Dexia said yesterday that it is “exploring various options” for its French banking subsidiary, Dexia Banque Privee France. Analysts say this...

Dexia said yesterday that it is “exploring various options” for its French banking subsidiary, Dexia Banque Privee France. Analysts say this could include selling the bank. Earlier this year Dexia sold its UK private banking business to Rathbones and looks set to sell its French business as well with these latest comments. DBPF was formed from a merger of Banque Industrielle et Mobilière Privée and Banque Vernes, a subsidiary of Artesia, which was acquired by Dexia in 2001. The private bank has around €1 billion ($1.2 billion) of assets under management and employs around 200 people, mostly based in Paris.