NATIXIS - 2018 Registration document and annual financial report

RISK FACTORS, RISK MANAGEMENT AND PILLAR III Risk factors

RISK RELATED TO HOLDING NATIXIS SECURITIES

in the case of higher rates: reduce the competitiveness of the a euro-denominated offer (by making new investments more attractive) and cause waves of redemptions on unfavorable terms with unrealized capital losses on outstanding bonds; in the case of lower rates: in the long term, make the return on a the general funds too low to enable them to meet their capital guarantees. Due to the allocation of the general funds, a widening of spreads and a fall in the equity markets could also have a material adverse impact on the results of Natixis’ life insurance business. A mismatch between the claims expense anticipated by the insurer and the actual benefits paid by Natixis to policyholders could have a material adverse impact on its general insurance business, results and financial position The main risk to which Natixis’ insurance affiliates are exposed in their general insurance business is underwriting risk. This risk results from a mismatch between, first, the claims actually incurred and the benefits actually paid as compensation for these claims and, second, the assumptions that the affiliates use to set the prices for their insurance products and to establish technical reserves for potential compensation. Natixis uses both its own experience and industry data to develop estimates of future policy benefits, including information used in pricing the insurance products and establishing the related actuarial liabilities. However, there can be no assurance that actual experience will match these estimates, and unanticipated risks such as pandemic diseases or natural disasters could result in higher-than-anticipated payments to policyholders. To the extent that the actual benefits paid by Natixis to policyholders are higher than the underlying assumptions used in initially establishing the future policy benefit reserves, or if events or trends were to cause Natixis to change the underlying assumptions, Natixis may be exposed to greater-than-expected liabilities, which may adversely affect Natixis’ general insurance business, results and financial position.

Natixis securities holders and other Natixis creditors may suffer losses should Natixis undergo resolution proceedings The European regulation establishing a framework for the recovery and resolution of credit institutions and investment firms and the texts transposing these rules into French law (the BRRD regulation) aim primarily to establish a single resolution mechanism giving the resolution authorities “bail-in” powers. The purpose of these powers is to counter any systemic risk linked to the financial system and, more specifically, avoid any financial intervention by the State in the event of a crisis. If a financial institution (or the group to which it belongs) subject to the BRRD defaults or is close to defaulting, these powers allow the authorities to impair, cancel or convert the financial institution’s eligible securities and commitments into shares. In addition to the option to use this “bail-in” mechanism, the BRRD provides resolution authorities with broader powers, allowing them to (1) require the financial institution to sell its activities to third parties, (2) replace it as obligor in respect of debt instruments with a third party, and (3) modify the terms of previously issued debt instruments. As a member of Groupe BPCE, Natixis may undergo resolution proceedings in the event of the simultaneous failure of Natixis and Groupe BPCE. The relevant resolution authority would manage the resolution proceeding at the level of BPCE, which would be the “single point of entry” of Groupe BPCE. Should the financial position of Natixis or of Groupe BPCE deteriorate, or be perceived as deteriorating, the existence of the powers provided for by the BRRD could cause the market value of Natixis financial securities to decline more rapidly. If resolution proceedings were to be implemented at the Groupe BPCE level, the exercise by a competent authority of the powers provided for by the BRRD could result in: the full or partial write-down of Natixis equity instruments a leading to the full or partial loss of the value of these instruments; the full or partial conversion of eligible financial instruments a into Natixis shares resulting in the unwanted holding of Natixis shares and a possible financial loss when reselling these shares; a change in the contractual conditions of the financial a instruments that could alter the instruments’ financial and maturity terms; such a change could result in lower coupons or longer maturities and have a negative impact on the value of said financial instruments. The implementation of resolution measures would also significantly affect Natixis’ ability to make the payments required by such instruments or, more generally, honor its payment to third parties.

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Natixis Registration Document 2018