Paris EUROPLACE International Financial Forum in New York
«The Challenges of the Financial Sector: The Japan Shock, New Regulations & Economic Growth»
Monday, April 18, 2011

PRESS RELEASE

New York and Paris, April 18, 2011 - With more than 350 delegates present from global banking and financial communities, Paris EUROPLACE held its 12th annual International Financial Forum in New York at the New York Stock Exchange today, where views on the Euro, France's leadership of the G20, and latest developments of the Paris financial marketplace were exchanged.

Gérard MESTRALLET, Chairman, Paris EUROPLACE, who is also Chairman & CEO, GDF SUEZ, highlighted new perspectives of business opportunities in Europe and presented the French marketplace's vision on several key global finance concerns such as financial and commodity markets regulation, monetary policy, and global coordination and convergence among policymakers regarding these matters. Additionally, Gérard MESTRALLET commented on current merger proposals involving US and European stock exchanges, stating, Altogether, the best solution will be the one which is most efficient in the context of both globalization of markets and that recognizes the importance of the Eurozone. We have started constructive discussions with NYSE Euronext regarding its proposed merger with Deutsche Börse. We are expecting to see proposals from Nasdaq OMX ICE as well. As a representative of the Paris financial center, I can say that we are ready to be a key partner to realize this ambition.

Christian NOYER, Governor, Banque de France, in a special keynote address on the evolution of regulation in Europe and the United States, said, At a time when our regulations are completely revisited and when many restructurings are taking place in the finance industry, rigorous consistency on both sides of the Atlantic is clearly needed if we want to avoid regulatory arbitrages and uneven level playing field.

Séverin CABANNES, Deputy Chief Executive Officer, Société Générale emphasized the resilience of the Universal Banking Model during the financial crisis and this has served to protect the security of savings, loans and all market players, while continuing to finance the real economy from small businesses to large enterprises. Another topic at stake has to be managed carefully by regulators: protecting the capacity to lend of the banking industry.

On the field of soft commodities, Jean LEMIERRE, Senior Advisor to the Chairman, BNP Paribas, presented the Paris EUROPLACE report to the High Level Committee chaired by Mrs. Christine LAGARDE, France Minister of Economic Affairs, Finances and Industry, to create a stronger regulatory framework through the constitution of a European regulatory body for agricultural financial markets, setting up position limits on all market segments as established by the CFTC [U.S. Commodities Futures Trading Commission] in the United States a long time ago.

Among other key economists and senior bankers who participated in the Forum were:
- Evariste LEFEUVRE, Chief Economist, Natixis North America
- Patrick LEGLAND, Global Head of Research, Société Générale
- Steven MAJOR, Managing Director, Global Fixed Income Research, HSBC
- Franck PETITGAS, Global Co-Head of Investment Banking, Morgan Stanley

The Forum also provided opportunities for financial professionals to discuss the potential impact of the Japan shock in global markets, uneven rates of growth between mature and emerging economies, volatility of exchange rates, the consequences of sovereign debt levels in both Europe and the United States, as well as signals of economic rebound within the Eurozone in the context of the recent rise in interest rates enacted by the European Central Bank.

The 2011 Paris EUROPLACE International Financial Forum in New York was co-organized at the New York Stock Exchange, in cooperation with NYSE Euronext, and in partnership with BNY Mellon, Compagnie de Financement Foncier, Institut Louis Bachelier, Linklaters LLP, Natixis, Société Générale Corporate & Investment Banking, Watson, Farley & Williams. Media partners included International Herald Tribune and BusinessWire.

Speeches as well as the final agenda are available on www.paris-europlace.com

Press contacts:

New York
Sylvie REPECZKY
Phoenix Investor Relations, LLC
+1 212.286.9022
ParisEUROPLACE@phoenix-irus.com

Paris
Antoinette DARPY
toBnext
+33 6 7295 0792
adarpy@tobnext.com