to conduct himself or herself in accordance with any terms imposed by the Board in relation to such authorisation.

Directors’ power to vote on own terms of appointment

A director shall not vote on or be counted in the quorum in relation to any resolution of the Board concerning his own appointment, or the settlement or variation of the terms or the termination of his own appointment, as the holder of any office or place of profit with the Company or any other company in which the Company is interested.

Directors’ remuneration

The remuneration of the executive directors and the Chairman is determined by the Group Remuneration Committee, which consists of non-executive directors. The remuneration of the non-executive directors is determined by the Board. For further details see Item 6, ‘Directors, Senior Management and Employees—Compensation’.

Transactions with directors

Prudential may only grant a loan or quasi-loan, or provide security or financial accommodation, to its directors and their connected persons if approval has been obtained from shareholders at a general meeting.

Payments to directors for loss of office

For further details see Item 6, ‘Directors, Senior Management and Employees—Compensation’.

Change of control

There is no specific provision in the Articles that would have an effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a change in control of Prudential and that would operate only with respect to a merger, acquisition or corporate restructuring involving Prudential, or any of its subsidiaries.

Exclusive jurisdiction

Under the Articles, any proceeding, suit or action between a shareholder and Prudential and/or its directors arising out of or in connection with the Articles or otherwise, between Prudential and any of its directors (to the fullest

 

253


Table of Contents

extent permitted by law), between a shareholder and Prudential’s professional service providers and/or between Prudential and Prudential’s professional service providers (to the extent such proceeding, suit or action arises in connection with a proceeding, suit or action between a shareholder and such professional service provider) may only be brought in the courts of England and Wales.

Material Contracts

Not applicable.

Exchange Controls

Other than the requirement to report certain events and transactions to HM Revenue and Customs, there are currently no UK laws, decrees or regulations that restrict the export or import of capital, including, but not limited to, foreign exchange controls, or that affect the remittance of dividends or other payments to non-UK residents or to US holders of Prudential’s securities, except as otherwise set forth under ‘Taxation’ in this section.

Taxation

The following is a summary, under current law and practice, of the principal UK tax, US federal income tax, Hong Kong and Singapore tax considerations relating to an investment by a US taxpayer in Prudential ordinary shares or ADSs. This summary applies to you only if:

 

    you are an individual US citizen or resident, a US corporation, or otherwise subject to US federal income tax on a net income basis in respect of your holding of Prudential ordinary shares or ADSs;

 

    you hold Prudential ordinary shares or ADSs or shares held or traded in Singapore through CDP as a capital asset for tax purposes;

 

    if you are an individual, you are not resident in the United Kingdom for UK tax purposes, and do not hold Prudential ordinary shares or ADSs for the purposes of a trade, profession, or vocation that you carry on in the United Kingdom through a branch or agency or if you are a corporation, you are not resident in the UK for UK tax purposes and do not hold the securities for the purpose of a trade carried on in the United Kingdom through a permanent establishment in the United Kingdom; and

 

    you are not domiciled in the UK for inheritance tax purposes.

This summary does not address any tax consideration other than certain UK tax, US federal income tax, Hong Kong tax and Singapore tax considerations and does not purport to be a comprehensive description of all of the tax considerations that may be relevant to any particular investor, and does not address the tax treatment of investors that are subject to special rules. Prudential has assumed that you are familiar with the tax rules applicable to investments in securities generally and with any special rules to which you may be subject. You should consult your own tax advisers regarding the tax consequences of the ownership of Prudential ordinary shares or ADSs in the context of your own particular circumstances.

The discussion is based on laws, treaties, judicial decisions, and regulatory interpretations in effect on the date hereof, all of which are subject to change possibly retrospectively.

Beneficial owners of ADSs will be treated as owners of the underlying Prudential ordinary shares for US federal income tax purposes and for purposes of the 24 July 2001 Treaty between the United States and the United Kingdom. Deposits and withdrawals of Prudential ordinary shares in exchange for ADSs generally will not result in the realisation of gain or loss for US federal income tax purposes.

UK Taxation of Dividends

UK tax is not required to be withheld in the United Kingdom at source from cash dividends paid to US resident holders.

 

254


Table of Contents

UK Taxation of Capital Gains

A holder of Prudential ordinary shares or ADSs who for UK tax purposes is a US corporation that is not resident in the United Kingdom will not be liable for UK taxation on capital gains realised on the disposal of Prudential ordinary shares or ADSs unless at the time of disposal:

 

    the holder carries on a trade in the United Kingdom through a permanent establishment in the United Kingdom, and
    the Prudential ordinary shares or ADSs are or have been used, held or acquired for use by or for the purposes of such trade or permanent establishment.

Subject to the comments in the following paragraph, a holder of Prudential ordinary shares or ADSs who, for UK tax purposes, is an individual who is not resident in the United Kingdom will not be liable for UK taxation on capital gains realised on the disposal of Prudential ordinary shares or ADSs unless at the time of the disposal:

 

    the holder carries on a trade, profession or vocation in the United Kingdom through a branch or agency, and
    the Prudential ordinary shares or ADSs are or have been used, held, or acquired for use by or for the purposes of such trade, profession, or vocation, or for the purposes of such branch or agency.

A holder of Prudential ordinary shares or ADSs who is an individual who is temporarily a non-UK resident for UK tax purposes will, in certain circumstances, become liable to UK tax on capital gains in respect of gains realised while he or she was not resident in the UK.

UK Inheritance Tax

Prudential ordinary shares which are registered on the main Prudential share register are assets situated in the United Kingdom for the purposes of UK inheritance tax (the equivalent of US estate and gift tax). Prudential ADSs are likely to be treated in the same manner as the underlying Prudential ordinary shares and as situated in the United Kingdom. Subject to the discussion of the UK-US estate tax treaty in the next paragraph, UK inheritance tax may apply if an individual who holds Prudential ordinary shares which are registered on the main Prudential share register or ADSs gifts them or dies even if he or she is neither domiciled in the United Kingdom nor deemed to be domiciled there under UK law. For inheritance tax purposes, a transfer of Prudential ordinary shares or ADSs at less than full market value may be treated as a gift for these purposes. Special inheritance tax rules apply (1) to gifts if the donor retains some benefit, (2) to close companies and (3) to trustees of settlements. Prudential ordinary shares which are registered on the Hong Kong or Irish branch register should not be treated as situated in the United Kingdom for the purpose of UK inheritance tax.

However, as a result of the UK-US estate tax treaty, Prudential ordinary shares which are registered on the main Prudential share register or ADSs held by an individual who is domiciled in the United States for the purposes of the UK-US estate tax treaty and who is not a UK national will, subject to special rules relating to trusts and settlements, not be subject to UK inheritance tax on that individual’s death or on a gift of the Prudential ordinary shares or ADSs unless the Prudential ordinary shares or ADSs:

 

    are part of the business property of a permanent establishment of an enterprise in the United Kingdom, or
    pertain to a fixed base in the UK used for the performance of independent personal services.

The UK-US estate tax treaty provides a credit mechanism if the Prudential ordinary shares or ADSs are subject to both UK inheritance tax and to US estate and gift tax.

UK Stamp Duty and Stamp Duty Reserve Tax

Relevant legislation provides that, subject to certain exemptions, UK stamp duty would be payable on a transfer of, and UK stamp duty reserve tax (‘SDRT’) would be payable upon a transfer or issue of, Prudential ordinary shares to the depositary of Prudential ordinary shares that is responsible for issuing ADSs (the ‘ADS Depositary’), or a

 

255


Table of Contents

nominee or agent of the ADS depositary, in exchange for American Depositary Receipts (‘ADRs’) representing ADSs. For this purpose, the current rate of stamp duty and SDRT is 1.5 per cent (rounded up, in the case of stamp duty, to the nearest £5).

However, as a result of case law, HMRC’s current position is that they will not seek to levy a 1.5 per cent SDRT charge on an issue of UK shares to a person providing clearance services or issuing depositary receipts, wherever located. HMRC do not, however, agree that the recent case law extends to transfers of shares to a person providing clearance services or issuing depositary receipts, wherever located, where that transfer is not an integral part of an issue of share capital. It is recommended that, should this charge arise, independent professional tax advice be sought without delay.

Provided that the instrument of transfer is not executed in the United Kingdom no UK stamp duty should be required to be paid on any transfer of Prudential ADRs representing ADSs. Based on Prudential’s understanding of HMRC’s application of the exemption from SDRT for depositary receipts a transfer of Prudential ADRs representing ADSs should not, in practice, give rise to a liability to SDRT.

Subject to the special rules relating to clearance systems and issuers of depositary receipts, a transfer for value of Prudential ordinary shares (but excluding Prudential ordinary shares registered on the Hong Kong or Irish branch register unless the instruments of transfer are executed in the UK), as opposed to ADSs, will generally give rise to a charge to UK stamp duty, other than where the amount or value of the consideration for the transfer is £1,000 or under and the transfer instrument is certified to that effect, at the rate of 0.5 per cent (rounded up to the nearest £5). The rate is applied to the price payable for the relevant Prudential ordinary shares. To the extent that UK stamp duty is paid on a transfer of Prudential ordinary shares, no SDRT should generally be payable on the agreement for that transfer.

Subject to certain special rules relating to clearance services and issuers of depositary receipts, a transfer of ordinary shares from a nominee to their beneficial owner (other than on sale), including a transfer of underlying Prudential ordinary shares from the ADS Depositary or its nominee to an ADS holder, is not subject to UK stamp duty or SDRT. No UK SDRT should be payable on an agreement to transfer Prudential ordinary shares registered on the Hong Kong or Irish branch registers, subject to the special rule relating to clearance systems and issuers of depositary receipts.

UK stamp duty is usually paid by the purchaser. Although SDRT is generally the liability of the purchaser, any such tax payable on the transfer or issue of Prudential ordinary shares to the ADS Depositary or its nominee would be payable by the ADS Depositary as the issuer of the ADSs. In accordance with the terms of the Deposit Agreement, the ADS Depositary will recover an amount in respect of such tax from the initial holders of the ADSs. However, due to HMRC’s position set out above, it is likely that no such tax will be charged in relation to an issue of Prudential ordinary shares into the ADS Depositary.

US Federal Income Tax Treatment of Distributions on Prudential Ordinary Shares or ADSs

If Prudential pays dividends, you must include those dividends in your income when you receive them. The dividends will be treated as foreign source income. You should determine the amount of your dividend income by converting pounds sterling into US dollars at the exchange rate in effect on the date of your (or the depositary’s, in the case of ADSs) receipt of the dividend. Subject to certain exceptions for short-term and hedged positions, the US dollar amount of dividends received by an individual will be subject to taxation at a lower rate than ordinary income if the dividends are ‘qualified dividends.’ Dividends received with respect to the ordinary shares or ADSs will be qualified dividends if Prudential was not, in the year prior to the year in which the dividend was paid, and is not, in the year in which the dividend is paid, a passive foreign investment company (‘PFIC’). Based on the nature of its business activities and its expectations regarding such activities in the future, Prudential believes that it was not treated as a PFIC within the meaning of the Code with respect to its 2015 taxable year and does not anticipate becoming a PFIC for its 2016 taxable year.

US Federal Income Tax Treatment of Capital Gains

If you sell your Prudential ordinary shares or ADSs, you will recognise a US source capital gain or loss equal to the difference between the US dollar value of the amount realised on the disposition and the US dollar basis in the

 

256


Table of Contents

ordinary shares of the ADSs. A gain on the sale of Prudential ordinary shares or ADSs held for more than one year will be treated as a long-term capital gain. The net long-term capital gain generally is subject to taxation at a lower rate than ordinary income. Your ability to offset capital losses against ordinary income is subject to limitations.

US Federal Medicare Tax on Net Investment Income

A 3.8 per cent surtax will generally apply to the net investment income of individuals whose modified adjusted gross income exceeds certain threshold amounts. For 2016, these amounts are $200,000 in the case of single taxpayers, $250,000 in the case of married taxpayers filing joint returns, and $125,000 in the case of married taxpayers filing separately. Net investment income includes, among other items, dividends, interest, and net gain from the disposition of property (other than certain property held in a trade or business).

US Information Reporting and Backup Withholding

Under the US tax code, a US resident holder of Prudential ordinary shares or ADSs may be subject, under certain circumstances, to information reporting and possibly backup withholding with respect to dividends and proceeds from the sale or other disposition of Prudential ordinary shares or ADSs, unless the US resident holder provides proof of an applicable exemption or correct taxpayer identification number and otherwise complies with applicable requirements of the backup withholding rules. Any amount withheld under the backup withholding rules is not additional tax and may be refunded or credited against the US resident holder’s federal income tax liability, so long as the required information is furnished to the IRS.

Hong Kong Taxation of Dividends

No tax will be payable in Hong Kong in respect of dividends Prudential pays to its US resident holders. Dividends distributed to Prudential’s US resident holders will be free of withholding taxes in Hong Kong.

Hong Kong Taxation on gains of sale

No tax is imposed in Hong Kong in respect of capital gains. However, trading gains from the sale of property by persons carrying on a trade, profession or business in Hong Kong where the trading gains are derived from or arise in Hong Kong will be chargeable to Hong Kong profits tax. Hong Kong profits tax is currently charged at the rate of 16.5 per cent on corporations and at a maximum rate of 15 per cent on individuals. Certain categories of taxpayers whose business consists of buying and selling shares are likely to be regarded as deriving trading gains rather than capital gains (e.g. financial institutions, insurance companies and securities dealers) unless these taxpayers can prove that the investment securities are held for long-term investment purposes.

Trading gains from the sale of the Prudential Shares by US resident holders effected on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange will be considered to be derived from Hong Kong. A liability for Hong Kong profits tax would thus arise in respect of trading gains derived by US resident holders from the sale of Prudential Shares effected on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange where such trading gains are realised by US resident holders from a business carried on in Hong Kong.

Hong Kong Stamp duty

Hong Kong stamp duty, currently charged at the ad valorem rate of 0.1 per cent on the higher of the consideration for or the value of the Prudential Shares, will be payable by the purchaser on a purchase and by the seller on a sale of Prudential Shares where the transfer is required to be registered in Hong Kong (i.e. a total of 0.2 per cent is ordinarily payable on a sale and purchase transaction involving ordinary shares). In addition, a fixed duty of HK$5.00 is currently payable on any instrument of transfer of ordinary shares.

Hong Kong Estate duty

Hong Kong estate duty has been abolished with effect to all deaths occurring on or after 11 February 2006.

 

257


Table of Contents

Singapore Taxation on gains of sale

Disposal of the Prudential Shares

Singapore does not impose tax on capital gains. However, gains of an income nature may be taxable in Singapore. There are no specific laws or regulations which deal with the characterisation of whether a gain is income or capital in nature. Gains arising from the disposal of the Prudential Shares by US resident holders may be construed to be of an income nature and subject to Singapore income tax, especially if they arise from activities which are regarded as the carrying on of a trade or business and the gains are sourced in Singapore.

Adoption of FRS 39 for Singapore Tax Purposes

Any US resident holders who apply, or who are required to apply, the Singapore Financial Reporting Standard 39 Financial Instruments—Recognition and Measurement (‘FRS 39’) for the purposes of Singapore income tax may be required to recognise gains or losses (not being gains or losses in the nature of capital) in accordance with the provisions of FRS 39 (as modified by the applicable provisions of Singapore income tax law) even though no sale or disposal is made. Taxpayers who may be subject to such tax treatment should consult their own accounting and tax advisers regarding the Singapore income tax consequences of their acquisition, holding and disposal of the Prudential Shares.

Singapore Taxation of Dividend distributions

As Prudential is incorporated in England and Wales and is not tax resident in Singapore for Singapore tax purposes, dividends paid by Prudential will be considered as sourced outside Singapore (unless the Prudential Shares are held as part of a trade or business carried out in Singapore in which event the US resident holders of such shares may be taxed on the dividends as they are derived).

Foreign-sourced dividends received or deemed received in Singapore by an US resident individual not resident in Singapore is exempt from Singapore income tax. This exemption will also apply in the case of a Singapore tax resident individual who receives his foreign-sourced income in Singapore on or after 1 January 2004 (except where such income is received through a partnership in Singapore).

Foreign-sourced dividends received or deemed received by corporate investors in Singapore (including US investors carrying on trade or business in Singapore) will ordinarily be liable to Singapore tax. However, foreign-sourced income in the form of dividends, branch profits and service income received or deemed to be received in Singapore by Singapore tax resident companies on or after 1 June 2003 can be exempt from tax if certain prescribed conditions are met, including the following:

 

  (i) such income is subject to tax of a similar character to income tax (by whatever name called) under the law of the territory from which such income is received; and

 

  (ii) at the time the income is received in Singapore, the highest rate of tax of a similar character to income tax (by whatever name called) levied under the law of the territory from which the income is received on any gains or profits from any trade or business carried on by any company in that territory at that time is not less than 15 per cent.

Certain concessions and clarifications have also been announced by the Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore with respect to such conditions.

Singapore Stamp duty

As Prudential is incorporated in England and Wales and the Prudential Shares are not registered on any register kept in Singapore, no stamp duty is payable in Singapore:

 

  (i) on the issuance of the Prudential Shares; and

 

  (ii) on any transfer of the Prudential Shares.

 

258


Table of Contents

Prudential Shares held or traded in Singapore through CDP will be registered on the HK Register. As such, Hong Kong stamp duty will be payable on a transfer of Prudential Shares held or traded in Singapore through CDP. Please refer to the description under the Hong Kong stamp duty section above.

All persons, including US resident holders, who hold or transact in Prudential Shares in Singapore through the SGX-ST and/or CDP should expect that they will have to bear Hong Kong stamp duty in respect of transactions in Prudential Shares effected in Singapore through the SGX-ST and/or CDP. Such persons should consult their brokers, or custodians for information regarding what procedures may be instituted for collection of Hong Kong stamp duty from them.

Singapore Estate duty

Singapore estate duty has been abolished with respect to all deaths occurring on or after 15 February 2008.

Singapore Goods and Services Tax

There is no Goods and Services Tax (‘GST’) payable in Singapore on the subscription or issuance of the Prudential Shares. The clearing fees, instruments of transfer deposit fees and share withdrawal fees are subject to GST at the prevailing standard- rate (currently 7 per cent) if the services are provided by a GST registered person to a holder of the Prudential Shares. However, such fees could be zero-rated when provided to a US resident holder of the Prudential Shares belonging outside Singapore provided certain conditions are met. For a holder of the Prudential Shares belonging in Singapore who is registered for GST, the GST incurred is generally not recoverable as input tax credit from the Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore unless certain conditions are satisfied. These GST-registered holders of the Prudential Shares should seek the advice of their tax advisors on these conditions.

Documents on Display

Prudential is subject to the informational requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 applicable to foreign private issuers. In accordance with these requirements, Prudential files its annual report on Form 20-F and other documents with the Securities and Exchange Commission. You may read and copy this information at the following location:

Conventional Reading Rooms

Headquarters

100 F Street, N.E.

Room 1580

Washington, D.C. 20549

Please call the SEC at (202) 551 8090 for further information on the conventional reading rooms. Copies of these materials can also be obtained by email to PublicInfo@sec.gov or mail at prescribed rates from the Office of Investor Education and Advocacy of the Securities and Exchange Commission, 100 F Street, N.E., Room 1580, Washington, D.C. 20549. In addition, some of Prudential’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including all those filed on or after 4 November 2002, are available on the websites of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the New York Stock Exchange.

Prudential also files reports and other documents with the London, Hong Kong and Singapore stock exchanges. This information may be viewed on the websites of each of those exchanges as well as via the UK Financial Conduct Authority’s National Storage Mechanism. All reports and other documents filed with the each of the exchanges are also published on Prudential’s website.

 

259


Table of Contents

Item 11. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk

Overview

As a provider of financial services, including insurance, the management of risk lies at the heart of the Group’s business. The control procedures and systems established within the Group are designed to manage, rather than eliminate, the risk of failure to meet business objectives. They can only provide reasonable and not absolute assurance against material misstatement or loss, and focus on aligning the levels of risk taking with the achievement of business objectives.

The Group’s internal control processes are detailed in the Group Governance Manual. This is supported by the Group Risk Framework, which provides an overview of the Group-wide philosophy and approach to risk management. Where appropriate, more detailed policies and procedures have been developed at Group and/or business unit levels. These include Group-wide mandatory policies on certain operational risks, including: health, safety, fraud, money laundering, bribery, business continuity, information security and operational security, and policies on certain financial risks. Additional guidelines are provided for some aspects of actuarial and financial activity.

Prudential’s Group Risk Framework requires that all of the Group’s businesses and functions establish processes for identifying, evaluating and managing the key risks faced by the Group. The Group Risk Framework is based on the concept of ‘three lines of defence’: Risk management; risk oversight and independent assurance. Primary responsibility for strategy, performance management and risk control lies with the Board, which has established the Group Risk Committee to assist in providing leadership, direction and oversight in respect of the Group’s significant risks, and with the Group Chief Executive and the chief executives of each business unit. Risk taking and management thereof is facilitated through both the Group Executive Committee and the Balance Sheet and Capital Management Committee. Risk oversight is provided by a number of Group level risk committees, chaired by the either the Chief Financial Officer or the Group Chief Risk Officer. Independent assurance comprises the Group-wide Internal Audit function, which provides independent and objective assurance to the Board, its Audit and Risk Committees and the Group Executive Committee.

The Group’s risk reporting framework forms an important part of the Group’s business processes and planning. Business units review their risks as well as opportunities as part of their business plans, and risks against business objectives are regularly discussed with Group executive management.

Additional information on the Group’s risk framework is included in the risk and capital management section under ‘Group Risk Framework in Item 4 Information on the Company.’

The management of the risk attached to the Group’s financial instruments and insurance liabilities, together with the inter-relationship with the management of capital is summarised in the following sections.

Major Risks

Specific business environmental and operational risks are discussed under Item 3, ‘Key Information—Risk Factors’, Item 4, ‘Group Risk Framework’ and Item 5, ‘Operating and Financial Review and Prospects—Principal Factors Affecting Prudential’s Results of Operations’. Risks discussed under Item 4, ‘Information on the Company—Business of Prudential’ include ‘Business of Prudential—UK Business’ and ‘Business of Prudential—Legal Proceedings’.

Market and financial risks

A detailed analysis of market and financial risks is provided in Item 4 ‘Group Risk Framework’ and note C7 to the consolidated financial statements in Item 18. Additional discussion on the currency of the Group’s investments and core borrowings is provided below.

Currency of Investments

Prudential’s investments are generally held in the same currency as its liabilities and, accordingly, pound sterling liabilities will generally be supported by pound sterling assets and US dollar liabilities will generally be supported by US dollar assets. However, where Prudential believes it is appropriate, it holds some non-domestic equities in the equity portfolios in the belief that this diversifies the overall portfolio risk.

Further quantitative disclosure of Prudential’s currency of financial assets and liabilities is provided in note C3.5(a)(iii) and C3.5(b) to the consolidated financial statements in Item 18.

 

260


Table of Contents

Currency of Core Borrowings

Prudential is subject to certain interest rate risk and foreign exchange risk on its core borrowings. At 31 December 2015, Prudential held £2,932 million of pounds sterling debt, £2,064 million, or approximately $3,042 million, of US dollar debt and £15 million, or approximately 20 million of Euro debt. £4,721 million of the core debt was at fixed rates of interest and £290 million was at or has been swapped into floating rates of interest.

The profit and loss accounts of foreign subsidiaries are translated at average exchange rates for the year. Assets and liabilities of foreign subsidiaries are translated at closing exchange rates. Foreign currency borrowings that have been used to provide a hedge against Group equity investments in overseas subsidiaries are also translated at closing exchange rates. The Group has designated perpetual subordinated capital securities totalling US$2.8 billion (2014: US$2.8 billion) as a net investment hedge to hedge the currency risks related to the net investment in Jackson. The impact of these translations is recorded as other comprehensive income.

Sensitivity Analysis

Prudential is sensitive to interest rate movements, movements in the values of equities and real estate and foreign exchange fluctuations.

Sensitivity analysis with regard to the Group’s investments in debt securities, equities and real estate, to insurance contracts and to foreign exchange fluctuations, is provided in note C7 to the consolidated financial statements in Item 18.

Additional sensitivity analysis of the Group’s long-term debt and interests in derivatives contracts has been provided below.

 

261


Table of Contents

Interest Rate Risk—Long-term Debt

The table below quantifies the estimated increase in fair value of long-term borrowings at 31 December 2015 and 2014, resulting from a 100 basis point reduction in interest rates at those dates. The carrying value of short-term borrowings, which approximates their fair value, would not be materially increased by a 100 basis point reduction in interest rates. Prudential believes this to be a reasonably possible near-term market change for interest rates.

 

    31 December 2015 £m     31 December 2014 £m  
     Carrying Value     Fair Value     Estimated
Increase in
Fair Value
    Carrying Value     Fair Value     Estimated
Increase in
Fair Value
 

Long-term borrowings

           
Bonds, £300 million aggregate principal amount, 6.875 per cent due 2023     300        378        28        300        391        33   
Bonds, £250 million aggregate principal amount, 5.875 per cent due 2029     249        313        39        249        326        44   
Bonds, £435 million aggregate principal amount, 6.125 per cent, due 2031     430        502        61        429        541        75   
Bonds, £400 million aggregate principal amount, 11.375 per cent, due 2039     393        498        18        391        530        26   
Bonds, £700 million aggregate principal amount, 5.70 per cent, due 2063     695        702        98        695        801        138   
Capital securities, $1,000 million aggregate principal amount, 6.5 per cent perpetual     678        687        96        641        649        91   
Capital securities, $250 million aggregate principal amount, 6.75 per cent perpetual(ii)     170        180        -        160        164        -   
Capital securities, $300 million aggregate principal amount 6.5 per cent perpetual(ii)     203        217        -        193        196        -   
Capital securities, $700 million aggregate principal amount, 5.25 per cent perpetual(ii)     472        479        75        444        458        75   
Capital securities, $550 million aggregate principal amount, 7.75 per cent perpetual(ii)     372        387        49        351        377        50   
Medium Term Subordinated Notes, 20 million, 2023(i)     15        15        -        16        16        -   
Bonds, £600 million, 5 per cent due 2055(v)     590        562        64        -        -        -   
Total central companies     4,567        4,920        528        3,869        4,449        532   
Insurance operations            
Guaranteed bonds, £100 million, principal amount, 8.5 per cent undated subordinated     100        111        15        100        114        16   
Surplus notes, $250 million principal amount, 8.15 per cent due 2027(iv)     169        224        23        160        202        21   
Total long-term business     269        335        38        260        316        37   
Other operations            
Bank Loans(iii)     275        275        -        275        275        -   
Total     5,111        5,530        566        4,404        5,040        569   

Notes

(i) The 20 million borrowings were issued at 20-year Euro Constant Maturity Swap (capped at 6.5 per cent). These have been swapped into borrowings of £14 million with interest payable at three month £LIBOR plus 1.2 per cent.

 

(ii) The US$250 million 6.75 per cent borrowings, the US$300 million 6.5 per cent borrowings, the US$550 million 7.75 per cent borrowings and the US$700 million 5.25 per cent borrowings can be converted, in whole or in part, at the Company’s option and subject to certain conditions, on any interest payment date, into one or more series of Prudential preference shares.

 

262


Table of Contents
(iii) The Prudential Capital bank loan of £275 million has been made in two tranches: a £160 million loan maturing on 20 December 2017 and a £115 million loan also maturing on 20 December 2017. These two tranches are currently drawn at a cost of 12 month £LIBOR plus 0.40 per cent.

 

(iv) The Jackson borrowings are unsecured and subordinated to all present and future indebtedness, policy claims and other creditor claims of Jackson.

 

(v) In June 2015, the company issued core structural borrowings of £600 million 5.00 per cent subordinated notes due 2055. The proceeds, net of discount adjustment and costs, were £590 million.

There is no impact on profit at 31 December 2015 and 2014 as a result of these reductions in interest rates because the liabilities are recognised in the financial statements at carrying value, which is equal to their amortised cost.

Derivative Contracts

As at 31 December 2015 the net market value exposure of derivatives was an liability of £161 million of which the largest exposures were held by the UK and US insurance operations. Excluding derivative contracts within assets held to cover linked liabilities and those attributable to unit holders of consolidated unit trusts and similar funds, as at 31 December 2015 the market value exposure of derivatives of the UK and US insurance operations was an asset of £469 million. The tables below show the sensitivity of the UK and US insurance operations derivatives, measured in terms of fair value, to equity and real estate market increases and decreases of 10 per cent and to interest rate increases and decreases of 100 basis points. Prudential believes these increases and decreases to be reasonably possible near-term market changes. These exposures will change as a result of ongoing portfolio and risk management activities.

 

     31 December 2015 £m      31 December 2014 £m  
    

10 per cent

Equity & Real

Estate Increase

            

10 per cent

Equity & Real

Estate Increase

    

10 per cent

Equity & Real

Estate Increase

            

10 per cent

Equity & Real

Estate Increase

 
     

Increase/

(decrease)

in Fair Value

    

Fair

Value

    

Increase/

(decrease)

in Fair Value

    

Increase/

(decrease)

in Fair Value

    

Fair

Value

    

Increase/

(decrease)

in Fair Value

 
United Kingdom—insurance operations                  

With-profits fund (including PAL)

     124         16         (116)         245         921         (235)   

Shareholder-backed annuities

     -         (151)         -         -         67         -   

SAIF

     7         (52)         (7)         19         3         (19)   
United States—insurance operations      (883)         656         1,434         (447)         665         925   

Total

     (752)         469         1,311         (183)         1,656         671   
     31 December 2015 £m      31 December 2014 £m  
    

100 bp Interest

Rate Increase

            

100 bp Interest

Rate Increase

    

100 bp Interest

Rate Increase

            

100 bp Interest

Rate Increase

 
     

Increase/

(decrease)

in Fair Value

    

Fair

Value

    

Increase/

(decrease)

in Fair Value

    

Increase/

(decrease)

in Fair Value

    

Fair

Value

    

Increase/

(decrease)

in Fair Value

 
United Kingdom—insurance operations                  

With-profits fund (including PAL)

     (970)         16         1,251         (714)         921         917   

Shareholder-backed annuities

     (43)         (151)         53         (92)         67         126   

SAIF

     (5)         (52)         6         1         3         (2)   
United States—insurance operations      (533)         656         714         (516)         665         709   

Total

     (1,551)         469         2,024         (1,321)         1,656         1,750   

Limitations

The above sensitivities do not consider that assets and liabilities are actively managed and may vary at the time any actual market movement occurs. There are strategies in place to minimise the exposure to market fluctuations. For example, as market indices fluctuate, Prudential would take certain actions including selling

 

263


Table of Contents

investments, changing investment portfolio allocation, and adjusting bonuses credited to policyholders. In addition, these analyses do not consider the effect of market changes on new business generated in the future.

Other limitations on the sensitivities include: the use of hypothetical market movements to demonstrate potential risk that only represent Prudential’s view of reasonably possible near-term market changes and that cannot be predicted with any certainty; the assumption that interest rates in all countries move identically; the assumption that all global currencies move in tandem with the US dollar against pounds sterling; and the lack of consideration of the inter- relation of interest rates, equity markets and foreign currency exchange rates.

Item 12. Description of Securities other than Equity Securities

Payments received from the ADR Depositary

Direct payments

J.P. Morgan Chase Bank, N.A. is the depositary (ADR Depositary) of Prudential’s ADR program. The ADR Depositary has agreed to reimburse Prudential for certain reasonable expenses related to Prudential’s ADR program and incurred by Prudential in connection with the ADR program. The reimbursements shall be used by Prudential for actual expenses incurred in connection with the program during the contract year (year ending 19 May in each year), including but not limited to, expenses related to US investor relations servicing, US investor presentations, financial advertising and public relations.

No reimbursements were made in 2015.

Fees or charges payable by ADR holders

The ADR holders of Prudential are required to pay the following fees to the ADR Depositary for general depositary services:

 

Category   ADR Depositary actions   Associated fee or charge
Depositing or surrendering the underlying shares  

Each person to whom ADRs are delivered against deposits of shares, and each person surrendering ADRs for withdrawal of deposited securities

 

  Up to US$5.00 for each 100 ADSs (or portion thereof) evidenced by the ADRs delivered or surrendered
Cable fee  

Cable fee for delivery of underlying shares in the home market on the back of a cancellation

 

  US$25 for each delivery
Currency charges   Charges incurred by the ADR Depositary in the conversion of foreign currency into US Dollars  

Amount paid by the ADR Depositary, and such charges are reimbursable out of such foreign currency

 

Item 13. Defaults, Dividend Arrearages and Delinquencies

None.

Item 14. Material Modifications to the Rights of Security Holders

None.

Item 15. Controls and Procedures

Management has evaluated, with the participation of Prudential plc’s Group Chief Executive and Chief Financial Officer, the effectiveness of Prudential plc’s disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and

 

264


Table of Contents

15d-15(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (‘Exchange Act’)) as of 31 December 2015. There are inherent limitations to the effectiveness of any system of disclosure controls and procedures, including the possibility of human error and the circumvention or overriding of the controls and procedures. Accordingly, even effective disclosure controls and procedures can only provide reasonable assurance of achieving their control objectives. Based upon Prudential plc’s evaluation, Prudential plc’s Group Chief Executive and Chief Financial Officer have concluded that as of 31 December 2015 Prudential plc’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective to provide reasonable assurance that information required to be disclosed by Prudential plc in the reports Prudential plc files and submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarised and reported, within the time periods specified in the applicable rules and forms and that it is accumulated and communicated to Prudential plc’s management, including Prudential plc’s Group Chief Executive and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

Prudential plc is required to undertake an annual assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting under Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act 2002 (‘Section 404’). In accordance with the requirements of Section 404 the following report is provided by management in respect of Prudential plc’s internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rules13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act).

Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting

Management acknowledges its responsibility for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting for Prudential plc. Internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board.

Management has conducted, with the participation of Prudential plc’s Group Chief Executive and Chief Financial Officer, an evaluation of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting based on the criteria set forth in ‘2013 Internal Control—Integrated Framework’ issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (‘COSO’). Based on the assessment under these criteria, management has concluded that, as of 31 December 2015, Prudential plc’s internal control over financial reporting was effective.

In addition, there have been no changes in Prudential plc’s internal control over financial reporting during 2015 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to affect materially, Prudential plc’s internal control over financial reporting.

KPMG LLP, which has audited the consolidated financial statements of Prudential plc for the year ended 31 December 2015, has also audited the effectiveness of Prudential plc’s internal control over financial reporting in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). KPMG LLP’s report on internal control over financial reporting is shown on page F-2 in Item 18.

Item 16A. Audit Committee Financial Expert

The Board has determined that Ann Godbehere, Chairman of the Audit Committee, qualifies as an audit committee financial expert within the meaning of Item 16A of Form 20-F, and that Ms Godbehere is independent within the meaning of Rule 10A-3 under the Exchange Act.

Item 16B. Code of Ethics

Prudential has a code of ethics, as defined in Item 16B of Form 20-F under the Exchange Act, (which Prudential calls its Group Code of Business Conduct) which applies to the Group Chief Executive, Group Chief Financial Officer, the Group Chief Risk Officer and persons performing similar functions as well as to all other employees. Prudential’s Code of Business Conduct is available on its website at www.prudential.co.uk. If Prudential amends the provisions of the Code of Business Conduct, as it applies to the Group Chief Executive, Group Chief Financial Officer and the Group Chief Risk Officer or if Prudential grants any waiver of such provisions, the Company will disclose such amendment or waiver on the Prudential website.

 

265


Table of Contents

Item 16C. Principal Accountant Fees and Services

Total fees payable to KPMG for the fiscal years ended 31 December are set out below:

 

      2015 £m        2014 £m  

Fees payable to the Company’s auditor for the audit of the Company’s annual accounts

     2.0           2.0   

Fees payable to the Company’s auditor and its associates for other services:

       

Audit of subsidiaries pursuant to legislation

     7.2           6.6   

Audit-related assurance services

     3.1           2.9   

Tax compliance services

     0.7           0.7   

Other assurance services

     2.2           1.9   

Services relating to corporate finance transactions

     0.2           0.1   

All other services

     1.2           2.4   

Total

     16.6           16.6   

In addition, there were fees of £0.1 million (2014: £0.1 million) for the audit of pension schemes.

2015

Fees of £2.0 million for the audit of Prudential’s annual accounts comprised statutory audit fees of £0.8 million, US reporting audit fees of £0.5 million and EEV reporting audit fees of £0.7 million. Fees of £7.2 million for audit of subsidiaries pursuant to legislation mainly related to the audit of local and statutory accounts and to statutory audit work in connection with the submission of results to be consolidated in Prudential’s annual accounts.

Fees of £3.1 million for audit related assurance services supplied pursuant to legislation comprised of Sarbanes-Oxley reporting of £2.3 million and interim and regulatory reporting of £0.8 million.

Fees of £0.7 million for services relating to taxation related to tax compliance throughout the Group.

Fees of £2.2 million for all other assurance services included £1.0 million in connection with Solvency II reporting and disclosures and £1.2 million for other services in respect of accounting and regulatory developments.

Fees of £1.2 million for all other services comprised model validation services of £0.9 million and other services of £0.3 million.

2014

Fees of £2.0 million for the audit of Prudential’s annual accounts comprised statutory audit fees of £0.8 million, US reporting audit fees of £0.5 million and EEV reporting audit fees of £0.7 million. Fees of £6.6 million for audit of subsidiaries and associates pursuant to legislation mainly related to the audit of local and statutory accounts and to statutory audit work in connection with the submission of results to be consolidated in Prudential’s annual accounts.

Fees of £2.9 million for audit related assurance services supplied pursuant to legislation comprised of Sarbanes-Oxley reporting of £2.3 million and interim and regulatory reporting of £0.6 million.

Fees of £0.7 million for services relating to taxation related to tax compliance throughout the Group.

Fees of £1.9 million for all other assurance services comprised services in respect of accounting and regulatory requirements.

Fees of £2.4 million for all other services comprised model validation services of £1.6 million and other services of £0.8 million principally for advice on regulatory projects and IT security matters and other advisory services.

Item 16D. Exemptions from the Listing Standards for Audit Committees

Not applicable

 

266


Table of Contents

Item 16E. Purchases of Equity Securities by Prudential plc and Affiliated Purchasers

The following table sets forth information with respect to purchases made by or on behalf of Prudential or any ‘affiliated purchasers’ (as that term is defined in Rule 10b-18(a)(3) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) of Prudential’s ordinary shares or American depositary shares for the year ended 31 December 2015.

 

Period   Total Number of
Shares Purchased(1)
    Average Price Paid Per
Share
    Total Number of
Shares Purchased at
Part of Publicly
Announced Plans or
Programs
    Maximum Number of
Shares that May Yet be
Purchased Under
Plans or Programs
 
          (£)              
1 January – 31 January     52,474        15.00        N/A        N/A   
1 February – 28 February     49,423        16.10       
1 March – 31 March     4,660,458        16.94       
1 April – 30 April     52,371        17.05       
1 May – 31 May     145,542        16.20       
1 June – 30 June     160,078        16.01       
1 July – 31 July     55,208        15.74       
1 August – 31 August     57,653        15.06       
1 September – 30 September     154,461        13.91       
1 October – 31 October     58,087        15.51       
1 November – 30 November     56,948        15.21       
1 December – 31 December     61,441        15.03                   

Note

(1) The shares listed in this column were acquired by employee benefit trusts during the year to satisfy future obligations to deliver shares under the Company’s employee incentive plans, the savings related share option scheme and the share participation plan.

This table excludes Prudential plc shares purchased by investment funds managed by M&G in accordance with investment strategies that are established by M&G acting independently of Prudential plc.

Item 16F. Change in Registrant’s Certifying Accountant

During 2014 our auditors, KPMG Audit Plc instigated an orderly wind down of the business due to reorganisation within KPMG in the UK. The Board therefore put KPMG LLP forward to be appointed as auditor and a resolution concerning their appointment was put to a shareholder vote at the Annual General Meeting on 15 May 2014.

During the years ended 31 December 2013 and 2012 and the subsequent interim period through to the date of the Annual General Meeting, (1) KPMG Audit Plc had not issued any reports on the financial statements of the Company or on the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting that contained an adverse opinion or a disclaimer of opinion, nor were the auditors’ reports of KPMG Audit Plc qualified or modified as to uncertainty, audit scope, or accounting principles and (2) there had not been any disagreement over any matter of accounting principles or practices, financial statement disclosure, or auditing scope or procedures, which disagreements if not resolved to KPMG Audit Plc’s satisfaction would have caused it to make reference to the subject matter of the disagreement in connection with its auditors’ reports, or any “reportable event” as described in Item 16F(a)(1)(v) of Form 20-F.

The Company has provided KPMG Audit Plc with a copy of the foregoing disclosure and has requested that KPMG Audit Plc furnish the Company with a letter addressed to the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) stating whether KPMG Audit Plc agrees with such disclosure and, if not, stating the respects in which it does not agree. A copy of KPMG Audit Plc’s letter, dated 7 April 2016, in which KPMG Audit Plc states that it agrees with such disclosure, is filed herewith as Exhibit 15.6.

 

267


Table of Contents

Item 16G Corporate Governance

On 4 November 2003, the New York Stock Exchange (the ‘NYSE’) established new corporate governance rules. The application of the NYSE’s rules is restricted for foreign companies, recognising that they have to comply with domestic requirements. As a foreign private issuer, Prudential must comply with the following NYSE rules:

 

  1. The Company must satisfy the audit committee requirements of the SEC;
  2. The Group Chief Executive must promptly notify the NYSE in writing after any executive officer of the Company becomes aware of any non-compliance with any applicable provisions of Section 303(A) of the NYSE’s Listed Company Manual;
  3. The Company must submit an executed written affirmation annually to the NYSE affirming the Company’s compliance with applicable NYSE Corporate Governance Standards and submit an interim written affirmation notifying it of specified changes to its audit committee or a change to the Company’s status as a foreign private issuer; and
  4. The Company must provide a brief description of any significant difference between its corporate governance practices and those followed by US companies under the NYSE listing standards.

As a company listed on the London Stock Exchange, Prudential is required to comply with the Listing Rules, Disclosure and Transparency Rules and Prospectus Rules issued by the FCA and to report and explain non-compliance with the UK Corporate Governance Code ( the ‘UK Code’) which is issued by the Financial Reporting Council. As a result of its listing on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, Prudential is also required to comply with certain continuing obligations set forth in the Rules Governing the Listing of Securities on The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited (the ‘HK Listing Rules’) and is expected to comply with or explain any deviation from the provisions of the Corporate Governance Code contained in Appendix 14 to the HK Listing Rules (the ‘HK Code’). Any deviation from compliance with either corporate governance code is set out fully in the corporate governance report in the Annual Report 2015.

The table below discloses differences between Prudential’s corporate governance practices and the NYSE rules on corporate governance. Unless specifically indicated otherwise, compliance with the provisions of the UK Code in the table below also includes compliance with the HK Code.

 

    

NYSE Corporate Governance Rules

  

Description of differences between Prudential’s
governance practice and the NYSE
Corporate Governance Rules

1    Director independence   
   Listed companies must have a majority of independent directors.    Prudential complies with the equivalent requirements contained in the UK Code.
      The UK Code requires that the Board should include a balance of executive and non-executive directors such that no individual or small group of individuals can dominate the Board’s decision taking. At least half the Board, excluding the Chairman, should comprise non-executive directors determined by the Board to be independent.
      The Independence of directors where appropriate, is outlined in Item 6, ‘Board Practices’ and in the Company’s Governance Report as part of the 2015 Annual Report.
  

In order to tighten the definition of ‘independent director’ for purposes of these standards:

 

a)     i)      No director qualifies as ‘independent’ unless the Board of directors affirmatively determines that the director has no material relationship with the listed company (either directly or as a partner,

   The Board is required to determine whether non-executive directors (including directors serving on the Audit Committee and the Remuneration Committee) are independent in character and judgement and whether there are relationships or circumstances which are likely to affect, or could affect, the directors’ judgement. If the Board determines that a director is independent

 

268


Table of Contents
    

NYSE Corporate Governance Rules

  

Description of differences between Prudential’s
governance practice and the NYSE
Corporate Governance Rules

  

shareholder or officer of an organisation that has a relationship with the company). The listed company must comply with the disclosure requirements set forth in Item 407(a) of Regulation S-K.

 

ii)     In addition, in affirmatively determining the independence of any director who will serve on the compensation committee of the listed company’s board of directors, the board of directors must consider all factors specifically relevant to determining whether a director has a relationship to the listed company which is material to that director’s ability to be independent from management in connection with the duties of a compensation committee member, including, but not limited to:

 

(A)    the source of compensation of such director, including any consulting, advisory or other compensatory fee paid by the listed company to such director; and

 

(B)    whether such director is affiliated with the listed company, a subsidiary of the listed company or an affiliate of a subsidiary of the listed company.

 

(F)   In addition, a director is not independent if:

 

i)      The director is, or has been within the last three years, an employee of the listed company, or an immediate family member is, or has been within the last three years, an executive officer of the listed company.

 

  

notwithstanding the existence of relationships or circumstances which may appear relevant to its determination it shall state its reasons. In undertaking this process the Board is required, amongst other factors, to consider if the director:

 

• Has been an employee of Prudential plc or the Group within the last five years;

 

• Has, or has had within the last three years, a material business relationship with Prudential either directly, or as a partner, shareholder, director or senior employee of a body that has such a relationship with Prudential;

  

ii)     The director has received, or has an immediate family member who has received, during any twelve -month period within the last three years, more than $120,000 in direct compensation from the listed company, other than director and committee fees and pension or other forms of deferred compensation for prior service (provided such compensation is not contingent in any way on continued service). Prudential complies with the corresponding domestic requirements contained in the Code, which sets out the principles for the Company to determine whether a director is ‘independent’.

 

iii)    (A) The director is a current partner or employee of a firm that is the listed company’s internal or external auditor; (B) the director has an immediate family

  

• Has received or receives additional remuneration from Prudential apart from a director’s fee, participates in Prudential’s share options or a performance -related pay scheme, or is a member of Prudential’s pension scheme;

 

• Has close family ties with any of Prudential’s advisers, directors or senior employees;

 

• Holds cross -directorships or has significant links with other directors through involvement in other companies or bodies;

 

• Represents a significant shareholder; or

 

• Has served on the Board for more than nine years from the date of their first election.

 

In addition, in assessing whether its directors are ‘independent’, the Board considers further factors set out in the HK Listing Rules taken into account by the Hong Kong Stock Exchange in assessing the

 

269


Table of Contents
    

NYSE Corporate Governance Rules

  

Description of differences between Prudential’s
governance practice and the NYSE
Corporate Governance Rules

  

member who is a current partner of such a firm; (C) the director has an immediate family member who is a current employee of such a firm and personally works on the listed company’s audit; or (D) the director or an immediate family member was within the last three years a partner or employee of such a firm and personally worked on the listed company’s audit within that time.

 

iv)    The director or an immediate family member is, or has been within the last three years, employed as an executive officer of another company where any of the listed company’s present executive officers at the same time serves or served on that company’s compensation committee.

 

v)     The director is a current employee, or an immediate family member is a current executive officer, of a company that has made payments to, or received payments from, the listed company for property or services in an amount which, in any of the last three fiscal years, exceeds the greater of $1 million, or 2 per cent of such other company’s consolidated gross revenues.

  

independence of non-executive directors (without treating any such factor as necessarily conclusive). These include, among others, whether a director:

 

•  is a director, partner or principal of a professional adviser which currently provides, or has within one year immediately prior to the date of his proposed appointment provided, services, or is an employee of such professional adviser who is or has been involved in providing such services during the same period to, among others, Prudential or any of its subsidiaries;

 

•  is, or has at any time during the two years immediately prior to the date of proposed appointment been, an executive or director (other than an independent non-executive director) of, among others, Prudential or any of its subsidiaries.

      The Independence of directors where appropriate, is outlined in Item 6, ‘Board Practices’ and in the Company’s Governance Report as part of the 2015 Annual Report.
2    Executive Sessions   
   To empower non-management directors to serve as a more effective check on management, the non-management directors of each listed company must meet at regularly scheduled executive sessions without management.    Prudential complies with the equivalent provisions set out in the UK Code, which requires that the Chairman of Prudential should hold meetings with the non-executive directors without executives present. The Chairman of Prudential usually meets formally, at least annually, with the non-executive directors without the executive directors being present.
3    Nominating/Corporate Governance Committee   
  

a)     Listed companies must have a nominating/ corporate governance committee composed entirely of independent directors.

 

b)     The nominating/corporate governance committee must have a written charter that addresses:

 

i)      the committee’s purpose and responsibilities—which, at minimum, must be to: identify individuals qualified to become board members, consistent with criteria approved by the Board, and to

  

Prudential complies with the corresponding provisions set out in the UK Code, which requires that Prudential has a Nomination Committee, which should comprise a majority of independent non-executive directors.

 

Prudential’s Nomination and Governance Committee has written terms of reference in accordance with the UK Code. The terms of reference are available on Prudential’s website, and explain the Nomination and Governance Committee’s role and the authority delegated to it by the Board.

 

270


Table of Contents
    

NYSE Corporate Governance Rules

  

Description of differences between Prudential’s
governance practice and the NYSE
Corporate Governance Rules

  

select, or to recommend that the Board select, the director nominees for the next annual meeting of shareholders; develop and recommend to the Board a set of corporate governance guidelines applicable to the corporation; and oversee the evaluation of the Board and management; and

 

ii)     an annual performance evaluation of the committee.

  

The Board is responsible for regularly reviewing its corporate governance standards and practices. Requirements of the UK code to which Prudential is subject, do not mandate it to establish a corporate governance committee.

 

Under the UK Code, the Board should state in the annual report how performance evaluation of the Board, its committees and its individual directors has been conducted. Prudential includes such description in its Annual Report, which is available on its website.

4    Compensation Committee   
  

a)     Listed companies must have a compensation committee composed entirely of independent directors. Compensation committee members must satisfy the additional independence requirements specific to compensation committee membership set forth in Section 303A.02(a)(ii).

 

b)     The compensation committee must have a written charter that addresses:

 

i)      the committee’s purpose and responsibilities—which, at minimum, must be to have direct responsibility to:

 

(A)   review and approve corporate goals and objectives relevant to CEO compensation, evaluate the CEO’s performance in light of those goals and objectives, and, either as a committee or together with the other independent directors (as directed by the Board), determine and approve the CEO’s compensation level based on this evaluation;

 

(B)   make recommendations to the Board with respect to non-CEO executive officer compensation, and incentive -compensation and equity -based plans that are subject to Board approval; and

 

(C)    prepare the disclosure required by Item 407(e)(5) of Regulation S-K;

 

ii)     an annual performance evaluation of the compensation committee ; and

  

Prudential complies with the equivalent provisions set out in the UK Code, which require that Prudential must have a Remuneration Committee that is comprised of at least three independent non-executive directors.

 

Prudential’s Remuneration Committee has written terms of reference in accordance with the UK Code. The terms of reference are available on Prudential’s website.

 

Prudential complies with the equivalent

requirement set out in the UK Code, which

provides that the Remuneration Committee:

 

a)   should have delegated responsibility for setting remuneration for all executive directors and the chairman, including pension rights and any compensation payments;

 

b)   should recommend and monitor the level and structure of remuneration for senior management;

 

c)   should carefully consider what compensation commitments (including pension contributions and all other elements) their directors’ terms of appointment would entail in the event of early termination;

 

d)   should invite shareholders specifically to approve all new long-term incentive schemes and significant changes to existing schemes;

 

e)   should judge where to position the Company relative to other companies and should be sensitive to pay and employment conditions elsewhere in the group, especially when determining annual salary increases;

 

f)    should consider whether the directors should be eligible for annual bonuses and benefits under long-term incentive schemes, bearing in mind that performance-related elements of executive

 

271


Table of Contents
    

NYSE Corporate Governance Rules

  

Description of differences between Prudential’s
governance practice and the NYSE
Corporate Governance Rules

     

directors’ remuneration should be designed to promote the long-term success of the group; and

 

g)   that the annual report should include a description of the work of the Remuneration Committee.

 

The Remuneration Committee has the authority to engage independent counsel and other advisers as it determines necessary to carry out its duties. Prudential must provide appropriate funding for the Remuneration Committee.

 

The UK Code requires that, where remuneration consultants are appointed, they should be identified in Prudential’s annual report and a statement made as to whether they have any connection with Prudential.

 

Under the UK Code, the Board should state in the annual report how performance evaluation of the Board, its committees and its individual directors has been conducted. Prudential includes such description in its Annual Report which is available on its website.

  

iii)    the rights and responsibilities of the compensation committee set forth in Section 303A.05(c).

 

c)    i)    The compensation committee may, in its sole discretion, retain or obtain the advice of a compensation consultant, independent legal counsel or other advisor.

 

ii)     The compensation committee shall be directly responsible for the appointment, compensation and oversight of the work of any compensation consultant, independent legal counsel or other adviser retained by the compensation committee.

 

iii)    The listed company must provide for appropriate funding, as determined by the compensation committee, for payment of reasonable compensation to a compensation consultant, independent legal counsel or any other adviser retained by the compensation committee.

 

iv)    The compensation committee may select a compensation consultant, legal counsel or other advisor to the compensation committee only after taking into consideration all factors relevant to that person’s independence from management, including the following:

 

(A)   the provision of other services to the listed company by the person that employs the compensation consultant, legal counsel or other adviser;

  

 

272


Table of Contents
    

NYSE Corporate Governance Rules

  

Description of differences between Prudential’s
governance practice and the NYSE
Corporate Governance Rules

  

(B)   the amount of fees received from the listed company by the person that employs the compensation consultant, legal counsel or other adviser, as a percentage of the total revenue of the person that employs the compensation consultant, legal counsel or other adviser;

 

(C)   the policies and procedures of the person that employs the compensation consultant, legal counsel or other adviser that are designed to prevent conflicts of interest;

 

(D)   any business or personal relationship of the compensation consultant, legal counsel or other adviser with a member of the compensation committee;

 

(E)   any stock of the listed company owned by the compensation consultant, legal counsel or other adviser; and

 

(F)   any business or personal relationship of the compensation consultant, legal counsel, other adviser or the person employing the adviser with an executive officer of the listed company.

  
5    Audit Committee   
  

Listed companies must have an audit committee that satisfies the requirements of Rule 10A-3 under the Securities Exchange Act.

 

In general:

 

• Rule 10A-3(b)(1) requires that each member of the audit committee be a member of the board of directors of the issuer, and be independent within the meaning of the Rule, subject to certain exemptions;

 

• Rule 10A-3(b)(2) requires the audit committee to be directly responsible for the appointment, compensation, retention and oversight of the work of the independent auditor engaged for the purpose of preparing or issuing an audit report or performing other audit, review or attest services for the issuer, and the independent auditor must report directly to the audit committee;

 

  

Prudential complies with equivalent requirements set out in the UK Code, which requires that Prudential has an Audit Committee that is comprised entirely of at least three independent non-executive directors.

 

Prudential’s Audit Committee has written terms of reference prepared in accordance with the requirements of the UK Code and related guidance. The terms of reference are available on Prudential’s website and explain the Audit Committee’s role and the authority delegated to it by the Board.

 

The terms of reference, amongst other items, set out the Committee’s role and responsibilities in respect of the external audit.

 

The Committee reviews management’s and the external and internal auditors’ reports on the effectiveness of systems for internal control, financial reporting and risk management. It also reviews the effectiveness of the Group governance framework.

 

The Audit Committee makes recommendations, through the Board, to be put to shareholders for approval at the Annual General Meeting, in relation to the appointment, re-appointment or removal of the external auditor.

 

273


Table of Contents
   

NYSE Corporate Governance Rules

  

Description of differences between Prudential’s
governance practice and the NYSE
Corporate Governance Rules

 

• Rule 10A-3(b)(3) requires that an audit committee establish procedures for the receipt, retention and treatment of complaints received by the issuer regarding accounting, internal accounting controls or auditing matters and for the confidential, anonymous submission by employees of concerns regarding questionable accounting or auditing matters;

 

• Rule 10A-3(b)(4) requires that an audit committee have the authority to engage outside advisors, including counsel, as it determines necessary to carry out its duties;

 

• Rule 10A-3(b)(5) requires the issuer to provide appropriate funding, as determined by the audit committee, for payment of compensation to the issuer’s independent auditor and to any advisors employed by the audit committee.

  

The Audit Committee has established a procedure for the receipt, retention and treatment of complaints regarding accounting, internal accounting controls or auditing matters.

 

The Audit Committee has the authority to engage independent counsel and other advisers as it determines necessary to carry out its duties.

 

Prudential must provide appropriate funding for the Audit Committee.

 

(a)   The audit committee must have a minimum of three members. All audit committee members must satisfy the requirements for independence set out in Section 303A.02 and, in the absence of an applicable exemption, Rule 10A-3(b)(1).

  

Prudential complies with the equivalent provisions set out in the UK Code which requires that the Audit Committee should comprise a minimum of three ‘independent’ non-executive directors.

 

Prudential has determined that each member of its Audit Committee is ‘independent’ for the purposes of Rule 10A-3(6)(1) under the Securities Exchange Act and UK Code.

 

Prudential complies with the equivalent provisions set out in the UK Code which requires that the Board should satisfy itself that at least one member of the Audit Committee has recent and relevant financial experience. The Board of Prudential has designated that Ann Godbehere, Chairman of the Audit Committee, qualifies as an audit committee financial expert.

 

(b)   The audit committee must have a written charter that addresses:

 

(i)     the committee’s purpose—which, at minimum, must be to:

  

Prudential’s Audit Committee has written terms of reference in accordance with the UK Code. The terms of reference are available on Prudential’s website.

 

The UK Code requires that the main role and responsibilities of the Audit Committee should include:

 

(A)   assist board oversight of (1) the integrity of the listed company’s financial statements, (2) the listed company’s compliance with legal and regulatory requirements, (3) the independent auditor’s qualifications and independence, and (4) the performance of the listed company’s internal audit function and independent auditors (if the listed company does not yet have an internal

  

• To monitor the integrity of the financial statements of the Company;

 

• To review the Company’s internal financial controls and risk management systems as they related to financial reporting;

 

• To monitor and review the effectiveness of the Company’s internal audit function;

 

 

274


Table of Contents
   

NYSE Corporate Governance Rules

  

Description of differences between Prudential’s
governance practice and the NYSE
Corporate Governance Rules

 

audit function because it is availing itself of a transition period pursuant to Section 303A.00, the charter must provide that the committee will assist board oversight of the design and implementation of the internal audit function); and

  

• To make recommendations to the Board, for it to put to the shareholders for their approval in general meeting, in relation to the appointment, re- appointment and removal of the external auditor and to authorise the Board to set the remuneration and terms of engagement of the external auditor.

 

• To review and monitor the external auditor’s independence and objectivity and the effectiveness of the audit process, taking into consideration relevant UK professional and regulatory requirements; and

 

• To develop and implement policy on the engagement of the external auditor to supply non-audit services, taking into account relevant guidance regarding the provision of non-audit services by the external audit firm, and to report to the Board, identifying any matters in respect of which it considers that action or improvement is needed and making recommendations as to the steps to be taken;

 

• To report to the Board on how it has discharged its responsibilities; and

 

• To review arrangements by which staff of the Company may, in confidence, raise concerns about possible improprieties in matters of finance reporting or other matters.

 

(B)   prepare the disclosure required by Item 407(d)(3)(i) of Regulation S-K;

   The UK Code requires that there is a separate section in a Company’s Annual Report which describes the work of the Committee in discharging its duties.
 

(ii)    an annual performance evaluation of the audit committee; and

   A description of the Committee’s evaluation is included in the Annual Report.
 

(iii)   the duties and responsibilities of the audit committee—which, at a minimum, must include those set out in Rule 10A-3(b)(2), (3), (4) and (5) of the Securities Exchange Act, as well as to:

  
 

(A)   at least annually, obtain and review a report by the independent auditor describing: the firm’s internal quality -control procedures; any material issues raised by the most recent internal quality -control review, or peer review, of the firm, or by any inquiry or investigation by governmental or professional authorities, within the preceding five years, respecting one or more independent audits carried out by the firm, and any steps taken to deal with any such issues; and (to assess

   Prudential’s Audit Committee monitors and reviews the effectiveness of the Company’s internal audit function.

 

275


Table of Contents
   

NYSE Corporate Governance Rules

  

Description of differences between Prudential’s
governance practice and the NYSE
Corporate Governance Rules

 

the auditor’s independence) all relationships between the independent auditor and the listed company;

  
 

(B)   meet to review and discuss the listed company’s annual audited financial statements and quarterly financial statements with management and the independent auditor, including reviewing the listed company’s specific disclosures under ‘Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations’;

   Monitoring the integrity of the Group’s Annual Report and Accounts and any other periodic financial reporting, reviewing the accounting policies adopted, decisions taken regarding major areas of judgement and the going concern assumption;
 

(C)   discuss the listed company’s earnings press releases, as well as financial information and earnings guidance provided to analysts and rating agencies;

   Prudential’s Audit Committee reviews the press releases associated with key financial results prior to their publication.
 

(D)   discuss policies with respect to risk assessment and risk management;

   Prudential’s Audit Committee reviews the Company’s internal financial controls and, unless expressly addressed by the Board itself, reviews the Company’s internal control and risk management systems in relation to financial reporting. The Group Risk Committee has responsibility for the oversight of risk management.
 

(E)   meet separately, periodically, with management, with internal auditors (or other personnel responsible for the internal audit function) and with independent auditors;

   Committee members meet separately with management throughout the year and at least annually meet alone with the internal and external auditors.
 

(F)   review with the independent auditor any audit problems or difficulties and management’s response;

   The terms of reference of Prudential’s Audit Committee require it to consider management’s responses to any major external audit recommendations, and to resolve disagreements between management and the external auditor regarding financial reporting.
 

(G)  set clear hiring policies for employees or former employees of the independent auditors; and

   The terms of reference of Prudential’s Audit Committee require it to set clear hiring policies for employees or former employees of the external auditor.
 

(H)   report regularly to the Board of directors.

   Prudential’s Audit Committee reports regularly to the Board of directors.
 

(c)    Each listed company must have an internal audit function.

  

Prudential has an Internal Audit function and the Audit Committee is responsible for:

 

a.     approving the internal audit programme, requesting where appropriate, that internal audit undertake specific work, and monitoring the significant findings from major investigations, including management’s response to them;

 

276


Table of Contents
   

NYSE Corporate Governance Rules

  

Description of differences between Prudential’s
governance practice and the NYSE
Corporate Governance Rules

    

b.     reviewing the effectiveness and performance of the service provided by the internal audit function, including conformance with the Chartered Institute of Internal Auditors Code for ‘Effective Internal Audit in the Financial Services Sector’, approving the internal audit budget, ensuring that it is adequately resourced and free from constraint, and has the appropriate standing with the Group;

 

c.     authorising the Committee Chairman to consider on behalf of the Committee the appointment, resignation, performance and overall remuneration of the head of internal audit;

6   Shareholder Approval of Equity Compensation Plans   
  Shareholders must be given the opportunity to vote on all equity -compensation plans and material revisions thereto, except for employment inducement awards, certain grants, plans and amendments in the context of mergers and acquisitions, and certain specific types of plans.    Prudential complies with corresponding domestic requirements in the Listing Rules issued by the UK Listing Authority which mandate that the Company must seek shareholder approval for employee share plans.
7   Corporate Governance Guidelines   
  Listed companies must adopt and disclose corporate governance guidelines.    Prudential complies with the corresponding provisions set out in the Listing Rules issued by the UK Listing Authority and the UK Code, which require that Prudential include an explanation in its Annual Report of how it complies with the principles of the UK Code and require confirmation that it complies with the UK Code’s provisions or, where it does not, to provide an explanation of why it does not comply.
8   Code of Business Conduct and Ethics   
  Listed companies must adopt and disclose a code of business conduct and ethics for directors, officers and employees, and promptly disclose any waivers of the code for directors or executive officers.    Prudential’s Code of Business Conduct is available on Prudential’s website. Although not required by the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, Prudential has extended the applicability of its Code of Business Conduct to all employees and agents.
9   Description of Significant Differences for Foreign Private Issuers   
  Listed foreign private issuers must disclose any significant ways in which their corporate governance practices differ from those followed by domestic companies under NYSE listing standards.    Prudential conforms by publishing this document to fulfill the requirement.
  A foreign private issuer that is required to file an annual report on Form 20-F with the SEC must include the statement of significant differences in that annual report. All other foreign private issuers may either (i) include the statement of significant differences in an annual report filed with the SEC or (ii) make the statement of significant differences available on or through the listed company’s website. If the statement of significant differences is made available on or    Prudential conforms by publishing this document in its annual report on Form 20-F and on its website to fulfill the requirement. The address of the website is also published in Prudential’s Form 20-F.

 

277


Table of Contents
   

NYSE Corporate Governance Rules

  

Description of differences between Prudential’s
governance practice and the NYSE
Corporate Governance Rules

  through the listed company’s website, the listed company must disclose that fact in its annual report filed with the SEC and provide the website address.   
  Listed companies must have and maintain a publicly accessible website.    Prudential conforms by maintaining a publicly accessible website, on which printable versions of the terms of reference of its Remuneration Committee, Nomination and Governance Committee, Risk Committee and Audit Committee, its corporate governance practice, its Code of Business Conduct and documents disclosing any significant ways in which its corporate governance practices differ from those followed by companies under NYSE listing standards are posted in the English language.

 

278


Table of Contents

Item 18. Financial Statements

Index to the consolidated financial statements

 

               Page          

Reports of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

   F-2

Consolidated Income Statements for the years ended 31 December 2015, 2014 and 2013

   F-4

Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income for the years ended 31 December 2015, 2014 and 2013

   F-5

Consolidated Statements of Changes in Equity for the years ended 31 December 2015, 2014 and 2013

   F-6

Consolidated Statements of Financial Position at 31 December 2015 and 2014

   F-9

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended 31 December 2015, 2014 and 2013

   F-11

Index to the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

   F-12

 

F-1


Table of Contents

REPORTS OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

To the Board of Directors and Shareholders of Prudential plc:

We have audited the accompanying consolidated statements of financial position of Prudential plc (the Company) and its subsidiaries (collectively, the Group) as at 31 December 2015 and 2014 and the related consolidated statements of income, comprehensive income, changes in equity, and cash flows for the two-year period ended 31 December 2015 including the disclosures marked ‘audited’ within the Group Risk Framework section on pages 48 to 58 of Item 4 of the 2015 Form 20-F of the Group, and the related condensed financial statement Schedule II of the Company as at 31 December 2015 and 2014, and for each of the years in the three-year period ended 31 December 2015. We also have audited the Group’s internal control over financial reporting as of 31 December 2015, based on criteria established in Internal Control Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). The Group’s management is responsible for these consolidated financial statements and condensed financial statement schedule, for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting, and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, included in the accompanying Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting within Item 15. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the accompanying consolidated financial statements and condensed financial statement schedule and an opinion on the Group’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audits.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audits to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement and whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audits of the consolidated financial statements included examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, and evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. Our audit of internal control over financial reporting included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, and testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk. Our audits also included performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinions.

A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorisations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorised acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.

Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Group as of 31 December 2015 and 2014 and the results of its operations and its cash flows for the two-year period ended 31 December 2015, in conformity with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB). Also, in our opinion, the related condensed financial statement schedule of the Company as at 31 December 2015 and 2014, and for each of the years in the three-year period ended 31 December 2015, when considered in relation to the basic consolidated financial statements taken as a whole, presents fairly, in all material respects, the information set forth therein in conformity with UK generally accepted accounting practice (UK GAAP). As set out in the notes to the condensed financial statement schedule, the Company adopted Financial Reporting Standard 101 Reduced Disclosure Framework during the year under UK GAAP. Comparative financial information in the condensed financial statement schedule has been restated accordingly. Accounting principles under UK GAAP may vary in certain significant respects from IFRS as issued by the IASB. Information relating to the nature and effect of such differences is presented in note 4 to the condensed financial statement schedule of the Company. Also in our opinion, the Group maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of 31 December 2015, based on criteria established in Internal Control – Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO).

 

7 April 2016       /s/ KPMG LLP
     

KPMG LLP

London, England

 

F-2


Table of Contents

To the Board of Directors and Shareholders of Prudential plc

We have audited the accompanying consolidated statements of income, comprehensive income, changes in equity, and cash flows (the consolidated financial statements) for the year ended 31 December 2013, including the disclosures marked ‘audited’ within the Group Risk Framework section on pages 48 to 58 of Item 4 of the 2015 Form 20-F of Prudential plc (the Company) and its subsidiaries (collectively, the Group). The Group’s management is responsible for the consolidated financial statements. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the consolidated financial statements based on our audit.

We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the consolidated financial statements are free of material misstatement. Our audit of the consolidated financial statements included examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the consolidated financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, and evaluating the overall presentation of the consolidated financial statements. Our audits also included performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects the results of the operations and cash flows of the Group for the year ended 31 December 2013, in conformity with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB).

 

8 April 2014       /s/ KPMG Audit Plc
     

KPMG Audit Plc

London, England

 

F-3


Table of Contents

Prudential plc and subsidiaries

Consolidated Income Statements

Years ended 31 December

 

      Note         2015 £m           2014 £m           2013 £m  
Gross premiums earned        36,663        32,832        30,502   
Outward reinsurance premiums          (1,157)        (799)        (658)   
Earned premiums, net of reinsurance    B1.5     35,506        32,033        29,844   
Investment return    B1.5     3,304        25,787        20,347   
Other income    B1.5     2,495        2,306        2,184   
Total revenue, net of reinsurance    B1.4     41,305        60,126        52,375   
Benefits and claims        (30,547)        (50,736)        (42,227)   
Outward reinsurers’ share of benefit and claims        1,389        631        622   
Movement in unallocated surplus of with-profits funds          (498)        (64)        (1,549)   
Benefits and claims and movement in unallocated surplus of with-profits funds, net of reinsurance        (29,656)        (50,169)        (43,154)   
Acquisition costs and other expenditure    B3     (8,208)        (6,752)        (6,861)   
Finance costs: interest on core structural borrowings of shareholder-financed operations        (312)        (341)        (305)   
Disposal of Japan life business:         

Cumulative exchange loss recycled from other comprehensive income

   D1     (46)                 

Remeasurement adjustments

   D1            (13)        (120)   
Total charges, net of reinsurance    B1.4     (38,222)        (57,275)        (50,440)   
Share of profits from joint ventures and associates, net of related tax    D6     238        303        147   
Profit before tax (being tax attributable to shareholders’ and policyholders’ returns)*        3,321        3,154        2,082   
Less tax charge attributable to policyholders’ returns          (173)        (540)        (447)   
Profit before tax attributable to shareholders    B1.1     3,148        2,614        1,635   
Total tax charge attributable to policyholders and shareholders    B5     (742)        (938)        (736)   
Adjustment to remove tax charge attributable to policyholders’ returns        173        540        447   
Tax charge attributable to shareholders’ returns    B5     (569)        (398)        (289)   
Profit for the year attributable to equity holders of the Company          2,579        2,216        1,346   
Earnings per share (in pence)         2015     2014     2013  
Based on profit attributable to the equity holders of the Company:    B6      

Basic

       101.0p        86.9p        52.8p   

Diluted

         100.9p        86.8p        52.7p   
* This measure is the formal profit before tax measure under IFRS but it is not the result attributable to shareholders.
   This is principally because the corporate taxes of the Group include those on the income of consolidated with-profits and unit-linked funds that, through adjustments to benefits, are borne by policyholders. These amounts are required to be included in the tax charge of the Company under IAS 12. Consequently, the profit before all taxes measure (which is determined after deducting the cost of policyholder benefits and movements in the liability for unallocated surplus of the PAC with-profits fund after adjusting for taxes borne by policyholders) is not representative of pre-tax profits attributable to shareholders.

