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30 Apr 2025
Performance highlights on a constant exchange rate basis for the three months ended 31 March 2025:
Commenting on the results CEO, Anil Wadhwani said:
“Our on-going focus on quality growth in new business profit continues to produce attractive returns and capital generation. Our strong 2025 first quarter new business performance reflects the benefits of our on-going efforts to build and modernise our capabilities to better serve our customers.
“New business profit grew by 12 per cent in the first quarter of 2025, consistent with our guidance that we expect FY25 new business profit to grow by more than 10 per cent. New business profit growth in the first quarter was broad-based across our markets, driven by higher volumes and a 2 percentage point margin improvement.
“Across the business we continue to advance our operational efficiency by investing in technology and refining our operating model. We have welcomed strong new talent to the business with the appointment of John Cai to lead Agency across our markets and serve as Regional CEO for Malaysia, Indonesia and Vietnam. We continued to deliver shareholder value in 2025 having completed an additional $442 million (49 million shares) of repurchases under our $2 billion share buyback programme between 1 January and 23 April 2025. We continue to evaluate a potential listing of our India asset management business, as discussed in our 2024 Annual Report, with the intention that net proceeds would be returned to shareholders.
“The current tariff uncertainty does not directly impact our business but has resulted in global economic and market volatility, with the impacts of the latter illustrated by our published sensitivities. We remain confident that, despite the wider macroeconomic uncertainty, our robust solvency position and multi-channel, multi-market franchise situates us well for long-term success in this highly profitable and attractive growth business.”
APE new business sales (APE sales) and TEV new business profit (NBP)
3 months ended 31.03.2025
3 months ended 31.03.2024
Change
APE sales $m
NBP $m
APE sales
NBP
Total
1,677
608
1,609
543
12%
1,625
545
Total new business margin (%)
36%
34%
Market highlights for the three months ended 31 March 2025
(New business profit, which has been prepared solely on a Traditional Embedded Value basis, and APE sales are both on a constant currency basis. See “Definitions of Performance Metrics” below for more details.)
In Hong Kong we delivered double-digit growth in new business profit for the first three months of 2025. Growth in both the domestic and our Mainland Chinese Visitor markets was driven by higher volumes and margin expansion as we continued to benefit from 2024 repricing actions. We continue to innovate for our customers, with growth supported by the launch in the first quarter of a new multi-currency savings product, with trust-like features, which provides families with financial flexibility to support their children’s future.
In Mainland China, our joint venture CITIC Prudential Life delivered double digit new business profit growth compared with the same period in the prior year, in the seasonally strong first quarter. This performance was supported by our actions to rebalance the product portfolio to drive profitability, sustainability and manage risk. We expect the recently announced regulator-led agency reform will support high-quality agency development across the industry and have a positive impact on market dynamics. They are aligned with our focus on driving quality agency growth and, similar to the changes in the bancassurance channel, we believe the business will successfully adapt to them.
In Indonesia we maintained our momentum following our on-going operational transformation, delivering strong double-digit new business profit growth in the first quarter of 2025. This was supported by the launch of new medical products through the agency channel beginning in the second quarter of 2024, leading to an increase in the proportion of APE sales being health and protection.
Our business in Malaysia saw new business profit decline on the back of a strong prior period comparator. New business profit levels continued to reflect the ongoing changes made in our health pricing and also that the bancassurance channel continues to be a significant contributor to new business.
Our Singapore business delivered double-digit growth in new business profit in the first three months of 2025, with growth in both agency and bancassurance channels.
Our “Growth markets and other” segment saw double digit new business profit growth in the first quarter driven by sustained strong double digit growth in Taiwan and double-digit growth in the Philippines. This growth was partially offset by a decline in Vietnam following our focus on quality and where challenging consumer confidence continues to hold back recovery in that market in the near term. India remains a key strategic market, especially for insurance and health business, and we are going through the regulatory approval process for our proposed Indian standalone health insurance joint venture.
