today's figures could not be described as exciting, yet the shares are now +20 at 650 after a low of 615 ..... back in april, aviva made an approach but terms could not be agreed ..... under SE rules, that meant no new approach could be made for 6 months (i assume that only applied to aviva) ...... for all that, if PRU's sp continues to thrive, why question?

Barclays Cap. And Credit Suisse up there appraisel on the Pru.

PRUDENTIAL PLC FULL YEAR 2017 RESULTS


2017 FINANCIAL OBJECTIVES DELIVERED AND SUSTAINED GROWTH IN PROFIT AND CASH


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

· Group IFRS operating profit4 of £4,699 million, up 6 per cent1 (up 10 per cent2)

· Asia double-digit broad-based growth in new business profit3, up 12 per cent1, IFRS operating profit4, up 15 per cent1 and underlying free surplus generated5, up 19 per cent1

· US separate account net inflows6 of £3.5 billion contributing to separate account assets 19 per cent1 higher at £130.5 billion

· M&G Prudential assets under management7 up 13 per cent to £351 billion, driven by record net inflows into M&G and PruFund

· Full year 2017 ordinary dividend increased by 8 per cent to 47 pence per share

· Group Solvency II surplus8,9 estimated at £13.3 billion, equivalent to a cover ratio of 202 per cent

Mike Wells, Group Chief Executive, said: 'Our clear, consistent strategy, high-quality products and constantly improving capabilities have enabled us to deliver excellent progress across the Group, led by double-digit growth in our Asia business. We have also achieved all of our 2017 objectives10, which we set in December 2013. This represents the third set of objectives successfully achieved within the last 10 years.

'The performance of our Asia business is testament to the strength, scale and diversity of our platform in the region, our focus on recurring-premium health and protection business and the quality of our execution. Our Asia life businesses delivered a 15 per cent1 increase in IFRS operating profit4 and a 12 per cent1 increase in new business profit over the year, while assets under management at Eastspring increased by 18 per cent2. We continue to develop our capabilities in Asia, building scale and enhancing quality.

'In the US our life business, Jackson, remains focused on meeting the retirement income needs of the growing numbers of baby boomer retirees and extending our products and reach to improve access to the large asset pools of the fee-based advisory market. Jackson delivered positive separate account net inflows6 of £3.5 billion, with separate account assets increasing by 19 per cent1.

'During 2017 we announced that we were combining our asset manager, M&G, and Prudential UK & Europe to form M&G Prudential, a leading savings and investment business in the UK and Europe well positioned to target growing customer demand for comprehensive financial solutions. M&G Prudential has delivered record levels of external asset management net inflows of £17.3 billion, contributing to total assets under management7 of £351 billion.

'Our strategy is aligned to structural trends: the savings and protection needs of the fast-growing middle class in Asia, the retirement income needs of the baby boomers in the US and the increasing demand for managed savings solutions among the ageing populations of the UK and Europe. The Group's performance demonstrates that we are highly effective in accessing the opportunities arising from these trends, and that we are meeting the needs of our customers better than ever before. I am confident that, given the extent of our opportunities and our proven ability to execute and innovate, we are well positioned to continue to grow profitably.'

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Change https://www.moneyam.com/action/news/showArticle?id=6149604

USB issues a buy note https://www.moneyam.com/action/news/showArticle?id=6168807

Prudential plc investor conference and business performance update

Prudential plc ("Prudential") is holding a conference for investors and analysts in Singapore on 14-15 November 2018.

The presentations will focus on Prudential's Asia businesses, which are central to the Group's long-term growth ambitions, both today and post-demerger of M&G Prudential, our savings and investment business in the UK and Europe. There will also be a Group update on strategy, the M&G Prudential demerger process and new business performance, alongside presentations from Jackson, our US business, and M&G Prudential.

Mike Wells, Group Chief Executive, said: "Since our last Asia-based investor conference in 2014, our Asia business has more than doubled new business profit1, demonstrating our ability to capture high-quality growth at pace.

"As we look ahead post-demerger, the profitable growth prospects of our Asia businesses remain substantial, given the increasing protection and savings needs of our customers and the extent of the footprint we have established.

"I look forward to showcasing the breadth of our capabilities and the reach of all of our businesses, which underpin my confidence in the ability of Prudential and M&G Prudential to capture the structural opportunities ahead and to continue to deliver for the benefit of all our stakeholders."

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