BNP Paribas S.A. is a global banking group, headquartered in Paris,with its second global headquarters in London.

[3] In October 2010, BNP Paribaswas ranked by Bloomberg and Forbes as the largest bank and largest company in the world by assets with over $3.1 trillion.[4][5] It was formed through the merger of Banque Nationale de Paris (BNP) and Paribas in 2000. In April 2009, BNP Paribas purchased a 75 percent stake in Fortis Bank, the Belgian banking business, making BNP the eurozone's largest bank by deposits held.[6] In 2011, BNP Paribas is the worlds biggest bank, as measured by total assets of $2,670 billions[7]. BNP Paribas escaped the 200709 credit crisis .] BNP Paribas has one of the highest credit ratings in its peer group with the long term debt of the group currently ranked AA by S&P, Aa2 by Moody's and A+ by Fitch.[9] The firm is a universal bank split into three strategic business units: Retail Banking, Corporate & Investment Banking and Investment Solutions (which includes Asset Management, custodial banking, and real estate services).[8] BNP Paribas's four domestic markets are France, Italy, Belgium and Luxembourg. It also has significant retail operations in the United States, Poland, Turkey, Ukraine and North Africa, as well as large-scale investment banking operations in New York, London, Hong Kong and Singapore.[8] Contents [hide]

1 History 2 Business units 2.1 Retail banking 2.1.1 Domestic markets 2.1.2 United States

2.1.3 Emerging markets 2.2 Corporate and investment banking 2.3 Investment solutions 3 Events in 2005 3.1 Major shareholders 3.2 Communication 3.3 Main subsidiaries 3.3.1 Retail banking 3.3.2 Other subsidiaries 4 Notable current and former employees 4.1 Business 4.2 Politics and public service 4.3 Other 5 Controversy 6 See also 7 References 8 External links [edit]Business units

[edit]Retail banking Retail banking is BNP Paribas' largest business unit representing 45% of its 2009 revenues and employing 59% of the group's headcount. Its operations are concentrated in Europe, especially in the group's three domestic markets of France, Italy (where it operates as Banca Nazionale del Lavoro (BNL), and Belgium (as BNP Paribas Fortis). The group also owns an American subsidiary BancWestwhich operates as Bank of the West in the western United States and First Hawaiian Bank in

Hawaii. BNP Paribas's Europe Mediterranean group also runs large retail banks in Poland, Turkey, Ukraine, and northern Africa. BNP Paribas is the largest bank in the Eurozone by total assets and second largest by market capitalization according to The Banker magazine, just behind Banco Santander. It employs over 201,000 people, according to the bank as of 31 December 2009, of which 80,000 work in Europe, and maintains a presence in 87 countries. [edit]Domestic markets France: BNP Paribas runs one of France's largest retail banking networks with 2,200 branches and over 3,200 ATMs. In Paris alone the bank has 187 agencies.[18] BNP Paribas serves over 6 million French households and 60,000 corporate customers. In 2009 The French Retail Banking unit (FRB) had revenues of 6.1 billion (15.2% of total group's), income of 1.5 billion (15% of total group's), and employs 31,000 people (15.4% of total group's workforce)[8] Italy: In 2006 BNP Paribas purchased Banca Banca Nazionale del Lavoro (BNL), Italy's sixth largest bank at the time. In 2009 BNL had 810 branches in Italy, 2.5 million individual clients, and over 150,000 corporate clients. It grossed 2.9 billion in revenue (7.2% of the total group's) and 540 million of net income (9.3% of the total group's), and employs around 13,000 employees (6.5% of the total group's).[8] Belgium: BNP Paribas acquired BNP Paribas Fortis when it acquired the retail banking assets of the Belgian lender Fortis in 2009. This deal also included Fortis's subsidiaries in Poland and Turkey, now grouped in the "Europe Mediterranean" division. [edit]United States In the United States, BNP Paribas owns BancWest, which in turn operates retail banking subsidiaries Bank of the West and First Hawaiian Bank. Bank of the West operates in 19 Western US states (where it ranks as the 7th largest bank by assets),

