Swedish banking group SEB has agreed to sell its 3.1% stake in Euroclear, valuing the financial services group at €11.5 billion. The transaction is expected to benefit Belgium. Euroclear, which provides settlement and custody services for financial securities, will see Belgium strengthen its position in the company following the deal. The sale marks a strategic shift for SEB, which is divesting its holding in one of Europe's largest financial market infrastructure providers. The transaction reinforces Belgium's influence in Euroclear, though specific details about how the stake will be redistributed were not disclosed in the announcement.

Euroclear enters exclusive talks to acquire French corporate trust services provider Uptevia. Euroclear revealed on Tuesday that it has entered into exclusive negotiations to acquire Uptevia, a leading French corporate trust services provider currently jointly owned by BNP Paribas and CACEIS, the wholly owned subsidiary of Crédit Agricole S.A. The proposed acquisition is expected to strengthen Euroclear's issuer services capabilities in France and forms part of a broader ambition to build a pan-European issuer services proposition. Uptevia provides a range of specialist services including register management, general meetings, employee share plans and complex corporate action support. "Uptevia is a highly respected issuer services provider with deep expertise, strong client relationships and a proven platform in France," said Valérie Urbain, Chief Executive of Euroclear. " The proposed acquisition supports our ambition to develop a broader pan-European issuer services proposition, aligned with the Savings and Investments Union objectives." The deal would complement Euroclear's existing market infrastructure and post-trade services presence across key European markets, including Belgium, France, the Netherlands, the Nordics and the United Kingdom. Euroclear believes the acquisition aligns with its strategy to support companies throughout their capital markets journey across both equity and debt markets. Service continuity for Uptevia's existing clients will remain a priority throughout the process, with Uptevia continuing to serve clients as it does today while benefiting from Euroclear's long-term commitment as a prospective shareholder.