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements

 

F-4


Table of Contents

Prudential plc and subsidiaries

Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income

Years ended 31 December

 

Year ended 31 December    Note    2015 £m           2014 £m           2013 £m  

Profit for the year

        2,579        2,216        1,346   
Other comprehensive income:          
Items that may be reclassified subsequently to profit or loss          
Exchange movements on foreign operations and net investment hedges:          

Exchange movements arising during the year

   A1      68        215        (255)   

Cumulative exchange loss of Japan life business recycled through profit or loss

        46                 

Related tax

          4        5          
            118        220        (255)   
Net unrealised valuation movements on securities of US insurance operations classified as available-for-sale:          

Net unrealised holding (losses) gains arising during the year

        (1,256)        1,039        (2,025)   

Less: net gains included in the income statement on disposal and impairment

          (49)        (83)        (64)   

Total

   C3.3(b)      (1,305)        956        (2,089)   

Related change in amortisation of deferred acquisition costs

   C5.1(b)      337        (87)        498   

Related tax

          339        (304)        557   
            (629)        565        (1,034)   

Total

          (511)        785        (1,289)   

Items that will not be reclassified to profit or loss

         
Shareholders’ share of actuarial gains and losses on defined benefit pension schemes:          

Gross

        27        (12)        (62)   

Related tax

          (5)        2        14   
            22        (10)        (48)   
Other comprehensive (loss) income for the year, net of related tax           (489)        775        (1,337)   
                               
Total comprehensive income for the year attributable to the equity holders of the Company           2,090        2,991        9   

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements

 

F-5


Table of Contents

Prudential plc and subsidiaries

Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity

 

         Year ended 31 December 2015 £m  
         Share
capital
   

Share

premium

   

Retained

earnings

   

Translation

reserve

   

Available

-for-sale

securities

reserves

   

Shareholders’

equity

   

Non-

controlling

interests

   

Total

equity

 
     Note    note C10     note C10                                            

Reserves

                  

Profit for the year

                     2,579                      2,579               2,579   
Other comprehensive income:                   

Exchange movements on foreign operations and net investment hedges, net of related tax

                            118               118               118   

Net unrealised valuation movements, net of related change in amortisation of deferred acquisition costs and related tax

                                   (629)        (629)               (629)   

Shareholders’ share of actuarial gains and losses on defined benefit pension schemes, net of tax

                       22                      22               22   
Total other comprehensive income (loss)                        22        118        (629)        (489)               (489)   
Total comprehensive income for the year                      2,601        118        (629)        2,090               2,090   

Dividends

  B7                    (974)                      (974)               (974)   
Reserve movements in respect of share-based payments                      39                      39               39   
Share capital and share premium                   
New share capital subscribed   C10             7                             7               7   

Treasury shares

                  
Movement in own shares in respect of share-based payment plans                      (38)                      (38)               (38)   
Movement in Prudential plc shares purchased by unit trusts consolidated under IFRS                        20                      20               20   
Net increase in equity               7        1,648        118        (629)        1,144               1,144   
At beginning of year          128        1,908        8,788        31        956        11,811        1        11,812   

At end of year

         128        1,915        10,436        149        327        12,955        1        12,956   

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements

 

F-6


Table of Contents

Prudential plc and subsidiaries

Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity (Continued)

 

         Year ended 31 December 2014 £m  
         Share
capital
   

Share

premium

   

Retained

earnings

   

Translation

reserve

   

Available

-for-sale

securities

reserves

   

Shareholders’

equity

   

Non-

controlling

interests

   

Total

equity

 
     Note    note C10     note C10                                            

Reserves

                  

Profit for the year

                     2,216                      2,216               2,216   
Other comprehensive income:                   

Exchange movements on foreign operations and net investment hedges, net of related tax

                            220               220               220   

Net unrealised valuation movements, net of related change in amortisation of deferred acquisition costs and related tax

                                   565        565               565   

Shareholders’ share of actuarial gains and losses on defined benefit pension schemes, net of tax

                       (10)                      (10)               (10)   
Total other comprehensive (loss) income                        (10)        220        565        775               775   
Total comprehensive income for the year                      2,206        220        565        2,991               2,991   

Dividends

  B7                    (895)                      (895)               (895)   
Reserve movements in respect of share-based payments                      106                      106               106   
Share capital and share premium                   
New share capital subscribed   C10             13                             13               13   

Treasury shares

                  
Movement in own shares in respect of share-based payment plans                      (48)                      (48)               (48)   
Movement in Prudential plc shares purchased by unit trusts consolidated under IFRS                        (6)                      (6)               (6)   
Net increase in equity               13        1,363        220        565        2,161               2,161   
At beginning of year          128        1,895        7,425        (189)        391        9,650        1        9,651   

At end of year

         128        1,908        8,788        31        956        11,811        1        11,812   

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements

 

F-7


Table of Contents

Prudential plc and subsidiaries

Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity (Continued)

 

         Year ended 31 December 2013 £m  
         Share
capital
   

Share

premium

   

Retained

earnings

   

Translation

reserve

   

Available

-for-sale

securities

reserves

   

Shareholders’

equity

   

Non-

controlling

interests

   

Total

equity

 
     Note    note C10     note C10                                            

Reserves

                  

Profit for the year

                     1,346                      1,346               1,346   
Other comprehensive loss:                   

Exchange movements on foreign operations and net investment hedges, net of related tax

                            (255)               (255)               (255)   

Net unrealised valuation movements, net of related change in amortisation of deferred acquisition costs and related tax

                                   (1,034)        (1,034)               (1,034)   

Shareholders’ share of actuarial and other gains and losses on defined benefit pension schemes, net of tax

                       (48)                      (48)               (48)   
Total other comprehensive loss                        (48)        (255)        (1,034)        (1,337)               (1,337)   

Total comprehensive income (loss)

for the year

                     1,298        (255)        (1,034)        9               9   

Dividends

  B7                    (781)                      (781)               (781)   
Reserve movements in respect of share-based payments                      98                      98               98   
Change in non-controlling interests                                                  (4)        (4)   
Share capital and share premium                   
New share capital subscribed   C10             6                             6               6   

Treasury shares

                  
Movement in own shares in respect of share-based payment plans                      (10)                      (10)               (10)   
Movement in Prudential plc shares purchased by unit trusts consolidated under IFRS                        (31)                      (31)               (31)   
Net increase (decrease) in equity               6        574        (255)        (1,034)        (709)        (4)        (713)   
At beginning of year          128        1,889        6,851        66        1,425        10,359        5        10,364   

At end of year

         128        1,895        7,425        (189)        391        9,650        1        9,651   

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements

 

F-8


Table of Contents

Prudential plc and subsidiaries

Consolidated Statements of Financial Position

 

31 December    Note            2015 £m                     2014 £m  

Assets

       

Intangible assets attributable to shareholders:

       

Goodwill

   C5.1(a)      1,463        1,463   

Deferred acquisition costs and other intangible assets

   C5.1(b)      8,422        7,261   

Total

          9,885        8,724   

Intangible assets attributable to with-profits funds:

       

Goodwill in respect of acquired subsidiaries for venture fund and other investment purposes

   C5.2(a)      185        186   

Deferred acquisition costs and other intangible assets

   C5.2(b)      50        61   

Total

          235        247   

Total intangible assets

          10,120        8,971   

Other non-investment and non-cash assets:

       

Property, plant and equipment

   C13      1,197        978   

Reinsurers’ share of insurance contract liabilities

   C4.1(a)(iv)      7,903        7,167   

Deferred tax assets

   C8.1      2,819        2,765   

Current tax recoverable

   C8.2      477        117   

Accrued investment income

   C1.1      2,751        2,667   

Other debtors

   C1.1      1,955        1,852   

Total

          17,102        15,546   

Investments of long-term business and other operations:

       

Investment properties

   C14      13,422        12,764   

Investment in joint ventures and associates accounted for using the equity method

   D6      1,034        1,017   

Financial investments:*

       

Loans

   C3.4      12,958        12,841   

Equity securities and portfolio holdings in unit trusts

        157,453        144,862   

Debt securities

   C3.3      147,671        145,251   

Other investments

        7,353        7,623   

Deposits

          12,088        13,096   

Total

          351,979        337,454   

Assets held for sale

   D1      2        824   

Cash and cash equivalents

          7,782        6,409   

Total assets

   C1,C3.1      386,985        369,204   
* Included within financial investments are £5,995 million (2014: £4,578 million) of lent securities.

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements

 

F-9


Table of Contents

Prudential plc and subsidiaries

Consolidated Statements of Financial Position (Continued)

 

31 December    Note            2015 £m                 2014 £m  

Equity and liabilities

       

Equity

       

Shareholders’ equity

        12,955        11,811   

Non-controlling interests

          1        1   

Total equity

          12,956        11,812   

Liabilities

       

Policyholder liabilities and unallocated surplus of with-profits funds:

       

Insurance contract liabilities

        260,753        250,038   

Investment contract liabilities with discretionary participation features

        42,959        39,277   

Investment contract liabilities without discretionary participation features

        18,806        20,224   

Unallocated surplus of with-profits funds

          13,096        12,450   

Total

   C4.1(a)      335,614        321,989   

Core structural borrowings of shareholder-financed operations:

       

Subordinated debt

        4,018        3,320   

Other

          993        984   

Total

   C6.1      5,011        4,304   

Other borrowings:

       

Operational borrowings attributable to shareholder-financed operations

   C6.2(a)      1,960        2,263   

Borrowings attributable to with-profits operations

   C6.2(b)      1,332        1,093   

Other non-insurance liabilities:

       

Obligations under funding, securities lending and sale and repurchase agreements

        3,765        2,347   

Net asset value attributable to unit holders of consolidated unit trusts and similar funds

        7,873        7,357   

Deferred tax liabilities

   C8.1      4,010        4,291   

Current tax liabilities

        325        617   

Accruals and deferred income

        952        947   

Other creditors

        4,876        4,262   

Provisions

   C12      604        724   

Derivative liabilities

   C3.5(b)      3,119        2,323   

Other liabilities

          4,588        4,105   

Total

          30,112        26,973   

Liabilities held for sale

   D1            770   

Total liabilities

   C1,C3.1      374,029        357,392   

Total equity and liabilities

          386,985        369,204   

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements

 

F-10


Table of Contents

Prudential plc and subsidiaries Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

 

Year ended 31 December    Note                2015 £m                    2014 £m                    2013 £m  

Cash flows from operating activities

           
Profit before tax (being tax attributable to shareholders’ and policyholders’ returns)note (i)         3,321         3,154         2,082   
Non-cash movements in operating assets and liabilities reflected in profit before tax:            

Investments

        (6,814)         (30,746)         (23,487)   

Other non-investment and non-cash assets

        (1,063)         (1,521)         (1,146)   

Policyholder liabilities (including unallocated surplus)

        6,067         27,292         21,951   

Other liabilities (including operational borrowings)

        1,761         3,797         1,907   
Interest income and expense and dividend income included in result before tax         (8,726)         (8,315)         (8,345)   

Other non-cash itemsnote (ii)

        234         174         81   

Operating cash items:

           

Interest receipts

        7,316         7,155         6,961   

Dividend receipts

        1,777         1,559         1,738   

Tax paid

          (1,340)         (721)         (418)   

Net cash flows from operating activities

          2,533         1,828         1,324   

Cash flows from investing activities

           

Purchases of property, plant and equipment

   C13      (256)         (172)         (221)   
Proceeds from disposal of property, plant and equipment         30         10         42   
Acquisition of subsidiaries and intangibles         (286)         (535)         (405)   

Sale of businesses

          43         152           

Net cash flows from investing activities

          (469)         (545)         (584)   

Cash flows from financing activities

           

Structural borrowings of the Group:

           

Shareholder-financed operations:note (iii)

   C6.1         

Issue of subordinated debt, net of costs

        590                 1,124   

Redemption of subordinated debt

                (445)           

Interest paid

        (288)         (330)         (291)   

With-profits operations:note (iv)

   C6.2         

Interest paid

        (9)         (9)         (9)   

Equity capital:

           

Issues of ordinary share capital

        7         13         6   

Dividends paid

          (974)         (895)         (781)   

Net cash flows from financing activities

          (674)         (1,666)         49   

Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents

        1,390         (383)         789   

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year

        6,409         6,785         6,126   
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents           (17)         7         (130)   
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year           7,782         6,409         6,785   

Notes

(i) This measure is the formal profit before tax measure under IFRS but it is not the result attributable to shareholders.
(ii) Other non-cash items consist of the adjustment of non-cash items to profit before tax.
(iii) Structural borrowings of shareholder-financed operations exclude borrowings to support short-term fixed income securities programmes, non-recourse borrowings of investment subsidiaries of shareholder-financed operations and other borrowings of shareholder-financed operations. Cash flows in respect of these borrowings are included within cash flows from operating activities.
(iv) Interest paid on structural borrowings of with-profits operations relate solely to the £100 million 8.5 per cent undated subordinated guaranteed bonds, which contribute to the solvency base of the Scottish Amicable Insurance Fund (SAIF), a ring-fenced sub-fund of the PAC with-profits fund. Cash flows in respect of other borrowings of with-profits funds, which principally relate to consolidated investment funds, are included within cash flows from operating activities.

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements

 

F-11


Table of Contents

NOTES ON THE GROUP IFRS FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Notes to Primary Statements

 

A    Background and accounting policies    Page
A1    Basis of preparation and exchange rates    F13
A2    Adoption of new accounting pronouncements in 2015    F14
A3    Accounting policies   
   A3.1   Accounting policies and use of estimates and judgements    F14
   A3.2   New accounting pronouncements not yet effective    F29
B    Earnings performance     
B1    Analysis of performance by segment   
   B1.1   Segment results – profit before tax    F31
   B1.2   Short-term fluctuations in investment returns on shareholder-backed business    F32
   B1.3   Determining operating segments and performance measure of operating segments    F34
   B1.4   Segmental income statement    F39
   B1.5   Revenue    F42
B2    Profit before tax – Asset management operations    F44
B3    Acquisition costs and other expenditure    F44
   B3.1   Staff and employment costs    F45
   B3.2   Share-based payment    F46
   B3.3   Key management remuneration    F48
   B3.4   Fees payable to the auditor    F49
B4    Effect of changes and other accounting features on insurance assets and liabilities    F49
B5    Tax charge    F51
B6    Earnings per share    F57
B7    Dividends    F58
C    Balance sheet notes     
C1    Analysis of Group position by segment and business type   
   C1.1   Group statement of financial position – analysis by segment    F59
   C1.2   Group statement of financial position – analysis by business type    F64
C2    Analysis of segment position by business type   
   C2.1   Asia insurance operations    F65
   C2.2   US insurance operations    F66
   C2.3   UK insurance operations    F68
   C2.4   Asset management operations    F70
C3    Assets and liabilities – Classification and Measurement   
   C3.1   Group assets and liabilities – Classification    F71
   C3.2   Group assets and liabilities – Measurement    F73
   C3.3   Debt securities    F81
   C3.4   Loans portfolio    F88
   C3.5   Financial instruments – additional information   
     C3.5(a) Financial risk    F89
     C3.5(b) Derivatives and Hedging    F92
     C3.5(c) Derecognition, collateral and offsetting    F93
     C3.5(d) Impairment of financial assets    F94
C    Balance sheet notes (continued)    Page
C4    Policyholder liabilities and unallocated surplus of with-profits funds   
   C4.1   Movement and duration of liabilities   
     C4.1(a) Group overview    F96
     C4.1(b) Asia insurance operations    F99
     C4.1(c) US insurance operations    F101
     C4.1(d) UK insurance operations    F102
   C4.2   Products and determining contract liabilities   
     C4.2(a) Asia    F103
     C4.2(b) US    F105
     C4.2(c) UK    F109
C5    Intangible assets   
   C5.1   Intangible assets attributable to shareholders   
     C5.1(a) Goodwill attributable to shareholders    F115
     C5.1(b) Deferred acquisition costs and other intangible assets attributable to shareholders    F116
   C5.2   Intangible assets attributable to with-profits funds    F120
C6    Borrowings   
   C6.1   Core structural borrowings of shareholder- financed operations    F121
   C6.2   Other borrowings    F121
   C6.3   Maturity analysis    F122
C7    Risk and sensitivity analysis   
   C7.1   Group overview    F122
   C7.2   Asia insurance operations    F124
   C7.3   US insurance operations    F126
   C7.4   UK insurance operations    F131
   C7.5   Asset management and other operations    F134
C8    Tax assets and liabilities   
   C8.1   Deferred tax    F134
   C8.2   Current tax    F135
C9    Defined benefit pension schemes    F135
C10    Share capital, share premium and own shares    F142
C11    Capital position statement   
   C11.1   Life assurance business    F144
   C11.2   Asset management operations – regulatory and other surplus    F149
C12    Provisions    F149
C13    Property, plant and equipment    F150
C14    Investment properties    F151
D    Other notes     
D1    Sale of Japan life business    F151
D2    Contingencies and related obligations    F152
D3    Post balance sheet events    F154
D4    Related party transactions    F154
D5    Commitments    F155
D6    Investments in subsidiary undertakings, joint ventures and associates    F155
 

 

F-12


Table of Contents

Prudential plc and subsidiaries

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

31 December 2015

 

A BACKGROUND AND ACCOUNTING POLICIES

 

A1 Basis of preparation and exchange rates

Prudential plc (the Company) together with its subsidiaries (collectively, the Group or Prudential) is an international financial services group with its principal operations in Asia, the US and the UK. Prudential offers a wide range of retail financial products and services and asset management services throughout these territories. The retail financial products and services principally include life insurance, pensions and annuities as well as collective investment schemes.

Basis of preparation

These statements have been prepared in accordance with IFRS as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) and as endorsed by the European Union (EU) as required by EU law (IAS Regulation EC1606/2032). EU-endorsed IFRS may differ from IFRS issued by the IASB if, at any point in time, new or amended IFRS have not been endorsed by the EU. At 31 December 2015, there were no unendorsed standards effective for the three years ended 31 December 2015 affecting the consolidated financial information of the Group and there were no differences between IFRS endorsed by the EU and IFRS issued by the IASB in terms of their application to the Group.

Except for the adoption of the new and amended accounting standards for Group IFRS reporting as described in note A2, the accounting policies applied by the Group in determining the IFRS basis results in this report are the same as those previously applied in the Group’s consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2014.

Exchange rates

The exchange rates applied for balances and transactions in currency other than the presentational currency of the Group, pounds sterling (GBP) were:

 

     

Closing

rate at

31 Dec 2015

    

Average
rate for

2015

    

Closing

rate at

31 Dec 2014

    

Average
rate for

2014

    

Closing

rate at

31 Dec 2013

    

Average
rate for

2013

    

Opening

rate at

1 Jan 2013

 

Local currency: £

                    

Hong Kong

     11.42         11.85         12.09         12.78         12.84         12.14         12.60   

Indonesia

     20,317.71         20,476.93         19,311.31         19,538.56         20,156.57         16,376.89         15,665.76   

Malaysia

     6.33         5.97         5.45         5.39         5.43         4.93         4.97   

Singapore

     2.09         2.10         2.07         2.09         2.09         1.96         1.99   

China

     9.57         9.61         9.67         10.15         10.03         9.61         10.13   

India

     97.51         98.08         98.42         100.53         102.45         91.75         89.06   

Vietnam

     33,140.64         33,509.21         33,348.46         34,924.62         34,938.60         32,904.71         33,875.42   

Thailand

     53.04         52.38         51.30         53.51         54.42         48.11         49.72   

US

     1.47         1.53         1.56         1.65         1.66         1.56         1.63   

The exchange movement arising during 2015 recognised in other comprehensive income is:

 

      2015 £m        2014 £m           2013 £m  

Asia operations**

     (5)         109         (319)   

US operations

     238         243         (37)   

Unallocated to a segment (central funds)*

     (119)         (137)         101   
       114         215         (255)   
* The exchange rate movement unallocated to a segment mainly reflects the translation of currency borrowings which have been designated as a net investment hedge against the currency risk of the investment in Jackson.
** Includes cumulative exchange loss of Japan Life business of £46 million.

The consolidated financial statements do not represent Prudential’s statutory accounts for the purposes of the UK Companies Act. These financial statements are based on the prescribed formats. The Groups external auditors have reported on the 2015, 2014 and 2013 statutory accounts. Statutory accounts for 2014 and 2013 have been delivered to the UK Registrar of Companies and those for 2015 will be delivered following the Company’s Annual General Meeting. The auditors reports were (i) unqualified, (ii) did not include a reference to any matters to which

 

F-13


Table of Contents

the auditors drew attention by way of emphasis without qualifying their report and (iii) did not contain a statement under Section 498(2) or (3) of the UK Companies Act 2006.

 

A2 Adoption of new accounting pronouncements in 2015

The Group has adopted the Annual improvements to the IFRS’s 2011-2013 cycle which were effective in 2015.

Except for a change to the presentation of the Prudential Capital business as a separate reporting segment, as described in note B1.3, consideration of these improvements has had no impact on the financial statements of the Group.

 

A3 Accounting policies

 

A3.1 Accounting policies and use of estimates and judgements

This note provides detailed accounting policies adopted by the Group to prepare the consolidated financial statements. These accounting policies are applied consistently for all years presented and normally are not subject to changes unless new accounting standards, interpretations or amendments are introduced by the IASB.

 

(a) Critical accounting policies, accounting estimates and judgements

Prudential believes that its critical accounting policies are limited to those referenced in the table below:

 

Critical accounting policies   Accounting policy
reference
Classification of insurance and investment contracts   A3.1(c)
Measurement of policyholder liabilities and unallocated surplus of with-profits fund   A3.1(d)
Measurement and presentation of derivatives and debt securities of US insurance operations   A3.1(j)(v)
Presentation of results before tax   A3.1(k)
Segmental analysis of results and earnings distributable to shareholders   A3.1(m)

The preparation of these financial statements requires Prudential to make estimates and judgements that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses, and the related disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities. Prudential evaluates its estimates, including those related to long-term business provisioning and the fair value of assets. The table below sets out items that require the Group to make critical estimates and judgements in applying the relevant accounting policy:

 

Critical accounting estimates and assumptions   Accounting policy
reference
Classification of insurance and investment contracts   A3.1(c)
Measurement of policyholder liabilities   A3.1(d)
Measurement of deferred acquisition costs   A3.1(f)
Determination of fair value of financial investments   A3.1(j)(ii)
Determining impairment relating to financial assets   A3.1(j)(iii)

 

(b) Basis of consolidation

The Group consolidates those investees it is deemed to control. The Group has control over an investee if all three of the following are met: (1) it has power over an investee; (2) it is exposed to, or has rights to, variable returns from its involvement with the investee; and (3) it has ability to use its power over the investee to affect its own returns.

 

(i) Subsidiaries

Subsidiaries are those investees which the Group controls. The vast majority of the Group’s subsidiaries are corporate entities where the Group holds the majority of voting rights and are consolidated. The consolidation of other vehicles held by the Group is discussed below:

 

F-14


Table of Contents

The Group’s insurance operations invest in a number of limited partnerships, either directly or through unit trusts, through a mix of capital and loans. These limited partnerships are managed by general partners, in which the Group holds equity. Such interest in general partners and limited partnerships provide the Group with voting and similar rights to participate in the governance framework of the relevant activities in which limited partnerships are engaged in. Accounting for the limited partnerships as subsidiaries, joint ventures, associates or other financial investments depends on the terms of each partnership agreement and the shareholdings in the general partners. In the context of direct investment in limited partnerships, the following circumstances may indicate a relationship in which, in substance, the Group controls and consequently consolidates a limited partnership:

 

  The Group has existing rights that give it the current ability to direct the relevant activities of the limited partnership, ie activities that significantly affect the generation of economic returns from the limited partnership’s operation;
  The Group has the power to obtain the significant benefits of the activities of the limited partnerships. Generally, it is presumed that the Group has significant benefits if its participation in the limited partnership is greater than 20 per cent; and
  The Group has the current ability to join together with other partners to direct the activities of the partnership.

The Group performs a re-assessment of consolidation whenever there is a change in the substance of the relationship between the Group and a limited partnership. Where the Group is deemed to control limited partnership, it is treated as a subsidiary and its results, assets and liabilities are consolidated. Where the Group holds a minority share in a limited partnership, with no control over their associated general partners, the investments are carried at fair value through profit or loss within financial investments in the consolidated statement of financial position.

The limited partnerships consolidated by the Group include Qualifying Partnerships as defined under the UK Partnerships (Accounts) Regulations 2008 (the “Partnerships Act”). Certain of these limited partnerships have taken advantage of the exemption under regulation 7 of the Partnerships Act from the financial statements requirements under regulations 4 to 6, on the basis that these limited partnerships are dealt with on a consolidated basis in these financial statements.

 

(ii) Joint ventures and associates

Joint ventures are joint arrangements arising from a contractual agreement whereby the Group and other investors have joint control of the net assets of the arrangement. In a number of these arrangements, the Group’s share of the underlying net assets may be less than 50 per cent but the terms of the relevant agreement make it clear that control is jointly exercised between the Group and the third party. Associates are entities over which the Group has significant influence, but it does not control. Generally it is presumed that the Group has significant influence if it holds between 20 per cent and 50 per cent voting rights of the entity.

With the exception of those referred to below, the Group accounts for its investments in joint ventures and associates by using the equity method of accounting. The Group’s share of profit or loss of its joint ventures and associates is recognised in the income statement and its share of movements in other comprehensive income is recognised in other comprehensive income. The equity method of accounting does not apply to investments in associates and joint ventures held by the Group’s insurance or investment funds including venture capital business or mutual funds or unit trusts, which as allowed by IAS 28, ‘Investments in Associates and Joint Ventures’, are carried at fair value through profit or loss.

 

(iii) Structured entities

Structured entities are those which have been designed so that voting or similar rights are not the dominant factor in deciding who controls the entity such as when any voting rights relate to administrative tasks only and the relevant activities are directed by means of contractual arrangements. In addition to the entities discussed above in A3.1b(i), the Group as part of its business strategy invests in structured entities such as Open-Ended Investment Companies (OEICs), Unit Trusts (UTs), variable interest entities, investment vehicles within separate accounts offered through variable annuities, collateralised debt obligations, mortgage-backed securities, and similar asset-backed securities.

Open-ended investment companies and unit trusts

The Group invests in OEICs and UTs, which invest mainly in equities, bonds, cash and cash equivalents, and properties. The Group’s percentage ownership in these entities can fluctuate on a daily basis according to the

 

F-15


Table of Contents

participation of the Group and other investors in them. For these entities, the following circumstances may indicate, in substance, the Group has power over an entity:

 

  The entity is managed by the Group’s asset manager and the group holds a significant investment in the entity; and
  Where the entity is managed by an asset manager outside the Group, Prudential has existing rights that gives it the ability to direct the current activities of the entity. In assessing the Group’s ability to direct an entity, the Group considers its ability relative to other investors. The Group has a limited number of OEICs and UTs where it considers it has such ability.

For an entity managed by asset managers outside the Group with no current ability to direct its activities, the Group is deemed to have no power over such an entity.

For those entities managed by the Group’s asset managers, it is generally presumed that the Group is exposed to, or has rights, to variable returns from an entity and has ability to use its power to affect its own returns where theGroup’s holding is greater than 50 per cent and is deemed to have no significant influence over an entity for holdings less than 20 per cent. For holdings between 20 per cent and 50 per cent, the Group performs an assessment of power and associated control over an entity on a case by case basis. For these entities, the following circumstances may indicate that the Group controls an entity:

 

  The Group has power over the relevant activities of the entity; and
  The exposure, or rights, to variable returns (including administrative and performance fees earned by the Group’s asset manager) from the entity is higher than the Group’s interest.

Where the Group is deemed to control these entities they are treated as a subsidiary and are consolidated, with the interests of investors other than the Group being classified as liabilities and appear as net asset value attributable to unit holders of consolidated unit trusts and similar funds.

Where the Group does not control these entities (as it is deemed to be acting as an agent) and they do not meet the definition of associates, they are carried at fair value through profit or loss within financial investments in the consolidated statement of financial position.

Where the Group’s asset manager sets up the OEICs and UTs as part of asset management operations, the Group’s interest is limited to the administration fees charged to manage the assets of such entities. With no participation in these entities, the Group does not retain risks associated with OEICs and UTs. For these open-ended investment companies and unit-trusts, the Group is not deemed to control the entities but to be acting as an agent.

The Group generates returns and retains the ownership risks in investment vehicles commensurate to its participation and does not have any further exposure to the residual risks of these investment vehicles.

Jackson’s separate account assets

Jackson offers variable contracts that invest contract holders’ premiums, at the contract holders’ direction, in investment vehicles (“Separate Accounts”) that invest in equity, fixed income, bonds and money market mutual funds. The contract holder retains the underlying returns and the ownership risks related to the separate accounts and its underlying investments. The shareholder’s economic interest in separate accounts is limited to the administrative fees charged. The separate accounts are set up as separate regulated entities governed by a Board of Governors or trustees for which the majority of the members are independent of Jackson or any affiliated entity. The independent members represent contract holders’ interest and are responsible for any decision making that impacts contract holders’ interest and governs the operational activities of the entities’ advisers, including asset managers managing the investment vehicles. Accordingly, the Group does not control these vehicles. These investments are carried at fair value through profit or loss within financial investments in the consolidated statement of financial position.

Other structured entities

The Group holds investments in mortgage-backed securities, collateralised debt obligations and similar asset-backed securities that are actively traded in a liquid market. The Group is not the sponsor of the vehicles in which it holds investments and has no administrative rights over the vehicles’ activities. The Group generates returns and

 

F-16


Table of Contents

retains the ownership risks commensurate to its holding and its exposure to the investments. Accordingly the Group does not have power over the relevant activities of such vehicles and all are carried at fair value through profit or loss within financial investments in the consolidated statement of financial position.

The table below provides aggregate carrying amounts of the investments in unconsolidated structured entities reported in the Group’s statement of financial position:

 

     2015 £m          2014 £m  
      OEICs/UTs     

Separate

account

assets

    

Other

structured

entities

         OEICs/UTs     

Separate

account

assets

    

Other

structured

entities

 

Statement of financial position line items

                   
Equity securities and portfolio holdings in unit trusts      12,945         91,022                   12,690         81,741           

Debt securities

                     11,735                           12,715   

Total

     12,945         91,022         11,735             12,690         81,741         12,715   

The Group generates returns and retains the ownership risks in these investments commensurate to its participation and does not have any further exposure to the residual risks or losses of the investments or the vehicles in which it holds investments.

As at 31 December 2015, the Group does not have an agreement, contractual or otherwise, or intention to provide financial support to structured entities that could expose the Group to a loss.

 

(c) Classification of insurance and investment contracts

IFRS 4 requires contracts written by insurers to be classified as either ‘insurance contracts’ or ‘investment contracts’ depending on the level of insurance risk transferred. Insurance risk is a pre-existing risk, other than financial risk, transferred from the contract holder to the contract issuer. If significant insurance risk is transferred to the Group then it is classified as an insurance contract. Contracts that transfer financial risk to the Group but not significant insurance risk are termed investment contracts. Furthermore, some contracts, both insurance and investment, contain discretionary participating features representing the contractual right to receive additional benefits as a supplement to guaranteed benefits:

 

  a That are likely to be a significant portion of the total contract benefits;
  b Whose amount or timing is contractually at the discretion of the insurer; and
  c That are contractually based on asset or fund performance, as discussed in IFRS 4.

 

Business units    Insurance contracts and investment
contracts with discretionary
participation features
   Investment contracts without
discretionary participation  features
Asia   

•    With-profits contracts

•    Non-participating term contracts

•    Whole life contracts

•    Unit-linked policies

•    Accident and health policies

 

  

•    Minor amounts for a number of small categories of business

US   

•    Variable annuity contracts

•    Fixed annuity contracts

•    Life insurance contracts

  

•    Guaranteed investment contracts (GICs)

•    Minor amounts of ‘annuity certain’ contracts

 

UK   

•    With-profits contracts

•    Bulk and individual annuity business

•    Non-participating term contracts

 

  

•    Certain unit-linked savings and similar contracts

 

(d) Measurement of policyholder liabilities and unallocated surplus of with-profits funds

The measurement basis of policyholder liabilities is dependent upon the classification of the contracts under IFRS 4 described in note A3.1(c) above.

 

F-17


Table of Contents

IFRS 4 permits the continued usage of previously applied Generally Accepted Accounting Practices (GAAP) for insurance contracts and investment contracts with discretionary participating features. Accordingly, except for UK regulated with-profits funds which were measured under FRS 27 as discussed below, the modified statutory basis of reporting as set in the Statement of Recommended Practice issued by Association of British Insurers (ABI SORP) was adopted by the Group on first time adoption of IFRS in 2005. FRS 27 and the ABI SORP were withdrawn in the UK for the accounting periods beginning in or after 2015. As used in these consolidated financial statements, the terms “FRS 27” and the “ABI SORP” refer to the requirements of these pronouncements prior to their withdrawal.

For investment contracts that do not contain discretionary participating features, IAS 39 is applied and, where the contract includes an investment management element, IAS 18, ‘Revenue’, applies.

For with-profits funds, as the shareholders’ participation in the cost of bonuses arises only on distribution, the Group has elected to account for the unallocated surplus of UK regulated with-profits funds as a liability with no allocation to equity.

The policy of measuring contract liabilities at business unit level is noted below. Additional details are discussed in note C4.2.

 

(i) Insurance contracts

Asia insurance operations

The policyholder liabilities for businesses in Asia are determined in accordance with methods prescribed by local GAAP adjusted to comply, where necessary, with the modified statutory basis. Refinements to the local reserving methodology are generally treated as changes in estimates, dependent on their nature.

For the operations in India, Taiwan and, up until 2015, Japan, the local GAAP is not appropriate as a starting point in the context of the modified statutory basis, and, instead, the accounting for insurance contracts is based on US GAAP. For these operations the business written is primarily non-participating linked and participating business. The future policyholder benefit provisions for non-participating linked business are determined using the net level premium method, with an allowance for surrenders, maintenance and claim expenses. Rates of interest used in establishing the policyholder benefit provisions vary by operation depending on the circumstances attaching to each block of business. Where appropriate, liabilities for participating business for these operations include provisions for the policyholders’ interest in investment gains and other surpluses that have yet to be declared as bonuses.

While the basis of valuation of liabilities in this business is in accordance with the requirements of the ABI SORP, it may differ from that determined on the modified statutory basis for UK operations with the same features.

US insurance operations

In accordance with the modified statutory basis, the policyholder liabilities for Jackson’s conventional protection-type policies are determined under US GAAP principles with locked in assumptions for mortality, interest, policy lapses and expenses along with provisions for adverse deviations. For other policies, the policyholder liabilities includes the policyholder account balance. Acquisition costs are accounted for as explained in note A3.1(f) below.

UK insurance operations

The UK regulated with-profits funds are accounted for by the voluntary application of the UK accounting standard FRS 27 ‘Life Assurance’ that requires liabilities to be calculated as the realistic basis liabilities. The realistic basis liabilities are measured by reference to the PRA’s Peak 2 basis of reporting. This Peak 2 basis requires the value of liabilities to be calculated as:

 

    A with-profits benefits reserve; plus
    Future policy related liabilities; plus
    The realistic current liabilities of the fund.

The with-profits benefits reserve is primarily based on the retrospective calculation of accumulated asset shares but is adjusted to reflect future policyholder benefits and other outgoings. Asset shares broadly reflect the policyholders’ share of the with-profits fund assets attributable to their policies.

 

F-18


Table of Contents

The future policy related liabilities must include a market consistent valuation of costs of guarantees, options and smoothing, less any related charges, and this amount is determined using either a stochastic approach, hedging costs or a series of deterministic projections with attributed probabilities.

The Peak 2 basis realistic liabilities for with-profits business currently include the element for the shareholders’ share of the future cost of bonuses consistent with the contract asset shares. For accounting purposes under FRS 27, this latter item is not shown as part of contract liabilities. This is because, consistent with the current basis of financial reporting, shareholder transfers are recognised only on declaration. Instead the shareholders’ share of future costs of bonuses is included within the liabilities for unallocated surplus.

Other UK insurance contracts that contain significant insurance risk include unit-linked, annuity and other non-profit business. For the purposes of local regulations, segregated accounts are established for linked business for which policyholder benefits are wholly or partly determined by reference to specific investments or to an investment-related index. The interest rates used in establishing policyholder benefit provisions for pension annuities in the course of payment are adjusted each year. Mortality rates used in establishing policyholder benefits are based on published mortality tables adjusted to reflect actual experience.

 

(ii) Investment contracts with discretionary participation features

For investment contracts with discretionary participation features, the accounting basis is consistent with the accounting for similar with-profits insurance contracts.

 

(iii) Investment contracts without discretionary participation features

The measurement of investment contracts without discretionary participation features is carried out in accordance with IAS 39 to reflect the deposit nature of the arrangement, with premiums and claims reflected as deposits and withdrawals and taken directly to the statement of financial position as movements in the financial liability balance.

Under IFRS, investment contracts (excluding those with discretionary participation features) accounted for as financial liabilities in accordance with IAS 39 which also offer investment management services, require the application of IAS 18 for the revenue attached to these services. Incremental, directly attributable acquisition costs relating to the investment management element of these contracts are capitalised and amortised in line with the related revenue. If the contracts involve up-front charges, this income is also deferred and amortised through the income statement in line with contractual service provision.

For those investment contracts in the US with fixed and guaranteed terms, the Group uses the amortised cost model to measure the liability.

Those investment contracts without fixed and guaranteed terms are designated as fair value through profit or loss because the resulting liabilities are managed and their performance is evaluated on a fair value basis. Where the contract includes a surrender option its carrying value is subject to a minimum carrying value equal to its surrender value.

 

(iv) Unallocated surplus of with-profits funds

Unallocated surplus represents the excess of assets over policyholder liabilities for the Group’s with-profits funds that have yet to be appropriated between policyholders and shareholders. As allowed under IFRS 4, the Group has opted to continue to record unallocated surplus of with-profits funds wholly as a liability with no allocation to equity. The annual excess (shortfall) of income over expenditure of the with-profits funds, after declaration and attribution of the cost of bonuses to policyholders and shareholders, is transferred to (from) the unallocated surplus each year through a charge (credit) to the income statement. The balance retained in the unallocated surplus represents cumulative income arising on the with-profits business that has not been allocated to policyholders or shareholders. The balance of the unallocated surplus is determined after full provision for deferred tax on unrealised appreciation on investments.

 

(e) Reinsurance

The measurement of reinsurance assets is consistent with the measurement of the underlying direct insurance contracts. The treatment of any gains or losses arising on the purchase of reinsurance contracts is dependent on the underlying accounting basis of the entity concerned.

 

F-19


Table of Contents
(f) Deferred acquisition costs for insurance contracts

Except for acquisition costs of with-profits contracts of the UK regulated with-profits funds, which are accounted for under the realistic PRA regime, costs of acquiring new insurance business are accounted for in a way that is consistent with the principles of the ABI SORP with deferral and amortisation against margins in future revenues on the related insurance policies. Costs of acquiring new insurance business, principally commissions, marketing and advertising and certain other costs associated with policy insurance and underwriting that are not reimbursed by policy charges, are specifically identified and capitalised as part of deferred acquisition costs. In general, this deferral is presentationally shown by an explicit carrying value in the balance sheet. However, in some Asia operations the deferral is implicit through the reserving methodology. The recoverability of the explicitly and implicitly deferred acquisition costs is measured and are deemed impaired if the projected margins are less than the carrying value. To the extent that the future margins differ from those anticipated, then an adjustment to the carrying value will be necessary.

The deferral and amortisation of acquisition costs is of most relevance to the Group’s results for Asia and US insurance operations. The deferred acquisition costs for US and some Asia operations are determined with reference to US GAAP principles.

Asia insurance operations

For those territories applying US GAAP to insurance assets and liabilities, as permitted by the ABI SORP, principles similar to those set out in the US insurance operations paragraph below are applied to the deferral and amortisation of acquisition costs. For other territories in Asia, the general principles of the ABI SORP are applied with, as described above, deferral of acquisition costs being either explicit or implicit through the reserving basis.

US insurance operations

Under IFRS 4, the Group applies grandfathered US GAAP for measuring the insurance assets and liabilities of US insurance operations. The Group applies FAS ASU 2010-26 on ‘Accounting for Costs Associated with Acquiring or Renewing Insurance Contracts’ and capitalises only those incremental costs directly relating to successfully acquiring a contract.

For term business, acquisition costs are deferred and amortised in line with expected premiums. For annuity and interest-sensitive life business, acquisition costs are deferred and amortised in line with expected gross profits on the relevant contracts. For fixed and fixed index annuity and interest-sensitive life business, the key assumption is the long-term spread between the earned rate on investments and the rate credited to policyholders, which is based on an annual spread analysis. In addition, expected gross profits depend on mortality assumptions, assumed unit costs and terminations other than deaths (including the related charges), all of which are based on a combination of Jackson’s actual industry experience and future expectations. A detailed analysis of actual mortality, lapse and expenses experience is performed using internally developed experience studies.

For US variable annuity business, a key assumption is the long-term investment return from the separate accounts, which is determined using a mean reversion methodology. Under the mean reversion methodology, projected returns over the next five years are flexed (subject to capping) so that, combined with the actual rates of return for the current and the previous two years the assumed long-term level of returns from the separate accounts is maintained. The projected rates of return are capped at no more than 15 per cent for each of the next five years. These returns affect the level of future expected profits through their effects on the fee income with consequential impact on the amortisation of deferred acquisition costs. The level of acquisition costs carried in the statement of financial position is also sensitive to unrealised valuation movements on debt securities held to back the liabilities and solvency capital. Further details are discussed in note C5.1(b).

As permitted by IFRS 4, Jackson uses shadow accounting to make adjustments to the deferred acquisition costs which are recognised directly in other comprehensive income. Jackson accounts for the majority of its investment portfolio on an available-for-sale basis whereby unrealised gains and losses are recognised in other comprehensive income. To the extent that recognition of unrealised gains or losses on available-for-sale securities causes adjustments to the carrying value and amortisation patterns of deferred acquisition costs and deferred income, these adjustments are recognised in other comprehensive income to be consistent with the treatment of the gains or losses on the securities. More precisely, shadow deferred acquisition costs adjustments reflect the change in deferred acquisition costs that would have arisen if the assets held in the statement of financial position had been sold, crystallising unrealised gains or losses, and the proceeds reinvested at the yields currently available in the market.

 

F-20


Table of Contents

UK insurance operations

For UK regulated with-profits funds where the Prudential Regulatory Authority (PRA) realistic regime is applied, the basis of setting liabilities is such that it would be inappropriate for acquisition costs to be deferred, therefore these costs are expensed as incurred. The majority of the UK shareholder-backed business is individual and group annuity business where the deferral of acquisition costs is negligible.

 

(g) Liability adequacy test

The Group performs adequacy testing on its insurance liabilities to ensure that the carrying amounts (net of related deferred acquisition costs) and, where relevant, present value of acquired in-force business is sufficient to cover current estimates of future cash flows. Any deficiency is immediately charged to the income statement.

 

(h) Earned premiums, policy fees and claims paid

Premium and annuity considerations for conventional with-profits policies and other protection type insurance policies are recognised as revenue when due. Premiums and annuity considerations for linked policies, unitised with-profits and other investment type policies are recognised as revenue when received or, in the case of unitised or unit-linked policies, when units are issued. These amounts exclude premium taxes and similar duties where Prudential collects and settles taxes borne by the customer.

Policy fees charged on linked and unitised with-profits policies for mortality, asset management and policy administration are recognised as revenue when related services are provided.

Claims paid include maturities, annuities, surrenders and deaths. Maturity claims are recorded as charges on the policy maturity date. Annuity claims are recorded when each annuity instalment becomes due for payment. Surrenders are charged to the income statement when paid and death claims are recorded when notified.

 

(i) Investment return

Investment return included in the income statement principally comprises interest income, dividends, investment appreciation/depreciation (realised and unrealised gains and losses) on investments designated as fair value through profit or loss, and realised gains and losses (including impairment losses) on items held at amortised cost and Jackson’s debt securities designated as available-for-sale. Movements in unrealised appreciation/depreciation of Jackson’s debt securities designated as available-for-sale are recorded in other comprehensive income. Interest income is recognised as it accrues, taking into account the effective yield on investments. Dividends on equity securities are recognised on the ex-dividend date and rental income is recognised on an accrual basis.

 

(j) Financial investments other than instruments classified as long-term business contracts
(i) Investment classification

The Group holds financial investments in accordance with IAS 39, whereby subject to specific criteria, financial instruments are required to be accounted for under one of the following categories:

 

  Financial assets and liabilities at fair value through profit or loss – this comprises assets and liabilities designated by management as fair value through profit or loss on inception and derivatives that are held for trading. These investments are measured at fair value with all changes thereon being recognised in investment return in the income statement;
  Financial investments on an available-for-sale basis – this comprises assets that are designated by management as available-for-sale and/or do not fall into any of the other categories. These assets are initially recognised at fair value plus attributable transaction costs. For available-for-sale debt securities, the difference between their cost and par value is amortised to the income statement using the effective interest rate. The effective interest rate is the rate that exactly discounts estimated future cash receipts through the expected life of the financial instrument or, when appropriate, a shorter period to the net carrying amount of the financial asset. Available-for-sale assets are subsequently measured at fair value. Interest income is recognised on an effective interest basis in the income statement. Except for foreign exchange gains and losses on debt securities, not in functional currency, which are included in the income statement, unrealised gains and losses are recognised in other comprehensive income. Upon disposal or impairment, accumulated unrealised gains and losses are transferred from other comprehensive income to the income statement as realised gains or losses; and
 

Loans and receivables – except for those designated as at fair value through profit or loss or available-for-sale, these instruments comprise non-quoted investments that have fixed or determinable payments. These

 

F-21


Table of Contents
 

instruments include loans collateralised by mortgages, deposits, loans to policyholders and other unsecured loans and receivables. These investments are initially recognised at fair value plus transaction costs. Subsequently, these instruments are carried at amortised cost using the effective interest method.

The Group uses the trade date method to account for regular purchases and sales of financial assets.

 

(ii) Use of fair value

The Group uses current bid prices to value its investments with quoted prices. Actively traded investments without quoted prices are valued using prices provided by third parties as described further in note C3.2. If there is no active established market for an investment, the Group applies an appropriate valuation technique such as a discounted cash flow technique.

Determining the fair value of financial investments when the markets are not active

The Group holds certain financial investments for which the markets are not active. These can include financial investments which are not quoted on active markets and financial investments for which markets are no longer active as a result of market conditions eg market illiquidity. When the markets are not active, there is generally no or limited observable market data to account for financial investments at fair value. The determination of whether an active market exists for a financial investment requires management’s judgement.

If the market for a financial investment of the Group is not active, the fair value is determined by using valuation techniques. The Group establishes fair value for these financial investments by using quotations from independent third parties, such as brokers or pricing services, or by using internally developed pricing models. Priority is given to publicly available prices from independent sources when available, but overall the source of pricing and/or the valuation technique is chosen with the objective of arriving at a fair value measurement which reflects the price at which an orderly transaction would take place between market participants on the measurement date. The valuation techniques include the use of recent arm’s length transactions, reference to other instruments that are substantially the same, discounted cash flow analysis, option-adjusted spread models and, if applicable, enterprise valuation and may include a number of assumptions relating to variables such as credit risk and interest rates. Changes in assumptions relating to these variables could positively or negatively impact the reported fair value of these financial investments.

Financial investments measured at fair value are classified into a three level hierarchy as described in note C3.2(b).

(iii) Determining impairment in relation to financial assets

Available-for-sale securities

The majority of Jackson’s debt securities portfolio are accounted for on an available-for-sale basis. The consideration of evidence of impairment requires management’s judgement. In making this determination the factors considered include, for example:

 

Determining factors   Consideration of evidence of impairment
Whether the decline of the financial investment’s fair value is substantial   A substantial decline in fair value might be indicative of a credit loss event that would lead to a measurable decrease in the estimated future cash flows.
The impact of the duration of the security on the calculation of the revised estimated cash flows   The duration of a security to maturity helps to inform whether assessments of estimated future cash flows that are higher than market value are reasonable.
The duration and extent to which the amortised cost exceeds fair value   This factor provides an indication of how the contractual cash flows and effective interest rate of a financial asset compares with the implicit market estimate of cash flows and the risk attaching to a ‘fair value’ measurement. The length of time for which that level of difference has been in place may also provide further evidence as to whether the market assessment implies an impairment loss has arisen.
The financial condition and prospects of the issuer   These factors and other observable conditions may indicate that an investment is impaired.

 

F-22


Table of Contents

If a loss event that will have a detrimental effect on cash flows is identified, an impairment loss is recognised in the income statement. The loss recognised is determined as the difference between the book cost and the fair value of the relevant impaired securities. This loss comprises the effect of the expected loss of contractual cash flows and any additional market-price-driven temporary reductions in values.

For Jackson’s residential mortgage-backed and other asset-backed securities, all of which are classified as available-for-sale, the model used to analyse cash flows begins with the current delinquency experience of the underlying collateral pool for the structure, by applying assumptions about how much of the currently delinquent loans will eventually default, and multiplying this by an assumed loss severity. Additional factors are applied to anticipate ageing effects. After applying a cash flow simulation an indication is obtained as to whether or not the security has suffered, or is anticipated to suffer, contractual principal or interest payment shortfalls. If a shortfall applies an impairment charge is recorded. The difference between the fair value and book cost for unimpaired securities designated as available-for-sale is accounted for as unrealised gains or losses, with the movements unless impaired in the accounting period being included in other comprehensive income.

The Group’s review of fair value involves several criteria, including economic conditions, credit loss experience, other issuer-specific developments and future cash flows. These assessments are based on the best available information at the time. Factors such as market liquidity, the widening of bid/ask spreads and a change in cash flow assumptions can contribute to future price volatility. If actual experience differs negatively from the assumptions and other considerations used in the consolidated financial statements, unrealised losses currently in equity may be recognised in the income statement in future periods. Additional details on the impairments of the available-for-sale securities of Jackson are described in note C3.5(d).

Assets held at amortised cost

Financial assets classified as loans and receivables under IAS 39 are carried at amortised cost using the effective interest rate method. The loans and receivables include loans collateralised by mortgages, deposits and loans to policyholders. In estimating future cash flows, the Group looks at the expected cash flows of the assets and applies historical loss experience of assets with similar credit risks that has been adjusted for conditions in the historical loss experience which no longer exist, or for conditions that are expected to arise. The estimated future cash flows are discounted using the financial asset’s original or variable effective interest rate and exclude credit losses that have not yet been incurred.

The risks inherent in reviewing the impairment of any investment include: the risk that market results may differ from expectations; facts and circumstances may change in the future and differ from estimates and assumptions; or the Group may later decide to sell the asset as a result of changed circumstances.

Certain mortgage loans of the UK insurance operations and, consequent upon the purchase of REALIC in 2012 by Jackson, policy loans held to back funds withheld under reinsurance arrangements have been designated at fair value through profit or loss, as these loan portfolios are managed and evaluated on a fair value basis.

Assets carried at cost or amortised cost are subject to impairment testing where appropriate under IFRS requirements.

Reversal of impairment loss

If, in subsequent periods, an impaired debt security held on an available-for-sale basis or an impaired loan or receivable recovers in value (in part or in full), and this recovery can be objectively related to an event occurring after the impairment, then the previously recognised impairment loss is reversed through the income statement (in part or in full).

 

(iv) Derivatives and hedge accounting

Derivative financial instruments are used to reduce or manage investment, interest rate and currency exposures, to facilitate efficient portfolio management and for investment purposes.

The Group may designate certain derivatives as hedges.

For hedges of net investments in foreign operations, the effective portion of any change in fair value of derivatives or other financial instruments designated as net investment hedges is recognised in other comprehensive income.

 

F-23


Table of Contents

The ineffective portion of changes in the fair value of the hedging instrument is recorded in the income statement. The gain or loss on the hedging instrument is recognised directly in other comprehensive income while the foreign operation is held.

The Group does not regularly seek to apply fair value or cash flow hedging treatment under IAS 39. The Group has no fair value and cash flows hedges under IAS 39 at 31 December 2015 and 2014.

All derivatives that are not designated as hedging instruments are carried at fair value with movements in fair value being recorded in the income statement.

The primary areas of the Group’s continuing operations where derivative instruments are held are the UK with-profits funds and annuity business, and Jackson.

For UK with-profits funds the derivative programme is used for the purposes of efficient portfolio management or reduction in investment risk.

For shareholder-backed UK annuity business the derivatives are held to contribute to the matching as far as practical, of asset returns and duration with those of liabilities to policyholders. The carrying value of these liabilities is sensitive to the return on the matching financial assets including derivatives held.

For Jackson, an extensive derivative programme is maintained. Value movements on the derivatives held can be very significant in their effect on shareholder results. Further details on this aspect of the Group’s financial reporting are described in note B1.2.

 

(v) Measurement and presentation of derivatives and debt securities of US insurance operations

The policies for these items are significant factors in contributing to the volatility of the income statement result and shareholders’ equity. Under IAS 39, derivatives are required to be carried at fair value. Unless net investment hedge accounting is applied, value movements on derivatives are recognised in the income statement.

For derivative instruments of Jackson that are entered into to mitigate economic exposures, the Group has considered whether it is appropriate to undertake the necessary operational changes to qualify for hedge accounting so as to achieve matching of value movements in hedging instruments and hedged items in the performance statements. In reaching the decision a number of factors were particularly relevant. These were:

 

  IAS 39 hedging criteria have been designed primarily in the context of hedging and hedging instruments that are assessable as financial instruments that are either stand-alone or separable from host contracts, rather than, for example, duration characteristics of insurance contracts;
  The high hurdle levels under IAS 39 of ensuring hedge effectiveness at the level of individual hedge transactions;
  The difficulties in applying the macro hedge provisions under IAS 39 (which are more suited to banking arrangements) to Jackson’s derivative book;
  The complexity of asset and liability matching of US life insurers such as those with Jackson’s product range; and finally
  Whether it is possible or desirable, without an unacceptable level of costs and constraint on commercial activity, to achieve the accounting hedge effectiveness required under IAS 39.

Taking account of these considerations, the Group has decided that, except for occasional circumstances, it is not appropriate to seek to achieve hedge accounting under IAS 39. As a result of this decision, the total income statement results are more volatile as the movements in the value of Jackson’s derivatives are reflected within it. This volatility is reflected in the level of short-term fluctuations in investment returns, as shown in notes B1.1 and B1.2.

Under IAS 39, unless carried at amortised cost (subject to impairment provisions where appropriate) under the held-to-maturity category, debt securities are also carried at fair value. The Group has chosen not to classify any financial assets as held-to-maturity. Debt securities of Jackson are designated as available-for-sale with value movements, unless impaired, being recorded as movements within other comprehensive income. Impairments are recorded in the income statement.

 

F-24


Table of Contents
(vi) Embedded derivatives

Embedded derivatives are present in host contracts issued by various Group companies, in particular Jackson. They are embedded within other non-derivative host financial instruments and insurance contracts to create hybrid instruments. Embedded derivatives meeting the definition of an insurance contract are accounted for under IFRS 4. Where economic characteristics and risks of the embedded derivatives are not closely related to the economic characteristics and risks of the host instrument, and where the hybrid instrument is not measured at fair value with the changes in fair value recognised in the income statement, the embedded derivative is bifurcated and carried at fair value as a derivative in accordance with IAS 39. For Jackson’s ‘not for life’ Guaranteed Minimum Withdrawal Benefit and Fixed Index Annuity reserves the determination of fair value requires assumptions regarding future mix of Separate Account assets, equity volatility levels, and policyholder behaviour.

In addition, the Group applies the option under IFRS 4 to not separate and fair value surrender options embedded in host contracts and with-profits investment contracts whose strike price is either a fixed amount or a fixed amount plus interest. Further details on the valuation basis for embedded derivatives attaching to Jackson’s life assurance contracts are provided in note C4.2.

 

(vii)   Securities lending and reverse repurchase agreements

The Group is party to various securities lending agreements (including repurchase agreements) under which securities are loaned to third parties on a short-term basis. The loaned securities are not derecognised; rather, they continue to be recognised within the appropriate investment classification. The Group’s policy is that collateral in excess of 100 per cent of the fair value of securities loaned is required from all securities’ borrowers and typically consists of cash, debt securities, equity securities or letters of credit.

In cases where the Group takes possession of the collateral under its securities lending programme, the collateral, and corresponding obligation to return such collateral, are recognised in the consolidated statement of financial position.

The Group is also party to various reverse repurchase agreements under which securities are purchased from third parties with an obligation to resell the securities. The securities are not recognised as investments in the statement of financial position.

 

(viii)   Derecognition of financial assets and liabilities

The Group’s policy is to derecognise financial assets when it is deemed that substantially all the risks and rewards of ownership have been transferred.

The Group derecognises financial liabilities only when the obligation specified in the contract is discharged, cancelled or has expired.

(ix)   Financial liabilities designated at fair value through profit or loss

Consistent with the Group’s risk management and investment strategy and the nature of the products concerned, the Group has designated under IAS 39 classification certain financial liabilities at fair value through profit or loss as these instruments are managed and their performance evaluated on a fair value basis. These instruments include liabilities related to consolidated collateralised debt obligations and net assets attributable to unit holders of consolidated unit trusts and similar funds.

 

(k) Presentation of results before tax

The total tax charge for the Group reflects tax that, in addition to relating to shareholders’ profits, is also attributable to policyholders and unallocated surplus of with-profits funds and unit-linked policies. This is explained in more detail in note B5. Reported profit before the total tax charge is not representative of pre-tax profits attributable to shareholders. Accordingly, in order to provide a measure of pre-tax profits attributable to shareholders the Group has chosen to adopt an income statement presentation of the tax charge and pre-tax results that distinguishes between policyholder and shareholder components.

 

(l) Segments

Under IFRS 8 ‘Operating Segments’, the Group determines and presents operating segments based on the information that is internally provided to the Group Executive Committee which is the Group’s chief operating decision maker.

 

F-25


Table of Contents

The operating segments identified by the Group reflect the Group’s organisational structure, which is by both geography (Asia, US and UK) and by product line (insurance operations and asset management).

The products of the insurance operations contain both significant and insignificant levels of insurance risk. The products are managed together and there is no distinction between these two categories other than for accounting purposes. This segment also includes the commission earned on general insurance business and investment subsidiaries held to support the Group’s insurance operations.

Asset management comprises both internal and third-party asset management services, inclusive of portfolio and mutual fund management, where the Group acts as an adviser, and broker-dealer activities. The nature of the products and the managing of the business differ from the risks inherent in the insurance operations segments, and the regulatory environment of the asset management industry differs from that of the insurance operations segments.

Further information on the Group’s operating segments is provided in note B1.3.

 

(m) Segmental analysis of results and earnings attributable to shareholders

The Group uses operating profit based on longer-term investment returns as the segmental measure of its results. The basis of calculation is disclosed in note B1.3.

For shareholder-backed business, with the exception of debt securities held by Jackson and assets classified as loans and receivables at amortised cost, all financial investments and investment property are designated as assets at fair value through profit or loss. The short-term fluctuations affect the result for the year and the Group provides additional analysis of results before and after the effects of short-term fluctuations in investment returns, together with other items that are of a short-term, volatile or one-off nature. The effects of short-term fluctuations include asymmetric impacts where the measurement bases of the liabilities and associated derivatives used to manage the Jackson annuity business differ as described in note B1.2.

Short-term fluctuations in investment returns on assets held by with-profits fund, do not affect directly reported shareholder results. This is because (i) the unallocated surplus of with-profits funds is accounted for as a liability and (ii) excess or deficits of income and expenditure of the funds over the required surplus for distribution are transferred to or from unallocated surplus.

 

(n) Borrowings

Although initially recognised at fair value, net of transaction costs, borrowings, excluding liabilities of consolidated collateralised debt obligations, are subsequently accounted for on an amortised cost basis using the effective interest method. Under the effective interest method, the difference between the redemption value of the borrowing and the initial proceeds (net of related issue costs) is amortised through the income statement to the date of maturity or for hybrid debt, over the expected life of the instrument.

 

(o) Investment properties

Investments in leasehold and freehold properties not for occupation by the Group, including properties under development for future use as investment properties, are carried at fair value, with changes in fair value included in the income statement. Properties are valued annually either by the Group’s qualified surveyors or by taking into consideration the advice of professional external valuers using the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors valuation standards. Each property is externally valued at least once every three years.

Leases of investment property where the Group has substantially all the risks and rewards of ownership are classified as finance leases (leasehold property). Finance leases are capitalised at the lease’s inception at the lower of the fair value of the leased property and the present value of the minimum lease payments.

 

(p) Pension schemes

For the Group’s defined benefit schemes, if the present value of the defined benefit obligation exceeds the fair value of the scheme assets, then a liability is recorded in the Group’s statement of financial position. By contrast, if the fair value of the assets exceeds the present value of the defined benefit obligation then the surplus will only be recognised if the nature of the arrangements under the trust deed, and funding arrangements between the Trustee and the Company, support the availability of refunds or recoverability through agreed reductions in future

 

F-26


Table of Contents

contributions. In addition, if there is a constructive obligation for the Company to pay deficit funding, this is also recognised such that the financial position recorded for the scheme reflects the higher of any underlying IAS 19 deficit and the obligation for deficit funding.

The Group utilises the projected unit credit method to calculate the defined benefit obligation. This method sees each period of service as giving rise to an additional unit of benefit entitlement and measures each unit separately to build up the final obligation. Estimated future cash flows are then discounted at a high-quality corporate bond rate, adjusted to allow for the difference in duration between the bond index and the pension liabilities where appropriate, to determine its present value. These calculations are performed by independent actuaries.

The plan assets of the Group’s pension schemes include several insurance contracts that have been issued by the Group. These assets are excluded from plan assets in determining the pension surplus or deficit recognised in the consolidated statement of financial position.

The aggregate of the actuarially determined service costs of the currently employed personnel and the net interest on the net defined benefit liability (asset) at the start of the period, is charged to the income statement. Actuarial and other gains and losses as a result of changes in assumptions or experience variances are recognised as other comprehensive income.

Contributions to the Group’s defined contribution schemes are expensed when due.

 

(q) Share-based payments and related movements in own shares

The Group offers share award and option plans for certain key employees and a Save As You Earn plan for all UK and certain overseas employees. Shares held in trust relating to these plans are conditionally gifted to employees.

The compensation expense charged to the income statement is primarily based upon the fair value of the options granted, the vesting period and the vesting conditions.

The Company has established trusts to facilitate the delivery of Prudential plc shares under employee incentive plans and savings-related share option schemes. The cost to the Company of acquiring these treasury shares held in trusts is shown as a deduction from shareholders’ equity.

 

(r) Tax

Current tax expense is charged or credited based upon amounts estimated to be payable or recoverable as a result of taxable amounts for the current year and adjustments made in relation to prior years. Prudential is subject to tax in numerous jurisdictions and the calculation of the total tax charge inherently involves a degree of estimation and judgement. The positions taken in tax returns where applicable tax regulation is subject to interpretation are recognised in full in the determination of the tax charge in the financial statements if the Group considers that it is probable that the taxation authority will accept those positions. Otherwise, provisions are established based on management’s estimate and judgement of the likely amount of the liability, or recovery.

The total tax charge includes tax expense attributable to both policyholders and shareholders. The tax expense attributable to policyholders comprises the tax on the income of the consolidated with-profits and unit-linked funds. In certain jurisdictions, such as the UK, life insurance companies are taxed on both their shareholders’ profits and on their policyholders’ insurance and investment returns on certain insurance and investment products. Although both types of tax are included in the total tax charge in the Group’s consolidated income statement, they are presented separately in the consolidated income statement to provide the most relevant information about tax that the Group pays on its profits.

Deferred taxes are provided under the liability method for all relevant temporary differences. IAS 12 ‘Income Taxes’ does not require all temporary differences to be provided for, in particular, the Group does not provide for deferred tax on undistributed earnings of subsidiaries where the Group is able to control the timing of the distribution and the temporary difference created is not expected to reverse in the foreseeable future. Deferred tax assets are only recognised when it is more likely than not that future taxable profits will be available against which these losses can be utilised.

 

F-27


Table of Contents

Deferred tax is measured at the tax rates that are expected to apply to the period when the asset is realised or the liability settled, based on tax rates (and laws) that have been enacted or are substantively enacted at the end of the reporting period.

 

(s) Business acquisitions and disposals

Business acquisitions are accounted for by applying the purchase method of accounting, which adjusts the net assets of the acquired company to fair value at the date of purchase. The excess of the acquisition consideration over the fair value of the assets and liabilities of the acquired entity is recorded as goodwill. Expenses related to acquiring new subsidiaries are expensed in the period in which they are incurred. Income and expenses of acquired entities are included in the income statement from the date of acquisition.

Income and expenses of entities sold during the period are included in the income statement up to the date of disposal. The gain or loss on disposal is calculated as the difference between sale proceeds net of selling costs, less the net assets of the entity at the date of disposal adjusted for foreign exchange movements attaching to the sold entity that are required to be recycled to the income statement under IAS 21.

 

(t) Goodwill

Goodwill arising on acquisitions of subsidiaries and businesses is capitalised and carried on the Group statement of financial position as an intangible asset at initial value less any accumulated impairment losses. Goodwill impairment testing is conducted annually and when there is an indication of impairment. For the purposes of impairment testing, goodwill is allocated to cash generating units.

 

(u) Intangible assets

Intangible assets acquired on the purchase of a subsidiary or portfolio of contracts are measured at fair value on acquisition. Deferred acquisition costs are accounted for as described in notes A3.1(d) and A3.1(f) above. Other intangible assets, such as distribution rights and software, are valued initially at the price paid to acquire them and are subsequently carried at cost less amortisation and any accumulated impairment losses. Distribution rights relate to fees paid under bancassurance partnership arrangements for bank distribution of products for the term of the contract. Amounts for distribution rights are amortised on a basis to reflect the pattern in which the future economic benefits are expected to be consumed by reference to new business production levels. The same principles apply to determining the amortisation method for other intangible assets unless the pattern cannot be determined reliably, in which case a straight line method is applied. Amortisation of intangible assets is charged to the “acquisition costs and other expenditure” line in the consolidated income statement.

 

(v) Cash and cash equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents consist of cash at bank and in hand, deposits held at call with banks, treasury bills and other short-term highly liquid investments with less than 90 days maturity from the date of acquisition.

 

(w) Shareholders’ dividends

Interim dividends are recorded in the period in which they are paid. Final dividends are recorded in the period in which they are approved by shareholders.

 

(x) Share capital

Where there is no obligation to transfer assets, shares are classified as equity. The difference between the proceeds received on issue of the shares, net of share issue costs, and the nominal value of the shares issued, is credited to share premium. Where the Company purchases shares for the purposes of employee incentive plans, the consideration paid, net of issue costs, is deducted from retained earnings. Upon issue or sale any consideration received is credited to retained earnings net of related costs.

 

(y) Foreign exchange

The Group’s consolidated financial statements are presented in pounds sterling, the Group’s presentation currency. Accordingly, the results and financial position of foreign subsidiaries must be translated into the presentation currency of the Group from their functional currencies, ie the currency of the primary economic environment in which the entity operates. All assets and liabilities of foreign subsidiaries are converted at year end exchange rates while all income and expenses are converted at average exchange rates where this is a reasonable approximation of the rates prevailing on transaction dates. The impact of these currency translations is recorded as a separate component in the statement of comprehensive income.

 

F-28


Table of Contents

Foreign currency borrowings that are used to provide a hedge against Group equity investments in overseas subsidiaries are translated at year end exchange rates and movements recognised in other comprehensive income. Other foreign currency monetary items are translated at year end exchange rates with changes recognised in the income statement.

Foreign currency transactions are translated at the spot rate prevailing at the time.

 

(z) Earnings per share

Basic earnings per share is calculated by dividing the earnings attributable to ordinary shareholders by the weighted average number of ordinary shares outstanding during the year, excluding those held in employee share trusts and consolidated unit trusts and OEICs, which are treated as cancelled.

For diluted earnings per share, the weighted average number of shares in issue is adjusted to assume conversion of all dilutive potential ordinary shares. The Group’s only class of potentially dilutive ordinary shares are those share options granted to employees where the exercise price is less than the average market price of the Company’s ordinary shares during the year. No adjustment is made if the impact is anti-dilutive overall.

 

A3.2 New accounting pronouncements not yet effective

The following standards, interpretations and amendments have been issued but are not yet effective in 2015, including those which have not yet been adopted in the EU. This is not intended to be a complete list as only those standards, interpretations and amendments that could have an impact upon the Group’s financial statements are discussed.

Accounting pronouncements endorsed by the EU but not yet effective

Clarification of Acceptable Methods of Depreciation and Amortisation (Amendments to IAS 16 and IAS 38)

The amendments published in May 2014 provide additional guidance on how the depreciation or amortisation of property, plant and equipment and intangible assets should be calculated. They are effective for annual periods beginning on or after 1 January 2016, with earlier application being permitted. The Group has assessed the impact of the amendments and determined that they are not likely to have a significant impact on the Group’s financial statements.

Annual improvements to IFRS – 2012-2014 Cycle

The annual improvements 2012-2014 Cycle include minor changes to four IFRSs, and is effective for annual periods beginning on or after 1 January 2016. The Group is assessing the impact of these amendments but they are not expected to have a significant impact on the Group’s financial statements.

Accounting pronouncements not yet endorsed by the EU

Amendments to IAS 1 Disclosure Initiative

In December 2014, the IASB published ‘Disclosure Initiative (Amendments to IAS 1). The amendments aim at clarifying , rather than significantly changing, IAS 1 to address perceived impediments to preparers exercising their judgement in presenting their financial reports. The amendments are effective for annual periods beginning on or after 1 January 2016 and clarify materiality requirements, aggregation of specific line items in the financial statements and ordering of the notes. We have reviewed the amendments and do not envisage any significant change.

IFRS 15, ‘Revenue from Contracts with Customers’

This standard effective for annual periods beginning on or after 1 January 2018, provides a single framework to recognise revenue for contacts with different characteristics and overrides the framework provided for such contracts in other standards. The contracts excluded from the scope of this standard include:

 

  Lease contracts within the scope of IAS 17 ’Leases’;
  Insurance contracts within the scope of IFRS 4 ‘Insurance Contracts’;
  Financial instruments within the scope of IAS 39 ‘Financial Instruments’.

As a result of the scope exclusion above, this standard is of particular relevance only to the revenue recognition of the Group’s asset management contracts and the measurement of the Group’s investment contracts that do not

 

F-29


Table of Contents

contain discretionary participating features where the contracts include an investment management element. The Group is assessing the impact of this standard but it is not expected to have a significant impact on the Group’s financial statements.

IFRS 16, ‘Leases’

In January 2016, the IASB published a new standard, IFRS 16 ‘Leases’. The new standard brings most leases on-balance sheet for lessees under a single model, eliminating the distinction between operating and finance leases. Lessor accounting however remains largely unchanged and the distinction between operating and finance leases is retained. IFRS 16 is effective for periods beginning on or after 1 January 2019, with earlier adoption permitted if IFRS 15 ‘Revenue from Contracts with Customers’ has also been applied. The Group is assessing the impact of this standard.

IFRS 9, ‘Financial instruments: Classification and measurement’

In July 2014, the IASB published a complete version of IFRS 9 with the exception of macro hedge accounting. The standard becomes mandatorily effective for the annual periods beginning on or after 1 January 2018, with early application permitted and transitional rules apply. In December 2015, the IASB published for consultation an exposure draft of proposed amendments to IFRS 4 to address the temporary consequences of the different effective dates of IFRS 9 and the new insurance contracts standard. The proposals in the exposure draft includes an optional temporary exemption from applying IFRS 9 that would be available to companies whose predominant activity is to issue insurance contracts. Such a deferral would be available until the new Insurance Contracts Standard comes into effect (but it could not be used after 1 January 2021). The comment period closed on 8 February 2016.

This standard replaces the existing IAS 39,“Financial Instruments - Recognition and measurement”, and will affect:

 

    The classification and the measurement of financial assets and liabilities.

Under IFRS 9, financial assets are classified under one of the following categories: amortised cost, fair value through other comprehensive income (FVOCI) and fair value through profit or loss (FVTPL) based on their contractual cash flow characteristics and/or the business model in which they are held. The existing amortised cost measurement for financial liabilities is largely maintained under IFRS 9 but for financial liabilities designated at FVTPL, changes in fair value due to changes in entity’s own credit risk are to be recognised in other comprehensive income;

 

    The calculation of the impairment charge relevant for financial assets held at amortised cost or FVOCI. A new impairment model based on an expected credit loss approach replaces the existing IAS 39 incurred loss impairment model; and

 

    The hedge accounting requirements which are more closely aligned with the risk management activities of the company.

