Notes on the EEV basis supplementary information

1 Basis of preparation

The EEV basis results have been prepared in accordance with the EEV Principles issued by the CFO Forum of European Insurance Companies in May 2004 and expanded by the Additional Guidance on EEV Disclosures published in October 2005. Where appropriate the EEV basis results include the effects of adoption of International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS).

The EEV results for the Group are prepared for ‘covered business’ as defined by the EEV Principles. Covered business represents the Group’s long-term insurance business for which the value of new and in-force contracts is attributable to shareholders. The EEV basis results for the Group’s covered business are then combined with the IFRS basis results of the Group’s other operations. These other operations include the results of discontinued banking operations, following the sale of Egg on 1 May 2007.

The definition of long-term business operations is consistent with previous practice and comprises those contracts falling under the definition of long-term insurance business for regulatory purposes together with, for US operations, contracts that are in substance the same as guaranteed investment contracts (GICs) but do not fall within the technical definition. Under the EEV Principles, the results for covered business incorporate the projected margins of attaching internal asset management.

With two principal exceptions, covered business comprises the Group’s long-term business operations. The principal exceptions are for the closed Scottish Amicable Insurance Fund (SAIF) and for the presentational treatment of the financial position of two of the Group’s defined benefit pension schemes. A very small amount of UK group pensions business is also not modelled for EEV reporting purposes.

SAIF is a ring-fenced sub-fund of the Prudential Assurance Company (PAC) long-term fund, established by a Court approved Scheme of Arrangement in October 1997. SAIF is closed to new business and the assets and liabilities of the fund are wholly attributable to the policyholders of the fund. In 2006, a bulk annuity arrangement between SAIF and Prudential Retirement Income Limited (PRIL), a shareholder-owned subsidiary, took place as explained in note 5a. Reflecting the altered economic interest for SAIF policyholders and Prudential shareholders, this arrangement represents a transfer from long-term business of the Group that is not ‘covered’ to business that is ‘covered’ with consequential effect on the EEV basis results.

As regards the Group’s defined benefit pension schemes, the surplus or deficit attaching to the Prudential Staff Pension Scheme (PSPS) and Scottish Amicable Pension Scheme are excluded from the EEV value of UK operations and included in the total for Other operations. The surplus and deficit amounts are partially attributable to the PAC with-profits fund and shareholder-backed long-term business and partially to other parts of the Group. In addition to the IFRS basis surplus or deficit, the shareholders’ 10 per cent share of the PAC with-profits fund’s interest in the movement on the financial position of the schemes is recognised for EEV reporting purposes.

The directors are responsible for the preparation of the supplementary information in accordance with the EEV Principles.

2 Methodology

a Embedded value

Overview

The embedded value is the present value of the shareholders’ interest in the earnings distributable from assets allocated to covered business after sufficient allowance has been made for the aggregate risks in that business. The shareholders’ interest in the Group’s long-term business comprises:

— present value of future shareholder cash flows from in-force covered business (value of in-force business), less a deduction for the cost of locked-in (encumbered) capital;

— locked-in (encumbered) capital; and

— shareholders’ net worth in excess of encumbered capital.

The value of future new business is excluded from the embedded value.

Notwithstanding the basis of presentation of results (as explained in notes 4 and 6) no smoothing of market or account balance values, unrealised gains or investment returns is applied in determining the embedded value or the profit before tax.

Value of in-force business

The embedded value results are prepared incorporating best estimate assumptions about all relevant factors including levels of future investment returns, expenses, persistency and mortality. These assumptions are used to project future cash flows. The present value of the future cash flows is then calculated using a discount rate which reflects both the time value of money and the non-diversifiable risks associated with the cash flows that are not otherwise allowed for.

The total profit that emerges over the lifetime of an individual contract as calculated using the embedded value basis is the same as that calculated under the IFRS basis. Since the embedded value basis reflects discounted future cash flows, under this methodology the profit emergence is advanced thus more closely aligning the timing of the recognition of profits with the efforts and risks of current management actions, particularly with regard to business sold during the year.

