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Lehman Brothers has set up a $9.7 billion asset-backed CP facility backed by Abbey National's paper. James Peterson, at Lehman Brothers's short-term ABS origination department, says: "This is an extremely innovative conduit - it is the first totally synthetic conduit and is the first vehicle to take advantage of a variety of new technologies available to sponsors." He continues: "This conduit is unique for several reasons: first the credit exposures are all done via a credit default swap. Second ,because the proceeds from the issuance of commercial paper are held in cash instruments, there is no need for a liquidity facility. This makes the conduit sympathetic to the proposed changes to the Basle Accord. The third benefit is the funded credit enhancement in the form of rated notes that were sold to market." The paper was signed on January 18 and the dealers are Abbey National Treasury Services, Goldman Sachs and Lehman Brothers (also the arranger).

ABN Amro has underlined its confidence in the Asian semiconductor industry with the appointment of Eric Wang to the new position of head of client coverage for technology semiconductor firms in the region. Wang had been working in Taipei as head of global semiconductor research for ABN Amro equities. He has already moved to Hong Kong to take up his new role, at the level of senior vice president. The firm has yet to replace Wang in Taipei.

Dublin-based Anglo Irish Banks launched a Eu64m equity placing on Wednesday to provide cash for future acquisitions. Davy Stockbrokers lead managed the deal, which comprised 15.25m shares sold at Eu4.25 each, a discount of 2.8% on the previous day's close. The deal was four times oversubscribed and the stock rose to Eu4.45 later in the day as investors showed their enthusiasm for the bank.

Hong Kong The HK$4.5bn five year facility for Kerry Properties has been completed.

Uridashi * European Bank for Reconstruction & Development

Australia Lead arrangers ANZ Investment Bank, JP Morgan, National Australia Bank and National Bank of New Zealand have launched the A$850m acquisition financing for APN News & Media through special purpose company Biffin Pty.

Asia Pacific * Oracle Epsilon Funding

Banco Comercial Portugues has upped the limit off its Euro note programme to $8 billion from $6 billion. The programme was signed in 1998 via UBS Warburg.

Robert Lambert has joined BNP Paribas as head of US high yield trading in New York, arriving from SG where he spent the last 18 months of a six year stint as head of European high yield trading. At the same time, John Ong has been promoted to global head of high yield origination and capital markets, based in London, having performed the same role within BNP Paribas at a European level. Both report to Kathryn Swintek, global head of BNP Paribas' high yield group, who said of Lambert's appointment: "The head of high yield trading is a key position which leverages off our investment in research and sales. In the secondary markets, our strategy is to build the investor base and client flow."

The process of gauging market appetite and the beginnings of bookbuilding for the debt facilities supporting the Public Private Partnerships (PPP) for London Underground is under way. The two companies expecting to take over the concessions are Metronet and Tube Lines.