General society

The General society ( General society to support the development of the trade and industry in France ) is one of principal the Banque S Frenchwomen, and one of oldest. It belongs to the three pillars of French banking industry (also called “Three Old women”) with LCL (ex- Crédit Lyonnais ) and BNP Paribas.

History

Origins of the bank: 1864 - 1893

The bank was founded by a group of industrialists and the financial ones under the Second Empire, the May 4th 1864, “to support the development of the trade and industry in France”. The first President of the bank is the influential industrialist Eugene Schneider (1805-1875), followed by Guillaume Deninger, said Denière , then by the Scot Edouard Blount. The bank develops its network then in an important way in France, to have 15 counters with Paris and 32 in province in 1870. The following year, the General society opens an office with London.

The bank starts to constitute customers of SME and private individuals thanks to his network. The Parisian seat follows as for him the large companies. This same year 1871, the bank enters the market of the French public emissions. France however knows an economic period of stagnation between 1871 and 1893, involving the bankruptcy of several banking institutions. The General society continues its development and has 148 counters in 1889.

Beginning of the 20th century: 1894 - 1945

From 1894, the bank structure like a great modern finance company. The group is not satisfied any more collection of the deposits with the companies and private individuals, but is directed in an important way towards the appropriations of exploitation intended in the short run for the industrialists and traders, but also towards the placement of the titles in the general public, the French private loans and finally the Russian loans. This diversification is accompanied by an expansion of the shareholding, which passes from: 14000 in 1895 with: 122000 in 1913, and that thanks to the good performances of the group.

After difficult years at the time of the First World War, the General society becomes the first French bank in the years 1920. It increases its network, in particular in province, which passes from 260 periodic counters in 1910, then 864 in 1930 and finally: 1457 in 1933 (including those of Sogenal).

The clearing of the end of the Années 1920 will be of short duration. The Années 1930 are marked by a fold of the businesses that is in France or with the international one. The day before the Second world war, the network decreased on the level of 1922.

Nationalization: 1945 - 1990

At the exit of the war, the General society is nationalized. The bank benefits from the strong growth from after war to develop in France. In same time the group continues its international expansion, in Africa, Italy or with the Mexico. Starting from 1966, the banking groups do not need more prior approval to open agencies, which supports the development of the group in France.

A change of regulation in 1966 - 1967 makes it possible the General society to diversify thanks to the attenuation of the distinction between bank of detail and banks of business and by the creation of a mortage market. The group will benefit from this new regulation, by creating new specialized subsidiaries, in particular in the Crédit-bail.

During Years 1970 and 1980, the bank adopts the novel methods and evolutions of the sector like data processing, the vending machines or the credit cards. In same time the group continues its international expansion and repurchases specialized subsidiaries to supplement her offer.

July 29th, 1987, the General society belongs to the three large banks privatized thanks to its good performances.

Since the years 1990

The group will develop around three large poles: Bank of detail, Gestions of credits (SGAM - SG Asset Management) and Banks of financing and investment (SGCIB - SG Corporate & Investment Banking). This development will result in external growth and intern.

1997 : the branch banks of detail is reinforced by the acquisition of the Crédit du Nord. It also integrates the activity of the network Sogénal.
1998 : the General society creates the “Management of the Bank of Detail except Metropolitan France”, which is one of the major strategic axes of development of the group.
1999 : Battle for the takeover of Paribas, which finally will be acquired by the national Banque of Paris.
1999 : acquisitions carried out with international, in Romania, Bulgaria and with Madagascar.
2001 : Continuation of the development strategy to international, especially in Central Europe (the Komerční banka in Czech Republic and SKB Banka in Slovenia).
2006 : Indicated " Bank of the Year; by Euromoney in July

The seat of the General society is located to the 29, Boulevard Haussmann in Paris, not far from the Opéra Garnier.

