Spotlight: Transamerica Plans to Split Its Stock 2-for-1

Transamerica Corp., a San Francisco-based insurance and financing company, said it plans to split its stock 2-for-1 to help increase interest in its shares. Transamerica will distribute the new stock on Jan. 15 to shareholders of record Dec. 31. The company had 62.4 million shares at the end of October. Splitting the stock will make it less costly and may appeal to investors who balk at buying high-priced shares, said spokesman William H. McClave. Transamerica shares rose $3.69 to close at $104.81 on the NYSE.