Core Insights - The Risk Asia Awards 2025 recognize excellence in various categories related to risk management and financial services across Asia [1][2][3] Group 1: Derivatives Awards - Derivatives house of the year for Asia is awarded to UBS [1] - Other notable winners include Daiwa Securities for Japan, Crédit Agricole CIB for Hong Kong and South Korea, and OCBC Bank for Singapore [1] - The award for derivatives house of the year in China goes to Shenwan Hongyuan Securities, while CTBC Bank wins for Taiwan [1] Group 2: Specialized Awards - Standard Chartered is recognized as the interest rate derivatives house of the year [1] - BofA Securities wins the currency derivatives house of the year award [1] - UBS is awarded both equity and credit derivatives house of the year [1] Group 3: Technology and Risk Solutions - Murex is named technology vendor of the year and also wins for system support and implementation [2] - S&P Dow Jones Indices is recognized for quantitative investment solutions [2] - FactSet is awarded for risk solutions [2] Group 4: Compliance and Risk Management - The best AI solution for risk management is awarded to SAS Institute [2] - Wolters Kluwer receives multiple awards for various risk management solutions including IFRS 9 and credit risk management [2] - NICE Actimize is recognized for its AML solution of the year [2]

Group 1 - The Italian government will impose conditions on a potential merger between Banco BPM and Credit Agricole Italia, as stated by Economy Minister Giancarlo Giorgetti [1][2] - Banco BPM is actively seeking a merger partner after a failed takeover attempt by UniCredit, with Credit Agricole Italia and state-backed Monte dei Paschi di Siena (MPS) identified as primary options [1][4] - The merger with Credit Agricole Italia is perceived as more feasible due to MPS's involvement in the Mediobanca takeover [2][4] Group 2 - Giorgetti emphasized that he has no political objections to the merger but will enforce existing laws aimed at protecting key assets, known as "golden powers" [2][3] - Banco BPM holds a 9% stake in MPS, while Credit Agricole is the largest investor in Banco BPM, which is Italy's third-largest bank and crucial for financing small businesses [4] - Italy aims to create a third major banking player to compete with Intesa and UniCredit by facilitating a merger between BPM and MPS, a plan that was disrupted by UniCredit's initial takeover attempt [5]

Market Overview - French stocks are experiencing weakness due to concerns about the Federal Reserve's rate cuts and high equity valuations as noted by Fed Chair Jerome Powell [1] - The benchmark CAC 40 index is down 20.34 points or 0.26% at 7,851.68 [2] Company Performance - Stellantis is the biggest loser in the CAC 40 index, down 3.4% [2] - Hermes International has decreased nearly 2%, while Renault, EssilorLuxottica, Capgemini, L'Oreal, Euronext, Publicis Groupe, and Saint Gobain are down between 1% to 1.7% [2] - LVMH and Pernod Ricard are both down nearly 1% [3] - Atos SE shares have increased by 4.7% after securing a major cybersecurity contract from the European Commission [3] - Carrefour is gaining approximately 2.3%, while Thales, Bouygues, Kering, and Legrand are up between 1.3% to 1.6% [3]

Group 1 - Crédit Agricole is considering a merger of its Italian operations with Banco BPM, with Deutsche Bank and Rothschild advising on the potential deal [1] - Banco BPM's CEO views the merger with Crédit Agricole as the "clearest option" for the bank, which could benefit the Italian economy [1] - Banco BPM is evaluating strategic options after a failed takeover attempt by UniCredit, highlighting ongoing consolidation in Italy's banking sector [1] Group 2 - Crédit Agricole, the largest single shareholder in Banco BPM with over 20% stake, could increase its ownership to 35% post-merger [2] - Any merger would require approval from the Italian government, which has previously blocked UniCredit's bid for Banco BPM on national security grounds [2] - Crédit Agricole has maintained a positive relationship with Italian authorities, which may facilitate the merger process [2] Group 3 - Banco BPM has also considered merging with state-backed Monte dei Paschi di Siena, which is seen as an alternative option [3] - Banco BPM recently acquired a 9% stake in Monte dei Paschi, and the government has historically supported a merger between these two banks [3] - The acquisition of control over merchant bank Mediobanca by Monte dei Paschi complicates the potential for a three-way merger involving Banco BPM [4] Group 4 - Following the Mediobanca transaction, Banco BPM's stake in Monte dei Paschi is expected to fall below 5%, impacting merger dynamics [4]

Core Viewpoint - Credit Agricole is exploring a potential merger of its Italian arm with Banco BPM, collaborating with Deutsche Bank and Rothschild on this deal [1] Group 1 - Credit Agricole is working with Deutsche Bank and Rothschild on the merger discussions [1]

Core Points - Dominique Lefebvre announced his resignation from his positions as chairman of the Fédération Nationale du Crédit Agricole (FNCA) and the Board of Directors of Crédit Agricole S.A. by the end of 2025 [1] - Lefebvre has chaired FNCA for 15 years and Crédit Agricole S.A. for 10 years, expressing pride in supporting the Group's transformation during significant changes in the environment [2] - The transition period will be supported by Lefebvre to ensure continuity and facilitate the successor's transition [2] Company Transition - The appointment of a new chairman will follow the existing regulations and will be communicated in due course [2]

Core Viewpoint - Crédit Agricole S.A. has announced the redemption of its outstanding EUR 1,000,000,000 Senior Non-Preferred Callable Fixed to Floating Rate Social Notes, which were issued on October 12, 2022, with a maturity date of October 2026 [2][12]. Redemption Details - The redemption will occur pursuant to Condition 7(e) (Redemption at the Option of the Issuer) of the terms and conditions of the Notes, and the redemption amount will be paid at 100% of the outstanding nominal amount plus any accrued interest [13][2]. - The Redemption Amount is due on October 12, 2025, and interest on the Notes will cease to accrue on that date [3][14]. - Since October 12, 2025, is not a business day, the payment will be made on the next business day, October 13, 2025, without any additional interest for the postponed payment [15][3]. Additional Information - The terms and modalities of the redemption are detailed in the notice to the holders of the Notes, which is included in the press release [4]. - The Base Prospectus and Final Terms, which govern the Notes, were previously approved by the Autorité des marchés financiers [13][2].

Core Viewpoint - Crédit Agricole S.A. has announced the redemption of its outstanding EUR 1,000,000,000 Senior Non-Preferred Callable Fixed to Floating Rate Social Notes, which were issued on October 12, 2022, with a maturity date of October 2026 [2][12]. Redemption Details - The redemption will occur pursuant to Condition 7(e) of the Terms and Conditions, and the Redemption Amount will be due on October 12, 2025, which includes the outstanding nominal amount and any accrued interest [3][14]. - As October 12, 2025, is not a business day, the payment will be made on the next business day, October 13, 2025, and no interest will be paid for the postponed payment [3][15]. Additional Information - The terms and modalities of the redemption are detailed in the notice to the holders of the Notes, which is included in the press release [4].

Group 1 - Credit Agricole SA's investment banking division has agreed to pay a fine of 88.2 million euros ($103.4 million) to settle a criminal investigation [1] - The investigation focused on dividend-arbitrage trades that were allegedly used to avoid withholding taxes [1] - A French judge announced the settlement on Monday [1]

Legal & Regulatory - Credit Agricole's investment banking arm is expected to settle a criminal case regarding alleged tax evasion on dividend payments [1] Source - The information was initially reported by France Info [1]