Eastspring funds under management or advice (FUM) at the end of the first quarter were $256.2 billion (31 December 2024: $258.0 billion). FUM development was supported by net inflows from the Group’s insurance business of $2.1 billion and third-party inflows (excluding money market funds and funds managed on behalf of M&G) of $0.5 billion, with strong inflows into retail funds partially offset by institutional outflows. Overall, after allowing for other movements, FUM development was broadly neutral for the quarter.
Update on Litigation in Malaysia
Prudential continues its ongoing dispute with Detik Ria, the 49 per cent shareholder in SHS, the holding company of PAMB, including a new claim notified to Prudential by Detik Ria regarding dividends for the equivalent of approximately US$ 813 million* plus interest at a rate of 5 per cent from the date of payment of each dividend or other payment to which it claims to be entitled. The claim is yet to be served on all of the defendants. Prudential does not admit liability for any of the claims made by Detik Ria and will vigorously pursue its defence including any available claims and counterclaims and manage the dispute in the best interests of Prudential and its shareholders.
*based on the exchange rate per Bloomberg on 29 April midday (Hong Kong time).
Notes
Comparisons are to the first three months of the prior year unless otherwise stated and year-on-year percentage changes are provided on a constant exchange rate basis unless otherwise stated. All results are presented in US dollars.
See “Definitions of Performance Metrics” below for explanation of performance measures used in this announcement.
Person responsible
The person responsible for arranging the release of this announcement on behalf of Prudential plc is Tom Clarkson, Company Secretary.
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About Prudential plc
Prudential plc provides life and health insurance and asset management in 24 markets across Asia and Africa. Prudential’s mission is to be the most trusted partner and protector for this generation and generations to come, by providing simple and accessible financial and health solutions. The business has dual primary listings on the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong (2378) and the London Stock Exchange (PRU). It also has a secondary listing on the Singapore Stock Exchange (K6S) and a listing on the New York Stock Exchange (PUK) in the form of American Depositary Receipts. It is a constituent of the Hang Seng Composite Index and is also included for trading in the Shenzhen-Hong Kong Stock Connect programme and the Shanghai-Hong Kong Stock Connect programme.
Prudential is not affiliated in any manner with Prudential Financial, Inc. a company whose principal place of business is in the United States of America, nor with The Prudential Assurance Company Limited, a subsidiary of M&G plc, a company incorporated in the United Kingdom.
https://www.prudentialplc.com/
Metrics presented
This business performance update provides information on the trading and sales development of the Group in the first three months of 2025. This update focusses on annual premium equivalent (APE) and new business profit (NBP), which are key metrics used by the Group’s management to assess and manage the development and growth of the business. APE sales are provided as an indicative volume measure of transactions undertaken in the reporting period that have the potential to generate profits for shareholders. NBP is measured in accordance with our Traditional Embedded Value (TEV) methodology and reflects the value of future profit streams which are not fully captured in shareholders’ equity in the year of sale under IFRS. Under this methodology, new business profit is determined using long-term economic assumptions at the start of the year and on operating assumptions at the start of the quarter being reported on. More details on the Group’s TEV methodology is contained in the Additional unaudited information section of the Group’s 2024 Annual Report.
The presentation of these key metrics is not intended to be considered as a substitute for, or superior to, financial information prepared and presented in accordance with IFRS. Further information about these metrics including a reconciliation of TEV shareholders’ equity at 31 December 2024 to the most directly comparable IFRS measure can be found in the Group’s 2024 Annual Report.
Definitions of Performance Metrics
Annual premium equivalent (APE) sales
A measure of new business activity that comprises the aggregate of annualised regular premiums and one-tenth of single premiums on new business written during the period for all insurance products.
Eastspring total funds under management or advice
Total funds under management or advice including external funds under management, money market funds, funds managed on behalf of M&G plc and internal funds under management or advice.
New business profit
Presented on a post-tax basis, on business sold in the period calculated in accordance with our TEV methodology.
Traditional Embedded Value (TEV)
Financial results that are prepared on a supplementary basis to the Group’s consolidated IFRS results and is a way of measuring the current value to shareholders of the future profits from life business written based on a set of assumptions. Our TEV methodology is set out in the Prudential plc 2024 Annual Report (see the Additional unaudited information section).
Forward-Looking Statements
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