Cost of capital

A charge is deducted from the embedded value for the cost of capital supporting the Group’s long-term business. This capital is referred to as encumbered capital. The cost is the difference between the nominal value of the capital and the discounted value of the projected releases of this capital allowing for investment earnings (net of tax) on the capital.

The annual result is affected by the movement in this cost from year to year which comprises a charge against new business profit and generally a release in respect of the reduction in capital requirements for business in force as this runs off.

Where capital is held within a with-profits long-term fund, the value placed on surplus assets in this fund is already discounted to reflect their release over time and no further adjustment is necessary in respect of encumbered capital. However, where business is funded directly by shareholders, the capital requires adjustment to reflect the cost of that capital to shareholders.

Financial options and guarantees

Nature of options and guarantees in Prudential’s long-term business

Asian operations

Subject to local market circumstances and regulatory requirements, the guarantee features described below in respect of UK business broadly apply to similar types of participating contracts principally written in the PAC Hong Kong branch, Singapore and Malaysia. Participating products have both guaranteed and non-guaranteed elements.

Non-participating long-term products are the only ones where the insurer is contractually obliged to provide guarantees on all benefits. The most significant book of non-participating business in the Group’s Asian operations is Taiwan’s whole of life contracts. For these contracts there are floor levels of policyholder benefits that accrue at rates set at inception by reference to minimum returns established by local regulation. These rates do not vary subsequently with market conditions. Under these contracts the cost of premiums are also fixed at inception based on a number of assumptions at that time, including long-term interest rates, mortality assumptions and expenses. The guaranteed maturity and surrender values reflect the pricing basis.

US operations (Jackson)

The principal options and guarantees in Jackson are associated with the fixed annuity and Variable Annuity (VA) lines of business.

Fixed annuities provide that, at Jackson’s discretion, it may reset the interest rate credited to policyholders’ accounts, subject to a guaranteed minimum. The guaranteed minimum return varies from 1.5 per cent to 5.5 per cent (2006: 1.5 per cent to 5.5 per cent), depending on the particular product, jurisdiction where issued, and date of issue. At 31 December 2007, 80 per cent (2006: 70 per cent) of the fund relates to policies with guarantees of three per cent or less. The average guarantee rate is 3.1 per cent (2006: 3.2 per cent).

Fixed annuities also present a risk that policyholders will exercise their option to surrender their contracts in periods of rapidly rising interest rates, possibly requiring Jackson to liquidate assets at an inopportune time.

Jackson issues VA contracts where it contractually guarantees to the contract holder either a) return of no less than 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)), annuitisation (guaranteed minimum income benefit (GMIB)), or at specified dates during the accumulation period (guaranteed minimum withdrawal benefit (GMWB) and guaranteed minimum accumulation benefit (GMAB)). Jackson hedges these risks using equity options and futures contracts.

These guarantees generally protect the policyholder’s value in the event of poor equity market performance.

Jackson also issues fixed index annuities that enable policyholders to obtain a portion of an equity-linked return while providing a guaranteed minimum return. The guaranteed minimum returns would be of a similar nature to those described above for fixed annuities.

UK insurance operations

The only significant financial options and guarantees in the UK insurance operations arise in the with-profits fund and SAIF. With-profits products provide returns to policyholders through bonuses that are smoothed. There are two types of bonuses: annual and final. Annual 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 guaranteed only until the next bonus declaration. The with-profits fund held a provision on the Pillar I Peak 2 basis of £45 million (2006: £47 million) at 31 December 2007 to honour guarantees on a small amount of guaranteed annuity option products.

Beyond the generic features and the provisions held in respect of guaranteed annuities described above, there are very few explicit options or guarantees of the with-profits fund such as minimum investment returns, surrender values, or annuity values at retirement and any granted have generally been at very low levels.

The Group’s main exposure to guaranteed annuity options in the UK is through SAIF and a provision on the Pillar I Peak 2 basis of £563 million (2006: £561 million) was held in SAIF at 31 December 2007 to honour the guarantees.

Time value

The value of financial options and guarantees comprises two parts. One is given by a deterministic valuation on best estimate assumptions (the intrinsic value). The other part arises from the variability of economic outcomes in the future (the time value).

