"BERKLEY EXPANDS OPERATIONS,
OPENS SALES OFFICE
IN SM CITY NORTH EDSA"

Berkley International Plans (BIP) goes on full expansion gear as it opens its newest Family First, Inc. (FFI) Sales Office in SM City-North EDSA. This comes at the heels of another branch opening just four months ago in SM Southmall.

According to Berkley President, Felipe R. Diego, the opening of a distribution outlet in SM City-North EDSA signals the company's unparalleled growth since the establishment of Philippine operations in 1997. "We are definitely a growing company with a growing number of clientele to serve. SM City North EDSA, which is one of the busiest and most patronized malls in the metropolis, presents us with a terrific opportunity to introduce more people to our products. The mall is always bustling with crowds not only from Quezon City but from the neighboring cities of Kalookan and Valenzuela as well, not to mention the province of Bulacan," Diego remarked.

Diego revealed that Berkley Plans registered a 13% growth in assets in the first quarter, recording P1312 million from P801 million in the earlier quarter ending 2001. Diego attributes this rise to financial prudence, careful investment management and effective expense containment. Almost 96% of Berkley's funds, he emphasized, are invested in long-term government securities.

Berkley's FFI sales office in SM City-North EDSA is its fifth in Metro Manila. The other four are in SM Megamall, Enterprise Center in Makati, Festival Mall in Alabang and SM Southmall in Las Piñas.

For more information, pls. contact:
Ms. Gina D. Cruz
Corporate Communications Director
Tel. No. 755-1500 loc. 1112