Euroclear enters talks to acquire French issuer services firm Uptevia

Euroclear has entered exclusive negotiations to acquire Uptevia, a French corporate trust and issuer services provider jointly owned by BNP Paribas and CACEIS, the Brussels-based market infrastructure group said.

The proposed transaction would extend Euroclear’s services for companies raising and managing capital in public markets, adding Uptevia’s activities in register management, shareholder meetings, employee share plans and corporate actions support.

Euroclear described the move as part of a strategy to broaden its issuer services capabilities across Europe. Issuer services sit alongside the post-trade infrastructure that supports securities markets: they help companies maintain shareholder or bondholder records, administer investor events and process changes such as distributions, reorganisations or other corporate actions.

Uptevia is currently held by BNP Paribas and CACEIS, which is wholly owned by Crédit Agricole S.A., according to Euroclear. The company has a client base and operating platform in France, where Euroclear said the acquisition would reinforce its market position.

Expansion in European issuer services

Euroclear said Uptevia would complement its existing market infrastructure and post-trade services in several European markets, including Belgium, France, the Netherlands, the Nordic region and the United Kingdom.

The group said the proposed acquisition would support companies through their capital markets activity, including both equity and debt markets. Euroclear also linked the planned expansion to the objectives of the Savings and Investments Union, a European policy agenda aimed at strengthening the region’s capital markets.

Valérie Urbain, Euroclear’s chief executive, said Uptevia was “a highly respected issuer services provider” with expertise, client relationships and a platform in France. She said the deal would support Euroclear’s plan to develop a wider pan-European issuer services proposition while preserving Uptevia’s existing strengths.

The transaction remains at the negotiation stage. Euroclear said service continuity for Uptevia’s clients would be a priority during the process, and that Uptevia would continue serving clients as it does today while receiving support and long-term commitment from Euroclear as a prospective shareholder.

Euroclear did not announce completion of the acquisition. The company’s statement described the talks as exclusive negotiations for a proposed acquisition.

This story draws on original reporting from Finextra Research.