Annual Report and Accounts 2007

Financial Statements

Consolidated underlying profit

For the year ended 31 December 2007

  Notes 2007
£m
2006
£m
(Loss)/profit before tax from continuing operations*   (113) 491
Policyholder tax 13 (23) (124)
Returns on Group-controlled funds attributable to third parties   23 (104)
(Loss)/profit before tax excluding profit generated within policyholder funds   (113) 263
Non-recurring items 3 (38) 17
Amortisation of Asset Management acquired intangible assets 16 42 43
Amortisation of acquired present value of in-force business 16 26 25
Amortisation of Life & Pensions acquired intangible assets 16 11 7
Impairment of Asset Management acquired intangible assets 16 - 58
Interest payable on Step-up Tier one Insurance Capital Securities (STICS) 40 (52) (52)
Short-term fluctuations in investment return 5 78 39
Underlying (loss)/profit before tax*   (46) 400
Tax on underlying (loss)/profit   39 6
Minority interest in underlying (loss)/profit   (24) (29)
Underlying (loss)/profit after tax attributable to ordinary shareholders of the parent   (31) 377
Earnings per share Notes 2007
pence
2006
pence
Underlying (loss)/earnings per share 15 (1.4) 17.9

IFRS underlying (loss)/profit is based on longer-term investment return and excludes: (i) policyholder tax, (ii) returns attributable to minority interests in policyholder funds, (iii) non-recurring items, (iv) amortisation and impairment of acquired intangible assets and present value of acquired in-force business; and is stated after deducting interest payable on STICS. Management consider that underlying profit better reflects the performance of the Group and focus on this measure of profit in its internal monitoring of the Group's IFRS results.

* Included in (loss)/profit before tax from continuing operations, and underlying (loss)/profit before tax, are one-off items relating to basis changes and the adoption of FSA Policy Statement PS06/14 Prudential Changes for Insurers which have decreased profit by £135m in 2007 (2006: increase of £156m). Further details of these items are set out in note 2(i).