Where appropriate, a full stochastic valuation has been undertaken to determine the value of the in-force business including the cost of capital. A deterministic valuation of the in-force business is also derived using consistent assumptions and the time value of the financial options and guarantees is derived as the difference between the two.

The economic assumptions used for the stochastic calculations are consistent with those used for the deterministic calculations. Assumptions specific to the stochastic calculations such as equity volatility and credit losses reflect local market conditions and are based on a combination of actual market data, historic market data and an assessment of long-term economic conditions. Common principles have been adopted across the Group for the stochastic asset models, for example, separate modelling of individual asset classes but with an allowance for correlation between the various asset classes. Details of the key characteristics of each model are given in note 3.

b Level of encumbered capital

In adopting the EEV Principles, Prudential has based encumbered capital on its internal targets for economic capital subject to it being at least the local statutory minimum requirements. Economic capital is assessed using internal models but, when applying the EEV Principles, Prudential does not take credit for the significant diversification benefits that exist within the Group. For with-profits business written in a segregated life fund, as is the case in Asia and the UK, the capital available in the fund is sufficient to meet the encumbered capital requirements.

— Asian operations: the economic capital requirement is substantially higher than local statutory requirements in total. Economic capital requirements vary by territory, but in aggregate, the encumbered capital is equivalent to the amount required under the Insurance Groups Directive (IGD).

— US operations: the level of encumbered capital has been set to an amount at least equal to 235 per cent of the risk-based capital required by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners at the Company Action Level (CAL), which is sufficient to meet the economic capital requirement.

— UK insurance operations: the economic capital requirements for annuity business are fully met by Pillar I requirements being four per cent of mathematical reserves, which are also sufficient to meet Pillar II requirements.

c Risk discount rates

Overview

Under the EEV Principles, discount rates used to determine the present value of future cash flows are set equal to risk-free rates plus a risk margin. The risk margin should reflect any non-diversifiable risk associated with the emergence of distributable earnings that is not allowed for elsewhere in the valuation. Prudential has selected a granular approach to better reflect differences in market risk inherent in each product group. The risk discount rate so derived does not reflect a market beta but instead reflects the expected volatility associated with the cash flows in the embedded value model.

Since financial options and guarantees are explicitly valued under the EEV methodology, discount rates under EEV are set excluding the effect of these product features.

As Prudential’s UK shareholder-backed annuity business is predominantly backed by fixed interest securities, the beta methodology described above is not appropriate. We have therefore used a market consistent embedded value (MCEV) approach to derive an implied risk discount rate which is then applied to the projected cash flows.

In the annuity MCEV calculations, the future cash flows were discounted using the gilt yield curve plus 84 basis points for fixed annuities and 24 basis points for inflation-linked annuities (2006: gilt yield curve plus 34 basis points for both products). The 84 basis points and 24 basis points for 2007 were based on our assessment of the liquidity premium available in the yield on the assets backing the annuity liabilities.

Allowance for risk

The risk allowance in the risk discount rate is determined as follows:

Market risk

Under the Capital Asset Pricing Methodology (CAPM) the discount rate is determined as:

Discount rate = risk-free rate + (beta x equity risk premium)

Under CAPM, the beta of a portfolio or product measures its relative market risk.

The risk discount rates reflect the market risk inherent in each product group and hence the volatility of product cash flows.

They are determined by considering how the profits from each product are affected by changes in expected returns on various asset classes. By converting this into a relative rate of return it is possible to derive a product specific beta.

Product level betas are calculated each year. They are combined with the most recent product mix to produce appropriate betas and risk discount rates for each major product grouping.

CAPM does not include any allowance for non-market risks since these are assumed to be fully diversifiable. For EEV purposes, however, a risk margin is added for non-diversifiable non-market risks and to cover Group level risks.

Diversifiable non-market risks

No allowance is required for non-market risks where these are assumed to be fully diversifiable. The majority of non-market risks are considered to be diversifiable.

Non-diversifiable, non-market risks

Finance theory cannot be used to determine the appropriate component of beta for non-diversifiable non-market risks since there is no observable risk premium associated with it that is akin to the equity risk premium. Recognising this, a pragmatic approach has been used.

