In France, CDC - CAISSE DES DEPOTS ET CONSIGNATIONS and CAISSES D'EPARGNE have announced their merger that gives rise to a universal bank present for all financial professions for all kinds of clients. With EUR 18 billion in own funds, the new entity, that will take the form of a common holding, will be the third largest banking group of this kind, after CREDIT AGRICOLE and BNP PARIBAS.