Crédit Agricole is acquiring Achmea Bank's Luxembourg-based Securities Services and Private Banking activities.
 
Under the terms of the agreement signed on June 30, 2005, Achmea's Luxembourg-based custody and fund administration services as well as the private banking activities, all carried out by Banque Colbert (Luxembourg) SAwill be transferred to the Luxembourg entities of Crédit Agricole SA. Custody and fund administration services will be integrated into Crédit Agricole Investor Services Bank Luxembourg by the closing date of October 31, 2005.

The private banking activities will be taken on by Crédit Agricole Luxembourg (Private Bank) and Crédit Agricole Luxembourg Conseil will take over the financial engineering and the domiciliation of companies.

In total, the operation will involve the integration of some 53 staff into the three Crédit Agricole entities.
 
According to Henny te Beest, boardmember of Achmea Bank Holding NV, the sale of the firm's fund business and private banking activity in Luxembourg is a strategic decision driven by the desire for greater focus on insurance activity, seen as their core business.

"Our decision to withdraw from these activities in Luxembourg will allow us to concentrate our efforts on providing augmented products and services within our insurance operations," he says. "We believe Crédit  Agricole is the best placed group to make the considerable human resource and technology  investments that will guarantee a high level of service and the innovative products clients expect."
 
Charles Hamer, Managing Director of Crédit Agricole Luxembourg Private Bank is pleased the deal has been agreed.

"We are confident that the clientele will appreciate the continuity of service and the high quality of the offer of our Bank regarding Asset Management and of our subsidiary Crédit Agricole Luxembourg Conseil regarding financial engineering and domiciliation of companies," he says.
 
Crédit Agricole Investor Services Bank Luxembourg's Managing Director, Guillaume Fromont adds: "The acquisition of the custody and fund administration services fits well with our international development strategy which is driven both by acquisitions and partnership  agreements. Not only do we gain a high-calibre client base but we also inherit quality personnel who know the needs of those clients. What is more, as both parties use the same platforms in fund administration, the integration process should be seamless".

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