The Group is assessing the impact of this standard in conjunction with the requirements of the IASB’s proposals for insurance contracts accounting as they are developed to a final standard. The adoption of the requirements of IFRS 9 may result in reclassification of certain of the Group’s financial assets and hence lead to a change in the measurement of these instruments or the performance reporting of value movements. In addition, for any investments classified as FVOCI, as noted above, the impairment provisioning approach is altered from the current IAS 39 approach. The Group does not currently apply hedge accounting for most of its derivative programmes but will reconsider its approach in light of new requirements under the standard on adoption.

 

F-30


Table of Contents
B EARNINGS PERFORMANCE

 

B1 Analysis of performance by segment

 

B1.1 Segment results – profit before tax

 

                  2015 £m                   2014 £m              2013 £m  
      Note                             

Asia operations

              

Asia insurance operations

        1,209            1,050         1,001   

Eastspring Investments

          115            90         74   

Total Asia operations

          1,324            1,140         1,075   
US operations               
Jackson (US insurance operations)         1,691            1,431         1,243   

Broker-dealer and asset management

          11            12         59   

Total US operations

          1,702            1,443         1,302   
UK operations               
UK insurance operations:    B4(b)            

Long-term business*

        1,167            729         695   

General insurance commissionnote (i)

          28            24         29   
Total UK insurance operations         1,195            753         724   
M&G         442            446         395   

Prudential Capital

          19            42         46   

Total UK operations

          1,656            1,241         1,165   

Total segment profit

          4,682            3,824         3,542   
Other income and expenditure               
Investment return and other income         14            15         10   
Interest payable on core structural borrowings         (312)            (341)         (305)   

Corporate expenditurenote (ii)

          (319)            (293)         (263)   

Total

          (617)            (619)         (558)   
Solvency II implementation costs         (43)            (28)         (29)   
Restructuring costsnote (iii)         (15)            (14)         (12)   

Results of the sold PruHealth and PruProtect businesses*

                     23         11   
Operating profit based on longer-term investment returns         4,007            3,186         2,954   

Short-term fluctuations in investment returns on

shareholder-backed business

   B1.2      (737)            (574)         (1,110)   
Amortisation of acquisition accounting adjustmentsnote (iv)         (76)            (79)         (72)   
Gain on sale of PruHealth and PruProtect businessesnote (v)                    86           

Cumulative exchange loss on the sold Japan life business

recycled from other comprehensive income

        (46)                      
Loss attaching to held for sale Japan life business    D1                         (102)   

Costs of domestication of Hong Kong branchnote (vi)

  

D2

                (5)         (35)   

Profit before tax attributable to shareholders

          3,148              2,614         1,635   
Basic earnings per share (in pence)    B6    2015           2014      2013  
Based on operating profit based on longer-term investment returns         125.8p            96.6p         90.9p   

Based on profit for the year

          101.0p              86.9p         52.8p   
* In order to show the UK long-term business on a comparable basis, the 2014 and 2013 comparative results exclude the contribution from the sold PruHealth and PruProtect businesses.

Notes

(i) The Group’s UK insurance operations transferred its general insurance business to Churchill in 2002. General insurance commission represents the commission receivable net of expenses for Prudential-branded general insurance products as part of this arrangement, which terminates at the end of 2016.
(ii) Corporate expenditure as shown above is for Group Head Office and Asia Regional Head Office.

 

F-31


Table of Contents
(iii) Restructuring costs are incurred in the UK and represent one-off business development expenses.
(iv) Amortisation of acquisition accounting adjustments principally relate to the acquired REALIC business of Jackson.
(v) In November 2014, PAC completed the sale of its 25 per cent equity stake in the PruHealth and PruProtect businesses to Discovery Group Europe Limited.
(vi) On 1 January 2014, the Hong Kong branch of the Prudential Assurance Company Limited was transferred to separate subsidiaries established in Hong Kong.

 

B1.2 Short-term fluctuations in investment returns on shareholder-backed business

 

              2015 £m              2014 £m              2013 £m  

Insurance operations:

        

Asianote (i)

     (119)         178         (204)   

USnote (ii)

     (424)         (1,103)         (625)   

UKnote (iii)

     (120)         464         (254)   

Other operationsnote (iv)

     (74)         (113)         (27)   

Total

     (737)         (574)         (1,110)   

Notes

(i) Asia insurance operations
   In Asia, the negative short-term fluctuations of £(119) million (2014: positive £178 million; 2013: negative £(204) million) primarily reflect net unrealised movements on bond holdings following rises in bond yields across the region during the year.
(ii) US insurance operations
   The short-term fluctuations in investment returns for US insurance operations are reported net of related credit for amortisation of deferred acquisition costs, of £93 million as shown in note C5.1(b) (2014: £653 million; 2013: £228 million) and comprise amounts in respect of the following items:

 

             2015 £m             2014 £m              2013 £m  

Net equity hedge resultnote (a)

    (504)        (1,574)         (255)   

Other than equity-related derivativesnote (b)

    29        391         (531)   

Debt securitiesnote (c)

    1        47         42   

Equity-type investments: actual less longer-term return

    19        16         89   

Other items

    31        17         30   

Total

    (424)        (1,103)         (625)   

Notes

(a) Net equity hedge result

The purpose of the inclusion of this item in short-term fluctuations in investment returns is to segregate the amount included in pre-tax profit that relates to the accounting effect of market movements on both the measured value of guarantees in Jackson’s variable annuity and fixed index annuity products and on the related derivatives used to manage the exposures inherent in these guarantees. As the Group applies US GAAP for the measured value of the product guarantees this item also includes asymmetric impacts where the measurement bases of the liabilities and associated derivatives used to manage the Jackson annuity business differ as described below.

The result comprises the net effect of:

 

    The accounting value movements on the variable and fixed index annuity guarantee liabilities;
    Adjustments in respect of fee assessments and claim payments;
    Fair value movements on free standing equity derivatives; and
    Related changes to DAC amortisation in accordance with the policy that DAC is amortised in line with emergence of margins.

Movements in the accounting values of the variable annuity guarantee liabilities include those for:

 

    The Guaranteed Minimum Death Benefit (GMDB), and the ‘for life’ portion of Guaranteed Minimum Withdrawal Benefit (GMWB) guarantees which are valued under the US GAAP insurance measurement basis applied for IFRS in a way that is substantially less sensitive to the effect of equity market and interest rate changes. These represent the majority of the guarantees offered by Jackson; and
    The ‘not for life’ portion of GMWB embedded derivative liabilities which are required to be fair valued. Fair value movements on these liabilities include the effects of changes to levels of equity markets, implied volatility and interest rates.

The free-standing equity derivatives are held to manage equity exposures of the variable annuity guarantees and fixed index annuity embedded options.

 

F-32


Table of Contents

The net equity hedge result therefore includes significant accounting mismatches and other factors that detract from the presentation of an economic result. These other factors include:

 

    The variable annuity guarantees and fixed index annuity embedded options being only partially fair valued under ‘grandfathered’ GAAP;
    The interest rate exposure being managed through the other than equity-related derivative programme explained in note (b) below; and
    Jackson’s management of its economic exposures for a number of other factors that are treated differently in the accounting frameworks such as future fees and assumed volatility levels.

 

(b) Other than equity-related derivatives

The fluctuations for this item comprise the net effect of:

 

    Fair value movements on free standing, other than equity-related derivatives;
    Accounting effects of the Guaranteed Minimum Income Benefit (GMIB) reinsurance; and
    Related amortisation of DAC.

The free-standing, other than equity-related derivatives, are held to manage interest rate exposures and durations within the general account and the variable annuity guarantees and fixed index annuity embedded options described in note (a) above.

The direct Guaranteed Minimum Income Benefit (GMIB) liability is valued using the US GAAP measurement basis applied for IFRS reporting in a way that substantially does not recognise the effects of market movements. Reinsurance arrangements are in place so as to essentially fully insulate Jackson from the GMIB exposure. Notwithstanding that the liability is essentially fully reinsured, as the reinsurance asset is net settled, it is deemed a derivative under IAS 39 which requires fair valuation.

The fluctuations for this item therefore include significant accounting mismatches caused by:

 

    The fair value movements booked in the income statement on the derivative programme being in respect of the management of interest rate exposures of the variable and fixed index annuity business, as well as the fixed annuity business guarantees and durations within the general account;
    Fair value movements on Jackson’s debt securities of the general account which are recorded in other comprehensive income rather than the income statement; and
    The mixed measurement model that applies for the GMIB and its reinsurance.

 

(c) Short-term fluctuations related to debt securities

 

              2015 £m              2014 £m              2013 £m  

Short-term fluctuations relating to debt securities

        

(Charges) credits in the year:

        

Losses on sales of impaired and deteriorating bonds

     (54)         (5)         (5)   

Bond write downs

     (37)         (4)         (8)   

Recoveries / reversals

     18         19         10   

Total (charges) credits in the year

     (73)         10         (3)   
Less: Risk margin allowance deducted from operating profit based on longer-term investment returnsnote      83         78         85   
       10         88         82   

Interest-related realised gains:

        

Arising in the year

     102         63         64   

Less: Amortisation of gains and losses arising in current and prior years to operating profit based on longer-term investment returns

     (108)         (87)         (89)   
       (6)         (24)         (25)   

Related amortisation of deferred acquisition costs

     (3)         (17)         (15)   

Total short-term fluctuations related to debt securities

     1         47         42   

Note

The debt securities of Jackson are held in the general account of the business. Realised gains and losses are recorded in the income statement with normalised returns included in operating profit with variations from year to year included in the short-term fluctuations category. The risk margin reserve charge for longer-term credit-related losses included in operating profit based on longer-term investment returns of Jackson for 2015 is based on an average annual risk margin reserve of 23 basis points (2014:

 

F-33


Table of Contents

24 basis points; 2013: 25 basis points) on average book values of US$54.6 billion (2014: US$54.5 billion; 2013: US$54.4 billion) as shown below:

 

    2015         2014         2013  

Moody’s rating category

(or equivalent under

NAIC ratings of
mortgage-backed
securities)

  Average
book
value
    RMR     Annual
expected
loss
       

Average

book

value

        RMR     Annual
expected
loss
       

Average

book

value

        RMR     Annual
expected
loss
 
     US$m     %     US$m     £m         US$m          %     US$m     £m         US$m          %     US$m     £m  

A3 or higher

    28,185        0.13        (37)        (24)          27,912          0.12        (34)        (21)          27,557          0.11        (32)        (20)   

Baa1, 2 or 3

    24,768        0.25        (62)        (40)          24,714          0.25        (62)        (38)          24,430          0.25        (62)        (40)   

Ba1, 2 or 3

    1,257        1.17        (15)        (10)          1,390          1.23        (17)        (10)          1,521          1.18        (18)        (11)   

B1, 2 or 3

    388        3.08        (12)        (8)          385          3.04        (12)        (7)          530          2.80        (15)        (9)   

Below B3

    35        3.70        (1)        (1)          92            3.70        (4)        (2)          317            2.32        (7)        (5)   

Total

    54,633        0.23        (127)        (83)          54,493            0.24        (129)        (78)          54,355            0.25        (134)        (85)   
Related amortisation of deferred acquisition costs (see below)         24        16                25        15                25        16   
     

 

 

           

 

 

         

 

 

 
Risk margin reserve charge to operating profit for longer-term credit related losses           (103)        (67)                  (104)        (63)                (109)        (69)   
     

 

 

           

 

 

         

 

 

 

Consistent with the basis of measurement of insurance assets and liabilities for Jackson’s IFRS results, the charges and credits to operating profits based on longer-term investment returns are partially offset by related amortisation of deferred acquisition costs.

In addition to the accounting for realised gains and losses described above for Jackson general account debt securities, included within the statement of other comprehensive income is a pre-tax charge for unrealised losses on debt securities classified as available-for-sale net of related change in amortisation of deferred acquisition costs of £(968) million (2014: net unrealised gains of £869 million; 2013: net unrealised losses £(1,591) million). Temporary market value movements do not reflect defaults or impairments. Additional details of the movement in the value of the Jackson portfolio are included in note C3.3(b).

 

(iii) UK insurance operations

The negative short-term fluctuations in investment returns for UK insurance operations of £(120) million (2014: positive £464 million; 2013: negative £(254) million) include net unrealised movements on fixed income assets supporting the capital of the shareholder-backed annuity business, reflecting the rise in bond yields since the end of 2014.

 

(iv) Other

The negative short-term fluctuations in investment returns for other operations of £(74) million (2014: negative £(113) million; 2013: negative £(27) million) include unrealised value movements on investments and foreign exchange items.

 

(v) Default losses

The Group did not experience any default losses on its shareholder-backed debt securities portfolio in 2015, 2014 or 2013.

 

B1.3 Determining operating segments and performance measure of operating segments

Operating segments

The Group’s operating segments, determined in accordance with IFRS 8 ‘Operating Segments’, are as follows:

 

Insurance operations:    Asset management operations:

•    Asia

  

•    Eastspring Investments

•    US (Jackson)

  

•    US broker-dealer and asset management

•    UK

  

•    M&G

•    Prudential Capital

The Group’s operating segments are also its reportable segments for the purposes of internal management reporting. Prior to 2015, the Group incorporated Prudential Capital into the M&G operating segment for the purposes of segment reporting. To better reflect the economic characteristics of the two businesses, the Group has in 2015 made a change to present Prudential Capital as a separate reportable segment rather than aggregating this segment within M&G.

 

F-34


Table of Contents

Performance measure

The performance measure of operating segments utilised by the Company is IFRS operating profit attributable to shareholders based on longer-term investment returns, as described below. This measurement basis distinguishes operating profit based on long-term investment returns from other constituents of the total profit as follows:

 

  Short-term fluctuations in investment returns on shareholder-backed business*;
  Gain on the sale of the Group’s stake in the PruHealth and PruProtect businesses in 2014;
  Amortisation of acquisition accounting adjustments arising on the purchase of business. This comprises principally the charge for the adjustments arising on the purchase of REALIC in 2012;
  The recycling of the cumulative exchange translation loss on the sold Japan life business from other comprehensive income to the income statement in 2015. See note D1 for further details;
  The costs associated with the domestication of the Hong Kong branch which became effective on 1 January 2014; and
  Loss in 2013 attaching to the held for sale Japan life business. See note D1 for further details.

Segment results that are reported to the Group Executive Committee include items directly attributable to a segment as well as those that can be allocated on a reasonable basis. Unallocated items are mainly in relation to the Group Head Office and the Asia Regional Head Office.

 

* Including the impact of short-term market effects on the carrying value of Jackson’s guarantee liabilities and related derivatives as explained below.

Determination of operating profit based on longer-term investment returns for investment and liability movements:

 

(a) General principles
(i) UK style with-profits business

The operating profit based on longer-term returns reflects the statutory transfer gross of attributable tax. Value movements in the underlying assets of the with-profits funds do not affect directly the determination of operating profit.

 

(ii) Unit-linked business

The policyholder unit liabilities are directly reflective of the underlying asset value movements. Accordingly, the operating results based on longer-term investment returns reflect the current period value movements in both the unit liabilities and the backing assets.

 

(iii) US variable annuity and fixed index annuity business

This business has guarantee liabilities which are measured on a combination of fair value and other US GAAP derived principles. These liabilities are subject to an extensive derivative programme to manage equity and, with those of the general account, interest rate exposures. The principles for determination of the operating profit and short-term fluctuations are necessarily bespoke, as discussed in section (c) below.

 

(iv) Business where policyholder liabilities are sensitive to market conditions

Under IFRS, the degree to which the carrying values of liabilities to policyholders are sensitive to current market conditions varies between territories depending upon the nature of the ‘grandfathered’ measurement basis. In general, in those instances where the liabilities are particularly sensitive to routine changes in market conditions, the accounting basis is such that the impact of market movements on the assets and liabilities is broadly equivalent in the income statement, and operating profit based on longer-term investments returns is not distorted. In these circumstances, there is no need for the movement in the liability to be bifurcated between the elements that relate to longer-term market conditions and short-term effects.

However, some types of business movements in liabilities do require bifurcation to ensure that at the net level (ie after allocated investment return and charge for policyholder benefits) the operating result reflects longer-term market returns.

Examples of where such bifurcation is necessary are in Hong Kong and for UK shareholder-backed annuity business, as explained in sections b(i) and d(i), respectively.

 

(v) Other shareholder-financed business

The measurement of operating profit based on longer-term investment returns reflects the particular features of long-term insurance business where assets and liabilities are held for the long-term and for which the accounting

 

F-35


Table of Contents

basis for insurance liabilities under current IFRS is not generally conducive to demonstrating trends in underlying performance of life businesses exclusive of the effects of short-term fluctuations in market conditions. In determining the profit on this basis, the following key elements are applied to the results of the Group’s shareholder-financed operations.

Except in the case of assets backing liabilities which are directly matched (such as linked business) or closely correlated with value movements (as discussed below) operating profit based on longer-term investment returns for shareholder-financed business is determined on the basis of expected longer-term investment returns.

Debt, equity-type securities and loans

Longer-term investment returns comprise actual income receivable for the period (interest/dividend income) and for both debt and equity-type securities longer-term capital returns.

In principle, for debt securities and loans, the longer-term capital returns comprise two elements:

 

  Risk margin reserve based charge for the expected level of defaults for the period, which is determined by reference to the credit quality of the portfolio. The difference between impairment losses in the reporting period and the risk margin reserve charge to the operating result is reflected in short-term fluctuations in investment returns; and
  The amortisation of interest-related realised gains and losses to operating results based on longer-term investment returns to the date when sold bonds would have otherwise matured.

At 31 December 2015, the level of unamortised interest-related realised gains and losses related to previously sold bonds for the Group was a net gain of £567 million (2014: £467 million; 2013: £461 million).

Equity-type securities

For equity-type securities, the longer-term rates of return are estimates of the long-term trend investment returns for income and capital having regard to past performance, current trends and future expectations. Equity-type securities held for shareholder-financed operations other than the UK annuity business, unit-linked and US variable annuity are of significance for the US and Asia insurance operations. Different rates apply to different categories of equity-type securities.

Derivative value movements

Generally, derivative value movements are excluded from operating results based on longer-term investment returns (unless those derivative value movements broadly offset changes in the accounting value of other assets and liabilities included in operating profit). The principal example of non-equity based derivatives (for example interest rate swaps and swaptions) whose value movements are excluded from operating profit arises in Jackson, as discussed below in section (c).

 

(b) Asia insurance operations
(i) Business where policyholder liabilities are sensitive to market conditions

For certain Asia non-participating business, for example in Hong Kong, the economic features are more akin to asset management products with policyholder liabilities reflecting asset shares over the contract term. For these products, the charge for policyholder benefits in the operating results should reflect the asset share feature rather than volatile movements that would otherwise be reflected if the local regulatory basis (also applied for IFRS basis) was used.

For certain other types of non-participating business, longer-term interest rates are used to determine the movement in policyholder liabilities for determining operating results.

 

(ii) Other Asia shareholder-financed business

Debt securities

For this business the realised gains and losses are principally interest related. Accordingly, all realised gains and losses to date for these operations are being amortised over the period to the date those securities would otherwise have matured, with no explicit risk margin reserve charge.

 

F-36


Table of Contents

Equity-type securities

For Asia insurance operations, investments in equity securities held for non-linked shareholder-financed operations amounted to £840 million as at 31 December 2015 (2014: £932 million; 2013: £571 million). The rates of return applied in the years 2015, 2014 and 2013 ranged from 2.73 per cent to 13.75 per cent with the rates applied varying by territory. These rates are determined after consideration by the Group’s in-house economists of long-term expected real government bond returns, equity risk premium and long-term inflation. These rates are broadly stable from period to period but may be different between countries reflecting, for example, differing expectations of inflation in each territory. The assumptions are for returns expected to apply in equilibrium conditions. The assumed rates of return do not reflect any cyclical variability in economic performance and are not set by reference to prevailing asset valuations.

The longer-term investment returns for the Asia insurance joint ventures accounted for using the equity method are determined on a similar basis as the other Asia insurance operations described above.

 

(c) US Insurance operations
(i) Separate account business

For such business the policyholder unit liabilities are directly reflective of the asset value movements. Accordingly, the operating results based on longer-term investment returns reflect the current period value movements in unit liabilities and the backing assets.

(ii) US variable and fixed index annuity business

The following value movements for Jackson’s variable and fixed index annuity business are excluded from operating profit based on longer-term investment returns. See note B1.2 note (ii):

 

  Fair value movements for equity-based derivatives;
  Fair value movements for embedded derivatives for the ‘not for life’ portion of Guaranteed Minimum Withdrawal Benefit and fixed index annuity business, and Guaranteed Minimum Income Benefit reinsurance (see below);
  Movements in the accounts carrying value of Guaranteed Minimum Death Benefit and the ‘for life’ portion of Guaranteed Minimum Withdrawal Benefits and Guaranteed Minimum Income Benefit liabilities, for which, under the ‘grandfathered’ US GAAP applied under IFRS for Jackson’s insurance assets and liabilities, the measurement basis gives rise to a muted impact of current period market movements;
  A portion of the fee assessments as well as claim payments, in respect of guarantee liabilities; and
  Related amortisation of deferred acquisition costs for each of the above items.

Embedded derivatives for variable annuity guarantee minimum income benefit

The Guaranteed Minimum Income Benefit liability, which is essentially fully reinsured, subject to a deductible and annual claim limits, is accounted for in accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) Subtopic 944-80 Financial Services – Insurance – Separate Accounts (formerly SOP 03-1) under IFRS using ‘grandfathered’ US GAAP. As the corresponding reinsurance asset is net settled, it is considered to be a derivative under IAS 39, ‘Financial Instruments: Recognition and Measurement’, and the asset is therefore recognised at fair value. As the Guaranteed Minimum Income Benefit is economically reinsured, the mark to market element of the reinsurance asset is included as a component of short-term fluctuations in investment returns.

(iii) Other derivative value movements

The principal example of non-equity based derivatives (for example, interest rate swaps and swaptions) whose value movements are excluded from operating profit, arises in Jackson. Non-equity based derivatives are primarily held by Jackson as part of a broadly-based hedging programme for features of Jackson’s bond portfolio (for which value movements are booked in the statement of comprehensive income rather than the income statement), product liabilities (for which US GAAP accounting as ‘grandfathered’ under IFRS 4 does not fully reflect the economic features being hedged), and the interest rate exposure attaching to equity-based embedded derivatives.

 

(iv) Other US shareholder-financed business

Debt securities

Jackson is the shareholder-backed operation for which the distinction between impairment losses and interest-related realised gains and losses is in practice relevant to a significant extent. Jackson has used the ratings by

 

F-37


Table of Contents

Nationally Recognised Statistical Ratings Organisations (NRSRO) or ratings resulting from the regulatory ratings detail issued by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) developed by external third parties such as BlackRock Solutions to determine the average annual risk margin reserve to apply to debt securities held to back general account business. Debt securities held to back separate account and reinsurance funds withheld are not subject to risk margin reserve charge. Further details of the risk margin reserve charge, as well as the amortisation of interest-related realised gains and losses, for Jackson are shown in note B1.2.

Equity-type securities

As at 31 December 2015, the equity-type securities for US insurance non-separate account operations amounted to £1,004 million (2014: £1,094 million; 2013: £1,118 million). For these operations, the longer-term rates of return for income and capital applied in the years indicated, which reflect the combination of the average risk-free rates over the year and appropriate risk premiums are as follows:

 

      2015      2014      2013  
Equity-type securities such as common and preferred stock and portfolio holdings in mutual funds      5.7% to 6.4%         6.2% to 6.7%         5.7% to 6.8%   
Other equity-type securities such as investments in limited partnerships and private equity funds      7.7% to 8.4%         8.2% to 8.7%         7.7% to 9.0%   

 

(d) UK Insurance operations
(i) Shareholder-backed annuity business

For this business, policyholder liabilities are determined by reference to current interest rates. The value movements of the assets covering liabilities are closely correlated with the related change in liabilities. Accordingly, asset value movements are recorded within the ‘operating results based on longer-term investment returns’. Policyholder liabilities include a margin for credit risk. Variations between actual and best estimate expected impairments are recorded as a component of short-term fluctuations in investment returns.

The operating result based on longer-term investment returns reflects the impact of value movements on policyholder liabilities for annuity business in PRIL and the PAC non-profit sub-fund after adjustments to allocate the following elements of the movement to the category of ‘short-term fluctuations in investment returns’:

 

  The impact on credit risk provisioning of actual upgrades and downgrades during the period;
  Credit experience compared to assumptions; and
  Short-term value movements on assets backing the capital of the business.

Credit experience reflects the impact of defaults and other similar experience, such as asset exchanges arising from debt restructuring by issuers that include effectively an element of permanent impairment of the security held. Positive or negative experience compared to assumptions is included within short-term fluctuations in investment returns without further adjustment. The effects of other changes to credit risk provisioning are included in the operating result, as is the net effect of changes to the valuation rate of interest due to portfolio rebalancing to align more closely with management benchmark.

 

(ii) Non-linked shareholder-financed business

For debt securities backing non-linked shareholder-financed business of the UK insurance operations (other than the annuity business) the realised gains and losses are principally interest related. Accordingly, all realised gains and losses to date for these operations are being amortised over the period to the date those securities would otherwise have matured, with no explicit risk margin reserve charge.

 

(e) Fund management and other non-insurance businesses

For these businesses, the particular features applicable for life assurance noted above do not apply. For these businesses it is inappropriate to include returns in the operating result on the basis described above. Instead, it is appropriate to generally include realised gains and losses in the operating result with temporary unrealised gains and losses being included in short-term fluctuations. In some instances it may also be appropriate to amortise realised gains and losses on derivatives and other financial instruments to operating results over a time period that reflects the underlying economic substance of the arrangements.

 

F-38


Table of Contents
B1.4 Segmental income statement

 

    2015 £m  
    Insurance operations     Asset management                    
    Asia     US     UK     M&G    

Prudential

Capital

    US    

Eastspring

Investments

    Total
segment
   

Unallocated

to a

segment

(central

operations)

   

Group

total

 
                                                             note (iii)         
Gross premiums earned     10,814        16,887        8,962                                    36,663               36,663   
Outward reinsurance premiums     (364)        (320)        (473)                                    (1,157)               (1,157)   
Earned premiums, net of reinsurance     10,450        16,567        8,489                               35,506               35,506   
Investment returnnote (ii)     (299)        (782)        4,372        10        35        (7)        3        3,332        (28)        3,304   
Other income     64               374        1,227        19        850        349        2,883        (388)        2,495   
Total revenue, net of reinsurance     10,215        15,785        13,235        1,237        54        843        352        41,721        (416)        41,305   
Benefits and claims     (6,580)        (13,345)        (10,610)                                    (30,535)        (12)        (30,547)   
Outward reinsurers’ share of benefits and claims     367        316        694                                    1,377        12        1,389   
Movement in unallocated surplus of with-profits funds     (330)               (168)                                    (498)               (498)   
Benefits and claims and movements in unallocated surplus of with-profits funds, net of reinsurance     (6,543)        (13,029)        (10,084)                                    (29,656)               (29,656)   
Acquisition costs and other operating expenditureB3     (2,651)        (1,544)        (2,025)        (810)        (82)        (832)        (278)        (8,222)        14        (8,208)   
Finance costs: interest on core structural borrowings of shareholder-financed operations            (13)                      (17)                      (30)        (282)        (312)   

Disposal of Japan Life business:

                   

Cumulative loss exchange loss recycled from other comprehensive income

    (46)                                                  (46)               (46)   
Total charges, net of reinsurance     (9,240)        (14,586)        (12,109)        (810)        (99)        (832)        (278)        (37,954)        (268)        (38,222)   
Share of profit from joint ventures and associates, net of related tax     130               53        14                      41        238               238   
Profit (loss) before tax (being tax attributable to shareholders’ and policyholders’ returns)note (i)     1,105        1,199        1,179        441        (45)        11        115        4,005        (684)        3,321   
Tax charge attributable to policyholders’ returns     (69)               (104)                                    (173)               (173)   
Profit (loss) before tax attributable to shareholders     1,036        1,199        1,075        441        (45)        11        115        3,832        (684)        3,148   

The segmental analysis of profit (loss) before tax attributable to shareholders as represented in note B1.1 is analysed below:

 

    2015 £m  
    Insurance operations     Asset management                    
     Asia     US     UK     M&G    

Prudential

Capital

        US     Eastspring
Investments
    Total
segment
   

Unallocated

to a

segment

(central

operations)

    Group
total
 
Operating profit (loss) based on longer-term investment returns     1,209        1,691        1,195        442        19        11        115        4,682        (675)        4,007   
Short-term fluctuations in investment returns on shareholder-backed business     (119)        (424)        (120)        (1)        (64)                      (728)        (9)        (737)   
Amortisation of acquisition accounting adjustments     (8)        (68)                                           (76)               (76)   
Cumulative exchange loss on the sold Japan Life business     (46)                                                  (46)               (46)   
Profit (loss) before tax attributable to shareholders     1,036        1,199        1,075        441        (45)        11        115        3,832        (684)        3,148   

 

F-39


Table of Contents
    2014 £m  
    Insurance operations     Asset management                    
    Asia     US     UK     M&G    

Prudential

Capital

    US    

Eastspring

Investments

    Total
segment
   

Unallocated

to a

segment

(central

operations)

   

Group

total

 
                                                             note (iii)         
Gross premiums earned     11,193        15,654        7,358                                    34,205        (1,373)        32,832   
Outward reinsurance premiums     (311)        (265)        (1,596)                                    (2,172)        1,373        (799)   
Earned premiums, net of reinsurance     10,882        15,389        5,762                                    32,033               32,033   
Investment returnnote (ii)     3,888        5,438        16,447        5        99        (2)        3        25,878        (91)        25,787   
Other income     49        (2)        240        1,279        12        808        307        2,693        (387)        2,306   
Total revenue, net of reinsurance     14,819        20,825        22,449        1,284        111        806        310        60,604        (478)        60,126   
Benefits and claims     (11,521)        (19,788)        (20,880)                                    (52,189)        1,453        (50,736)   
Outward reinsurers’ share of benefits and claims     254        27        1,803                                    2,084        (1,453)        631   
Movement in unallocated surplus of with-profits funds     20               (84)                                    (64)               (64)   
Benefits and claims and movements in unallocated surplus of with-profits funds, net of reinsurance     (11,247)        (19,761)        (19,161)                                    (50,169)               (50,169)   
Acquisition costs and other operating expenditureB3     (2,367)        (795)        (1,660)        (843)        (77)        (794)        (249)        (6,785)        33        (6,752)   
Finance costs: interest on core structural borrowings of shareholder-financed operations            (12)                      (17)                      (29)        (312)        (341)   
Remeasurement of carrying value of Japan Life business classified as held for sale     (13)                                                  (13)               (13)   
Total charges, net of reinsurance     (13,627)        (20,568)        (20,821)        (843)        (94)        (794)        (249)        (56,996)        (279)        (57,275)   
Share of profit from joint ventures and associates, net of related tax     133               128        13                      29        303               303   
Profit (loss) before tax (being tax attributable to shareholders’ and policyholders’
returns)
note (i)
    1,325        257        1,756        454        17        12        90        3,911        (757)        3,154   
Tax charge attributable to policyholders’ returns     (105)               (435)                                    (540)               (540)   
Profit (loss) before tax attributable to shareholders     1,220        257        1,321        454        17        12        90        3,371        (757)        2,614   

The segmental analysis of profit (loss) before tax attributable to shareholders as represented in note B1.1 is analysed below:

 

    2014 £m  
    Insurance operations     Asset management                    
     Asia     US     UK*     M&G    

Prudential

Capital

    US     Eastspring
Investments
    Total
segment
   

Unallocated

to a

segment

(central

operations)

    Group
total
 
Operating profit based on longer-term investment returns     1,050        1,431        776        446        42        12        90        3,847        (661)        3,186   
Short-term fluctuations in investment returns on shareholder-backed business     178        (1,103)        464        8        (25)                      (478)        (96)        (574)   
Amortisation of acquisition accounting adjustments     (8)        (71)                                           (79)               (79)   
Gain on sale of PruHealth and PruProtect                   86                                    86               86   
Costs of domestication of Hong Kong branch                   (5)                                    (5)               (5)   
Profit (loss) before tax attributable to shareholders     1,220        257        1,321        454        17        12        90        3,371        (757)        2,614   

 

F-40


Table of Contents
    2013 £m  
    Insurance operations     Asset management(note B2)                    
     Asia     US     UK     M&G    

Prudential

Capital

    US    

Eastspring

Investments

    Total
segment
   

Unallocated

to a

segment

(central

operations)

   

Group

total

 
Gross premiums earned     9,061        15,661        5,780                                    30,502               30,502   
Outward reinsurance premiums     (190)        (278)        (190)                                    (658)                (658)   
Earned premiums, net of reinsurance     8,871        15,383        5,590                                    29,844               29,844   
Investment returnnote (ii)     895        10,003        9,372        5        138        11        (1)        20,423        (76)        20,347   
Other income     48        (2)        226        1,159        6        855        245        2,537        (353)        2,184   
Total revenue, net of reinsurance     9,814        25,384        15,188        1,164        144        866        244        52,804        (429)        52,375   
Benefits and claims     (6,825)        (24,206)        (11,196)                                    (42,227)               (42,227)   
Outward reinsurers’ share of benefits and claims     150        500        (28)                                    622               622   
Movement in unallocated surplus of with-profits fundsnote (iv)     (255)               (1,294)                                    (1,549)               (1,549)   
Benefits and claims and movements in unallocated surplus of with-profits funds, net of reinsurance     (6,930)        (23,706)        (12,518)                                    (43,154)               (43,154)   
Acquisition costs and other operating expenditureB3     (2,015)        (1,112)        (1,950)        (782)        (58)        (807)        (193)        (6,917)        56        (6,861)   
Finance costs: interest on core structural borrowings of shareholder-financed operations            (13)                      (17)                      (30)        (275)        (305)   
Japan life business classified as held for sale     (120)                                                   (120)               (120)   
Total charges, net of reinsurance     (9,065)        (24,831)        (14,468)        (782)        (75)        (807)        (193)        (50,221)        (219)        (50,440)   
Share of profit from joint ventures and associates, net of related tax     29               83        12                      23        147               147   
Profit (loss) before tax (being tax attributable to shareholders’ and policyholders’ returns)note (i)     778        553        803        394        69        59        74        2,730        (648)        2,082   
Tax charge attributable to policyholders’ returns     (90)               (357)                                    (447)               (447)   
Profit (loss) before tax attributable to shareholders     688        553        446        394        69        59        74        2,283        (648)        1,635   

The segmental analysis of profit (loss) before tax attributable to shareholders as represented in note B1.1 is analysed below:

 

    2013 £m  
    Insurance operations     Asset management                    
     Asia     US     UK*     M&G    

Prudential

Capital

    US     Eastspring
Investments
    Total
segment
   

Unallocated

to a

segment

(central

operations)

   

Group

total

 
Operating profit based on longer-term investment returns     1,001        1,243        735        395        46        59        74        3,553        (599)        2,954   
Short-term fluctuations in investment returns on shareholder-backed business     (204)        (625)        (254)        (1)        23                      (1,061)        (49)        (1,110)   
Amortisation of acquisition accounting adjustments     (7)        (65)                                      (72)               (72)   
Loss attaching to held for sale Japan life business     (102)                                             (102)               (102)   
Costs of domestication of Hong Kong branch                   (35)                                     (35)               (35)   
Profit (loss) before tax attributable to shareholders     688        553        446        394        69        59        74        2,283        (648)        1,635   
* Includes the results of the sold PruHealth and PruProtect businesses.

 

F-41


Table of Contents

Notes

(i) This measure is the formal profit (loss) before tax measure under IFRS but is not the result attributable to shareholders.
(ii) Investment return principally comprises:
    Interest and dividends;
    Realised and unrealised gains and losses on securities and derivatives classified as fair value through profit and loss under IAS 39; and
    Realised gains and losses, including impairment losses, on securities classified as available-for-sale under IAS 39.
(iii) In addition to the results of the central operations, unallocated to a segment includes intra-group eliminations. This column includes the elimination of the intra-group reinsurance contract between the UK with-profits and Asia with-profits operations.
(iv) The 2013 movement in unallocated surplus of with-profits funds for Asia above included movement relating to the then Hong Kong branch of PAC. For the purpose of the presentation of unallocated surplus of with-profits funds within the statement of financial position, the Hong Kong branch balance (prior to its domestication in 2014) was shown within the unallocated surplus of the PAC with-profits sub-fund.

 

B1.5 Revenue

 

              2015 £m              2014 £m              2013 £m  

Long-term business premiums

        
Insurance contract premiums      33,618         29,973         28,339   
Investment contracts with discretionary participation feature premiums      2,839         2,637         1,877   
Inwards reinsurance premiums      206         222         286   
Less: reinsurance premiums ceded      (1,157)         (799)         (658)   
Earned premiums, net of reinsurancenote (iv)      35,506         32,033         29,844   

Investment return

        
Realised and unrealised (losses) and gains on securities at fair value through profit or loss      (4,572)         16,532         12,879   
Realised and unrealised (losses) and gains on derivatives at fair value through profit or loss      (1,701)         142         (1,724)   
Realised gains on available-for-sale securities, previously recognised in other comprehensive income*      49         84         64   
Realised losses on loans      (50)         (61)         11   
Interestnotes (i),(ii)      7,018         6,802         6,771   
Dividends      1,791         1,559         1,740   
Other investment return      769         729         606   
Investment return      3,304         25,787         20,347   
Fee income from investment contract business and asset managementnotes (iii),(iv)      2,495         2,306         2,184   
Total revenue      41,305         60,126         52,375   
* Including impairment.

Notes

(i) The segmental analysis of interest income is as follows:

 

     £m  
     Insurance operations      Asset management operations      Unallocated
to a

segment
(central
operations)
     Total  
      Asia      US      UK      M&G     

Prudential

Capital

     US     

Eastspring

Investments

       

2015

     743         1,921         4,240         18         107                2         (13)         7,018   

2014

     777         1,857         4,053                 101                 2         12         6,802   

2013

     562         1,981         4,178         4         108         1         1         (64)         6,771   

 

(ii) Interest income includes £3 million (2014: £3 million; 2013: £5 million) accrued in respect of impaired securities.
(iii) Fee income includes £19 million (2014: £23 million; 2013: £44 million) relating to financial instruments that are not held at fair value through profit or loss. These fees primarily related to prepayment fees, late fees and syndication fees.
(iv) The following table provides additional segmental analysis of revenue from external customers:

 

F-42


Table of Contents
     2015 £m  
                           Asia      US      UK      Intra-group      Total  

Revenue from external customers:

              

Insurance operations

     10,514         16,567         8,863                 35,944   

Asset management

     349         850         1,246         (487)         1,958   

Unallocated corporate

                     99                 99   

Intra-group revenue*

     (178)         (90)         (219)         487           

Total revenue from external customers

     10,685         17,327         9,989                 38,001   

*     Eliminated on consolidation

        

  
     2014 £m  
      Asia      US      UK      Intra-group      Total  

Revenue from external customers:

              

Insurance operations

     9,558         15,387         7,375                 32,320   

Asset management

     307         808         1,291         (449)         1,957   

Unallocated corporate

                     62                 62   

Intra-group revenue

     (146)         (84)         (219)         449           

Total revenue from external customers

     9,719         16,111         8,509                 34,339   
     2013 £m  
      Asia      US      UK      Intra-group      Total  

Revenue from external customers:

              

Insurance operations

     8,919         15,381         5,816                 30,116   

Asset management

     245         855         1,165         (379)         1,886   

Unallocated corporate

                     26                 26   

Intra-group revenue

     (98)         (86)         (195)         379           

Total revenue from external customers

     9,066         16,150         6,812                 32,028   

Revenue from external customers comprises:

 

              2015 £m              2014 £m              2013 £m  
Earned premiums, net of reinsurance      35,506         32,033         29,844   
Fee income from investment contract business and asset management (presented as ‘Other income’)      2,495         2,306         2,184   
Total revenue from external customers      38,001         34,339         32,028   

The asset management operations, M&G, Prudential Capital, Eastspring Investments and US asset management provide services to the Group insurance operations. Intragroup fees included within asset management revenue were earned by the following asset management segments:

 

              2015 £m              2014 £m              2013 £m  
Intra-group revenue generated by:         

M&G

     194         208         195   

PruCap

     25         11      

US broker-dealer and asset management

     90         84         98   

Eastspring Investments

     178         146         86   
Total intra-group fees included within asset management segment      487         449         379   

Revenue from external customers of Asia, US and UK insurance operations shown above are net of outwards reinsurance premiums of £364 million, £320 million, and £473 million respectively (2014: £311 million, £265 million and £223 million respectively; 2013: £190 million, £278 million, and £190 million respectively). In Asia, revenue from external customers from no individual country exceeds 10 per cent of the Group total. The largest country is Hong Kong with a total revenue from external customers of £3,836 million (2014: Hong Kong £2,554 million; 2013: Hong Kong £2,243 million).

Due to the nature of the business of the Group, there is no reliance on any major customers.

 

F-43


Table of Contents
B2 Profit before tax – asset management operations

The profit included in the income statement in respect of asset management operations for the year is as follows:

 

     2015 £m         2014 £m      2013 £m  
      M&G     

Prudential

Capital

     US     

Eastspring

Investments

     Total          Total      Total  
Revenue (excluding NPH broker-dealer fees)      1,237         54         321         352         1,964          2,008         1,914   
NPH broker-dealer feesnote (i)                      522                 522          503         504   
Gross revenue      1,237         54         843         352         2,486          2,511         2,418   
Charges (excluding NPH broker-dealer fees)      (810)         (99)         (310)         (278)         (1,497)          (1,477)         (1,353)   
NPH broker-dealer feesnote (i)                      (522)                 (522)          (503)         (504)   
Gross charges      (810)         (99)         (832)         (278)         (2,019)          (1,980)         (1,857)   
Share of profit from joint ventures and associates, net of related tax      14                         41         55          42         35   
Profit before tax      441         (45)         11         115         522          573         596   
Comprising:                      
Operating profit based on longer-term investment returnsnote (ii)      442         19         11         115         587          590         574   
Short-term fluctuations in investment returns      (1)         (64)                         (65)          (17)         22   

Profit before tax

     441         (45)         11         115         522            573         596   

Notes

(i) The segment revenue of the Group’s asset management operations includes:
  NPH broker-dealer fees which represent commissions received that are then paid on to the writing brokers on sales of investment products. To reflect their commercial nature the amounts are also wholly reflected as charges within the income statement. After allowing for these charges, there is no effect on profit from this item. The presentation in the table above shows separately the amounts attributable to this item so that the underlying revenue and charges can be seen.
(ii) M&G operating profit based on longer-term investment returns:

 

              2015 £m              2014 £m              2013 £m  
Asset management fee income      934         953         859   
Other income      5         1         4   
Staff costs      (293)         (351)         (339)   
Other costs      (240)         (203)         (166)   
Underlying profit before performance-related fees      406         400         358   
Share of associate results      14         13         12   
Performance-related fees      22         33         25   
Total M&G operating profit based on longer-term investment returns      442         446         395   

 

   The revenue for M&G of £961 million (2014: £987 million; 2013: £888 million), comprising the amounts for asset management fee income, other income and performance-related fees shown above, is different to the amount of £1,237 million shown in the main table of this note. This is because the £961 million (2014: £987 million; 2013: £888 million) is after deducting commissions which would have been included as charges in the main table. The difference in the presentation of commission is aligned with how management reviews the business.

 

B3 Acquisition costs and other expenditure

 

              2015 £m              2014 £m              2013 £m  
Acquisition costs incurred for insurance policies      (3,275)         (2,668)         (2,553)   
Acquisition costs deferred less amortisation of acquisition costs      431         916         566   
Administration costs and other expenditure      (4,746)         (4,486)         (4,303)   
Movements in amounts attributable to external unit holders of consolidated investment funds      (618)         (514)         (571)   
Total acquisition costs and other expenditure      (8,208)         (6,752)         (6,861)   

Total acquisition costs and other expenditure includes:

 

(a) Total depreciation and amortisation expense of £(755) million (2014: £(159) million; 2013: £(510) million) relates primarily to amortisation of deferred acquisition costs of insurance contracts and asset management contracts. The segmental analysis of total depreciation and amortisation expense is analysed below.

 

F-44


Table of Contents
(b) The charge for non-deferred acquisition costs and the amortisation of those costs that are deferred, was £(2,845) million (2014: £(1,752) million; 2013: £(1,987) million).These amounts comprise £(2,818) million and £(27) million for insurance and investment contracts respectively (2014: £(1,714) million and £(38) million; 2013: £(1,953) million and £(34) million respectively).
(c) Interest expense, excluding interest on core structural borrowings of shareholder-financed operations, amounted to £(147) million (2014: £(128) million; 2013: £(120) million) and is included as part of administrative costs and other expenditure. The segmental interest expense is analysed below.
(d) Finance costs which are represented by interest on core structural borrowings of £(312) million (2014: £(341)million; 2013 £(305) million) comprises £(282) million (2014: £(312) million; 2013: £(275) million) interest on core debt of the parent company, £(13) million (2014: £(12) million; 2013: £(13) million) of interest on the surplus notes of US insurance operations, and £(17) million (2014: £(17) million; 2013: £(17) million) on Prudential Capital’s bank loan.
(e) Movements in amounts attributable to external unit holders are in respect of those OEICS and unit trusts which are required to be consolidated and comprises a charge of £(599) million (2014: £(258) million; 2013: £(583) million) for UK insurance operations and a charge of £(19) million (2014: £(256) million; 2013: a credit of £12 million) for Asia insurance operations.
(f) Analysis of depreciation and amortisation expense, and interest expense:

 

£m  
                                                   

Unallo-

cated to

a segment

(central

operations)

        Total      
        Insurance operations         Asset management operations            
     Asia     US     UK     M&G    

Prudential

Capital

    US     Eastspring
Investments
   

Total

segment

     
Depreciation and amortisation expense                    

2015

    (175)        (453)        (93)        (8)               (3)        (2)        (734)        (21)        (755)   

2014

    (206)        140        (64)        (10)               (2)        (2)        (144)        (15)        (159)   

2013

    (221)        (198)        (68)        (7)               (1)        (3)        (498)        (12)        (510)   
Interest expense                    

2015

           (19)        (93)               (22)                      (134)        (13)        (147)   

2014

           (13)        (81)               (26)                      (120)        (8)        (128)   

2013

           (11)        (70)               (27)                      (108)        (12)        (120)   

 

(g) There were no fee expenses relating to financial liabilities held at amortised cost included in acquisition costs in 2015, 2014 and 2013.

 

B3.1 Staff and employment costs

The average number of staff employed by the Group during the year was:

 

                  2015                  2014                  2013  

Business operations:

        

Asia operations

     15,030         13,957         12,239   

US operations

     4,562         4,494         4,414   

UK operations

     5,920         5,464         5,533   

Total

     25,512         23,915         22,186   

The costs of employment were:

 

          2015 £m          2014 £m          2013 £m  

Business operations:

        

Wages and salaries

     1,370         1,323         1,272   

Social security costs

     101         100         94   

Pension costs:

        

Defined benefit schemes*

     (63)         66         145   

Defined contribution schemes

     67         54         51   

Total

     1,475         1,543         1,562   
* The (credit) charge incorporates the effect of actuarial gains and losses.

 

F-45


Table of Contents
B3.2 Share-based payment

 

(a) Description of the plans

The Group operates a number of share award and share option plans that provides Prudential plc shares to participants upon vesting. The plans which are in operation include Prudential Long-Term Incentive Plan (PLTIP), Annual Incentive Plan (AIP), Group Performance Share Plan (GPSP), Jackson Long-Term Incentive Plan (Jackson LTIP), savings-related share option schemes, share purchase plans and deferred bonus plans. Some of these plans are participated in by executive directors, the details of which are described in Item 6 “Directors, Senior Management and Employees Compensation”. In addition, the following information is provided.

 

Share scheme   Description
Prudential Corporation Asia Long-Term Incentive Plan (PCA LTIP)   The PCA LTIP provides eligible employees with conditional awards. Awards are discretionary and on a year-by-year basis determined by Prudential’s full year financial results and the employee’s contribution to the business. Awards vests after three years subject to the employee being in employment. Vesting of awards may also be subject to performance conditions. All awards are made in Prudential shares, or ADRs, except for countries where share awards are not feasible due to securities and/or tax reasons, where awards will be replaced by the cash value of the shares that would otherwise have been transferred.
Savings-related share option schemes   Employees and eligible agents in a number of geographies are eligible for plans similar to the HMRC-approved Save As You Earn (SAYE) share option scheme in the UK. Eligible employees participate in the international savings-related share option scheme while eligible agents based in certain regions of Asia can participate in the non-employee savings-related share option scheme.
Share purchase plans   Eligible employees outside the UK are invited to participate in arrangements similar to the Company’s HMRC-approved UK SIP, which allows the purchase of Prudential plc shares. Staff based in Ireland and Asia are eligible for the Share Participation Plan.
Deferred bonus plans   The Company operates a number of deferred bonus schemes including the Group Deferred Bonus Plan, the Prudential Corporation Asia Deferred Bonus Plan (PCA DBP), the Prudential Capital Deferred Bonus Plan (PruCap DBP) and other arrangements. There are no performance conditions attached to deferred share awards made under these arrangements.
Jackson Long-Term Incentive Plan   Eligible Jackson employees were previously granted share awards under a long-term incentive plan which rewarded the achievement of shareholder value targets. These awards were in the form of a contingent right to receive shares or a conditional allocation of shares. These share awards have vesting periods of four years and are at nil cost to the employee. Award holders do not have any right to dividends or voting rights attaching to the shares. The shares are held in the employee share trust in the form of American Depository Receipts which are tradable on the New York Stock Exchange. The final awards under this arrangement were made in 2012.

 

F-46


Table of Contents
(b) Outstanding options and awards

The following table shows movement in outstanding options and awards under the Group’s share-based compensation plans at 31 December 2015, 2014 and 2013:

 

     Options outstanding under SAYE schemes          Awards outstanding
under incentive
plans including
conditional options
 
     2015          2014          2013          2015      2014      2013  
     

Number

of options
millions

    

Weighted

average

exercise

price
£

        

Number

of options
millions

    

Weighted

average

exercise

price
£

        

Number

of options
millions

    

Weighted

average

exercise

price
£

        

Number

of awards
millions

 

Beginning of year:

     8.6         8.29           10.2         5.60           9.4         4.54           28.8         27.1         23.7   

Granted

     2.2         11.11           2.6         11.55           2.5         9.01           9.9         10.9         11.9   

Exercised

     (1.6)         5.72           (3.8)         3.55           (1.2)         4.57           (7.9)         (8.5)         (7.8)   

Forfeited

     (0.2)         8.14           (0.2)         6.77           (0.2)         5.14           (2.3)         (0.7)         (0.6)   

Cancelled

     (0.2)         10.15           (0.1)         7.66           (0.1)         6.16                             

Lapsed / Expired

             7.47           (0.1)         5.60           (0.2)         3.92           (0.1)                 (0.1)   

End of year

     8.8         9.44           8.6         8.29           10.2         5.60           28.4         28.8         27.1   
Options immediately exercisable, end of year      1.1         5.71             0.5         4.65             0.5         4.50              

The weighted average share price of Prudential plc for the year ended 31 December 2015 was £15.49 compared to £13.75 for the year ended 31 December 2014 and £11.14 for the year ended 31 December 2013.

The following table provides a summary of the range of exercise prices for Prudential plc options outstanding at 31 December.

 

    Outstanding         Exercisable  
   

Number

outstanding

(millions)

   

Weighted average
remaining
contractual life

(years)

   

Weighted
average exercise

prices £

        

Number

exercisable

(millions)

   

Weighted
average exercise

prices £

 
     2015     2014     2013     2015     2014     2013     2015     2014     2013          2015     2014     2013     2015     2014     2013  

Between £2 and £3

    0.2        0.2        2.6        0.9        1.9        1.0        2.88        2.88        2.88                                             2.88   

Between £4 and £5

    0.8        1.4        2.9        0.9        1.4        1.7        4.64        4.64        4.63          0.4        0.5        0.5        4.61        4.65        4.59   

Between £5 and £6

                                0.8        0.8               5.51        5.53                                      5.52        5.51   

Between £6 and £7

    1.0        2.1        2.3        0.9        1.6        2.6        6.29        6.29        6.29          0.7                      6.29                 

Between £9 and £10

    2.2        2.3        2.4        1.9        2.9        3.9        9.01        9.01        9.01                                               

Between £11 and £12

    4.6        2.6               3.6        4.2               11.34        11.55                                                        
      8.8        8.6        10.2        2.6        2.7        2.3        9.44        8.29        5.60            1.1        0.5        0.5        5.71        4.65        4.50   

The years shown above for weighted average remaining contractual life include the time period from end of vesting period to expiration of contract.

 

F-47


Table of Contents
(c) Fair value of options and awards

The fair value amounts estimated on the date of grant relating to all options (including conditional nil cost options) and awards, were determined using the Black-Scholes and the Monte Carlo option-pricing models adopting the following assumptions:

 

     2015              2014              2013  
      Prudential
LTIP (TSR)
    

SAYE

options

    

Other

awards

     Prudential
LTIP/GPSP
(TSR)
    

SAYE

options

     Other
awards
     GPSP     

SAYE

options

    

Other

awards

 
Dividend yield (%)              2.35                         2.40                         2.73           
Expected volatility (%)      21.48         22.73                 21.91         20.77                 23.64         24.27           
Risk-free interest rate (%)      0.88         1.02                 1.25         1.51                 0.73         1.06           
Expected option life (years)              3.79                         3.77                         3.46           
Weighted average exercise price (£)              11.11                         11.55                         9.01           
Weighted average share price (£)      16.67         13.52                 13.18         14.02                 11.80         11.85           
Weighted average fair value (£)      7.97         2.95         16.28         6.07         3.00         12.84         7.38         2.57         11.06   

Compensation costs for all share-based compensation plans are determined using the Black-Scholes model or Monte Carlo option-pricing model. The compensation costs for all awards and options are recognised in net income over the plans’ respective vesting periods. The Group uses the Black-Scholes model to value all options and awards other than the Prudential LTIP (TSR) for which the Group uses a Monte Carlo model in order to allow for the impact of the LTIP (TSR) performance conditions. These models are used to calculate fair values for share options and awards at the grant date based on the quoted market price of the stock at the measurement date, the amount, if any, that the employees are required to pay, the dividend yield, expected volatility, risk-free interest rates and exercise prices.

For all options and awards, the expected volatility is based on the market implied volatilities as quoted on Bloomberg. The Prudential specific at-the-money implied volatilities are adjusted to allow for the different terms and discounted exercise price on SAYE options by using information on the volatility surface of the FTSE 100.

Risk-free interest rates are taken from government bond spot rates with projections for two-year, three-year and five-year terms to match corresponding vesting periods. Dividend yield is determined as the average yield over a period of 12 months up to and including the date of grant. For the Prudential LTIP (TSR), volatility and correlation between Prudential and a basket of 18 competitor companies is required. For grants in 2015, the average volatility for the basket of competitors was 20.66 per cent. Correlations for the basket are calculated for each pairing from the log of daily TSR returns for the three years prior to the valuation date. Market implied volatilities are used for both Prudential and the components of the index. Changes to the subjective input assumptions could materially affect the fair value estimate.

 

(d) Share-based payment expense charged to the income statement

Total expense recognised in the year in the consolidated financial statements relating to share-based compensation is as follows:

 

      2015 £m      2014 £m      2013 £m  
Share-based compensation expense      111         99         83   
Amount accounted for as equity-settled      110         93         63   
Carrying value at 31 December of liabilities arising from share-based payment transactions      6         16         23   
Intrinsic value of above liabilities for which rights had vested at 31 December      6         9         17   

 

F-48


Table of Contents
B3.3 Key management remuneration

Key management constitutes the directors of Prudential plc as they have authority and responsibility for planning, directing and controlling the activities of the Group.

Total key management remuneration is analysed in the following table:

 

                  2015 £m                  2014 £m                  2013 £m  

Salaries and short-term benefits

     17.1         15.9         16.5   

Post-employment benefits

     1.1         1.0         1.0   

Share-based payments

     15.5         16.2         14.3   
       33.7         33.1         31.8   

The share-based payments charge comprises £10.4 million (2014: £11.0 million; 2013: £9.3 million), which is determined in accordance with IFRS 2, ‘Share-based Payment’ (see note B3.2) and £5.1 million (2014: £5.2 million; 2013: £5.0 million) of deferred share awards.

Total key management remuneration includes total directors’ remuneration of £42.7 million (2014: £50.5 million; 2013: £48.9 million) less LTIP releases of £19.4 million (2014: £28.4 million; 2013: £26.4 million) as shown in Item 6 ‘Directors, Senior Management and Employees. Further information on directors’ remuneration is given in Item 6 ‘Directors, Senior Management and Employees.

 

B3.4 Fees payable to the auditor

 

                  2015 £m                 2014 £m                  2013 £m  
Fees payable to the Company’s auditor for the audit of the Company’s annual accounts      2.0        2.0         2.0   
Fees payable to the Company’s auditor and its associates for other services:        

Audit of subsidiaries pursuant to legislation

     7.2        6.6         6.8   

Audit-related assurance services

     3.1        2.9         2.8   

Tax compliance services

     0.7        0.7         0.8   

Other assurance services

     2.2        1.9         1.1   

Services relating to corporate finance transactions

     0.2        0.1         0.5   

All other services

     1.2        2.4         1.2   
Total fees paid to the auditor      16.6        16.6         15.2   

In addition, there were fees incurred of £0.1 million (2014: £0.1 million; 2013: £0.1 million) for the audit of pension schemes.

 

B4 Effect of changes and other accounting features on insurance assets and liabilities

The following features are of relevance to the determination of the 2015 results:

 

(a) Asia insurance operations

In 2015, the IFRS operating profit based on longer-term investment returns for Asia insurance operations included a profit of £62 million (2014: £49 million; 2013: £44 million) representing a number of non-recurring items, none of which are individually significant.

 

(b) UK insurance operations
Annuity business

Allowance for credit risk

For IFRS reporting, the results for UK shareholder-backed annuity business are particularly sensitive to the allowances made for credit risk. The allowance is reflected in the deduction from the valuation rate of interest for discounting projected future annuity payments to policyholders that would have otherwise applied. Credit risk allowance comprises (i) an amount for long-term best estimate defaults, and (ii) additional provisions for credit risk premium, downgrade resilience and short-term defaults.

 

F-49


Table of Contents

The weighted components of the bond spread over swap rates for shareholder-backed fixed and linked annuity business for PRIL, the principal company which writes the UK’s shareholder-backed business, based on the asset mix at these dates are shown below.

 

    31 Dec 2015 (bps)         31 Dec 2014 (bps)         31 Dec 2013 (bps)  
    

Pillar 1

regulatory

basis

    Adjustment     IFRS        

Pillar 1

regulatory

basis

    Adjustment     IFRS        

Pillar 1

regulatory

basis

    Adjustment     IFRS  
Bond spread over swap ratesnote (i)     171               171            143               143            133               133   
Credit risk allowance:                      

Long-term expected
defaultsnote (ii)

    13               13          14               14          15               15   

Additional provisionsnote (iii)

    42        (12)        30            44        (12)        32            47        (19)        28   
Total credit risk allowance     55        (12)        43            58        (12)        46            62        (19)        43   
Liquidity premium     116        12        128            85        12        97            71        19        90   

Notes

(i) Bond spread over swap rates reflect market observed data.
(ii) Long-term expected defaults are derived by applying Moody’s data from 1970 to 2009 and the definition of the credit rating used is the second highest credit rating published by Moody’s, Standard & Poor’s and Fitch.
(iii) Additional provisions comprise credit risk premium, which is derived from Moody’s data from 1970 to 2009, an allowance for a one-notch downgrade of the portfolio subject to credit risk and an additional allowance for short-term defaults.

The prudent Pillar 1 regulatory basis reflects the overriding objective of maintaining sufficient provisions and capital to ensure payments to policyholders can be made. The approach for IFRS aims to establish liabilities that are closer to ‘best estimate’.

Movement in the credit risk allowance for PRIL

The movement during 2015 of the average basis points allowance for PRIL on Pillar 1 regulatory and IFRS bases are as follows:

 

     

Pillar 1

Regulatory

basis
Total (bps)

     IFRS
Total (bps)
 

Total allowance for credit risk at 31 December 2014

     58         46   

Credit rating changes

     2         1   

Asset trading

     (2)         (2)   

Other effects (including for new business)

     (3)         (2)   

Total allowance for credit risk at 31 December 2015

     55         43   

Overall, the movement has led to the credit allowance for Pillar 1 purposes to be 32 per cent (2014: 41 per cent) of the bond spread over swap rates. For IFRS purposes it represents 25 per cent (2014: 32 per cent) of the bond spread over swap rates.

The reserves for credit risk allowance at 31 December 2015 for the UK shareholder annuity fund were as follows:

 

     

Pillar 1
Regulatory

basis
Total £bn

     IFRS
Total £bn
 

PRIL

     1.9         1.5   

PAC non-profit sub-fund

     0.2         0.1   

Total 31 December 2015

     2.1         1.6   

Total 31 December 2014

     2.2         1.7   

Total 31 December 2013

     1.9         1.3   

 

F-50


Table of Contents

Other assumption changes

For the shareholder-backed business, in addition to the movement in the credit risk allowance discussed above, the net effect of routine changes to assumptions in 2015, was a credit of £31 million (2014: £28 million; 2013: £20 million).

Other one-off transactions

During 2015 the UK insurance operations entered into additional longevity reinsurance transactions to extend total coverage from £2.3 billion of annuity liabilities at the start of the year to £8.7 billion at the end of 2015 (on a Pillar 1 basis). Overall these transactions generated profit of £231 million (2014: £30 million; 2013: £27million). Of the £231 million, £170 million relates to transactions undertaken in the second half of 2015 covering £4.8 billion of annuity liabilities (on a Pillar 1 basis). These transactions, together with other specific management actions undertaken to position the balance sheet more efficiently under the new Solvency II regime, gave rise to IFRS operating profit in the second half of 2015 of £339 million in total, which is not expected to recur in future periods.

 

B5 Tax charge

 

(a) Total tax charge by nature of expense

The total tax charge in the income statement is as follows:

 

       2015 £m            2014 £m        2013 £m  
Tax charge     

Current

tax

      

Deferred

tax

       Total             Total        Total  

UK tax

       (218)           69           (149)             (578)           (300)   

Overseas tax

       (516)           (77)           (593)               (360)           (436)   

Total tax charge

       (734)           (8)           (742)               (938)           (736)   

The total tax charge comprises:

 

      2015 £m          2014 £m      2013 £m  

Current tax expense:

          

Corporation tax

     (782)           (1,102)         (414)   

Adjustments in respect of prior years

     48             (6)         15   

Total current tax

     (734)             (1,108)         (399)   

Deferred tax arising from:

          

Origination and reversal of temporary differences

     4           163         (392)   

Impact of changes in local statutory tax rates

     (22)           1         55   

Expense in respect of a previously unrecognised tax loss, tax credit or temporary difference from a prior period

     10             6           

Total deferred tax (charge) credit

     (8)             170         (337)   

Total tax charge

     (742)             (938)         (736)   

The current tax charge of £734 million includes £35 million (2014: £37 million; 2013: £18 million) in respect of the tax charge for the Hong Kong operation. The Hong Kong current tax charge is calculated as 16.5 per cent for all periods on either (i) 5 per cent of the net insurance premium or (ii) the estimated assessable profits, depending on the nature of the business written.

The total tax charge comprises tax attributable to policyholders and unallocated surplus of with-profits funds, unit-linked policies and shareholders as shown below:

 

       2015 £m            2014 £m         2013 £m  
Tax charge     

Current

tax

      

Deferred

tax

       Total             Total     Total  

Tax (charge) credit to policyholders’ returns

       (188)           15           (173)             (540)        (447)   

Tax charge attributable to shareholders

       (546)           (23)           (569)               (398)        (289)   

Total tax charge

       (734)           (8)           (742)               (938)        (736)   

The principal reason for the decrease in the tax charge attributable to policyholders’ returns is a reduction in the current tax owing to a significant decrease on investment returns in the second half of the year in the with-profits life fund in the UK insurance operations. The main elements of the deferred tax charge shown in the table below are a credit of

 

F-51


Table of Contents

£272 million relating to unrealised gains and losses on investments reflecting a decrease in unrealised gains on investments in the Group’s insurance operations and a charge of £200 million relating to short term temporary differences reflecting future tax relief arising on decreases in policy reserves in the US insurance operations balances.

The total deferred tax (charge) credit arises as follows:

 

        2015 £m            2014 £m        2013 £m  

Unrealised gains and losses on investments

       272             (127)           69   

Balances relating to investment and insurance contracts

       (55)             (43)           (44)   

Short-term temporary differences

       (200)             309           (314)   

Capital allowances

       1             (4)           (7)   

Unused tax losses

       (26)               35           (41)   

Deferred tax (charge) credit

       (8)               170           (337)   

In 2015, a deferred tax credit of £333 million (2014: charge of £(295) million; 2013: charge of £(580) million) has been taken through other comprehensive income.

 

(b) Reconciliation of effective tax rate

For the purposes of explaining the relationship between tax expense and accounting profit, it is appropriate to consider the sources of profit and tax by reference to those that are attributable to shareholders and policyholders. A reconciliation of the tax charge on profit attributable to shareholders is provided below.

Overview of reconciliation of effective tax rate

 

    2015 £m   2014 £m   2013 £m  
    

Attributable

to

shareholders

        

Attributable

to

policyholders*

         Total         

Attributable

to

shareholders

        

Attributable

to

policyholders*

         Total         

Attributable

to

shareholders

        

Attributable

to

policyholders*

         Total  
Profit before tax     3,148          173          3,321          2,614          540          3,154          1,635          447          2,082   
Taxation charge:                                  

Expected tax rate

    27%          100%          31%          23%          100%          36%          26%          100%          42%   
Expected tax charge     (852)          (173)          (1,025)          (594)          (540)          (1,134)          (429)          (447)          (876)   
Variance from expected tax charge     283                   283          196                   196          140                   140   
Actual tax charge     (569)          (173)          (742)          (398)          (540)          (938)          (289)          (447)          (736)   
Average effective tax rate     18%            100%            22%            15%            100%            30%            18%            100%            35%   
* For the column entitled ‘Attributable to policyholders’, the profit before tax represents income, before tax attributable to policyholders and unallocated surplus of with-profits funds and unit-linked policies. This income is after deduction of charges for policyholder benefits and movements on unallocated surplus which are determined net of tax. Accordingly, the apparent 100 per cent effective tax rate shown above reflects the basis of accounting for unallocated surplus coupled with the IFRS requirements in respect of presentation of all pre-tax profits and all tax charges irrespective of policyholder and shareholder economic interest.

Due to the requirements of the financial reporting standards IAS 1 ‘Presentation of Financial Statements’ and IAS 12 ‘Income Taxes’, the profit (loss) before tax and tax charge reflect the aggregate of amounts that are attributable to shareholders and policyholders.

Profit (loss) before tax comprises profit attributable to shareholders and pre-tax profit attributable to policyholders of linked and with-profits funds and unallocated surplus of with-profits funds.

The total tax charge for linked and with-profits business includes tax expense on unit-linked and with-profits funds attributable to policyholders, the unallocated surplus of with-profits funds and the shareholders’ profits. This feature arises from the basis of taxation applied to life and pension business, principally in the UK, but with similar bases applying in certain Asia operations, and is explained in the ’Basis of taxation for UK life and pension business’ section below.

Furthermore, the basis of preparation of Prudential’s financial statements incorporates the additional feature that, as permitted under IFRS 4, the residual equity of the Group’s with-profits funds, ie unallocated surplus, is recorded as a liability with transfers to and from that liability reflected in pre-tax profits. This gives rise to anomalous

 

F-52


Table of Contents

effective tax rates for profits attributable to policyholders (as described in the ‘Profits attributable to policyholders and related tax’ section below).

In meeting the reconciliation requirements set out in paragraph 81(c) of IAS 12, the presentation shown in this disclosure note seeks to ensure that the explanation of the relationship between tax expense and accounting profit draw properly the distinction between the elements of the profit and tax charge that are attributable to policyholders and shareholders as explained in the ‘Profits attributable to policyholders and related tax’ and ‘Reconciliation of tax charge on profit attributable to shareholders’ sections respectively. Due to the nature of the basis of taxation of UK life and pension business (as described in the ‘Basis of taxation for UK life and pension business’ section below), and the significance of the results of the business to the Group, it is inappropriate to seek to explain the effective tax rate on profit before tax by the traditional approach that would apply for other industries.

The shareholder elements are the components of the profit and tax charge that are of most direct relevance to investors, and it is this aspect that the IAS 12 reconciliation requirement is seeking to explain for companies that do not need to account for both with-profits and unit-linked funds, where tax is borne by the Company on the policyholders’ behalf and which is not contemplated by the IFRS requirement.

Basis of taxation for UK life and pension business

Different rules apply under UK tax law for taxing pension business and life insurance business and there are detailed rules for apportioning the investment return and profits of the fund between the types of business.

The investment return referable to pension business, and some other less significant classes of business, is exempt from taxation, but tax is charged on the profit that shareholders derive from writing such business at the corporate rate of tax. The rules for taxing life insurance business are more complex. Initially, the UK regime seeks to tax the investment return less management expenses (I-E) on this business as it arises. However, in determining the actual tax charge, a calculation of the shareholder profits for taxation purposes from writing life insurance business also has to be made and compared with the I-E profit.

If the shareholder profit is higher than the I-E amount, extra income is attributable to the I-E calculation until the I-E profit equals the shareholder profit. If on the other hand, the I-E profit is the greater, then an amount equal to the shareholder profit is taxed at the corporate rate of tax, with the remainder of the I-E profit being taxed at the lower policyholder rate of tax.

The purpose of this approach is to ensure that the Company is always at a minimum taxed on the profit, as defined for taxation purposes by reference to the Company’s IFRS results, that it has earned. The shareholders’ portion of the long-term business is taxed at the shareholders’ rate, with the remaining portion taxed at rates applicable to the policyholders.

Profits attributable to policyholders and related tax

As noted above, it is necessary under IFRS requirements to include the total tax charge of the Company (both policyholder and shareholder elements) in the tax charge disclosed in the income statement.

The tax expense attributable to policyholders is a combination of current and deferred tax charges and reflects the nature of the income and expenditure of the with-profits and unit-linked funds. The current tax charge element reflects the element for the funds, determined on the I-E basis (as described in the ‘Basis of taxation for UK life and pension business’ section above) that is attributable to policyholders. For policyholder deferred tax, normally the most significant element reflects the movement on unrealised appreciation on investments. These investments are accounted for under IAS 39 on a fair value through profit or loss basis with attaching deferred tax charges or credits.

For with-profits business, total pre-tax profits reflect the aggregate of profits attributable to policyholders and shareholders. However, amounts attributable to the equity of with-profits funds are carried in the liability for unallocated surplus. Also, as described in the ‘Basis of taxation for UK life and pension business’ section above, UK with-profits business is taxed on a basis that affects policyholders’ unallocated surplus of with-profits funds and shareholders. For the PAC with-profits sub-fund, transfers to and from unallocated surplus are recorded in the income statement, so that after charging the total tax borne by the fund, the net balance reflects the statutory transfer from the fund for the year. The statutory transfer represents 10 per cent of the actuarially determined surplus for the year that is attributable to shareholders.

 

F-53


Table of Contents

For SAIF, similar transfers are made. However, in the case of SAIF, a net nil balance is derived, reflecting the lack of shareholder interest in the financial performance of the fund (other than through asset management arrangements).

The accounting anomaly that arises under IFRS is that due to the fact that the net of tax profit attributable to with-profits policyholders is zero, the Company’s presentation of pre-tax profit attributable to policyholders reflects an amount that is the mirror image of the tax charge attributable to policyholders.

For unit-linked business, pre-tax profits also reflect the aggregate of profits attributable to policyholders and shareholders. The pre-tax profits attributable to policyholders represent fees earned that are used to pay tax borne by the Company on policyholders’ behalf. The net of tax profit attributable to policyholders for unit-linked business is thus zero.

The combined effect of these features is such that providing a reconciliation of the tax charge attributable to policyholders to an expected charge based on the standard corporate rate of tax on IFRS basis profits attributable to policyholders is not relevant.