Except for UK shareholder-backed annuity business, a constant margin of 50 basis points (2006: 50 basis points) has been added to the risk margin derived for market risk to cover the non-diversifiable non-market risks associated with the business. For UK shareholder-backed annuity business, a margin of 100 basis points was used (2006: 100 basis points).

d Management actions

In deriving the time value of financial options and guarantees, management actions in response to emerging investment and fund solvency conditions have been modelled. Management actions encompass, but are not confined to, the following areas:

— investment allocation decisions;

— levels of reversionary bonuses and credited rates; and

— total claim values.

Bonus rates are projected from current levels and varied in accordance with assumed management actions applying in the emerging investment and fund solvency conditions.

In all instances, the modelled actions are in accordance with approved local practice and therefore reflect the options actually available to management. For the PAC with-profits fund, the actions assumed are consistent with those set out in the Principles and Practices of Financial Management.

e With-profits business and the treatment of the estate

For the PAC with-profits fund, the shareholders’ interest in the estate is derived by increasing final bonus rates so as to exhaust the estate over the lifetime of the in-force with-profits business. In those few extreme scenarios where the total assets of the life fund are insufficient to meet policyholder claims in full, the excess cost is fully attributed to shareholders.

f Pension costs

The Group operates three defined benefit schemes in the UK. The principal scheme is the Prudential Staff Pension Scheme (PSPS). The other two, much smaller, schemes are the Scottish Amicable and M&G schemes. There is also a small scheme in Taiwan.

Under IFRS the surpluses or deficits attaching to these schemes are accounted for in accordance with the provisions of IAS 19. The surpluses or deficits represent the difference between the market value of the schemes’ assets and the discounted value of projected future benefit payments to retired members and deferred pensioners and, to the extent of service to date, current employed members.

For PSPS the surplus or deficit at the reporting date is allocated between the PAC with-profits fund and shareholder-backed operations by reference to the activities of the members of the scheme during their period of service. At 31 December 2005, the deficit of PSPS was apportioned in the ratio 70/30 between the with-profits fund and shareholder-backed operations following detailed consideration of the sourcing of previous contributions. This ratio was applied to the base deficit position at 1 January 2006 for the purposes of determining the allocation of the movement in that position up to 31 December 2007. The IAS 19 service charge and ongoing employer contributions are allocated by reference to the cost allocation for current activity.

Under the EEV basis the IAS 19 basis surplus or deficit is initially allocated in the same manner. The shareholders’ 10 per cent interest in the PAC with-profits fund estate is determined after inclusion of the portion of the IAS 19 basis surplus or deficit attributable to the fund. Adjustments under EEV in respect of accounting for surpluses or deficits on defined benefit schemes are reflected as part of ‘Other operations’, as shown in note 15.

Separately, the projected cash flows of in-force covered business include contributions to the defined benefit schemes for future service based on the contribution basis applying to the schemes at the time of the preparation of the results.

g Debt capital

Core structural debt liabilities are carried at market value.

3 Assumptions

a Best estimate assumptions

Best estimate assumptions are used for the cash flow projections, where best estimate is defined as the mean of the distribution of future possible outcomes. The assumptions are reviewed actively and changes are made when evidence exists that material changes in future experience are reasonably certain.

Assumptions required in the calculation of the value of options and guarantees, for example relating to volatilities and correlations, or dynamic algorithms linking liabilities to assets, have been set equal to the best estimates and, wherever material and practical, reflect any dynamic relationships between the assumptions and the stochastic variables.

b Principal economic assumptions

Deterministic

In most countries, the long-term expected rates of return on investments and risk discount rates are set by reference to period end rates of return on cash or fixed interest securities. This ‘active’ basis of assumption setting has been applied in preparing the results of all the Group’s US and UK long-term business operations. For the Group’s Asian operations, the active basis is appropriate for business written in Japan, Korea and US dollar denominated business written in Hong Kong.

