Businessweek

Societe Generale Group provides various financial products and services worldwide. As of December 31, 2008, the company operated 2,300 local branches in France. Divisions The company operates in five divisions: French Networks, International Retail Banking, Financial Services, Global Investment Management and Services, and Corporate and Investment Banking. French Networks The French Networks division provides various saving and financing products and services for its customers. It offers consumer credit, real estate, and personal loans, as well as insurance, advisory, and wealth management services. International Retail Banking The International Retail Banking division offers banking products and services to individuals and business customers through a network of 3,700 branches in central and eastern Europe, the Mediterranean Basin, and Sub-Saharan Africa. Financial Services The Financial Services division offers vendor and equipment finance, IT asset leasing and management, operational vehicle leasing and fleet management, life and general insurance, and consumer credit services. Global Investment Management and Services The Global Investment Management and Services division provides asset management, private banking, derivative broking, securities services, custody and clearing, depository, and online banking services. Corporate and Investment Banking The Corporate and Investment Banking division engages in capital market and financing activities for corporate clients, financial institutions, and institutional investors. It offers capital market, structured finance, derivative, fixed income, and currencies and commodities services; cash equity and equity derivates, as well as equity research services; and advisory services for merger and acquisition, structured finance, complementary syndication, and interest rate and currency hedging for issuers. Significant Events In July 2009, Societe Generale Group has restrucutured its investment banking and capital markets into three divisions. The divisions are: Corporate & Investment Banking - The division that manages and develops the Corporate & Investment Bank's global relationships with strategic client, offering the global palette of services of the bank and of the Group. It focuses on investment banking activities, including strategic advisory services such as M&A and capital raising solutions in conjunction with the Global Finance division. Global Finance - This division consolidates all capital raising across the debt to equity spectrum, structured financing and hedging solutions for issuers (corporates, financial institutions, public sector). Global Markets - The integrated platform serving investors brings together cross-asset investment and risk management solutions, with connections across fixed income, equities and commodities. In August 2009, the Saudi Arabian units of Barclays plc and the Societe Generale Group has received licences from the Capital Market Authority to conduct investment banking activities in the kingdom. Barclays Saudi Arabia and Societe Generale Saudi Arabia, the joint ventures of the British and the French banks respectively, have been approved to act as an agent, clearing house, asset management and advisor. Crédit Agricole S.A. and Societe Generale Group announced that after receiving all the regulatory approvals needed to create their combined asset management arm, Amundi would be incorporated on December 31, 2009 and start operations on January 1, 2010. History Societe Generale Group was founded in 1864.