NORTHERN TRUST CORP
8-K, 1998-04-03
STATE COMMERCIAL BANKS
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<PAGE>
 

                      SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                            Washington, D.C. 20549


                                   FORM 8-K

                                CURRENT REPORT

                    Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
                        Securities Exchange Act of 1934



Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported)           April 1, 1998
                                                    ----------------------------
                          
                         NORTHERN TRUST CORPORATION   
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
            (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


                                    Delaware
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)


        0-5965                                            36-2723087
- -------------------------                     ----------------------------------
(Commission File Number)                      (IRS Employer Identification No.)


Fifty South LaSalle Street, Chicago, Illinois                  60675
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 (Address of principal executive offices)                    (Zip Code)


Registrant's telephone number, including area code         (312) 630-6000
                                                    ----------------------------

<PAGE>
 
Item 5. Other Events

     The information contained in the registrant's April 1, 1998 press release,
reporting the registrant's intention to exit the futures brokerage business
effective June 30, 1998, a copy of which is filed as Exhibit 99 hereto, is
incorporated herein by reference.

Item 7. Financial Statements and Exhibits

    (c) Exhibits:

     Exhibit 99  April 1, 1998 Press Release



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<PAGE>


 
                                   SIGNATURE


     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.

                                       NORTHERN TRUST CORPORATION
                                       --------------------------
                                              (Registrant)



Dated: April 2, 1998                   By:  Perry R. Pero
                                            -------------
                                            Perry R. Pero
                                            Senior Executive Vice President
                                            and Chief Financial Officer



       

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<PAGE>


 
                                 EXHIBIT INDEX
                                 -------------






Number            Description            Page Number
- ------            -----------            -----------

  99     April 1, 1998  Press Release          5



     

                                      -4-

<PAGE>
 
                                 NEWS RELEASE

                          Northern Trust Corporation
                            50 South LaSalle Street
                            Chicago, Illinois 60675

                                Contact:  Sue Rageas, Public Relations
                                          Senior Vice President
                                          (312) 444-4279


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
- ---------------------

NORTHERN TRUST TO EXIT FUTURES BROKERAGE BUSINESS

(CHICAGO, April 1, 1998) Northern Trust Corporation, parent company of Northern 
Futures Corporation (NFC), announced today its intention to exit the futures 
brokerage business effective June 30, 1998.  NFC executes and clears 
institutional customer transactions on the Chicago futures exchanges.  The 
futures business of NFC will be transferred to Spear, Leeds & Kellogg, a firm 
which together with its subsidiary First Options of Chicago Inc. is one of the 
largest clearers in the U.S. futures and options markets.

     Northern's Chairman William A. Osborn stated, "Although Northern Futures 
Corporation has been a successful and profitable company and has brought 
Northern a number of valuable relationships, futures brokerage is no longer a 
fit with our long-term corporate strategy.  Our business plans call for 
Northern Trust to focus on its core businesses of trust, investment management, 
custody, and banking for individuals, corporations and institutions."  He 
further stated that exiting the futures brokerage business will not have a 
material impact on the present and future operating results or financial 
condition of Northern Trust Corporation.

     David R. Ganis, President of Northern Futures Corporation said, "We believe
Spear, Leeds & Kellogg will effectively meet the ongoing needs of our clients 
and provide the quality service they have come to expect.  It is our expectation
that most of our employees will join the staff of First Options of 


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<PAGE>
 
Chicago Inc. or will find other positions within Northern Trust." Ganis said
that Northern's decision will end its long-standing relationship with Tullett &
Tokyo Forex International Ltd., and The Tokyo Forex Securities Co., Ltd. in
Japan. He said that the Tullet & Tokyo companies will create a new strategic
alliance with Spear, Leeds & Kellogg.

     Spear Leads & Kellogg is the largest specialist firm on the New York Stock
Exchange. First Options of Chicago Inc., the largest volume clearing firm on the
Chicago Board Options Exchange, is a clearing member of the Chicago Board of
Trade and the Chicago Mercantile Exchange specializing in clearing services for
professional traders and trading firms.

     Northern Futures Corporation was established in 1983 by The Northern Trust
Company and became a subsidiary of Northern Trust Corporation in 1987.

     Northern Trust Corporation owns banking subsidiaries in Illinois, Arizona,
California, Florida, and Texas, trust companies in Connecticut and New York and
various nonbank subsidiaries, including a securities brokerage firm and a
retirement services company. At year end 1997, total assets of the Corporation
were $25.3 billion and trust assets under administration exceeded $1 trillion,
$197 billion of which were under management.


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