Annual Report and Accounts 2007

Review of the Year

Financial Review

Embedded value

Pro forma embedded value

  2007
£m
2006
£m
Shareholders' invested net assets 1,449 1,164
Value of in-force Life & Pensions business 1,870 2,031
Market value of the listed Asset Management business 499 534
Provision for future corporate costs (97) (47)
Net pensions asset/(liability) 4 (22)
Pro forma embedded value 3,725 3,660

The embedded value on a pro forma basis has increased by 2% to £3,725m. The pro forma embedded value per share is £1.60 (2006: £1.73). The embedded value of Lombard is £342m (2006: £289m).

Shareholders' invested net assets

  2007
£m
2006
£m
Life & Pensions long-term funds 640 778
Life & Pensions shareholder funds 400 419
Total Life & Pensions net assets 1,040 1,197
Corporate net assets/(liabilities) 409 (33)
Shareholders' invested net assets 1,449 1,164

Shareholders' invested net assets have increased by £285m. Life & Pensions long-term funds have decreased reflecting net transfers to shareholder funds, which have in turn funded dividend payments and IFA acquisitions. Corporate net assets have increased mainly as a result of the conversion of the convertible bond to equity and the positive impact of marking to market long-term debt.

Value of in-force business

The value of in-force Life & Pensions business has reduced from £2,031m to £1,870m. The decrease is due to the adverse persistency experience and expense assumption changes and international taxation basis changes, totalling £405m. They have been partly offset by profits from writing new business and the emergence of profits, accelerated by PS06/14.

Asset Management business

The market value of our 52% shareholding in F&C Asset Management plc reduced by 6% to £499m. The share price declined from £2.11 at 31 December 2006 to £1.92 at 31 December 2007.

Provision for corporate costs

The provision for future corporate costs has increased by £50m. The large majority of corporate costs are now capitalised in the calculation of embedded value.

Net pension asset

The principal defined benefit scheme, Friends Provident Pension Scheme, has a small surplus. The improvement in the position is mainly due to the investment performance over the year and changes in financial conditions, in particular the increase in interest rates used to discount future liabilities.