Businessweek

BNP Paribas provides banking and financial services in Europe, with a significant presence in the United States and Asia. The company provides corporate and investment banking, international private banking, and asset management services. Business Areas Retail banking The company’s activities include both branch networks (in France and Italy, the United States and emerging markets) and a range of other specialized financial services. The banking networks serve approximately 16 million clients in approximately 6,000 branches throughout the world. These banks offer a range of financial products and services to individuals and companies alike. Its specialized financial services include consumer credit and mortgages (BNP Paribas Personal Finance), financial and operating leases (BNP Paribas Lease Group), as well as corporate vehicle management services (Arval). The company offers approximately 250,000 client contact points. Retail banking is made up of six operational entities: French Retail Banking, BNL banca commerciale, BancWest, Retail Banking Emerging Markets, Personal Finance, and Equipment Solutions. Corporate & Investment Banking BNP Paribas Corporate & Investment Banking (CIB) operates in advisory and capital markets (Corporate Finance, Equities and Fixed Income) as well as in financing businesses (Specialised and Structured Finance). BNP Paribas CIB operates in three particular sectors: derivatives; equity capital markets and debt capital markets; and acquisition, export, project, infrastructure and commodity finance. Investment Solutions Investment Solutions provides a complete portfolio of integrated investment solutions available from the BNP Paribas Group for both private and institutional investors. It comprises businesses active in gathering, managing, growing, protecting and administrating savings and assets. Investment Solutions comprises six complementary businesses (Private banking, Asset management, Online savings & trading, Securities services, Real estate services and Insurance). These businesses are an integral part of the solutions available to BNP Paribas group clients. The company has been granted a license to offer clearing and custody services in Hong Kong. Other Activities Principal Investments BNP Paribas Capital: BNP Paribas Capital manages the company's proprietary portfolio of unlisted investments. This portfolio is split into four segments: directly held investments (primarily minority interests) in manufacturing and sales companies in France and abroad; non-banking strategic investments; investments in sponsored and unsponsored funds; and investments made simultaneously with funds or institutional investors. Listed investment and sovereign loan management: The Listed Investment and Sovereign Loan Management unit has two functions. The Listed Investment Management team manages BNP Paribas' portfolio of minority stakes in listed companies. Sovereign Loan Management restructures sovereign loans through the London Club and manages the portfolio of emerging market sovereign debt, such as Brady bonds, Eurobonds and restructured credits. History BNP Paribas was founded in 1966.