An exception to this general rule is that for countries where long-term fixed interest markets are less established, investment return assumptions and risk discount rates are based on an assessment of longer-term economic conditions. Except for the countries listed above, this basis is appropriate for the Group’s Asian operations.

Expected returns on equity and property asset classes in respect of each territory are derived by adding a risk premium, also based on the long-term view of Prudential’s economists, to the risk-free rate. In Asia, equity risk premiums range from 3.0 per cent to 6.0 per cent (2006: 3.0 per cent to 5.8 per cent). In the US and the UK, the equity risk premium is 4.0 per cent above risk-free rates for both 2007 and 2006. Best estimate assumptions for other asset classes, such as corporate bond spreads, are set consistently.

Assumed investment returns reflect the expected future returns on the assets held and allocated to the covered business at the valuation date.

The tables below summarise the principal financial assumptions:

Notes

i The weighted risk discount rates for Asian operations shown above have been determined by weighting each country’s risk discount rates by reference to the EEV basis operating result for new business and the closing value of in-force business.

ii For traditional business in Taiwan, the economic scenarios used to calculate the 2007 and 2006 EEV basis results reflect the assumption of a phased progression of the bond yields from the current rates applying to the assets held to the long-term expected rates.

The projections assume that in the average scenario, the current bond yields at 31 December 2007 of around 2.5 per cent (2006: around 2 per cent) trend towards 5.5 per cent at 31 December 2013.

In projecting forward the Fund Earned Rate, allowance is made for the mix of assets in the fund, future investment strategy, and further market value depreciation of bonds held as a result of assumed future yield increases. These factors, together with the assumption of the phased progression in bond yields, give rise to an average assumed Fund Earned Rate that trends from 0.5 per cent for 2007 to 6.4 per cent for 2014. The assumed Fund Earned Rate increases to 2.5 per cent in 2008 and then increases to 3.3 per cent by 2013. Thereafter, the assumed Fund Earned Rate fluctuates around a target of 6.4 per cent. This projection compares with that applied for the 2006 results of a grading from an assumed rate of 2.1 per cent for 2006 to 5.7 per cent for 2014.

Consistent with the EEV methodology applied, a constant discount rate has been applied to the projected cash flows.

iii The assumptions shown are for US dollar denominated business which comprises the largest proportion of the in-force Hong Kong business.

iv The mean equity return assumptions for the most significant equity holdings in the Asian operations were:

To obtain the mean, an average over all simulations of the accumulated return at the end of the projection period is calculated. The annual average return is then calculated by taking the root of the average accumulated return minus 1.

v For 2007, cash rates rather than government bond yields were used in setting the risk discount rates for Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan and for Hong Kong dollar denominated business. For 2006, cash rates were used for these operations and for all Hong Kong business (i.e. including US dollar denominated business).

* The risk discount rates at 31 December 2007 for new business and business in force for US operations reflect weighted rates based on underlying rates of 8.1 per cent for variable annuity business and 4.8 per cent for other business. The decrease in the weighted discount rates reflects the decrease in the US 10-year treasury bond rate.

Notes

i The risk discount rates for new business and business in force for UK insurance operations reflect weighted rates based on the type of business.

ii The assumed long-term rate for corporate bonds for 2007 for with-profits business reflects the purchase of credit default swaps.

iii The pre-tax rates of return for annuity business are based on the gross redemption yield on the backing assets net of a best estimate allowance for future defaults.

Stochastic

The economic assumptions used for the stochastic calculations are consistent with those used for the deterministic calculations described above. Assumptions specific to the stochastic calculations, such as the volatilities of asset returns, reflect local market conditions and are based on a combination of actual market data, historic market data and an assessment of longer-term economic conditions. Common principles have been adopted across the Group for the stochastic asset models, for example, separate modelling of individual asset classes but with allowance for correlation between the various asset classes.

Details are given below of the key characteristics and calibrations of each model.

Asian operations

The same asset return models as used in the UK, appropriately calibrated, have been used for the Asian operations as described for UK insurance operations below. The principal asset classes are government and corporate bonds. Equity holdings are much lower than in the UK whilst property holdings do not represent a significant investment asset.

The stochastic cost of guarantees is primarily only of significance for the Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore and Taiwan operations.

