BNP shakes off impact of U.S. fine, returns to profit

 

[October 31, 2014]  By Maya Nikolaeva and Matthias Blamont

PARIS (Reuters) - France's No. 1 bank BNP Paribas <BNPP.PA> returned to net profit in the third quarter, recovering from a costly U.S. legal settlement to publish what it called a "rock solid" balance sheet, sending its shares up over 4 percent.

BNP -- battling to restore investor and client confidence after a $8.9 billion fine from U.S. authorities -- reshuffled its top ranks in the quarter to tighten controls. It said veteran adviser and trouble-shooter Jean Lemierre would become chairman in December.

The bank settled with U.S. authorities in June, paying up over accusations that it violated U.S. sanctions against Sudan, Cuba and Iran over a 10-year period up to 2012.

"The excess capital story at BNP has been derailed by litigation for the time being, but trends this quarter are encouraging," Geoff Dowes, an analyst at Societe Generale said in a note.

Shares in BNP were up 3.7 percent at 50.3 euros at 6 a.m. EDT, paring earlier gains, outperforming a rising French market.

BNP said on Friday its balance sheet had improved despite headwinds, reporting a core Tier 1 capital ratio under tougher Basel III rules of 10.1 percent. That was a small improvement from 10 percent at end-June, but taking into account the purchase of Polish bank BGZ and new regulatory adjustments.
 

Net profit rose 11 percent to 1.5 billion euros ($1.89 billion), driven by lower provisions, while revenue rose 3.9 percent to 9.54 billion euros.

Revenues in the investment banking business - a business line closely watched by the market following BNP's settlement with the U.S. authorities - grew by 2.9 percent in the third quarter, signaling the affair did not affect relationships between BNP and its clients.

Alain Papiasse, head of its investment bank, has been placed in charge of overseeing its U.S. business.

"CIB activities have been doing well, particularly fixed income...in rates and in forex," BNP Paribas Chief Financial Officer Lars Machenil said in an interview with Reuters Insider after earnings were announced.

Under the terms of the settlement with the U.S. authorities, BNP will have to clear all its dollar transactions in New York, under supervision. Any oil- and gas-related business landing there throughout 2015 will be forwarded to a correspondent bank for clearing.

Machenil said that operational solutions were being worked out in order to reach a deal with banks.

BOLT-ON ACQUISITIONS

Like its domestic rival Societe Generale and other European banks, BNP is targeting new growth avenues after years of shoring up its balance sheet to meet tougher rules on risk taking after the financial crisis.

This year the bank agreed to buy German online investment broker DAB in a $354 million deal with Unicredit and Poland's Bank BGZ in a 4.5 billion zlotys ($1.39 billion) deal with Rabobank.

Asked if BNP was working on a bid for Italy's Monte dei Paschi, which revealed the biggest outstanding capital deficit following Europe-wide banking stress tests and needs to raise 2.1 billion euros, Machenil said:

"It's speculation. If you look at what we do in our plan, we are looking for bolt-on acquisitions ... If we find that, as a bolt-on and at a reasonable price, that's what we have to do."

By bolt-on acquisitions, Machenil said he meant those that can "bring BNP an improved market share, intimacy with clients, and product knowledge".

BNP owns Rome-based BNL, the sixth-largest lender by assets in Italy.

(Editing by Mark John and Clara Ferreira Marques)

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