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Doubling of the number of Investment Shops in Europe in 2001
Launch of a free service of advice on shares by telephone

In 2001, Cortal will have 15 Investment Shops in Europe

Cortal is preparing to open 8 new Investment Shops in Europe during 2001 in order to improve face-to-face contact with its present and future customers. These openings will bring to 15 the total number of Investment Shops in Europe: 9 in France, 2 in Belgium, 2 in Spain, 1 in Italy and 1 in Luxembourg. At the end of 2000, Cortal had 7 Investment Shops, including 5 in France, 1 in Belgium and 1 in Luxembourg.

Cortal was the precursor among brokers and financial establishments to be online in the area of physical set-ups: the first Investment Village was opened in Nice in 1998. Others now exist in Marseilles, Lyons, Bordeaux, Lille, Brussels and Luxembourg.

Financial advisors are available in the Investment Shops Monday through Saturday to help investors discover all of Cortal's services. Internet, PCs and Minitel can be freely consulted to learn how to place a market order, obtain information on investments or follow market trends. Advisors specialised in estate management are also available to help draw up a personalised assessment of customers' investments and help them take the right investment decisions.


Cortal is launching 'Immediate Advice on Shares', a free service of advice on shares by telephone

Since the end of December 2000, Cortal customers have been able to benefit from advice on shares by telephone. A team of specialised operators, backed up with recommendations from BNP PARIBAS and from TRADING Central.com, is available to provide assistance in investment choices. The service is free.

Market recommendations are also available through Internet (www.e-cortal.com).

With this offer, Cortal is once again broadening the range of added-value services available to its customers and building up its calling as a 'full service' broker.


The mission of Cortal is to help European individuals build and manage their savings. Customers are given access to services covering all mutual funds and principle stock markets. A subsidiary of BNP Paribas, Cortal counted 596,000 Clients in Europe at the end of November 2000, of which 149,000 online.