Page 32

ACTIVITY_REPORT_20132014_UK

150 YEARS OF BANKING AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP On 4 May 1864, Napoleon III signed the founding decree for the "General company (Societe Generale) to foster business and industrial growth in France". The bank's founders were leading entrepreneurs driven by the ideals of progress of the 19th century. Among them was Joseph-Eugène Schneider, founder of the ironworks empire in Le Creusot, who served as Societe Generale's first Chairman. In a France that was building a modern financial system to drive its economic growth, Societe Generale was called on to carry out "all transactions ordinarily within the domain of credit institutions, but also to facilitate the completion of major public or private works through its support, to negotiate all loans and, in short, to participate in any financial transactions that aim to increase the nation's productive forces and to expand international business relations." From the start, it adopted a universal banking model with an international focus. It was simultaneously a deposit, credit and business bank as well as a stock broker and wealth management adviser. 30 I SOCIETE GENERALE 2013-2014


ACTIVITY_REPORT_20132014_UK
To see the actual publication please follow the link above