BNP Paribas Fortis Names Bart Schouest Head of Oil and Gas Activities for the Americas

NEW YORK, NY--(Marketwire - October 9, 2009) - BNP Paribas Fortis is pleased to announce that, in addition to his existing responsibilities as Head of BNP Paribas' Oil and Gas business, Americas, Bart Schouest will assume the responsibility of Head of Oil & Gas for BNP Paribas Fortis, Americas. He will remain based in Houston, Texas.

BNP Paribas and BNP Paribas Fortis maintain strong and long-standing relationships with the Oil and Gas Industry. They have been consistently active in the market for more than three decades which is evidenced by their number one ranking in the 3Q, 2009 financial institution league tables for Energy Lending.

Commenting on the appointment, Waldo Abbot, CEO of BNP Paribas Fortis, Americas, said, "Bart is a renowned and very well respected figure in the Energy Industry. With his outstanding relationships, proven track record and 25 years of experience, he is the right person to lead the combined business into the future."

Mr. Schouest joined the Houston office of BNP Paribas in 1989 and was a founding member of the Bank's Energy Group. Under his leadership the Energy portfolio has grown significantly, representing a variety of transactions across all aspects of the Americas and International Energy Industry. Prior to joining BNP Paribas, Mr. Schouest spent approximately seven years with Texas Commerce Bank, with responsibility for oil and gas financings, leverage capitalization transactions and structured credit activities.

About BNP Paribas

BNP Paribas (www.bnpparibas.com) is one of the 6 strongest banks in the world according to Standard & Poor's. With a presence in 85 countries and more than 205,000 employees, 165,200 of which in Europe, BNP Paribas is a global-scale European leader in financial services. It holds key positions in its three activities: Retail banking, Investment Solutions and Corporate & Investment Banking. The Group benefits from its four domestic markets: Belgium, France, Italy and Luxembourg. BNP Paribas also has a significant presence in the United States and strong positions in Asia and the emerging markets.

* Within its peer group

Contact Information: Contact: Edwina Frawley-Gangahar Media Relations, New York +212-841-3719