SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 6-K
REPORT OF FOREIGN PRIVATE ISSUER
Pursuant to Rule 13a-16 or 15d-16 of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
For the month of July, 2004
PRUDENTIAL PUBLIC LIMITED COMPANY
(Translation of registrant's name into English)
LAURENCE POUNTNEY HILL,
LONDON, EC4R 0HH, ENGLAND
(Address of principal executive offices)
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports
under cover Form 20-F or Form 40-F.
Form 20-F X Form 40-F
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant by furnishing the information
contained in this Form is also thereby furnishing the information to the
Commission pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
Yes No X
If "Yes" is marked, indicate below the file number assigned to the registrant
in connection with Rule 12g3-2(b): 82-
Enclosures:Jackson National Life
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday 2 July 2004
Jackson National Life sells Jackson Federal Bank to
Union Bank of California for $305 million
Jackson National Life Insurance Company ("JNL") has entered into an agreement to
sell its subsidiary, Jackson Federal Bank ("JFB"), to Union Bank of California,
N.A. ("UBOC") for a consideration of $305 million (GBP168 million). JFB's
principal area of business is banking and commercial real estate lending, which
is no longer aligned with JNL's distribution and product strategy.
JNL acquired First Federal Savings and Loan Association of San Bernardino, as it
was then known, in November 1998. Renamed Jackson Federal Bank, it made a number
of further acquisitions between 1999 and 2002 to extend its retail branch
network and lending platform bringing the total investment to $149 million
(GBP82 million). By the end of 2003, it had increased customer assets from
$119 million in 1998 to $1.8 billion.
The consideration receivable by JNL is $167.75 million (GBP92 million) in cash
and $137.25 million (GBP75 million) in shares of UnionBanCal Corporation, the
parent company of UBOC. Further details of the consideration are given in the
Notes to Editors.
Clark Manning, Chief Executive Officer of JNL, said: "This deal represents a
good return on our original investment and a great opportunity for JFB to
increase its customer base and expand the range of products and services it
offers to its customers. JFB is an excellent banking operation with a great team
of people, and will complement Union Bank's existing operations."
The sale is conditional upon, inter alia, regulatory approvals and is expected
to complete in the fourth quarter of 2004. As part of this transaction, Lehman
Brothers served as exclusive financial consultant to Jackson National Life.
The capital received as a result of the sale will be redeployed to support
further growth in Prudential's core businesses.
- ENDS -
Enquiries to:
Media Investors/Analysts
Prudential plc
Geraldine Davies 020 7548 3911 Rebecca Burrows 020 7548 3537
Clare Staley 020 7548 3719 Marina Lee-Steere 020 7548 3511
Jackson National Life
Tim Padot +1 517 702 2425
Notes to Editors:
1. JFB is a savings bank headquartered in Brea, California. Its principal areas
of business are retail banking and commercial real estate lending, and it
operates 14 retail bank branches throughout Los Angeles, Orange and San
Bernardino counties in Southern California. JFB also operates six commercial
loan offices located throughout California. As at 31 March 2004, it had around
250 employees and $1.9 billion in assets, $1.1 billion in deposits and a loan
portfolio of $1.2 billion.
2. Based in San Francisco, UnionBanCal Corporation ("UB") is a bank holding
company with assets of $46.1 billion at 31 March 2004. Its primary subsidiary,
Union Bank of California, N.A., has 298 banking offices in California, 4 banking
offices in Oregon and Washington and 21 international facilities, as at 31 March
2004. UB had a stock market capitalisation of $8.4 billion as at 18 June 2004.
As at 31 March 2004, UB was approximately 62% owned by The Bank of
Tokyo-Mitsubishi, Ltd., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Mitsubishi Tokyo Financial
Group Inc.
3. Jackson National Life Insurance Company is a wholly-owned subsidiary of
Prudential plc, a company incorporated in the United Kingdom. Prudential plc and
its affiliated companies constitute one of the world's leading financial
services groups. It provides insurance and financial services directly and
through its subsidiaries and affiliates around the world. Prudential plc is not
affiliated in any manner with Prudential Financial Inc., a company whose
principal place of business is in the United States of America.
4. The transaction may be terminated by JNL if (1) the average share price of UB
common stock for the 10 trading days prior to the third trading day before
closing is below $40.37, and (2) UB has not given notice to issue additional
shares of UB common stock sufficient to restore the total value of the
transaction to $305 million. Promptly after closing, JNL intends to distribute
its holdings of UB common stock in an underwritten resale offering. It is a
condition to closing that that there be an effective registration statement
covering the resale of UB shares received by JNL.
5. The exchange rate used in this announcement is as at 1 July 2004: GBP1 =
$1.8195.
Forward-Looking Statements
This statement may contain certain "forward-looking statements" with respect to
certain of Prudential's plans and its current goals and expectations relating to
its future financial condition, performance, results, strategy and objectives.
Statements containing the words "believes", "intends", "expects", "plans",
"seeks" and "anticipates", and words of similar meaning, are forward-looking. By
their nature, all forward-looking statements involve risk and uncertainty
because they relate to future events and circumstances which are beyond
Prudential's control including among other things, UK domestic and global
economic and business conditions, market related risks such as fluctuations in
interest rates and exchange rates, and the performance of financial markets
generally; the policies and actions of regulatory authorities, the impact of
competition, inflation, and deflation; experience in particular with regard to
mortality and morbidity trends, lapse rates and policy renewal rates; the
timing, impact and other uncertainties of future acquisitions or combinations
within relevant industries; and the impact of changes in capital, solvency or
accounting standards, and tax and other legislation and regulations in the
jurisdictions in which Prudential and its affiliates operate. This may for
example result in changes to assumptions used for determining results of
operations or re-estimations of reserves for future policy benefits. As a
result, Prudential's actual future financial condition, performance and results
may differ materially from the plans, goals, and expectations set forth in
Prudential's forward-looking statements. Prudential undertakes no obligation to
update the forward-looking statements contained in this statement or any other
forward-looking statements it may make.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
Date: 02 July 2004
PRUDENTIAL PUBLIC LIMITED COMPANY
By: /s/ Steve Colton
Group Head of Media Relations