Jackson National Life
Prudential PLC
02 July 2004
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 (£168 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 (£82
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 (£92 million) in cash and
$137.25 million (£75 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: £1 =
$1.8195.
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