Further to the
announcement on 25 June 2009, Barclays Bank PLC (‘Barclays’) and CNP Assurances
SA (‘CNP’) have established a long-term life insurance joint venture in Spain,
Portugal and Italy. This follows the completion of the sale of a 50 per cent
stake in Barclays Vida y Pensiones Compañía de Seguros (‘BVP’) to CNP.
Frits Seegers, Chief
Executive of Barclays Global Retail and Commercial Banking, said: “We are
excited about the opportunities presented by our joint venture with CNP.
Combining the strength of Barclays brand and its distribution networks in Spain,
Portugal and Italy with CNP’s expertise in insurance product design and
manufacture will be a winning combination for both our organisations, our
shareholders and, most importantly, our customers.”
Gilles Benoist,
Chief Executive Officer of CNP Assurances, said: “We are delighted to launch
this partnership with such a highly regarded bank as Barclays. CNP’s long
standing experience and expertise in life insurance, particularly in Southern
Europe, combined with the growth capacity of Barclays in this region will create
long-term value for all parties. Moreover, this partnership refocuses and
strengthens CNP’s footprint in the region, and will be source of positive
synergies.”
Download the press release
(PDF format)
For further
information please contact:
Barclays
Investor
Relations
Stephen Jones
+44 (0) 20 7116 5752
Media Relations
Phillippa-Jane Vermoter
+44 (0) 20 7116
7226
CNP
Investor
Relations
Jim Root
+33 (0) 1 42 18 71
89
Jean-Yves
Icole
+33
(0) 1 42 18 94 93
Media Relations
Sophie Messager
+33 (0) 1 42 18 86 51
Tamara Bernard
+33 (0) 1 42 18 86
19
About Barclays
Barclays is a major
global financial services provider engaged in retail and commercial banking,
credit cards, investment banking, wealth management and investment management
services, with an extensive international presence in Europe, the USA, Africa
and Asia. With over 300 years of history and expertise in banking, Barclays
operates in over 50 countries and employs over 140,000 people. Barclays moves,
lends, invests and protects money for over 49 million customers and clients
worldwide. For further information about Barclays, please visit our website
www.barclays.com.
About CNP
CNP Assurances,
France’s leading personal insurer and among the top 5 European life insurers,
reported 2008 premium income of €28.3 billion and EBIT of more than €2.3
billion. The Group’s international operations represented premium income of €3.2
billion, or 11% of total premiums, and accounted for 22% of total EBIT. Its main
host countries outside France are Italy, Brazil, Portugal and Spain. The group
is committed to expanding its international footprint as evidence by Marfin
Popular Bank deal in Cyprus and Greece in July 2008. For further information
about CNP Assurances, please visit our website www.cnp.fr.
Disclaimer Some
of the statements contained in this press release may be forward-looking
statements referring to projections, future events, trends or objectives which,
by their very nature, involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Actual results
could differ materially from those currently anticipated in such statements by
reason of factors such as changes in general economic conditions and conditions
in the financial markets, legal or regulatory decisions or changes, changes in
the frequency and amount of insured claims, particularly as a result of changes
in mortality and morbidity rates, changes in surrender rates, interest rates,
foreign exchange rates, the competitive environment, the policies of foreign
central banks or governments, legal proceedings, the effects of acquisitions and
the integration of newly-acquired businesses, and general factors affecting
competition.
Further
information regarding factors which may cause results to differ materially from
those projected in forward looking statements is included in CNP Assurances’
filings with the Autorité des Marchés Financiers. CNP Assurances does not
undertake to update any forward-looking statements presented herein to take into
account any new information, future event or other
factors.