Tucker’s challenge

Mark Tucker, the new broom at Prudential, has given clarity to the UK insurer’s strategy. But a clear strategy is not always a focused strategy. The clarity boils down to ruling out the sale of either Jackson National Life, Prudential’s US business, or Egg, its UK banking subsidiary. Tucker’s commitment to keeping the units will no doubt disappoint M&A bankers. He has also quashed fears that Prudential’s fast-growing Asian business might not become self-funding during 2006. Tucker is essential...