Visa Inc. announced on 21 June 2016 the completion of its acquisition of Visa Europe in cash and in Visa Inc. preferred stock, with a deferred cash payment to follow in three years’ time.
For BNP Paribas, this sale will translate, in the 2nd quarter 2016 consolidated results, into an estimated exceptional capital gain of about 565 million euros after taxes.
As Visa Europe shares have already been remeasured through shareholders’ equity as at 31 December 20151 the transaction will have, assuming a 45% pay-out ratio, a negligible positive impact on the Group’s’ Common Equity Tier 1 ratio.
BNP Paribas is a leading bank in Europe with an international reach. It has a presence in 75 countries, with more than 189,000 employees, including more than 146,000 in Europe. The Group has key positions in its three main activities: Domestic Markets and International Financial Services (whose retail-banking networks and financial services are covered by Retail Banking & Services) and Corporate & Institutional Banking, which serves two client franchises: corporate clients and institutional investors. The Group helps all its clients (individuals, community associations, entrepreneurs, SMEs, corporates and institutional clients) to realise their projects through solutions spanning financing, investment, savings and protection insurance. In Europe, the Group has four domestic markets (Belgium, France, Italy and Luxembourg) and BNP Paribas Personal Finance is the leader in consumer lending. BNP Paribas is rolling out its integrated retail-banking model in Mediterranean countries, in Turkey, in Eastern Europe and a large network in the western part of the United States. In its Corporate & Institutional Banking and International Financial Services activities, BNP Paribas also enjoys top positions in Europe, a strong presence in the Americas as well as a solid and fast-growing business in Asia-Pacific.
1 see Consolidated financial statements year ended 31 December 2015 – Note 5.c