The move signals that, in spite of the financial crisis, Chinese
institutions are willing to invest in western banks.
The Shanghai and Hong Kong-listed commercial bank will pay €236.3m ($341m) for the stake in the French arm of the La Compagnie Financière, which was created in 1953 by Edmond de Rothschild and has been chaired by his son Benjamin de Rothschild since 1997.
It is the first strategic investment by a leading Chinese bank in the eurozone. The deal will allow Rothschild to tap into a fast-growing class of wealthy Chinese, while providing Bank of China with financial services products to sell to increasingly sophisticated Chinese investors.
Michel Cicurel, chief executive of LCF Edmond de Rothschild, described China as the "El Dorado" of emerging markets, with 500,000 dollar millionaires "and it's growing fast".
The deal has been eight months in the making and emerged from business links between the two companies three years ago.
Zhu Min, Bank of China vice-president for international finance, said Bank of China was already the most international of the top Chinese banks, with almost 1,000 branches in 28 countries. But he said the focus of the deal was to service its customers in China rather than aim to become a "global local bank".
Asked whether Bank of China would take advantage of problems at European or US banks, he said: "We don't have the capacity yet."
Mr Zhu said the Rothschild name, with a 250-year banking history, and its cautious banking approach had appealed to Bank of China. But he nevertheless insisted on seeing Rothschild's first-half audited accounts before signing the deal.
Mr Cicurel said Rothschild did not need new equity and was in robust financial health. According to the company's website, LCF Edmond de Rothschild made a net profit of €105m in 2007.
Under the terms of the deal, Benjamin de Rothschild will retain 75 per cent of the family business and the remaining 5 per cent stake will be held by management and employees.
LCF Edmond de Roths-child manages €30bn of assets. It is also active in mergers and acquisitions services, mostly focusing on mid-cap companies in France. It has operations in Italy, Israel and China and said it was also looking to expand in Chile and Russia.
Bank of China was advised by Bank of China International, Morgan Stanley and Allen & Overy. Rothschild was advised by Goldman Sachs, Société Générale and Freshfields'
...so team, awesome info???
Bank of China taking a 20% stake in Rothschilds asset management
and financial banking business!!!
Plus, they have 1000 banks in 28 countries!!
Imagine when they launch LCF and China says to all these banks...
'You will use LCF crypto currency as a preferred currency' POWERFUL!
Plus, they have 1000 banks in 28 countries!!
Imagine when they launch LCF and China says to all these banks...
'You will use LCF crypto currency as a preferred currency' POWERFUL!
Get your people in now, don't listen to the nonsense from
naysayers and be a apart of a revolution.
Now, a side note, notice
his name?
La Compagnie Financière Edmond de Rothschild and the LCF insignia attached above?
hmmmmmm can't see Lucifer in that wording can we? hehe
But, goes to show the different interpretations of LCF...
La Compagnie Financière Edmond de Rothschild and the LCF insignia attached above?
hmmmmmm can't see Lucifer in that wording can we? hehe
But, goes to show the different interpretations of LCF...
