MutualFundWire.com: Lutherans Join Forces

MutualFundWire.com

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Wednesday, July 11, 2001

Lutherans Join Forces

The two leading Lutheran fund organizations -- The Aid Association for Lutherans (AAL) based in Appleton, Wisconsin and the Lutheran Brotherhood of Minneapolis -- are planning to come together in a union that will form a financial institution with more than $60 billion in assets and 3 million members. Together, the two organizations currently offer 25 mutual funds to their members.

The Lutheran Brotherhood has $4.5 billion in assets under management in 10 funds, including 6 equity funds and 4 fixed income funds. Meanwhile, AAL Mutual Funds offers 15 funds, including 11 equity funds and has $7.8 billion in assets.

The union of the two organizations is expected to close by the end of the year. Neither organization discussed specific plans for the two fund families. A spokesperson explained that the firms are unable to discuss plans for products until the merger is approved.

Expect the joined organization to cut costs by eliminating overlap in the two fund families and to streamline their sales and marketing efforts.

The firms have created a Web site at LutheranMarket.com to explain the merger to members.

Lutheran Brotherhood	AAL Mutual Funds
LB Opportunity Growth Fund	The AAL Technology Stock Fund
LB Mid Cap Growth Fund	The AAL Aggressive Growth Fund
LB World Growth Fund**	The AAL Small Cap Stock Fund
LB Growth Fund	The AAL Mid Cap Stock Fund
LB Fund	The AAL International Fund
LB Value Fund	The AAL Capital Growth Fund
LB High Yield Fund	The AAL Equity Income Fund
LB Income Fund	The AAL Balanced Fund
LB Municipal Bond Fund	The AAL Small Cap Index Fund II
LB Limited Maturity Bond Fund	The AAL Mid Cap Index Fund II
	The AAL Large Company Index Fund II
	The AAL High Yield Bond Fund
	The AAL Municipal Bond Fund
	The AAL Bond Fund
	The AAL Money Market Fund