In summary, for accounting purposes, in all cases and for all reporting periods, the apparent effective rate for profit attributable to policyholders and unallocated surplus is 100 per cent. However, it is to be noted that the 100 per cent rate does not reflect a rate paid on the profits attributable to policyholders. It instead reflects the basis of accounting for unallocated surplus coupled with the distinction made for performance reporting between sources of profit attributable to shareholders, policyholders and unallocated surplus and IFRS requirements in respect of reporting of all pre-tax profits and all tax charges irrespective of policyholder or shareholder economic interest.

Reconciliation of tax charge on profit attributable to shareholders

 

     2015 £m  
     

Asia

insurance

operations

    

US

insurance

operations

    

UK

Insurance

operations

    

Other

operations

       Total  
Operating profit based on longer-term investment returns      1,209         1,691         1,195         (88)           4,007   

Non-operating loss

     (173)         (492)         (120)         (74)           (859)   

Profit (loss) before tax attributable to shareholders

     1,036         1,199         1,075         (162)           3,148   

Expected tax rate*

     24%         35%         20%         20%           27%   

Tax at the expected rate

     249         420         215         (32)           852   

Effects of recurring tax reconciliation items:

                

Income not taxable or taxable at concessionary rates

     (42)         (10)         (2)         (9)           (63)   

Deductions not allowable for tax purposes

     15         5         7         6           33   

Items related to taxation of life insurance businesses

     (20)         (113)                           (133)   

Deferred tax adjustments

     10                         (11)           (1)   

Effect of results of joint ventures and associates

     (37)                         (13)           (50)   

Irrecoverable withholding taxes

                             28           28   

Other

     (4)         (1)         6         2           3   

Total

     (78)         (119)         11         3           (183)   

Effects of non-recurring tax reconciliation items:

                

Adjustments to tax charge in relation to prior years

     5         (65)         (7)                   (67)   

Movements in provisions for open tax matters

     (6)                         (5)           (11)   

Impact of changes in local statutory tax rates

     (5)                 (16)         (1)           (22)   

Total

     (6)         (65)         (23)         (6)           (100)   

Total actual tax charge (credit)

     165         236         203         (35)           569   

Analysed into:

                  

Tax on operating profit based on longer-term investment returns

     180         408         227         (19)           796   

Tax on non-operating profit

     (15)         (172)         (24)         (16)           (227)   

Actual tax rate:

                

Operating profit based on longer-term investment returns

                

Including non-recurring tax reconciling items

     15%         24%         19%         22%           20%   

Excluding non-recurring tax reconciling items

     15%         28%         21%         15%           22%   

Total profit

     16%         20%         19%         22%           18%   

 

F-54


Table of Contents
     2014 £m  
     

Asia

insurance

operations

    

US

insurance

operations

    

UK

Insurance

operations

    

Other

operations

       Total  
Operating profit based on longer-term investment returns      1,050         1,431         753         (48)           3,186   

Non-operating profit

     170         (1,174)         545         (113)           (572)   

Profit (loss) before tax attributable to shareholders

     1,220         257         1,298         (161)           2,614   

Expected tax rate*

     22%         35%         21%         22%           23%   

Tax at the expected rate

     268         90         273         (35)           596   

Effects of recurring tax reconciliation items:

                

Income not taxable or taxable at concessionary rates

     (17)         (6)                 (2)           (25)   

Deductions not allowable for tax purposes

     13                 7         9           29   

Items related to taxation of life insurance businesses

     (44)         (76)                           (120)   

Deferred tax adjustments

     (8)                 (7)         (11)           (26)   

Effect of results of joint ventures and associates

     (40)                 (8)         (10)           (58)   

Irrecoverable withholding taxes

                             27           27   

Other

     (4)         1         (4)         7             

Total

     (100)         (81)         (12)         20           (173)   

Effects of non-recurring tax reconciliation items:

                

Adjustments to tax charge in relation to prior years

     (2)         (1)         3         (7)           (7)   

Movements in provisions for open tax matters

     7                         (26)           (19)   

Impact of changes in local statutory tax rates

     (1)                 2                   1   

Total

     4         (1)         5         (33)           (25)   

Total actual tax charge (credit)

     172         8         266         (48)           398   

Analysed into:

                  

Tax on operating profit based on longer-term investment returns

     171         419         163         (29)           724   

Tax on non-operating profit

     1         (411)         103         (19)           (326)   

Actual tax rate:

                

Operating profit based on longer-term investment returns

                

Including non-recurring tax reconciling items

     16%         29%         22%         60%           23%   

Excluding non-recurring tax reconciling items

     16%         29%         21%         (8)%           24%   

Total profit

     14%         3%         21%         30%           15%   

 

F-55


Table of Contents
     2013 £m  
     

Asia

insurance

operations

    

US

insurance

operations

    

UK

Insurance

operations

    

Other

operations

       Total  
Operating profit based on longer-term investment returns      1,001         1,243         724         (14)           2,954   

Non-operating profit

     (313)         (690)         (289)         (27)           (1,319)   

Profit (loss) before tax attributable to shareholders

     688         553         435         (41)           1,635   

Expected tax rate*

     21%         35%         23%         23%           26%   

Tax at the expected rate

     144         194         100         (9)           429   

Effects of recurring tax reconciliation items:

                

Income not taxable or taxable at concessionary rates

     (45)         (88)         -        (10)           (143)   

Deductions not allowable for tax purposes

     61         -        -        5           66   

Deferred tax adjustments

     (4)         -        -        (8)           (12)   

Effect of results of joint ventures and associates

     (10)         -        -        (8)           (18)   

Irrecoverable withholding taxes

     -        -        -        20           20   

Other

     9         (5)         16         (5)           15   

Total

     11         (93)         16         (6)           (72)   

Effects of non-recurring tax reconciliation items:

                

Adjustments to tax charge in relation to prior years

     (3)         -        4         (7)           (6)   

Movements in provisions for open tax matters

     5         -        -        (12)           (7)   

Impact of changes in local statutory tax rates

     (9)         -        (51)         5           (55)   

Total

     (7)         -        (47)         (14)           (68)   
Total actual tax charge/(credit)      148         101         69         (29)           289   
Analysed into:                   
Tax on operating profit based on longer-term investment returns      173         343         132         (10)           638   
Tax on non-operating profit      (25)         (242)         (63)         (19)           (349)   

Actual tax rate:

                
Operating profit based on longer-term investment returns                 

Including non-recurring tax reconciling items

     17%         28%         18%         71%           22%   

Excluding non-recurring tax reconciling items

     18%         28%         25%         (29)%           24%   

Total profit

     22%         18%         16%         71%           18%   
* The expected tax rates (rounded to the nearest whole percentage) reflect the corporation tax rates generally applied to taxable profits of the relevant country jurisdictions. For Asia operations the expected tax rates reflect the corporation tax rates weighted by reference to the source of profits of operations contributing to the aggregate business result. The expected tax rate for Other operations reflects the mix of business between UK and overseas non-insurance operations, which are taxed at a variety of rates. The rates will fluctuate from year to year dependent on the mix of profits.
  In order to show the UK insurance business on a comparable basis, the full year 2014 and 2013 comparatives exclude the contribution from the sold PruHealth and PruProtect businesses from the UK insurance operations and show it in the column for Other operations.
  The expected and actual tax rates as shown included the impact of the held for sale Japan life business (the sale of which was completed in February 2015). For 2014, the tax rates for Asia insurance and Group excluding the impact of the held for sale Japan life business are the same. For 2013 the tax rates for Asia insurance and Group, excluding the impact of the held for sale Japan life business are as follows:

 

      Asia
insurance
     Total
Group
 

Expected tax rate on total profit

     23%         27%   

Actual tax rate:

     

Operating profit based on longer-term investment returns

     17%         22%   

Total profit

     19%         17%   

 

 

F-56


Table of Contents
B6 Earnings per share

 

          2015  
         

Before

tax
B1.1

     Tax
B5
     Net of tax     

Basic

earnings

per share

    

Diluted

earnings

per share

 
      Note    £m      £m      £m      Pence      Pence  
Based on operating profit based on longer-term investment returns         4,007         (796)         3,211         125.8p         125.6p   
Short-term fluctuations in investment returns on shareholder-backed business    B1.2      (737)         202         (535)         (21.0)p         (20.9)p   
Cumulative exchange loss on the sold Japan Life business recycled from other comprehensive income    D1      (46)                 (46)         (1.8)p         (1.8)p   
Amortisation of acquisition accounting adjustments           (76)         25         (51)         (2.0)p         (2.0)p   

Based on profit for the year

          3,148         (569)         2,579         101.0p         100.9p   

 

          2014  
         

Before

tax
B1.1

     Tax
B5
     Net of tax     

Basic

earnings

per share

    

Diluted

earnings

per share

 
      Note    £m      £m      £m      Pence      Pence  
Based on operating profit based on longer-term investment returns         3,186         (724)         2,462         96.6p         96.5p   
Short-term fluctuations in investment returns on shareholder-backed business    B1.2      (574)         299         (275)         (10.8)p         (10.8)p   

Gain on sale of PruHealth and PruProtect

        86                 86         3.4p         3.4p   
Amortisation of acquisition accounting adjustments         (79)         26         (53)         (2.1)p         (2.1)p   

Costs of domestication of Hong Kong branch

          (5)         1         (4)         (0.2)p         (0.2)p   

Based on profit for the year

          2,614         (398)         2,216         86.9p         86.8p   

 

          2013  
         

Before

tax
B1.1

     Tax
B5
     Net of tax     

Basic

earnings

per
share

    

Diluted

earnings

per share

 
      Note    £m      £m      £m      Pence      Pence  
Based on operating profit based on longer-term investment returns         2,954         (638)         2,316         90.9p         90.7p   
Short-term fluctuations in investment returns on shareholder-backed business    B1.2      (1,110)         318         (792)         (31.1)p         (31.0)p   
Amortisation of acquisition accounting adjustments         (72)         24         (48)         (1.9)p         (1.9)p   
Loss attaching to held for sale Japan Life business    D1      (102)                 (102)         (4.0)p         (4.0)p   

Costs of domestication of Hong Kong branch

          (35)         7         (28)         (1.1)p         (1.1)p   

Based on profit for the year

          1,635         (289)         1,346         52.8p         52.7p   

 

 

F-57


Table of Contents

Earnings per share are calculated based on earnings attributable to ordinary shareholders, after related tax and non-controlling interests.

The weighted average number of shares for calculating earnings per share, which excludes those held in employee share trusts and consolidated unit trusts and OEICs, is set out as below:

 

      2015
(millions)
     2014
(millions)
     2013
(millions)
 

Weighted average number of shares for calculation of:

        

Basic earnings per share

     2,553         2,549         2,548   

Shares under option at end of year

     9         9         10   

Number of shares that would have been issued at fair value on assumed option price

     (6)         (6)         (6)   

Diluted earnings per share

     2,556         2,552         2,552   

 

B7 Dividends

 

     2015          2014          2013  
      Pence per
share
     £m           Pence per
share
     £m           Pence per
share
     £m  

Dividends relating to reporting year:

                     

Interim dividend

     12.31p        315           11.19p        287           9.73p        249   

Second interim dividend / Final dividend

     26.47p        681           25.74p        658           23.84p        610   

Special dividend

     10.00p        257                                   -        -  

Total

     48.78p        1,253             36.93p        945             33.57p        859   
Dividends declared and paid in reporting year:                      

Current year interim dividend

     12.31p        315           11.19p        285           9.73p        249   

Final dividend for prior year

     25.74p        659             23.84p        610             20.79p        532   

Total

     38.05p        974             35.03p        895             30.52p        781   

Dividend per share

Interim and special dividends are recorded in the period in which they are paid. Final dividends are recorded in the period in which they are approved by shareholders. The final dividend for the year ended 31 December 2014 of 25.74 pence per ordinary share was paid to eligible shareholders on 21 May 2015 and the 2015 interim dividend of 12.31 pence per ordinary share was paid to eligible shareholders on 25 September 2015. From 2016, Prudential will make twice-yearly interim dividend payments to replace final / interim dividend.

The second interim ordinary and special dividend for the year ended 31 December 2015 of 26.47 pence and 10.00 pence per ordinary share respectively, will be paid on 20 May 2016 in sterling to shareholders on the principal register and the Irish branch register at 6.00pm BST on 29 March 2016 (Record Date), and in Hong Kong dollars to shareholders on the Hong Kong branch register at 4.30pm Hong Kong time on the Record Date (HK Shareholders). Holders of US American Depositary Receipts (US Shareholders) will be paid their dividends in US dollars on or about 27 May 2016. The second interim ordinary and special dividend will be paid on or about 27 May 2016 in Singapore dollars to shareholders with shares standing to the credit of their securities accounts with The Central Depository (Pte.) Limited (CDP) at 5.00pm Singapore time on the Record Date (SG Shareholders). The dividend payable to the HK Shareholders will be translated using the exchange rate quoted by the WM Company at the close of business on 8 March 2016. The exchange rate at which the dividend payable to the SG Shareholders will be translated into Singapore dollars, will be determined by CDP.

Shareholders on the principal register and Irish branch register will be able to participate in a Dividend Reinvestment Plan.

 

F-58


Table of Contents
C BALANCE SHEET NOTES

 

C1 Analysis of Group position by segment and business type

To explain the assets, liabilities and capital of the Group’s businesses more comprehensively, it is appropriate to provide analyses of the Group’s statement of financial position by operating segment and type of business.

 

C1.1 Group statement of financial position – analysis by segment
(a) Position as at 31 December 2015

 

        2015 £m      
        Insurance operations                           

Elimination

of intra-

group

debtors

and

creditors

           
        Asia     US     UK     

Total

insurance

operations

       

Asset

management

operations

   

Unallocated

to a

segment

(central

operations)

         

31 Dec

Group

Total

 
By operating segment   Note   C2.1     C2.2     C2.3                 C2.4                           

Assets

                      

Intangible assets attributable to shareholders:

                      

Goodwill

  C5.1(a)     233                       233          1,230                        1,463   

Deferred acquisition costs and other intangible assets

  C5.1(b)     2,103        6,168        83         8,354          21        47                 8,422   

Total

        2,336        6,168        83         8,587          1,251        47                 9,885   
Intangible assets attributable to with-profits funds:                       

Goodwill in respect of acquired subsidiaries for venture fund and other investment purposes

  C5.2(a)                   185         185                                 185   

Deferred acquisition costs and other intangible assets

  C5.2(b)     42               8         50                                 50   

Total

        42               193         235                                 235   

Total

        2,378        6,168        276         8,822          1,251        47                 10,120   

Deferred tax assets

  C8.1     66        2,448        132         2,646          140        33                 2,819   
Other non-investment and non-cash assetsnote (i)       3,621        7,205        7,209         18,035          1,504        4,886        (10,142)          14,283   
Investments of long-term business and other operations:                       

Investment properties

      5        5        13,412         13,422                                 13,422   

Investments in joint ventures and associates accounted for using the equity method

  D6     475               434         909          125                        1,034   

Loans

  C3.4     1,084        7,418        3,571         12,073          885                        12,958   

Equity securities and portfolio holdings in unit trusts

      18,532        91,216        47,593         157,341          85        27                 157,453   

Debt securities

  C3.3     28,292        34,071        83,101         145,464          2,204        3                 147,671   

Other investments

      57        1,715        5,486         7,258          94        1                 7,353   

Deposits

        773               11,226         11,999          89                        12,088   

Total investments

        49,218        134,425        164,823         348,466          3,482        31                 351,979   

Assets held for sale

                    2         2                                 2   

Cash and cash equivalentsnote (ii)

        2,064        1,405        2,880         6,349          1,054        379                 7,782   

Total assets

  C3.1     57,347        151,651        175,322         384,320            7,431        5,376        (10,142)            386,985   

 

F-59


Table of Contents
        2015 £m       
        Insurance operations                    

Unallocated

to a
segment

(central

operations)

   

Elimination

of intra-

group

debtors

and

creditors

            
        Asia     US     UK    

Total

insurance

operations

       

Asset

management

operations

            

31 Dec

Group

Total

 
By operating segment   Note   C2.1     C2.2     C2.3                C2.4                            

Equity and liabilities

                      

Equity

                      

Shareholders’ equity

      3,956        4,154        5,140        13,250          2,332        (2,627)                  12,955   

Non-controlling interests

        1                      1                                  1   

Total equity

        3,957        4,154        5,140        13,251          2,332        (2,627)                  12,956   

Liabilities

                      
Policyholder liabilities and unallocated surplus of with-profits funds:                       

Insurance contract liabilities

      42,084        136,129        83,801        262,014                        (1,261)           260,753   

Investment contract liabilities with discretionary participation features

      251               42,708        42,959                                  42,959   

Investment contract liabilities without discretionary participation features

      181        2,784        15,841        18,806                                  18,806   

Unallocated surplus of with-profits funds

        2,553               10,543        13,096                                  13,096   
Total policyholder liabilities and unallocated surplus of with-profits funds   C4.1(a)     45,069        138,913        152,893        336,875                        (1,261)           335,614   
Core structural borrowings of shareholder-financed operations:                       

Subordinated debt

                                           4,018                  4,018   

Other

               169               169          275        549                  993   

Total

  C6.1            169               169          275        4,567                  5,011   
Operational borrowings attributable to shareholder-financed operations   C6.2            66        179        245          10        1,705                  1,960   
Borrowings attributable to with-profits operations   C6.2                   1,332        1,332                                  1,332   

Other non-insurance liabilities:

                      

Obligations under funding, securities lending and sale and repurchase agreements

             1,914        1,651        3,565          200                         3,765   

Net asset value attributable to unit holders of consolidated unit trusts and similar funds

      2,802        22        5,049        7,873                                  7,873   

Deferred tax liabilities

  C8.1     734        2,086        1,162        3,982          17        11                  4,010   

Current tax liabilities

  C8.2     50        3        203        256          50        19                  325   

Accruals and deferred income

      136               447        583          300        69                  952   

Other creditors

      3,266        1,022        4,591        8,879          3,695        1,183        (8,881)           4,876   

Provisions

  C12     119        6        158        283          244        77                  604   

Derivative liabilities

  C3.5(b)     140        249        2,125        2,514          283        322                  3,119   

Other liabilitiesnote (iii)

        1,074        3,047        392        4,513          25        50                  4,588   

Total

        8,321        8,349        15,778        32,448          4,814        1,731        (8,881)           30,112   

Liabilities held for sale

                                                                

Total liabilities

  C3.1     53,390        147,497        170,182        371,069          5,099        8,003        (10,142)           374,029   

Total equity and liabilities

        57,347        151,651        175,322        384,320            7,431        5,376        (10,142)             386,985   

 

F-60


Table of Contents
(b) Position as at 31 December 2014

 

        2014 £m      
        Insurance operations                          

Elimination

of intra-

group

debtors

and

creditors

           
        Asia     US     UK    

Total

insurance

operations

       

Asset

management

operations

   

Unallocated

to a

segment

(central

operations)

         

31 Dec

Group

Total

 
By operating segment   Note   C2.1     C2.2     C2.3                C2.4                           

Assets

                     
Intangible assets attributable to shareholders:                      

Goodwill

  C5.1(a)     233                      233          1,230                        1,463   

Deferred acquisition costs and other intangible assets

  C5.1(b)     1,911        5,197        86        7,194          21        46                 7,261   

Total

        2,144        5,197        86        7,427          1,251        46                 8,724   
Intangible assets attributable to with-profits funds:                      

Goodwill in respect of acquired subsidiaries for venture fund and other investment purposes

  C5.2(a)                   186        186                                 186   

Deferred acquisition costs and other intangible assets

  C5.2(b)     54               7        61                                 61   

Total

        54               193        247                                 247   

Total

        2,198        5,197        279        7,674          1,251        46                 8,971   

Deferred tax assets

  C8.1     84        2,343        132        2,559          141        65                 2,765   
Other non-investment and non-cash assetsnote (i)       3,111        6,617        6,826        16,554          1,464        5,058        (10,295)          12,781   
Investments of long-term business and other operations:                      

Investment properties

             28        12,736        12,764                                 12,764   

Investments in joint ventures and associates accounted for using the equity method

      374               536        910          107                        1,017   

Financial investments:

                     

Loans

  C3.4     1,014        6,719        4,254        11,987          854                        12,841   

Equity securities and portfolio holdings in unit trusts

      19,200        82,081        43,468        144,749          79        34                 144,862   

Debt securities

  C3.3     23,629        32,980        86,349        142,958          2,293                        145,251   

Other investments

      48        1,670        5,782        7,500          121        2                 7,623   

Deposits

        769               12,253        13,022          74                        13,096   

Total investments

        45,034        123,478        165,378        333,890          3,528        36                 337,454   

Assets held for sale

  D1     819               5        824                                 824   
Cash and cash equivalentsnote (ii)         1,684        904        2,457        5,045          1,044        320                 6,409   

Total assets

  C3.1     52,930        138,539        175,077        366,546            7,428        5,525        (10,295)            369,204   

 

F-61


Table of Contents
        2014 £m      
        Insurance operations                          

Elimination

of intra-

group

debtors

and

creditors

           
By operating segment   Note   Asia     US     UK    

Total

insurance

operations

       

Asset

management

operations

   

Unallocated

to a
segment

(central

operations)

         

31 Dec

Group

Total

 

Equity and liabilities

                     

Equity

                     

Shareholders’ equity

      3,548        4,067        3,804        11,419          2,077        (1,685)                 11,811   

Non-controlling interests

        1                      1                                 1   

Total equity

        3,549        4,067        3,804        11,420          2,077        (1,685)                 11,812   

Liabilities

                     
Policyholder liabilities and unallocated surplus of with-profits funds:                      

Insurance contract liabilities

      39,670        124,076        87,655        251,401                        (1,363)          250,038   

Investment contract liabilities with discretionary participation features

      218               39,059        39,277                                 39,277   

Investment contract liabilities without discretionary participation features

      180        2,670        17,374        20,224                                 20,224   

Unallocated surplus of with-profits funds

        2,102               10,348        12,450                                 12,450   
Total policyholder liabilities and unallocated surplus of with-profits funds   C4.1(a)     42,170        126,746        154,436        323,352                        (1,363)          321,989   
Core structural borrowings of shareholder-financed operations:                      

Subordinated debt

                                           3,320                 3,320   

Other

               160               160          275        549                 984   

Total

  C6.1            160               160          275        3,869                 4,304   
Operational borrowings attributable to shareholder-financed operations   C6.2(a)            179        74        253          6        2,004                 2,263   
Borrowings attributable to with-profits operations   C6.2(b)                   1,093        1,093                                 1,093   
Other non-insurance liabilities:                      

Obligations under funding, securities lending and sale and repurchase agreements

             1,156        1,191        2,347                                 2,347   

Net asset value attributable to unit holders of consolidated unit trusts and similar funds

      2,161        22        5,174        7,357                                 7,357   

Deferred tax liabilities

  C8.1     719        2,308        1,228        4,255          22        14                 4,291   

Current tax liabilities

  C8.2     65        1        414        480          66        71                 617   

Accruals and deferred income

      123               441        564          328        55                 947   

Other creditors

      2,434        776        5,159        8,369          4,054        771        (8,932)          4,262   

Provisions

  C12     110        5        202        317          335        72                 724   

Derivative liabilities

  C3.5(b)     143        251        1,381        1,775          233        315                 2,323   

Other liabilitiesnote (iii)

        686        2,868        480        4,034          32        39                 4,105   

Total

        6,441        7,387        15,670        29,498          5,070        1,337        (8,932)          26,973   

Liabilities held for sale

  D1     770                      770                                 770   

Total liabilities

  C3.1     49,381        134,472        171,273        355,126          5,351        7,210        (10,295)          357,392   

Total equity and liabilities

        52,930        138,539        175,077        366,546            7,428        5,525        (10,295)            369,204   

 

F-62


Table of Contents

Notes

(i) Included within other non-investment and non-cash assets are accrued investment income of £2,751 million (2014: £2,667 million) and other debtors of £1,955 million (2014: £1,852 million).

 

Accrued investment income and other debtors    2015 £m      2014 £m  

Interest receivable

     1,895         1,932   

Other

     856         735   

Total accrued investment income

     2,751         2,667   

Other debtors comprises:

     

Amounts due from

     

Policyholders

     332         335   

Intermediaries

     14         20   

Reinsurers

     82         61   

Other

     1,527         1,436   

Total other debtors

     1,955         1,852   

Total accrued investment income and other debtors

     4,706         4,519   

Of the £4,706 million (2014: £4,519 million) of accrued investment income and other debtors, £433 million (2014: £381 million) is expected to be settled after one year or more.

 

(ii) Cash and cash equivalents consist of cash at bank and in hand, deposits held at call with banks, treasury bills and other short-term highly liquid investments with less than 90 days’ maturity from the date of acquisition. The component breakdown is as follows:

 

      2015 £m      2014 £m  

Cash

     5,030         5,166   

Cash equivalents

     2,752         1,243   

Total cash and cash equivalents

     7,782         6,409   

Of the total cash and cash equivalents, £365 million (2014: £304 million) is held centrally and considered to be available for general use by the Group. The remaining funds are considered not to be available for general use by the Group, and include funds held for the benefit of policyholders.

 

(iii) Other liabilities comprise:

 

      2015 £m      2014 £m  

Creditors arising from direct insurance and reinsurance operations

     1,828         1,431   

Interest payable

     70         59   

Other items*

     2,690         2,615   

Total

     4,588         4,105   
* Of the £2,690 million (2014: £2,615 million) other items as at 31 December 2015, £2,347 million (2014: £2,201 million) related to liabilities for funds withheld under reinsurance arrangement of the REALIC business.

 

F-63


Table of Contents
C1.2 Group statement of financial position – analysis by business type

 

        31 Dec 2015 £m    

 

  31 Dec
2014 £m
 
        Policyholder     Shareholder-backed business                        
     Note  

Participating

funds

   

Unit-

linked

and

variable

annuity

   

Non-

linked

business

   

Asset

manage-

ment

opera-

tions

   

Unallo-

cated

to a

segment

(central

opera-

tions)

   

Elimin-

ations

of Intra-

group

debtors

and

creditors

   

Group

Total

       

Group

Total

 

Assets

                   
Intangible assets attributable to shareholders:                    

Goodwill

  C5.1(a)     -        -        233        1,230        -        -        1,463          1,463   

Deferred acquisition costs and other intangible assets

  C5.1(b)     -        -        8,354        21        47        -        8,422          7,261   

Total

        -        -        8,587        1,251        47        -        9,885          8,724   
Intangible assets attributable to with-profits funds:                    

In respect of acquired subsidiaries for venture fund and other investment purposes

      185        -        -        -        -        -        185          186   

Deferred acquisition costs and other intangible assets

        50        -        -        -        -        -        50          61   

Total

        235        -        -        -        -        -        235          247   

Total

        235        -        8,587        1,251        47        -        10,120          8,971   

Deferred tax assets

  C8.1     83        1        2,562        140        33        -        2,819          2,765   
Other non-investment and non-cash assets       3,649        578        11,174        1,504        4,886        (7,508)        14,283          12,781   
Investments of long-term business and other operations:                    

Investment properties

      11,115        705        1,602        -        -        -        13,422          12,764   

Investments in joint ventures and associates accounted for using the equity method

      434        -        475        125        -        -        1,034          1,017   

Financial investments:

                   

Loans

  C3.4     2,599        -        9,474        885        -        -        12,958          12,841   

Equity securities and portfolio holdings in unit trusts

      39,195        117,067        1,079        85        27        -        157,453          144,862   

Debt securities

  C3.3     60,870        9,290        75,304        2,204        3        -        147,671          145,251   

Other investments

      5,045        29        2,184        94        1        -        7,353          7,623   

Deposits

        8,970        1,049        1,980        89        -        -        12,088          13,096   

Total investments

        128,228        128,140        92,098        3,482        31        -        351,979          337,454   

Assets held for sale

      2        -        -        -        -        -        2          824   

Cash and cash equivalents

        2,623        829        2,897        1,054        379        -        7,782          6,409   

Total assets

        134,820        129,548        117,318        7,431        5,376        (7,508)        386,985            369,204   

Equity and liabilities

                   

Equity

                   

Shareholders’ equity

      -        -        13,250        2,332        (2,627)        -        12,955          11,811   

Non-controlling interests

        -        -        1        -        -        -        1          1   

Total equity

        -        -        13,251        2,332        (2,627)        -        12,956          11,812   

Liabilities

                   
Policyholder liabilities and unallocated surplus of with-profits funds:                    

Contract liabilities (including amounts in respect of contracts classified as investment contracts under IFRS 4)

      107,907        125,819        88,792        -        -        -        322,518          309,539   

Unallocated surplus of with-profits funds

        13,096        -        -        -        -        -        13,096          12,450   
Total policyholder liabilities and unallocated surplus of with-profits funds   C4.1(a)     121,003        125,819        88,792        -        -        -        335,614          321,989   
Core structural borrowings of shareholder-financed operations:                    

Subordinated debt

      -        -        -        -        4,018        -        4,018          3,320   

Other

        -        -        169        275        549        -        993          984   

Total

  C6.1     -        -        169        275        4,567        -        5,011          4,304   
Operational borrowings attributable to shareholder-financed operations   C6.2(a)     -        4        241        10        1,705        -        1,960          2,263   
Borrowings attributable to with-profits operations   C6.2(b)     1,332        -        -        -        -        -        1,332          1,093   

Deferred tax liabilities

  C8.1     1,326        27        2,629        17        11        -        4,010          4,291   

Other non-insurance liabilities

      11,159        3,698        12,236        4,797        1,720        (7,508)        26,102          22,682   

Liabilities held for sale

  D1     -        -        -        -        -        -        -          770   

Total liabilities

        134,820        129,548        104,067        5,099        8,003        (7,508)        374,029          357,392   

Total equity and liabilities

        134,820        129,548        117,318        7,431        5,376        (7,508)        386,985            369,204   

 

F-64


Table of Contents
C2 Analysis of segment position by business type

To show the statement of financial position by reference to the differing degrees of policyholder and shareholder economic interest of the different types of business, the analysis below is structured to show the assets and liabilities of each segment by business type.

 

C2.1 Asia insurance operations

 

         31 Dec 2015 £m    

 

   31 Dec
2014 £m
 
        

With-profits

business

    

Unit-linked

assets and

liabilities

    

Other

business

     Total          Total  
     Note    note                                      

Assets

                  
Intangible assets attributable to shareholders:                   

Goodwill

       -         -         233         233           233   

Deferred acquisition costs and other intangible assets

         -         -         2,103         2,103           1,911   

Total

         -         -         2,336         2,336           2,144   
Intangible assets attributable to with-profits funds:                   

Deferred acquisition costs and other intangible assets

       42         -         -         42           54   
Deferred tax assets        -         1         65         66           84   
Other non-investment and non-cash assets        1,981         207         1,433         3,621           3,111   
Investments of long-term business and other operations:                   

Investment properties

       -         -         5         5           -   

Investments in joint ventures and associates accounted for using the equity method

       -         -         475         475           374   

Financial investments:

                  

Loans

  C3.4      540         -         544         1,084           1,014   

Equity securities and portfolio holdings in unit trusts

       6,861         10,831         840         18,532           19,200   

Debt securities

  C3.3      16,335         2,809         9,148         28,292           23,629   

Other investments

       28         16         13         57           48   

Deposits

         188         214         371         773           769   

Total investments

         23,952         13,870         11,396         49,218           45,034   
Assets held for sale        -         -         -         -           819   

Cash and cash equivalents

         863         363         838         2,064           1,684   

Total assets

         26,838         14,441         16,068         57,347             52,930   

Equity and liabilities

                  

Equity

                  
Shareholders’ equity        -         -         3,956         3,956           3,548   

Non-controlling interests

         -         -         1         1           1   

Total equity

         -         -         3,957         3,957           3,549   
Liabilities                   
Policyholder liabilities and unallocated surplus of with-profits funds:                   

Contract liabilities (including amounts in respect of contracts classified as investment contracts under IFRS 4)

       19,642         13,355         9,519         42,516           40,068   

Unallocated surplus of with-profits funds

         2,553         -         -         2,553           2,102   
Total   C4.1(b)      22,195         13,355         9,519         45,069           42,170   
Deferred tax liabilities        474         27         233         734           719   
Other non-insurance liabilities        4,169         1,059         2,359         7,587           5,722   

Liabilities held for sale

         -         -         -         -           770   

Total liabilities

         26,838         14,441         12,111         53,390           49,381   

Total equity and liabilities

         26,838         14,441         16,068         57,347             52,930   

Note

The statement of financial position for with-profits business comprises the with-profits assets and liabilities of the Hong Kong, Malaysia and Singapore operations. Assets and liabilities of other participating business are included in the column for ‘Other business’.

 

F-65


Table of Contents
C2.2 US insurance operations

 

         31 Dec 2015 £m     

 

  31 Dec
    2014 £m
 
        

Variable annuity

separate account

assets and

liabilities

    

Fixed annuity,

GIC and other

business

     Total          Total  
     Note    note (i)      note (i)                       

Assets

               

Intangible assets attributable to shareholders:

               

Deferred acquisition costs and other intangiblesnote (vi)

         -         6,168         6,168             5,197   

Total

         -         6,168         6,168             5,197   

Deferred tax assets

       -         2,448         2,448           2,343   

Other non-investment and non-cash assetsnote (ii)

       -         7,205         7,205           6,617   

Investments of long-term business and other operations:

               

Investment properties

       -         5         5           28   

Financial investments:

               

Loans

  C3.4      -         7,418         7,418           6,719   

Equity securities and portfolio holdings in unit trustsnote (iii)

       91,022         194         91,216           82,081   

Debt securities

  C3.3      -         34,071         34,071           32,980   

Other investmentsnote (iv)

         -         1,715         1,715             1,670   

Total investments

         91,022         43,403         134,425             123,478   

Cash and cash equivalents

         -         1,405         1,405             904   

Total assets

         91,022         60,629         151,651             138,539   

Equity and liabilities

               

Equity

               

Shareholders’ equitynote (vii)

         -         4,154         4,154             4,067   

Total equity

         -         4,154         4,154             4,067   

Liabilities

               
Policyholder liabilities:note (vi)                                            
Contract liabilities (including amounts in respect of contracts classified as investment contracts under IFRS 4)note (v)          91,022         47,891         138,913             126,746   
Total   C4.1(c)      91,022         47,891         138,913           126,746   
Core structural borrowings of shareholder-financed operations        -         169         169           160   
Operational borrowings attributable to shareholder-financed operations        -         66         66           179   

Deferred tax liabilities

       -         2,086         2,086           2,308   

Other non-insurance liabilitiesnote (v)

         -         6,263         6,263             5,079   
Total liabilities         91,022      56,475      147,497           134,472  

Total equity and liabilities

         91,022         60,629         151,651             138,539   

Notes

(i) These amounts are for separate account assets and liabilities for all variable annuity products comprising those with and without guarantees. Assets and liabilities attaching to variable annuity business that are not held in the separate account, eg, in respect of guarantees are shown within other business.
(ii) Included within other non-investment and non-cash assets of £7,205 million (2014: £6,617 million) were balances of £6,211 million (2014: £5,979 million) for reinsurers’ share of insurance contract liabilities. Of the £6,211 million as at 31 December 2015, £5,388 million related to the reinsurance ceded by the REALIC business (2014: £5,174 million). Jackson holds collateral for certain of these reinsurance arrangements with a corresponding funds withheld liability. As of 31 December 2015, the funds withheld liability of £2,347 million (2014: £2,201 million) was recorded within other non-insurance liabilities.
(iii) Equity securities and portfolio holdings in unit trusts include investments in mutual funds, the majority of which are equity-based.

 

F-66


Table of Contents
(iv) Other investments comprise:

 

                  2015 £m                  2014 £m  

Derivative assets*

     905         916   

Partnerships in investment pools and other**

     810         754   
       1,715         1,670   
* After taking account of the derivative liabilities of £249 million (2014: £251 million), which are included in other non-insurance liabilities, the derivative position for US operations is a net asset of £656 million (2014: £665 million).
** Partnerships in investment pools and other comprise primarily investments in limited partnerships. These include interests in the PPM America Private Equity Fund and diversified investments in 162 (2014: 164) other partnerships by independent money managers that generally invest in various equities and fixed income loans and securities.

 

(v) In addition to the policyholder liabilities above, Jackson has entered into a programme of funding arrangements under contracts, which, in substance are almost identical to GICs. The liabilities under these funding agreements totalled, £1,725 million (2014: £844 million) and are included in other non-insurance liabilities in the statement of financial position above.
(vi) Under IFRS 4, adequacy testing of liabilities, net of deferred acquisition costs is required. The practical application for Jackson is in the context of the deferred acquisition cost asset and the liabilities for Jackson’s insurance contracts being determined in accordance with US GAAP. The liabilities include those in respect of the separate accounts (which naturally reflect separate account assets), policyholder account values, and guarantees measured as described in note C4.2. Under US GAAP, most of Jackson’s products are accounted for under Accounting Standard no. 97 of the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FAS 97) whereby deferred acquisition costs are amortised in line with expected gross profits. Recoverability of the deferred acquisition costs in the balance sheet is tested against the projected value of future profits using current estimates and therefore no additional liability adequacy test is required by IFRS 4. The DAC recoverability test is performed in line with US GAAP requirements which in practice is at the grouped level of those contracts managed together.
(vii) Changes in shareholders’ equity:

 

        2015 £m              2014 £m              2013 £m  

Operating profit based on longer-term investment returns B1.1

    1,691           1,431           1243   

Short-term fluctuations in investment returns B1.2

    (424)           (1,103)           (625)   

Amortisation of acquisition accounting adjustments arising from the purchase of REALIC

    (68)             (71)             (65)   

Profit before shareholder tax

    1,199           257           553   

Tax B5

    (236)             (8)             (101)   

Profit for the year

    963             249             452   

Profit for the year (as above)

    963           249           452   

Items recognised in other comprehensive income:

           

Exchange movements

    230           235           (32)   

Unrealised valuation movements on securities classified as available-for sale:

           

Unrealised holding (losses) gains arising during the year

    (1,256)           1,039           (2,025)   

Less: net gains included in the income statement

    (49)             (83)             (64)   

Total unrealised valuation movements

    (1,305)           956           (2,089)   

Related change in amortisation of deferred acquisition costs C5.1(b)

    337           (87)           498   

Related tax

    339             (304)             557   

Total other comprehensive (loss) income

    (399)             800             (1,066)   

Total comprehensive income (loss) for the year

    564           1,049           (614)   

Dividends, interest payments to central companies and other movements

    (477)             (428)             (283)   

Net increase (decrease) in equity

    87           621           (897)   

Shareholders’ equity at beginning of year

    4,067             3,446             4,343   

Shareholders’ equity at end of year

    4,154             4,067             3,446   

 

F-67


Table of Contents
C2.3 UK insurance operations

Of the total investments of £165 billion in UK insurance operations, £104 billion of investments are held by Scottish Amicable Insurance Fund and the PAC with-profits sub-fund. Shareholders are exposed only indirectly to value movements on these assets.

 

            31 Dec 2015 £m                

 

      31 Dec
    2014 £m
 
                                Other funds and subsidiaries                
            

Scottish

Amicable

Insurance

Fund

       

PAC

with-

profits

sub-

fund

       

Unit-

linked

assets
and

liabilities

   

Annuity

and other

long-term

business

    Total         Total         Total  
By operating segment   Note     note (i)          note (ii)                                                  

Assets

                         

Intangible assets attributable to shareholders:

                         

Deferred acquisition costs and other intangible assets

            -          -          -        83        83          83          86   

Total

            -          -          -        83        83          83          86   

Intangible assets attributable to with-profits funds:

                         

In respect of acquired subsidiaries for venture fund and other investment purposes

        -          185          -        -        -          185          186   

Deferred acquisition costs

            -          8          -        -        -          8          7   

Total

            -          193          -        -        -          193          193   

Total

            -          193          -        83        83          276          279   

Deferred tax assets

    1          82          -        49        49          132          132   

Other non-investment and non-cash assets

    171          4,131          371        2,536        2,907          7,209          6,826   
Investments of long-term business and other operations:                          

Investment properties

        358          10,757          705        1,592        2,297          13,412          12,736   

Investments in joint ventures and associates accounted for using the equity method

        -          434          -        -        -          434          536   

Financial investments:

                         

Loans

  C3.4       61          1,998          -        1,512        1,512          3,571          4,254   

Equity securities and portfolio holdings in unit trusts

        2,530          29,804          15,214        45        15,259          47,593          43,468   

Debt securities

  C3.3       2,331          42,204          6,481        32,085        38,566          83,101          86,349   

Other investmentsnote (iii)

        210          4,807          13        456        469          5,486          5,782   

Deposits

            399          8,383          835        1,609        2,444          11,226          12,253   

Total investments

            5,889          98,387          23,248        37,299        60,547          164,823          165,378   
Properties held for sale             -          2          -        -        -          2          5   
Cash and cash equivalents             169          1,591          466        654        1,120          2,880          2,457   

Total assets

    6,230            104,386            24,085        40,621        64,706            175,322                175,077   

 

F-68


Table of Contents
            31 Dec 2015 £m             31 Dec
    2014 £m
 
                        Other funds and subsidiaries                      
           

Scottish

Amicable

Insurance

Fund

    PAC
with-
profits
sub-fund
   

Unit-
linked

assets
and

liabilities

   

Annuity

and
other

long-
term

business

    Total         Total         Total  
     Note        note (i)     note (ii)                              note (iv)             

Equity and liabilities

                     

Equity

                     

Shareholders’ equity

        -        -        -        5,140        5,140          5,140          3,804   

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

Total equity

        -        -        -        5,140        5,140          5,140          3,804   

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

Liabilities

                     
Policyholder liabilities and unallocated surplus of with-profits funds:                      

Contract liabilities (including amounts in respect of contracts classified as investment contracts under IFRS 4)

        5,919        83,607        21,442        31,382        52,824          142,350          144,088   

Unallocated surplus of with-profits funds (reflecting application of ‘realistic’ basis provisions for UK regulated with-profits funds)

        -        10,543        -        -        -          10,543          10,348   

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

Total

  C4.1(d)       5,919        94,150        21,442        31,382        52,824          152,893          154,436   

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

 
Operational borrowings attributable to shareholder-financed operations         -        -        4        175        179          179          74   
Borrowings attributable to with-profits funds         12        1,320        -        -        -          1,332          1,093   
Deferred tax liabilities         31        821        -        310        310          1,162          1,228   
Other non-insurance liabilities         268        8,095        2,639        3,614        6,253          14,616          14,442   

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

Total liabilities

    6,230            104,386        24,085        35,481            59,566          170,182          171,273   

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

Total equity and liabilities

    6,230        104,386        24,085        40,621        64,706            175,322            175,077   

Notes

(i) The fund is solely for the benefit of policyholders of SAIF. Shareholders have no interest in the profits of this fund although they are entitled to asset management fees on this business. SAIF is a separate sub-fund within the PAC long-term business fund.
(ii) The PAC with-profits sub-fund (WPSF) mainly contains with-profits business but it also contains some non-profit business (unit-linked, term assurances and annuities). Included in the PAC with-profits fund is £10.8 billion (2014: £11.7 billion) of non-profits annuities liabilities. The WPSF’s profits are apportioned 90 per cent to its policyholders and 10 per cent to shareholders as surplus for distribution is determined via the annual actuarial valuation. For the purposes of this table and subsequent explanation, references to the WPSF also include, for convenience, the amounts attaching to the Defined Charges Participating Sub-fund which comprises 4 per cent of the total assets of the WPSF and includes the with-profits annuity business transferred to Prudential from the Equitable Life Assurance Society on 1 December 2007 (with assets of approximately £1.7 billion). Profits to shareholders on this with-profits annuity business emerge on a ‘charges less expenses’ basis and policyholders are entitled to 100 per cent of the investment earnings.
(iii) Other investments comprise:

 

              2015 £m                  2014 £m  

Derivative assets*

     1,930           2,344   

Partnerships in investment pools and other**

     3,556             3,438   
       5,486             5,782   
* After taking account of derivative liabilities of £2,125 million (2014: £1,381 million), which are also included in the statement of financial position, the overall derivative position was a net liability of £195 million (2014: net asset of £963 million).
** Partnerships in investment pools and other comprise mainly investments held by the PAC with-profits fund. These investments are primarily investments in limited partnerships and additionally, investments in property funds.

 

(iv) The shareholders’ equity at 31 December 2015 includes the effect of a classification change of £702 million from Other operations to UK insurance operations in order to align with Solvency II segmental reporting, with no overall effect on the Group’s shareholders’ equity.

 

F-69


Table of Contents
C2.4 Asset management operations

 

              31 Dec 2015 £m   31 Dec
2014 £m
 
      Note         M&G     

Prudential

Capital

     US     

Eastspring

    Investments

     Total         Total  

Assets

                       

Intangible assets:

                       

Goodwill

          1,153         -         16         61         1,230          1,230   

Deferred acquisition costs and other intangible assets

              16         -         3         2         21          21   

Total

              1,169         -         19         63         1,251          1,251   

Other non-investment and non-cash assets

          715         614         236         79         1,644          1,605   
Investments in joint ventures and associates accounted for using the equity method           29         -         -         96         125          107   

Financial investments:

                       

Loans

   C3.4        -         885         -         -         885          854   

Equity securities and portfolio holdings in unit trusts

          70         -         -         15         85          79   

Debt securities

   C3.3        -         2,204         -         -         2,204          2,293   

Other investments

          15         74         5         -         94          121   

Deposits

              -         -         50         39         89          74   

Total investments

              114         3,163         55         150         3,482          3,528   

Cash and cash equivalents

              430         415         79         130         1,054          1,044   

Total assets

              2,428         4,192         389         422         7,431          7,428   

Equity and liabilities

                       

Equity

                       

Shareholders’ equity

              1,774         70         182         306         2,332          2,077   

Total equity

              1,774         70         182         306         2,332          2,077   

Liabilities

                       
Core structural borrowing of shareholder-financed operations           -         275         -         -         275          275   
Operational borrowings attributable to shareholder-financed operations           10         -         -         -         10          6   
Intra-group debt represented by operational borrowings at Group level note (i)           -         1,705         -         -         1,705          2,004   

Other non-insurance liabilitiesnote (ii)

              644         2,142         207         116         3,109          3,066   

Total liabilities

              654         4,122         207         116         5,099          5,351   

Total equity and liabilities

              2,428         4,192         389         422         7,431            7,428   

Notes

(i) Intra-group debt represented by operational borrowings at Group level, which are in respect of Prudential Capital’s short-term fixed income security programme and comprise:

 

                  2015 £m                  2014 £m  

Commercial Paper

     1,107         1,704   

Medium Term Notes

     598         300   

Total intra-group debt represented by operational borrowings at Group level

     1,705         2,004   

 

(ii) Other non-insurance liabilities consist primarily of intra-group balances, derivative liabilities and other creditors.

 

F-70


Table of Contents
C3 Assets and Liabilities – classification and measurement

 

C3.1 Group assets and liabilities – classification

The classification of the Group’s assets and liabilities, and its corresponding accounting carrying values reflect the requirements of IFRS. For financial investments, the basis of valuation reflects the Group’s application of IAS 39 ‘Financial Instruments: Recognition and Measurement’ as described further below. Where assets and liabilities have been valued at fair value or measured on a different basis but fair value is disclosed, the Group has followed the principles under IFRS 13 ‘Fair Value Measurement’. The basis applied is summarised below:

 

    31 December 2015 £m     31 December 2014 £m  
    At fair value    

Cost/

amortised

cost/IFRS 4

basis value

   

Total

carrying

value

   

Fair

value,

where

applicable

    At fair value    

Cost/

amortised

cost/IFRS 4

basis value

   

Total

carrying

value

   

Fair

value,

where

applicable

 
           note (i)                          note (i)                
Assets  

Through

profit

or loss

    Available-
for-sale
                        

Through

profit

or loss

    Available-
for-sale
                      
Intangible assets attributable to shareholders:                    

Goodwill

    -        -        1,463        1,463          -        -        1,463        1,463     

Deferred acquisition costs and other intangible assets

    -        -        8,422        8,422          -        -        7,261        7,261     

 

     

 

 

   

Total

    -        -        9,885        9,885          -        -        8,724        8,724     

 

     

 

 

   
Intangible assets attributable to with-profits funds:                    

In respect of acquired subsidiaries for venture fund and other investment purposes

    -        -        185        185          -        -        186        186     

Deferred acquisition costs and other intangible assets

    -        -        50        50          -        -        61        61     

 

     

 

 

   

Total

    -        -        235        235          -        -        247        247     

 

     

 

 

   

Total intangible assets

    -        -        10,120        10,120          -        -        8,971        8,971     

 

     

 

 

   
Other non-investment and non-cash assets:                    

Property, plant and equipment

    -        -        1,197        1,197          -        -        978        978     

Reinsurers’ share of insurance contract liabilities

    -        -        7,903        7,903          -        -        7,167        7,167     

Deferred tax assets

    -        -        2,819        2,819          -        -        2,765        2,765     

Current tax recoverable

    -        -        477        477          -        -        117        117     

Accrued investment income

    -        -        2,751        2,751        2,751        -        -        2,667        2,667        2,667   

Other debtors

    -        -        1,955        1,955        1,955        -        -        1,852        1,852        1,852   

 

     

 

 

   

Total

    -        -        17,102        17,102          -        -        15,546        15,546     

 

     

 

 

   
Investments of long-term business and other operations:note (ii)                    

Investment properties

    13,422        -        -        13,422        13,422        12,764        -        -        12,764        12,764   

Investments accounted for using the equity method

    -        -        1,034        1,034          -        -        1,017        1,017     

Loansnote (iv)

    2,438        -        10,520        12,958        13,482        2,291        -        10,550        12,841        13,548   

Equity securities and portfolio holdings in unit trusts

    157,453        -        -        157,453        157,453        144,862        -        -        144,862        144,862   

Debt securitiesnote (v)

    113,687        33,984        -        147,671        147,671        112,354        32,897        -        145,251        145,251   

Other investmentsnote (vi)

    7,353        -        -        7,353        7,353        7,623        -        -        7,623        7,623   

Deposits

    -        -        12,088        12,088        12,088        -        -        13,096        13,096        13,096   

 

     

 

 

   

Total investments

    294,353        33,984        23,642        351,979          279,894        32,897        24,663        337,454     

 

     

 

 

   

Assets held for salenote (vii)

    2        -        -        2        2        824        -        -        824        824   

Cash and cash equivalents

    -        -        7,782        7,782        7,782        -        -        6,409        6,409        6,409   

 

     

 

 

   

Total assets

    294,355        33,984        58,646        386,985          280,718        32,897        55,589        369,204     

 

     

 

 

   

 

F-71


Table of Contents
    31 December 2015 £m     31 December 2014 £m  
    At fair value    

Cost/

amortised

cost/IFRS 4

basis value

   

Total

carrying

value

   

Fair

value,

where

applicable

    At fair value    

Cost/

amortised

cost/IFRS 4

basis value

   

Total

carrying

value

   

Fair

value,

where

applicable

 
    

Through

profit

or loss

    Available-
for-sale
                        

Through

profit

or loss

    Available-
for-sale
                      

Liabilities

                   
Policyholder liabilities and unallocated surplus of with-profits funds:                    

Insurance contract liabilities

    -        -        260,622        260,622          -        -        250,038        250,038     

Investment contract liabilities with discretionary participation featuresnote (iii)

    -        -        42,959        42,959          -        -        39,277        39,277     

Investment contract liabilities without discretionary participation features

    16,022        -        2,784        18,806        18,842        17,554        -        2,670        20,224        20,211   

Unallocated surplus of with-profits funds

    -        -        13,227        13,227          -        -        12,450        12,450     

 

     

 

 

   

Total

    16,022        -        319,592        335,614          17,554        -        304,435        321,989     

 

     

 

 

   
Core structural borrowings of shareholder-financed operations     -        -        5,011        5,011        5,419        -        -        4,304        4,304        4,925   

Other borrowings:note (v)

                   

Operational borrowings attributable to shareholder-financed operations

    -        -        1,960        1,960        1,960        -        -        2,263        2,263        2,263   

Borrowings attributable to with-profits operations

    -        -        1,332        1,332        1,344        -        -        1,093        1,093        1,108   

Other non-insurance liabilities:

                   

Obligations under funding, securities lending and sale and repurchase agreements

    -        -        3,765        3,765        3,775        -        -        2,347        2,347        2,361   

Net asset value attributable to unit holders of consolidated unit trusts and similar funds

    7,873        -        -        7,873        7,873        7,357        -        -        7,357        7,357   

Deferred tax liabilities

    -        -        4,010        4,010          -        -        4,291        4,291     

Current tax liabilities

    -        -        325        325          -        -        617        617     

Accruals and deferred income

    -        -        952        952          -        -        947        947     

Other creditors

    322        -        4,554        4,876        4,876        327        -        3,935        4,262        4,262   

Provisions

    -        -        604        604          -        -        724        724     

Derivative liabilities

    3,119        -        -        3,119        3,119        2,323        -        -        2,323        2,323   

Other liabilities

    2,347        -        2,241        4,588        4,588        2,201        -        1,904        4,105        4,105   

 

     

 

 

   

Total

    13,661        -        16,451        30,112          12,208        -        14,765        26,973     

 

     

 

 

   

Liabilities held for salenote (vii)

    -        -        -        -          770        -        -        770        770   

 

     

 

 

   

Total liabilities

    29,683        -        344,346        374,029          30,532        -        326,860        357,392     

 

     

 

 

   

Notes

(i) Assets carried at cost or amortised cost are subject to impairment testing where appropriate under IFRS requirements. This category also includes assets which are valued by reference to specific IFRS standards such as reinsurers’ share of insurance contract liabilities, deferred tax assets and investments accounted for under the equity method.
(ii) Realised gains and losses on the Group’s investments for 2015 recognised in the income statement amounted to a net gain of £3.0 billion (2014: £2.9 billion).
(iii) The carrying value of investment contracts with discretionary participation features is on IFRS 4 basis. It is impractical to determine the fair value of these contracts due to the lack of a reliable basis to measure participation features.
(iv) Loans and receivables are reported net of allowance for loan losses of £10 million (2014: £21 million).
(v) As at 31 December 2015, £481 million (2014: £477 million) of convertible bonds were included in debt securities and £1,217 million (2014: £1,148 million) were included in borrowings.
(vi) See note C3.5(b) for details of the derivative assets included. The balance also contains the PAC with-profits fund’s participation in various investment funds and limited liability property partnerships.
(vii) Assets and liabilities held for sale are valued at fair value less costs to sell.

 

F-72


Table of Contents
C3.2 Group assets and liabilities – measurement

 

(a) Determination of fair value

The fair values of the assets and liabilities of the Group as shown in this note have been determined on the following bases. The fair values of the financial instruments for which fair valuation is required under IFRS are determined by the use of current market bid prices for exchange-quoted investments or by using quotations from independent third parties such as brokers and pricing services or by using appropriate valuation techniques.

The estimated fair value of derivative financial instruments reflects the estimated amount the Group would receive or pay in an arm’s length transaction. This amount is determined using quoted prices if exchange listed, quotations from independent third parties or valued internally using standard market practices.

The loans and receivables have been shown net of provisions for impairment. The fair value of loans have been estimated from discounted cash flows expected to be received. The rate of discount used was the market rate of interest where applicable.

The fair value of investment properties is based on market values as assessed by professionally qualified external valuers or by the Group’s qualified surveyors.

The fair value of the subordinated and senior debt issued by the parent company is determined using quoted prices from independent third parties.

The fair value of financial liabilities (other than derivative financial instruments) is determined using discounted cash flows of the amounts expected to be paid.

(b)    Fair value measurement hierarchy of Group assets and liabilities

Assets and liabilities carried at fair value on the statement of financial position

The table below shows the assets and liabilities carried at fair value analysed by level of the IFRS 13 ‘Fair Value Measurement’ defined fair value hierarchy. This hierarchy is based on the inputs to the fair value measurement and reflects the lowest level input that is significant to that measurement.

 

F-73


Table of Contents

Financial instruments at fair value

 

     31 Dec 2015 £m  
     Level 1     Level 2     Level 3                  Total  
     

Quoted prices

(unadjusted)

in active
markets

   

Valuation based

on significant

observable

market inputs

   

Valuation based

on significant

unobservable

market inputs

         
Analysis of financial investments, net of derivative liabilities by business type          

With-profits

         

Equity securities and portfolio holdings in unit trusts

     35,441        3,200        554         39,195   

Debt securities

     20,312        40,033        525         60,870   

Other investments (including derivative assets)

     85        1,589        3,371         5,045   

Derivative liabilities

     (110)        (1,526)        -         (1,636)   

Total financial investments, net of derivative liabilities

     55,728        43,296        4,450         103,474   

Percentage of total

     54%        42%        4%         100%   

Unit-linked and variable annuity separate account

         

Equity securities and portfolio holdings in unit trusts

     116,691        354        22         117,067   

Debt securities

     4,350        4,940        -         9,290   

Other investments (including derivative assets)

     5        20        4         29   

Derivative liabilities

     (2)        (16)        -         (18)   

Total financial investments, net of derivative liabilities

     121,044        5,298        26         126,368   

Percentage of total

     96%        4%        0%         100%   

Non-linked shareholder-backed

         

Loans

     -        255        2,183         2,438   

Equity securities and portfolio holdings in unit trusts

     1,150        10        31         1,191   

Debt securities

     17,767        59,491        253         77,511   

Other investments (including derivative assets)

     -        1,378        901         2,279   

Derivative liabilities

     -        (1,112)        (353)         (1,465)   

Total financial investments, net of derivative liabilities

     18,917        60,022        3,015         81,954   

Percentage of total

     23%        73%        4%         100%   
Group total analysis, including other financial liabilities held at fair value                                  

Group total

         

Loans*

     -        255        2,183         2,438   

Equity securities and portfolio holdings in unit trusts

     153,282        3,564        607         157,453   

Debt securities

     42,429        104,464        778         147,671   

Other investments (including derivative assets)

     90        2,987        4,276         7,353   

Derivative liabilities

     (112)        (2,654)        (353)         (3,119)   

Total financial investments, net of derivative liabilities

     195,689        108,616        7,491         311,796   
Investment contracts liabilities without discretionary participation features held at fair value      -        (16,022)        -         (16,022)   
Net asset value attributable to unit holders of consolidated unit trusts and similar funds      (5,782)        (1,055)        (1,036)         (7,873)   

Other financial liabilities held at fair value

     -        (322)        (2,347)         (2,669)   

Total financial instruments at fair value

     189,907        91,217        4,108         285,232   

Percentage of total

     67%        32%        1%         100%   
* Loans in the above table are those classified as fair value through profit and loss in note C3.1.

 

F-74


Table of Contents
     31 Dec 2014 £m  
     Level 1     Level 2     Level 3                  Total  
     

Quoted prices

(unadjusted)

in active
markets

   

Valuation based

on significant

observable

market inputs

   

Valuation based

on significant

unobservable

market inputs

         
Analysis of financial investments, net of derivative liabilities by business type          

With-profits

         

Equity securities and portfolio holdings in unit trusts

     31,136        2,832        694         34,662   

Debt securities

     16,415        42,576        582         59,573   

Other investments (including derivative assets)

     96        1,997        3,252         5,345   

Derivative liabilities

     (72)        (1,024)        -         (1,096)   

Total financial investments, net of derivative liabilities

     47,575        46,381        4,528         98,484   

Percentage of total

     48%        47%        5%         100%   

Unit-linked and variable annuity separate account

         

Equity securities and portfolio holdings in unit trusts

     108,392        336        21         108,749   

Debt securities

     4,509        6,375        11         10,895   

Other investments (including derivative assets)

     4        29        -         33   

Derivative liabilities

     (10)        (12)        -         (22)   

Total financial investments, net of derivative liabilities

     112,895        6,728        32         119,655   

Percentage of total

     94%        6%        0%         100%   

Non-linked shareholder-backed

         

Loans

     -        266        2,025         2,291   

Equity securities and portfolio holdings in unit trusts

     1,303        116        32         1,451   

Debt securities

     15,806        58,780        197         74,783   

Other investments (including derivative assets)

     -        1,469        776         2,245   

Derivative liabilities

     -        (867)        (338)         (1,205)   

Total financial investments, net of derivative liabilities

     17,109        59,764        2,692         79,565   

Percentage of total

     22%        75%        3%         100%   
Group total analysis, including other financial liabilities held at fair value                                  

Group total

         

Loans*

     -        266        2,025         2,291   

Equity securities and portfolio holdings in unit trusts

     140,831        3,284        747         144,862   

Debt securities

     36,730        107,731        790         145,251   

Other investments (including derivative assets)

     100        3,495        4,028         7,623   

Derivative liabilities

     (82)        (1,903)        (338)         (2,323)   

Total financial investments, net of derivative liabilities

     177,579        112,873        7,252         297,704   
Investment contracts liabilities without discretionary participation features held at fair value      -        (17,554)        -         (17,554)   
Net asset value attributable to unit holders of consolidated unit trusts and similar funds      (5,395)        (671)        (1,291)         (7,357)   

Other financial liabilities held at fair value

     -        (327)        (2,201)         (2,528)   

Total financial instruments at fair value

     172,184        94,321        3,760         270,265   

Percentage of total

     64%        35%        1%         100%   
* Loans in the above table are those classified as fair value through profit or loss in note C3.1.

In addition to the financial instruments shown above, the assets and liabilities held for sale on the consolidated statement of financial position at 31 December 2014 in respect of Japan life business included a net financial instruments balance of £844 million, primarily for equity securities and debt securities. Of this amount, £814 million was classified as level 1 and £30 million as level 2.

Investment properties at fair value

 

     31 December £m  
     Level 1     Level 2     Level 3                  Total  
      Quoted prices
(unadjusted)
in active
markets
    Valuation based
on significant
observable
market inputs
    Valuation based
on significant
unobservable
market inputs
         

2015

     -       -        13,422         13,422   

2014

     -        -        12,764         12,764   

 

F-75


Table of Contents

Assets and liabilities at amortised cost for which fair value is disclosed

The table below shows the assets and liabilities carried at amortised cost on the statement of financial position but for which fair value is disclosed in the financial statements. The assets and liabilities that are carried at amortised cost but where the carrying value approximates the fair value, are excluded from the analysis below.

 

     31 Dec 2015 £m  
     Level 1     Level 2     Level 3                      Total  
      Quoted prices
(unadjusted)
in active
markets
   

Valuation based
on significant

observable

market inputs

   

Valuation based
on significant

unobservable

market inputs

         
Assets          

Loans

     -        3,423        7,621         11,044   

Liabilities

         
Investment contract liabilities without discretionary participation features      -        -        (2,820)         (2,820)   
Core structural borrowings of shareholder-financed operations      -        (5,419)        -         (5,419)   
Operational borrowings attributable to shareholder-financed operations      -        (1,956)        (4)         (1,960)   
Borrowings attributable to the with-profits funds      -        (1,270)        (74)         (1,344)   
Obligations under funding, securities lending and sale and repurchase agreements      -        (2,040)        (1,735)         (3,775)   

 

     31 Dec 2014 £m  
     Level 1     Level 2     Level 3                      Total  
      Quoted prices
(unadjusted)
in active
markets
   

Valuation based
on significant

observable

market inputs

   

Valuation based
on significant

unobservable

market inputs

         
Assets          

Loans

     -        4,446        6,811         11,257   

Liabilities

         
Investment contract liabilities without discretionary participation features      -        -        (2,657)         (2,657)   
Core structural borrowings of shareholder-financed operations      -        (4,926)        -         (4,926)   
Operational borrowings attributable to shareholder-financed operations      -        (2,241)        (22)         (2,263)   
Borrowings attributable to the with-profits funds      -        (1,050)        (58)         (1,108)   
Obligations under funding, securities lending and sale and repurchase agreements      -        (1,505)        (856)         (2,361)   

The fair value of the assets and liabilities in the table above, with the exception of the subordinated and senior debt issued by the parent company, has been estimated from the discounted cash flows expected to be received or paid. Where appropriate, the observable market interest rate has been used and the assets and liabilities are classified within level 2. Otherwise, they are included as level 3 assets or liabilities.

The fair value included for the subordinated and senior debt issued by the parent company is determined using quoted prices from independent third parties.

 

(c) Valuation approach for level 2 fair valued assets and liabilities

A significant proportion of the Group’s level 2 assets are corporate bonds, structured securities and other non-national government debt securities. These assets, in line with market practice, are generally valued using independent pricing services or third-party broker quotes. These valuations are determined using independent external quotations from multiple sources and are subject to a number of monitoring controls, such as monthly price variances, stale price reviews and variance analysis on prices achieved on subsequent trades.

Pricing services, where available, are used to obtain the third-party broker quotes. Where pricing services providers are used, a single valuation is obtained and applied.

 

F-76


Table of Contents

When prices are not available from pricing services, quotes are sourced directly from brokers. Prudential seeks to obtain a number of quotes from different brokers so as to obtain the most comprehensive information available on their executability. Where quotes are sourced directly from brokers, the price used in the valuation is normally selected from one of the quotes based on a number of factors, including the timeliness and regularity of the quotes and the accuracy of the quotes considering the spreads provided. The selected quote is the one which best represents an executable quote for the security at the measurement date.

Generally, no adjustment is made to the prices obtained from independent third parties. Adjustment is made in only limited circumstances, where it is determined that the third-party valuations obtained do not reflect fair value (eg either because the value is stale and/or the values are extremely diverse in range). These are usually securities which are distressed or that could be subject to a debt restructure or where reliable market prices are no longer available due to an inactive market or market dislocation. In these instances, prices are derived using internal valuation techniques including those as described below in this note with the objective of arriving at a fair value measurement which reflects the price at which an orderly transaction would take place between market participants on the measurement date. The techniques used require a number of assumptions relating to variables such as credit risk and interest rates. Examples of such variables include an average credit spread based on the corporate bond universe and the relevant duration of the asset being valued. Prudential determines the input assumptions based on the best available information at the measurement dates. Securities valued in such manner are classified as level 3 where these significant inputs are not based on observable market data.

Of the total level 2 debt securities of £104,464 million at 31 December 2015 (2014: £107,731 million), £10,331 million are valued internally (2014: £10,093 million). The majority of such securities are valued using matrix pricing, which is based on assessing the credit quality of the underlying borrower to derive a suitable discount rate relative to government securities of a comparable duration. Under matrix pricing, the debt securities are priced taking the credit spreads on comparable quoted public debt securities and applying these to the equivalent debt instruments factoring in a specified liquidity premium. The majority of the parameters used in this valuation technique are readily observable in the market and, therefore, are not subject to interpretation.

 

F-77


Table of Contents
(d) Fair value measurements for level 3 fair valued assets and liabilities

Reconciliation of movements in level 3 assets and liabilities measured at fair value

The following table reconciles the value of level 3 fair valued assets and liabilities at 1 January 2015 to that presented at 31 December 2015.

Financial instruments at fair value

 

    £m  
2015  

At

1 Jan

   

Total

gains/

losses in

income

statement

   

Total

gains/

losses

recorded

as other

compre-

hensive

income

    Purchases     Sales     Settled     Issued    

Transfers

into

level 3

   

Transfers

out of

level 3

   

At

31 Dec

 
Loans     2,025        2        119        -        -        (168)        205        -        -        2,183   
Equity securities and portfolio holdings in unit trusts     747        52        3        32        (143)        -        -        4        (88)        607   
Debt securities     790        (75)        1        243        (259)        -        -        82        (4)        778   
Other investments (including derivative assets)     4,028        213        68        547        (700)        -        -        120        -        4,276   
Derivative liabilities     (338)        (15)        -        -        -        -        -        -        -        (353)   
Total financial investments, net of derivative liabilities     7,252        177        191        822        (1,102)        (168)        205        206        (92)        7,491   
Net asset value attributable to unit holders of consolidated unit trusts and similar funds     (1,291)        (160)        (1)        (5)        9        412        -        -        -        (1,036)   
Other financial liabilities     (2,201)        (3)        (128)        -        -        218        (233)        -        -        (2,347)   
Total financial instruments at fair value     3,760        14        62        817        (1,093)        462        (28)        206        (92)        4,108   

2014

                                                                               
Loans     1,887        1        118        -        -        (175)        194        -        -        2,025   
Equity securities and portfolio holdings in unit trusts     649        118        2        26        (50)        -        -        2        -        747   
Debt securities     670        271        (7)        49        (169)        -        -        11        (35)        790   
Other investments (including derivative assets)     3,758        337        36        371        (474)        -        -        -        -        4,028   
Derivative liabilities     (201)        (138)        -        -        -        -        -        -        1        (338)   
Total financial investments, net of derivative liabilities     6,763        589        149        446        (693)        (175)        194        13        (34)        7,252   
Net asset value attributable to unit holders of consolidated unit trusts and similar funds     (1,327)        (14)        -        (18)        18        123        (73)        -        -        (1,291)   
Other financial liabilities     (2,051)        (10)        (129)        -        -        279        (290)        -        -        (2,201)   
Total financial instruments at fair value     3,385        565        20        428        (675)        227        (169)        13        (34)        3,760   

Of the total net gains and losses in the income statement of £14 million (2014: £565 million), £67 million (2014: £344 million) relates to net unrealised gains of financial instruments still held at the end of the year, which can be analysed as follows:

 

                  2015 £m                  2014 £m  

Equity securities

     94         70   

Debt securities

     (12)         149   

Other investments

     160         284   

Derivative liabilities

     (15)         (137)   

Net asset value attributable to unit holders of consolidated unit trusts and similar funds

     (160)         (14)   

Other financial liabilities

     -         (8)   

Total

     67         344   

 

F-78


Table of Contents

Other assets at fair value – investment properties

 

    £m  
    

At

1 Jan

   

Total

gains/

losses in

income

statement

   

Total

gains/

losses

in other

compre-

hensive

income

    Purchases     Sales    

Transfers

into

level 3

   

Transfers
out of

level 3

   

At

31 Dec

 

2015

    12,764        537        21        757        (662)        5        -        13,422   
2014     11,477        914        20        728        (370)        -        (5)        12,764   

Of the total net gains and losses in the income statement of £537 million (2014: £914 million), £505 million (2014: £851 million) relates to net unrealised gains of investment properties still held at the end of the year.

Valuation approach for level 3 fair valued assets and liabilities

Financial instruments at fair value

Investments valued using valuation techniques include financial investments which by their nature do not have an externally quoted price based on regular trades, and financial investments for which markets are no longer active as a result of market conditions eg market illiquidity. The valuation techniques used include comparison to recent arm’s length transactions, reference to other instruments that are substantially the same, discounted cash flow analysis, option adjusted spread models and, if applicable, enterprise valuation. These techniques may include a number of assumptions relating to variables such as credit risk and interest rates. Changes in assumptions relating to these variables could positively or negatively impact the reported fair value of these instruments. When determining the inputs into the valuation techniques used priority is given to publicly available prices from independent sources when available, but overall the source of pricing is chosen with the objective of arriving at a fair value measurement which reflects the price at which an orderly transaction would take place between market participants on the measurement date.

The fair value estimates are made at a specific point in time, based upon available market information and judgements about the financial instruments, including estimates of the timing and amount of expected future cash flows and the credit standing of counterparties. Such estimates do not reflect any premium or discount that could result from offering for sale at one time the Group’s entire holdings of a particular financial instrument, nor do they consider the tax impact of the realisation of unrealised gains or losses from selling the financial instrument being fair valued. In some cases the disclosed value cannot be realised in immediate settlement of the financial instrument.

In accordance with the Group’s risk management framework, the estimated fair value of derivative financial instruments valued internally using standard market practices are subject to assessment against external counterparties’ valuations.

At 31 December 2015, the Group held £4,108 million (2014: £3,760 million) of net financial instruments at fair value within level 3. This represents 1 per cent (2014: 1 per cent) of the total fair valued financial assets net of fair valued financial liabilities.

Included within these amounts were loans of £2,183 million at 31 December 2015 (2014: £2,025 million), measured as the loan outstanding balance, attached to REALIC and held to back the liabilities for funds withheld under reinsurance arrangements. The funds withheld liability of £2,347 million at 31 December 2015 (2014: £2,201 million) was also classified within level 3, accounted for on a fair value basis being equivalent to the carrying value of the underlying assets.