The mean stochastic returns are consistent with the mean deterministic returns for each country. The expected volatility of equity returns for both 2007 and 2006 ranges from 18 per cent to 25 per cent and the volatility of government bond yields ranges from 1.3 per cent to 2.5 per cent (2006: 1.4 per cent to 2.5 per cent).

US operations (Jackson)

— Interest rates are projected using a log-normal generator calibrated to actual market data;

— Corporate bond returns are based on Treasury securities plus a spread that has been calibrated to current market conditions and varies by credit quality; and

— Variable annuity equity and bond returns have been stochastically generated using a regime-switching log-normal model with parameters determined by reference to historical data. The volatility of equity fund returns for both 2007 and 2006 ranges from 18.6 per cent to 28.1 per cent, depending on risk class, and the standard deviation of bond returns ranges from 1.4 per cent to 1.7 per cent (2006: 1.4 per cent to 2.0 per cent).

UK insurance operations

— Interest rates are projected using a two-factor model calibrated to actual market data;

— The risk premium on equity assets is assumed to follow a log-normal distribution;

— The corporate bond return is calculated as the return on a zero-coupon bond plus a spread. The spread process is a mean reverting stochastic process; and

— Property returns are modelled in a similar fashion to corporate bonds, namely as the return on a riskless bond, plus a risk premium, plus a process representative of the change in residual values and the change in value of the call option on rents.

Mean returns have been derived as the annualised arithmetic average return across all simulations and durations. For each projection year, standard deviations have been calculated by taking the square root of the annualised variance of the returns over all the simulations. These have been averaged over all durations in the projection. For equity and property, the standard deviations relate to the total return on these assets. The standard deviations applied to both years are as follows:

c Demographic assumptions

Persistency, mortality and morbidity assumptions are based on an analysis of recent experience but also reflect expected future experience. Where relevant, when calculating the time value of financial options and guarantees, policyholder withdrawal rates vary in line with the emerging investment conditions according to management’s expectations.

d Expense assumptions

Expense levels, including those of service companies that support the Group’s long-term business operations, are based on internal expense analysis investigations and are appropriately allocated to acquisition of new business and renewal of in-force business. Exceptional expenses are identified and reported separately.

Asia development and Regional Head Office expenses are charged to EEV basis results as incurred. No adjustment is made to the embedded value of covered business as the amounts of expenditure that relate to operating expenses are not material. Similarly, corporate expenditure for Group Head Office (GHO), to the extent not allocated to the PAC with-profits fund, is charged to the EEV basis result as incurred.

e Inter-company arrangements

The EEV results for covered business incorporate the effect of the reinsurance arrangement of non-profit immediate pension annuity liabilities of SAIF to PRIL, as described in note 5a. In addition, the analysis of free surplus and value of in-force business takes account of the impact of contingent loan arrangements between Group companies.

f Taxation and other legislation

Current taxation and other legislation have been assumed to continue unaltered except where changes have been announced and the relevant legislation passed.

g Asset management and service companies

The value of future profits or losses from asset management and service companies that support the Group’s covered businesses are included in the profits for new business and the in-force value of the Group’s long-term business.

4 Accounting presentation

a Analysis of profit before tax

To the extent applicable, presentation of the EEV profit for the year is consistent with the basis that the Group applies for analysis of IFRS basis profits before shareholder taxes between operating and non-operating results. Operating results reflect the underlying results of the Group’s continuing operations including longer-term investment returns. Operating results include the impact of routine changes of estimates and non-economic assumptions. Non-operating results include certain recurrent and exceptional items that primarily do not reflect the performance in the year of the Group’s continuing operations.

b Investment return

Profit before tax

With the exception of debt securities held by Jackson, investment gains and losses during the year (to the extent that changes in capital values do not directly match changes in liabilities) are included directly in the profit for the year and shareholders’ funds as they arise.

The results for any covered business conceptually reflects the aggregate of the IFRS results and the movements on the additional shareholders’ interest recognised on the EEV basis. Thus the start point for the calculation of the EEV results for Jackson, as for other businesses, reflects the market value movements recognised on the IFRS basis.

