CCF sells Netvalor to LASER

HSBC Holdings PLC
15 June 2005


                       LASER TO ACQUIRE NETVALOR FROM CCF

CCF and LASER, through Mediatis, have signed an agreement for Mediatis to
acquire 100 per cent of the capital of Netvalor, a wholly-owned consumer credit
subsidiary of CCF. Mediatis is a wholly-owned subsidiary of COFINOGA, which in
turn is a subsidiary of LASER. Netvalor had a net asset value of €10.4 million
at 31 December 2004.

The transaction, which is subject to regulatory approval, is expected to be
finalised in the third quarter of 2005 once consultations with CCF's and
COFINOGA's Works Councils have been completed.

Launched in April 2000, Netvalor offers consumer loans through two channels:
* Direct online sales via the 123credit.com website; and
* Partnership agreements with financial institutions (including insurance
  companies, banks and pension funds), mutual organisations and associations,
  as well as e-commerce companies.
Netvalor currently has over 60,000 customers and 80 employees, and had €275
million in loans outstanding at 31 December 2004.

LASER is owned by Galeries Lafayette and BNP Paribas. Through its acquisition of
Netvalor, LASER aims to strengthen and boost the rapid growth of its online loan
distribution to individuals under the Mediatis brand. The acquisition will also
help it develop partnerships with e-commerce operators and financial
institutions. This will be a new area of growth for LASER.

Notes to editors:

1. The HSBC Group
CCF is a wholly-owned subsidiary of HSBC Holdings plc, and a member of the HSBC
Group. Serving over 110 million customers worldwide, the HSBC Group has over
9,800 offices in 77 countries and territories in Europe, the Asia-Pacific
region, the Americas, the Middle East and Africa. With assets of US$1,277
billion at 31 December 2004, HSBC is one of the world's largest banking and
financial services organisations. HSBC is marketed worldwide as 'the world's
local bank'.

2. LASER
The LASER group incorporates the financial services activities of COFINOGA and
the associated loyalty programme, e-LaSer. The group is growing its activities
in Europe using its advanced know-how in marketing and technology in customer
relationship management. It is co-controlled by Galeries Lafayette and BNP
Paribas. Through the private label card processed by COFINOGA, LASER is leader
in Europe with 10 million customers, of which 4.5 million are in France. Present
in eight countries in Europe, LASER has more than 5,600 employees and, in 2004,
achieved a turnover of €1,156 million.


                      This information is provided by RNS
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