...Strong, Diversified Company Profile: Groupe BPCE's (GBPCE) ratings reflect the group's strong and diversified company profile focused on French retail and commercial banking, fairly low risk appetite and sound asset quality as well as solid capitalisation and adequate liquidity. Cooperative Structure: GBPCE is a cooperative banking group bound by a legally established cross-support mechanism comprising 14 Banques Populaires (BPs), 15 Caisses d'Epargne et de Prevoyance (CEPs), its central body BPCE S.A. and many affiliates, the largest being Natixis S.A., Credit Foncier de France S.A. (CFF) and Banque Palatine S.A.. Fitch Ratings has the same Issuer Default Ratings (IDRs) for GBPCE, BPCE S.A., the regional banks, Natixis, CFF and Banque Palatine. Large French Banking Group: GBPCE mainly operates in France, where it is the second- largest player in retail and commercial banking. GBPCE has a universal bancassurance business model and a significant global franchise in asset management. The...