Excluding the loans and funds withheld liability under REALIC’s reinsurance arrangements as described above, which amounted to a net liability of £(164) million (2014: £(176) million), the level 3 fair valued financial assets net of financial liabilities were £4,272 million (2014: £3,936 million). Of this amount, a net liability of £(77) million (2014: net asset of £11 million) was internally valued, representing less than 0.1 per cent of the total fair valued financial assets net of financial liabilities (2014: less than 0.1 per cent). Internal valuations are inherently more subjective than external valuations. Included within these internally valued net asset/liability were:

 

  (a) Debt securities of £381 million (2014: £298 million), which were either valued on a discounted cash flow method with an internally developed discount rate or on external prices adjusted to reflect the specific known conditions relating to these securities (eg distressed securities or securities which were being restructured).

 

F-79


Table of Contents
  (b) Private equity and venture investments of £852 million (2014: £1,002 million) which were valued internally based on management information available for these investments. These investments were principally held by consolidated investment funds which are managed on behalf of third parties.
  (c) Liabilities of £(1,013) million (2014: £(1,269) million) for the net asset value attributable to external unit holders in respect of the consolidated investment funds, which are non-recourse to the Group. These liabilities are valued by reference to the underlying assets.
  (d) Derivative liabilities of £(353) million (2014: £(23) million) which are valued internally using standard market practices but are subject to independent assessment against external counterparties’ valuations.
  (e) Other sundry individual financial investments of £56 million (2014: £3 million).

Of the internally valued net liability referred to above of £(77) million (2014: net asset of £11 million):

 

  (a) A net asset of £29 million (2014: net liability of £(133) million) was held by the Group’s participating funds and therefore shareholders’ profit and equity are not impacted by movements in the valuation of these financial instruments.
  (b) A net liability of £(106) million (2014: net asset of £144 million) was held to support non-linked shareholder-backed business. If the value of all the level 3 instruments held to support non-linked shareholder-backed business valued internally was varied downwards by 10 per cent, the change in valuation would be £11 million (2014: £14 million), which would reduce shareholders’ equity by this amount before tax. Of this amount, a decrease of £10 million (2014: a decrease of £13 million) would pass through the income statement substantially as part of short-term fluctuations in investment returns outside of operating profit and a £1 million decrease (2014: a decrease of £1 million) would be included as part of other comprehensive income, being unrealised movements on assets classified as available-for-sale.

Other assets at fair value – investment properties

The investment properties of the Group are principally held by the UK insurance operations which are externally valued by professionally qualified external valuers using the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) valuation standards. An ‘income capitalisation’ technique is predominantly applied for these properties. This technique calculates the value through the yield and rental value depending on factors such as the lease length, building quality, covenant and location. The variables used are compared to recent transactions with similar features to those of the Group’s investment properties. As the comparisons are not with properties which are virtually identical to Group’s investment properties, adjustments are made by the valuers where appropriate to the variables used. Changes in assumptions relating to these variables could positively or negatively impact the reported fair value of the properties.

 

(e) Transfers into and transfers out of levels

The Group’s policy is to recognise transfers into and transfers out of levels as of the end of each half year reporting period except for material transfers which are recognised as of the date of the event or change in circumstances that caused the transfer.

During 2015, the transfers between levels within the Group’s portfolio were primarily transfers from level 1 to level 2 of £648 million and transfers from level 2 to level 1 of £283 million. These transfers which relate to equity securities and debt securities arose to reflect the change in the observability of the inputs used in valuing these securities.

In addition, in 2015, the transfers into level 3 were £136 million and the transfers out of level 3 were £92 million. These transfers were between levels 3 and 2 and primarily for equity securities and debt securities.

 

(f) Valuation processes applied by the Group

The Group’s valuation policies, procedures and analyses for instruments categorised as level 3 are overseen by Business Unit committees as part of the Group’s wider financial reporting governance processes. The procedures undertaken include approval of valuation methodologies, verification processes, and resolution of significant or complex valuation issues. In undertaking these activities the Group makes use of the extensive expertise of its asset management functions.

 

F-80


Table of Contents
C3.3 Debt securities

This note provides analysis of the Group’s debt securities, including asset-backed securities and sovereign debt securities, by segment.

Debt securities are carried at fair value. The amounts included in the statement of financial position are analysed as follows, with further information relating to the credit quality of the Group’s debt securities at 31 December 2015 provided in the notes below.

 

                 2015 £m                 2014 £m  

Insurance operations:

   

Asianote (a)

    28,292        23,629   

USnote (b)

    34,071        32,980   

UKnote (c)

    83,101        86,349   

Other operationsnote (d)

    2,207        2,293   

Total

    147,671        145,251   

In the tables below, with the exception of some mortgage-backed securities, Standard & Poor’s (S&P) ratings have been used where available. For securities where S&P ratings are not immediately available, those produced by Moody’s and then Fitch have been used as an alternative.

 

(a) Asia insurance operations

 

    2015 £m                     2014 £m  
    

With-profits

business

    

Unit-linked

assets

    

Other

business

     Total     Total  

S&P – AAA

    831         30         178         1,039        962   

S&P – AA+ to AA-

    5,997         395         1,228         7,620        6,332   

S&P – A+ to A-

    1,872         341         1,701         3,914        3,922   

S&P – BBB+ to BBB-

    1,872         734         1,527         4,133        3,545   

S&P – Other

    1,778         192         1,213         3,183        1,839   
      12,350         1,692         5,847         19,889        16,600   

Moody’s – Aaa

    558         184         290         1,032        1,282   

Moody’s – Aa1 to Aa3

    173         9         1,310         1,492        1,141   

Moody’s – A1 to A3

    497         68         178         743        366   

Moody’s – Baa1 to Baa3

    324         285         181         790        585   

Moody’s – Other

    79         10         9         98        68   
      1,631         556         1,968         4,155        3,442   

Fitch

    861         162         389         1,412        1,009   

Other

    1,493         399         944         2,836        2,578   

Total debt securities

    16,335         2,809         9,148         28,292        23,629   

In addition to the debt securities shown above, the assets held for sale on the consolidated statement of financial position at 31 December 2014 in respect of Japan life business included a debt securities balance of £351 million.

The following table analyses debt securities of ‘Other business’ which are not externally rated by S&P, Moody’s or Fitch.

 

                  2015 £m                  2014 £m  

Government bonds

     162         174   

Corporate bonds*

     481         654   

Other

     301         134   
       944         962   
* Rated as investment grade by local external ratings agencies.

 

F-81


Table of Contents
(b) US insurance operations
(i) Overview

 

                     2015 £m                     2014 £m  

Corporate and government security and commercial loans:

   

Government

    4,242        3,972   

Publicly traded and SEC Rule 144A securities*

    21,776        20,745   

Non-SEC Rule 144A securities

    3,733        3,745   

Total

    29,751        28,462   
Residential mortgage-backed securities (RMBS)     1,284        1,567   
Commercial mortgage-backed securities (CMBS)     2,403        2,343   
Other debt securities     633        608   
Total US debt securities     34,071        32,980   
* A 1990 SEC rule that facilitates the resale of privately placed securities under Rule 144A that are without SEC registration to qualified institutional investors. The rule was designed to develop a more liquid and efficient institutional resale market for unregistered securities.
  Debt securities for US operations included in the statement of financial position comprise:

 

                     2015 £m                     2014 £m  
Available-for-sale     33,984        32,897   
Fair value through profit or loss:    

Securities held to back liabilities for funds withheld under reinsurance arrangement

    87        83   
      34,071        32,980   

 

(ii) Valuation basis, presentation of gains and losses and securities in an unrealised loss position

Under IAS 39, unless categorised as ‘held to maturity’ or ‘loans and receivables’, debt securities are required to be fair valued. Where available, quoted market prices are used. However, where securities do not have an externally quoted price based on regular trades or where markets for the securities are no longer active as a result of market conditions, IAS 39 requires that valuation techniques be applied. IFRS 13 requires classification of the fair values applied by the Group into a three-level hierarchy. At 31 December 2015, 0.1 per cent of Jackson’s debt securities were classified as level 3 (31 December 2014: 0.1 per cent) comprising of fair values where there are significant inputs which are not based on observable market data.

Except for certain assets covering liabilities that are measured at fair value, the debt securities of the US insurance operations are classified as available-for-sale. Unless impaired, fair value movements are recognised in other comprehensive income. Realised gains and losses, including impairments, recorded in the income statement are as shown in note B1.2 of this report.

 

F-82


Table of Contents

Movements in unrealised gains and losses on available-for-sale securities

There was a movement in the statement of financial position value for debt securities classified as available-for-sale from a net unrealised gain of £1,840 million to a net unrealised gain of £592 million as analysed in the table below. This decrease reflects the effects of increasing long-term interest rates and credit spreads.

 

            2015       

Changes in

unrealised

appreciation**

      

Foreign

exchange

translation

             2014  
    Reflected as part of movement in other
comprehensive income
 
     £m        £m        £m      £m  

Assets fair valued at below book value

              

Book value*

    13,163                   5,899   

Unrealised loss

    (673)           (464)           (29)         (180)   

Fair value (as included in statement of financial position)

    12,490                   5,719   

Assets fair valued at or above book value

              

Book value*

    20,229                   25,158   

Unrealised gain

    1,265           (841)           86         2,020   

Fair value (as included in statement of financial position)

    21,494                   27,178   

Total

              

Book value*

    33,392                   31,057   

Net unrealised gain

    592           (1,305)           57         1,840   

Fair value (as included in the footnote above in the overview table and the statement of financial position)

    33,984                   32,897   
* Book value represents cost/amortised cost of the debt securities.
** Translated at the average rate of US$1.5283: £1.00.

Debt securities classified as available-for-sale in an unrealised loss position

(a) Fair value of securities as a percentage of book value

The following table shows the fair value of the debt securities in a gross unrealised loss position for various percentages of book value:

 

                     2015 £m                                           2014 £m                   
      Fair value     

Unrealised

loss

          Fair value     

Unrealised

loss

 
Between 90% and 100%      11,058         (320)           5,429         (124)   
Between 80% and 90%      902         (144)           245         (37)   
Below 80%:                                      
Residential mortgage-backed securities – sub-prime      4         (1)           4         (1)   
Commercial mortgage-backed securities      -         -           10         (3)   
Other asset-backed securities      9         (7)           9         (6)   

Corporates

     517         (201)           22         (9)   
       530         (209)             45         (19)   

Total

     12,490         (673)             5,719         (180)   

 

(b) Unrealised losses by maturity of security

 

                      2015 £m                     2014 £m  

1 year to 5 years

     (51)        (5)   

5 years to 10 years

     (334)        (90)   

More than 10 years

     (247)        (54)   

Mortgage-backed and other debt securities

     (41)        (31)   

Total

     (673)        (180)   

 

F-83


Table of Contents
(c) Age analysis of unrealised losses for the periods indicated

The following table shows the age analysis of all the unrealised losses in the portfolio by reference to the length of time the securities have been in an unrealised loss position:

 

                2015 £m                             2014 £m              
    

Non-

investment

grade

    

Investment

grade

     Total    

Non-

investment

grade

    

Investment

grade

     Total  

Less than 6 months

    (13)         (148)         (161)        (18)         (46)         (64)   

6 months to 1 year

    (17)         (332)         (349)        (1)         (1)         (2)   

1 year to 2 years

    (16)         (63)         (79)        (6)         (51)         (57)   

2 years to 3 years

    (3)         (38)         (41)        (1)         (36)         (37)   

More than 3 years

    (3)         (40)         (43)        (7)         (13)         (20)   

Total

    (52)         (621)         (673)        (33)         (147)         (180)   

Further, the following table shows the age analysis as at 31 December 2015, of the securities whose fair values were below 80 per cent of the book value:

 

                    2015 £m                                      2014 £m                   
Age analysis  

Fair

value

    

Unrealised

loss

   

Fair

value

    

Unrealised

loss

 

Less than 3 months

    450         (165)        17         (7)   

3 months to 6 months

    64         (34)        3         (1)   

More than 6 months

    16         (10)        25         (11)   
      530         (209)        45         (19)   

 

(iii) Ratings

The following table summarises the securities detailed above by rating using S&P, Moody’s, Fitch and implicit ratings of mortgage-backed securities based on National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) valuations.

 

                 2015 £m                 2014 £m  
S&P – AAA     196        164   
S&P – AA+ to AA-     5,512        6,067   
S&P – A+ to A-     8,592        8,640   
S&P – BBB+ to BBB-     11,378        10,308   
S&P – Other     817        1,016   
      26,495        26,195   
Moody’s – Aaa     963        84   
Moody’s – Aa1 to Aa3     41        29   
Moody’s – A1 to A3     49        27   
Moody’s – Baa1 to Baa3     88        72   
Moody’s – Other     13        8   
      1,154        220   
Implicit ratings of MBS based on NAIC* valuations (see below)    

NAIC 1

    2,746        2,786   

NAIC 2

    45        85   

NAIC 3-6

    17        58   
      2,808        2,929   
Fitch     345        300   
Other **     3,269        3,336   
Total debt securities (see overview table in note (i) above)     34,071        32,980   

 

* The Securities Valuation Office of the NAIC classifies debt securities into six quality categories ranging from Class 1 (the highest) to Class 6 (the lowest). Performing securities are designated as Classes 1 to 5 and securities in or near default are designated Class 6.
** The amounts within ‘Other’ which are not rated by S&P, Moody’s nor Fitch, nor are MBS securities using the revised regulatory ratings, have the following NAIC classifications:

 

                     2015 £m                     2014 £m  

NAIC 1

    1,588        1,322   

NAIC 2

    1,549        1,890   

NAIC 3-6

    132        124   
      3,269        3,336   

 

F-84


Table of Contents

For some mortgage-backed securities within Jackson, the table above includes these securities using the regulatory ratings detail issued by the NAIC. These regulatory ratings levels were established by an external third party, BlackRock Solutions.

 

(c)   UK insurance operations

 

    2015 £m                  
                Other funds and subsidiaries          UK insurance operations  
   

Scottish

Amicable

Insurance

Fund

    PAC with-
profits fund
   

Unit-linked

assets

    PRIL    

Other

annuity and

long-term

business

       

2015

Total

   

2014

Total

 
                                             £m     £m  
S&P – AAA     216        4,067        984        3,779        531          9,577        9,376   
S&P – AA+ to AA-     454        5,627        853        3,990        518          11,442        11,249   
S&P – A+ to A-     514        7,937        1,049        6,239        700          16,439        21,491   
S&P – BBB+ to BBB-     618        10,953        1,888        3,912        717          18,088        16,741   
S&P – Other     140        2,277        244        269        60            2,990        2,867   
      1,942        30,861        5,018        18,189        2,526            58,536        61,724   
Moody’s – Aaa     31        1,230        106        399        51          1,817        2,063   
Moody’s – Aa1 to Aa3     67        2,159        989        3,611        901          7,727        7,129   
Moody’s – A1 to A3     51        921        112        1,466        188          2,738        2,686   
Moody’s – Baa1 to Baa3     29        569        100        304        29          1,031        1,376   
Moody’s – Other     7        244        10        57        -            318        436   
      185        5,123        1,317        5,837        1,169            13,631        13,690   
Fitch     12        323        43        160        14          552        848   
Other     192        5,897        103        3,839        351            10,382        10,087   
Total debt securities     2,331        42,204        6,481        28,025        4,060            83,101        86,349   

Where no external ratings are available, internal ratings produced by the Group’s asset management operation, which are prepared on the Company’s assessment of a comparable basis to external ratings, are used where possible. The £10,382 million total debt securities held at 31 December 2015 (2014: £10,087 million) which are not externally rated are either internally rated or unrated. These are analysed as follows:

 

                 2015 £m                 2014 £m  

Internal ratings or unrated:

   

AAA to A-

    5,570        4,917   

BBB to B-

    3,234        3,755   

Below B- or unrated

    1,578        1,415   

Total

    10,382        10,087   

The majority of unrated debt security investments were held in SAIF and the PAC with-profits fund and relate to convertible debt and other investments which are not covered by ratings analysts nor have an internal rating attributed to them. Of the £4,190 million for PRIL and other annuity and long-term business investments for non-linked shareholder-backed business which are not externally rated, £1,256 million were internally rated AA+ to AA-, £1,808 million A+ to A-, £988 million BBB+ to BBB-, £60 million BB+ to BB- and £78 million that were internally rated B+ and below or unrated.

 

(d) Other operations

The debt securities are principally held by Prudential Capital.

 

                     2015 £m                     2014 £m  

AAA to A- by S&P or equivalent ratings

    2,090        2,056   

Other

    117        237   

Total

    2,207        2,293   

 

F-85


Table of Contents
(e) Asset-backed securities

The Group’s holdings in Asset-Backed Securities (ABS), which comprise Residential Mortgage-Backed Securities (RMBS), Commercial Mortgage-Backed Securities (CMBS), Collateralised Debt Obligations (CDO) funds and other asset-backed securities, at 31 December 2015 are as follows:

 

                     2015 £m                     2014 £m  

Shareholder-backed operations:

   

Asia insurance operationsnote (i)

    111        104   

US insurance operationsnote (ii)

    4,320        4,518   

UK insurance operations (2015: 21% AAA, 40% AA)note (iii)

    1,531        1,864   

Asset management operationsnote (iv)

    911        875   
      6,873        7,361   

With-profits operations:

   

Asia insurance operationsnote (i)

    262        228   

UK insurance operations (2015: 52% AAA, 20% AA)note (iii)

    4,600        5,126   
      4,862        5,354   

Total

    11,735        12,715   

Notes

(i) Asia insurance operations
   The Asia insurance operations’ exposure to asset-backed securities is primarily held by the with-profits operations. Of the £262 million, 84 per cent (31 December 2014: 99 per cent) are investment grade.
(ii) US insurance operations
   US insurance operations’ exposure to asset-backed securities at 31 December 2015 comprises:

 

                     2015 £m                     2014 £m  

RMBS

   

RMBS Sub-prime (2015: 4% AAA, 13% AA, 7% A)

    191        235   

Alt-A (2015: 1% AA, 3% A)

    191        244   

Prime including agency (2015: 77% AA, 2% A)

    902        1,088   
CMBS (2015: 57% AAA, 24% AA, 16% A)     2,403        2,343   
CDO funds (2015: 44% AAA, 2% AA, 23% A), including £nil exposure to sub-prime     52        53   
Other ABS (2015: 24% AAA, 12% AA, 54% A), including £69 million exposure to sub-prime     581        555   

Total

    4,320        4,518   

 

(iii) UK insurance operations
   The majority of holdings of the shareholder-backed business relates to the UK market and primarily relates to investments held by PRIL. Of the holdings of the with-profits operations, £1,140 million (2014: £1,333 million) relates to exposure to the US markets with the remaining exposure being primarily to the UK market.
(iv) Asset management operations
   Asset management operations’ exposure to asset-backed securities is held by Prudential Capital with no sub-prime exposure. Of the £911 million, 95 per cent (2014: 89 per cent) are graded AAA.

 

F-86


Table of Contents
(f) Group sovereign debt and bank debt exposure

The Group exposures held by the shareholder-backed business and with-profits funds in sovereign debts and bank debt securities at 31 December 2015 are analysed as follows:

Exposure to sovereign debts

 

    2015 £m     2014 £m  
    

Shareholder-backed

business

   

With-
profits

funds

   

Shareholder-backed

business

   

With-
profits

funds

 
Italy     55        60        62        61   
Spain     1        17        1        18   
France     19        -        20        -   
Germany*     409        358        388        336   
Other Eurozone (principally Belgium)     62        44        5        29   
Total Eurozone     546        479        476        444   
United Kingdom     4,997        1,802        4,104        2,065   
United States**     3,911        6,893        3,607        5,771   
Other, predominantly Asia     3,368        1,737        2,787        1,714   
Total     12,822        10,911        10,974        9,994   
* Including bonds guaranteed by the federal government.
** The exposure to the United States sovereign debt comprises holdings of Jackson, the UK and Asia insurance operations.

Exposure to bank debt securities

 

    2015 £m                  
    Senior debt     Subordinated debt        

 

 
Shareholder-backed business       Covered     Senior    

Total

senior

debt

         Tier 1     Tier 2    

Total

subordinated

debt

       

            2015

Total

£m

   

2014

Total

£m

 

Italy

    -        30        30        -        -        -          30        31   

Spain

    143        11        154        -        -        -          154        133   

France

    26        126        152        8        66        74          226        249   

Germany

    66        4        70        -        60        60          130        111   

Netherlands

    -        31        31        -        -        -          31        124   

Other Eurozone

    -        20        20        -        11        11          31        53   

Total Eurozone

    235        222        457        8        137        145          602        701   

United Kingdom

    423        157        580        6        371        377          957        1,296   

United States

    -        2,227        2,227        4        226        230          2,457        2,484   

Other, predominantly Asia

    19        333        352        53        313        366          718        735   

Total

    677        2,939        3,616        71        1,047        1,118            4,734        5,216   

With-profits funds

                 

Italy

    -        57        57        -        -        -          57        67   

Spain

    156        26        182        -        -        -          182        186   

France

    9        179        188        -        62        62          250        206   

Germany

    94        17        111        -        -        -          111        128   

Netherlands

    -        200        200        5        -        5          205        195   

Other Eurozone

    -        35        35        -        -        -          35        24   

Total Eurozone

    259        514        773        5        62        67          840        806   

United Kingdom

    545        289        834        27        490        517          1,351        1,561   

United States

    -        1,414        1,414        141        241        382          1,796        2,064   

Other, predominantly Asia

    257        888        1,145        189        322        511          1,656        1,396   

Total

    1,061        3,105        4,166        362        1,115        1,477            5,643        5,827   

The tables above exclude assets held to cover linked liabilities and those of the consolidated unit trusts and similar funds. In addition, the tables above exclude the proportionate share of sovereign debt holdings of the Group’s joint venture operations.

 

F-87


Table of Contents

C3.4   Loans portfolio

Loans are accounted for at amortised cost net of impairment except for:

  Certain mortgage loans which have been designated at fair value through profit or loss of the UK insurance operations as this loan portfolio is managed and evaluated on a fair value basis; and
  Certain policy loans of the US insurance operations which are held to back liabilities for funds withheld under reinsurance arrangement and are also accounted on a fair value basis. See note (b).

The amounts included in the statement of financial position are analysed as follows:

 

                    2015 £m                    2014 £m  

Insurance operations:

     

Asianote (a)

     1,084         1,014   

USnote (b)

     7,418         6,719   

UKnote (c)

     3,571         4,254   

Asset management operationsnote (d)

     885         854   

Total

     12,958         12,841   

 

(a) Asia insurance operations

The loans of the Group’s Asia insurance operations comprise:

 

                 2015 £m                   2014 £m  
Mortgage loans     130        88   
Policy loans     721        672   
Other loans     233        254   
Total Asia insurance operations loans     1,084        1,014   
  The mortgage and policy loans are secured by properties and life insurance policies respectively.
  The majority of the other loans are commercial loans held by the Malaysia operation and which are all investment graded by two local rating agencies.

 

(b) US insurance operations

The loans of the Group’s US insurance operations comprise:

 

    2015 £m     2014 £m  
     Loans backing
liabilities for
funds withheld
    Other loans     Total     Loans backing
liabilities for
funds withheld
    Other loans     Total  

Mortgage loans

    -        4,367        4,367        -        3,847        3,847   

Policy loans

    2,183        868        3,051        2,025        847        2,872   
Total US insurance operations loans     2,183        5,235        7,418        2,025        4,694        6,719   
  All of the mortgage loans are commercial mortgage loans which are collateralised by properties. The property types are industrial, multi-family residential, suburban office, retail and hotel.
  The policy loans are fully secured by individual life insurance policies or annuity policies. Policy loans backing liabilities for funds withheld under reinsurance arrangements are accounted for at fair value through profit or loss. All other policy loans are accounted for at amortised cost, less any impairment.

The US insurance operations’ commercial mortgage loan portfolio does not include any single-family residential mortgage loans and is therefore not exposed to the risk of defaults associated with residential sub-prime mortgage loans. The average loan size is £8.6 million (2014: £7.2 million). The portfolio has a current estimated average loan to value of 45 per cent (2014: 59 per cent).

At 31 December 2015, Jackson had mortgage loans with a carrying value of £nil (2014: £13 million) where the contractual terms of the agreements had been restructured.

 

F-88


Table of Contents
(c) UK insurance operations

The loans of the Group’s UK insurance operations comprise:

 

                   2015 £m                   2014 £m  

SAIF and PAC WPSF

   

Mortgage loans

    727        1,145   

Policy loans

    8        10   

Other loans

    1,324        1,510   

Total SAIF and PAC WPSF loans

    2,059        2,665   

Shareholder-backed operations

   

Mortgage loans

    1,508        1,585   

Other loans

    4        4   

Total loans of shareholder-backed operations

    1,512        1,589   

Total UK insurance operations loans

    3,571        4,254   
  The mortgage loans are collateralised by properties. By carrying value, 78 per cent of the £1,508 million held for shareholder-backed business relates to lifetime (equity release) mortgage business which has an average loan to property value of 30 per cent.
  Other loans held by the PAC with-profits fund are all commercial loans and comprise mainly syndicated loans.

 

(d) Asset management operations

These relate to loans and receivables managed by Prudential Capital. These assets are generally secured but most have no external credit ratings. Internal ratings prepared by the Group’s asset management operations, as part of the risk management process, are:

 

     2015 £m     2014 £m  

Loans and receivables internal ratings:

   

AAA

    -        101   

A+ to A-

    157        161   

BBB+ to BBB-

    607        244   

BB+ to BB-

    119        49   

B and other

    2        299   

Total

    885        854   

 

C3.5   Financial instruments - additional information

 

(a) Financial risk
(i) Liquidity analysis

Contractual maturities of financial liabilities on an undiscounted cash flow basis

The following table sets out the contractual maturities for applicable classes of financial liabilities, excluding derivative liabilities and investment contracts that are separately presented. The financial liabilities are included in the column relating to the contractual maturities at the undiscounted cash flows (including contractual interest payments) due to be paid assuming conditions are consistent with those of year end.

 

    2015 £m  
    

Total

carrying

value

   

1 Year

or less

   

After 1

year to

5 years

   

After 5

years to

10 years

   

After 10

years to

15 years

   

After 15

years to

20 years

   

Over

20 years

   

No stated

maturity

    Total  
Financial liabilities                  
Core structural borrowings of shareholder-financed operationsC6.1     5,011        197        1,046        1,210        1,197        1,037        3,555        1,900        10,142   
Operational borrowings attributable to shareholder-financed operationsC6.2     1,960        1,301        616        69        -        -        -        -        1,986   
Borrowings attributable to with-profits fundsC6.2     1,332        256        813        175        53        11        62        157        1,527   
Obligations under funding, securities lending and sale and repurchase agreements     3,765        3,765        -        -        -        -        -        -        3,765   
Other liabilities     4,588        2,139        26        3        -        -        -        2,420        4,588   
Net asset value attributable to unit holders of consolidated unit trusts and similar funds     7,873        7,873        -        -        -        -        -        -        7,873   
Other creditors     4,876        4,560        25        48        74        100        344        -        5,151   
      29,405        20,091        2,526        1,505        1,324        1,148        3,961        4,477        35,032   

 

F-89


Table of Contents
    2014 £m  
    

Total

carrying

value

   

1 Year

or less

   

After 1

year to

5 years

   

After 5

years to

10 years

   

After 10

years to

15 years

   

After 15

years to

20 years

   

Over

20 years

   

No stated

maturity

    Total  
Financial liabilities                  
Core structural borrowings of shareholder-financed operationsC6.1     4,304        166        927        1,079        1,064        914        2,456        1,796        8,402   
Operational borrowings attributable to shareholder-financed operationsC6.2     2,263        2,202        65        -        -        -        -        -        2,267   
Borrowings attributable to with-profits fundsC6.2     1,093        97        717        205        25        11        63        162        1,280   
Obligations under funding, securities lending and sale and repurchase agreements     2,347        2,347        -        -        -        -        -        -        2,347   
Other liabilities     4,105        1,678        133        13        -        -        -        2,281        4,105   
Net asset value attributable to unit holders of consolidated unit trusts and similar funds     7,357        7,357        -        -        -        -        -        -        7,357   
Other creditors     4,262        3,941        24        44        86        78        365        -        4,538   
      25,731        17,788        1,866        1,341        1,175        1,003        2,884        4,239        30,296   

Maturity analysis of derivatives

The following table shows the gross and net derivative positions together with a maturity profile of the net derivative position:

 

     Carrying value of net derivatives £m             Maturity profile of net derivative position £m  
      Derivative
assets
     Derivative
liabilities
    

Net

derivative
position

        

1 year

or less

    

After 1

  year to

3 years

    

After 3

years to

5 years

    

    After 5

years

     Total  

2015

     2,958         (3,119)         (161)           15         (10)         (7)         45         43   

2014

     3,412         (2,323)         1,089           1,245         (14)         (9)         10         1,232   

The majority of derivative assets and liabilities have been included at fair value within the one year or less column, representing the basis on which they are managed (ie to manage principally asset or liability value exposures). The Group has no cash flow hedges and in general, contractual maturities are not considered essential for an understanding of the timing of the cash flows for these instruments. The only exception is certain identified interest rate swaps which are fully expected to be held until maturity solely for the purposes of matching cash flows on separately held assets and liabilities. For these instruments the undiscounted cash flows (including contractual interest amounts) due to be paid under the swap contract assuming conditions are consistent with those at year end are included in the column relating to the contractual maturity of the derivative.

Maturity analysis of investment contracts

The table below shows the maturity profile for investment contracts on undiscounted cash flow projections of expected benefit payments.

 

     £bn  
     

1 year

      or less

    

After 1

year to

        5 years

    

After 5

years to

  10 years

    

After 10

years to

15 years

    

After 15

years to

20 years

    

Over

20 years

    

Total

undis-

counted

value

    

Total

carrying

value

 

2015

     6         21         19         14         10         9         79         55   

2014

     6         19         18         13         10         8         74         59   

Most investment contracts have options to surrender early, often subject to surrender or other penalties. Therefore, most contracts can be said to have a contractual maturity of less than one year, but in reality the additional charges and term of the contracts mean these are unlikely to be exercised in practice and the more useful information is to present information on expected payment.

 

F-90


Table of Contents

The maturity profile above excludes certain corporate unit-linked business with gross policyholder liabilities of £11 billion (2014: £13 billion) which have no stated maturity but which are repayable on demand.

The vast majority of the Group’s financial assets are held to back the Group’s policyholder liabilities. Although asset/liability matching is an important component of managing policyholder liabilities (both those classified as insurance and those classified as investments), this profile is mainly relevant for managing market risk rather than liquidity risk. Within each business unit this asset/liability matching is performed on a portfolio-by-portfolio basis.

In terms of liquidity risk a large proportion of the policyholder liabilities contain discretionary surrender values or surrender charges, meaning that many of the Group’s liabilities are expected to be held for the long term. Much of the Group’s investment portfolios are in marketable securities, which can therefore be converted quickly to liquid assets.

For the reasons above an analysis of the Group’s assets by contractual maturity is not considered appropriate to evaluate the nature and extent of the Group’s liquidity risk.

 

(ii) Credit risk

The Group’s maximum exposure to credit risk of financial instruments before any allowance for collateral or allocation of losses to policyholders is represented by the carrying value of financial instruments on the balance sheet that have exposures to credit risk comprising cash and cash equivalents, deposits, debt securities, loans and derivative assets, and other debtors, the carrying value of which are disclosed at the start of this note and note 3.5(b) below for derivative assets. The collateral in place in relation to derivatives is described in note C3.5(c) below. Note C3.4, describe the security for these loans held by the Group.

Of the total loans and receivables held, £27 million (2014: £11 million) are past their due date but are not impaired. Of the total past due but not impaired, £22 million are less than one year past their due date (2014: £5 million). The Group expects full recovery of these loans and receivables.

No further analysis has been provided of the element of loans and receivables that was neither past due nor impaired for the total portfolio on the grounds of immateriality of the difference between the neither past due nor impaired elements and the total portfolio.

Financial assets that would have been past due or impaired had the terms not been renegotiated amounted to £16 million (2014: £13 million).

In addition, during 2015 and 2014 the Group did not take possession of any other collateral held as security.

Further details of collateral and pledges are provided in note C3.5(c) below.

 

(iii) Foreign exchange risk

As at 31 December 2015, the Group held 22 per cent (2014: 22 per cent) and 11 per cent (2014: 9 per cent) of its financial assets and financial liabilities respectively, in currencies, mainly US dollar and Euro, other than the functional currency of the relevant business unit.

Of these financial assets, 53 per cent (2014: 56 per cent) are held by the PAC with-profits fund, allowing the fund to obtain exposure to foreign equity markets.

Of these financial liabilities, 40 per cent (2014: 47 per cent) are held by the PAC with-profits fund, mainly relating to foreign currency borrowings.

The exchange risks inherent in these exposures are mitigated through the use of derivatives, mainly forward currency contracts (note 3.5(b) below).

The amount of exchange gain recognised in the income statement in 2015, except for those arising on financial instruments measured at fair value through profit or loss, is £138 million (2014: £89 million gain). This constitutes

 

F-91


Table of Contents

£1 million loss (2014: £1 million loss) on Medium Term Notes liabilities and £139 million of net gain (2014: £90 million net gain), mainly arising on investments of the PAC with-profits fund. The gains/losses on Medium Term Notes liabilities are fully offset by value movements on cross-currency swaps, which are measured at fair value through profit or loss.

 

(b) Derivatives and hedging

Derivatives

The Group enters into a variety of exchange traded and over-the-counter derivative financial instruments, including futures, options, forward currency contracts and swaps such as interest rate swaps, cross-currency swaps, swaptions and credit default swaps.

All over-the-counter derivative transactions, with the exception of some Asia transactions, are conducted under standardised ISDA (International Swaps and Derivatives Association Inc) master agreements and the Group has collateral agreements between the individual Group entities and relevant counterparties in place under each of these market master agreements.

The total fair value balances of derivative assets and liabilities as at 31 December 2015 were as follows:

 

     2015 £m  
     

Asia

insurance

operations

    

US

insurance

operations

    

UK

insurance

operations

    

Asset

management

    

Unallocated

to a segment

    

Group

total

 

Derivative assets

     57         905         1,930         65         1         2,958   

Derivative liabilities

     (140)         (249)         (2,125)         (283)         (322)         (3,119)   
       (83)         656         (195)         (218)         (321)         (161)   
     2014 £m  

Derivative assets

     47         916         2,344         103         2         3,412   

Derivative liabilities

     (143)         (251)         (1,381)         (233)         (315)         (2,323)   
       (96)         665         963         (130)         (313)         1,089   

The derivative assets are included in ‘other investments’ in the statement of financial position and are used for efficient portfolio management to obtain cost effective and efficient management of exposure to various markets in accordance with the Group’s investment strategies and to manage exposure to interest rate, currency, credit and other business risks. The Group also uses interest rate derivatives to reduce exposure to interest rate volatility. In particular:

 

  UK with-profits funds use derivatives for efficient portfolio management or reduction in investment risks. For UK annuity business derivatives are used to assist with asset and liability cash flow matching;
  US operations and some of the UK operations hold large amounts of interest-rate sensitive investments that contain credit risks on which a certain level of defaults is expected. These businesses have purchased some swaptions to manage the default risk on certain underlying assets and hence reduce the amount of regulatory capital held to support the assets; and
  Some products, especially in the US, have guarantee features linked to equity indices. A mismatch between guaranteed product liabilities and the performance of the underlying assets exposes the Group to equity index risk. In order to mitigate this risk, the relevant business units purchase swaptions, equity options and futures to better match asset performance with liabilities under equity-indexed products.

Hedging

The Group has formally assessed and documented the effectiveness of the following hedges under IAS 39.

Fair value hedges

The Group had previously designated as a fair value hedge certain fixed to floating rate swaps which hedge the fair value exposure to interest rate movements of certain of the Group’s operational borrowings. All of these hedges were terminated by January 2013.

 

F-92


Table of Contents

Net investment hedges

At 31 December 2015, the Group has designated perpetual subordinated capital securities totalling US$2.8 billion (2014: US$2.8 billion) as a net investment hedge to hedge the currency risks related to the net investment in Jackson. The carrying value of the subordinated capital securities was £1,895 million as at 31 December 2015 (2014: £1,789 million). The foreign exchange loss of £104 million (2014: loss of £96 million) on translation of the borrowings to pounds sterling at the statement of financial position date is recognised in the translation reserve in shareholders’ equity. This net investment hedge was 100 per cent effective.

The Group has no cash flow hedges or fair value hedges in place.

 

(c) Derecognition, collateral and offsetting

Securities lending and reverse repurchase agreements

The Group has entered into securities lending (including repurchase agreements) whereby blocks of securities are loaned to third parties, primarily major brokerage firms. The amounts above the fair value of the loaned securities required to be received as collateral by the agreements depend on the quality of the collateral, calculated on a daily basis. The loaned securities are not removed from the Group’s consolidated statement of financial position, rather they are retained within the appropriate investment classification. Collateral typically consists of cash, debt securities, equity securities and letters of credit.

At 31 December 2015, the Group had lent £5,995 million (2014: £4,578 million) of securities of which £4,687 million (2014: £3,129 million) was lent by the PAC with-profits fund and held cash and securities collateral under such agreements of £6,342 million (2014: £4,887 million) of which £5,002 million (2014: £3,400 million) was held by the PAC with-profits fund.

At 31 December 2015, the Group had entered into reverse repurchase transactions under which it purchased securities and had taken on the obligation to resell the securities. The fair value of the collateral held in respect of these transactions was £10,076 million (2014: £12,857 million).

In addition, at 31 December 2015, the Group had entered into repurchase transactions for which the fair value of the collateral pledged was £190 million in the form of securities and £10 million in the form of cash (2014: £186 million in the form of securities).

Collateral and pledges under derivative transactions

At 31 December 2015, the Group had pledged £1,622 million (2014: £1,411 million) for liabilities and held collateral of £1,865 million (2014: £2,388 million) in respect of over-the-counter derivative transactions.

These transactions are conducted under terms that are usual and customary to collateralised transactions including, where relevant, standard securities lending and repurchase agreements.

Offsetting assets and liabilities

The Group’s derivative instruments, repurchase agreements and securities lending agreements are subject to master netting arrangements and collateral arrangements. A master netting arrangement with a counterparty creates a right of offset for amounts due to and due from that same counterparty that is enforceable in the event of a default or bankruptcy. The Group recognises amounts subject to master netting arrangements on a gross basis within the consolidated balance sheets.

 

F-93


Table of Contents

The following tables present the gross and net information about the Group’s financial instruments subject to master netting arrangements:

 

     31 Dec 2015 £m  
    

Gross amount
presented in
the
consolidated
statement of
financial
position

note(i)

    

Related amounts not offset

in the consolidated statement of
financial position

         Net amount  
       

Financial
instruments

note(ii)

    

Cash
collateral

 

    

Securities
collateral

note(iii)

            
         

Financial assets:

                

Derivative assets

     2,835         (1,071)         (1,122)         (591)           51   

Reverse repurchase agreements

     8,591         -         -         (8,591)           -   

Total financial assets

     11,426         (1,071)         (1,122)         (9,182)             51   

Financial liabilities:

                

Derivative liabilities

     (2,879)         1,071         764         809           (235)   

Securities lending

     (1,779)         -         189         1,590           -   

Repurchase agreements

     (200)         -         10         190           -   

Total financial liabilities

     (4,858)         1,071         963         2,589             (235)   

 

     31 Dec 2014 £m  
    

Gross amount
presented in
the
consolidated
statement of
financial
position

note(i)

    

Related amounts not offset

in the consolidated statement of
financial position

         Net amount  
       

Financial
instruments

note(ii)

    

Cash
collateral

 

    

Securities
collateral

note(iii)

            
         

Financial assets:

                

Derivative assets

     3,271         (1,030)         (1,131)         (824)           286   

Reverse repurchase agreements

     10,537         -         -         (10,537)           -   

Total financial assets

     13,808         (1,030)         (1,131)         (11,361)             286   

Financial liabilities:

                

Derivative liabilities

     (2,036)         1,030         391         543           (72)   

Securities lending

     (1,317)         -         1,317         -           -   

Repurchase agreements

     (186)         -         -         186           -   

Total financial liabilities

     (3,539)         1,030         1,708         729             (72)   

Notes

(i) The Group has not offset any of the amounts presented in the consolidated statement of financial position.
(ii) Represents the amount that could be offset under master netting or similar arrangements where Group does not satisfy the full criteria to offset on the consolidated statement of financial position.
(iii) Excludes initial margin amounts for exchange-traded derivatives.

In the tables above, the amounts of assets or liabilities presented in the consolidated statement of financial position are offset first by financial instruments that have the right of offset under master netting or similar arrangements with any remaining amount reduced by the amount of cash and securities collateral. The actual amount of collateral may be greater than amounts presented in the tables.

 

(d) Impairment of financial assets

In accordance with the Group’s accounting policy set out in note A3.1j(iii), impairment reviews were performed for available-for-sale securities and loans and receivables. In addition, impairment reviews were undertaken for the reinsurers’ share of insurance contract liabilities.

 

F-94


Table of Contents

During the year ended 31 December 2015, net impairment charges of £(35) million (2014: net impairment reversals of £37 million; 2013: £17 million) were recognised for available-for-sale securities and loans and receivables analysed as follows:

 

                  2015 £m                  2014 £m                  2013 £m  
Available-for-sale debt securities held by Jackson      (19)         (7)         (8)   
Loans and receivables*      (16)         44         25   
Net (charge) credit for impairment net of reversals      (35)         37         17   
* The impairment charges/reversals relate to loans held by the UK with-profits fund and mortgage loans held by Jackson.

Impairment recognised on available-for-sale securities amounted to £(19) million (2014: £(7) million; 2013: £(8) million) arising from:

 

                  2015 £m                  2014 £m                  2013 £m  
Residential mortgage-backed securities      (8)         (2)         (3)   
Public fixed income      (2)        -         -   
Other      (9)         (5)         (5)   
       (19)         (7)         (8)   

The impairment recorded on the residential mortgage-backed securities was primarily due to reduced cash flow expectations on such securities that are collateralised by diversified pools of primarily below investment grade securities. Of the impaired losses of £19 million (2014: £7 million; 2013: £8 million), the top five individual corporate issuers made up 74 per cent (2014: 76 per cent; 2013: 57 per cent), reflecting a deteriorating business outlook of the companies concerned. The impairment losses have been recorded in ‘investment return’ in the income statement.

Jackson’s portfolio of debt securities is managed proactively with credit analysts closely monitoring and reporting on the credit quality of its holdings. Jackson continues to review its investments on a case-by-case basis to determine whether any decline in fair value represents an impairment. In addition, investments in structured securities are subject to a rigorous review of their future estimated cash flows, including expected and stress case scenarios, to identify potential shortfalls in contractual payments (both interest and principal). Impairment charges are recorded on structured securities when the Company forecasts a contractual payment shortfall. Situations where such a shortfall would not lead to a recognition of a loss are rare. However, some structured securities do not have a single determined set of future cash flows and instead, there can be a reasonable range of estimates that could potentially emerge. With this variability, there could be instances where the projected cash flow shortfall under management’s base case set of assumptions is so minor that relatively small and justifiable changes to the base case assumptions would eliminate the need for an impairment loss to be recognised. The impairment loss reflects the difference between the fair value and book value.

In 2015, the Group realised gross losses on sales of available-for-sale securities of £85 million (2014: £35 million; 2013: £22 million) with 57 per cent (2014: 68 per cent; 2013: 72 per cent) of these losses related to the disposal of fixed maturity securities of the top 10 individual issuers, which were disposed of as part of risk reduction programmes intended to limit future credit loss exposure. Of the £85 million (2014: £ 35 million; 2013: £22 million), £54 million (2014: £5 million; 2013: £5 million) relates to losses on sales of impaired and deteriorating securities.

The effect of those reasonably likely changes in the key assumptions that underpin the assessment of whether impairment has taken place depends on the factors described in note A3.1j(iii). A key indicator of whether such impairment may arise in future, and the potential amounts at risk, is the profile of gross unrealised losses for fixed maturity securities accounted for on an available-for-sale basis by reference to the time periods by which the securities have been held continuously in an unrealised loss position and by reference to the maturity date of the securities concerned.

For 2015, the amount of gross unrealised losses for fixed maturity securities classified as available-for-sale under IFRS in an unrealised loss position was £673 million (2014: £180 million; 2013: £849 million). Notes B1.2 and C3.3 provide further details on the impairment charges and unrealised losses of Jackson’s available-for-sale securities.

 

F-95


Table of Contents
C4 Policyholder liabilities and unallocated surplus

The note provides information of policyholder liabilities and unallocated surplus of with-profits funds held on the Group’s statement of financial position:

 

C4.1 Movement and duration of liabilities

C4.1(a) Group overview

(i) Analysis of movements in policyholder liabilities and unallocated surplus of with-profits funds

 

     Insurance operations £m  
     Asia      US      UK      Total  
      note C4.1(b)      note C4.1(c)      note C4.1(d)          

At 1 January 2014

     35,146         107,411         146,616         289,173   

Comprising:

           

- Policyholder liabilities on the consolidated statement of financial position

     31,910         107,411         134,632         273,953   

- Unallocated surplus of with-profits funds on the consolidated statement of financial position

     77         -         11,984         12,061   

- Group’s share of policyholder liabilities of joint ventures§

     3,159         -         -         3,159   
Reallocation of unallocated surplus for the domestication of the Hong Kong branch*      1,690         -         (1,690)         -   

Net flows:

           

Premiums

     7,058         15,492         7,902         30,452   

Surrenders

     (2,425)         (5,922)         (5,656)         (14,003)   

Maturities/Deaths

     (1,259)         (1,307)         (6,756)         (9,322)   

Net flows

     3,374         8,263         (4,510)         7,127   

Shareholders’ transfers post tax

     (40)         -         (200)         (240)   

Investment-related items and other movements

     3,480         3,712         14,310         21,502   

Foreign exchange translation differences

     1,372         7,360         (90)         8,642   

As at 31 December 2014 / 1 January 2015

     45,022         126,746         154,436         326,204   

Comprising:

           

- Policyholder liabilities on the consolidated statement of financial position

     38,705         126,746         144,088         309,539   

- Unallocated surplus of with-profits funds on the consolidated statement of financial position

     2,102         -         10,348         12,450   

- Group’s share of policyholder liabilities of joint ventures§

     4,215         -         -         4,215   

Net flows:

           

Premiums

     7,784         16,699         9,692         34,175   

Surrenders

     (2,550)         (6,759)         (6,363)         (15,672)   

Maturities/Deaths

     (1,265)         (1,464)         (6,991)         (9,720)   

Net flows

     3,969         8,476         (3,662)         8,783   

Shareholders’ transfers post tax

     (43)         -         (214)         (257)   

Investment-related items and other movements

     (364)         (3,824)         2,319         (1,869)   

Foreign exchange translation differences

     194         7,515         14         7,723   

At 31 December 2015

     48,778         138,913         152,893         340,584   

Comprising:

           

- Policyholder liabilities on the consolidated statement of financial position

     41,255         138,913         142,350         322,518   

- Unallocated surplus of with-profits funds on the consolidated statement of financial position

     2,553         -         10,543         13,096   

- Group’s share of policyholder liabilities of joint ventures§

     4,970         -         -         4,970   

Average policyholder liability balances

           

2015

     44,573         132,830         143,219         320,622   

2014

     38,993         117,079         139,362         295,434   
* On 1 January 2014, following consultation with the policyholders of PAC and regulators and court approval, the Hong Kong branch of PAC was transferred to separate subsidiaries established in Hong Kong. From this date, the unallocated surplus of the Hong Kong with-profits business is reported within the Asia insurance operations segment.
  Averages have been based on opening and closing balances and adjusted for acquisitions, disposals and corporate transactions in the year and exclude unallocated surplus of with-profits funds.
§  The Group’s investment in joint ventures are accounted for on an equity method basis in the Group’s balance sheet. The Group’s share of the policyholder liabilities as shown above relate to the joint venture life businesses in China, India and of the Takaful business in Malaysia.
The policyholder liabilities of the Asia insurance operations of £41,255 million (2014: £38,705 million), shown in the table above, is after deducting the intra-group reinsurance liabilities ceded by the UK insurance operations of £1,261 million (2014: £1,363 million) to the Hong Kong with-profits business. Including this amount total Asia policyholder liabilities are £42,516 million (2014: £40,068 million).

 

F-96


Table of Contents

The items above represent the amount attributable to changes in policyholder liabilities and unallocated surplus of with-profits funds as a result of each of the components listed. The policyholder liabilities shown include investment contracts without discretionary participation features (as defined in IFRS 4) and their full movement in the year. The items above are shown gross of external reinsurance.

The analysis includes the impact of premiums, claims and investment movements on policyholders’ liabilities. The impact does not represent premiums, claims and investment movements as reported in the income statement. For example, the premiums shown above will exclude any deductions for fees/charges and claims represent the policyholder liabilities provision released rather than the claim amount paid to the policyholder.

 

(ii) Analysis of movements in policyholder liabilities for shareholder-backed business

 

     Shareholder-backed business £m  
                  Asia                      US                      UK                      Total  

At 1 January 2014

     21,931         107,411         50,779         180,121   
Net flows:            

Premiums

     4,799         15,492         4,951         25,242   

Surrenders

     (2,218)         (5,922)         (3,149)         (11,289)   

Maturities/Deaths

     (644)         (1,307)         (2,412)         (4,363)   

Net flowsnote (a)

     1,937         8,263         (610)         9,590   
Investment-related items and other movements      1,859         3,712         4,840         10,411   

Foreign exchange translation differences

     683         7,360         -         8,043   

At 31 December 2014 / 1 January 2015

     26,410         126,746         55,009         208,165   

Comprising:

                                   

- Policyholder liabilities on the consolidated statement of financial position

     22,195         126,746         55,009         203,950   

- Group’s share of policyholder liabilities relating to joint ventures

     4,215         -         -         4,215   

At 1 January 2015

     26,410         126,746         55,009         208,165   
Net flows:            

Premiums

     4,793         16,699         3,146         24,638   

Surrenders

     (2,308)         (6,759)         (3,227)         (12,294)   

Maturities/Deaths

     (618)         (1,464)         (2,613)         (4,695)   

Net flowsnote (a)

     1,867         8,476         (2,694)         7,649   
Investment-related items and other movements      (121)         (3,824)         509         (3,436)   

Foreign exchange translation differences

     (312)         7,515         -         7,203   

At 31 December 2015note (b)

     27,844         138,913         52,824         219,581   

Comprising:

                                   

- Policyholder liabilities on the consolidated statement of financial position

     22,874         138,913         52,824         214,611   

- Group’s share of policyholder liabilities relating to joint ventures

     4,970         -         -         4,970   

Notes

(a) Including net flows of the Group’s insurance joint ventures.
(b) Policyholder liabilities relating to shareholder-backed business grew by £11.4 billion from £208.2 billion at 31 December 2014 to £219.6 billion at 31 December 2015. The increase reflects positive net flows (premiums net of upfront charges less surrenders, withdrawals, maturities and deaths) of £7.6 billion in 2015 (2014: £9.6 billion), driven by strong inflows of £8.5 billion in the US and £1.9 billion in Asia, together with a positive £7.2 billion increase from foreign exchange effects following a strengthening of the US dollar.

 

F-97


Table of Contents
(iii) Movement in insurance contract liabilities and unallocated surplus of with-profits funds

Further analysis of the movement in the year of the Group’s insurance contract liabilities, gross and reinsurance share, and unallocated surplus of with-profits funds is provided below:

 

     Insurance contract liabilities           Unallocated
surplus of with-
profits funds
 
     

Gross

£m

    

Reinsurers’

share

£m

           £m  
At 1 January 2014      218,185         6,018            12,061   
Income and expense included in the income statement and other comprehensive income      23,532         (41)            54   
Foreign exchange translation differences      8,321         338              335   
At 31 December 2014 / 1 January 2015      250,038         6,315            12,450   
Income and expense included in the income statement and other comprehensive income      3,456         342            522   
Foreign exchange translation differences      7,259         335              124   
At 31 December 2015      260,753         6,992              13,096   

 

(iv) Reinsurers’ share of insurance contract liabilities

 

        Asia        US        UK        2015 £m        2014 £m  

Insurance contract liabilities

       755           5,499           738           6,992           6,315   

Claims outstanding

       43           711           157           911           852   
         798           6,210           895           7,903           7,167   

The Group cedes certain business to other insurance companies. Although the ceding of insurance does not relieve the Group from its liability to its policyholders, the Group participates in such agreements for the purpose of managing its loss exposure. The Group evaluates the financial condition of its reinsurers and monitors concentration of credit risk from similar geographic regions, activities or economic characteristics of the reinsurers to minimise its exposure from reinsurer insolvencies. Of the reinsurers’ share of insurance contract liabilities balance of £7,903 million at 31 December 2015 (2014: £7,167 million), 90 per cent (2014: 93 per cent) were ceded by the Group’s UK and US operations, of which 96 per cent (2014: 95 per cent) of the balance were from reinsurers with Standard & Poor’s rating A- and above.

The reinsurance asset for Jackson as shown in the table above primarily relates to certain fully collateralised former REALIC business retained by Swiss Re through 100 per cent reinsurance agreements. Apart from the reinsurance of REALIC business, the principal reinsurance ceded by Jackson outside the Group is on term life insurance, direct and assumed accident and health business and GMIB variable annuity guarantees. Net commissions received on ceded business and claims incurred ceded to external reinsurers totalled £41 million and £442 million respectively during 2015 (2014: £35 million and £398 million respectively). There were no deferred gains or losses on reinsurance contracts in either 2015 or 2014.

In each of 2015 and 2014, the Group’s UK insurance business entered into longevity reinsurance transactions on certain aspects of the UK’s annuity liabilities. Further information on these transactions is provided in note B4(b). The gains and losses recognised in profit and loss for the other reinsurance contracts written in the year were immaterial.

 

F-98


Table of Contents

C4.1(b) Asia insurance operations

(i) Analysis of movements in policyholder liabilities and unallocated surplus of with-profits funds

A reconciliation of the total policyholder liabilities and unallocated surplus of with-profits funds of Asia insurance operations from the beginning of the year to the end of the year is as follows:

 

     

With-profits

business

£m

    

Unit-linked

liabilities

£m

    

Other

business
£m

    

Total

£m

 

At 1 January 2014

     13,215         13,765         8,166         35,146   

Comprising:

           

- Policyholder liabilities on the consolidated statement of financial position

     13,138         11,918         6,854         31,910   

- Unallocated surplus of with-profits funds on the consolidated statement of financial position

     77         -         -         77   

- Group’s share of policyholder liabilities relating to joint ventures

     -         1,847         1,312         3,159   
Reallocation of unallocated surplus for the domestication of the Hong Kong branchnote (b)      1,690         -         -         1,690   

Premiums

           

New business

     425         1,337         997         2,759   

In-force

     1,834         1,375         1,090         4,299   
     2,259         2,712         2,087         7,058   

Surrendersnote (d) 

     (207)         (1,939)         (279)         (2,425)   

Maturities/Deaths

     (615)         (40)         (604)         (1,259)   

Net flowsnote (c)

     1,437         733         1,204         3,374   

Shareholders’ transfers post tax

     (40)         -         -         (40)   

Investment-related items and other movementsnote (e)

     1,621         1,336         523         3,480   

Foreign exchange translation differencesnote (a)

     689         375         308         1,372   

At 31 December 2014 / 1 January 2015

     18,612         16,209         10,201         45,022   

Comprising:

           

- Policyholder liabilities on the consolidated statement of financial position

     16,510         13,874         8,321         38,705   

- Unallocated surplus of with-profits funds on the consolidated statement of financial position

     2,102         -         -         2,102   

- Group’s share of policyholder liabilities relating to joint ventures

     -         2,335         1,880         4,215   

Premiums

           

New business

     812         1,322         781         2,915   

In-force

     2,179         1,496         1,194         4,869   
     2,991         2,818         1,975         7,784   

Surrenders note (d) 

     (242)         (2,043)         (265)         (2,550)   

Maturities/Deaths

     (647)         (88)         (530)         (1,265)   

Net flows note (c)

     2,102         687         1,180         3,969   

Shareholders’ transfers post tax

     (43)         -         -         (43)   

Investment-related items and other movementsnote (e)

     (243)         (536)         415         (364)   

Foreign exchange translation differencesnote (a)

     506         (394)         82         194   

At 31 December 2015note (c)

     20,934         15,966         11,878         48,778   

Comprising:

           

- Policyholder liabilities on the consolidated statement of financial position§

     18,381         13,355         9,519         41,255   

- Unallocated surplus of with-profits funds on the consolidated statement of financial position

     2,553         -         -         2,553   

- Group’s share of policyholder liabilities relating to joint ventures

     -         2,611         2,359         4,970   

Average policyholder liability balances

           

2015

     17,446         16,088         11,039         44,573   

2014

     14,823         14,987         9,183         38,993   
  Averages have been based on opening and closing balances and adjusted for acquisitions and disposals in the year and exclude unallocated surplus of with-profits funds.
  The Group’s investment in joint ventures are accounted for on an equity method basis and the Group’s share of the policyholder liabilities as shown above relate to the joint venture life businesses in China, India and of the Takaful business in Malaysia.
§  The policyholder liabilities of the with-profits business of £18,381 million, shown in the table above, is after deducting the intra-group reinsurance liabilities ceded by the UK insurance operations of £1,261 million to the Hong Kong with-profits business (2014: £1,363 million). Including this amount the Asia with-profits policyholder liabilities are £19,642 million.

Notes

(a) Movements in the year have been translated at the average exchange rates for the year ended 31 December 2015. The closing balance has been translated at the closing spot rates as at 31 December 2015. Differences upon retranslation are included in foreign exchange translation differences.
(b)

On 1 January 2014, following consultation with the policyholders of PAC and regulators and court approval, the Hong Kong branch of PAC was transferred to separate subsidiaries established in Hong Kong. From this date the unallocated surplus of the Hong Kong with-profits business is reported within the Asia insurance operations segment.

 

F-99


Table of Contents
(c) Net flows have increased by £595 million to £3,969 million in 2015 compared with £3,374 million in 2014 reflecting increased flows from new business and growth in the in-force books.
(d) The rate of surrenders for shareholder-backed business (expressed as a percentage of opening liabilities) was 8.7 per cent in 2015, lower than the 10.1 per cent recorded in 2014 (based on opening liabilities).
(e) Investment-related items and other movements for 2015 principally represents unrealised losses on bonds and equities, following rising bond yields and lower Asian equity markets in 2015.

(ii) Duration of liabilities

The table below shows the carrying value of policyholder liabilities and the maturity profile of the cash flows on a discounted basis for 2015 and 2014, taking account of expected future premiums and investment returns:

 

                  2015 £m                  2014 £m  

Policyholder liabilities

     41,255         38,705   

Expected maturity:

     %         %   

0 to 5 years

     23         23   

5 to 10 years

     20         20   

10 to 15 years

     17         17   

15 to 20 years

     12         12   

20 to 25 years

     9         9   

Over 25 years

     19         19   

 

(iii) Summary policyholder liabilities (net of reinsurance) and unallocated surplus

At 31 December 2015, the policyholder liabilities and unallocated surplus for Asia operations of £43.8 billion (2014: £40.8 billion), net of reinsurance of £798 million (2014: £488 million), excluding joint ventures, comprised the following:

 

                  2015 £m                  2014 £m  

Hong Kong

     16,234         13,748   

Indonesia

     2,361         2,552   

Korea

     2,810         2,702   

Malaysia

     3,492         3,713   

Singapore

     12,022         12,074   

Taiwan

     2,724         2,569   

Other countries

     3,367         2,961   

Total Asia operations

     43,010         40,319   

 

F-100


Table of Contents

C4.1(c)   US insurance operations

 

(i) Analysis of movements in policyholder liabilities

A reconciliation of the total policyholder liabilities of US insurance operations from the beginning of the year to the end of the year is as follows:

US insurance operations

 

     

Variable

annuity

separate

account

liabilities
£m

    

Fixed annuity,

GIC and other

business

£m

    

Total

£m

 

At 1 January 2014

     65,681         41,730         107,411   

Premiums

     12,220         3,272         15,492   

Surrenders

     (3,699)         (2,223)         (5,922)   

Maturities/Deaths

     (547)         (760)         (1,307)   

Net flows note (b)

     7,974         289         8,263   

Transfers from general to separate account

     1,395         (1,395)         -   

Investment-related items and other movementsnote (c)

     1,963         1,749         3,712   

Foreign exchange translation differencesnote (a)

     4,728         2,632         7,360   

At 31 December 2014 / 1 January 2015

     81,741         45,005         126,746   

Premiums

     12,899         3,800         16,699   

Surrenders

     (4,357)         (2,402)         (6,759)   

Maturities/Deaths

     (655)         (809)         (1,464)   

Net flows note (b)

     7,887         589         8,476   

Transfers from general to separate account

     847         (847)         -   

Investment-related items and other movementsnote (c)

     (4,351)         527         (3,824)   

Foreign exchange translation differencesnote (a)

     4,898         2,617         7,515   

At 31 December 2015

     91,022         47,891         138,913   

Average policyholder liability balances*

        

2015

     86,382         46,448         132,830   

2014

     73,711         43,368         117,079   
* Averages have been based on opening and closing balances.

Notes

(a) Movements in the year have been translated at an average rate of US$1.53/£1.00 (2014: US$1.65/£1.00). The closing balances have been translated at closing rate of US$1.47/£1.00 (2014: US$1.56/£1.00). Differences upon retranslation are included in foreign exchange translation differences.
(b) Net flows for the year were £8,476 million compared with £8,263 million in 2014, reflecting continued strong in-flows into the variable annuity business.
(c) Negative investment-related items and other movements in variable annuity separate account liabilities of £4,351 million for 2015 primarily reflects the decreases in equities and bond values during the year. Fixed annuity, GIC and other business investment and other movements of £527 million primarily reflect the increase in interest credited to the policyholder accounts in the year and an increase in other guarantee reserves.

(ii) Duration of liabilities

The table below shows the carrying value of policyholder liabilities and maturity profile of the cash flows on a discounted basis for 2015 and 2014:

 

     2015                  2014          
    

Fixed annuity
and other
business
    (including GICs
and similar
contracts)

£m

    

    Variable

annuity
£m

    

Total

£m

        

Fixed annuity
and other
business
    (including GICs
and similar
contracts)

£m

    

    Variable

annuity
£m

    

Total

£m

 

Policyholder liabilities

     47,891         91,022             138,913           45,005         81,741             126,746   
       %        %        %          %        %        %  

Expected maturity:

                   

0 to 5 years

     48         43         44           46         48         47   

5 to 10 years

     26         28         28           27         29         29   

10 to 15 years

     12         15         14           12         13         13   

15 to 20 years

     7         8         8           7         6         6   

20 to 25 years

     4         4         4           4         3         3   

Over 25 years

     3         2         2             4         1         2   

 

F-101


Table of Contents

C4.1(d)    UK insurance operations

 

(i) Analysis of movements in policyholder liabilities and unallocated surplus of with-profits funds

A reconciliation of the total policyholder liabilities and unallocated surplus of with-profits funds of UK insurance operations from the beginning of the year to the end of the year is as follows:

 

            Shareholder-backed funds and
subsidiaries
        
      SAIF and PAC
with-profits
sub-fund
£m
     Unit-linked
liabilities
£m
    

Annuity and
other

long-term

business
£m

     Total
£m
 

At 1 January 2014

     95,837         23,652         27,127         146,616   

Comprising:

                                   

- Policyholder liabilities

     83,853         23,652         27,127         134,632   

- Unallocated surplus of with-profits funds

     11,984         -         -         11,984   

Reallocation of unallocated surplus for the domestication of the Hong Kong branchnote (a)

     (1,690)         -         -         (1,690)   

Premiums

     2,951         1,405         3,546         7,902   

Surrenders

     (2,507)         (2,934)         (215)         (5,656)   

Maturities/Deaths

     (4,344)         (587)         (1,825)         (6,756)   

Net flowsnote (b)

     (3,900)         (2,116)         1,506         (4,510)   

Shareholders’ transfers post tax

     (200)         -         -         (200)   

Switches

     (167)         167         -         -   

Investment-related items and other movements

     9,637         1,597         3,076         14,310   

Foreign exchange translation differences

     (90)         -         -         (90)   

At 31 December 2014 / 1 January 2015

     99,427         23,300         31,709         154,436   

Comprising:

                                   

- Policyholder liabilities

     89,079         23,300         31,709         144,088   

- Unallocated surplus of with-profits funds

     10,348         -         -         10,348   

Premiums

     6,546         1,115         2,031         9,692   

Surrenders

     (3,136)         (3,168)         (59)         (6,363)   

Maturities/Deaths

     (4,378)         (573)         (2,040)         (6,991)   

Net flowsnote (b)

     (968)         (2,626)         (68)         (3,662)   

Shareholders’ transfers post tax

     (214)         -         -         (214)   

Switches

     (189)         189         -         -   

Investment-related items and other movementsnote (c)

     1,999         579         (259)         2,319   

Foreign exchange translation differences

     14         -         -         14   

At 31 December 2015

     100,069         21,442         31,382         152,893   

Comprising:

                                   

- Policyholder liabilities

     89,526         21,442         31,382         142,350   

- Unallocated surplus of with-profits funds

     10,543         -         -         10,543   

Average policyholder liability balances*

           

2015

     89,303         22,371         31,545         143,219   

2014

     86,467         23,476         29,419         139,362   
* Averages have been based on opening and closing balances and exclude unallocated surplus of with-profits funds.

Notes

(a) On 1 January 2014, following consultation with the policyholders of PAC and regulators and court approval, the Hong Kong branch of PAC was transferred to separate subsidiaries established in Hong Kong. From this date the unallocated surplus of the Hong Kong with-profits business is reported within the Asia insurance operations segment.
(b) Net outflows improved from £4,510 million in 2014 to £3,662 million in 2015, due primarily to higher premium flows into our with-profits funds following increased sales into with-profits savings and retirement products. This has been offset by lower premiums into our annuity business following the introduction of pension freedoms and lower level of bulks. The levels of inflows/outflows for unit-linked business is driven by corporate pension schemes with transfers in or out from only a small number of schemes influencing the level of flows in the year.
(c) Investment-related items and other movements of £2,319 million mainly reflects investment return earned in the year, attributable to policyholders.

 

F-102


Table of Contents
(ii) Duration of liabilities

With the exception of most unitised with-profits bonds and other whole of life contracts, the majority of the contracts of the UK insurance operations have a contract term. In effect, the maturity term of the other contracts reflects the earlier of death, maturity, or the policy lapsing. In addition, as described in note A3.1, with-profits contract liabilities include projected future bonuses based on current investment values. The actual amounts payable will vary with future investment performance of SAIF and the WPSF.

The following tables show the carrying value of the policyholder liabilities and the maturity profile of the cash flows, on a discounted basis for 2015 and 2014, for insurance contracts, as defined by IFRS:

 

    2015 £m  
    With-profits business        

Annuity business

(Insurance contracts)

        Other         Total  
     Insurance
contracts
    Investment
contracts
    Total        

Non-profit

annuities

within

WPSF

    PRIL     Total         Insurance
contracts
    Investments
contracts
    Total             

Policyholder liabilities

    35,962        42,736        78,698            10,828        22,092        32,920            14,919        15,813        30,732            142,350   
     2015 %  

Expected maturity:

                         

0 to 5 years

    40        40        40          33        25        27          37        36        37          36   

5 to 10 years

    23        27        25          25        21        23          25        23        24          24   

10 to 15 years

    14        17        16          18        18        18          15        17        16          16   

15 to 20 years

    9        10        10          11        14        13          9        12        10          11   

20 to 25 years

    6        4        5          6        10        9          6        6        6          6   

over 25 years

    8        2        4            7        12        10            8        6        7            7   
     2014 £m  

Policyholder liabilities

    38,287        39,084        77,371            11,708        22,186        33,894            15,474        17,349        32,823            144,088   
     2014 %  

Expected maturity:

                         

0 to 5 years

    40        39        39          31        25        27          37        36        36          36   

5 to 10 years

    24        26        25          25        22        23          25        22        24          24   

10 to 15 years

    14        17        16          18        18        18          16        16        16          17   

15 to 20 years

    9        11        10          11        14        13          10        11        11          11   

20 to 25 years

    6        5        5          7        9        9          5        8        6          6   

over 25 years

    7        2        5            8        12        10            7        7        7            6   

 

  The cash flow projections of expected benefit payments used in the maturity profile table above are from value of in-force business and exclude the value of future new business, including future vesting of internal pension contracts.
  Benefit payments do not reflect the pattern of bonuses and shareholder transfers in respect of the with-profits business.
  Investment contracts under ‘Other’ comprise certain unit-linked and similar contracts accounted for under IAS 39 and IAS 18.
  For business with no maturity term included within the contracts, for example with-profits investment bonds such as Prudence Bonds, an assumption is made as to likely duration based on prior experience.

C4.2   Products and determining contract liabilities

 

a Asia

Features of products and guarantees

The life insurance products offered by the Group’s Asia operations include a range of with-profits and non-participating term, whole life, endowment and unit-linked policies. The Asia operations also offer health, disability, critical illness and accident coverage to supplement its core life products.

The terms and conditions of the contracts written by the Asia operations and, in particular, the products’ options and guarantees, vary from territory to territory depending upon local market circumstances.

In general terms, the Asia participating products provide savings and protection where the basic sum assured can be enhanced by a profit share (or bonus) from the underlying fund as determined at the discretion of the insurers. The Asia operations’ non-participating term, whole life and endowment products offer savings and/or protection where the benefits are guaranteed, or determined by a set of defined market-related parameters. Unit-linked

 

F-103


Table of Contents

products combine savings with protection, the cash value of the policy depends on the value of the underlying unitised funds. Health and Protection policies provide mortality or morbidity benefits and include health, disability, critical illness and accident coverage. Health and Protection products are commonly offered as supplements to main life policies but can be sold separately.

Product guarantees in Asia can be broadly classified into four main categories, namely premium rate, cash value or interest rate guarantees, policy renewability, and convertibility options.

Subject to local market circumstances and regulatory requirements, the guarantee features described in note C4.2(c) in respect of UK business broadly apply to similar types of participating contracts written in Hong Kong, Singapore and Malaysia. Participating products have both guaranteed and non-guaranteed elements.

Non-participating long-term products are the only ones where the Group is contractually obliged to provide guarantees on all benefits. Unit-linked products have the lowest level of guarantee.

The risks on death coverage through premium rate guarantees are low due to the diversified nature of the business as well as rigorous product pricing.

Cash value and interest rate guarantees are of three types:

 

  Maturity values   Maturity values are guaranteed for non-participating products and on the guaranteed portion of participating products. Declared regular bonuses are also guaranteed once vested. Future bonus rates and cash dividends are not guaranteed on participating products;
  Surrender values   Surrender values are guaranteed for non-participating products and on the guaranteed portion of participating products. The surrender value of declared reversionary bonuses are also guaranteed once vested. Market value adjustments and surrender penalties are used for certain products and where the law permits such adjustments in cash values; and
  Interest rate guarantees   It is common in Asia for regulations or market-driven demand and competition to provide some form of capital value protection and minimum crediting interest rate guarantees. This would be reflected within the guaranteed maturity and surrender values.

The guarantees are borne by shareholders for non-participating and investment-linked (non-investment guarantees only) products. Participating product guarantees are predominantly supported by the segregated life funds and their estates.

Whole of life contracts with floor levels of policyholder benefits that accrue at rates set at inception and do not vary subsequently with market conditions are written in the Korean life operations though this is not to a significant extent as Korea has a much higher proportion of linked and health business. The Korean business has non-linked liabilities and linked liabilities at 31 December 2015 of £625 million and £2,187 million respectively (2014: £596 million and £2,109 million respectively).

Determining contract liabilities

For the with-profits business, the total value of the with-profits funds is driven by the underlying asset valuation with movements reflected principally in the accounting value of policyholder liabilities and unallocated surplus. Similarly, for the unit-linked business, the attaching liabilities reflect the unit value obligation driven by the value of the investments of the unit fund.

For the shareholder-backed non-linked business, the future policyholder benefit provisions for Asia businesses in the Group’s IFRS accounts, are determined in accordance with methods prescribed by local GAAP adjusted to comply, where necessary, with the modified statutory basis or where local GAAP is not well established and in which the business written is primarily non-participating and linked business, US GAAP principles are used as the most appropriate reporting basis.

