French banks face battering on exposure to Greek debt - Business News - Business - Evening Standard
       

French banks face battering on exposure to Greek debt

French banks look set to take one of the biggest haircuts on Greek debt as the country's largest, BNP Paribas, today said it had raised its provisions on Greek sovereign bonds to 75%.

France's second and third-largest banks, Société Générale and Crédit Agricole, are expected to follow suit when they report this week and next.

All three banks took a 60% haircut when they reported their third-quarter profits last year.

The French banks are the biggest holders of Greek government bonds and private-sector debt in the eurozone. At the last count the Bank of International Settlement said French banks had $47.9 billion (£30.5 billion) exposure to Greece.

BNP's net profit fell 23% to 6 billion (£5 billion) last year after it took Greek provisions of 3.4 billion. Jean-Laurent Bonaffé, who became chief executive in December, said bonuses at the investment arm were halved.

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