However, in determining the movements on the additional shareholders’ interest the basis for calculating the Jackson EEV result acknowledges that for debt securities backing liabilities the aggregate EEV results reflect the fact that the value of in-force business instead incorporates the discounted value of future spread earnings. This value is not affected generally by short-term market movements on securities that are broadly speaking held with the intent and ability to be retained for the longer term.

Separately, from 31 December 2006, fixed income securities backing the free surplus and required capital are accounted for at fair value. However, consistent with the treatment applied under IFRS for securities classified as available-for-sale, movements in unrealised appreciation on these securities are accounted for in equity rather than in the income statement.

Operating profit

Investment returns, including investment gains, in respect of long-term insurance business are recognised in operating results at the expected long-term rate of return. For the purpose of calculating the longer-term investment return to be included in the operating results of UK operations, where equity holdings are a significant proportion of investment portfolios, values of assets at the beginning of the reporting period are adjusted to remove the effects of short-term market volatility.

For the purposes of determining the long-term returns for debt securities of shareholder-backed operations, a risk margin charge is included which reflects the expected long-term rate of default based on the credit quality of the portfolio. For Jackson, interest-related realised gains and losses are amortised to the operating results over the maturity period of the sold bonds and for equity-related investments, a long-term rate of return is assumed, which reflects the aggregation of risk-free rates and equity risk premium.

c Pension costs

Profit before tax

Movements on the shareholders’ share of surplus or deficit of the Group’s defined benefit pension schemes adjusted for contributions paid in the year are recorded within the income statement. Consistent with the basis of distribution of bonuses and the treatment of the estate described in notes 2d and 2e, the shareholders’ share incorporates 10 per cent of the proportion of the surplus or deficit attributable to the PAC with-profits fund. The surplus or deficit is determined by applying the requirements of IAS 19.

Actuarial gains and losses

Actuarial gains and losses comprise:

— the difference between actual and expected return on the scheme assets;

— experience gains and losses on scheme liabilities; and

— the impact of altered economic and other assumptions on the discounted value of scheme liabilities.

These items are recorded in the income statement but, consistent with the IFRS basis of presentation, are excluded from operating results.

d Effect of changes in economic assumptions and time value of cost of options and guarantees

Movements in the value of in-force business caused by changes in economic assumptions and the time value of cost of options and guarantees resulting from changes in economic factors are recorded in non-operating results.

e Results for asset management operations

The results of the Group’s asset management operations include the profits from management of internal and external funds. For EEV basis reporting, Group shareholders’ other income is adjusted to deduct the expected margin for the year on management of covered business. The deduction is on a basis consistent with that used for projecting the results for covered business. Group operating profit accordingly includes the variance between actual and expected profit in respect of covered business.

f Capital held centrally for Asian operations

In adopting the EEV Principles, Prudential has decided to set encumbered capital at its internal targets for economic capital. In Asia, the economic capital target is substantially higher than the local statutory requirements in total. Accordingly, capital is held centrally for Asian operations. For the purpose of the presentation of the Group’s operating results, it is assumed that the centrally held capital is lent interest free to the Asian operations. In turn, the results of the Asian operations include the return on that capital and Group shareholders’ other income for EEV basis reporting is consequently reduced.

g Taxation

The EEV profit for the year for covered business is in most cases calculated initially at the post-tax level. The post-tax profit is then grossed up for presentation purposes at the effective rate of tax. In general, the effective rate corresponds to the corporation tax rate on shareholder profits of the business concerned.

h Foreign currency translation

Foreign currency profits and losses have been translated at average exchange rates for the year. Foreign currency assets and liabilities have been translated at year end rates of exchange. The purpose of translating the profits and losses at average exchange rates, notwithstanding the fact that EEV profit represents the incremental value added on a discounted cash flow basis, is to maintain consistency with the methodology applied for IFRS basis reporting.

The principal exchange rates applied are:

The exchange movements in 2007 and 2006 recorded within the movements in shareholders’ equity (and for 2007, in note 16) for long-term business and other operations comprise amounts in respect of:

5. Premiums, operating profit and margins from new business