 

 

F-104


Table of Contents

For the countries which apply local GAAP adjusted to comply, where necessary, with modified statutory basis, the approach to determining the contract liabilities is driven by the local solvency basis. A gross premium valuation method is used in those countries where a risk-based capital framework is adopted for local solvency. Under the gross premium valuation method, all cash flows are valued explicitly using best estimate assumptions.

A risk-based capital framework applying the gross premium valuation method is adopted by Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand and from 2013 Indonesia. In applying this approach, an overlay constraint to the method is applied such that no negative reserves are derived at an individual policyholder level.

In Vietnam, the Company uses an estimation basis aligned substantially to that used by the countries applying the gross premium valuation method.

In Philippines, the local regulator requires insurers to adopt the gross premium valuation method for traditional business from 30 June 2016 onward. The Company decided to early adopt this requirement for IFRS reporting for the year end 2015.

For India, Taiwan and until its sale in 2015, Japan, US GAAP is applied for measuring insurance assets and liabilities. For these countries, the future policyholder benefit provisions for non-linked business are determined using the net level premium method, with an allowance for surrenders, maintenance and claims expenses. Rates of interest used in establishing the policyholder benefit provisions vary by operation depending on the circumstances attaching to each block of business.

The other Asia operations principally adopt a net premium valuation method to determine the future policyholder benefit provisions.

The effect of changes in assumptions used to measure insurance assets and liabilities for Asia insurance operations is as disclosed in note B4(a).

 

b US

Features of products and guarantees

Jackson provides long-term savings and retirement products to retail and institutional customers throughout the US and offers the products discussed below:

 

i Fixed annuities

Fixed interest rate annuities

At 31 December 2015, fixed interest rate annuities accounted for 9 per cent (2014: 9 per cent) of policy and contract liabilities of Jackson. Fixed interest rate annuities are primarily deferred annuity products that are used for asset accumulation in retirement planning and for providing income in retirement. They permit tax-deferred accumulation of funds and flexible payout options.

The policyholder of a fixed interest rate annuity pays Jackson a premium, which is credited to the policyholder’s account. Periodically, interest is credited to the policyholder’s account and in some cases administrative charges are deducted from the policyholder’s account. Jackson makes benefit payments at a future date as specified in the policy based on the value of the policyholder’s account at that date.

The policy provides that at Jackson’s discretion it may reset the interest rate, subject to a guaranteed minimum. At 31 December 2015, Jackson had fixed interest rate annuities totalling £12.1 billion (2014: £11.7 billion) in account value with minimum guaranteed rates ranging from 1.0 per cent to 5.5 per cent and a 3.00 per cent average guaranteed rate (2014: 1.0 per cent to 5.5 per cent and a 3.03 per cent average guaranteed rate).

Approximately 62 per cent (2014: 57 per cent) of the fixed interest rate annuities Jackson wrote in 2015 provide for a market value adjustment (‘MVA’), that could be positive or negative, on surrenders in the surrender period of the policy. This formula-based adjustment approximates the change in value that assets supporting the product would realise as interest rates move up or down. The minimum guaranteed rate is not affected by this adjustment. While the MVA feature minimises the surrender risk associated with certain fixed annuities, Jackson still bears a portion of the surrender risk on policies without this feature, and the investment risk on all fixed interest rate annuities.

 

F-105


Table of Contents

Fixed index annuities

Fixed index annuities accounted for 6 per cent (2014: 6 per cent) of Jackson’s policy and contract liabilities at 31 December 2015. Fixed index annuities vary in structure, but generally are deferred annuities that enable policyholders to obtain a portion of an equity-linked return (based on participation rates and caps), and provide a guaranteed minimum return. These guaranteed minimum rates are generally set at 1.0 to 3.0 per cent. At 31 December 2015, Jackson had fixed index annuities allocated to indexed funds totalling £6.4 billion (2014: £6.3 billion) in account value with minimum guaranteed rates on index accounts ranging from 1.0 per cent to 3.0 per cent and a 1.79 per cent average guaranteed rate (2014: 1.0 per cent to 3.0 per cent and a 1.83 per cent average guarantee rate). At 31 December 2015, Jackson also offers fixed interest accounts on some fixed index annuity products. At 31 December 2015, fixed interest accounts of fixed index annuities totalled £1.9 billion (2014: £1.8 billion) in account value with minimum guaranteed rates ranging from 1.0 per cent to 3.0 per cent and a 2.52 per cent average guaranteed rate (2014: 1.0 per cent to 3.0 per cent and a 2.53 per cent average guaranteed rate).

Jackson hedges the equity return risk on fixed index products using offsetting equity exposure in the variable annuity product. The cost of hedging is taken into account in setting the index participation rates or caps. Jackson bears the investment risk and a portion of the surrender risk on these products.

Immediate annuities

At 31 December 2015, immediate annuities accounted for 1 per cent (2014: 1 per cent) of Jackson’s policy and contract liabilities. Immediate annuities guarantee a series of payments beginning within a year of purchase and continuing over either a fixed period of years and/or the life of the policyholder. If the term is for the life of the policyholder, then Jackson’s primary risks are mortality and reinvestment. The implicit interest rate on these products is based on the market conditions that exist at the time the policy is issued and is guaranteed for the term of the annuity.

 

ii Variable annuities

At 31 December 2015, variable annuities accounted for 70 per cent (2014: 69 per cent) of Jackson’s policy and contract liabilities. Variable annuities are deferred annuities that have the same tax advantages and payout options as fixed interest rate and fixed index annuities. They are also used for asset accumulation in retirement planning and to provide income in retirement.

The primary differences between variable annuities and fixed interest rate or fixed index annuities are investment risk and return. If a policyholder chooses a variable annuity, the rate of return depends upon the performance of the selected fund portfolio. Policyholders may allocate their investment to either the fixed account or a selection of variable accounts. Investment risk on the variable account is borne by the policyholder, while investment risk on the fixed account is borne by Jackson through guaranteed minimum fixed rates of return. At 31 December 2015, 6 per cent (2014: 5 per cent) of variable annuity funds were in fixed accounts. Jackson had variable annuity funds in fixed accounts totalling £5.5 billion (2014: £4.4 billion) with minimum guaranteed rates ranging from 1.0 per cent to 3.0 per cent and a 1.70 per cent average guaranteed rate (2014: 1.0 per cent to 3.0 per cent and a 1.81 per cent average guaranteed rate).

Jackson issues variable annuity contracts where it contractually guarantees to the policyholder a return of no less than either a) total deposits made to the contract adjusted for any partial withdrawals, b) total deposits made to the contract adjusted for any partial withdrawals plus a minimum return, or c) the highest contract value on a specified anniversary date adjusted for any withdrawals following the contract anniversary. These guarantees include benefits that are payable in the event of death (guaranteed minimum death benefit (GMDB)), at annuitisation (guaranteed minimum income benefit (GMIB)), upon the depletion of funds (guaranteed minimum withdrawal benefit (GMWB)) or at the end of a specified period (guaranteed minimum accumulation benefit (GMAB)). Jackson hedges these risks using equity options and futures contracts as described in note C7.3. The GMAB and GMIB are no longer offered, with the existing GMIB coverage being substantially reinsured.

 

iii Life insurance

Life insurance products accounted for 11 per cent (2014: 12 per cent) of Jackson’s policy and contract liabilities at 31 December 2015. Jackson discontinued new sales of life insurance products in 2012. Life products include term life and interest-sensitive life (universal life and variable universal life). Term life provides protection for a defined period and a benefit that is payable to a designated beneficiary upon death of the insured. Universal life provides

 

F-106


Table of Contents

permanent individual life insurance for the life of the insured and includes a savings element. Variable universal life is a type of life insurance policy that combines death benefit protection with the ability for the policyholder account to be invested in separate account funds. For certain fixed universal life plans, additional provisions are held to reflect the existence of guarantees offered in the past that are no longer supported by earnings on the existing asset portfolio, or for situations where future mortality charges are not expected to be sufficient to provide for future mortality costs.

Excluding the business that is subject to the retrocession treaties at 31 December 2015, Jackson had interest sensitive life business in force with total account value of £6.1 billion (2014: £5.9 billion), with minimum guaranteed interest rates ranging from 2.5 per cent to 6.0 per cent with a 4.66 per cent average guaranteed rate (2014: 2.5 per cent to 6.0 per cent with a 4.65 per cent average guaranteed rate).

 

iv Institutional products

Jackson’s institutional products consist of traditional guaranteed investment contracts (‘GICs’), funding agreements (including agreements issued in conjunction with Jackson’s participation in the US Federal Home Loan Bank programme) and Medium-Term Note funding agreements. At 31 December 2015, institutional products accounted for 3 per cent of policy and contract liabilities (2014: 3 per cent). Under a traditional GIC, the policyholder makes a lump sum deposit. The interest rate paid is fixed and established when the contract is issued. If deposited funds are withdrawn earlier than the specified term of the contract, an adjustment is made that approximates a market value adjustment.

Under a funding agreement, the policyholder either makes a lump sum deposit or makes specified periodic deposits. Jackson agrees to pay a rate of interest, which may be fixed or a floating short-term interest rate linked to an external index. The duration of the funding agreements range between one and thirty years. In 2015 and 2014, there were no funding agreements terminable by the policyholder with less than 90 days notice.

 

v Aggregate account values

The table below shows the distribution of account values for fixed annuities (fixed interest rate and fixed index), the fixed account portion of variable annuities, and interest sensitive life business within the range of minimum guaranteed interest rates as described in notes (i) to (iii) above as at 31 December 2015 and 2014:

 

     Fixed annuities and the fixed
account portion of variable
annuities £m
        

Interest sensitive life business

£m

 
Minimum guaranteed interest rate    2015      2014           2015      2014  

1.00%

     5,563         3,927           -         -   

> 1.0% - 2.0%

     7,670         7,887           -         -   

> 2.0% - 3.0%

     9,586         9,365           204         195   

> 3.0% - 4.0%

     1,263         1,239           2,322         2,265   

> 4.0% - 5.0%

     1,639         1,567           2,023         1,971   

> 5.0% - 6.0%

     212         207             1,574         1,514   

Total

     25,933         24,192             6,123         5,945   

Determining contract liabilities

As permissible under IFRS 4 and consistent with the basis explained in note A3.1, in the case of Jackson the carrying values of insurance assets and liabilities are consolidated into the Group accounts based on US GAAP. An overview of the deferral and amortisation of acquisition costs for Jackson is provided in note C5.1(b).

With minor exceptions, all of Jackson’s contracts are accounted for as investment contracts as defined for US GAAP purposes by applying in the first instance a retrospective deposit method to determine the liability for policyholder benefits. This is then augmented by potentially three additional amounts, namely:

 

    Any amounts that have been assessed to compensate the insurer for services to be performed over future periods (ie deferred income);
    Any amounts previously assessed against policyholders that are refundable on termination of the contract; and
    Any probable future loss on the contract (ie premium deficiency).

 

 

F-107


Table of Contents

Capitalised acquisition costs and deferred income for these contracts are amortised over the life of the book of contracts. The present value of the estimated gross profits is generally computed using the rate of interest that accrues to policyholder balances (sometimes referred to as the contract rate). Estimated gross profits include estimates of the following, each of which will be determined based on the best estimate of amounts over the life of the book of contracts without provision for adverse deviation:

 

    Amounts expected to be assessed for mortality less benefit claims in excess of related policyholder balances;
    Amounts expected to be assessed for contract administration less costs incurred for contract administration;
    Amounts expected to be earned from the investment of policyholder balances less interest credited to policyholder balances;
    Amounts expected to be assessed against policyholder balances upon termination of contracts (sometimes referred to as surrender charges); and
    Other expected assessments and credits.

In the case of variable annuity contracts with guaranteed benefits as described above, liabilities for these benefits are accounted for under US GAAP and are valued as described below.

In accordance with US GAAP, the Guaranteed Minimum Death Benefit and the ‘for life’ portion of Guaranteed Minimum Withdrawal Benefit liabilities are determined each period end by estimating the expected value of benefits in excess of the projected account balance and recognising the excess ratably over the life of the contract based on total expected assessments. At 31 December 2015, these liabilities were valued using a series of stochastic investment performance scenarios, a mean investment return of 7.4 per cent (2014: 7.4 per cent) net of external fund management fees, and assumptions for lapse, mortality and expense that are similar to those used in amortising the capitalised acquisition costs.

The direct Guaranteed Minimum Income Benefit liability is determined by estimating the expected value of the annuitisation benefits in excess of the projected account balance at the date of annuitisation and recognising the excess ratably over the accumulation period based on total expected assessments. The assumptions used for calculating the direct Guaranteed Minimum Income Benefit liability at 31 December 2015 and 2014 are consistent with those used for calculating the Guaranteed Minimum Death Benefit and ‘for life’ Guaranteed Minimum Withdrawal Benefit liabilities.

Jackson regularly evaluates estimates used and adjusts the additional Guaranteed Minimum Death Benefit, Guaranteed Minimum Income Benefit and Guaranteed Minimum Withdrawal Benefit ‘for life’ liability balances, with a related charge or credit to benefit expense if actual experience or other evidence suggests that earlier assumptions should be revised.

Guaranteed Minimum Income Benefits are essentially fully reinsured, subject to a modest deductible and annual claim limits. As this reinsurance benefit is net settled, it is considered to be a derivative under IAS 39, and is therefore recognised at fair value with the change in fair value included as a component of short-term fluctuations. The direct GMIB liability is not considered a derivative instrument under IAS 39 and, as such, an accounting difference arises from this one-sided mark to market.

Guaranteed Minimum Withdrawal Benefit ‘not for life’ features are considered to be embedded derivatives under IAS 39. Therefore, provisions for these benefits are recognised at fair value. The change in these guaranteed benefit reserves, along with claim payments and associated fees included in reserves are included along with the hedge results in short-term fluctuations, resulting in removal of the market impact from the operating profit based on longer-term investment returns.

For Guaranteed Minimum Withdrawal Benefit and Guaranteed Minimum Income Benefit reinsurance embedded derivatives that are fair valued under IAS 39, Jackson bases its volatility assumptions on implied market volatility for periods ranging from 5 to 10 years period, where sufficient market liquidity is assumed to exist, followed by grading to long-term historical volatility levels beyond that point, where such long-term historical volatility levels contain an explicit margin for conservatism.

 

 

F-108


Table of Contents

Non-performance risk is incorporated into the calculation through the use of discount interest rates sourced from an AA corporate credit curve as a proxy for Jackson’s own credit risk. Other risk margins, particularly for policyholder behaviour and long-term volatility, are also incorporated into the model through the use of explicitly conservative assumptions. On a periodic basis, Jackson validates the resulting fair values based on comparisons to other models and market movements.

With the exception of the Guaranteed Minimum Death Benefit, Guaranteed Minimum Income Benefit, Guaranteed Minimum Withdrawal Benefit and Guaranteed Minimum Accumulation Benefit features of variable annuity contracts, the financial guarantee features of Jackson’s contracts are in most circumstances not explicitly valued, but the impact of any interest guarantees would be reflected as they are earned in the current account value (ie the US GAAP liability).

For traditional life insurance contracts, provisions for future policy benefits are determined under US GAAP using the net level premium method and assumptions as of the issue date as to mortality, interest, policy lapses and expenses plus provisions for adverse deviation.

Institutional products are accounted for as investment contracts under IFRS with the liability classified as being in respect of financial instruments rather than insurance contracts, as defined by IFRS 4. In practice there is no material difference between the IFRS and US GAAP basis of recognition and measurement for these contracts.

Certain institutional products representing obligations issued in currencies other than US dollars have been hedged for changes in exchange rates using cross-currency swaps. The fair value of derivatives embedded in funding agreements, as well as foreign currency transaction gains and losses, are included in the carrying value of the trust instruments supported by funding agreements recorded in other non-insurance liabilities.

 

c UK

Features of products and guarantees

Prudential’s long-term products in the UK consist of life insurance, pension products and pension annuities.

These products are written primarily in:

 

    One of three separate sub-funds of the PAC long-term fund, namely the with-profits sub-fund (WPSF), Scottish Amicable Insurance Funds (SAIF), and the non-profit sub-fund;
    Prudential Retirement Income Limited (PRIL), a shareholder-owned subsidiary; or
    Other shareholder-backed subsidiaries writing mainly non-profit unit-linked business.

 

i With-profits products and PAC with-profits sub-fund

The WPSF mainly contains with-profits business but it also contains some non-profit business (unit-linked, term assurances and annuities). The WPSF’s profits are apportioned 90 per cent to its policyholders and 10 per cent to shareholders as surplus for distribution is determined via the annual actuarial valuation.

The WPSF held a provision of £47 million at 31 December 2015 (2014: £50 million) to honour guarantees on a small amount of guaranteed annuity products. SAIF’s exposure to guaranteed annuities is described below.

With-profits products provide returns to policyholders through bonuses that are ‘smoothed’. There are two types of bonuses: ‘regular’ and ‘final’. Regular bonuses are declared once a year, and once credited, are guaranteed in accordance with the terms of the particular product. Unlike regular bonuses, final bonuses are guaranteed only until the next bonus declaration.

The main factors that influence the determination of bonus rates are the return on the investments of the with-profits fund, inflation, taxation, the expenses of the fund chargeable to policyholders and the degree to which investment returns are smoothed. The overall rate of return earned on investments and the expectation of future investment returns are the most important influences on bonus rates.

 

F-109


Table of Contents

A high proportion of the assets backing the with-profits business are invested in equities and real estate. If the financial strength of the with-profits business is affected, then a higher proportion of fixed interest or similar assets might be held by the fund.

Further details on the determination of the two types of the bonuses: ‘regular’ and ‘final’ are provided below.

Regular bonus rates

For regular bonuses, the bonus rates are determined for each type of policy primarily by targeting the bonus level at a prudent proportion of the long-term expected future investment return on underlying assets. The expected future investment return is reduced as appropriate for each type of policy to allow for items such as expenses, charges, tax and shareholders’ transfers. However, the rates declared may differ by product type, or by the date of payment of the premium, or date of issue of the policy, or if the accumulated regular bonuses are particularly high or low, relative to a prudent proportion of the achieved investment return.

When target bonus levels change the PAC board of directors has regard to the overall strength of the long-term fund when determining the length of time over which it will seek to achieve the amended prudent target bonus level.

In normal investment conditions, PAC expects changes in regular bonus rates to be gradual over time. However, PAC retains the discretion whether or not to declare a regular bonus each year, and there is no limit on the amount by which regular bonus rates can change.

Final bonus rates

A final bonus which is normally declared yearly, may be added when a claim is paid or when units of a unitised product are realised.

The rates of final bonus usually vary by type of policy and by reference to the period, usually a year, in which the policy commences or each premium is paid. These rates are determined by reference to the asset shares for the sample policies but subject to the smoothing approach as explained below.

In general, the same final bonus scale applies to maturity, death and surrender claims except that:

 

    The total surrender value may be impacted by the application of a Market Value Reduction for accumulating with-profits policies and by the surrender bases for conventional with-profits business; and
    For the SAIF and Scottish Amicable, the final bonus rates applicable on surrender may be adjusted to reflect expected future bonus rates.

Application of significant judgement

The application of the above method for determining bonuses requires the PAC Board to apply significant judgement in many respects, including in particular the following:

 

    Determining what constitutes fair treatment of customers: Prudential is required by UK law and regulation to consider the fair treatment of its customers in setting bonus levels. The concept of determining what constitutes fair treatment, while established by statute, is not defined;
    Smoothing of investment returns: This is an important feature of with-profits products. Determining when particular circumstances, such as a significant rise or fall in market values, warrant variations in the standard bonus smoothing limits that apply in normal circumstances requires the PAC board of directors to exercise significant judgement; and
    Determining at what level to set bonuses to ensure that they are competitive: The overall return to policyholders is an important competitive measure for attracting new business.

Key assumptions

As noted above, the overall rate of return on investments and the expectation of future investment returns are the most important influences in bonus rates, subject to the smoothing described below. Prudential determines the assumptions to apply in respect of these factors, including the effects of reasonably likely changes in key

 

F-110


Table of Contents

assumptions, in the context of the overarching discretionary and smoothing framework that applies to its with-profits business as described above. As such, it is not possible to specifically quantify the effects of each of these assumptions, or of reasonably likely changes in these assumptions.

Prudential’s approach, in applying significant judgement and discretion in relation to determining bonus rates, is consistent conceptually with the approach adopted by other firms that manage a with-profits business and is also consistent with the requirements of the Principles and Practices of Financial Management (PPFM) that are applied in the management of their with-profits funds.

The principles contain an explanation of how it determines regular and final bonus rates within the discretionary framework that applies to all with-profits policies, subject to the general legislative requirements applicable. Its purpose is therefore to:

 

    Explain the nature and extent of the discretion available;
    Show how competing or conflicting interests or expectations of different groups and generations of policyholders, and policyholders and shareholders are managed so that all policyholders and shareholders are treated fairly; and
    Provide a knowledgeable observer (eg a financial adviser) with an understanding of the material risks and rewards from starting and continuing to invest in a with-profits policy with Prudential.

Furthermore, in accordance with industry-wide regulatory requirements, the PAC Board has appointed:

 

    A Chief Actuary who provides the PAC Board with all actuarial advice;
    A With-Profits Actuary whose specific duty is to advise the PAC Board on the reasonableness and proportionality of the manner in which its discretion has been exercised in applying the Principles and Practices of Financial Management and the manner in which any conflicting interests have been addressed; and
    A With-Profits Committee of independent individuals, which assesses the degree of compliance with the Principles and Practices of Financial Management and the manner in which conflicting rights have been addressed.

Smoothing of investment return

In determining bonus rates for the UK with-profits policies, smoothing is applied to the allocation of the overall earnings of the UK with-profits fund of which the investment return is a significant element. The smoothing approach differs between accumulating and conventional with-profits policies to reflect the different contract features. In normal circumstances, Prudential does not expect most payout values on policies of the same duration to change by more than 10 per cent up or down from one year to the next, although some larger changes may occur to balance payout values between different policies. Greater flexibility may be required in certain circumstances, for example following a significant rise or fall in market values, and in such situations the PAC Board may decide to vary the standard bonus smoothing limits in order to protect the overall interests of policyholders.

 

F-111


Table of Contents

The degree of smoothing is illustrated numerically by comparing in the following table the relatively ‘smoothed’ level of policyholder bonuses declared as part of the surplus for distribution, with the more volatile movement in investment return and other items of income and expenditure of the UK component of the PAC with-profits fund for each year presented.

 

              2015 £m              2014 £m              2013 £m  

Net income of the fund:

        

Investment return

     3,130         8,958         5,757   

Claims incurred

     (6,745)         (6,115)         (6,681)   
Movement in policyholder liabilities      (1,307)         (4,366)         (197)   
Add back policyholder bonuses for the year (as shown below)      1,943         1,812         1,749   
Claims incurred and movement in policyholder liabilities         
(including charge for provision for asset shares and excluding policyholder bonuses)      (6,109)         (8,669)         (5,129)   
Earned premiums, net of reinsurance      6,507         3,007         3,801   
Other income      210         72         52   
Acquisition costs and other expenditure      (1,318)         (961)         (1,025)   
Share of profits from investment joint ventures      53         129         88   
Tax charge      (148)         (440)         (308)   
Net income of the fund before movement in unallocated surplus      2,325         2,096         3,236   

Movement in unallocated surplus

     (168)         (84)         (1,294)   

Surplus for distribution

     2,157         2,012         1,942   

Surplus for distribution allocated as follows:

        

– 90% policyholders’ bonus (as shown above)

     1,943         1,812         1,749   

– 10% shareholders’ transfers

     214         200         193   
       2,157         2,012         1,942   

 

ii Annuity business

Prudential’s conventional annuities include level, fixed-increase and inflation-linked annuities, the link being to the Retail Price Index (RPI) in the majority of cases.

Prudential’s fixed-increase annuities incorporate automatic increases in annuity payments by fixed amounts over the policyholder’s life. The RPI annuities that Prudential offers provide for a regular annuity payment to which an additional amount is added periodically based on the increase in the UK RPI.

Prudential’s with-profits annuities, which are written in the WPSF, combine the income features of annuity products with the investment smoothing features of with-profits products and enable policyholders to obtain exposure to investment return on the WPSF’s equity shares, property and other investment categories over time. Policyholders select a “required smoothed return” bonus from the specific range Prudential offers for the particular product. The amount of the annuity payment each year depends upon the relationship between the required smoothed return bonus rate selected by the policyholder when the product is purchased and the smoothed return bonus rates Prudential subsequently declares each year during the term of the product. If the total bonus rates fall below the anticipated rate, then the annuity income falls.

 

iii SAIF

SAIF is a ring-fenced sub-fund of the PAC long-term fund formed following the acquisition of the mutually owned Scottish Amicable Life Assurance Society in 1997. No new business may be written in SAIF, although regular premiums are still being paid on policies in force at the time of the acquisition and incremental premiums are permitted on these policies.

The fund is solely for the benefit of policyholders of SAIF. Shareholders have no interest in the profits of this fund although they are entitled to asset management fees on this business.

The process for determining policyholder bonuses of SAIF with-profits policies, which constitute the vast majority of obligations of the funds, is similar to that for the with-profits policies of the WPSF. However, in addition, the surplus assets in SAIF are allocated to policies in an orderly and equitable distribution over time as enhancements to policyholder benefits ie in excess of those based on asset share.

 

F-112


Table of Contents

Provision is made for the risks attaching to some SAIF unitised with-profits policies that have (Market Value Reduction) MVR-free dates and for those SAIF products which have a guaranteed minimum benefit on death or maturity of premiums accumulated at 4 per cent per annum.

The Group’s main exposure to guaranteed annuities in the UK is through SAIF and a provision of £412 million was held in SAIF at 31 December 2015 (2014: £549 million) to honour the guarantees. As SAIF is a separate sub-fund solely for the benefit of policyholders of SAIF, this provision has no impact on the financial position of the Group’s shareholders’ equity.

 

iv Unit-linked (non-annuity) and other non-profit business

Prudential UK insurance operations also have an extensive book of unit-linked policies of varying types and provide a range of other non-profit business such as credit life and protection contracts. These contracts do not contain significant financial guarantees.

There are no guaranteed maturity values or guaranteed annuity options on unit-linked policies except for minor amounts for certain policies linked to cash units within SAIF.

Determining contract liabilities

i Overview

The calculation of the contract liabilities involves the setting of assumptions for future experience. This is done following detailed review of the relevant experience including in particular mortality, expenses, tax, economic assumptions and, where applicable, persistency.

For with-profits business written in the WPSF or SAIF, a market consistent valuation is performed (as described in section (ii) below). Additional assumptions required are for persistency and the management actions under which the fund is managed. Assumptions used for a market-consistent valuation typically do not contain margins, whereas those used for the valuation of other classes of business do.

Mortality assumptions are set based on the results of the most recent experience analysis looking at the experience over recent years of the relevant business. For non-profit business, a margin for adverse deviation is added. Different assumptions are applied for different product groups. For annuitant mortality, assumptions for current mortality rates are based on recent experience investigations and expected future improvements in mortality. The expected future improvements are based on recent experience and projections of the business and industry experience generally.

Maintenance and, for some classes of business, termination expense assumptions are expressed as per policy amounts. They are set based on the expenses incurred during the year, including an allowance for ongoing investment expenditure and allocated between entities and product groups in accordance with the operation’s internal cost allocation model. For non-profit business a margin for adverse deviation is added to this amount. Expense inflation assumptions are set consistent with the economic basis and based on the difference between yields on nominal gilts and index-linked gilts.

The actual renewal expenses incurred on behalf of SAIF by other Group companies are recharged in full to SAIF.

The assumptions for asset management expenses are based on the charges specified in agreements with the Group’s asset management operations, plus a margin for adverse deviation for non-profit business.

Tax assumptions are set equal to current rates of taxation.

For non-profit business excluding unit-linked business, the valuation interest rates used to discount the liabilities are based on the yields as at the valuation date on the assets backing the technical provisions. For fixed interest securities the gross redemption yield is used except for the non-profit annuities within PAC and PRIL annuity business where the internal rate of return of the assets backing the liabilities is used. Properties are valued using the lower of the rental yield and the redemption yield, and for equities it is the greater of the dividend yield and the average of the dividend yield and the earnings yield. An adjustment is made to the yield on non-risk-free fixed interest securities and property to reflect credit risk. To calculate the non-unit reserves for linked business, assumptions have been set for the gross unit growth rate and the rate of inflation of maintenance expenses, as well as for the valuation interest rate as described above.

 

F-113


Table of Contents
ii WPSF and SAIF

The policyholder liabilities reported for the WPSF are primarily for two broad types of business. These are accumulating and conventional with-profits contracts. The policyholder liabilities of the WPSF are accounted for under FRS 27.

The provisions have been determined on a basis consistent with the detailed methodology included in regulations contained in the PRA’s rules for the determination of reserves on the PRA’s ‘realistic’ Peak 2 basis. In aggregate, the regime has the effect of placing a value on the liabilities of UK with-profits contracts, which reflects the amounts expected to be paid based on the current value of investments held by the with-profits funds and current circumstances. These contracts are a combination of insurance and investment contracts with discretionary participation features, as defined by IFRS 4.

The PRA’s Peak 2 calculation under the realistic regime requirement is explained further in note A3.1(d) under the UK regulated with-profits section.

The contract liabilities for with-profits business also require assumptions for persistency. These are set based on the results of recent experience analysis.

The process of determining policyholder liabilities of SAIF is similar to that for the with-profits policies of the WPSF.

 

iii Annuity business

Credit risk provisions

For IFRS reporting, the results for UK shareholder-backed annuity business are particularly sensitive to the allowances made for credit risk. Further details on credit risk allowance are provided in note B4(c).

Mortality

The mortality assumptions are set in light of recent population and internal experience. The assumptions used are percentages of standard actuarial mortality tables with an allowance for future mortality improvements. Where annuities have been sold on an enhanced basis to impaired lives an additional age adjustment is made. The percentages of the standard table used are selected according to the source of business.

New mortality projection models are released annually by the Continuous Mortality Investigation (CMI). The CMI 2014 model was used to produce the 2015 results and the CMI 2012 model was used to produce the 2014 results; both calibrated to reflect an appropriate view of future mortality improvements.

For annuities in payment, the tables and range of percentages used are set out below:

 

     

CMI Model, with calibration to reflect future
mortality improvements

 

     

Non-profit annuities
within the WPSF

 

        

PRIL

 

 
                 Males     Females          Males     Females  

2015

   CMI 2014  

For males: with a long term

improvement rate of 2.25% pa

For females: with a long term

improvement rate of 1.50% pa

       
 
95% – 97%
PCMA00
  
  
   
 
91% – 103%
PCFA00
  
  
        

 

93%

PCMA00

  

  

   
 
83% – 96%
PCFA00
  
  

2014

   CMI 2012  

For males: with a long term

improvement rate of 2.25% pa

For females: with a long term

improvement rate of 1.50% pa

       
 
93% – 99%
PCMA00
  
  
   
 
89% – 101%
PCFA00
  
  
        
 
91% – 95%
PCMA00
  
  
   
 
84% – 98%
PCFA00
  
  

2013

   CMI 2012  

For males: with a long term improvement rate of 2.25% pa

For females: with a long term improvement rate of 1.50% pa

       
 
93% – 99%
PCMA00
  
  
   
 
89% – 101%
PCFA00
  
  
        
 
91% – 96%
PCMA00
  
  
   
 
84% – 98%
PCFA00
  
  

For annuities in deferment, the tables used by both the non-profit annuities within the WPSF and PRIL were AM92 – 4 years (Males) and AF92 – 4 years (Females) for 2015, 2014 and 2013.

 

iv Unit-linked (non-annuity) and other non-profit business

The majority of other long-term business written in the UK insurance operations is unit-linked business or other business with similar features. For these contracts the attaching liability reflects the unit value obligation and

 

F-114


Table of Contents

provision for expenses and mortality risk. The latter component is determined by applying mortality assumptions on a basis that is appropriate for the policyholder profile.

For unit-linked business, the assets covering unit liabilities are exposed to market risk, but the residual risk when considering the unit-linked liabilities and assets together is limited to the effect on fund-based charges.

For those contracts where the level of insurance risk is insignificant, the assets and liabilities arising under the contracts are distinguished between those that relate to the financial instrument liability and acquisition costs and deferred income that relate to the component of the contract that relates to investment management. Acquisition costs and deferred income are recognised consistent with the level of service provision in line with the requirements of IAS 18.

 

v Effect of changes in assumptions used to measure insurance assets and liabilities

Credit risk

There has been no change of approach in the setting of assumption levels of credit risk in 2015 and 2014. However, changes in the portfolio have given rise to altered levels of credit risk allowance as set out in note B4(b).

Other assumption changes

The effect of other assumption changes for the shareholder-backed business is set out in note B4(b).

For the with-profits sub-fund, the aggregate effect of assumption changes in 2015 was a net charge to unallocated surplus of £114 million (2014: net charge of £86 million).

 

C5 Intangible assets

 

C5.1 Intangible assets attributable to shareholders

 

(a) Goodwill attributable to shareholders

 

              2015 £m                2014 £m  

Cost

       

At beginning of year

     1,583           1,581   

Disposal of Japan life business

     (120)           -   

Additional consideration paid on previously acquired business

     2           -   

Exchange differences

     (2)           2   

At end of year

     1,463           1,583   

Aggregate impairment

     -          (120)   

Net book amount at end of year

     1,463           1,463   
Goodwill attributable to shareholders comprises:        
      2015 £m        2014 £m  

M&G

     1,153           1,153   

Other

     310           310   
       1,463           1,463   

Other goodwill represents amounts allocated to entities in Asia and the US operations. These goodwill amounts are not individually material.

The aggregate goodwill impairment of £120 million at 31 December 2014 related to the goodwill held by the Japan Life business, prior to its sale in February 2015.

Impairment testing

Goodwill does not generate cash flows independently of other groups of assets and thus is assigned to cash-generating units for the purposes of impairment testing. These cash-generating units are based upon how management monitors the business and represent the lowest level to which goodwill can be allocated on a reasonable basis.

 

F-115


Table of Contents

Assessment of whether goodwill may be impaired

Goodwill is tested for impairment by comparing the cash-generating units’ carrying amount, including any goodwill, with its recoverable amount.

With the exception of M&G, the goodwill attributable to shareholders mainly relates to acquired life businesses. The Company routinely compares the aggregate of net asset value and acquired goodwill on an IFRS basis of acquired life business with the value of the business as determined using the EEV methodology, as described in note 16. Any excess of IFRS over EEV carrying value is then compared with EEV basis value of current and projected future new business to determine whether there is any indication that the goodwill in the IFRS statement of financial position may be impaired.

M&G

The recoverable amount for the M&G cash-generating units has been determined by calculating its value in use. This has been calculated by aggregating the present value of future cash flows expected to be derived from the M&G operating segment (based upon management projections).

The discounted cash flow valuation has been based on a three-year plan prepared by M&G, and approved by management, and cash flow projections for later years.

The value in use is particularly sensitive to a number of key assumptions as follows:

 

  i The set of economic, market and business assumptions used to derive the three-year plan. The direct and secondary effects of recent developments, eg changes in global equity markets, are considered by management in arriving at the expectations for the financial projections for the plan;

 

  ii The assumed growth rate on forecast cash flows beyond the terminal year of the plan. A growth rate of 2.5 per cent (2014: 2.5 per cent) has been used to extrapolate beyond the plan period representing management’s best estimate view of the long-term growth rate of the business after considering the future and past growth rates and external sources of data;

 

  iii The risk discount rate. Differing discount rates have been applied in accordance with the nature of the individual component businesses. For retail and institutional business, a risk discount rate of 12 per cent (2014: 12 per cent) has been applied to post-tax cash flows. The pre-tax risk discount rate was 16 per cent (2014: 16 per cent). Management have determined the risk discount rate by reference to an average implied discount rate for comparable UK listed asset managers calculated by reference to risk-free rates, equity risk premiums of 5 per cent and an average ‘beta’ factor for relative market risk of comparable UK listed asset managers. A similar approach has been applied for the other component businesses of M&G; and

 

  iv That asset management contracts continue on similar terms. Management believes that any reasonable change in the key assumptions would not cause the recoverable amount of M&G to fall below its carrying amount.

 

(b) Deferred acquisition costs and other intangible assets attributable to shareholders

The deferred acquisition costs and other intangible assets attributable to shareholders comprise:

 

              2015 £m              2014 £m  

Deferred acquisition costs related to insurance contracts as classified under IFRS 4

     6,948         5,840   
Deferred acquisition costs related to investment management contracts, including life assurance contracts classified as financial instruments and investment management contracts under IFRS 4      74         87   
       7,022         5,927   
Present value of acquired in-force policies for insurance contracts as classified under IFRS 4 (PVIF)      45         59   

Distribution rights and other intangibles

     1,355         1,275   
       1,400         1,334   

Total of deferred acquisition costs and other intangible assets

     8,422         7,261   

 

 

F-116


Table of Contents
    2015 £m         2014 £m  
    Deferred acquisition costs                                
     Asia     US     UK    

Asset

management

        

PVIF and

other

intangibles1

         Total         Total  

Balance at 1 January

    650        5,177        83        17          1,334          7,261          5,295   

Additions

    265        734        10        -         181          1,190          1,768   

Amortisation to the income statement:2

                   

Operating profit

    (138)        (516)        (12)        (5)            (91)            (762)          (696)   

Non-operating profit

    -       93        -       -           -           93          653   
    (138)        (423)        (12)        (5)          (91)          (669)          (43)   

Disposals and transfers

    -       -       -       -         (8)          (8)          (6)   
Exchange differences and other movements     4        323        -       -         (16)          311          334   
Amortisation of DAC related to net unrealised valuation movements on Jackson’s available-for-sale securities recognised within other comprehensive income2     -       337        -       -         -         337          (87)   
Balance at 31 December     781        6,148        81        12            1,400            8,422            7,261   
1  PVIF and other intangibles includes amounts in relation to software rights with additions of £34 million, amortisation of £29 million and a balance at 31 December 2015 of £71 million.
2  Under the Group’ application of IFRS 4, US GAAP is used for measuring the insurance assets and liabilities of its US and certain Asia operations. Under US GAAP, most of Jackson’s products are accounted for under Accounting Standard no. 97 of the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FAS 97) whereby deferred acquisition costs are amortised in line with the emergence of actual and expected gross profits. The amounts included in the income statements and Other Comprehensive Income affect the pattern of profit emergence and thus the DAC amortisation attaching. DAC amortisation is allocated to the operating and non-operating components of the Group’s supplementary analysis of profit and Other Comprehensive Income by reference to the underlying items.

Note

PVIF and other intangibles comprise PVIF, distribution rights and other intangibles such as software rights. Distribution rights relate to amounts that have been paid or have become unconditionally due for payment as a result of past events in respect of bancassurance partnership arrangements in Asia. These agreements allow for bank distribution of Prudential’s insurance products for a fixed period of time.

US insurance operations

The DAC amount in respect of US insurance operations comprises amounts in respect of:

 

      2015 £m                2014 £m  

Variable annuity business

     5,713           5,002   

Other business

     703           759   

Cumulative shadow DAC (for unrealised gains booked in other comprehensive income)*

     (268)           (584)   

Total DAC for US operations

     6,148           5,177   
* Consequent upon the negative unrealised valuation movement in 2015 of £1,305 million (2014: positive unrealised valuation movement of £956 million), there is a gain of £337 million (2014: a charge of £87 million) for altered shadow DAC amortisation booked within other comprehensive income. These adjustments reflect movement from period to period, in the changes to the pattern of reported gross profits that would have occurred if the assets reflected in the statement of financial position had been sold, crystallising the unrealised gains and losses, and the proceeds reinvested at the yields currently available in the market. At 31 December 2015, the cumulative shadow DAC balance as shown in the table above was negative £268 million (2014: negative £584 million).

Overview of the deferral and amortisation of acquisition costs for Jackson

Under IFRS 4, the Group applies ‘grandfathered’ US GAAP for measuring the insurance assets and liabilities of Jackson. In the case of Jackson term business, acquisition costs are deferred and amortised in line with expected premiums. For annuity and interest-sensitive life business, acquisition costs are deferred and amortised in line with a combination of historical and future expected gross profits on the relevant contracts. For fixed and fixed index annuity and interest-sensitive life business, the key assumption is the long-term spread between the earned rate on investments and the rate credited to policyholders, which is based on an annual spread analysis. Expected gross profits also depend on mortality assumptions, assumed unit costs and terminations other than deaths (including the related charges), all of which are based on a combination of actual experience of Jackson, industry experience and future expectations. A detailed analysis of actual mortality, lapse and expense experience is performed using internally developed experience studies.

 

F-117


Table of Contents

Acquisition costs for Jackson’s variable annuity products are also amortised in line with the emergence of profits. The measurement of amortisation depends on historical and expected future gross profits which include fees (including those for guaranteed minimum death, income, or withdrawal benefits) as well as components related to mortality, lapse and expense.

Mean reversion technique

For variable annuity products, under US GAAP (as ‘grandfathered’ under IFRS 4) Jackson applies a mean reversion technique for its amortisation of deferred acquisition costs against projected gross profits. This technique is applied with the objective of adjusting the amortisation of deferred acquisition costs that would otherwise be highly volatile due to fluctuations in the level of future gross profits arising from changes in equity market levels. The mean reversion technique achieves this objective by applying a dynamic adjustment to the assumption for short-term future investment returns. Under the mean reversion technique applied by Jackson, the projected level of return for each of the next five years is adjusted from period to period so that in combination with the actual rates of return for the preceding three years, including the current period, the 7.4 per cent long-term annual return (gross of asset management fees and other charges to policyholders, but net of external fund management fees) is realised on average over the entire eight-year period. Projected returns after the mean reversion period revert back to the 7.4 per cent assumption.

However, to ensure that the methodology does not over anticipate a reversion to the long-term level of returns following adverse markets, the mean reversion technique has a cap and floor feature whereby the projected returns in each of the next five years can be no more than 15 per cent per annum and no less than 0 per cent per annum (both gross of asset management fees and other charges to policyholders, but net of external fund management fees) in each year.

Sensitivity of amortisation charge

The amortisation charge to the income statement is reflected in both operating profit and short-term fluctuations in investment returns. The amortisation charge to the operating profit in a reporting period comprises:

 

  (i) A core amount that reflects a relatively stable proportion of underlying premiums or profit; and

 

  (ii) An element of acceleration or deceleration arising from market movements differing from expectations.

In periods where the cap and floor feature of the mean reversion technique are not relevant, the technique operates to dampen the second element above. Nevertheless, extreme market movements can cause material acceleration or deceleration of amortisation in spite of this dampening effect.

Furthermore, in those periods where the cap or floor is relevant, the mean reversion technique provides no further dampening and additional volatility may result.

In 2015, the DAC amortisation charge for operating profit was determined after including a charge for accelerated amortisation of £2 million (2014: charge for accelerated amortisation of £13 million; 2013: credit for decelerated amortisation of £82 million). The 2015 amount primarily reflects the offsetting impacts of the separate account performance of negative 2 per cent, which is lower than the assumed level for the year, and the effect of releasing the 2012 fund returns of 11 per cent from the mean reversion formula.

As noted above, the application of the mean reversion formula has the effect of dampening the impact of equity market movements on DAC amortisation while the mean reversion assumption lies within the corridor. In 2016, it would take approximate movements in separate account values of more than either negative 17 per cent or positive 67 per cent for the mean reversion assumption to move outside the corridor.

 

F-118


Table of Contents

Deferred acquisition costs related to insurance and investment contracts attributable to shareholders

Additional movement analysis of deferred acquisition costs and other intangibles attributable to shareholders

The movements in deferred acquisition costs relating to insurance and investment contracts attributable to shareholders are as follows:

 

     2015 £m      2014 £m  
     Insurance
contracts
     Investment
management
     Insurance
contracts
     Investment
management
 
              note (i)              note (i)  

DAC at 1 January

     5,840         87         4,684         96   
Additions      1,007         3         895         8   
Amortisation      (566)         (16)         33         (17)   
Exchange differences      330         -         315         -   
Change in shadow DAC related to movement in unrealised appreciation of Jackson’s securities classified as available-for-salenote (i)      337         -         (87)         -   

DAC at 31 December

     6,948         74         5,840         87   

Note

(i) All of the additions are through internal development. The carrying amount of the balance comprises the following gross and accumulated amortisation amounts:

 

      2015 £m        2014 £m  

Gross amount

     144           234   

Accumulated amortisation

     (70)           (147)   

Net book amount

     74           87   

Present value of acquired in-force (PVIF) and other intangibles attributable to shareholders

 

     2015 £m
Other intangibles
            2014 £m
Other intangibles
        
     PVIF      Distribution
rights
    

Other

intangibles

(including

software)

     Total      PVIF      Distribution
rights
    

Other

intangibles

(including

software)

     Total  
      note (i)      note (ii)      note (iii)              note (i)              note (ii)          

At 1 January

                       
Cost      222         1,269         238         1,729         221         458         203         882   
Accumulated amortisation      (163)         (82)         (150)         (395)         (154)         (66)         (147)         (367)   
       59         1,187         88         1,334         67         392         56         515   
Additions      -         139         42         181         -        808         57         865   
Amortisation charge      (8)         (50)         (33)         (91)         (9)         (24)         (26)         (59)   
Disposals      -         (8)         -         (8)         -         (6)         (0)         (6)   
Exchange differences and other movements      (6)         (10)         -         (16)         1         17         1         19   
At 31 December      45         1,258         97         1,400         59         1,187         88         1,334   
Comprising:                        

Cost

     209         1,387         278         1,874         222         1,269         239         1,729   

Accumulated amortisation

     (164)         (129)         (181)         (474)         (163)         (82)         (150)         (395)   
       45         1,258         97         1,400         59         1,187         88         1,334   

Notes

(i) All of the PVIF balances relate to insurance contracts. The PVIF attaching to investment contracts have been fully amortised. Amortisation is charged over the period of provision of asset management services as those profits emerge.
(ii) Distribution rights relate to fees paid in relation to the bancassurance partnership arrangements for the bank distribution of Prudential’s insurance products for a fixed period of time. The distribution rights amounts are amortised over the term of the distribution contracts.
(iii) Software is amortised over its useful economic life, which generally represents the licence period of the software acquired.

 

F-119


Table of Contents
C5.2 Intangible assets attributable to with-profits funds

 

(a) Goodwill in respect of acquired investment subsidiaries for venture fund and other investment purposes

 

      2015 £m        2014 £m  

At 1 January

     186           177   

Additions in the year

     -           10   

Impairment

     -           -   

Exchange differences

     (1)           (1)   

At 31 December

     185           186   

All the goodwill relates to the UK insurance operations segment.

The venture fund investments consolidated by the Group relates to investments of the PAC with-profits fund which are managed by M&G for which the goodwill is shown in the table above. Goodwill is tested for impairment of these investments by comparing the investment’s carrying value including goodwill with its recoverable amount (fair value less costs to sell).

 

(b) Deferred acquisition costs and other intangible assets

Other intangible assets in the Group consolidated statement of financial position attributable to with-profits funds consist of:

 

     2015 £m        2014 £m  

Deferred acquisition costs related to insurance contracts attributable to the PAC with-profits fundnote (i)

    3           3   

Distribution rights attributable to with-profits funds of the Asia insurance operationsnote (ii)

    27           47   

Computer software attributable to with-profits funds

    20           11   
      50           61   

Notes

(i) The above costs relate to non-participating business written by the PAC with-profits sub-fund. As the with-profits contracts are accounted for under the UK regulatory ‘realistic basis’, no deferred acquisition costs are established for this type of business.
(ii) Distribution rights relate to fees paid in relation to the bancassurance partnership arrangements for the bank distribution of Prudential’s insurance products for a fixed period of time. The distribution rights amounts are amortised over the term of the distribution contracts.

 

F-120


Table of Contents
C6 Borrowings

 

C6.1 Core structural borrowings of shareholder-financed operations

 

      2015 £m        2014 £m  

Holding company operations:

       

US$1,000m 6.5% Notes

     678           641   

US$250m 6.75% Notesnote (v)

     170           160   

US$300m 6.5% Notesnote (v)

     203           193   

US$700m 5.25% Notesnote (v)

     472           444   

US$550m 7.75% Notesnote (v)

     372           351   

Perpetual Subordinated Capital Securitiesnote (i)

     1,895           1,789   

20m Medium Term Notes 2023note (vi)

     15           16   

£435m 6.125% Notes 2031

     430           429   

£400m 11.375% Notes 2039

     393           391   

£600m 5% Notes 2055note (iv)

     590           -   

£700m 5.7% Notes 2063

     695           695   

Subordinated Notes

     2,123           1,531   

Subordinated debt total

     4,018           3,320   

Senior debt:note (ii)

       

£300m 6.875% Bonds 2023

     300           300   

£250m 5.875% Bonds 2029

     249           249   

Holding company total

     4,567           3,869   

Prudential Capital bank loannote (iii)

     275           275   

Jackson US$250m 8.15% Surplus Notes 2027note (vii)

     169           160   

Total (per consolidated statement of financial position)

     5,011           4,304   

Notes

(i) The Group has designated all US$2.8 billion (2014: US$2.8 billion) of its subordinated debt as a net investment hedge under IAS 39 to hedge the currency risks related to the net investment in Jackson.
(ii) The senior debt ranks above subordinated debt in the event of liquidation.
(iii) The Prudential Capital bank loan of £275 million has been made in two tranches: a £160 million loan maturing on 20 December 2017 and a £115 million loan also maturing on 20 December 2017. These two tranches are currently drawn at a cost of 12 month LIBOR plus 0.40 per cent.
(iv) In June 2015, the company issued core structural borrowings of £600 million 5.00 per cent subordinated notes due in 2055. The proceeds net of discount adjustment and costs, were £590 million.
(v) These borrowings can be converted, in whole or in part, at the Company’s option and subject to certain conditions, on any interest payment date, into one or more series of Prudential preference shares.
(vi) The 20 million borrowings were issued at 20-year Euro Constant Maturity Swap (capped at 6.5 per cent). These have been swapped into borrowings of £14 million with interest payable at three month £LIBOR plus 1.2 per cent.
(vii) Jackson’s borrowings are unsecured and subordinated to all present and future indebtedness, policy claims and other creditor claims of Jackson.

 

C6.2 Other borrowings

 

(a) Operational borrowings attributable to shareholder-financed operations

 

      2015 £m            2014 £m  
     

 

  

Commercial Paper

     1,107            1,704   

Medium Term Notes 2015

     -            300   

Medium Term Notes 2018note (ii)

     598            -   
     

 

  

Borrowings in respect of short-term fixed income securities programmesnote (ii)

     1,705            2,004   

Non-recourse borrowings of US operations

     -              19   
     

 

  

Bank loans and overdrafts

     10            6   

Obligations under finance leases

     4            4   

Other borrowingsnote (iii)

     241            230   
     

 

  

Other borrowings

     255              240   

Totalnote (i),(iv)

     1,960              2,263   

 

F-121


Table of Contents

Notes

(i) In addition to the debt listed above, £200 million Floating Rate Notes were issued by Prudential plc in October 2015 which will mature in October 2016. These Notes have been wholly subscribed to a Group subsidiary and accordingly have been eliminated on consolidation in the Group financial statements. These Notes were originally issued in October 2008 and have been reissued upon their maturity.
(ii) In January and November 2015, the Company issued £300 million Medium Term Notes which will mature in January 2018 and November 2018 respectively. The proceeds, net of costs, were £299 million for the January 2015 issue and £299 million for the November 2015 issue.
(iii) Other borrowings mainly include amounts whose repayment to the lender is contingent upon future surplus emerging from certain contracts specified under the arrangement. If insufficient surplus emerges on those contracts, there is no recourse to other assets of the Group and the liability is not payable to the degree of shortfall. In addition, other borrowings include senior debt issued through the Federal Home Loan Bank of Indianapolis (FHLB), secured by collateral posted with the FHLB by Jackson.
(iv) In all instances the holders of the debt instruments issued by these subsidiaries and funds do not have recourse beyond the assets of those subsidiaries and funds.

 

(b) Borrowings attributable to with-profits operations

 

      2015 £m      2014 £m  

Non-recourse borrowings of consolidated investment funds*

     1,158         924   

£100m 8.5% undated subordinated guaranteed bonds of Scottish Amicable Finance plc

     100         100   

Other borrowings (predominantly obligations under finance leases)

     74         69   

Total

     1,332         1,093   
* In all instances the holders of the debt instruments issued by these subsidiaries and funds do not have recourse beyond the assets of these subsidiaries and funds.

The interests of the holders of the bonds issued by Scottish Amicable Finance plc, a subsidiary of the Scottish Amicable Insurance Fund, are subordinated to the entitlements of the policyholders of that fund.

 

C6.3 Maturity analysis

The following table sets out the remaining contractual maturity analysis of the Group’s borrowings as recognised in the statement of financial position:

 

     Shareholder-financed operations          With-profits operations      
         Core structural borrowings              Operational borrowings          Borrowings  
      2015 £m      2014 £m      2015 £m      2014 £m      2015 £m      2014 £m  

Less than 1 year

     -         -         1,293         2,153         137         119   

1 to 2 years

     275         -         -         9         226         50   

2 to 3 years

     -         275         598         1         168         65   

3 to 4 years

     -         -         -         -         36         74   

4 to 5 years

     -         -         -         65         32         31   

Over 5 years

     4,736         4,029         69         35         733         754   

Total

     5,011         4,304         1,960         2,263         1,332         1,093   

 

C7 Risk and sensitivity analysis

 

C7.1 Group overview

The Group’s risk framework and the management of the risk including those attached to the Group’s financial statements including financial assets, financial liabilities and insurance liabilities, together with the inter-relationship with the management of capital have been included in the audited sections of ‘Group Risk Framework’ within Item 4 ‘Information on the Company’.

The financial and insurance assets and liabilities on the Group’s balance sheet are, to varying degrees, subject to market and insurance risk and other changes of experience assumptions that may have a material effect on IFRS basis profit or loss and shareholders’ equity. The market and insurance risks, including how they affect Group’s operations and how these are managed are discussed in the ‘Group Risk Framework’ within Item 4 ‘Information on the Company’.

The most significant items for which the IFRS shareholders’ profit or loss and shareholders’ equity for the Group’s life assurance business is sensitive to, are shown in the following tables. The distinction between direct and indirect exposure is not intended to indicate the relative size of the sensitivity.

 

F-122


Table of Contents

Type of business

 

Market and credit risk

 

Insurance and
lapse risk

    

Investments/derivatives

 

Liabilities /unallocated
surplus

 

Other exposure

    
Asia insurance operations (see also section C7.2)      
   

All business

 

Currency risk

     

Mortality and
morbidity risk
Persistency risk

With-profits business   Net neutral direct exposure (indirect exposure only)   Investment performance subject to smoothing through declared bonuses    
   

Unit-linked business

 

  Net neutral direct exposure (indirect exposure only)   Investment performance through asset management fees  

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   
Non-participating
business
 

Asset/liability mismatch risk

        
    Credit risk  

Interest rates for those

operations where the basis of insurance liabilities is sensitive to current market movements

     
   

 

 

Interest rate and price risk

 

 

 

 

 

 

   
US insurance operations (see also section C7.3)      
   

All business

 

Currency risk

     

Persistency risk

Variable annuity business   Net effect of market risk arising from incidence of guarantee features and variability of asset management fees offset by derivative hedging programme      

 

 

 

 

 

   
Fixed index annuity business   Derivative hedge programme to the extent not fully hedged against liability  

Incidence of equity

participation features

     

 

 

 

 

 

   
Fixed index annuities, Fixed annuities and GIC business   Credit risk Interest rate risk Profit and loss and shareholders’ equity are volatile for these risks as they affect the values of derivatives and embedded derivatives and impairment losses. In addition, shareholders’ equity is volatile for the incidence of these risks on unrealised appreciation of fixed income securities classified as available-for-sale under IAS 39       Spread difference between earned rate and rate credited to policyholders   Lapse risk, but the effects of extreme events are mitigated by the application of market value adjustments
   
UK insurance operations (see also section C7.4)      
   
With-profits business   Net neutral direct exposure (indirect exposure only)   Investment performance subject to smoothing through declared bonuses   Persistency risk to future shareholder transfers
   
SAIF sub-fund   Net neutral direct exposure (indirect exposure only)   Asset management fees earned by M&G    
   
Unit-linked business   Net neutral direct exposure (indirect exposure only)   Investment performance through asset management fees   Persistency risk

 

 

 

 

 

   

 

 

Asset/liability mismatch risk

        
   

Shareholder-
backed

annuity business

  Credit risk for assets covering
liabilities and shareholder capital
          Mortality
experience and
assumptions for
longevity
   
    Interest rate risk for assets in excess of liabilities ie assets representing shareholder capital            

 

F-123


Table of Contents

Detailed analyses of sensitivity of IFRS basis profit or loss and shareholders’ equity to key market and other risks by business unit are provided in notes C7.2, C7.3, C7.4 and C7.5. The sensitivity analyses provided show the effect on profit or loss and shareholders’ equity to changes in the relevant risk variables, all of which are reasonably possible at the relevant balance sheet date. In the equity risk sensitivity analysis shown below, the Group has considered the impact of an instantaneous 20 per cent fall in equity markets. If equity markets were to fall by more than 20 per cent, the Group believes that this would not be an instantaneous fall but rather this would be expected to occur over a period of time during which the Group would be able to put mitigating management actions in place. In addition, the equity risk sensitivity analysis provided assumed that all equity indices fall by the same percentage.

Impact of diversification on risk exposure

The Group enjoys significant diversification benefits achieved through the geographical spread of the Group’s operations and, within those operations through a broad mix of product types. This arises because not all risk scenarios are likely to happen at the same time and across all geographic regions. Relevant correlation factors include:

Correlation across geographic regions:

  Financial risk factors; and
  Non-financial risk factors.

Correlation across risk factors:

  Longevity risk;
  Expenses;
  Persistency; and
  Other risks.

The effect of Group diversification across the Group’s life businesses is to significantly reduce the aggregate standalone volatility risk to IFRS operating profit based on longer-term investment returns. The effect is almost wholly explained by the correlations across risk types, in particular mortality and longevity risk.

C7.2 Asia insurance operations

Exposure and sensitivity of IFRS basis profit and shareholders’ equity to market and other risks

The Asia operations sell with-profits and unit-linked policies and, although the with-profits business generally has a lower terminal bonus element than in the UK, the investment portfolio still contains a proportion of equities. Non-participating business is largely backed by debt securities or deposits. The Group’s exposure to market risk arising from its Asia operations is therefore at modest levels. This reflects the fact that the Asia operations have a balanced portfolio of with-profits, unit-linked and other types of business.

In Asia, adverse persistency experience can impact the IFRS profitability of certain types of business written in the region. This risk is managed at a business unit level through regular monitoring of experience and the implementation of management actions as necessary. These actions could include product enhancements, increased management focus on premium collection as well as other customer retention efforts. The potential financial impact of lapses is often mitigated through the specific features of the products, eg surrender charges, or through the availability of premium holiday or partial withdrawal policy features.

In summary, for Asia operations, the operating profit based on longer-term investment returns is mainly affected by the impact of market levels on unit-linked persistency, and other insurance risks. At the total IFRS profit level the Asia result is affected by short-term value movements on the asset portfolio for non-linked shareholder-backed business.

 

i Sensitivity to risks other than foreign exchange risk

With-profits business

Similar principles to those explained for UK with-profits business in C7.4 apply to profit emergence for the Asia with-profits business. Correspondingly, the profit emergence reflects bonus declaration and is relatively insensitive to period-by-period fluctuations in insurance risk or interest rate movements.

 

F-124


Table of Contents

Unit-linked business

As for the UK insurance operations, for unit-linked business, the main factor affecting the profit and shareholders’ equity of the Asia operations is investment performance through asset management fees. The sensitivity of profits and shareholders’ equity to changes in insurance risk, interest rate risk and credit risk are not material.

Other business

Interest rate risk

Excluding its with-profits and unit-linked businesses, the results of the Asia business are sensitive to the vagaries of routine movements in interest rates.

For the purposes of analysing sensitivity to variations in interest rates, reference has been made to the movements in the 10-year government bond rates of the territories. At 31 December 2015, 10-year government bond rates vary from territory to territory and range from 1.0 per cent to 8.9 per cent (2014: 1.6 per cent to 8.0 per cent).

For the sensitivity analysis as shown in the table below, the reasonably possible interest rate movement used is one per cent for all territories.

The estimated sensitivity to the decrease and increase in interest rates at 31 December 2015 and 2014 is as follows:

 

     2015 £m      2014 £m  
     

        Decrease

of 1%

    

        Increase

of 1%

    

        Decrease

of 1%

    

        Increase

of 1%

 

Profit before tax attributable to shareholders

     185         (339)         (54)         (137)   

Related deferred tax (where applicable)

     (34)         59         (5)         24   

Net effect on profit and shareholders’ equity

     151         (280)         (59)         (113)   

The pre-tax impacts, if they arose, would mostly be recorded within the category short-term fluctuations in investments returns in the Group’s segmental analysis of profit before tax.

The degree of sensitivity of the results of the non-linked shareholder-backed business of the Asia operations to movements in interest rates depends upon the degree to which the liabilities under the ‘grandfathered’ IFRS 4 measurement basis reflects market interest rates from period to period. For example for those countries, such as those applying US GAAP, the results can be more sensitive as the effect of interest rate movements on the backing investments may not be offset by liability movements.

In addition, the degree of sensitivity of the results shown in the table above is dependent on the interest rate level at that point of time. The low interest rates in certain countries have had an adverse impact on the degree of sensitivity to a decrease in interest rates.

An additional factor to the direction of the sensitivity of the Asia operations as a whole is movement in the country mix.

Equity price risk

The non-linked shareholder business has limited exposure to equity and property investment (31 December 2015: £840 million). Generally changes in equity and property investment values are not directly offset by movements in policyholder liabilities.

The estimated sensitivity to a 10 per cent and 20 per cent change in equity and property prices for shareholder-backed Asia other business, which would be reflected in the short-term fluctuation component of the Group’s segmental analysis of profit before tax, at 31 December 2015 and 2014 would be as follows:

 

     2015 £m      2014 £m  
     Decrease      Decrease  
              of 20%              of 10%              of 20%              of 10%  

Profit before tax attributable to shareholders

     (169)         (85)         (187)         (93)   

Related deferred tax (where applicable)

     21         10         23         11   

Net effect on profit and shareholders’ equity

     (148)         (75)         (164)         (82)   

 

F-125


Table of Contents

A 10 or 20 per cent increase in their value would have an approximately equal and opposite effect on profit and shareholders’ equity to the sensitivities shown above. The market risk sensitivities shown above reflect the impact of temporary market movements and, therefore, the primary effect of such movements would, in the Group’s segmental analysis of profits, be included within the short-term fluctuations in investment returns.

Insurance risk

Many of the territories in Asia are exposed to mortality/morbidity risk and provision is made within policyholder liabilities on a prudent regulatory basis to cover the potential exposure. If these prudent assumptions were strengthened by 5 per cent then it is estimated that post tax profit and shareholders’ equity would be decreased by approximately £43 million (2014: £40 million). Mortality and morbidity has a symmetrical effect on the portfolio and any weakening of these assumptions would have a similar equal and opposite impact.

 

ii Sensitivity to foreign exchange risk

Consistent with the Group’s accounting policies, the profits of the Asia insurance operations are translated at average exchange rates and shareholders’ equity at the closing rate for the reporting period. For 2015, the rates for the most significant operations are given in note A1.

A 10 per cent increase (strengthening of the pound sterling) or decrease (weakening of the pound sterling) in these rates would have reduced or increased profit before tax attributable to shareholders, profit for the year and shareholders’ equity, excluding goodwill attributable to Asia operations respectively as follows:

 

     A 10% increase in local
    currency to £ exchange rates    
     A 10% decrease in local
    currency to £ exchange rates    
 
      2015 £m      2014 £m      2015 £m      2014 £m  

Profit before tax attributable to shareholders

     (94)         (111)         115         135   

Profit for the year

     (79)         (95)         97         117   
Shareholders’ equity, excluding goodwill, attributable to Asia operations      (367)         (315)         449         384   

C7.3     US insurance operations

Exposure and sensitivity of IFRS basis profit and shareholders’ equity to market and other risks

At the level of operating profit based on longer-term investment returns, Jackson’s results are sensitive to market conditions to the extent of income earned on spread-based products and indirectly in respect of variable annuity asset management fees.

Jackson’s main exposures are to market risk through its exposure to interest rate risk and equity risk. Approximately 92 per cent (2014: 94 per cent) of its general account investments support fixed interest rate and fixed index annuities, variable annuity fixed account deposits and guarantees, life business and surplus and 8 per cent (2014: 6 per cent) support institutional businesses. All of these types of business contain considerable interest rate guarantee features and, consequently, require that the assets that support them are primarily fixed income or fixed maturity.

Jackson is exposed primarily to the following risks:

 

Risks   Risk of loss
Equity risk  

•    related to the incidence of benefits related to guarantees issued in connection with its variable annuity contracts; and

•    related to meeting contractual accumulation requirements in fixed index annuity contracts.

Interest rate risk  

•    related to meeting guaranteed rates of accumulation on fixed annuity products following a sharp and sustained fall in interest rates;

•    related to increases in the present value of projected benefits related to guarantees issued in connection with its variable annuity contracts following a sharp and sustained fall in interest rates in conjunction with a fall in equity markets;

•    related to the surrender value guarantee features attached to the company’s fixed annuity products and to policyholder withdrawals following a sharp and sustained increase in interest rates; and

•    the risk of mismatch between the expected duration of certain annuity liabilities and prepayment risk and extension risk inherent in mortgage-backed securities.

 

F-126


Table of Contents

Jackson’s derivative programme is used to manage interest rate risk associated with a broad range of products and equity market risk attaching to its equity-based products. Movements in equity markets, interest rates and credit spreads materially affect the carrying value of derivatives which are used to manage the liabilities to policyholders and backing investment assets. Combined with the use of US GAAP measurement (as ‘grandfathered’ under IFRS 4) for the insurance contracts assets and liabilities which is largely insensitive to current period market movements, the Jackson total profit (ie including short-term fluctuations in investment returns) is sensitive to market movements. In addition to these effects the Jackson shareholders’ equity is sensitive to the impact of interest rate and credit spread movements on the value of fixed income securities. Movements in unrealised appreciation on these securities are included as movement in shareholders’ equity (ie outside the income statement).

Jackson enters into financial derivative transactions, including those noted below to reduce and manage business risks. These transactions manage the risk of a change in the value, yield, price, cash flows or quantity of, or a degree of exposure with respect to assets, liabilities or future cash flows, which Jackson has acquired or incurred.

Jackson uses free-standing derivative instruments for hedging purposes. Additionally, certain liabilities, primarily trust instruments supported by funding agreements, fixed index annuities, certain Guaranteed Minimum Withdrawal Benefit variable annuity features and reinsured Guaranteed Minimum Income Benefit variable annuity features contain embedded derivatives as defined by IAS 39, ‘Financial Instruments: Recognition and Measurement’. Jackson does not account for such derivatives as either fair value or cash flow hedges as might be permitted if the specific hedge documentation requirements of IAS 39 were followed. Financial derivatives, including derivatives embedded in certain host liabilities that have been separated for accounting and financial reporting purposes are carried at fair value.

Value movements on the derivatives are reported within the income statement. In preparing Jackson’s segment profit as shown in note B1.1 value movements on Jackson’s derivative contracts, are included within short-term fluctuations in investment returns and excluded from operating results based on longer-term investment returns.

The principal types of derivatives used by Jackson and their purpose are as follows:

 

Derivative  

Purpose

 

Interest rate swaps  

These generally involve the exchange of fixed and floating payments over the period for which Jackson holds the instrument without an exchange of the underlying principal amount. These agreements are used for hedging purposes.

 

Swaption contracts  

These contracts provide the purchaser with the right, but not the obligation, to require the writer to pay the present value of a long-duration interest rate swap at future exercise dates. Jackson both purchases and writes swaptions in order to hedge against significant movements in interest rates.

 

Equity index

futures contracts

and equity index options

 

These derivatives (including various call and put options and interest rate contingent options) are used to hedge Jackson’s obligations associated with its issuance of certain VA guarantees. Some of these annuities and guarantees contain embedded options which are fair valued for financial reporting purposes.

 

Cross-currency swaps  

Cross-currency swaps, which embody spot and forward currency swaps and additionally, in some cases, interest rate swaps and equity index swaps, are entered into for the purpose of hedging Jackson’s foreign currency denominated funding agreements supporting trust instrument obligations.

 

Credit default swaps  

These swaps, represent agreements under which Jackson has purchased default protection on certain underlying corporate bonds held in its portfolio. These contracts allow Jackson to sell the protected bonds at par value to the counterparty if a default event occurs in exchange for periodic payments made by Jackson for the life of the agreement. Jackson does not write default protection using credit derivatives.

 

The estimated sensitivity of Jackson’s profit and shareholders’ equity to equity and interest rate risks provided below is net of the related changes in amortisation of DAC. The effect on the related changes in amortisation of DAC provided is based on the current ‘grandfathered’ US GAAP DAC basis but does not include any effect from an acceleration or deceleration of amortisation of DAC.

 

F-127


Table of Contents
i Sensitivity to equity risk

At 31 December 2015 and 2014, Jackson had variable annuity contracts with guarantees, for which the net amount at risk (‘NAR’) is defined as the amount of guaranteed benefit in excess of current account value, as follows:

 

31 December 2015

 

  

Minimum

return

 

   

Account

value
£m

    

Net

amount

at risk
£m

    

Weighted

average

attained age

 

    

Period

until

expected

annuitisation

 

 

Return of net deposits plus a minimum return

             

GMDB

     0-6%        70,732         2,614         65.3 years      

GMWB - Premium only

     0%        1,916         56         

GMWB*

     0-5% **      229         23         

GMAB - Premium only

     0%        45         -         
Highest specified anniversary account value minus withdrawals post-anniversary              

GMDB

       7,008         587         65.4 years      

GMWB - Highest anniversary only

       2,025         202         

GMWB*

       698         101         
Combination net deposits plus minimum return, highest specified anniversary account value minus withdrawals post-anniversary              

GMDB

     0-6%        4,069         640         68.3 years      

GMIB

     0-6%        1,422         518            0.5 years   

GMWB*

     0-8% **      63,924         7,758                     

31 December 2014

 

  

Minimum

return

 

   

Account

value
£m

    

Net

amount

at risk
£m

    

Weighted

average

attained age

 

    

Period

until

expected

annuitisation

 

 

Return of net deposits plus a minimum return

             

GMDB

     0-6%        64,344         1,463         65.0 years      

GMWB - Premium only

     0%        2,151         32         

GMWB*

     0-5% **      264         17         

GMAB - Premium only

     0%        53         -         
Highest specified anniversary account value minus withdrawals post-anniversary              

GMDB

       6,581         193         65.0 years      

GMWB - Highest anniversary only

       2,131         85         

GMWB*

       830         58         
Combination net deposits plus minimum return, highest specified anniversary account value minus withdrawals post-anniversary              

GMDB

     0-6%        3,978         302         67.5 years      

GMIB

     0-6%        1,595         360            1.4 years   

GMWB*

     0-8% **      57,323         2,033                     
* Amounts shown for Guaranteed Minimum Withdrawal Benefit comprise sums for the ‘not for life’ portion (where the guaranteed withdrawal base less the account value equals to the net amount at risk (NAR)), and a ‘for life’ portion (where the NAR has been estimated as the present value of future expected benefit payment remaining after the amount of the ‘not for life’ guaranteed benefits is zero).
** Ranges shown based on simple interest. The upper limits of 5 per cent, or 8 per cent simple interest are approximately equal to 4.1 per cent and 6 per cent respectively, on a compound interest basis over a typical ten year bonus period. For example 1 + 10 x 0.05 is similar to 1.04 growing at a compound rate of 4 per cent for a further nine years.
  The GMIB reinsurance guarantees are essentially fully reinsured.

Account balances of contracts with guarantees were invested in variable separate accounts as follows:

 

      2015 £m        2014 £m  

Mutual fund type:

       

Equity

     55,488           50,071   

Bond

     11,535           11,139   

Balanced

     13,546           12,901   

Money market

     832           675   

Total

     81,401           74,786   

 

F-128


Table of Contents

As noted above, Jackson is exposed to equity risk through the options embedded in the fixed index annuity liabilities and Guaranteed Minimum Death Benefit and Guaranteed Minimum Withdrawal Benefit guarantees included in certain variable annuity benefits as illustrated above. This risk is managed using an equity hedging programme to minimise the risk of a significant economic impact as a result of increases or decreases in equity market levels while taking advantage of naturally offsetting exposures in Jackson’s operations. Jackson purchases external futures and options that hedge the risks inherent in these products, while also considering the impact of rising and falling guaranteed benefit fees.

