In a context where economic and industrial sovereignty has become a major strategic issue, Crédit Mutuel Arkéa takes a new step in its commitment to the French Defense Industrial and Technological Base (BITD). Staying true to its local roots and its ambition to put finance at the service of the real economy, the cooperative banking group announces the creation of a "Defense & Sovereignty" sector and deploys concrete solutions aimed at ambitiously and sustainably supporting SMEs and mid-sized enterprises in the sector, which are essential to French industrial resilience. This initiative is fully aligned with its strategic plan, "Faire 2030," positioning Crédit Mutuel Arkéa as a major player in the sustainable development of territories. It reflects its intention to act both locally—at the heart of its federations and local branches of Crédit Mutuel de Bretagne and Crédit Mutuel du Sud-Ouest—and nationally, through its specialized subsidiaries, to support transitions and strengthen economic sovereignty for the benefit of all.

A Strategic Industrial Fabric with Strong Local Roots

The French BITD relies on a dense network of nearly 4,000 unlisted SMEs and mid-sized enterprises, with a strong presence in the regions where the group has historically been established: in Brittany (over 16,000 jobs) and in New Aquitaine (over 19,000 jobs).

Often undercapitalized and facing lower margins than average, these companies encounter increasing financing needs, amplified by the acceleration of defense production.

Support Already Embedded in the Group’s DNA

As a mission-driven company and bank of territories, the cooperative banking group has already been particularly attentive to issues of sovereignty and national security through the establishment of initiatives and support for companies in this sector, contributing to local economic vitality and the protection of territories. The group is already supporting nearly 350 actors in the BITD.

This commitment is reflected in two of the five pillars of its purpose:

• Developing territorial cooperation and committing to local vitality, taking into account the strategic role of national defense activities in its areas of operation, which represent thousands of jobs and opportunities for synergies.
• Promoting the engagement of its collective in the service of the common good, by offering its employees the freedom to act as citizens and supporting activities essential to security and defense, particularly in areas like cybersecurity, where needs are growing.

A Dedicated Sector to Meet the Needs of Defense Industry Enterprises

The creation of the "Defense & Sovereignty" sector allows Crédit Mutuel Arkéa to bring together its banking, asset management, and private equity expertise to provide a transversal and integrated response to local enterprises and their increasing financing and investment needs. This organization aims to streamline processes, accelerate the review of complex files, cultivate a common culture of sovereignty, and ultimately respond more quickly to their development needs.

A Complete and Coherent Offering

Within this new dedicated sector, Crédit Mutuel Arkéa is already deploying several structural solutions, supported by the various entities of the Group and based on a deep understanding of regional ecosystems, thanks to a solid history of supporting companies in the sector (SMEs, mid-sized enterprises, startups) of the BITD.

• A €500 Million Partnership Between Arkéa Banque Entreprises & Institutionnels (ABEI) and Bpifrance

Arkéa Banque Entreprises & Institutionnels, a subsidiary of Crédit Mutuel Arkéa dedicated to the business market (SMEs & mid-sized enterprises), public and institutional actors, is officially announcing its participation in a structured joint offer with Bpifrance around the "Avance Défense +" scheme to address the growing financing needs of the operating cycle of SMEs in the BITD (working capital needs, capex, transfer operations). The stated ambition is to mobilize €500 million (of which €250 million by ABEI) for identified actors across the entire national territory.

• A New Private Debt Fund "France Souveraineté PME" Being Launched by Arkéa Asset Management (Arkéa AM)

With a target of €250 million, this private debt fund will pursue two main objectives: to create and preserve jobs in France and to defend French sovereignty. This will involve investing at least 60% of the fund's amounts in major sovereignty areas (geostrategic, food and logistics, information, culture, education and research, digital, technological, and industrial).

The support will target profitable and growing French SMEs and mid-sized enterprises needing financing for balance sheet operations. More than 50% of the amounts will be invested in companies in the regions (excluding Île-de-France).

• A New Sovereignty Investment Strategy by Arkéa Capital

In line with the strategic plan "Faire 2030," and as part of its development plan, Arkéa Capital, the Group's private equity subsidiary, is working on launching a Sovereignty fund that will include a dedicated envelope to support the equity needs of SMEs and mid-sized enterprises in the BITD sector.

Arkéa Capital has a historical closeness to entrepreneurs and local ecosystems, including in the Defense sector, and pays particular attention to engaging with these actors to better understand their needs and support them in the long term.

• Several Initiatives Already Undertaken by the Group

These new actions extend the Group's historical commitment to the BITD.

In November 2024, Crédit Mutuel Arkéa renewed its partnership with the National Guard, initiated in 2019, to promote and support the civic engagement of its reservist employees.

The Group also signed, in August 2025, the "ProMilès" support and commitment manifesto, developed jointly in 2022 by the armed forces' general staff and MEDEF. This text aims to expand the circle of partner companies of the armed forces and pursues a dual objective: to encourage sustainable cooperation and strengthen national cohesion across all defense and security zones.

Furthermore, the Group formalized in January 2025 its "Excluded Weapons and Support for Defense" policy, contributing to the safety and security challenges of territories. This approach is based on the balance of two strong axes: the exclusion of certain weapons and support for national sovereignty issues. It is part of its sustainable finance strategy and complements its existing ESG evaluation and compliance mechanisms within the group, tailored to various businesses and sectors.

"The structuring of this new sector illustrates our willingness to go further by mobilizing all the group's expertise to sustainably support the enterprises of the French defense industry. We want to fully assume our role as a strategic partner of sovereignty actors.

We are convinced that sovereignty issues require concrete responses, embedded in the long term. Supporting these actors is both about strengthening the security of our territories, preparing for future transitions, and affirming the unique role of a cooperative bank committed to the common good.

We fully embrace this role of partner: because it is at the heart of our history, our territorial anchoring, and our cooperative status, and because one does not build a strong economy without a robust industrial fabric, nor without companies capable of investing, innovating, and projecting themselves sustainably."

Julien Carmona, President of Crédit Mutuel Arkéa and Crédit Mutuel de Bretagne

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