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 June, 2007
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: Saudi Arabian Takaful Venture
PRUDENTIAL PLC AND BANK ALJAZIRA AGREE NEW SAUDI ARABIAN TAKAFUL VENTURE
DATE: 6 June 2007
Prudential plc (United Kingdom) and Bank Aljazira (Kingdom of Saudi Arabia)
announced today they had signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) agreeing to
Prudential plc taking a 39 per cent stake, and becoming the largest individual
shareholder, in a new venture that will acquire the existing, market leading,
Takaful Ta'awuni life insurance business of Bank Aljazira. The new Takaful
Ta'awuni life insurance operation will be listed on the Saudi Arabian Stock
Exchange (the Tadawul).
The Saudi Arabian insurance market is currently relatively small with an
estimated GBP800m in annual gross premiums and with more than 70 per cent of
this being related to motor, medical and property insurance. However, with GDP
per capita now exceeding GBP6,700 and life insurance penetration of less than
one percent, there is significant room for growth. Bank Aljazira has a unique,
well established and market leading Takaful Ta'awuni life insurance division,
however, under new Saudi Arabian Monetary Agency (SAMA) insurance regulations it
is now required to separate this operation from the bank and establish a new
stock holding company.
This has created an ideal opportunity for Prudential plc to leverage its
international expertise and Bank Aljazira's excellent platform to take the
development of this business to the next level.
Barry Stowe, Chief Executive of Prudential Corporation Asia, commented: "We have
a terrific track record of working very well with leading local players to
create world class operations and I look forward to another success here in
Saudi Arabia with Bank Aljazira."
Mishari Al Mishari, Chief Executive Officer of Bank Aljazira, added: "The
insurance market in Saudi Arabia is really set to take off and we believe
Prudential plc will be excellent partners as this business enters its next phase
of growth and development."
Prudential plc will also take a stake in Bank Aljazira's new funds management
business.
The new ventures are expected to launch later this year, subject to regulatory
approvals.
The MoU between Prudential plc and Bank Aljazira also agrees that a successful
Takaful operation in KSA will potentially become a strong base for jointly
expanding the Takaful Ta'awuni business throughout the Middle East and North
Africa.
Contacts:
Prudential Corporation Asia Bank Aljazira
Howard Green Abdullah Kishek
Head of Investor Relations, Asia AGM-Finance
Phone: +852 29186306 Phone: +9662 651 8070 x 2010
Fax: +852 3112 0005 Fax : +9662 652 1072
Email: Howard.Green@prudential.com.hk Email : akishek@baj.com.sa
Prudential plc* (United Kingdom)
About Prudential
Established in London in 1848, Prudential plc is a leading international
financial group providing retail financial services and fund management in its
chosen markets: the United Kingdom, the United States, Asia and continental
Europe. Prudential has been writing life insurance in the United Kingdom for 160
years. Today, Prudential has over 21 million customers worldwide and over
US$490 (GBP251) billion of funds under management.
Prudential plc's strong mix of businesses around the world positions us well to
benefit from the growth in customer demand for asset accumulation and income in
retirement. Our international reach and diversity of earnings by geographic
region and product will continue to give us significant advantage.
Prudential has brought to market an integrated range of financial services
products that now includes life assurance, pensions, mutual funds, banking,
investment management and general insurance.
Under the Prudential Group are a number of well-respected brands including in
the UK where Prudential is a leading life and pensions provider and M&G is a
leading retail fund manager. In the US, Jackson National Life, is a leading
provider of long-term savings and retirement products to retail and
institutional customers. Prudential Corporation Asia is the leading
European-based life insurer with life insurance and fund management operations
in 13 markets.
* Prudential plc is a company incorporated in England with its head office in
London, which, with its affiliated companies constitutes one of the world's
leading financial services groups. It provides insurance and financial services
directly and through its subsidiaries and affiliates throughout the world. It
has been in existence for over 150 years and had GBP250.7 billion in assets
under management as at 31 December 2006. 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
About Bank Aljazira
Bank AlJazira is a Saudi bank headquartered in Jeddah and conducting all its
businesses in compliance with the Islamic Shari'ah. It provides affluent
individuals, businesses and institutions with innovative products and services
in the areas of corporate, commercial, retail and private banking, international
and local brokerage, Islamic Life insurance and investment funds.
The bank has shown substantial growth in recent years with total assets
increasing over 300% from SR 5,110 million at the end of 2001 to SR 15,713
million at the end of 2006 and net profit growing by over 3000% from SR 57.4
million in 2001 to SR 1,974 million in 2006.
The Takaful Ta'awuni Division (TTD) of Bank Aljazira, the first SAMA approved
life Takaful operator, was officially launched by the bank in 2001, marking its
entry into the green field takaful market within the Kingdom. Utilising the
concept of a Wakala (agency) contract for the first time by a Takaful operator
(and now the standard operating contract in Takaful) worldwide, TTD provides
Shari'ah compliant risk protection and savings products to the general public
and corporations in the Kingdom. Today, TTD has become a proven and viable
Takaful operator in the Kingdom, as well as being highly respected throughout
the Islamic Financial Services industry for its innovative work undertaken in
the field of Takaful. The TTD of Bank Aljazira is a wholly developed Saudi
entity
In April 2007, the bank won the "The 2007 Middle East Insurance Award" for "Life
Insurer of the Year". As a Life Takaful operator, the bank was honoured to have
received this award in recognition of its achievements not only in the Takaful
industry, but in the life insurance industry in general. This prestigious award
was preceded by the "Euromoney 2006" award for "Best Life Takaful Operator" and
the "Islamic Finance Weekly 2004" award for "Best Takaful Operator".
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: 6 June 2007
PRUDENTIAL PUBLIC LIMITED COMPANY
By: /s/ Jon Bunn
Jon Bunn
Director of Public Relations