The BNP Paribas Group (www.bnpparibas.com) with its two major business areas – Retail Banking & Services as well as Corporate & Institutional Banking – is present in 75 countries employing 187’840 personnel. The Group has four domestic markets (Belgium, France, Italy and Luxembourg) in Europe and about 146'710 employees. In Switzerland, BNP Paribas is active since 1872. With 1'600 employees and a presence in four Swiss cities – Geneva, Zurich, Basel and Lugano – BNP Paribas (Suisse) SA (www.bnpparibas.ch) is among the largest foreign banks in the country.