Date:26/11/2005 URL: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2005/11/26/stories/2005112603390600.htm

Back Calyon Bank loan syndications at $2.5 b

Our Bureau

Bangalore , Nov. 25

FRENCH investment and corporate bank Calyon Bank has syndicated $2.5 billion of external commercial borrowings for domestic financial institutions and corporates in the first nine months of this year

Addressing reporters here on Friday, Mr Jeane Laurent, Chairman of the bank, said, "this will put us amongthe top three banks in loan syndications for India." Calyon Bank was created in 2004 after the merger of Credit Agricole Indosuez and the investment banking division of Credit Lyonnaise.

Mr Laurent said the bank also intended to get a substantial share of the aviation financing business.

This funding would be untied and would also be syndicated with the other funding agencies involved. He, however, declined to mention the names of the aviation companies that the bank would be funding.

The bank has just opened a branch in Bangalore city, its fifth branch in the country. Next month, it intended to open a Pune branch as well, he said.He ruled out any big retail presence in the Indian market at the moment. Instead, Mr Laurent said, "We intend being a long-term player in India."