Almanij
Encyclopedia
Almanij, meaning Algemene Maatschappij voor Nijverheidskrediet was a Belgian
holding
active in financial services
. It is since March 2005 part of the KBC Group.
Algemeene Bankvereeniging, a Belgian bank founded by the Leuvense Volksbank (Leuven
) in Antwerp in 1921. This was done in order to regroup its industrial holdings in Belgium and Hungary
. In 1935, the Middenkredietkas went nearly bankrupt due to the economic crisis, which lead to the establishment of the Kredietbank of which Almanij became a shareholder. The Catholic
Boerenbond (E: Belgian Farmers’ Union) created its own network of savings banks: CERA instead of relying on the Middenkredietkas, which was closely related to the Algemeene Bankvereeniging. In 1949 the Kredietbank Luxembourgeoise was founded in Luxembourg
, which specialized in private banking
.
In 1997 Almanij gained control of Gevaert, an investment company created in 1981 by Andre Leysen
to manage the proceeds of the sale
of Agfa-Gevaert to the German company, Bayer
. Almanij acquired all shares of Gevaert in 2002. In 1998 Kredietbank Group with CERA Bank and Assurantiën Belgische Boerenbond (E:ABB-insurance) merged into KBC Bank and Insurance Group. In 2004 all activities outside the KBC and KBL groups were transferred to Gevaert.
In 2005, Almanij ceased to exist as a separate entity when it merged with KBC to form the KBC Group.
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
holding
Holding company
A holding company is a company or firm that owns other companies' outstanding stock. It usually refers to a company which does not produce goods or services itself; rather, its purpose is to own shares of other companies. Holding companies allow the reduction of risk for the owners and can allow...
active in financial services
Financial services
Financial services refer to services provided by the finance industry. The finance industry encompasses a broad range of organizations that deal with the management of money. Among these organizations are credit unions, banks, credit card companies, insurance companies, consumer finance companies,...
. It is since March 2005 part of the KBC Group.
Structure
The Almanij group consisted of four companies:- Gevaert NV (investment company which owns 27,2% of Agfa-GevaertAgfa-GevaertAgfa-Gevaert N.V. is a European multinational corporation that develops, manufactures, and distributes analogue and digital imaging products and systems, as well as IT solutions. The company has three divisions. Agfa Graphics offers integrated prepress and industrial inkjet systems to the...
) (Almanij 100%) - Almafin (Almanij 100%)
- KBC BankKBC BankKBC Bank N.V. is a Belgian universal multi-channel bank, focusing on private clients and small and medium-sized enterprises. Besides retail banking, insurance and asset management activities , KBC is active in European debt capital markets, domestic cash equity markets and in the field of corporate...
(Almanij 69,18%) - Kredietbank Luxembourgeoise (KBL) (Almanij 78,60%)
History
Almanij was incorporated in 1931 as an initiative of the CatholicRoman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
Algemeene Bankvereeniging, a Belgian bank founded by the Leuvense Volksbank (Leuven
Leuven
Leuven is the capital of the province of Flemish Brabant in the Flemish Region, Belgium...
) in Antwerp in 1921. This was done in order to regroup its industrial holdings in Belgium and Hungary
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
. In 1935, the Middenkredietkas went nearly bankrupt due to the economic crisis, which lead to the establishment of the Kredietbank of which Almanij became a shareholder. The Catholic
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
Boerenbond (E: Belgian Farmers’ Union) created its own network of savings banks: CERA instead of relying on the Middenkredietkas, which was closely related to the Algemeene Bankvereeniging. In 1949 the Kredietbank Luxembourgeoise was founded in Luxembourg
Luxembourg
Luxembourg , officially the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg , is a landlocked country in western Europe, bordered by Belgium, France, and Germany. It has two principal regions: the Oesling in the North as part of the Ardennes massif, and the Gutland in the south...
, which specialized in private banking
Private banking
Private banking is banking, investment and other financial services provided by banks to private individuals investing sizable assets. The term "private" refers to the customer service being rendered on a more personal basis than in mass-market retail banking, usually via dedicated bank advisers...
.
In 1997 Almanij gained control of Gevaert, an investment company created in 1981 by Andre Leysen
André Leysen
André Leysen is a Belgian businessman. In 1951, he married Anne Ahlers, daughter of a shipping family from Bremen, Germany. Together they have four children: Bettina, Christian, Thomas, and Sabina...
to manage the proceeds of the sale
of Agfa-Gevaert to the German company, Bayer
Bayer
Bayer AG is a chemical and pharmaceutical company founded in Barmen , Germany in 1863. It is headquartered in Leverkusen, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany and well known for its original brand of aspirin.-History:...
. Almanij acquired all shares of Gevaert in 2002. In 1998 Kredietbank Group with CERA Bank and Assurantiën Belgische Boerenbond (E:ABB-insurance) merged into KBC Bank and Insurance Group. In 2004 all activities outside the KBC and KBL groups were transferred to Gevaert.
In 2005, Almanij ceased to exist as a separate entity when it merged with KBC to form the KBC Group.