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It revealed the figure for the 12 months to December 31st 2009 was £919 million on a European embedded value basis, lower than the £933 million it made in 2008 but ahead of analysts' forecasts.
As a result, shares in the savings and investments company were up 0.8p to 205p on the FTSE 100 at 08:04 GMT.
In a poll conducted by Reuters, experts had issued a consensus profit forecast of £668 million and chief executive of the company David Nish said that the firm enjoyed a successful 2009.
"Today's announcement highlights good profits and healthy cash flow for the year and the ongoing delivery of efficiency savings in our business," he remarked.
The business also said it intends to cut its costs by a further £100 million by 2012 and raised its full-year dividend by four per cent, taking it to 12.24p.
Posted by Greg Secker
