Paris EUROPLACE International Financial Forum Tokyo, November 16, 2009 « The Aftermath of the Crisis: Times of Dialogue and Opportunities »

TOKYO--(Business Wire)--
Paris EUROPLACE, the organization in charge of promoting the Paris financial
marketplace, held its 13th annual Financial Forum in Japan in a bid to foster
dialogue between Paris and Tokyo marketplaces regarding lessons arising from the
financial crisis, new strategies to restore confidence and present new
opportunities in European financial markets. The Forum was attended by more than
800 French and Japanese representatives of investors, issuers, banking and
financial institutions, as well as regulators and central bankers.

Masaaki SHIRAKAWA, Governor of Bank of Japan and Christian NOYER, Governor of
Banque de France opened the forum:

- Masaaki SHIRAKAWA said that "I believe that balance-sheet adjustments are a
key factor in shaping the prospects for the global economy following the
economic crisis."

- Christian NOYER highlighted that "the root causes of the crisis are deeply
structural with a combination of excess savings and asymmetry in financial
developments between countries which was conducive to the formation of bubbles.
This disequilibrium was amplified by distorted financial innovation. There was
little, or no, role for monetary policy in that process". And added "looking to
the future, regulation and supervision must be implemented in a broader systemic
perspective with the objective of ensuring the stability and integrity of the
financial system as a whole. There is a strong case for giving central banks a
pivotal role in this new macro financial supervision. We are fortunate, in the
Eurosystem, in having an appropriate and efficient framework."

Jean-François THEODORE, Deputy CEO of NYSE Euronext andChairman of the Steering
Committee of Paris EUROPLACE, indicatedthat "Paris EUROPLACE plays an important
role to push concrete recommendations at the European level to implement the G20
guidelines regarding prudential and accounting standards, new initiatives in
clearing and settlement processes and the development of more transparent
markets and products." He underlined that "various ways of dialogue and
cooperation shall be fostered between Paris and Tokyo, in particular in asset
management, environmental finance and Socially Responsible Investment (SRI),
research and financial innovation".

Arnaud de BRESSON, Chief Executive of Paris EUROPLACE mentioned that "the Paris
marketplace has better resisted the crisis than many other international
financial centers, thanks to the quality of its regulation, the business model
of French banks, and its capacity in risk management and offers today a great
deal of business opportunities."

- the euro represents 26% of reserve currencies and 30% of international
securities markets. It is also considered as a valuable hedge against the dollar
and commodity risk and is an efficient tool for portfolio diversification:
according to a recent study published by Bank of America and Merrill Lynch, the
post crisis environment will still benefit Europe as asset allocators will
continue to increase their investments in the Eurozone;

- the access to NYSE Euronext platform, the leading Exchange in the world, with
a large presence of French Blue chips in the Eurostoxx 50 index;

- the access to a secure and liquid Euro denominated bond market, with a new
growing presence of French investment grade corporate issuers (Areva, EDF, GDF
SUEZ, BNP Paribas, Véolia, etc....);

- the strength of the French Asset management industry, with the presence of
international market players: AXA IM, BNP Paribas AM, CAAM/SGAM and Natixis AM,
also operating in Tokyo.

Additionally, Paris accelerates its positioning in new growing financial
segments: project financing, environmental finance (carbon and climate),
Socially Responsible Investment (SRI) and Islamic Finance.

The Paris EUROPLACE Financial Forum in Tokyo 2009 was organized in partnership
with Agence France Trésor, Bluenext, BNP Paribas, Compagnie de Financement
Foncier, Finance Innovation, GDF SUEZ, HSBC, Linklaters, Nomura, NYSE Euronext,
Orbeo and Société Générale CIB.

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About Paris EUROPLACE

The mission of Paris EUROPLACE, a non-for-profit organisation created in 1993,
is to develop and further modernize the Paris financial market and promote its
key advantages at the regional, European and international level. Paris
EUROPLACE, which today gathers 150 member institutions, brings together a
multiplicity of players in the financial industry: corporate issuers, financial
intermediaries, asset management companies, law and accounting firms and
consultancies - all of which participate in the association`s actions and
activities. Paris EUROPLACE also contributes to the "competitiveness clusters"
program, and aims at making the Paris financial market a full-fledged center,
thereby confirming its leading position, particularly in asset management and in
financial research. Web Site: www.paris-europlace.net

Arnaud de BRESSON
Paris EUROPLACE
Managing Director
Tel : +33 1 49 27 11 44
Email: bresson@paris-europlace.com

Copyright Business Wire 2009