Source: Crédit Agricole
The Crédit Agricole Group and the Caisse d’Epargne Group plan to create a major player in the Securities Services Business in Europe Crédit Agricole S.A. and Caisse Nationale des Caisses d’Epargne (CNCE) confirm their willingness to combine their respective Securities Services business lines, dedicated to the depositary bank, custody, clearing, fund administration and corporate trust services for Institutional and Corporate clients, in France and abroad.
The combination would create the leading player in the Securities Services industry in France, and one of the major players in Europe. The new group would have a local presence in Paris, Luxembourg, Madrid, Brussels, Dublin and Amsterdam and would also be:
The leading depositary bank for UCITS in France; the largest bank in terms of assets held with Euroclear France, and among the first European players, totalling EUR 1,200 billion in assets under custody throughout the European network for Institutional Clients; The first ranking French fund administrator, and among the leading European players, totalling EUR 570 billion in assets under administration, comprising the Fastnet network; Among the three leading corporate trust services providers in France, and a leading European transfer agent, totalling approximately EUR 600 billion in assets.
The two groups have already created, or are currently in the process of creating, specialised subsidiaries fully dedicated to the Securities Services activities. Both groups would bring their subsidiaries to a new holding company, equally held by the Crédit Agricole S.A. and CNCE groups.
In order to achieve such equal shareholding, Crédit Agricole S.A. would sell to CNCE the necessary number of shares of the new company, and would also offer to CNCE a put option on these shares. The joint company would take the form of a Supervisory Board and Management Board company. The resulting entity would benefit from the financial strength of both parent companies.
The joint venture would represent EUR 300 million of shareholder equity Tier 1, and shall realise in 2005 a net banking income of more than EUR 450 million and a gross operating income of EUR 95 million. Staff count would reach 2,300 employees, of which 40% outside of France.
The finalisation of this venture is foreseen for June 30th, 2005, and still remains subject to obtaining the necessary authorisations from the supervisory authorities. In this respect, the two groups have already begun the consulting process with the employees’ representatives.
Crédit Agricole S.A. and Caisse Nationale des Caisses d'Epargne intend to create a major player in the European Securities Services industry. The venture will combine financial strength and securities services expertise, and will be fully dedicated to assisting clients in their development projects in France and abroad.