The General society in the world

Komerční banka : With 364 agencies in 2005, 1,5 million customers and 7400 employees, Komerční banka is the first bank for the companies and the second for the private individuals in Czech Republic. The General society with taken again 60% of the bank in 2001 per 1,186 billion €, while becoming thus majority owner. The group also operates in Slovakia under the name KB-Bratislava.

HVB Splitska Banka : Repurchased in 2006 with Bank Austria Creditanstalt for 1 billion euro, the bank has 9% of market share in Croatia with 112 agencies and 1100 employees. It is the 4th network of the country.

BRD : Founded in 1923, the BRD is the second bank of Romania in term of deposit. It has 360 agencies for 1,7 million customers like 5700 employees. It is into 1998 that the General society enters to its capital to go up there up to 58,32% in 2004.

Geniki Bank : The General society enters to the capital of General Bank off Greece in 2004 by taking again the participation of a pension fund of the Greek army. Famous Geniki Bank, the group has 132 agencies for approximately 2% of market share at the beginning of 2006.

Bank Republic : In September 2006, the SG repurchases 60% of the capital of this bank which has 21 agencies around Tbilissi and. 74.000 customers. Bank Republic accounts for 11% of the deposits, 8% of the appropriations and 30% of the credit cards.

SKB : It is the fourth bank of Slovenia with her 56 agencies.

SGBC (General society of banks in Cameroun)

SGBS (General society of banks in Senegal)

SGBBE (General society of banks to Benign)

Rusfinance : Russian subsidiary company at 100% of the General society, specialist in the consumer credit.

SGBL : Lebanese subsidiary company of the General society since 1969 (to 25% then with 50% in 1991), it counts nearly 60 agencies distributed on the whole of the Lebanese territory. Complete name: General society of bank in Lebanon.

Moroccan General society of banks : Created in 1962 starting from the old counters of the General society in Morocco. It is the first international financial group in Morocco. It holds 207 agencies.

Mobiasbanca : Fifth Moldavian bank in term of credits. The General society acquired of 70,57% of its capital in January 2007 for 18,4M€.

Trades

Networks of detail & Finance departments

Managements of credits, private Management & Trade Titles

The bank of financing & investment

Management of the firm

Daniel Bouton: since November 1997

Executive committee

Daniel Bouton - general President-Director
Philippe Citerne - Delegated general director, in charge of the projects long run
Didier Alix - Delegated general director
Philippe Stuck - Executive vice president in load of managements of credits and the services to the investors
Jean-Pierre Mustier - Executive vice-president in load of the Bank of financing and investment
Alain Py - general President-director of the Crédit du Nord
Frederic Oudéa - Finance director of the Group
Christian Schricke - General secretary of the Group
Anne Marion-Bouchacourt - Directing of resources and human relations of the Group
Christian Poirier - To advise of president Membre of the executive committee for the subjects concerned with its competences
Severin Huts - Directing of the resources of the Group
Didier Hauguel - Directing of the Risks of the Group
Hugues Bret - Communications director of the Group
Maurice Kouby - Directing of the information systems of the Group
Jean-François Sammarcelli - Bank manager Of Detail General society in France (BDDF)

Board of directors

Daniel Bouton
Philippe Citerne
Jean Martin Foltz -
Jean Azéma
Yves Cannac
Élie Cohen
Robert A. Day
Elisabeth Lulin
Patrick Ricard - chairman Pernot-Ricard
Anthony Wyand
Gerard Baude
Philippe Pruvost - Elected official by the employees
Gerard Revolts - Elected official by the employees
Marc Sonnet
Michel Cicurel
Kenji Matsuo - Critic

Financial data

Stock exchange data

Shares quoted at the Bourse de Paris
Member of the index CAC 40
6th French market cap
Code Value ISIN = FR0000130809
Face value = euro
Numbers of action at November 9th, 2006: : 461028716 titles
Capitalization at November 9th, 2006: 60,164 billion euros
Many daily transactions: titles

See too

References

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