La Caisse d'Epargne, the French savings bank group and parent of Ixis, the investment bank and asset manager, is preparing to float about 25% of its capital, priming the French market for another multi billion euro initial public offering next year.

In an interview with French newspaper La Tribune, Charles Milhaud, group chairman, said a 25% float would allow existing regional bank shareholders to reduce their stakes, but said its Caisses d'Epargne parent banks would remain the majority shareholders with 51%.