A new ternary intermetallic has been obtained in the Ce-Ni-As system, the composition of which is CeNi1.91As1.94 from X-ray single crystal structure determination. The structure is derived from the CaBe2Ge2 type with the following relations between the vectors a, b, and c of the cell and a0, b0, and c0 of the subcell: a = 2a0 - 2b0; b = 2a0 + 2b0 and c = 2c0 (V = 16 V0). The structure takes its origin from compositional and displacive mechanisms. The major structural modifications occur in the nickel-arsenic layers (two per cell) where the nickel atoms are in “square” pyramidal As sites. Moreover, the slight atomic displacements in these layers that develop in the ab plane, lead to As8 clusters, each formed by a central part As4 linked by four apical As ligands. These clusters constrain arsenic to adopt a valence state higher than -3 which in turn involves the lowering of the counterbalancing charge from the nickel substructure. The structure of CeNi1.91As1.94 is compared in details with that of the previously reported URh1.6As1.9.