while First Hawaiian is Hawaii's leading bank with a 40% market share in deposits. Together the two banks operate 710 branches, and service 5 million clients. The two banks were merged into BancWest 1998, and BNP Paribas took full control of the combined entity in 2001. The group has a strong presence on niche markets such as lending for marine and recreational vehicles, church lending, and agribusiness. In 2009 BancWest had 2.1 billion in revenues (5.2% of the total group's), and 11,200 employees (5.5% of the total group's headcount).[8] BancWest lost 223 millon in 2009 largely due to its exposure in the subprime mortgage crisis in California, Arizona, andNevada. [edit]Emerging markets In 2009 BNP Paribas reorganized its retail banking divisions renaming its "Emerging Markets" group the "Europe Mediterranean" group. This change was made because after the integration of Fortis Bank's Polish and Turkish subsidiaries, BNP Paribas's emerging market activities are now heavily concentrated in Eastern Europe and the southern half of the Mediterranean basin. The EM group includes: Ukraine: UkrSibbank is Ukraine's 3rd largest lender. Turkey: Trk Ekonomi Bankas, Fortis Turkey Morocco: BMCI and Libya: Sahara Bank Poland: BNP Paribas Fortis Poland Egypt: BNP Paribas Egypt BNP Paribas is a member of the Global ATM Alliance, a joint venture of several major international banks that allows customers of the banks to use their ATM card or check card at another bank within the Global ATM Alliance with no ATM surcharges when traveling internationally. Other participating

banks are Barclays (United Kingdom), Bank of America (United States), China Construction Bank(China), Deutsche Bank (Germany), Santander Serfin (Mexico), UkrSibbank (Ukraine), Scotiabank (Canada) and Westpac (Australia and New Zealand).[19] [edit]Corporate and investment banking Main article: BNP Paribas CIB

One of BNP Paribas' London Trading Floors. In addition to its retail activities, BNP Paribas is also a leading global investment bank through its Corporate & Investment Banking unit. Although present in all investment banking markets, it is recognized as a global leader in derivatives trading, structured finance, and project finance. The firm is divided into 6 key business areas: Fixed Income: BNP Paribas' fixed income team helps companies hedge their exposure to foreign exchange, interest rate, and credit risks, primarily though the structuring and sale of derivative products such as interest rate and foreign exchange swaps, foreign exchange options and credit derivatives. It also trades in these markets on behalf of clients or for its own proprietary account. On an average day, a quarter of a trillion dollars in fixed income instruments are traded at BNP Paribas Americas fixed income trading floor located just blocks from the NASDAQ MarketSite in Manhattan, New York City.[20][21]

Equity & Derivatives: BNP Paribas' Equity & Derivatives team helps companies manage their risks and investment portfolios with equity derivatives such as options, futures, and swaps, as well as highly complex, customized solutions such as structured products. It also trades in these markets on behalf of clients or for its own proprietary account. Commodity Derivatives: BNP Paribas' Commodity Derivatives team helps clients hedge their exposure to commodity risk though the structuring and sale of commodity futures and OTCcommodity swaps. It also trades in these markets on behalf of its clients or proprietary account. Investment Banking: BNP Paribas' Corporate Finance team performs most of the traditional investment banking functions of the group including mergers and acquisitions advisory, and equity raising operations such as Initial Public Offerings (IPOs), rights issues, and convertible bond issues. Structured Finance: BNP Paribas' Structured Finance group offers clients project finance solutions, export financing, syndicated loans, and financing for acquisitions and leveraged buyouts. Corporate & Transaction Group: BNP Paribas' Corporate and Transaction group offers clients simplified flow banking services including trade finance, international cash management, and basichedging solutions. In 2009 BNP CIB earned 12.2 billion in revenue (30% of total group's), 4.4 billion in pre-tax income (48.9% of total group's), and 18,000 employees (9.0% of total group's headcount.)[8] [edit]Investment solutions BNP Paribas's "Investment Solutions" unit contains its asset management, custodial banking, real estate, insurance, online brokerage, "Personal Investors" and wealth management activities.[8]

