Prudential says it has increased operating profits and sales amid tough market conditions.
Operating profits for 2001 rose by 15% to stg£1.19 billion, up from stg£1 billion previously.
Total insurance and investment sales added up to stg£21.5 billion, up 54% on 2000.
Chief executive Mr Jonathan Bloomer says 2001 was a "real success" from an operating profit point of view, and was an exceptional year for sales.
He says: "This performance was particularly pleasing because it was achieved against a backdrop of tough market conditions for many areas of our business."
Mr Bloomer says the overall group results "reflect the fact that Prudential is a financially strong company with outstanding businesses and a broad international base".
More than 60% of the group's sales and new business profits come from outside the UK.
The group says there was strong investment performance at its UK and European fund management business M&G; while Egg, the internet bank in which it owns a 79% stake, broke even in the fourth quarter as planned.
Prudential's bottom-line pre-tax figures showed a loss of stg£455 million, compared with a profit of stg£728 million in 2000. It was hit by a stg£1.4 billion adjustment for short-term fluctuations in investment returns.
PA