As a result of this hedging programme, if the equity markets were to increase further in the future, the net effect of Jackson’s free-standing derivatives would decrease in value. However, over time, this movement would be broadly offset by increased separate account fees and reserve decreases, net of the related changes to amortisation of deferred acquisition costs. Due to the nature of the free-standing and embedded derivatives, this hedge, while highly effective on an economic basis, may not completely mute in the financial reporting the immediate impact of equity market movements as the free-standing derivatives reset immediately while the hedged liabilities reset more slowly and fees are recognised prospectively. The opposite impact would be observed if the equity markets were to decrease.

In addition to the exposure explained above, Jackson is also exposed to equity risk from its holding of equity securities, partnerships in investment pools and other financial derivatives.

At 31 December 2015, the estimated sensitivity of Jackson’s profit and shareholders’ equity to immediate increases and decreases in equity markets is shown below. The sensitivities are shown net of related changes in DAC amortisation.

 

     2015 £m         2014 £m  
     Decrease         Increase         Decrease         Increase  
        of 20%     of 10%           of 20%     of 10%           of 20%     of 10%           of 20%     of 10%  
Pre-tax profit, net of related changes in amortisation of DAC      738        259          (86)        (128)          360        130          8        (25)   

Related deferred tax effects

     (258)        (91)          30        45          (126)        (46)          (3)        9   
Net sensitivity of profit after tax and shareholders’ equity      480        168            (56)        (83)            234        84            5        (16)   

Note

The table above has been prepared to exclude the impact of the instantaneous equity movements on the separate account fees. In addition, the sensitivity movements shown include those relating to the fixed index annuity and the reinsurance of GMIB guarantees.

The above table provides sensitivity movements as at a point in time while the actual impact on financial results would vary contingent upon the volume of new product sales and lapses, changes to the derivative portfolio, correlation of market returns and various other factors including volatility, interest rates and elapsed time.

The directional movements in the sensitivities reflect the hedging programme in place at 31 December 2015 and 2014.

 

ii Sensitivity to interest rate risk

Notwithstanding the market risk exposure previously described, except in the circumstances of interest rate scenarios where the guarantee rates included in contract terms are higher than crediting rates that can be supported from assets held to cover liabilities, the accounting measurement of fixed annuity liabilities of Jackson products is not generally sensitive to interest rate risk. This position derives from the nature of the products and the US GAAP basis of measurement. The Guaranteed Minimum Withdrawal Benefit features attached to variable annuity business (other than ‘for life’ components) are accounted for as embedded derivatives which are fair valued and, therefore, will be sensitive to changes in interest rate.

Debt securities and related derivatives are marked to fair value. Value movements on derivatives, again net of related changes to amortisation of DAC and deferred tax, are recorded within the income statement. Fair value movements on debt securities, net of related changes to amortisation of DAC and deferred tax, are recorded within

 

F-129


Table of Contents

other comprehensive income. The estimated sensitivity of these items and policyholder liabilities to a 1 per cent and 2 per cent decrease and increase in interest rates at 31 December 2015 and 2014 is as follows:

 

     2015 £m           2014 £m  
     Decrease           Increase           Decrease           Increase  
      of 2%      of 1%           of 1%      of 2%           of 2%      of 1%           of 1%      of 2%  

Profit and loss:

                                

Pre-tax profit effect (net of related changes in amortisation of DAC)

     (1,776)         (847)            628         1,120            (1,398)         (690)            494         875   

Related effect on charge for deferred tax

     621         296            (220)         (392)            489         242            (173)         (306)   

Net profit effect

     (1,155)         (551)            408         728            (909)         (448)            321         569   

Other comprehensive income:

                                

Direct effect on carrying value of debt securities (net of related changes in amortisation of DAC)

     3,167         1,782            (1,782)         (3,167)            2,979         1,663            (1,663)         (2,979)   

Related effect on movement in deferred tax

     (1,108)         (624)            624         1,108            (1,043)         (582)            582         1,043   

Net effect

     2,059         1,158            (1,158)         (2,059)            1,936         1,081            (1,081)         (1,936)   

Total net effect on shareholders’ equity

     904         607              (750)         (1,331)              1,027         633              (760)         (1,367)   

These sensitivities are shown only for interest rates in isolation and do not include other movements in credit risk that may affect credit spreads and valuations of debt securities. Similar to sensitivity to equity risk, the sensitivity movements provided in the table above are at a point in time and reflect the hedging programme in place on the balance sheet date, while the actual impact on financial results would vary contingent upon a number of factors.

 

iii Sensitivity to foreign exchange risk

Consistent with the Group’s accounting policies, the profits of the Group’s US operations are translated at average exchange rates and shareholders’ equity at the closing rate for the reporting period. For 2015, the average and closing rates were US$1.53 (2014: $1.65) and US$1.47 (2014: US$1.56) to £1.00 sterling, respectively. A 10 per cent increase (weakening of the dollar) or decrease (strengthening of the dollar) in these rates would reduce or increase profit before tax attributable to shareholders, profit for the year and shareholders’ equity attributable to US insurance operations respectively as follows:

 

     A 10% increase in US$:£
exchange rates
     A 10% decrease in US$:£
exchange rates
 
      2015 £m      2014 £m      2015 £m      2014 £m  

Profit before tax attributable to shareholders note

     (109)         (23)         133         29   

Profit for the year

     (87)         (23)         107         28   

Shareholders’ equity attributable to US insurance operations

     (378)         (370)         462         452   

Note: Sensitivity on profit (loss) before tax ie aggregate of the operating profit based on longer-term investment returns and short-term fluctuations in investment returns.

 

iv Other sensitivities

Total profit of Jackson is sensitive to market risk on the assets covering liabilities other than variable annuity business segregated in the separate accounts.

As with other shareholder-backed business the profit or loss for Jackson is presented by distinguishing the result for the year between an operating result based on longer-term investment returns and short-term fluctuations in investment returns. In this way the most significant direct effect of market changes that have taken place to the Jackson result are separately identified. The principal determinants of variations in operating profit based on longer-term returns are:

 

  Growth in the size of assets under management covering the liabilities for the contracts in force;
  Variations in fees and other income, offset by variations in market value adjustment payments and, where necessary, strengthening of liabilities;
  Spread returns for the difference between investment returns and rates credited to policyholders; and
  Amortisation of deferred acquisition costs.

 

F-130


Table of Contents

For term business, acquisition costs are deferred and amortised in line with expected premiums. For annuity and interest sensitive life business, acquisition costs are deferred and amortised in line with expected gross profits on the relevant contracts. For interest-sensitive business, the key assumption is the expected long-term spread between the earned rate and the rate credited to policyholders, which is based on an annual spread analysis. In addition, expected gross profits depend on mortality assumptions, assumed unit costs and terminations other than deaths (including the related charges) all of which are based on a combination of actual experience of Jackson, industry experience and future expectations. A detailed analysis of actual experience is measured by internally developed expense, mortality and persistency studies.

Except to the extent of mortality experience, which primarily affects profits through variations in claim payments and Guaranteed Minimum Death Benefit reserves, the profits of Jackson are relatively insensitive to changes in insurance risk.

Jackson is sensitive to lapse risk and other types of policyholder behaviour, such as the take-up of its Guaranteed Minimum Withdrawal Benefit product features. In the absence of hedging, equity and interest rate movements can both cause a loss directly and cause an increased future sensitivity to policyholder behaviour. Jackson has an extensive derivative programme that seeks to manage the exposure to such altered equity markets and interest rates.

For variable annuity business, the key assumption is the expected long-term level of separate account returns, which for 2015 was 7.4 per cent (2014: 7.4 per cent). The impact of using this return is reflected in two principal ways, namely:

 

  Through the projected expected gross profits which are used to determine the amortisation of deferred acquisition costs. This is applied through the use of a mean reversion technique which is described in more detail in note C5.1(b) above; and
  The required level of provision for claims for guaranteed minimum death, ‘for life’ withdrawal, and income benefits.

 

C7.4 UK insurance operations

Exposure and sensitivity of IFRS basis profit and shareholders’ equity to market and other risks

The IFRS basis results of the UK insurance operations are most sensitive to asset/liability matching, mortality and default rate experience and longevity assumptions and the difference between the return on corporate bond and risk-free rate for shareholder-backed annuity business of Prudential Retirement Income Limited and the Prudential Assurance Company non-profit sub-fund. Further details are described below.

The IFRS operating profit based on longer-term investment returns for UK insurance operations is sensitive to changes in longevity assumptions affecting the carrying value of liabilities to policyholders for UK shareholder-backed annuity business. At the total IFRS profit level, the result is particularly sensitive to temporary value movements on assets backing the capital of the shareholder-backed annuity business.

With-profits business

SAIF

Shareholders have no interest in the profits of the ring-fenced fund of SAIF but are entitled to the asset management fees paid on the assets of the fund.

With-profits sub-fund business

The shareholder results of the UK with-profits business (including non-participating annuity business of the with-profits sub-fund are only sensitive to market risk through the indirect effect of investment performance on declared policyholder bonuses.

The investment assets of PAC with-profits funds are subject to market risk. Changes in their carrying value, net of related changes to asset-share liabilities of with-profit contracts, affect the level of unallocated surplus of the fund. Therefore, the level of unallocated surplus is particularly sensitive to the level of investment returns on the portion of the assets that represents surplus. However, as unallocated surplus is accounted for as a liability under IFRS, movements in its value do not affect shareholders’ profit and equity.

 

 

F-131


Table of Contents

The shareholder results of the UK with-profits fund correspond to the shareholders’ share of the cost of bonuses declared on the with-profits business which is currently one-ninth of the cost of bonuses declared. Investment performance is a key driver of bonuses, and hence the shareholders’ share of the cost of bonuses. Due to the ‘smoothed’ basis of bonus declaration, the sensitivity to investment performance in a single year is low relative to movements in the period to period performance. However, over multiple periods, it is important as it may affect future expected shareholder transfers.

Mortality and other insurance risk are relatively minor factors in the determination of the bonus rates. Adverse persistency experience can affect the level of profitability from with-profits but in any given one year, the shareholders’ share of cost of bonus may only be marginally affected. However, altered persistency trends may affect future expected shareholder transfers.

Shareholder-backed annuity business

The principal items affecting the IFRS results of the UK shareholder-backed annuity business are mortality experience and assumptions, and credit risk. The assets covering the liabilities are principally debt securities and other investments that are held to match the expected duration and payment characteristics of the policyholder liabilities. These liabilities are valued for IFRS reporting purposes by applying discount rates that reflect the market rates of return attaching to the covering assets.

Except to the extent of any asset/liability duration mismatch which is reviewed regularly, and exposure to credit risk, the sensitivity of the Group’s results to market risk for movements in the carrying value of the liabilities and covering assets is broadly neutral on a net basis.

The main market risk sensitivity for the UK shareholder-backed annuity business arises from interest rate risk on the debt securities which substantially represent shareholders’ equity. This shareholders’ equity comprises the net assets held within the long-term fund of the company that cover regulatory basis liabilities that are not recognised for IFRS reporting purposes, for example contingency reserves, and shareholder capital held outside the long-term fund.

In summary, profits from shareholder-backed annuity business are most sensitive to:

 

  The extent to which the duration of the assets held closely matches the expected duration of the liabilities under the contracts;
  Actual versus expected default rates on assets held;
  The difference between long-term rates of return on corporate bonds and risk-free rates;
  The variance between actual and expected mortality experience;
  The extent to which changes to the assumed rate of improvements in mortality give rise to changes in the measurement of liabilities; and
  Changes in renewal expense levels.

In addition the level of profit is affected by change in the level of reinsurance cover.

A decrease in assumed mortality rates of 1 per cent would decrease pre-tax profit by approximately £67 million (2014: £94 million). A decrease in credit default assumptions of five basis points would increase pre-tax profit by £176 million (2014: £190 million). A decrease in renewal expenses (excluding asset management expenses) of 5 per cent would increase pre-tax profit by £35 million (2014: £30 million). The effect on profit would be approximately symmetrical for changes in assumptions that are directionally opposite to those explained above. The net effect on profit after tax and shareholders’ equity from all the changes in assumptions as described above would be an increase of approximately £115 million (2014: £101 million).

Unit-linked and other business

Unit-linked and other business represents a comparatively small proportion of the in-force business of the UK insurance operations.

Due to the matching of policyholder liabilities to attaching asset value movements the UK unit-linked business is not directly affected by market or credit risk. The liabilities of the other business are also broadly insensitive to market risk. Profits from unit- linked and similar contracts primarily arise from the excess of charges to policyholders for management of assets, over expenses incurred. The former is most sensitive to the net accretion

 

F-132


Table of Contents

of funds under management as a function of new business and lapse and timing of death. The accounting impact of the latter is dependent upon the amortisation of acquisition costs in line with the emergence of margins (for insurance contracts) and amortisation in line with service provision (for the investment management component of investment contracts). By virtue of the design features of most of the contracts which provide low levels of mortality cover, the profits are relatively insensitive to changes in mortality experience.

Sensitivity to interest rate risk and other market risk

By virtue of the fund structure, product features and basis of accounting, the policyholder liabilities of the UK insurance operations are, except annuity business, not generally exposed to interest rate risk. At 31 December 2015 annuity liabilities accounted for 98 per cent (2014: 98 per cent) of UK shareholder-backed business liabilities. For annuity business, liabilities are exposed to interest rate risk. However, the net exposure to the Prudential Assurance Company with-profits sub-fund (for its non-profit annuity business) and shareholders (for annuity liabilities of Prudential Retirement Income Limited and the non-profit sub-fund) is very substantially ameliorated by virtue of the close matching of assets with appropriate duration. The level of matching from period to period can vary depending on management actions and economic factors so it is possible for a degree of mis-matching profits or losses to arise.

The close matching by the Group of assets of appropriate duration to annuity liabilities is based on maintaining economic and regulatory capital. The measurement of liabilities under capital reporting requirements and IFRS is not the same with contingency reserves and some other margins for prudence within the assumptions required under the regulatory solvency basis not included for IFRS reporting purposes. As a result IFRS equity is higher than regulatory capital and therefore more sensitive to interest rate and credit risk.

The estimated sensitivity of the UK non-linked shareholder-backed business (principally annuities business) to a movement in interest rates is as follows:

 

     2015 £m    

 

  2014 £m  
     

A

decrease

of 2%

   

A

decrease

of 1%

   

An

increase

of 1%

   

An

increase

of 2%

       

A

decrease

of 2%

   

A

decrease

of 1%

   

An

increase

of 1%

   

An

increase

of 2%

 
Carrying value of debt securities and derivatives      10,862        4,812        (3,935)        (7,219)          11,559        5,063        (4,085)        (7,457)   
Policyholder liabilities      (8,738)        (3,909)        3,208        5,872          (9,550)        (4,250)        3,454        6,297   
Related deferred tax effects      (402)        (172)        138        257          (402)        (163)        126        232   
Net sensitivity of profit after tax and shareholders’ equity      1,722        731        (589)        (1,090)            1,607        650        (505)        (928)   

In addition the shareholder-backed portfolio of UK non-linked insurance operations covering liabilities and shareholders’ equity includes equity securities and investment properties. Excluding any second order effects on the measurement of the liabilities for future cash flows to the policyholder, a fall in their value would have given rise to the following effects on pre-tax profit, profit after tax and shareholders’ equity.

 

     2015 £m      2014 £m  
      A decrease
of 20%
     A decrease
of 10%
     A decrease
of 20%
     A decrease
of 10%
 

Pre-tax profit

     (327)         (163)         (347)         (173)   

Related deferred tax effects

     66         33         75         37   

Net sensitivity of profit after tax and shareholders’ equity

     (261)         (130)         (272)         (136)   

A 10 or 20 per cent increase in their value would have an approximately equal and opposite effect on profit and shareholders’ equity to the sensitivities shown above. The market risk sensitivities shown above reflect the impact of temporary market movements, and, therefore the primary effect of such movements would, in the Group’s segmental analysis of profits, be included within the short-term fluctuations in investment returns.

 

F-133


Table of Contents
C7.5 Asset management and other operations

 

a Asset management
i Sensitivities to foreign exchange risk

Consistent with the Group’s accounting policies, the profits of Eastspring Investments and US asset management operations are translated at average exchange rates and shareholders’ equity at the closing rate for the reporting period. The rates for the functional currencies of most significant operations are shown in note A1.

A 10 per cent increase in the relevant exchange rates (strengthening of the pound sterling) would have reduced reported profit before tax attributable to shareholders and shareholders’ equity, excluding goodwill attributable to Eastspring Investments and US asset management operations, by £11 million and £38 million respectively (2014: £9 million and £33 million, respectively).

 

ii Sensitivities to other financial risks for asset management operations

The principal sensitivities to other financial risk of asset management operations are credit risk on the bridging loan portfolio of the Prudential Capital operation and the indirect effect of changes to market values of funds under management. Due to the nature of the asset management operations there is limited direct sensitivity to movements in interest rates. Total debt securities held at 31 December 2015 by asset management operations were £2,204 million (2014: £2,293 million), the majority of which are held by the Prudential Capital’s operation. Debt securities held by Prudential Capital are in general variable rate bonds and so market value is limited in sensitivity to interest rate movements and consequently any change in interest rates would not have a material impact on profit or shareholders’ equity. The Group’s asset management operations do not hold significant investments in property or equities.

 

b Other operations

The Group holds certain derivatives that are used to manage foreign currency movements and macroeconomic exposures. The fair value of these derivatives is sensitive to the combined effect of movements in exchange rates, interest rates and inflation rates. The possible permutations cover a wide range of scenarios. For indicative purposes, a reasonably possible range of fair value movements could be plus or minus £150 million.

 

C8 Tax assets and liabilities

 

C8.1 Deferred tax

The statement of financial position contains the following deferred tax assets and liabilities in relation to:

 

             Deferred tax assets                  Deferred tax liabilities          
      2015 £m      2014 £m      2015 £m      2014 £m  

Unrealised losses or gains on investments

     21         83         (1,036)         (1,697)   

Balances relating to investment and insurance contracts

     1         4         (543)         (499)   

Short-term temporary differences

     2,752         2,607         (2,400)         (2,065)   

Capital allowances

     10         9         (31)         (30)   

Unused deferred tax losses

     35         62                  -  

Total

     2,819         2,765         (4,010)         (4,291)   

The deferred tax asset at 31 December 2015 and 2014 arises in the following parts of the Group:

 

      2015 £m      2014 £m  

Asia insurance operations

     66         84   

US insurance operations

     2,448         2,343   

UK insurance operations

     

SAIF

     1         -  

PAC with-profits fund (including non-profit annuity business)

     83         71   

Other

     48         61   

Other operations

     173         206   

Total

     2,819         2,765   

 

F-134


Table of Contents

Deferred tax assets are recognised to the extent that they are regarded as recoverable, that is to the extent that, on the basis of all available evidence, it can be regarded as more likely than not that there will be suitable taxable profits from which the future reversal of the underlying temporary differences can be deducted.

The taxation regimes applicable across the Group often apply separate rules to trading and capital profits and losses. The distinction between temporary differences that arise from items of either a trading or capital nature may affect the recognition of deferred tax assets. Accordingly, for the 2015 full year results and financial position at 31 December 2015 the possible tax benefit of approximately £98 million (2014: £110 million), which may arise from capital losses valued at approximately £0.5 billion (2014: £0.5 billion), is sufficiently uncertain that it has not been recognised. In addition, a potential deferred tax asset of £52 million (2014: £47 million), which may arise from trading tax losses and other potential temporary differences totalling £0.3 billion (2014: £0.2 billion) is sufficiently uncertain that it has not been recognised. Of these, losses of £36 million will expire within the next seven years. Of the remaining losses £1 million will expire within 20 years and the rest have no expiry date.

The table that follows provides a breakdown of the recognised deferred tax assets set out in the table above for both the short-term temporary differences and unused tax losses split by business unit. The table also shows the period of estimated recoverability for each respective business unit. For these and each category of deferred tax asset recognised their recoverability against forecast taxable profits is not significantly impacted by any current proposed changes to future accounting standards.

 

         Short-term temporary differences          Unused tax losses  
      2015 £m     

Expected

period of

recoverability

     2015 £m     

Expected

period of

recoverability

 

Asia insurance operations

     34         1 to 3 years         30         3 to 5 years   

US insurance operations

     2,433        

 

With run-off

of in-force book

  

  

     -        -  

UK insurance operations

     128         1 to 10 years         -        -  

Other operations

     157         1 to 10 years         5         1 to 3 years   

Total

     2,752                  35            

Under IAS 12, ‘Income Taxes’, deferred tax is measured at the tax rates that are expected to apply to the period when the asset is realised or the liability settled, based on the tax rates (and laws) that have been enacted or are substantively enacted at the end of the reporting period.

The reduction in the UK corporation tax rate to 19 per cent from 1 April 2017 and a further reduction to 18 per cent from 1 April 2020 was substantively enacted on 26 October 2015 which has had the effect of reducing the UK with-profits and shareholder-backed business element of the deferred tax balances as at 31 December 2015 by £17 million and the effects of these changes are reflected in the financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2015.

C8.2     Current tax

Of the £477 million (2014: £117 million) current tax recoverable, the majority is expected to be recovered in one year or less.

The current tax liability decreased to £325 million (2014: £617 million) reflecting accelerated tax payments in the US insurance operations during the year.

C9     Defined benefit pension schemes

 

(a) Background and summary economic and IAS 19 financial positions

The Group’s businesses operate a number of pension schemes. The specific features of these plans vary in accordance with the regulations of the country in which the employees are located, although they are, in general, funded by the Group and based either on a cash balance formula or on years of service and salary earned in the last year or years of employment. The largest defined benefit scheme is the principal UK scheme, namely the Prudential Staff Pension Scheme (PSPS). PSPS accounts for 84 per cent (2014: 84 per cent) of the underlying scheme liabilities of the Group’s defined benefit schemes.

 

 

F-135


Table of Contents

The Group also operates two smaller UK defined benefit schemes in respect of Scottish Amicable (SASPS) and M&G (M&GGPS). In addition, there are two small defined benefit schemes in Taiwan which have negligible deficits.

Under the IAS 19 ‘Employee Benefits’ valuation basis, the Group applies the principles of IFRIC 14, ‘IAS 19 – The Limit on a Defined Benefit Asset, Minimum Funding Requirements and their Interaction’, whereby a surplus is only recognised to the extent that the Company is able to access the surplus either through an unconditional right of refund to the surplus or through reduced future contributions relating to ongoing service, which have been substantively enacted or contractually agreed. Further, the IFRS financial position recorded, reflects the higher of any underlying IAS 19 deficit and any obligation for committed deficit funding where applicable.

The Group asset/liability in respect of defined benefit pension schemes is as follows:

 

    2015 £m         2014 £m  
                      Other                                 Other        
    PSPS     SASPS     M&GGPS     schemes     Total         PSPS     SASPS     M&GGPS     schemes     Total  
     note (i)     note (ii)                              note (i)     note (ii)                       
Underlying economic surplus (deficit)     969        (82)        75        (1)        961          840        (144)        60        (1)        755   
Less: unrecognised surplusnote (i)     (800)       -        -       -       (800)          (710)        -       -       -       (710)   
Economic surplus (deficit) (including investment in Prudential insurance policies)     169        (82)        75        (1)        161          130        (144)        60        (1)        45   
Attributable to:                          

PAC with-profits fund

    118        (33)        -        -       85          91        (72)        -       -       19   

Shareholder-backed operations

    51        (49)        75        (1)        76          39        (72)        60        (1)        26   
Consolidation adjustment against policyholder liabilities for investment in Prudential insurance policiesnote (iii)     -       -       (77)       -        (77)          -       -       (132)       -        (132)   
IAS 19 pension asset (liability) on the Group statement of financial positionnote (iv)     169        (82)        (2)        (1)        84            130        (144)        (72)        (1)        (87)   

Notes

(i) For PSPS, the Group does not have an unconditional right of refund to any surplus of the scheme. The PSPS pension asset represents the present value of the economic benefit (impact) of the Company from the difference between future ongoing contributions to the scheme and estimated accrued cost of service. No deficit or other funding is required for PSPS. Deficit funding, where applicable, is apportioned in the ratio of 70/30 between the PAC with-profits fund and shareholder-backed operations following detailed considerations in 2005 of the sourcing of previous contributions. Employer contributions for ongoing service of current employees are apportioned in the ratio relevant to current activity.
(ii) The deficit of SASPS has been allocated 40 per cent to the PAC with-profits fund and 60 per cent to the shareholders’ fund as at 31 December 2015 (2014: approximately 50/50).
(iii) The underlying position on an economic basis reflects the assets (including investments in Prudential insurance policies that are offset against liabilities to policyholders on the Group consolidation) and the liabilities of the schemes.
(iv) At 31 December 2015, the PSPS pension asset of £169 million (2014: £130 million) and the other schemes’ pension liabilities of £85 million (2014: £217 million) are included within ‘Other debtors’ and ‘Provisions’ respectively on the consolidated statement of financial position.

In respect of PSPS the contributions into the scheme are payable at the minimum level required under the scheme rules. Excluding expenses, the contributions are payable at approximately £6 million per annum for on-going service of active members of the scheme. No deficit or other funding is required. Deficit funding for PSPS, when applicable, is apportioned in the ratio of 70/30 between the PAC with-profits fund and shareholder-backed operations based on the sourcing of previous contributions. Employer contributions for on-going service of current employees are apportioned in the ratio relevant to current activity.

In respect of SASPS it has been agreed with the Trustees that the level of deficit funding be increased from the previous level of £13.1 million per annum to £21.0 million per annum from 1 January 2015 until 31 March 2024, or

 

F-136


Table of Contents

earlier if the scheme’s funding level reaches 100 per cent before this date, to eliminate the actuarial deficit. The deficit funding will be reviewed every three years at subsequent valuations.

In respect of M&GGPS it has been agreed with the Trustees that no deficit funding is required from 1 January 2016. Deficit funding of £9.3 million was paid in 2015 (2014: £18.6 million).

Defined benefit pension schemes in the UK are generally required to be subject to full actuarial valuations every three years in order to assess the appropriate level of funding for schemes in relation to their commitments. These valuations include assessments of the likely rate of return on the assets held within the separate trustee administered funds.

Risks to which the defined benefit schemes expose the Group

Responsibility of making good of any deficit that may arise in the schemes lies with the employers of the schemes, which are subsidiaries of the Group. Accordingly, the pension schemes expose the Group to a number of risks and the most significant of which are interest rate and investment risk, inflation risk and mortality risk.

Corporate governance

The Group’s UK pension schemes are regulated by ‘The Pension Regulator’ in accordance with the Pension Act 1995. Trustees have been appointed for each pension scheme and they have the ultimate responsibility to ensure that the scheme is managed in accordance with the Trust Deed & Rules.

All of the three Group’s UK defined benefit pension schemes (the PSPS, SASPS and M&GGPS) are final salary schemes, which are closed to new entrants.

The Trustee sets the general investment policy and specifies any restrictions on types of investment and the degrees of divergence permitted from the benchmark, but delegates the responsibility for selection and realisation of specific investments to the Investment Managers. The Trustee consults the Principal Employer, the Prudential Assurance Company, on the investment principles, but the ultimate responsibility for the investment of the assets of the scheme lies with the Trustee.

The Trustee of each of the schemes manages the investment strategy of the scheme to achieve an acceptable balance between investing in the assets that most closely match the expected benefit payments and assets that are expected to achieve a greater return in the hope of reducing the contributions required or providing additional benefits to members.

The PSPS scheme has entered into a derivatives based strategy to match the duration and inflation profile of its liabilities. This involved a reallocation from other investments to other assets with an interest and inflation swap overlay. As at 31 December 2015, the nominal value of the interest and inflation-linked swaps amounted to £0.7 billion (2014: £0.8 billion) and £3.4 billion (2014: £3.0 billion) respectively. The SASPS and M&GGPS use very limited or no derivatives to manage their risks.

 

(b) Assumptions

The actuarial assumptions used in determining benefit obligations and the net periodic benefit costs for the years ended 31 December were as follows:

 

      2015 %        2014 %        2013 %  

Discount rate*

     3.8           3.5           4.4   

Rate of increase in salaries

     3.0           3.0           3.3   

Rate of inflation**

            

Retail prices index (RPI)

     3.0           3.0           3.3   

Consumer prices index (CPI)

     2.0           2.0           2.3   

Rate of increase of pensions in payment for inflation:

            

PSPS:

            

Guaranteed (maximum 5%)

     2.5           2.5           2.5   

Guaranteed (maximum 2.5%)

     2.5           2.5           2.5   

Discretionary

     2.5           2.5           2.5   

Other schemes

     3.0           3.0           3.3   
* The discount rate has been determined by reference to an ‘AA’ corporate bond index, adjusted where applicable, to allow for the difference in duration between the index and the pension liabilities.
** The rate of inflation reflects the long-term assumption for the UK RPI or CPI depending on the tranche of the schemes.

 

F-137


Table of Contents

The calculations are based on current mortality estimates with an allowance made for future improvements in mortality. The allowance made is in line with a custom calibration and was updated in 2014 to reflect the 2012 mortality model from the Continuous Mortality Investigation Bureau of the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries (CMI). For the PSPS immediate annuities in payment, in 2015 and 2014, a long-term improvement rate of 1.75 per cent per annum and 1.25 per cent per annum were applied for males and females, respectively.

 

(c) Estimated pension scheme surpluses and deficits

This section illustrates the financial position of the Group’s defined benefit pension schemes on an economic basis and the IAS 19 basis.

The underlying pension position on an economic basis reflects the assets (including investments in Prudential policies that are offset against liabilities to policyholders on the Group consolidation) and the liabilities of the schemes. The IAS 19 basis excludes the investments in Prudential policies. At 31 December 2015, the investments in Prudential insurance policies comprise £125 million (2014: £131 million) for PSPS and £77 million (2014: £132 million) for the M&GGPS. In principle, on consolidation the investments are eliminated against policyholder liabilities of UK insurance operations, so that the formal IAS 19 position for the scheme in isolation excludes these items. This treatment applies to the M&GGPS investments. However, as a substantial portion of the Company’s interest in the underlying surplus of PSPS is not recognised, the adjustment is not necessary for the PSPS investments.

Movements on the pension scheme deficit determined on the economic basis are as follows, with the effect of the application of IFRIC 14 being shown separately:

 

    2015 £m  
    

Surplus

(deficit) in
schemes at
1 Jan

2015

   

(Charge) credit

to income

statement

or other

comprehensive

income

   

Actuarial gains

and losses

in other

comprehensive

income

    Contributions
paid
   

Surplus

(deficit)

in schemes

at 31 Dec

2015

 
All schemes          
Underlying position (without the effect of IFRIC 14)          
Surplus     755        36        115        55        961   
Less: amount attributable to PAC with-profits fund     (525)        (38)        (78)        (17)        (658)   

Shareholders’ share:

         

Gross of tax surplus (deficit)

    230        (2)        37        38        303   

Related tax

    (46)        -       (7)        (7)        (60)   

Net of shareholders’ tax

    184        (2)        30        31        243   

Application of IFRIC 14 for the derecognition

of PSPS surplus

         

Derecognition of surplus

    (710)        (26)        (64)        -        (800)   
Less: amount attributable to PAC with-profits fund     506        18        49        -        573   

Shareholders’ share:

         

Gross of tax surplus (deficit)

    (204)        (8)        (15)        -        (227)   

Related tax

    41        1        3        -        45   

Net of shareholders’ tax

    (163)        (7)        (12)        -        (182)   

With the effect of IFRIC 14

         

Surplus (deficit)

    45        10        51        55        161   
Less: amount attributable to PAC with-profits fund     (19)        (20)        (29)        (17)        (85)   

Shareholders’ share:

         

Gross of tax surplus (deficit)

    26        (10)        22        38        76   

Related tax

    (5)        2        (4)        (7)        (14)   

Net of shareholders’ tax

    21        (8)        18        31        62   

 

F-138


Table of Contents

Underlying investments of the schemes

On the ‘economic basis’, after including the underlying assets represented by the investments in Prudential insurance policies as scheme assets, the plans’ assets at 31 December comprise the following investments:

 

     2015      2014  
      PSPS
£m
    

 

Other

schemes
£m

     Total
£m
     %      PSPS
£m
    

 

Other

schemes
£m

     Total
£m
     %  

Equities

                       

UK

     126         70         196         3         126         86         212         2   

Overseas

     151         329         480         6         143         317         460         6   

Bonds

                       

Government

     4,795         427         5,222         67         5,078         440         5,518         68   

Corporate

     970         145         1,115         14         931         117         1,048         13   

Asset-backed securities

     135         21         156         2         197         26         223         3   

Derivatives

     183         (5)         178         2         159         (13)         146         2   

Properties

     70         62         132         2         93         57         150         2   

Other assets

     298         42         340         4         270         40         310         4   

Total value of assets**

     6,728         1,091         7,819         100         6,997         1,070         8,067         100   
* 93 per cent of the bonds are investment graded (2014: 94 per cent).
** 98 per cent of the total value of the scheme assets are derived from quoted prices in an active market. None of the scheme assets included shares in Prudential plc or property occupied by the Prudential Group. The IAS 19 basis plan assets at 31 December 2015 of £7,617 million (2014: £7,804 million) is different from the economic basis plan assets of £7,819 million (2014: £8,067 million) as shown above due to the exclusion of investment in Prudential insurance policies, which are eliminated on consolidation of £202 million (2014: £263 million) comprising £125 million for PSPS (2014: £131 million) and £77 million for the M&G scheme (2014: £132 million).

 

F-139


Table of Contents

The movements in the IAS 19 pension schemes’ surplus and deficit between scheme assets and liabilities as consolidated in the financial statements were:

Attributable to policyholders and shareholders

 

   

Plan

assets

   

Present value

of benefit

obligations

   

Net surplus

(deficit)

(without

the effect

of
IFRIC 14)

   

Effect of

IFRIC 14

for

derecognition

of PSPS

surplus

   

Economic

basis net

surplus
(deficit)

   

Other
adjustments

including

for

investments

in Prudential

insurance

policies

   

IAS 19

basis net
surplus

(deficit)

 
2015 £m          note (i)                          note (ii)         

Net deficit, beginning of year

    8,067        (7,312)        755        (710)        45        (132)        (87)   

Current service cost

      (36)        (36)          (36)          (36)   

Past service cost

      48        48          48          48   
Net interest on net defined benefit liability (asset)     278        (250)        28        (26)        2        (5)        (3)   

Administration expenses

    (5)          (5)          (5)          (5)   

Benefit payments

    (301)        301                -  

Employers’ contributionsnote (iii)

    56          56          56          56   

Employees’ contributions

    2        (2)                -  

Actuarial gains and lossesnote (iv)

    (278)        393        115        (64)        51        6        57   

Settlements or curtailments

             
Transfer out of investment in Prudential insurance policies                                             54        54   
Net surplus (deficit), end of year     7,819        (6,858)        961        (800)        161        (77)        84   
2014 £m                                                        

Net deficit, beginning of year

    6,944        (6,298)        646        (602)        44        (114)        (70)   

Current service cost

    -       (30)        (30)        -       (30)        -       (30)   

Past service cost

    -       (4)        (4)        -       (4)        -       (4)   
Net interest on net defined benefit liability (asset)     301        (272)        29        (26)        3        (5)        (2)   

Administration expenses

    (6)        -       (6)        -       (6)        -       (6)   

Benefit payments

    (266)        266        -       -       -       -       -  

Employers’ contributionsnote (iii)

    55        -       55        -       55        -       55   

Employees’ contributions

    2        (2)        -       -       -       -       -  

Actuarial gains and lossesnote (iv)

    1,037        (975)        62        (82)        (20)        (4)        (24)   

Settlements or curtailments

    -       3        3        -       3        -       3   
Transfer into investment in Prudential insurance policies     -       -       -       -       -       (9)        (9)   
Net surplus (deficit), end of year     8,067        (7,312)        755        (710)        45        (132)        (87)   
2013 £m                                                        

Net deficit, beginning of year

    7,197        (6,059)        1,138        (1,010)        128        (169)        (41)   

Current service cost

      (27)        (27)          (27)          (27)   
Net interest on net defined benefit liability (asset)     313        (267)        46        (39)        7        (8)        (1)   
Administration expenses paid out of plan assets     (4)          (4)          (4)          (4)   

Benefit payments

    (254)        254        -         -         -  

Employers’ contributionsnote (iv)

    56          56        -       56          56   

Employees’ contributions

    2        (2)        -       -       -         -  
Actuarial and other gains and lossesnote (v)     (366)        (197)        (563)        447        (116)        1        (115)   
Transfer out of investment in Prudential insurance policies                                             62        62   
Net surplus (deficit), end of year     6,944        (6,298)        646        (602)        44        (114)        (70)   

 

F-140


Table of Contents

Notes

(i) Maturity profile of the benefit obligations

The weighted average duration of the benefit obligations of the schemes is 18.2 years (2014: 18.4 years).

The following table provides an expected maturity analysis of the benefit obligations as at 31 December:

 

      All schemes £m  
      1 year or
less
    

After
1 year

to 5 years

    

After

5 years

to 10 years

    

After

10 years

to 15 years

    

After

15 years

to 20 years

     Over
20
years
     Total  

2015

     240         1,045         1,554         1,688         1,711         8,791         15,029   

2014

     237         1,012         1,538         1,704         1,736         9,256         15,483   

 

(ii) The adjustments for investments in Prudential insurance policies are consolidation adjustments for intragroup assets and liabilities with no impact to operating results.

 

(iii) Total employer contributions expected to be paid into the Group defined benefit schemes for the year ending 31 December 2016 amounts to £45 million (2015: £45 million).

 

(iv) The actuarial gains and losses attributable to policyholders and shareholders as shown in the table above are analysed as follows:

 

      2015 £m      2014 £m      2013 £m  

Actuarial and other gains and losses

        

Return on the scheme assets less amount included in interest income

     (278)         1,037         (366)   

Losses on changes in demographic assumptions

     (3)         (9)         (22)   

Gains/(losses) on changes in financial assumptions

     371         (939)         (174)   

Experience gains/(losses) on scheme liabilities

     25         (27)         (1)   
     115         62         (563)   

Effect of derecognition of PSPS surplus

     (64)         (82)         447   
Consolidation adjustment for investments in Prudential insurance policies and other adjustments      6         (4)         1   
       57         (24)         (115)   

 

(d) Sensitivity of the pension scheme liabilities to key variables

The sensitivity information below is based on the core scheme liabilities and assumptions at the balance sheet date. The sensitivity is calculated based on a change in one assumption with all other assumptions being held constant. As such, interdependencies between the assumptions are excluded.

 

F-141


Table of Contents

The sensitivity of the underlying pension scheme liabilities as shown above does not directly equate to the impact on the profit or loss attributable to shareholders or shareholders’ equity due to the effect of the application of IFRIC 14 on PSPS and the allocation of a share of the interest in financial position of the PSPS and SASPS to the PAC with-profits fund as described above.

 

      Assumption applied       Sensitivity change in
assumption
  Impact of sensitivity on scheme liabilities on IAS
19 basis
 
     2015      2014              2015      2014  

Discount rate

     3.8%         3.5%      Decrease by 0.2%   Increase in scheme liabilities      
          by:      
         

PSPS

     3.3%         3.4%   
                         

Other schemes

     5.0%         5.2%   

Discount rate

     3.8%         3.5%      Increase by 0.2%   Decrease in scheme liabilities      
          by:      
         

PSPS

     3.1%         3.2%   
                         

Other schemes

     4.6%         4.9%   

Rate of inflation

     3.0%         3.0%      RPI: Decrease by 0.2%   Decrease in scheme liabilities      
          by:      
     2.0%         2.0%      CPI: Decrease by 0.2%  

PSPS

     0.5%         0.6%   
                      with consequent reduction in salary increases  

Other schemes

     4.0%         4.2%   

Mortality rate

        Increase life expectancy   Increase in scheme      
        by 1 year  

liabilities by:

     
         

PSPS

     3.2%         3.3%   
         

Other schemes

     2.8%         3.0%   
                                             

 

C10 Share capital, share premium and own shares

 

    2015         2014  
    Number of ordinary
shares
   

Share

capital

   

Share

premium

        Number of ordinary
shares
   

Share

capital

   

Share

premium

 
            £m     £m                £m     £m  

Issued shares of 5p each fully paid

             

At 1 January

    2,567,779,950        128        1,908          2,560,381,736        128        1,895   

Shares issued under share-based schemes

    4,675,008        -        7          7,398,214        -        13   

At 31 December

    2,572,454,958        128        1,915            2,567,779,950        128        1,908   

Amounts recorded in share capital represent the nominal value of the shares issued. The difference between the proceeds received on issue of shares, net of issue costs, and the nominal value of shares issued is credited to the share premium account.

At 31 December 2015, there were options outstanding under save as you earn schemes to subscribe for shares as follows:

 

     Number of shares
to subscribe for
     Share price
range
    

Exercisable

by year

 
         from      to     

31 December 2015

     8,795,617         288p         1,155p         2021   

31 December 2014

     8,624,491         288p         1,155p         2020   

Transactions by Prudential plc and its subsidiaries in Prudential plc shares

The Group buys and sells Prudential plc shares (‘own shares’) either in relation to its employee share schemes or via transactions undertaken by authorised investment funds that the Group is deemed to control. The cost of own shares of £219 million as at 31 December 2015 (2014: £195 million) is deducted from retained earnings. The Company has established trusts to facilitate the delivery of shares under employee incentive plans. At 31 December 2015, 10.5 million (2014: 10.3 million) Prudential plc shares with a market value of £161 million (2014: £153 million) were held in such trusts all of which are for employee incentive plans. The maximum number of shares held during 2015 was 10.5 million which was in December 2015.

 

F-142


Table of Contents

The Company purchased the following number of shares in respect of employee incentive plans. The shares purchased each month are as follows:

 

                2015 Share Price                            2014 Share Price             
     Number
of shares
     Low      High      Cost      Number
of shares
     Low      High      Cost  
            £      £      £             £      £      £  

January

     52,474         14.83         15.11         786,584         13,740         13.56         13.56         186,314   

February

     49,423         16.01         16.14         795,683         16,841         12.77         12.77         215,060   

March

     4,660,458         16.44         17.01         78,940,633         4,623,303         12.82         13.59         60,161,823   

April

     52,371         16.78         17.24         892,795         149,199         13.12         13.48         2,006,955   

May

     145,542         16.07         16.61         2,357,705         1,361,688         13.90         14.13         19,184,679   

June

     160,078         15.65         16.20         2,563,060         11,290         13.80         13.80         155,802   

July

     55,208         15.04         15.99         868,713         10,745         13.83         13.83         148,550   

August

     57,653         15.07         15.17         868,091         11,321         13.22         13.22         149,607   

September

     154,461         13.57         14.31         2,149,244         355,268         14.18         14.41         5,074,731   

October

     58,087         15.14         15.22         879,999         51,199         13.75         13.84         704,601   

November

     56,948         15.01         15.61         866,033         51,314         14.36         14.47         737,173   

December

     61,441         15.00         15.08         923,600         1,223,290         14.41         15.47         17,983,248   

Total

     5,564,144                           92,892,140         7,879,198                           106,708,543   

The Group has consolidated a number of authorised investment funds where it is deemed to control these funds under IFRS. Some of these funds hold shares in Prudential plc. The total number of shares held by these funds at 31 December 2015 was 6.1 million (2014: 7.5 million) and the cost of acquiring these shares of £54 million (2014: £67 million) is included in the cost of own shares. The market value of these shares as at 31 December 2015 was £94 million (2014: £112 million). During 2015, these funds made net disposals of 1,402,697 Prudential shares (2014: net additions of 405,940) for a net decrease of £13 million to book cost (2014: net increase of £7 million).

All share transactions were made on an exchange other than the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong.

Other than set out above the Group did not purchase, sell or redeem any Prudential plc listed securities during 2015 or 2014.

 

F-143


Table of Contents
C11 Capital position statement

This statement sets out the estimated capital position of the Group’s subsidiaries, by life assurance and asset management operations by reference to the local regulations as at 31 December 2015.

 

C11.1 Life assurance business

 

(a) Summary statement

The Group’s estimated capital position for its life assurance subsidiaries as at 31 December 2015 with reconciliations to shareholders’ equity is shown below. The available capital for Group’s life assurance operations is determined by reference to the local regulations, to meet risks and regulatory requirements. For the UK life assurance operations, the estimated capital position as shown below is by reference to the requirements under the Solvency I basis.

 

           

2015 £m

 

                             2014 £m  
    UK life assurance                              
    SAIF    

PAC

WPSF

   

Other

UK life

assurance

subsidi

-aries

and funds

    Jackson    

Asia life

assurance

subsidi

-aries

   

Total life

assurance

opera-

tions

       

Total life

assurance

opera-

tions

 
                   note (i)                   note (b)             

Group IFRS shareholders’ equity

    -        -        4,416        4,154        3,956        12,526          11,400   
Adjustments to regulatory basis                
Unallocated surplus of with-profits funds     -        10,543        -        -        2,553        13,096          12,450   
Shareholders’ share of realistic liabilities     -        (2,346)        -        -        -        (2,346)          (2,503)   
Deferred acquisition costs, distribution rights and goodwill of non-participating business not recognised for regulatory reporting     -        (3)        (81)        (6,148)        (1,301)        (7,533)          (6,450)   
Jackson surplus notesnote (ii)     -        -        -        169        -        169          160   
Investment and policyholder liabilities valuation differences between IFRS and regulatory basis for Jacksonnote (iv)     -        -        -        4,927        -        4,927          3,710   
Pension liability difference between IAS 19 and regulatory basis     -        (127)        -        -        -        (127)          (47)   
Valuation difference on non-profit annuity liabilities within WPSF between IFRS basis and regulatory basis     -        (113)        -        -        -        (113)          (251)   
Other adjustmentsnote (iii)     -        (254)        (574)        364        (31)        (495)          (8)   
Total adjustments     -        7,700        (655)        (688)        1,221        7,578          7,061   
Total available capital resources of life assurance businesses on local regulatory bases     -        7,700        3,761        3,466        5,177        20,104            18,461   

Notes

(i) Excluding PAC shareholders’ equity that is included in ‘parent company and shareholders’ equity of other subsidiaries and funds’. (See note (b) below).
(ii) For regulatory purposes the Jackson surplus notes are accounted for as capital.
(iii) Other adjustments to shareholders’ equity and unallocated surplus include amounts for the value of non-participating business for UK regulated with-profits funds, deferred tax, admissibility and other items measured differently on the regulatory basis. For Jackson the principal reconciling item is deferred tax related to the differences between IFRS and regulatory basis as shown in the table above and other methodology differences.
(iv) The investment and policyholder liabilities valuation difference between IFRS and regulatory bases for Jackson is mainly due to not all investments being carried at fair value under the regulatory basis and also due to the valuation difference on annuity reserves.

 

(b) Reconciliation to the Group total shareholders’ equity

The table below reconciles shareholders’ equity held in life assurance operations as shown in the table in note (a) to the Group total shareholders’ equity as at 31 December 2015:

 

Group shareholders’ equity    2015 £m  

Total life assurance operations

     12,526   

Parent company and shareholders’ equity of other subsidiariesnote (i)

     429   

Total Group shareholders’ equity

     12,955   

Note

(i) Including PAC shareholders’ equity. The £429 million (2014: £411 million) includes the core structural borrowings and the elimination of the investment in subsidiaries at the parent company.

 

F-144


Table of Contents
(c) Basis of preparation, capital requirements and management

Each of the Group’s long-term business operations is capitalised to a sufficiently strong level for its individual circumstances. Details by the Group’s major operations are shown below.

 

(i) Asia insurance operations

The available capital shown above of £5,177 million (2014: £4,823 million) represents the excess of local regulatory basis assets over liabilities before deduction of required capital of £1,622 million (2014: £1,514 million).

The businesses in Asia are subject to local capital requirements in the jurisdictions in which they operate. For material Asian operations, the details of the basis of determining regulatory capital and regulatory capital requirements are as follows:

Hong Kong

For non-participating business, mathematical reserves are generally calculated using a modified net premium approach with no allowance for future discontinuance. The underlying assumptions are based on a best estimate basis with prudent margins for adverse deviations. Cash flows are discounted at a valuation interest rate based on a blend between the risk-adjusted portfolio yield and reinvestment rate.

For participating business, mathematical reserves are based on the guaranteed benefits only and use a modified net premium approach with no allowance for future discontinuances. Similar to above, the underlying assumptions are based on a best estimate basis with prudent margins for adverse deviations with the valuation interest rate being a blend of the risk-adjusted portfolio yield and the reinvestment rate.

For linked business, the value of units is held together with the non-unit reserves calculated in accordance with the standard actuarial methodology and prevailing regulations.

The capital requirement for solvency margin calculation varies by underlying risk and duration of liabilities but is generally determined as 4 per cent of mathematical reserves plus 0.3 per cent of the capital at risk.

Indonesia

Solvency capital is determined using a risk-based capital approach. Insurance companies in Indonesia are expected to maintain the level of net assets above 120 per cent of solvency capital.

Policy reserves for traditional business are determined on a gross premium reserve basis using prudent best estimate assumptions. For linked business, the value of the units are maintained with a non-unit reserve which is calculated in accordance with standard actuarial methodology.

Korea

A risk-based capital framework applies in Korea.

Policy reserves for traditional business are determined on a net premium reserve basis using standard mortality and prescribed standard interest rates. For linked business, the value of the units are held together with the non-unit reserves and calculated in accordance with the local regulator’s standard actuarial methodology.

Under the risk-based capital solvency requirement, the ratio of an insurer’s available capital to required capital is calculated, and the analysis of equity capital used to determine capital adequacy must take into account market, credit, operational, insurance and interest rate risks. The scheme requires the ratio be calculated based on integrated financial statements reflecting assets, liabilities and capital of affiliates and subsidiaries.

Malaysia

A risk-based capital framework applies in Malaysia.

For participating business, a gross premium reserve on the guaranteed and non-guaranteed benefits determined using best estimate assumptions is held. The amount held is subject to a minimum of a gross premium reserve on the guaranteed benefits, determined using best estimate assumptions along with provisions of risk margin for adverse deviations discounted at the risk-free rate.

 

 

F-145


Table of Contents

For non-participating business, gross premium reserves are determined using best estimate assumptions along with provisions for risk margin for adverse deviations. For linked business, the value of units is held together with a non-unit reserve calculated in accordance with standard actuarial methodology.

Participating fund surplus is not allowed to be used to support a deficit (if any) and the capital requirement of the non-participating business. The capital requirement is calculated based on a prescribed series of risk charges. The local regulator has set a Supervisory Target Capital Level of 130 per cent below which supervisory actions of increasing intensity will be taken. Each insurer is also required to set its own Individual Target Capital Level to reflect its own risk profile and this is expected to be higher than the Supervisory Target Capital Level.

Singapore

A risk-based capital framework applies in Singapore.

For participating business, a gross premium reserve, determined using prudent best estimate assumptions and which makes allowance for future bonus, is held. The amount held is subject to a minimum of the higher of the assets attributed to participating business and a gross premium reserve calculated on specified assumptions, but without allowance for future bonus, that include prescribed provisions for adverse deviations (PADs).

For non-participating business, gross premium reserves are held. For linked business the value of units is held together with a non-unit reserve calculated in accordance with standard actuarial methodology.

A registered insurer incorporated in Singapore is required at all times to maintain a minimum level of paid-up ordinary share capital and to ensure that its financial resources are not less than the greater of (i) the total risk requirement arising from the assets and liabilities of the insurer calculated in accordance with the Singapore Insurance Act; or (ii) a minimum amount of 5 million Singapore Dollars. The regulator also has the authority to direct that the insurer satisfy additional capital adequacy requirements in addition to those set forth under the Singapore Insurance Act if it considers such additional requirements appropriate.

Thailand

A risk-based capital framework applies in Thailand.

For non-participating business, the gross premium reserves are determined using best estimate assumptions along with provisions of risk margin for adverse deviations discounted at the risk-free rate.

The risk-free rate is derived from the greater of the current yield curve of Thai government bonds and the weighted-average yield curve of the current and prior seven quarters of Thai government bonds, as with a greater weighting on the current quarter.

Capital adequacy is measured based on the Capital Adequacy Ratio (‘CAR’), which is determined as the Total Capital Available divided by the Total Capital Required. Life insurers are required by law to maintain capital funds which are not less than the greater of (i) the sum of capital for all risks and asset as prescribed in the regulation and (ii) a minimum amount of 50 million Thai Baht. Insurers are required by law to maintain capital greater than the prescribed minimum CAR of not less than 100 per cent. However, in case the insurer has a CAR of less than 140 per cent, the regulator may intervene to oversee the insurer’s financial status.

Vietnam

For traditional business, mathematical reserves are calculated using a modified net premium approach, set using assumptions agreed with the regulator.

For linked business, the value of units is held together with the non-unit reserves calculated in accordance with the local regulator’s standard actuarial methodology.

The capital requirement is determined as 4 per cent of reserves plus a specified percentage of 0.1 per cent of sums at risk for policies with original term less than or equal to five years or 0.3 per cent of sums at risk for policies with original term of more than five years. An additional capital requirement of Vietnamese Dong 300 billion is also required for companies transacting pension business.

 

 

F-146


Table of Contents
(ii) US insurance operations

The regulatory framework for Jackson is governed by the requirements of the US NAIC approved Risk-Based Capital standards. Under these requirements life insurance companies report using a formula-based capital standard which includes components calculated by applying factors to various asset, premium and reserve items and a separate model-based component for market risk associated primarily with variable annuity products. The Risk-Based Capital formula takes into account the risk characteristics of a company, including asset risk, insurance risk, interest rate risk, market risk and business risk.

The available capital of Jackson shown above of £3,466 million (2014: £3,141 million) reflects US regulatory basis available capital as adjusted to exclude asset valuation reserves. The asset valuation reserve, which is reflected as available capital, is designed to provide for future credit-related losses on debt securities and losses on equity investments. Available capital includes a reduction for the effect of the interest maintenance reserve, which is designed by state regulators to defer recognition of non-credit related realised capital gains and losses and to recognise them ratably in the future.

Jackson’s Risk-Based Capital ratio is significantly in excess of regulatory requirements. At 31 December 2015, Jackson had a permitted practice in effect as granted by the local regulator allowing Jackson to carry certain interest rate swaps at book value, as if statutory hedge accounting were in place, instead of at fair value as would have been otherwise required. Jackson is required to demonstrate the effectiveness of its interest rate swap programme pursuant to the Michigan Insurance Code. The total effect of this permitted practice, net of tax, was to decrease statutory surplus by £241 million at 31 December 2015.

Michigan insurance law specifically allows value of business acquired as an admitted asset as long as certain criteria are met. US NAIC standards limit the admitted amount of goodwill/value of business acquired generally to 10 per cent of capital and surplus. At 31 December 2015, Jackson reported £222 million of statutory basis value of business acquired as a result of the REALIC acquisition, which is fully admissible under Michigan insurance law.

 

(iii) UK insurance operations

In the UK, up to 31 December 2015, insurers, regulated by PRA, had to hold capital resources equal at least to the Minimum Capital Requirement (MCR) under the Solvency I basis. In addition the rules required insurers to perform Individual Capital Assessments. Under these rules insurers assessed for themselves the amount of capital needed to back their business. If the PRA viewed the results of this assessment as insufficient, it might draw up its own Individual Capital Guidance for a firm, which could be superimposed as a requirement. These requirements were replaced by the Solvency II regime on 1 January 2016 which is discussed further in the Capital Management section within Item 4 ‘Information on the Company’.

PAC with-profits sub-fund and Scottish Amicable Insurance Fund (under Solvency I basis)

Under PRA Solvency I rules, insurers with with-profits liabilities of more than £500 million must hold capital equal to the higher of the MCR and the Enhanced Capital Requirement (ECR). The ECR is intended to provide a more risk responsive and ‘realistic’ measure of a with-profit insurer’s capital requirements, whereas the MCR is broadly speaking equivalent to the previous required minimum margin under the Interim Prudential Sourcebook and satisfies the minimum EU Standards.

Available capital of the with-profits sub-fund and Scottish Amicable Insurance Fund of £7.7 billion (2014: £7.2 billion) as shown in the table in section (a) above represents the excess of assets over liabilities on the PRA realistic basis. Unlike the previously discussed FRS 27 basis, realistic liabilities on the regulatory basis include the shareholders’ share of future bonuses. These amounts are shown before deduction of the risk capital margin as set on the PRA basis which is estimated to be £1.0 billion at 31 December 2015 (2014: £1.0 billion).

Other UK life assurance subsidiaries and funds

The available capital of £3,761 million (2014: £3,297 million) under the Solvency I basis as shown in the table in section (a) above reflects the excess of regulatory basis assets over liabilities of the subsidiaries and funds, before deduction of the capital resources requirement of £1,555 million (2014: £1,552 million).

The capital resources requirement for these companies broadly reflects a formula which, for active funds, equates to a percentage of regulatory reserves plus a percentage of death strains. Death strains represent the payments made to policyholders upon death in excess of amounts explicitly allocated to fund the provisions for policyholder’s claims and maturities.

 

F-147


Table of Contents
(iv) Group capital requirements

In addition to the requirements at individual company level, PRA requirements apply additional prudential requirements for the Group as a whole. Up until 31 December 2015 these requirements were under the IGD. Solvency II, which came into force on 1 January 2016, replaces the IGD capital requirements. Discussion of the Group’s estimated IGD and Solvency II positions at 31 December 2015 are provided in the Capital Management section within Item 4 ‘Information on the Company’.

 

(d) Transferability of available capital

Up until 31 December 2015, under Solvency I basis for PAC and all other UK long-term insurers, long-term business assets and liabilities must, by law, be maintained in funds separate from those for the assets and liabilities attributable to non-life insurance business or to shareholders. Only the ‘established surplus’, the excess of assets over liabilities in the long-term fund determined through a formal valuation, may be transferred so as to be available for other purposes. Distributions from the with-profits sub-fund to shareholders reflect the shareholders’ one-ninth share of the cost of declared policyholders’ bonuses.

Any excess of assets over liabilities of the PAC with-profits fund is retained within that fund. The retention of the capital enables it to support with-profits and other business of the fund by, for example, providing the benefits associated with smoothing and guarantees. It also provides investment flexibility for the fund’s assets by meeting the regulatory capital requirements that demonstrate solvency and by absorbing the costs of significant events or fundamental changes in its long-term business without affecting the bonus and investment policies.

For other UK long-term business subsidiaries, the amounts retained within the companies are at levels which provide an appropriate level of capital strength in excess of the regulatory minimum.

The concept of long-term fund as described above was abolished under the Solvency II regime, which came into effect on 1 January 2016. The PAC with-profits funds will still be treated as ring-fenced structures under the new regime. Therefore the consideration of an “established surplus” that needs to be formally transferred no longer exists. However companies as a whole will be required to meet the new capital requirements. Further information on the Solvency II capital requirements is provided in the Capital Management section within Item 4 ‘Information on the Company’.

For Jackson, capital retention is maintained at a level consistent with an appropriate rating by Standard & Poor’s. Currently Jackson is rated AA. Jackson can pay dividends on its capital stock only out of earned surplus unless prior regulatory approval is obtained. Furthermore, dividends which exceed the greater of statutory net gain from operations less net realised investments losses for the prior year or 10 per cent of Jackson’s prior year-end statutory surplus, excluding any increase arising from the application of permitted practices, require prior regulatory approval.

For Asia subsidiaries, the amounts retained within the companies are at levels that provide an appropriate level of capital strength in excess of the local regulatory minimum. For ring-fenced with-profits funds, the excess of assets over liabilities is retained with distribution tied to the shareholders’ share of bonuses through declaration of actuarially determined surplus. The businesses in Asia may, in general, remit dividends to the UK, provided the statutory insurance fund meets the local regulatory solvency targets.

Available capital of the non-insurance business units is transferable to the life assurance businesses after taking account of an appropriate level of operating capital, based on local regulatory solvency targets, over and above basis liabilities.

 

(e) Sensitivity of liabilities and total capital to changed market conditions and capital management policies

Prudential manages its assets, liabilities and capital locally, in accordance with local regulatory requirements and reflecting the different types of liabilities Prudential has in each business. As a result of the diversity of products offered by Prudential and the different regulatory requirements in which it operates, Prudential employs differing methods of asset/liability and capital management, depending on the business concerned.

Stochastic modelling of assets and liabilities is undertaken in the UK, Jackson and Asia to assess the economic capital requirements. A stochastic approach models the inter-relationship between asset and liability movements,

 

F-148


Table of Contents

taking into account asset correlation, management actions and policyholder behaviour under a large number of alternative economic scenarios.

In addition, reserve adequacy testing under a range of scenarios and dynamic solvency testing is carried out, including under certain scenarios mandated by the UK, US and Asian regulators.

The sensitivity of liabilities and other components of total capital vary depending upon the type of business concerned and this conditions the approach to asset/liability management.

For example, for businesses that are most sensitive to interest rate changes, such as immediate annuity business, Prudential uses cash flow analysis to create a portfolio of debt securities whose value is expected to change in line with the value of liabilities when interest rates change. This type of analysis helps protect profits from changing interest rates and is used in the UK for annuity business and by Jackson for its fixed interest rate and fixed index annuities and institutional products.

For businesses that are most sensitive to equity price changes, Prudential uses stochastic modelling and scenario testing to look at the future returns on its investments under different scenarios which best reflect the large diversity in returns that equities can produce. This allows Prudential to devise an investment and with-profits policyholder bonus strategy that, based on the model assumptions, allows it to optimise returns to its policyholders and shareholders over time while maintaining appropriate financial strength. Prudential uses this methodology extensively in connection with its UK with-profits business.

 

(f) Intra-group arrangements in respect of the Scottish Amicable Insurance Fund

Should the assets of the Scottish Amicable Insurance Fund be inadequate to meet the guaranteed benefit obligations of the policyholders of the Scottish Amicable Insurance Fund, the PAC long-term fund would be liable to cover any such deficiency in the first instance.

 

C11.2 Asset management operations - regulatory and other surplus

Certain asset management subsidiaries of the Group are subject to regulatory requirements. The movement in the year of the surplus regulatory capital position of those subsidiaries, combined with the movement in the IFRS basis shareholders’ funds for unregulated asset management operations, is as follows:

 

     Asset management operations  
     2015 £m          2014 £m  
      M&G      US     

Prudential

Capital

    

Eastspring

Investments

     Total          Total  

Regulatory and other surplus

                   

Beginning of year

     164         157         74         139         534           572   

Gains (losses) during the year

     357         16         (39)         58         392           396   

Movement in capital requirement

     31         -         -         5         36           (34)   

Capital injection

     -         -         -         4         4           1   

Distributions made to the parent company

     (150)         -         (55)         (57)         (262)           (409)   

Exchange and other movements

     -         9         90         -         99           8   

End of year

     402         182         70         149         803             534   

 

C12 Provisions

 

      2015 £m        2014 £m  

Provision in respect of defined benefit pension schemes:C9

     85           217   

Other provisions (see below)

     519           507   

Total provisions

     604           724   

 

F-149


Table of Contents

Analysis of other provisions:

 

    2015 £m         2014 £m  
   

Legal

provisions

   

Restructuring

provisions

   

Other

provisions

    Total        

Legal

provisions

   

Restructuring

provisions

   

Other

provisions

    Total  
            note (i)     note (ii)                       note (i)     note (ii)         

At 1 January

    9        11        487        507          14        13        414        441   
Charged to income statement:                  

Additional provisions

    6        10        341        357          5        5        357        367   

Unused amounts released

    (1)        (1)        (53)        (55)          (3)        (3)        (10)        (16)   

Used during the year

    (3)        (7)        (275)        (285)          (7)        (4)        (277)        (288)   

Exchange differences

    1        -        (6)        (5)            -        -        3        3   

Total at 31 December

    12        13        494        519            9        11        487        507   

Notes

(i) Restructuring provisions primarily relate to restructuring activities of UK insurance operations. The provisions pertain to property liabilities resulting from the closure of regional sales centres and branches and staff terminations and other transformation costs to enable streamlining of operations.
(ii) Other provisions comprise staff benefits provisions of £384 million (2014: £395 million), provisions for onerous contracts of £31 million (2014: £35 million) and regulatory and other provisions of £79 million (2014: £57 million). Staff benefits are generally expected to be paid out within the next three years.

 

C13 Property, plant and equipment

Property, plant and equipment comprise Group occupied properties and tangible assets. A reconciliation of the carrying amount of these items from the beginning of the year to the end of the year is as follows:

 

     2015 £m          2014 £m  
     

Group
occupied

property

    

Tangible

assets

     Total         

Group
occupied

property

    

Tangible

assets

     Total  

At 1 January

                   

Cost

     390         1,165         1,555           357         1,060         1,417   

Accumulated depreciation

     (58)         (519)         (577)           (50)         (447)         (497)   

Net book amount

     332         646         978           307         613         920   

Year ended 31 December

                   

Opening net book amount

     332         646         978           307         613         920   

Exchange differences

     (2)         (10)         (12)           3         (18)         (15)   

Depreciation charge

     (11)         (118)         (129)           (9)         (81)         (90)   

Additions

     40         216         256           31         141         172   

Arising on acquisitions of subsidiaries*

     52         84         136           -         1         1   

Disposals and transfers

     -         (32)         (32)           -         (10)         (10)   

Closing net book amount

     411         786         1,197           332         646         978   

At 31 December

                   

Cost

     480         1,387         1,867           390         1,165         1,555   

Accumulated depreciation

     (69)         (601)         (670)           (58)         (519)         (577)   

Net book amount

     411         786         1,197             332         646         978   

 

* Principally arising on an acquisition made for venture fund purposes by the PAC with-profits fund.

Tangible assets

Of the £786 million of tangible assets, £657 million were held by the Group’s with-profits operations, primarily by the consolidated subsidiaries for venture fund and other investment purposes of the PAC with-profits fund.

Capital expenditure: property, plant and equipment by segment

The capital expenditure of £216 million (2014: £141 million) arose as follows: £143 million in UK, £20 million in US and £35 million in Asia in insurance operations with the remaining balance of £18 million arising from asset management operations and unallocated corporate expenditure (2014: £82 million in UK, £16 million in US, £20 million in Asia and £23 million in other operations).

 

F-150


Table of Contents
C14 Investment properties

Investment properties principally relate to the PAC with-profits fund and are carried at fair value. A reconciliation of the carrying amount of investment properties at the beginning and end of the year is set out below:

 

      2015 £m        2014 £m  

At 1 January

     12,764           11,477   

Additions:

       

Resulting from property acquisitions

     680           669   

Resulting from expenditure capitalised

     77           59   

Disposals

     (662)           (370)   

Net gain from fair value adjustments

     537           914   

Net foreign exchange differences

     21           20   

Transfers from (to) held for sale assets

     5           (5)   

At 31 December

     13,422           12,764   

The 2015 income statement includes rental income from investment properties of £769 million (2014: £729 million) and direct operating expenses including repairs and maintenance arising from these properties of £42 million (2014: £41 million).

Investment properties of £5,468 million (2014: £5,263 million) are held under finance leases. A reconciliation between the total of future minimum lease payments at the statement of financial position date, and their present value is shown below.

 

     2015 £m          2014 £m  
     

Future

minimum

payments

     Future finance
charges
    

PV of future

minimum

payments

        

Future

minimum

payments

     Future finance
charges
    

PV of future

minimum

payments

 

Less than 1 year

     4         -         4           5         -         5   

1 to 5 years

     16         (2)         14           21         (3)         18   

Over 5 years

     640         (580)         60             936         (830)         106   

Total

     660         (582)         78             962         (833)         129   

Contingent rent is that portion of the lease payments that is not fixed in amount but is based on the future value of a factor that changes other than with the passage of time. There was no contingent rent recognised as income or expense in 2015 and 2014.

The Group’s policy is to let investment properties to tenants through operating leases. Minimum future rentals to be received on non-cancellable operating leases of the Group’s freehold investment properties are receivable in the following periods:

 

      2015 £m        2014 £m  

Less than 1 year

     309           314   

1 to 5 years

     1,091           1,098   

Over 5 years

     2,595           2,762   

Total

     3,995           4,174   

The total minimum future rentals to be received on non-cancellable sub-leases for the Group’s investment properties held under finance leases at 31 December 2015 are £2,888 million (2014: £2,600 million).

 

D OTHER NOTES

 

D1 Sale of Japan Life business

On 5 February 2015, the Group announced that it had completed the sale of its closed book life insurance business in Japan, PCA Life Insurance Company Limited to SBI Holdings, Inc. following regulatory approvals. The transaction was announced on 16 July 2013. Of the agreed US$85 million cash consideration, the Group received US$68 million on completion of the transaction, and a further payment of up to US$17 million will be received contingent upon the future performance of the Japan Life business.

 

F-151


Table of Contents

The Japan life business had been classified as held for sale on the statement of financial position of the Group since 2013. The held for sale assets and liabilities of the Japan life business on the statement of financial position as at 31 December 2014 were as follows:

 

        2014 £m  

Assets

    

Investments

       898   

Other assets

       45   
       943   

Adjustment for remeasurement of the carrying value to fair value less costs to sell

       (124)   

Assets held for sale

       819   

Liabilities

    

Policyholder liabilities

       717   

Other liabilities

       53   

Liabilities held for sale

       770   

Net assets

       49   

Upon its classification as held for sale in 2013, the IFRS carrying value of the Japan life business was set to represent the proceeds, net of related expenses. Subsequent remeasurement of the carrying value of the Japan life business in 2014 resulted in a charge in the income statement of £(13) million in 2014. These amounts, together with the results of the business including short-term value movements on investments also included in the income statement, netted to an insignificant amount for those periods.

On completion of the sale, the cumulative foreign exchange translation loss of the Japan life business of £46 million, that had arisen from 2004 (the year of the Group’s conversion to IFRS) to disposal was recycled from other comprehensive income through the profit and loss account in 2015 as required by IAS 21. This amount is included within ‘Cumulative exchange loss on the sold Japan life business recycled from other comprehensive income’ in the supplementary analysis of profit of the Group as shown in note B1.1. The adjustment has no net effect on shareholders’ equity.

 

D2 Contingencies and related obligations

The Group is involved in a number of litigation and regulatory issues. These include civil proceedings involving Jackson, which appear to be substantially similar to other class action litigation brought against many life insurers in the US, alleging misconduct in the sale of insurance products. Whilst the outcome of such litigation and regulatory issues cannot be predicted with certainty, the Company believes that their ultimate outcome will not have a material adverse effect on the Group’s financial condition, results of operations, or cash fows.

Matters affecting shareholders’ funds

Unclaimed Property Provision

Jackson had previously received regulatory enquiries on an industry-wide matter regarding claims settlement practices and compliance with unclaimed property laws. During 2015, Jackson has reached agreements to settle issues related to these enquiries. At 31 December 2015, Jackson has accrued £16 million (2014: £13 million) to cover any such liability.

Guarantees and commitments

Guarantee funds in both the UK and the US provide for payments to be made to policyholders on behalf of insolvent life insurance companies and are financed by payments assessed on solvent insurance companies based on location, volume and types of business. The estimated reserve for future guarantee fund assessments is not significant. The directors believe that the reserve is adequate for all anticipated payments for known insolvencies.

At 31 December 2015, Jackson has unfunded commitments of £299 million (2014: £332 million) related to its investments in limited partnerships and £64 million (2014: £73 million) related to commercial mortgage loans and other fixed maturities. These commitments were entered into in the normal course of business and the directors do not expect a material adverse impact on the operations to arise from them.

 

F-152


Table of Contents

The Group has provided other guarantees and commitments to third-parties entered into in the normal course of business but the Company does not consider that the amounts involved are significant.

Support for long-term business funds by shareholders’ funds

As a proprietary insurance company, PAC is liable to meet its obligations to policyholders even if the assets of the long-term funds are insufficient to do so. The assets, represented by the unallocated surplus of with-profits funds, in excess of amounts expected to be paid for future terminal bonuses and related shareholder transfers (‘the excess assets’) in the long-term funds could be materially depleted over time by, for example, a significant or sustained equity market downturn, costs of significant fundamental strategic change or a material increase in the pension mis-selling provision. In the unlikely circumstance that the depletion of the excess assets within the long-term fund was such that the Group’s ability to satisfy policyholders’ reasonable expectations was adversely affected, it might become necessary to restrict the annual distribution to shareholders or to contribute shareholders’ funds to the long-term funds to provide financial support.

