LDN - Business

HSBC sees fewer London jobs move on softer Brexit hopes

[June 16, 2017] By Anjuli Davies

LONDON (Reuters) - HSBC sees the chances of a hard Brexit receding after Britain's shock election result, which could result in fewer jobs moving out of London, its investment bank chief said.

HSBC, Europe's biggest bank, has said it could move up to 1,000 investment bankers to Paris, where the bank has a license and significant operations, in the event of a hard Brexit that would mean losing access to the single market.

But the ruling Conservative party's setback in an election last week has deepened uncertainty over Prime Minister Theresa May's Brexit plans that included quitting the European customs union and single market, and a focus on controlling immigration.

"I don't think that we'll go for hard Brexit anymore from all that we hear," Samir Assaf, HSBC's investment bank chief said at an investor presentation on Thursday.

"If the hard Brexit transformed into a soft Brexit that's as well very good news for us because it will be less hassle and we will be able to do much more things from London ... We would be very happy to remain in London, business as usual," he said.

Finance minister Philip Hammond said on Friday that Britain should prioritize jobs and prosperity in talks on leaving the European Union, adding London would take a "pragmatic approach" to finding a deal that worked for Britain and the EU.

Assaf said the one-off cost from reorganizing operations once Britain leaves the EU would be limited for HSBC and should also provide an opportunity for the bank.

"We have our base in France, we have our building in France, we have our systems in France, we have our licenses in France and the addition that we have to do for Brexit effort is marginal but Brexit is as well for us is an opportunity because ...a lot of clients will come to us," said Assaf.

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A HSBC and a Barclays bank building is seen at Canary Wharf in London, Britain May 17, 2017. REUTERS/Stefan Wermuth

Large global banks in London plan to move about 9,000 jobs in the next two years to financial centers that will stay in the EU, including Frankfurt, Paris and Dublin, according to a Reuters' tally of job warnings.

Many international banks have used London as a hub to conduct activities across the EU and are now having to reorganize operations to varying degrees to ensure they can still service clients once Britain leaves the bloc.

Investec analyst Ian Gordon said HSBC's global banking and markets management sees the bank as a relative beneficiary of a hard Brexit as its existing licenses in the EU and French operations could help it grab market share from others less well placed.

"Under ‘soft’ Brexit, HSBC believes that such relative advantage would be diluted. We find it somewhat ironic therefore, that HSBC Group management continues to be perceived as campaigning vociferously for ‘soft’ Brexit, which would seemingly be to the detriment of shareholders?" he wrote.

(Reporting By Anjuli Davies; Editing by Edmund Blair)

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