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National Bank Financial, a subsidiary of the National
Bank of Canada, was created by the September 8, 1999, merger of Lévesque
Beaubien Geoffrion and First Marathon Inc.
The formation of National Bank Financial has brought
together the strengths and traditions of two highly successful investment
firms to form a major and truly unique investment powerhouse. The
new firm will not only play a leading role in all major Canadian investment
markets, but it will also be active in certain specialized and rapidly
growing investment businesses. By fully utilizing its extensive resources
and continuing to maintain its focus on client service, National Bank
Financial intends to enhance its already strong position as a leader
among Canadian investment dealers.
Prior to the merger, National Bank Financial's predecessor
firms had each established admired performance records, due primarily
to their professionalism and creativity in meeting client needs. Lévesque
Beaubien Geoffrion Inc. traced its origin to 1902, and grew to become
one of the largest fully integrated investment dealers in Canada.
First Marathon Inc., however, was founded just twenty years ago. In
that short period of time, it established an envied position in its
core businesses of institutional trading, sales and corporate finance,
and a dominant position in providing securities clearing services
to third parties.
With about 2,700 employees and 86 offices, National
Bank Financial is one of the largest investment dealers in Canada.
Its pro-forma annual revenues of approximately $600 million place
it among the leaders in the Canadian investment industry. In addition,
client assets of approximately $27 billion held for nearly 250,000
individual clients indicate the extensive reach of its operations.
With capital of $500 million, National Bank Financial
is very strong financially on a stand-alone basis. As well, it draws
added strength from being a subsidiary of the National Bank of Canada
with its $3.2 billion in shareholders' equity. The National Bank traces
its history to 1859 and now employs over 17,000 people. It has 660
Canadian branches and is represented in 20 U.S. cities and 120 foreign
countries. A broadly based and well-integrated financial group, National
Bank provides a comprehensive range of financial services to consumers,
corporations of all sizes, and governments.
Continuing a tradition that goes back over a century,
National Bank Financial has made client service and the development
of long-term client relationships the cornerstones of its operating
philosophy. Such relationships must be based on mutual trust and respect.
To achieve this requires identifying the unique needs of each client
and responding with creative investment ideas and high value-added
services.
Critical to sustaining and developing new long-term client relationships
is the quality of the firm's people - they are the main architects
and builders of its future growth. Employing only top notch professionals
and sparing no effort to ensure that they remain among the best qualified
in the industry is a key ingredient in further enhancing National
Bank Financial's status as a world-class specialist in Canadian equity
and fixed-income securities.
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