Natixis sells new shares at 61 percent discount

France's No. 4 bank said it was offering new shares for 2.25 euros ($3.25), compared with Wednesday's closing price of 5.84 euros ($8.43). Thirteen new shares will be issued for each 10 existing shares.

The Banque Federale des Banques Populaires and Caisse Nationale des Caisses d'Epargne--the two banks which created Natixis in 2006 and which jointly own 69.8 percent--have agreed to subscribe for new shares to maintain their stakes, Natixis said.

The remainder of the offering will be underwritten by a group of banks.

Last week, Paris-based Natixis reported a second-quarter loss of 1.02 billion euros ($1.51 billion), compared with a profit of 1.01 billion euros a year earlier.

Larger French rivals Credit Agricole SA and Societe Generale SA have also tapped the market for additional funds.