Citigroup is looking to beef up its balance sheet synthetic structuring business in London as part of a global credit structuring reorganization. To this end, Olivier Renault, credit derivatives structurer in London, has turned his focus from structuring general synthetic assets to synthetic loan and balance sheet assets.
Most of Citi's synthetic balance sheet structuring has previously been done out of New York. The balance sheet structuring group--which consists of three in London and four in New York--falls under the synthetic structuring group, headed globally by Fred Chapey in New York.
Citi has a large pipeline of synthetic balance sheet collateralized loan obligations, including emerging market and European synthetic loan deals. It is launching new programs to hedge the firm's USD800 billion balance sheet, reduce concentration risk and provide regulatory capital relief. Citi is also teaming up with other banks to source balance sheet assets and distribute them via synthetic CLO programs.
