2012 Registration document and annual financial report - BNP Paribas

A RESPONSIBLE BANK: INFORMATION ON BNP PARIBAS’ ECONOMIC,SOCIAL, CIVIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL RESPONSIBILITYEconomic responsibility: financing the economy in an ethical manner7ONE OF THE MOST SOLID BANKS INEUROPE, ANTICIPATING NEW REGULATIONIn order to be able to provide financing to the real economy over the longterm, it is paramount that BNP Paribas can ensure its economic stability,whatever the financial context.➤ INCREASE OF OUTSTANDING CORPORATE ANDPERSONAL LOANS BETWEEN END-2008 ANDEND-2012 VS GDP (BY VALUE) OVER THE SAMEPERIOD35%LoansGDPOne of the best capitalised large internationalbanksAt the end of 2012, BNP Paribas was one of the first large banks to achievethe ratio imposed by the new measures taken in 2010 and required to bemet by 2019 under Basel III. The minimum level of equity that banks willhave to maintain has been increased. BNP Paribas achieved its target forstrengthening its solvency ratio (common equity Tier one) one quarterahead of schedule, reaching 9.9% at 31 December 2012.The Group thus strengthened its equity and hence its solidity and lendingcapacity.Profits benefiting the economyMore than two-thirds of profits were reinvested in the company, inorder to pursue the Group’s development and support its customers. Byconsolidating its equity, the Bank is also directly boosting its ability toextend loans, and thus its investments in the real economy.SIGNIFICANT GROWTH IN PERSONAL ANDCORPORATE LOANSFor five years, BNP Paribas has been able to increase its lending to itscustomers, despite the adverse economic conditions. The total amount ofloans extended to businesses and individuals has thus increased regularlywithin the Group’s four domestic markets, in a proportion well above thelevel of economic growth recorded in these countries.30%25%20%15%10%5%0%-5%21,0%5,0%29,0%-0,6%15,9%11,6%France Italy Belgium+ Luxembourg ( * )(*) For Belgium and Luxembourg, the comparison is between end-2012and end-2009.GDP trends shown in this chart are based on data available at http://epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/Between end-2011 and end-2012, outstanding personal loans in thesefour countries increased by 1.5%.The Bank’s mission is to support the development of businesses,particularly SMEs, by providing them with financial resources (via debtand the capital markets) and strategic advice:■ In France, there has been a particular focus on SMEs and smallbusinesses clients. With six commitments made in early 2012 tosupport them, a total of EUR 5 billion worth of new loans was granted.The objective is to finance 40,000 projects between 1 July 2012 and30 June 2013. By end-2012, 27,000 projects had been financed,reaching a total amount of EUR 3.2 billion. 60 Small Business Centres(vs 46 in 2011) allow business leaders’ professional and personalneeds to be met in the same office.■ In Luxembourg, a strong signal was sent to SMEs by the creation of aone-billion-euro credit line earmarked for investment activities andprojects as well as to help with starting up businesses.72012 Registration document and annual financial report - BNP PARIBAS 381