Acquisition
Prudential PLC
16 September 2002
Embargo: 08.00 hrs on Monday 16 September 2002
Prudential plc to acquire Good Morning Investment
Trust Management Company in Korea
Prudential plc ('Prudential') and Good Morning Shinhan Securities Co. Ltd.,
Korea's sixth largest brokerage firm, announced today that they have signed a
sale and purchase agreement for Prudential to acquire Good Morning Investment
Trust Management Company (Good Morning ITMC). The agreement is subject to local
regulatory approval and is expected to complete by the end of October 2002. The
net assets being acquired by Prudential are £8.1 million as at 30 June 2002.
Good Morning ITMC was established in 2001 and is based in Seoul. As at 30 June
2002, it had funds under management of KRW1.9 trillion (£1.07 billion). Good
Morning ITMC will continue to build a diversified distribution network and will
work closely with Good Morning Shinhan Securities to grow their existing strong
distribution relationship.
Commenting on the acquisition, Mark Tucker, Chief Executive of Prudential
Corporation Asia, said: 'The acquisition of Good Morning ITMC is another vote of
confidence in Asia and in the strength of Korea's economic outlook. PCA entered
the Korean market with the launch of PCA LIFE earlier this year. We are here for
the long term and have every belief that this asset management company will be
another successful part of our plan to build a significant retail financial
services business in Korea'.
Mr Doh, President of Good Morning Shinhan Securities, said: 'Good Morning
Shinhan Securities has decided to strategically focus on Shinhan Investment
Trust Management Company for building a presence in the Korean investment
management trust market. Prudential clearly has a long-term commitment to the
Korean market and we believe that they will be able to take Good Morning ITMC to
the next level, and this decision is in the best interests of our customers and
staff'.
This acquisition continues Prudential Corporation Asia's ('PCA') well-managed
and focused expansion strategy in Asia. PCA's Managing Director of Regional
Mutual Funds, Ajay Srinivasan, added: 'Korea is one of the world's largest
mutual fund markets and we have been reviewing opportunities to expand our
presence here. We are delighted to have found in Good Morning ITMC a business
which provides us with a solid platform to build scale in this very significant
market. This acquisition of a strong company, backed by our regional and global
expertise, is a great fit with our strategy in Asia.'
To oversee the new operation, PCA has appointed Dong Jin Kim, former Chairman
and Managing Director of JP Morgan Chase in Korea, as CEO of the new company
which will be renamed PCA Investment Trust Management Company after the
transaction completes.
Prudential has been advised by Lazard.
-ENDS-
Enquiries to:
Media: Investors/Analysts:
Geraldine Davies 020 7548 3911 Rebecca Burrows 020 7548 3537
Clare Staley 020 7548 3719
Howard Green 00852 2918 6306
Notes to Editors:
Prudential in Asia
With this Korean acquisition, Prudential now has asset management operations in
seven countries to complement its life operations in 12 countries across Asia.
Prudential was first established in Asia in 1923 and is currently the UK's
largest life insurance company in Asia.
Prudential has a rapidly growing mutual fund business in Asia including
Prudential ICICI AMC, the largest private sector fund manager in India and
Prudential SIT in Taiwan, one of the top 5 mutual fund businesses.
BOCI-Prudential is also one of the leading Mandatory Provident Fund players in
Hong Kong.
Alongside its wholly owned operations in Asia, Prudential has forged successful
joint ventures and strategic alliances with some of the region's leading
financial institutions including CITIC (China International Trust and Investment
Corporation), Bank of China International, India's ICICI and Standard Chartered
Bank.
Korea is a very significant market, being the second largest market (behind
Japan) in Asia. Funds under management (FUM) were £68 billion in 2000 with a
compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 17 per cent from 1986-2000. These FUM were
more than the combined FUM of China, Hong Kong, India, Malaysia and Singapore.
Good Morning Shinhan Securities Co., Ltd.
Established in 1984, Good Morning Shinhan Securities is one of Korea's leading
securities companies, providing a wide array of financial services to a well
diversified client base. The company is headquartered in Seoul, Korea with 95
branches nationwide and has two overseas subsidiaries based in New York and
London.
The company has obtained recognition for its global standard corporate
governance and its powerful brand image. Following the merger of Good Morning
Securities and Shinhan Securities in July 2002, Good Morning Shinhan Securities
is now able to capitalise on both the retail and wholesale network of Shinhan
Bank which is a top rated domestic bank and now aims to become the best provider
of financial services in Korea under the umbrella of its holding company,
Shinhan Financial Group.
Good Morning Investment Trust Management Company is a wholly owned subsidiary of
Good Morning Shinhan Securities Co., Ltd. It currently employs 37 staff and was
ranked 24 out of 49 manufacturers in the Korean investment trust management
market with funds under management of £1.07 billion (KRW 1.9 trillion) as at 30
June 2002.
As both Shinhan Financial Group, parent of Shinhan Securities, and Good Morning
Securities own ITMCs, it was decided that Good Morning ITMC would be sold. The
remaining company, Shinhan ITMC, will continue operating as part of the Shinhan
Financial Group.
This information is provided by RNS
The company news service from the London Stock Exchange