On 11 June 2008, BNP Paribas formally signed the final terms of an agreement to purchase the Prime Brokerage Services division of Bank of America Securities. The sale is widely believed to be completed by the end of the 3rd Quarter, 2008. Asset Management: The asset management activities of BNP Paribas are grouped into BNP Paribas Investment Partners. In 2009 BNP Paribas IP had 2,400 employees in more than 70 countries and 518 bllion of assets under management.[8] [edit]Events in 2005 On 23 September 2005, BNP Paribas was set to take a 20 percent stake in China's Nanjing City Commercial Bank, a Chinese official and state press reports said. "BNP is going to sign a deal with us to buy a stake next month," an official from Nanjing City Commercial told AFP. The Shanghai-based Oriental Morning Post said BNP would pay up to US$100 million, although the bank official said the figure was incorrect. He declined to give further details. The French newspaper La Tribune reported in August 2005 that BNP Paribas had talked to four Chinese commercial banksNingbo, Wuxi, Nanjing and Suzhouand was prepared to invest US$50100 million. "We've talked to different financial institutions, but only BNP showed its good faith. It was not easy for us to reach an agreement," the Nanjing City Commercial Bank official said. BNP Paribas refused to comment. The International Financial Corporation, the investment arm of the World Bank, already owns 15 percent of Nanjing City Commercial Bank, which has regulatory approval to list on the country's domestic stock markets. [edit]Major shareholders [22] France (17%) Belgium (11.6%) AXA insurance company Customers Employees

General Mediterranean Holdings [edit]Communication BNP Paribas is one of the most important sponsors of the Tennis French Open in Roland Garros stadium since 1971 [edit]Main subsidiaries [edit]Retail banking BNP Paribas France (more than 2 200 branches) Banque de Bretagne (France Brittany) BancWest (Bank of the West & First Hawaiian Bank in the USA) BMCI (Morocco) BNP Paribas Egypt (Egypt) Banca Nazionale del Lavoro (BNL) (Italy) Turk Ekonomi Bankasi (TEB) (Turkey) BNP Paribas Fortis (Belgium, Germany, Poland, Turkey) BGL BNP Paribas (Luxembourg) Sahara Bank (Libya) UkrSibbank (Ukraine) BCI Mer Rouge Djibouti Banque de Wallis et Futuna Banque Internationale pour le Commerce et l'Industrie du Sngal (Senegal) [edit]Other subsidiaries BNPPCIB BNP Paribas Corporate and Investment Banking Atisreal renamed BNP Paribas Real Estate BNP Paribas Arbitrage BNP Paribas Assurances with Cardif, Pinnacle BNP Paribas Asset Management BNP Paribas Investment Partners

BNP Paribas Primebrokerag [23] BNP Paribas Leasing Solutions with Arval,[24] car leasing and Artegy BNP Paribas Real Estate BNP Paribas Securities Services BNP Paribas Wealth Management with Isinger de Beaufort, BNP Paribas Private Banking Cetelem LaSer UK with Cofinoga CortalConsors FundQuest SBI Life Insurance Company Limited a joint venture insurance company with State Bank of India, India's largest financial service company, owned by the government of India Geojit (Geojit BNP Paribas Financial Services Ltd.) L'Atelier [25] Creation Consumer Finance [25] Lafayette Services BNP Paribas Personal Investors Luxembourg SAIB-BNP Paribas Asset Management [edit]Notable current and former employees

[edit]Business Boris Adlam British financier Nassim Taleb practitioner of financial mathematics [edit]Politics and public service Louis Alphonse of Bourbon, Duke of Anjou considered by royalists as the head of the French Royal House. Jacques de Larosire managing director of the International Monetary Fund (197887); Governor of the Banque de France (198793)

Lorenz of Habsburg, Archduke of Austria-Este [edit]Other David McWilliams economist Georges Chodron de Courcel Managing Director, from the family of Mrs. Bernadette Chirac Edmond Turquieh founder of Sapiance Capital Ltd [edit]Controversy

In 2010 the French government's Autorit de la concurrence fined BNP and 10 other banks 384 million Euros for colluding to charge unjustified fees on check processing, including extra fees during the transition from paper check transfer to "Exchanges CheckImage" electronic transfer.[26] On 19 January 2011 BNP sued Russian grain trader, OOO Rosinteragroservis, and its subsidiary OAO Kubankhlebprodukt, claiming $20 million in debts and penalties.[27] Amongst banks, BNP Paribas is the biggest investor in the nuclear sector, according to Profundo, with more than 13,5 billion in nuclear investments. On 23rd October 2011 Greenpeace organised a protest against BNP Paribas in 24 French cities. [28] Citigroup and Barclays are shared second and third with over 11,4 billion.[29] [edit]S