In 1997, the business of Scottish Amicable Life Assurance Society, a mutual society, was transferred to PAC with the creation of a separate sub-fund, SAIF within PAC’s long-term business fund containing all the with-profits business and all other pension business that was transferred. No new business has been or will be written in the sub-fund and it is managed to ensure that all the invested assets are distributed to SAIF policyholders over the lifetime of SAIF policies. With the exception of certain amounts in respect of the unitised with-profits life business, all future earnings arising in SAIF are retained for SAIF policyholders. Any excess (deficiency) of revenue over expense within SAIF during a period is attributable to the policyholders of the fund. Shareholders have no interest in the profits of SAIF but are entitled to the asset management fees paid on this business.

SAIF with-profits policies contain minimum levels of guaranteed benefit to policyholders. In addition, certain pensions products have guaranteed annuity rates at retirement (see below). Should the assets of SAIF be inadequate to meet the guaranteed benefit obligations of the policyholders of SAIF, the PAC long-term fund would be liable to cover any such deficiency in the first instance.

Intra-group capital support arrangements

Prudential and PAC have put in place intra-group arrangements to formalise circumstances in which capital support would be made available by Prudential (including in the scenarios referred to in respect of the pension mis-selling review as referenced below). While Prudential considers it unlikely that such support will be required, the arrangements are intended to provide additional comfort to PAC and its policyholders.

In addition, Prudential has put in place intra-group arrangements to formalise undertakings by Prudential to the regulators of the Hong Kong subsidiaries, which from 1 January 2014, contain the domesticated branch business from PAC regarding their solvency levels. In addition, the scheme of transfer of the Hong Kong branch includes short-term support arrangements between Prudential and PAC to underpin similar arrangements between PAC and the newly domesticated business. It is considered unlikely that support will need to be provided under these arrangements.

Matters affecting policyholders’ funds

Guaranteed annuities

The Group’s main exposure to guaranteed annuities in the UK is through SAIF (see above) and at 31 December 2015 a provision of £412 million was held (2014: £549 million). However, as SAIF is a separate sub-fund of the PAC long-term business fund, attributable to the policyholders, the movement in this provision has no impact on shareholders. In addition, PAC used to sell guaranteed annuity products in the UK and is therefore exposed to liabilities to honour guarantees on these products within the main with-profits fund for which at 31 December 2015 a provision of £47 million was held (2014: £50 million).

Inherited estate of the PAC long-term fund

The assets of the with-profits sub-fund (WPSF) within the long-term insurance fund of PAC comprise the amounts that it expects to pay out to meet its obligations to existing policyholders and an additional amount used as working capital. The amount payable over time to policyholders from the WPSF is equal to the policyholders’ accumulated asset shares plus any additional payments that may be required by way of smoothing or to meet guarantees. The balance of the assets of the WPSF is called the ‘inherited estate’ and has accumulated over many years from various sources.

 

 

F-153


Table of Contents

This inherited estate enables PAC to support with-profits business by providing the benefits associated with smoothing and guarantees, by providing investment flexibility for the fund’s assets, by meeting the regulatory capital requirements that demonstrate solvency and by absorbing the costs of certain significant events or fundamental changes in its long-term business without affecting the bonus and investment policies. The size of the inherited estate fluctuates from year to year depending on the investment return and the extent of its utilisation.

Pension mis-selling review

The pensions review by the UK insurance regulator of past sales of personal pension policies required all UK life insurance companies to review their cases of potential mis-selling and record a provision for the estimated costs. The Group met the requirement of the UK insurance regulator to issue offers to all cases by 30 June 2002. The pension mis-selling provision is included within the policyholder liabilities of the PAC with-profits funds.

The costs associated with the pension mis-selling review have been met from the inherited estate (see above) and, accordingly have not been charged to the asset shares used in the determination of policyholder bonus rates. Hence policyholders’ pay-out values have been unaffected by pension mis-selling.

In 1998, Prudential stated that deducting mis-selling costs from the inherited estate (see above) would not impact its bonus or investment policy and it gave an assurance that if this unlikely event were to occur, it would make available support to the fund from shareholder resources for as long as the situation continued, so as to ensure that policyholders were not disadvantaged. This review was completed on 30 June 2002 with the assurance continuing to apply to any policy in force at 31 December 2003, both for premiums paid before 1 January 2004, and for subsequent regular premiums (including future fixed, retail price index or salary related increases and Department of Work and Pensions rebate business). The assurance has not applied to new business since 1 January 2004.

 

D3 Post balance sheet events

Dividends

The second interim and special dividends for the year ended 31 December 2015, which were approved by the Board of Directors after 31 December 2015 are described in note B7.

 

D4 Related party transactions

Transactions between the Company and its subsidiaries are eliminated on consolidation.

The Company has transactions and outstanding balances with certain unit trusts, Open-Ended Investment Companies (OEICs), collateralised debt obligations and similar entities which are not consolidated and where a Group company acts as manager which are regarded as related parties for the purposes of IAS 24. The balances are included in the Group’s statement of financial position at fair value or amortised cost in accordance with their IAS 39 classifications. The transactions are included in the income statement and include amounts paid on issue of shares or units, amounts received on cancellation of shares or units and paid in respect of the periodic charge and administration fee.

In addition, there are no material transactions between the Group’s joint ventures which are accounted for on an equity method basis and other Group companies.

Executive officers and directors of the Company may from time to time purchase insurance, asset management or annuity products marketed by Group companies in the ordinary course of business on substantially the same terms as those prevailing at the time for comparable transactions with other persons.

In 2015 and 2014, other transactions with directors were not deemed to be significant both by virtue of their size and in the context of the directors’ financial positions. All of these transactions are on terms broadly equivalent to those that prevail in arm’s length transactions.

Apart from these transactions with directors, no director had interests in shares, transactions or arrangements that require disclosure, other than those given in Item 6 ‘Directors, Senior Management and Employees Compensation’. Key management remuneration is disclosed in note B3.3.

 

F-154


Table of Contents
D5 Commitments

Operating leases and capital commitments

The Group leases various offices to conduct its business. Leases in which a significant portion of the risks and rewards of ownership are retained by the lessor are classified as operating leases. Payments made under operating leases (net of any incentives received from the lessor) are charged to the income statement on a straight-line basis over the period of the lease.

 

      2015 £m      2014 £m      2013 £m  
Future minimum lease payments for non-cancellable operating leases fall due during the following periods:         

Not later than 1 year

     98         89         110   

Later than 1 year and not later than 5 years

     231         214         308   

Later than 5 years

     116         105         333   
Future minimum sub-lease rentals received for non-cancellable operating leases for land and buildings      66         17         20   
Minimum lease rental payments included in consolidated income statement      105         95         92   

In addition, the Group has provided, from time to time, certain guarantees and commitments to third parties including funding the purchase or development of land and buildings and other related matters. The contractual obligations to purchase or develop investment properties at 31 December 2015 were £409 million (2014: £232 million; 2013: £92 million).

 

D6 Investments in subsidiary undertakings, joint ventures and associates

 

(a) Dividend restrictions and minimum capital requirements

Certain Group subsidiaries and joint ventures are subject to restrictions on the amount of funds they may transfer in the form of cash dividends or otherwise to the parent company.

Under UK company law, UK companies can only declare dividends if they have sufficient distributable reserves. Further, UK insurance companies are required to maintain solvency margins in accordance with the rules of the Prudential Regulation Authority. The Group UK asset management company, M&G Investment Management Ltd is also required to maintain capital in accordance with regulatory requirements before making any distribution to the parent company.

Jackson is subject to state laws that limit the dividends payable to its parent company based on statutory capital and surplus and prior year earnings. Dividends in excess of these limitations require prior regulatory approval.

The Group’s subsidiaries and joint ventures in Asia may remit dividends to the Group, in general, provided the statutory insurance fund meets the capital adequacy standard required under local statutory regulations and has sufficient distributable reserves.

The Group capital position statement for life assurance businesses is set out in note C11.1, showing the available capital reflecting the excess of regulatory basis over liabilities for each fund or group of companies determined by reference to the local regulation of the subsidiaries as at 31 December 2015. In addition, disclosure is also provided in note C11.1 of the local capital requirement of the principal funds and companies.

 

(b) Investments in joint ventures and associates

Joint ventures represent arrangements where the controlling parties through contractual or other agreement have the rights to the net assets of the arrangements. The Group has shareholder-backed joint venture insurance and asset management businesses in China with CITIC Group, and in India with ICICI Bank. In addition, there is an asset management joint venture in Hong Kong with Bank of China International Holdings Limited (BOCI) and Takaful general and life insurance joint venture in Malaysia.

The Group has various joint ventures relating to property investments held by the PAC with-profits fund. The results of these joint ventures are reflected in the movement in the unallocated surplus of the PAC with-profits funds and therefore do not affect shareholders’ results.

 

 

F-155


Table of Contents

As a consequence of adoption of IFRS 11 ‘Joint Arrangements’ from 1 January 2013, the Group’s joint ventures are accounted for by using the equity method. For these operations the net of tax results are included in the Group’s profit before tax.

The investments in these joint ventures have the same accounting year end as the Group, except for joint ventures in India. Although these entities have reporting periods ending 31 March, 12 months of financial information up to 31 December is recorded. Accordingly, the information covers the same period as that of the Group.

The Group’s associates, which are also accounted for under the equity method, include PPM South Africa and PruHealth (until its sale in 2014). In addition, the Group has investments in Open-Ended Investment Companies (OEICs), unit trusts, funds holding collateralised debt obligations, property unit trusts and venture capital investments of the PAC with-profits funds where the Group has significant influence. As allowed under IAS 28, these investments are accounted for on a fair value through profit or loss basis. The aggregate fair value of associates accounted for at fair value through profit or loss, where there are published price quotations, is approximately £1.4 billion at 31 December 2015 (2014: £1.2 billion).

The Group’s share of the profits, net of related tax, and carrying amount of interest in joint ventures and associates, which are equity accounted as shown in the consolidated income statement comprises the following:

 

     Joint ventures      Associates  
      2015 £m      2014 £m      2013 £m      2015 £m      2014 £m      2013 £m  
Shareholder-backed business      171         162         52         14         12         7   
PAC with-profits fund (prior to offsetting effect in movement in unallocated surplus)      53         129         88         -         -         -   

Total

     224         291         140         14         12         7   

There is no other comprehensive income in the joint ventures and associates. There have been no unrecognised share of losses of a joint venture or associate that the Group has stopped recognising in the total income.

The joint ventures have no significant contingent liabilities or capital commitments to which the Group is exposed nor does the Group have any significant contingent liabilities or capital commitments in relation to its interests in the joint ventures.

 

(c) Related undertakings

In accordance with Section 409 of the Companies Act 2006 a list of Prudential Group’s subsidiaries, joint ventures, associates and significant holdings(being holdings more than 20 per cent) along with the country of incorporation, the classes of shares held and the effective percentage of equity owned at 31 December 2015 is disclosed below.

The definitions of a subsidiary undertaking, joint venture and associate in accordance with the Companies Act 2006 are different from the definition under IFRS. As a result, the related undertakings included within the list below may not be the same as the undertakings consolidated in the Group IFRS financial statements. The Group’s consolidation policy is described in note A3.1(b).

Direct subsidiary undertakings of the parent company, Prudential plc (shares held directly or via nominees):

 

Name    Classes of Shares held    Proportion held    Country of Incorporation

M&G Group Limited

   Ordinary Shares    100.00%    United Kingdom

Prudential (US Holdco 1) Limited

   Ordinary Shares    100.00%    United Kingdom
Prudential Capital Holding Company Limited    Ordinary Shares    100.00%    United Kingdom

Prudential Corporation Asia Limited

   Ordinary Shares    100.00%    Hong Kong
Prudential Financial Services Limited    Ordinary Shares    100.00%    United Kingdom

Prudential Group Holdings Limited

   Ordinary Shares    100.00%    United Kingdom
Prudential Property Services Limited    Ordinary Shares    100.00%    United Kingdom

Prudential US Limited

   Ordinary Shares    100.00%    United Kingdom
The Prudential Assurance Company Limited    Ordinary Shares    100.00%    United Kingdom

 

F-156


Table of Contents

Other subsidiaries, joint ventures, associates and significant holdings of the Group - no shares held directly by the parent company, Prudential plc or its nominees:

 

Name    Classes of Shares held      Proportion held      Country of Incorporation  

AGR Holdco Ltd

     Ordinary Shares         43.06%         United Kingdom   

Allied Life Brokerage Agency, Inc

     Ordinary Shares         100.00%         USA   
Bird GP 1 Limited      Ordinary Shares         100.00%         United Kingdom   

BOCHK Aggressive Growth Fund

     Ordinary Shares         54.69%         Hong Kong   
BOCHK Balanced Growth Fund      Ordinary Shares         39.05%         Hong Kong   

BOCHK China Equity Fund

     Ordinary Shares         64.15%         Hong Kong   
BOCHK Conservative Growth Fund      Ordinary Shares         43.44%         Hong Kong   

BOCI - Prudential Asset Management Limited

     Ordinary Shares         36.00%         Hong Kong   

BOCI - Prudential Trustee Limited

     Ordinary Shares         36.00%         Hong Kong   
Bracknell Boulevard Management Company Limited      Ordinary Shares         29.10%         United Kingdom   

Brooke (Holdco 1) Inc.

     Ordinary Shares         100.00%         USA   

Brooke Holdings (UK) (In liquidation)

     Ordinary Shares         100.00%         United Kingdom   

Brooke Holdings LLC

     Ordinary Shares         100.00%         USA   

Brooke Life Insurance Company

     Ordinary Shares         100.00%         USA   

BWAT Retail Nominee (1) Limited

     Ordinary Shares         50.00%         United Kingdom   

BWAT Retail Nominee (2) Limited

     Ordinary Shares         50.00%         United Kingdom   

Calera Capital Partners IV - A AIV I, L.P.

     Limited Partnership Interest         32.87%         USA   

Calvin F1 GP Limited

     Ordinary Shares         100.00%         United Kingdom   

Calvin F2 GP Limited

     Ordinary Shares         100.00%         United Kingdom   

Canada Property (Trustee) No 1 Limited

     Ordinary Shares         100.00%         Jersey   

Canada Property Holdings Limited

     Ordinary Shares         100.00%         United Kingdom   

Carraway Guildford (Nominee A) Limited

     Ordinary Shares         100.00%         Jersey   

Carraway Guildford (Nominee B) Limited

     Ordinary Shares         100.00%         Jersey   

Carraway Guildford General Partner Limited

     Ordinary Shares         100.00%         United Kingdom   

Carraway Guildford Investments Unit Trust

     Units         100.00%         Jersey   

Carraway Guildford Limited Partnership

     Limited partnership interest         100.00%         United Kingdom   

CCC Investment S.a.r.l.

     Ordinary Shares         52.24%         Luxembourg   

Centaurus Retail LLP

     Limited Partnership Interest         50.00%         United Kingdom   

Central Square Leeds Limited

     Ordinary Shares         100.00%         United Kingdom   
Centre Capital Non-Qualified Investors IV AIV Orion, L.P.      Membership Interest         76.75%         USA   
Centre Capital Non-Qualified Investors IV AIV-ELS, L.P.      Membership Interest         76.53%         USA   
Centre Capital Non-Qualified Investors IV AIV-RA, L.P.      Membership Interest         71.43%         USA   

Centre Capital Non-Qualified Investors IV, L.P.

     Membership Interest         75.47%         USA   
Centre Capital Non-Qualified Investors V AIV-ELS LP      Membership Interest         73.16%         USA   

Centre Capital Non-Qualified Investors V LP

     Membership Interest         67.47%         USA   

CEP IV-A Chicago AIV Limited Partnership

     Membership Interest         31.92%         USA   

CEP IV-A CWV AIV Limited Partnership

     Membership Interest         31.92%         USA   

CEP IV-A Indy AIV Limited Partnership

     Membership Interest         31.92%         USA   

CEP IV-A NMR AIV Limited Partnership

     Membership Interest         31.92%         USA   

CEP IV-A WBCT AIV Limited Partnership

     Membership Interest         31.91%         USA   

CF European Qualified Investor Scheme

     Ordinary Shares         97.57%         United Kingdom   

CF Japanese Qualified Investor Scheme

     Ordinary Shares         97.68%         United Kingdom   

CF North American Qualified Investor Scheme

     Ordinary Shares         98.22%         United Kingdom   

CF Prudential Pacific Markets Trust Fund

     Ordinary Shares         97.42%         United Kingdom   

CF UK Growth Qualified Investor Scheme

     Ordinary Shares         98.47%         United Kingdom   

Cimbria Holdings Limited

     Ordinary Shares         41.78%         Denmark   

CITIC - CP Asset Management Co. Limited

     Ownership Interest         26.95%         China   
CITIC - Prudential Fund Management Company Limited      Ownership Interest         49.00%         China   
CITIC - Prudential Life Insurance Company Limited      Ownership Interest         50.00%         China   

Creatrade Luxembourg S.a.r.l

     Ordinary Shares         52.27%         Luxembourg   

Cribbs Causeway JV Limited

     Ordinary Shares         50.00%         United Kingdom   

 

F-157


Table of Contents
Name    Classes of Shares held      Proportion held      Country of Incorporation  

Cribbs Causeway Merchants Association Ltd

     Limited by Guarantee            United Kingdom   

Cribbs Mall Nominee (1) Limited

     Ordinary Shares         100.00%         United Kingdom   

Curian Capital, LLC

     Membership Interest         100.00%         USA   
Curian Clearing LLC (Michigan)      Membership Interest         100.00%         USA   
Daisy 2015 Topco Limited      Ordinary Shares         24.08%         United Kingdom   
Eastspring Al-Wara’ Investments Berhad      Ordinary Shares         100.00%         Malaysia   
Eastspring Asset Management Korea Co. Ltd.      Ordinary Shares         100.00%         Korea   
Eastspring Investments - Asia Pacific Equity Fund      Ordinary Shares         75.64%         Luxembourg   
Eastspring Investments Global Bond Navigator Fund      Ordinary Shares         96.29%         Luxembourg   
Eastspring Investments - Pan European Fund      Ordinary Shares         88.40%         Singapore   
Eastspring Investments - US High Yield Bond Fund      Ordinary Shares         33.90%         Luxembourg   
Eastspring Investments (Hong Kong) Ltd      Ordinary Shares         100.00%         Hong Kong   
Eastspring Investments (Luxembourg) S.A      Ordinary Shares         100.00%         Luxembourg   
Eastspring Investments (Singapore) Limited      Ordinary Shares         100.00%         Singapore   
Eastspring Investments Asean Income Private Fund A1      Ordinary Shares         100.00%         Korea   
Eastspring Investments Asian Bond Fund      Ordinary Shares         42.02%         Luxembourg   
Eastspring Investments Asian Dynamic Fund      Ordinary Shares         96.75%         Luxembourg   
Eastspring Investments Asian Equity Fund      Ordinary Shares         79.32%         Luxembourg   
Eastspring Investments Asian Equity Income Fund      Ordinary Shares         57.18%         Luxembourg   
Eastspring Investments Asian High Yield Bond Fund      Ordinary Shares         45.61%         Luxembourg   
Eastspring Investments Asian Infrastructure Equity Fund      Ordinary Shares         62.04%         Luxembourg   
Eastspring Investments Asian Property Securities Fund      Ordinary Shares         96.35%         Luxembourg   
Eastspring Investments Berhad      Ordinary Shares         100.00%         Malaysia   
Eastspring Investments Best Growth Securities Investments Trust 4      Ordinary Shares         83.40%         Korea   
Eastspring Investments China Equity Fund      Ordinary Shares         39.31%         Hong Kong   
Eastspring Investments Dragon Peacock Fund      Ordinary Shares         81.43%         Luxembourg   
Eastspring Investments Emerging EMEA Dynamic Fund      Ordinary Shares         83.31%         Luxembourg   
Eastspring Investments European Investments Grade Bond Fund      Ordinary Shares         95.96%         Luxembourg   
Eastspring Investments Fund Management Limited Liability Company      Ownership Interest         100.00%         Vietnam   
Eastspring Investments Global Emerging Markets Bond Fund      Ordinary Shares         93.40%         Luxembourg   
Eastspring Investments Global Equity Navigator Fund      Ordinary Shares         99.99%         Luxembourg   
Eastspring Investments Global Market Navigator Fund      Ordinary Shares         47.80%         Luxembourg   
Eastspring Investments Global Technology Fund      Ordinary Shares         90.18%         Luxembourg   
Eastspring Investments Greater China Equity Fund      Ordinary Shares         90.24%         Luxembourg   
Eastspring Investments Hong Kong Equity Fund      Ordinary Shares         99.53%         Luxembourg   
Eastspring Investments Incorporated      Ordinary Shares         100.00%         USA   
Eastspring Investments India Consumer Equity Open Limited      Ordinary Shares         100.00%         Mauritius   
Eastspring Investments India Equity Fund      Ordinary Shares         75.25%         Luxembourg   
Eastspring Investments India Equity Open Limited      Ordinary Shares         100.00%         Mauritius   
Eastspring Investments India Infrastructure Equity Open Limited      Ordinary Shares         100.00%         Mauritius   
Eastspring Investments Japan Fundamental Value Fund      Ordinary Shares         100.00%         Luxembourg   

 

F-158


Table of Contents
Name    Classes of Shares held      Proportion held      Country of Incorporation  
Eastspring Investments Limited      Ordinary Shares         100.00%         United Arab Emirates   
Eastspring Investments Limited      Ordinary Shares         100.00%         Japan   
Eastspring Investments North America Value Fund      Ordinary Shares         100.00%         Luxembourg   
Eastspring Investments Pan European Fund      Ordinary Shares         76.55%         Luxembourg   
Eastspring Investments Portfolio Management Limited (in liquidation)      Ordinary Shares         100.00%         Mauritius   
Eastspring Investments Services Pte. Ltd.      Ordinary Shares         100.00%         Singapore   
Eastspring Investments SICAV-FIS - Alternative Investments Fund      Ordinary Shares         100.00%         Luxembourg   
Eastspring Investments SICAV-FIS - Asia Pacific Loan Fund      Ordinary Shares         94.36%         Luxembourg   
Holborn Finance Holding Company (In liquidation)      Ordinary Shares         100.00%         United Kingdom   
Holtwood Limited      Ordinary Shares         100.00%         Isle of Man   
Hyde Holdco 1 Limited      Ordinary Shares         100.00%         United Kingdom   
ICICI Prudential Asset Management Company Limited      Ordinary Shares         49.00%         India   
ICICI Prudential Life Insurance Company Limited      Ordinary Shares         25.89%         India   
ICICI Prudential Pension Funds Management Company Ltd      Ordinary Shares         25.89%         India   
ICICI Prudential Trust Limited      Ordinary Shares         49.00%         India   
ICP (TTT) GP Limited      Ordinary Shares         100.00%         United Kingdom   
ICP F2 (TTT) GP Limited      Ordinary shares         100%         United Kingdom   
IFC Holdings, Inc      Ordinary Shares         100.00%         USA   
Infracapital (Bio) GP Limited      Ordinary Shares         100.00%         United Kingdom   
Infracapital (GC) GP Limited      Ordinary Shares         100.00%         United Kingdom   
Infracapital (TLSB) GP Limited      Ordinary Shares         100.00%         United Kingdom   
Infracapital ABP GP Limited      Ordinary Shares         100.00%         United Kingdom   
Infracapital CI II Limited      Ordinary Shares         100.00%         United Kingdom   
Infracapital DF II GP LLP      Limited Partnership Interest         40.00%         United Kingdom   
Infracapital DF II Limited      Ordinary Shares         100.00%         United Kingdom   
Infracapital EF II GP LLP      Limited Partnership Interest         40.00%         United Kingdom   
Infracapital Employee Feeder GP 1 LLP      Limited Partnership Interest         40.00%         United Kingdom   
Infracapital Employee Feeder GP 2 LLP      Limited Partnership Interest         40.00%         United Kingdom   
Infracapital Employee Feeder GP Limited      Ordinary Shares         100.00%         United Kingdom   
Infracapital F1 GP2 Limited      Ordinary Shares         100.00%         United Kingdom   
Infracapital F2 GP1 Limited      Ordinary Shares         100.00%         United Kingdom   
Infracapital F2 GP2 Limited      Ordinary Shares         100.00%         United Kingdom   
Infracapital GP 1 LLP      Limited Partnership Interest         40.00%         United Kingdom   
Infracapital GP 2 LLP      Limited Partnership Interest         40.00%         United Kingdom   
Infracapital GP II Limited      Ordinary Shares         100.00%         United Kingdom   
Infracapital GP Limited      Ordinary Shares         100.00%         United Kingdom   
Infracapital Greenfield Partners I GP 1 Limited      Ordinary Shares         100.00%         United Kingdom   
Infracapital Greenfield Partners I GP 2 Limited      Ordinary Shares         100.00%         United Kingdom   
Infracapital Greenfield Partners I GP LLP      Limited Partnership Interest         100%         United Kingdom   
Infracapital Long Term Income Partners GP 1 Limited      Ordinary Shares         100.00%         United Kingdom   
Infracapital Long Term Income Partners GP 2 Limited      Ordinary Shares         100.00%         United Kingdom   
Infracapital Long Term Income Partners GP LLP      Limited Partnership Interest         100%         United Kingdom   
Infracapital Nominees Limited      Ordinary Shares         100.00%         United Kingdom   
Infracapital Partners      Limited partnership interest         33.04%         United Kingdom   
Infracapital Partners II LP      Limited partnership interest         25.98%         United Kingdom   
Infracapital Sisu GP Limited      Ordinary Shares         100.00%         United Kingdom   
Infracapital SLP II GP LLP      Limited Partnership Interest         40.00%         United Kingdom   
Infracapital SLP Limited      Ordinary Shares         100.00%         United Kingdom   
Innisfree M&G PPP LLP      Limited Partnership Interest         35.00%         United Kingdom   
INVEST Financial Corporation Insurance Agency, Inc. of Delaware      Ordinary Shares         100.00%         USA   
INVEST Financial Corporation Insurance Agency, Inc. of Illinois      Ordinary Shares         100.00%         USA   

 

F-159


Table of Contents
Name    Classes of Shares held      Proportion held      Country of Incorporation  
INVEST Financial Corporation Insurance Agency, Inc. of Maryland (In liquidation)      Ordinary Shares         100.00%         USA   
INVEST Financial Corporation Insurance Agency, Inc. of Ohio (In liquidation)      Ordinary Shares         100.00%         USA   
INVEST Financial Corporation Insurance Agency, Inc. of Oklahoma (In liquidation)      Ordinary Shares         100.00%         USA   
Investment Centers of America, Inc.      Ordinary Shares         100.00%         USA   
Ivy TopCo Limited      ordinary Shares         35.43%         Guernsey   
Jackson National Asset Management LLC      Capital Contribution         100.00%         USA   
Jackson National Life (Bermuda) Limited      Ordinary Shares         100.00%         Bermuda   
Jackson National Life Distributors LLC      Membership Interest         100.00%         USA   
Jackson National Life Insurance Company      Ordinary Shares         100.00%         USA   
Jackson National Life Insurance Company of New York      Ordinary Shares         100.00%         USA   
Jefferies Capital Partners V, L.P.      Limited Partnership Interest         21.92%         USA   
JNL PPM America Strategic Income Fund      Ordinary Shares         100.00%         USA   
Kalle Luxembourg S.a.r.l.      Ordinary Shares         37.74%         Luxembourg   
Lion Credit Opportunity Fund III      Ordinary Shares         29.10%         Ireland   
Lion Credit Opportunity Fund XII      Ordinary Shares         38.94%         Ireland   
LIPP S.à r.l. (in liquidation)      Ordinary Shares         100.00%         Luxembourg   
Livicos Limited      Ordinary Shares         100.00%         Ireland   
M&G (Guernsey) Limited      Ordinary Shares         100.00%         Guernsey   
M&G Alternatives Investment Management Limited      Ordinary Shares         100.00%         United Kingdom   
M&G Asia Property Fund      Ordinary Shares         34.06%         Luxembourg   
M&G Dividend Fund      Ordinary Shares         55.17%         United Kingdom   
M&G Emerging Markets Bond Fund      Ordinary Shares         46.36%         United Kingdom   
M&G Episode Defensive Fund      Ordinary Shares         94.87%         United Kingdom   
M&G Episode Macro Fund      Ordinary Shares         59.00%         United Kingdom   
M&G European Credit High Yield Investments Fund      Ordinary Shares         100.00%         Luxembourg   
M&G European Credit Investments Fund      Ordinary Shares         100.00%         Luxembourg   
M&G European Fund      Ordinary Shares         63.69%         United Kingdom   
M&G European Property Fund      Ordinary Shares         38.23%         Luxembourg   
M&G European Strategic Value Fund      Ordinary Shares         96.84%         United Kingdom   
M&G Financial Services Limited      Ordinary Shares         100.00%         United Kingdom   
M&G Founders 1 Limited      Ordinary Shares         100.00%         United Kingdom   
M&G General Partner Inc.      Ordinary Shares         100.00%         Cayman Islands   
M&G Gilt Fixed Interest Fund      Ordinary Shares         31.51%         United Kingdom   
M&G Global Corporate Bond Fund      Ordinary Shares         82.30%         United Kingdom   
M&G Global Credit Investments Fund      Ordinary Shares         100.00%         Luxembourg   
M&G Global Growth Fund      Ordinary Shares         43.19%         United Kingdom   
M&G Global Leaders Fund      Ordinary Shares         40.96%         United Kingdom   
M&G IMPPP 1 Limited      Ordinary Shares         100.00%         United Kingdom   
M&G International Investments Limited      Ordinary Shares         100.00%         United Kingdom   
M&G International Investments Nominees Limited      Ordinary Shares         100.00%         United Kingdom   
M&G International Investments Switzerland AG      Ordinary Shares         100.00%         Switzerland   
M&G Investment Management Limited      Ordinary Shares         100.00%         United Kingdom   
M&G Investments (Hong Kong) Limited      Ordinary Shares         100.00%         Hong Kong   
M&G Investments (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.      Ordinary Shares         100.00%         Singapore   
M&G Limited      Ordinary Shares         100.00%         United Kingdom   
M&G Managed Growth Fund      Ordinary Shares         26.62%         United Kingdom   
M&G Management Services Limited      Ordinary Shares         100.00%         United Kingdom   
M&G Nominees Limited      Ordinary Shares         100.00%         United Kingdom   
M&G Pan European Dividend Fund      Ordinary Shares         67.64%         United Kingdom   
M&G Platform Nominees Limited      Ordinary Shares         100.00%         United Kingdom   
M&G Property Portfolio      Ordinary Shares         67.39%         United Kingdom   
M&G Property Portfolio Feeder      Ordinary Shares         27.15%         United Kingdom   
M&G Real Estate (Luxembourg) S.A.      Ordinary shares         100.00%         Luxembourg   
M&G Real Estate Asia Holding Company Pt.ltd      Ordinary shares         100.00%         Singapore   

 

F-160


Table of Contents
Name    Classes of Shares held      Proportion held      Country of Incorporation  
M&G Real Estate Asia PTE. Ltd      ordinary shares         100.00%         Singapore   
M&G Real Estate Debt Fund LP      Limited partnership interest         29.15%         Guernsey   
M&G Real Estate Funds Management S.a.r.l.      Ordinary Shares         100.00%         Luxembourg   
M&G Real Estate Japan Co. Ltd      ordinary shares         100.00%         Japan   
M&G Real Estate Korea Co. Ltd      Ordinary Shares         100.00%         Korea   
M&G Real Estate Limited      Ordinary Shares         100.00%         United Kingdom   
M&G RED Employee Feeder GP Limited      Ordinary Shares         100.00%         United Kingdom   
M&G RED GP Limited      Ordinary Shares         100.00%         Guernsey   
M&G RED II Employee Feeder GP Limited      Ordinary Shares         100.00%         United Kingdom   
M&G RED II GP Limited      Ordinary Shares         100.00%         Guernsey   
M&G RED II SLP GP Limited      Ordinary Shares         100.00%         United Kingdom   
M&G RED III Employee Feeder GP Limited      Ordinary Shares         100.00%         United Kingdom   
M&G RED III GP Limited      Ordinary shares         100%         United Kingdom   
M&G RED III SLP GP Limited      Ordinary Shares         100.00%         United Kingdom   
M&G RED SLP GP Limited      Ordinary Shares         100.00%         United Kingdom   
M&G RPF GP Limited      Ordinary Shares         100.00%         United Kingdom   
M&G RPF Nominee 1 Limited      Ordinary Shares         100.00%         United Kingdom   
M&G RPF Nominee 2 Limited      Ordinary Shares         100.00%         United Kingdom   
M&G Securities Limited      Ordinary Shares         100.00%         United Kingdom   
M&G SIF Management Company (Ireland) Limited      Ordinary Shares         100.00%         Ireland   
M&G Smaller Companies Fund      Ordinary Shares         47.74%         United Kingdom   
M&G Traditional Credit Fund      Ordinary Shares         40.24%         Ireland   
M&G UK Companies Financing Fund II LP      Limited partnership interest         48.32%         United Kingdom   
M&G UK Property GP Limited      Ordinary Shares         100.00%         United Kingdom   
M&G UK Property Nominee 1 Limited      Ordinary Shares         100.00%         United Kingdom   
M&G UK Property Nominee 2 Limited      Ordinary Shares         100.00%         United Kingdom   
M&G UKCF II GP Limited      Ordinary Shares         100.00%         United Kingdom   
Manchester JV Limited      Ordinary Shares         50.00%         United Kingdom   
Manchester Nominee (1) Limited      Ordinary Shares         100.00%         United Kingdom   
Manhattan Property Finance Company Limited      Ordinary Shares         100.00%         Gibraltar   
Mission Plans of America, Inc      Ordinary Shares         100.00%         USA   
MM&S (2375) Limited (In liquidation)      Ordinary Shares         100.00%         United Kingdom   
Murphy & Partners Fund, LP      Limited Partnership Interest         21.07%         USA   
NAPI REIT, Inc.      Ordinary Shares         99.00%         USA   
National Planning Corporation      Ordinary Shares         100.00%         USA   
National Planning Holdings, Inc.      Ordinary Shares         100.00%         USA   
National Planning Insurance Agency, Inc. (Florida) (In liquidation)      Ordinary Shares         100.00%         USA   
National Planning Insurance Agency, Inc. (Massachusetts) (In liquidation)      Ordinary Shares         100.00%         USA   
National Planning Insurance Agency, Inc. (Oklahoma) (In liquidation)      Ordinary Shares         100.00%         USA   
National Planning Insurance Agency, Inc. (Texas) (In liquidation)      Ordinary Shares         100.00%         USA   
NB Distressed Debt      New Global Shares         25.66%         Guernsey   
North Sathorn Holdings Company Limited      Ordinary Shares         100.00%         Thailand   
Nova Sepadu Sdn. Bhd.      Ordinary Shares         51.00%         Malaysia   
Oaktree Business Park Limited      Ordinary Shares         12.50%         United Kingdom   
Old Hickory Fund I, LLC      Membership Interest         100.00%         USA   
Optimus Point Management Company Limited      Ordinary Shares         99.95%         United Kingdom   
Orizon Luxembourg S.a.r.l      Ordinary Shares         78.49%         Luxembourg   
Pacus (UK) Limited      Ordinary Shares         100.00%         United Kingdom   
Park Avenue (Singapore Two) (In liquidation)      Ordinary Shares         100.00%         Gibraltar   
PCA IP Services Limited      Ordinary Shares         100.00%         Hong Kong   
PCA Life Assurance Co. Ltd.      Ordinary Shares         99.79%         Taiwan   
PCA Life Insurance Co. Ltd.      Ordinary Shares         100.00%         Korea   
PCA Reinsurance Co. Ltd.      Ordinary Shares         100.00%         Labuan, Malaysia   
PGDS (UK One) Limited      Ordinary Shares         100.00%         United Kingdom   
PGDS (US One) LLC      Membership Interest         100.00%         USA   
Phase One Imaging Holdings Ltd      Ordinary Shares         30.54%         United Kingdom   

 

F-161


Table of Contents
Name    Classes of Shares held      Proportion held      Country of Incorporation  
Piccard at Rockville, LLC      Membership Interest         100.00%         USA   
Pinewood Limited      Ordinary Shares         20.00%         Malaysia   
PPM America Capital Partners II, LLC      Membership Interest         63.45%         USA   
PPM America Capital Partners III, LLC      Membership Interest         60.50%         USA   
PPM America Capital Partners IV, LLC      Membership Interest         34.50%         USA   
PPM America Capital Partners V, LLC      Membership Interest         34.00%         USA   
PPM America Capital Partners, LLC      Membership Interest         19.38%         USA   
PPM America Private Equity Fund II LP      Limited partnership interest         100.00%         USA   
PPM America Private Equity Fund III LP      Limited partnership interest         100.00%         USA   
PPM America Private Equity Fund IV LP      Limited partnership interest         100.00%         USA   
PPM America Private Equity Fund LP      Limited partnership interest         100.00%         USA   
PPM America Private Equity Fund V LP      Limited partnership interest         100.00%         USA   
PPM America, Inc.      Ordinary Shares         100.00%         USA   
PPM Capital (Holdings) Limited      Ordinary Shares         100.00%         United Kingdom   
PPM Finance, Inc.      Ordinary Shares         100.00%         USA   
PPM Holdings, Inc.      Ordinary Shares         100.00%         USA   
PPM Managers GP Limited      Ordinary Shares         100.00%         United Kingdom   
PPM Ventures (Asia) Limited (in liquidation)      Ordinary Shares         100.00%         Hong Kong   
PPMC First Nominees Limited      Ordinary Shares         100.00%         United Kingdom   
PPS Five Limited (In liquidation)      Ordinary Shares         100.00%         United Kingdom   
PPS Nine Limited(In liquidation)      Ordinary Shares         100.00%         United Kingdom   
PPS Twelve Limited(In liquidation)      Ordinary Shares         100.00%         United Kingdom   
Property Partners (Two Rivers) Limited      Ordinary Shares         50.00%         United Kingdom   
Pru Life Insurance Corporation of U.K.      Ordinary Shares         100.00%         Philippines   
Prudence Foundation Limited      Limited by Guarantee         100.00%         Hong Kong   
Prudential (Cambodia) Life Assurance Plc      Ordinary Shares         100.00%         Cambodia   
Prudential (Gibraltar) Limited (In liquidation)      Ordinary Shares         100.00%         Gibraltar   
Prudential (Netherlands One) Limited(In liquidation)      Ordinary Shares         100.00%         United Kingdom   
Prudential (Netherlands) B.V. (In liquidation)      Ordinary Shares         100.00%         Netherlands   
Prudential / M&G UKCF GP Limited      Ordinary Shares         100.00%         United Kingdom   
Prudential Africa Holdings Limited      Ordinary Shares         100.00%         United Kingdom   
Prudential Africa Services Limited      Ordinary Shares         100.00%         Kenya   
Prudential Annuities Limited (In liquidation)      Ordinary Shares         100.00%         United Kingdom   
Prudential Assurance Company Singapore (Pte) Limited      Ordinary Shares         100.00%         Singapore   
Prudential Assurance Malaysia Berhad      Ordinary Shares         51.00%         Malaysia   
Prudential Assurance Uganda Limited      Ordinary Shares         100.00%         Uganda   
Prudential Australia One Limited (in liquidation)      Ordinary Shares         100.00%         United Kingdom   
Prudential BSN Takaful Berhad      Ordinary Shares         49.00%         Malaysia   
Prudential Capital (Singapore) Pte. Ltd      Ordinary Shares         100.00%         Singapore   
Prudential Capital Public Limited Company      Ordinary Shares         100.00%         United Kingdom   
Prudential Corporate Pensions Trustee Limited      Ordinary Shares         100.00%         United Kingdom   
Prudential Corporation Australasia Holdings Pty Limited      Ordinary Shares         100.00%         Australia   
Prudential Corporation Holdings Limited      Ordinary Shares         100.00%         United Kingdom   
Prudential Development Management Limited      Ordinary Shares         100.00%         United Kingdom   
Prudential Distribution Limited      Ordinary Shares         100.00%         United Kingdom   
Prudential Dublin Investment Ltd      Ordinary Shares         100.00%         Ireland   
Prudential Dynamic 0-30 Portfolio      Ordinary Shares         27.61%         United Kingdom   
Prudential Dynamic 10-40 Portfolio      Ordinary Shares         32.39%         United Kingdom   
Prudential Dynamic 20-55 Portfolio      Ordinary Shares         36.79%         United Kingdom   
Prudential Dynamic 40-80 Portfolio      Ordinary Shares         39.69%         United Kingdom   
Prudential Dynamic 60-100 Portfolio      Ordinary Shares         41.59%         United Kingdom   
Prudential Dynamic Focused 0-30 Portfolio      Ordinary Shares         66.84%         United Kingdom   
Prudential Dynamic Focused 10-40 Portfolio      Ordinary Shares         65.29%         United Kingdom   
Prudential Dynamic Focused 20-55 Portfolio      Ordinary Shares         48.25%         United Kingdom   
Prudential Dynamic Focused 40-80 Portfolio      Ordinary Shares         86.96%         United Kingdom   
Prudential Dynamic Focused 60-100 Portfolio      Ordinary Shares         94.18%         United Kingdom   
Prudential Equity Release Mortgages Limited      Ordinary Shares         100.00%         United Kingdom   
Prudential Europe Assurance Holdings Limited (In liquidation)      Ordinary Shares         100.00%         United Kingdom   

 

F-162


Table of Contents
Name    Classes of Shares held      Proportion held      Country of Incorporation  
Prudential Financial Planning Limited      Ordinary Shares         100.00%         United Kingdom   
Prudential Five Limited      Ordinary Shares         100.00%         United Kingdom   
Prudential General Insurance Hong Kong Limited      Ordinary Shares         100.00%         Hong Kong   
Prudential GP Limited      Ordinary Shares         100.00%         United Kingdom   
Prudential Greenfield GP LLP      Limited partnership interest         100.00%         United Kingdom   
Prudential Greenfield GP1 Limited      Ordinary Shares         100.00%         United Kingdom   
Prudential Greenfield GP2 Limited      Ordinary Shares         100.00%         United Kingdom   
Prudential Greenfield LP      Limited partnership interest         100.00%         United Kingdom   
Prudential Greenfield SLP GP LLP      Limited Partnership Interest         100.00%         United Kingdom   
Prudential Group Pensions Limited      Ordinary Shares         100.00%         United Kingdom   
Prudential Group Secretarial Services Limited      Ordinary Shares         100.00%         United Kingdom   
Prudential Holborn Life Limited      Ordinary Shares         100.00%         United Kingdom   
Prudential Holdings Limited      Ordinary Shares         100.00%         United Kingdom   
Prudential Hong Kong Limited      Ordinary Shares         100.00%         Hong Kong   
Prudential International Assurance plc      Ordinary Shares         100.00%         Ireland   
Prudential International Management Services Limited      Ordinary Shares         100.00%         Ireland   
Prudential International Staff Pensions Limited      Ordinary Shares         100.00%         United Kingdom   
Prudential Investments (Luxembourg) 2 S.à r.l.      Ordinary shares         100.00%         Luxembourg   
Prudential IP Services Limited      Ordinary Shares         100.00%         United Kingdom   
Prudential Lalondes Limited (In liquidation)      Ordinary Shares         100.00%         United Kingdom   
Prudential Life Assurance (Lao) Company Limited      Ordinary Shares         100.00%         Laos   
Prudential Life Assurance (Thailand) Public Company Limited      Ordinary Shares         99.93%         Thailand   
Prudential Life Assurance Kenya Limited      Ordinary Shares         100.00%         Kenya   
Prudential Life Insurance Ghana Limited      Ordinary Shares         100.00%         Ghana   
Prudential Lifetime Mortgages Limited      Ordinary Shares         100.00%         United Kingdom   
Prudential M&G UK Companies Financing Fund LP      Limited partnership interest         34.42%         United Kingdom   
Prudential Mauritius Holdings Limited      Ordinary Shares         100.00%         Mauritius   
Prudential Pensions Limited      Ordinary Shares         100.00%         United Kingdom   
Prudential Polska sp.z.oo      Ordinary Shares         100.00%         Poland   
Prudential Portfolio Management Group Limited      Ordinary Shares         100.00%         United Kingdom   
Prudential Portfolio Managers (South Africa) (Pty) Limited      Ordinary Shares         49.99%         South Africa   
Prudential Process Management Services India Private Limited      Ordinary Shares         100.00%         India   
Prudential Properties Trusty Pty Limited      Unclassified Shares         100.00%         Australia   
Prudential Property Holding Limited      Ordinary Shares         100.00%         United Kingdom   
Prudential Property Investment Managers Limited      Ordinary Shares         100.00%         United Kingdom   
Prudential Property Investments Limited      Ordinary Shares         100.00%         United Kingdom   
Prudential Property Services (Bristol) Limited (In liquidation)      Ordinary Shares         100.00%         United Kingdom   
Prudential Real Estate Investments 1 Limited      Ordinary Shares         100.00%         United Kingdom   
Prudential Real Estate Investments 2 Limited      Ordinary Shares         100.00%         United Kingdom   
Prudential Real Estate Investments 3 Limited      Ordinary Shares         100.00%         United Kingdom   
Prudential Retirement Income Limited      Ordinary Shares         100.00%         United Kingdom   
Prudential Services Asia Sdn. Bhd.     

 

Ordinary Shares

Class D Preference Shares

  

  

    

 

100.00%

100.00%

  

  

     Malaysia   
Prudential Services Limited      Ordinary Shares         100.00%         United Kingdom   
Prudential Services Singapore Pte. Ltd.      Ordinary Shares         100.00%         Singapore   
Prudential Singapore Holdings Pte. Limited.      Ordinary Shares         100.00%         Singapore   
Prudential Staff Pensions Limited      Ordinary Shares         100.00%         United Kingdom   
Prudential Trustee Company Limited      Ordinary Shares         100.00%         United Kingdom   
Prudential UK Services Limited      Ordinary Shares         100.00%         United Kingdom   
Prudential Unit Trusts Limited      Ordinary Shares         100.00%         United Kingdom   
Prudential Vietnam Assurance Private Limited      Ownership Interest         100.00%         Vietnam   
Prudential Vietnam Finance Company Limited      Ownership Interest         100.00%         Vietnam   

 

F-163


Table of Contents
Name    Classes of Shares held      Proportion held      Country of Incorporation  
Prutec Limited      Ordinary Shares         100.00%         United Kingdom   
PT. Prudential Life Assurance      Ordinary Shares         94.62%         Indonesia   
PT. Eastspring Investments Indonesia      Ordinary Shares         99.95%         Indonesia   
PVFC Financial Limited      Ordinary Shares         100.00%         Hong Kong   
PVM Partnerships Limited      Ordinary Shares         100.00%         United Kingdom   
REALIC of Jacksonville Plans, Inc.      Ordinary Shares         100.00%         USA   
Reeds Rains Prudential Limited (In liquidation)      Ordinary Shares         100.00%         United Kingdom   
Reksa Dana Eastspring IDR Fixed Income Fund (NDEIFF)      Ordinary Shares         97.49%         Indonesia   
Rhodium Investment Fund      Ordinary Shares         100.00%         Singapore   
Rift GP 1 Limited      Ordinary Shares         100.00%         United Kingdom   
Rift GP 2 Limited      Ordinary Shares         100.00%         United Kingdom   
ROP, Inc      Ordinary shares         100.00%         USA   
SBP Management Limited      Ordinary Shares         27.70%         United Kingdom   
ScotAm Pension Trustees Limited      Ordinary Shares         100.00%         United Kingdom   
Scottish Amicable Finance plc      Ordinary Shares         100.00%         United Kingdom   
Scottish Amicable ISA Managers Limited (In liquidation)      Ordinary Shares         100.00%         United Kingdom   
Scottish Amicable Life Assurance Society      No Share Capital         100.00%         United Kingdom   
Scottish Amicable PEP and ISA Nominees Limited (In liquidation)      Ordinary Shares         100.00%         United Kingdom   
Scotts Spazio Pte. Ltd.      Ordinary shares         45.00%         Singapore   
Sealand (No 1) Limited      Ordinary Shares         100.00%         Jersey   
Sealand (No 2) Limited      Ordinary Shares         100.00%         Jersey   
SES Manager Limited      Ordinary shares         50.00%         United Kingdom   
SII Insurance Agency, Inc. (Wisconsin) (In liquidation)      Ordinary Shares         100.00%         USA   
SII Investments, Inc.      Ordinary Shares         100.00%         USA   
Smithfield Limited      Ordinary Shares         100.00%         United Kingdom   
Snushalls Team Limited (In liquidation)      Ordinary Shares         100.00%         United Kingdom   
Spanish Trail Ownership, LLC      Membership Interest         100.00%         USA   
Squire Capital I LLC      Membership Interest         100.00%         USA   
Squire Capital II LLC      Membership Interest         100.00%         USA   
Squire Reassurance Company LLC      Membership Interest         100.00%         USA   
Sri Han Suria Sdn. Bhd.     
 
 
Ordinary Shares
Class A and B
Preference Shares
 
  
  
    

 

51.00%

100.00%

  

  

     Malaysia   
St Edward Homes Limited      Ordinary Shares         100.00%         United Kingdom   
Stableview Limited      Ordinary Shares         100.00%         United Kingdom   
Staple Limited      Ordinary Shares         100.00%         Thailand   
Staple Nominees Limited      Ordinary Shares         100.00%         United Kingdom   
Thanachart Life Assurance Public Company Limited (in liquidation)      Ordinary Shares         99.93%         Thailand   
The Car Auction Unit Trust      Ordinary Shares         50.00%         Guernsey   
The First British Fixed Trust Company Limited      Ordinary Shares         100.00%         United Kingdom   
The Forum, Solent, Management Company Limited      Ordinary Shares         100.00%         United Kingdom   
The Green (Solihull) Management Company Ltd      Ordinary shares         100.00%         United Kingdom   
The Heights Management Company Limited      Ordinary Shares         50.00%         United Kingdom   
The Hub (Witton) Management Company Limited      Ordinary Shares         100.00%         United Kingdom   
The St Edward Homes Partnership      Limited Partnership Interest         49.95%         United Kingdom   
The Strand Property Unit Trust      Units         50.00%         Jersey   
The Two Rivers Trust      Units         50.00%         Jersey   
Two Snowhill Birmingham s.a.r.l.      ordinary shares         100.00%         Luxembourg   
US Strategic Income Bond Fund D USD Acc      Ordinary Shares         100.00%         Luxembourg   
US Total Return Bond Fund D USD Acc      Ordinary Shares         100.00%         Luxembourg   
VFL International Life Company SPC, Ltd      Ordinary Shares         100.00%         Cayman Islands   
Warren Farm Office Village Limited      Ordinary Shares         100.00%         United Kingdom   
Wessex Gate Limited      Ordinary Shares         100.00%         United Kingdom   
Westwacker Limited      Ordinary Shares         100.00%         United Kingdom   
Wynnefield Private Equity Partners I, L.P.      Limited Partnership Interest         99.00%         USA   
Wynnefield Private Equity Partners II, LP      Limited Partnership Interest         99.00%         USA   

 

F-164


Table of Contents

Index to the Condensed Financial Information of Registrant Prudential plc

 

               Page            

Profit and Loss Accounts for the years ended 31 December 2015, 2014 and 2013

     S-2   

Statements of Financial Position at 31 December 2015 and 2014

     S-3   

Statements of Changes in Equity for the years ended 31 December 2015, 2014 and 2013

     S-4   

Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended 31 December 2015, 2014 and 2013

     S-5   

Notes to the Condensed Financial Statement Schedule

     S-6   

 

S-1


Table of Contents

Schedule II

Condensed Financial Information of Registrant Prudential plc

Profit and Loss Accounts (FRS 101 Basis)

 

Years ended 31 December    2015 £m        2014 £m        2013 £m  

Investment income, including dividends received from subsidiary undertakings

     1,363           2,061           2,409   

Investment expenses and charges

     (311)           (443)           (565)   

Other charges:

            

Corporate expenditure

     (230)           (262)           (193)   

Foreign currency exchange gains (losses)

     2           32           (21)   

Profit on ordinary activities before tax

     824           1,388           1,630   

Tax credit (charge) on profit on ordinary activities

     96           75           (35)   

Profit for the financial year

     920           1,463           1,595   

Other comprehensive income:

            

Items that will not be reclassified to profit or loss

            

Actuarial gains (losses) recognised in respect of the pension scheme

     4           8           (12)   

Related tax

     -           (2)           2   
       4           6           (10)   

Total comprehensive income for the year

     924           1,469           1,585   

The accompanying notes are an integral part of this condensed financial information

 

S-2


Table of Contents

Schedule II

Condensed Financial Information of Registrant Prudential plc

Statements of Financial Position (FRS 101 Basis)

 

31 December    2015 £m      2014 £m  

Fixed assets

     

Investments:

     

Shares in subsidiary undertakings

     12,514         5,373   

Loans to subsidiary undertakings

     -         6,329   
       12,514         11,702   

Current assets

     

Debtors:

     

Amounts owed by subsidiary undertakings

     4,783         3,785   

Other debtors

     3         3   

Tax recoverable

     43         -   

Deferred tax asset

     -         8   

Derivative assets

     1         2   

Pension asset

     51         39   

Cash at bank and in hand

     104         7   
       4,985         3,844   

Liabilities: amounts falling due within one year

     

Commercial paper

     (1,107)         (1,704)   

Other borrowings

     (200)         (500)   

Derivative liabilities

     (322)         (315)   

Amounts owed to subsidiary undertakings

     (2,711)         (1,108)   

Tax payable

     (20)         (55)   

Deferred tax liability

     (9)         (8)   

Sundry creditors

     -         (3)   

Accruals and deferred income

     (56)         (39)   
       (4,425)         (3,732)   

Net current assets

     560         112   

Total assets less current liabilities

     13,074         11,814   

Liabilities: amounts falling due after more than one year

     

Subordinated liabilities

     (4,018)         (3,320)   

Debenture loans

     (549)         (549)   

Other borrowings

     (598)         -   
       (5,165)         (3,869)   

Total net assets

     7,909         7,945   

Capital and reserves

     

Share capital

     128         128   

Share premium

     1,915         1,908   

Profit and loss account

     5,866         5,909   

Shareholders’ funds

     7,909         7,945   

The accompanying notes are an integral part of this condensed financial information

 

S-3


Table of Contents

Schedule II

Condensed Financial Information of Registrant Prudential plc

Statements of Changes in Equity (FRS 101 basis)

 

£m   

Share

capital

    

Share

premium

    

Profit and

loss
account

    

Total

equity

 

Balance at 1 January 2013

     128         1,889         4,519         6,536   

Total comprehensive income for the year

           

Profit for the year

     -         -         1,595         1,595   

Actuarial losses recognised in respect of the pension scheme

     -         -         (10)         (10)   

Total comprehensive income for the year

     -         -         1,585         1,585   

Transactions with owners, recorded directly in equity

           

New share capital subscribed

     -         6         -         6   

Share based payment transactions

     -         -         6         6   

Dividends

     -         -         (781)         (781)   

Total contributions by and distributions to owners

     -         6         (775)         (769)   

Balance at 31 December 2013

     128         1,895         5,329         7,352   

Balance at 1 January 2014

     128         1,895         5,329         7,352   

Total comprehensive income for the year

           

Profit for the year

     -         -         1,463         1,463   

Actuarial gains recognised in respect of the pension scheme

     -         -         6         6   

Total comprehensive income for the year

     -         -         1,469         1,469   

Transactions with owners, recorded directly in equity

           

New share capital subscribed

     -         13         -         13   

Share based payment transactions

     -         -         6         6   

Dividends

     -         -         (895)         (895)   

Total contributions by and distributions to owners

     -         13         (889)         (876)   

Balance at 31 December 2014

     128         1,908         5,909         7,945   

Balance at 1 January 2015

     128         1,908         5,909         7,945   

Total comprehensive income for the year

           

Profit for the year

     -         -         920         920   

Actuarial gains recognised in respect of the pension scheme

     -         -         4         4   

Total comprehensive income for the year

     -         -         924         924   

Transactions with owners, recorded directly in equity

           

New share capital subscribed

     -         7         -         7   

Share based payment transactions

     -         -         7         7   

Dividends

     -         -         (974)         (974)   

Total contributions by and distributions to owners

     -         7         (967)         (960)   

Balance at 31 December 2015

     128         1,915         5,866         7,909   

The accompanying notes are an integral part of this condensed financial information

 

S-4


Table of Contents

Schedule II

Condensed Financial Information of Registrant Prudential plc

Statements of Cash Flows (FRS 101 Basis)

 

Years ended 31 December    2015 £m        2014 £m        2013 £m  

Operations

            
Net cash inflow from operating activities before interest and tax      1,335           1,774           2,198   
Interest paid      (289)           (343)           (504)   
Taxes received (paid)      41           73           (45)   
Acquisitions and disposals             
Investment in shares in subsidiary undertakings      -           -           (1,443)   
Equity dividends paid      (974)           (895)           (781)   
Net cash inflow (outflow) before financing      113           609           (575)   
Financing             
Issue of ordinary share capital      7           13           6   
Issue of borrowings      590           -           1,124   
Repayment of borrowings      -           (445)           -   
Movement in commercial paper and other borrowings to support a short-term fixed income securities program      (299)           70           (151)   
Movement in net amount owed by subsidiary undertakings      (314)           (464)           (373)   
Net cash (outflow) inflow from financing      (16)           (826)           606   
Net cash inflow (outflow) for the year      97           (217)           31   
Reconciliation of profit on ordinary activities before tax to net cash inflow from operating activities             
Profit on ordinary activities before tax      824           1,388           1,630   
Add back: interest charged      318           419           556   

Adjustments for non-cash items:

            

Fair value adjustments on derivatives

     7           115           9   

Pension scheme

     (7)           6           -   

Foreign currency exchange and other movements

     196           (152)           24   

Decrease in creditors

     (3)           (2)           (21)   

Net cash inflow from operating activities

     1,335           1,774           2,198   

The accompanying notes are an integral part of this condensed financial information

 

S-5


Table of Contents

Schedule II

Condensed Financial Information of Registrant Prudential plc

Notes to the Condensed Financial Statement Schedule

31 December 2015

 

1 Basis of preparation

The financial statements of the parent company are prepared in accordance with UK Generally Accepted Accounting Practice, including Financial Reporting Standard 101 Reduced Disclosure Framework (“FRS 101”). In preparing these financial statements, the Company applies the recognition, measurement and disclosure requirements in International Financial Reporting Standards (“IFRSs”) as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board (“IASB”) and endorsed by the EU but makes amendments where necessary in order to comply with the Companies Act 2006.

In preparing these financial statements, the Company has adopted FRS 101 for the first time. In the transition to FRS 101, the Company has made no measurement and recognition adjustments. An explanation of how the transition to FRS 101 has affected the presentation of the financial statements of the Company is provided in note 7.

 

2 Significant accounting policies

Shares in subsidiary undertakings

Shares in subsidiary undertakings are shown at cost less impairment.

Loans to subsidiary undertakings

Loans to subsidiary undertakings are shown at cost, less provisions.

Derivatives

Derivative financial instruments are held to manage certain macro-economic exposures. Derivative financial instruments are carried at fair value with changes in fair value included in the profit and loss account.

Borrowings

Borrowings are initially recognised at fair value, net of transaction costs, and subsequently accounted for on an amortised cost basis using the effective interest method. Under the effective interest method, the difference between the redemption value of the borrowing and the initial proceeds, net of transaction costs, is amortised through the profit and loss account to the date of maturity, or, for subordinated debt, over the expected life of the instrument.

Dividends

Interim dividends are recorded in the period in which they are paid. Final dividends are recorded in the period in which they are approved by shareholders. From 2016, the Company will make all dividend payments as interim payments.

Share premium

The difference between the proceeds received on issue of shares and the nominal value of the shares issued is credited to the share premium account.

Foreign currency translation

Assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies, including borrowings that have been used to finance or provide a hedge against Group equity investments in overseas subsidiaries, are translated at year end exchange rates. The impact of these currency translations is recorded within the profit and loss account for the year.

Tax

Current tax expense is charged or credited to operations based upon amounts estimated to be payable or recoverable as a result of taxable amounts for the current year. To the extent that losses of an individual UK company are not offset in any one year, they can be carried back for one year or carried forward indefinitely to be offset against profits arising from the same company.

 

S-6


Table of Contents

Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognised in accordance with the provisions of IAS 12, ’Income Taxes’. Deferred tax assets are recognised to the extent that it is regarded as more likely than not that future taxable profits will be available against which these losses can be utilised. Deferred tax is measured at the tax rates that are expected to be applied to temporary differences when they reverse, using tax rates enacted or substantively enacted at the reporting date.

The Group’s UK subsidiaries each file separate tax returns. In accordance with UK tax legislation, where one domestic UK company is a 75 per cent owned subsidiary of another UK company or both are 75 per cent owned subsidiaries of a common parent, the companies are considered to be within the same UK tax group. For companies within the same tax group, trading profits and losses arising in the same accounting period may be offset for the purposes of determining current and deferred taxes.

Pensions

The Company assumes a portion of the pension surplus or deficit of the Group’s main pension scheme, the Prudential Staff Pension Scheme (“PSPS”). Upon adoption of FRS 101, the Company applies the requirements of IAS 19 ‘Employee Benefit’ (as revised in 2011) for the accounting of its interest in the PSPS surplus or deficit.

A pension surplus or deficit is recorded as the difference between the present value of the scheme liabilities and the fair value of the scheme assets. The Company’s share of pension surplus is recognised to the extent that the Company is able to recover a surplus either through reduced contributions in the future or through refunds from the scheme.

The assets and liabilities of the defined benefit pension schemes of the Prudential Group are subject to a full triennial actuarial valuation using the projected unit method. Estimated future cash flows are then discounted at a high quality corporate bond rate, adjusted to allow for the difference in duration between the bond index and the pension liabilities where appropriate, to determine their present value. These calculations are performed by independent actuaries.

The aggregate of the actuarially determined service costs of the currently employed personnel and the net income (interest) on the net scheme assets (liabilities) at the start of the period, is recognised in the profit or loss account. Actuarial gains and losses as a result of the changes in assumptions, experience variances or the return on scheme assets excluding amounts included in the net deferred benefit asset (liability) are recorded in other comprehensive income.

Share-based payments

The Group offers share award and option plans for certain key employees and a Save As You Earn (“SAYE”) plan for all UK and certain overseas employees. The share-based payment plans operated by the Group are mainly equity-settled plans with a few cash-settled plans.

Under IFRS 2 ‘Share-based payment’, where the Company, as the parent company, has the obligation to settle the options or awards of its equity instruments to employees of its subsidiary undertakings, and such share-based payments are accounted for as equity-settled in the Group financial statements, the Company records an increase in the investment in subsidiary undertakings for the value of the share options and awards granted with a corresponding credit entry recognised directly in equity. The value of the share options and awards granted is based upon the fair value of the options and awards at the grant date, the vesting period and the vesting conditions.

 

3 Dividends received from subsidiary undertakings

 

      2015 £m        2014 £m        2013 £m  

The Prudential Assurance Company Limited

     361           410           230   

Prudential Holdings Limited

     -           -           330   

M&G Group Limited

     150           285           235   

Prudential US Limited

     353           265           260   

Prudential Capital Holding Company Limited

     55           57           57   

Prudential Group Holdings Limited and other central subsidiaries

     66           757           1,220   

Total

     985           1,774           2,332   

 

S-7


Table of Contents
4 Reconciliation from the FRS 101 parent company results to the IFRS Group results

The parent company financial statements are prepared in accordance with FRS 101 and the Group financial statements are prepared in accordance with IFRSs as issued by the IASB and endorsed by the EU. At 31 December 2015, there were no differences between FRS 101 and IFRSs as issued by the IASB and endorsed by the EU in terms of their application to the parent company.

The tables below provide a reconciliation between the FRS 101 parent company results and the IFRS Group results.

 

      2015 £m        2014 £m        2013 £m  

Profit after tax

            
Profit for the financial year of the Company (including dividends from subsidiaries) in accordance with FRS 101 and IFRS      920           1,463           1,595   
Share in the IFRS result of the Group, net of distributions to the Company*      1,659           753           (249)   
Profit after tax of the Group attributable to shareholders in accordance with IFRS      2,579           2,216           1,346   
      2015 £m        2014 £m           
Net equity             
Shareholders’ equity of the Company in accordance with FRS 101 and IFRS      7,909           7,945        
Share in the IFRS net equity of the Group*      5,046           3,866        
Shareholders’ equity of the Group in accordance with IFRS      12,955           11,811        
* The ‘shares in the IFRS result and net equity of the Group’ lines represent the parent company’s equity in the earnings and net assets of its subsidiaries and associates.

The profit for the financial year of the parent company in accordance with IFRS includes dividends received in the year from subsidiary undertakings of £985 million, £1,774 million and £2,332 million for the years ended 31 December 2015, 2014 and 2013 respectively (note 3).

As stated in note 2, under FRS 101, the parent company accounts for its investments in subsidiary undertakings at cost less impairment. For the purpose of this reconciliation, no adjustment is made to the parent company in respect of any valuation adjustments to shares in subsidiary undertakings which would be eliminated on consolidation.

 

5 Guarantees provided by the parent company

In certain instances the parent company has guaranteed that its subsidiaries will meet their obligations when they fall due for payment.

 

6 Post balance sheet events

The second interim and special dividends for the year ended 31 December 2015, which were approved by the Board of Directors after 31 December 2015, are described in note B7 of the Group financial statements.

 

7 Explanation of Transition to FRS 101

As stated in note 1, these are the Company’s first financial statements prepared in accordance with FRS 101.

The accounting policies set out in note 2 have been applied in preparing the financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2015, the comparative information presented in these financial statements for the years ended 31 December 2014 and 2013 and in the preparation of an opening FRS 101 statement of financial position at 1 January 2014.

 

S-8


Table of Contents

In preparing its FRS 101 balance sheet, the Company has adjusted amounts reported previously in financial statements prepared in accordance with its old basis of accounting, UK GAAP. An explanation of how the transition from UK GAAP to FRS 101 has affected the Company’s financial statements is set out in the following tables and the notes that accompany the tables.

 

31 December 2014 £m    UK GAAP       

Effect
of

transition

to FRS 101

       FRS
101
 

Fixed assets

     11,702           -           11,702   

Current assets (including pension asset)

            

Pension asset

     31           8           39   

Other current assets

     3,805           -           3,805   
       3,836           8           3,844   

Liabilities: amounts falling due within one year

            

Deferred tax liability

     -           (8)           (8)   

Other current liabilities

     (3,724)           -           (3,724)   
       (3,724)           (8)           (3,732)   

Net current assets

     112           -           112   

Total assets less current liabilities

     11,814           -           11,814   

Liabilities: amounts falling due after more than one year

     (3,869)           -           (3,869)   

Total net assets

     7,945           -           7,945   

 

     2014 £m      2013 £m  
      UK GAAP      Effect of
transition
to FRS 101
     FRS 101      UK GAAP     

Effect of
transition

to FRS 101

     FRS 101  

Condensed profit and loss account

                 

Profit on ordinary activities before tax

     1,385         3         1,388         1,610         20         1,630   

Tax credit (charge) on profit on ordinary activities

     75         -         75         (31)         (4)         (35)   

Profit for the year

     1,460         3         1,463         1,579         16         1,595   

Actuarial gains (losses) recognised in respect of the pension scheme, net of tax

     9         (3)         6         6         (16)         (10)   

Total comprehensive income for the year

     1,469         -         1,469         1,585         -         1,585   

Notes to the tables:

 

  (1) The change in the presentation of the pension asset on the balance sheet from net to gross of related deferred tax liability at 31 December 2014 was £8 million.

 

  (2) The replacement of expected return on scheme assets under FRS 17 with an amount based on the liability discount rate under IAS 19 in the determination of the pension charge and the change in the recording of the surplus restriction resulted in a reclassification of £3 million gross and net of tax (2013: £20 million gross of tax, £16 million net of tax) between the pension charge in the profit and loss account and the actuarial gains in other comprehensive income for the years ended 31 December 2014 and 2013 respectively.

 

S-9


Table of Contents
Item 19. Exhibits

Documents filed as exhibits to this Form 20-F:

 

Exhibit
Number

  

Description

1.    Memorandum(5) and Articles of Association of Prudential.(6)
2.1    Form of Deposit Agreement among Prudential, Morgan Guaranty Trust Company of New York, as depositary, and holders and beneficial owners from time to time of ADRs issued there under, including the form of ADR.(1)
2.2    The total amount of long-term debt securities of Prudential plc authorised under any instrument does not exceed 10 per cent of the total assets of the Company on a consolidated basis. Prudential plc hereby agrees to furnish to the Securities and Exchange Commission, upon its request, a copy of any instrument defining the rights of holders of long-term debt of Prudential plc or of its subsidiaries for which consolidated or unconsolidated financial statements are required to be filed.
4.1    Group Performance Share Plan(4), M&G Executive Long-Term Incentive Plan(4), Prudential Long-Term Incentive plan(10), Prudential Deferred Annual Incentive Plan(10).
4.2    Executive Directors’ Service Contracts:
   John Foley(7)
   Penny James
   Michael McLintock(2)
   Nic Nicandrou(6)
   Barry Stowe(3)
   Mike Wells
   Tony Wilkey
4.3    Other benefits between the Prudential Group and Executive Directors:
   John Foley(7)
   Penny James
   Michael McLintock(4)
   Nic Nicandrou(6)
   Barry Stowe(4)
   Mike Wells(7)
   Tony Wilkey
4.4    Chairman’s Letter of Appointment(9) / Extension
4.5    Other benefits between Prudential and the Chairman(9)
4.6    Non-executive Directors’ Letters of Appointment:
   Sir Howard Davies
   Ann Godbehere
   Alexander Johnston
   David Law
   Kaikhushru Nargolwala
   Anthony Nightingale
   Philip Remnant
   Alice Schroeder
   Lord Turner
4.7    Other benefits between Prudential and the non-executive Directors:
   Sir Howard Davies(7)
   Ann Godbehere(4)
   Alexander Johnston(8)
   David Law
   Kaikhushru Nargolwala(8)
   Anthony Nightingale(10)
   Philip Remnant(9)
   Alice Schroeder(10)
   Lord Turner


Table of Contents

Exhibit
Number

  

Description

6.    Statement re computation of per share earnings (set forth in Note B6 to the consolidated financial statements included in this Form 20-F).
8.    Subsidiaries of Prudential (set forth in Note D6 to the consolidated financial statements included in this Form 20-F).
12.1    Certification of Prudential plc’s Group Chief Executive pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes Oxley Act of 2002.
12.2    Certification of Prudential plc’s Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes Oxley Act of 2002.
13.1    Annual certification pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes -Oxley Act of 2002.
14.1

14.2

  

Consent of KPMG LLP.

Consent of KPMG Audit Plc.

15.1    Prudential’s Code of Business Conduct.(7)
15.6    Letter from KPMG Audit Plc to the SEC.

 

(1) As previously filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on 22 June 2000 as an exhibit to Prudential’s Form F-6.
(2) As previously filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on 24 June 2003 as an exhibit to Prudential’s Form 20-F.
(3) As previously filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on 28 June 2007 as an exhibit to Prudential’s Form 20-F.
(4) As previously filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on 15 May 2008 as an exhibit to Prudential’s Form 20-F.
(5) As previously filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on 18 May 2009 as an exhibit to Prudential’s Form 20-F.
(6) As previously filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on 22 June 2010 as an exhibit to Prudential’s Form 20-F.
(7) As previously filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on 11 May 2011 as an exhibit to Prudential’s Form 20-F.
(8) As previously filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on 30 March 2012 as an exhibit to Prudential’s Form 20-F.
(9) As previously filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on 16 April 2013 as an exhibit to Prudential’s Form 20-F.


Table of Contents

SIGNATURES

The registrant hereby certifies that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form 20-F and that it has duly caused and authorised the undersigned to sign this annual report on its behalf.

 

  Prudential plc
7 April 2016   By:  

/s/ Mike Wells

    Name: Mike Wells
    Title: Group Chief Executive