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AS foreshadowed by Euroweek last week, the French government this week announced the resumption of the country's privatisation programme with the sale of minority stakes in France Télécom and Air France. The sale of 20% of France Télécom's equity capital -- to raise around Ffr40bn ($6bn) -- will be launched in around 10 days' time, just before the Italian government's $12bn sale of stock in Telecom Italia.

Angola Union Bank of Switzerland formally launched syndication of its high profile $400m oil contract prepayment finance facility for Sonangol at a well attended bankers presentation at the Ironmongers Hall in London on Tuesday.

ANZ Investment Bank is continuing the expansion of its global structured finance team with two senior appointments. Sinbad Coleridge is to become executive director of the division while Scott McInnis becomes head of project finance. Coleridge joins the bank from BZW where he was chairman and chief executive of the structured finance division. Before that he was with Barclays Bank, where he was deputy head of the corporate division responsible for relationship management with large international corporations.

THE Republic of Argentina will this morning (Friday) announce the results of its 30 year global bond exchange offer. The deal is not expected to match Venezuela's $4bn blockbuster in size, but will still be substantial at around $2bn to $3bn.

China The $30m fundraising for Fujian Industrial Bank has closed oversubscribed but was not increased.

* Bayerische Landesbank Girozentrale Rating: Aaa/AAA

* Landesbank Schleswig-Holstein Rating: Aa1/AAA (Moody's/IBCA)

THE REPUBLIC of Venezuela exceeded the market's wildest expectations this week by issuing a $4bn 30 year global bond in exchange for Brady debt -- the largest international fixed rate sovereign issue ever launched.

The BancAmerica Securities Inc led $200m US-CP facility renewal for CAF was signed on Wednesday. The 364 days at 20bp risk fee facility will be effective from September 17. Argentina

CHASE Investment Bank and Dresdner Bank Luxembourg SA have captured the highly prestigious mandate to arrange a debut $115m syndicated loan facility for core Anglo-American Group company Amcoal. The two arrangers, which have already been joined by Sumitomo Bank as a co-arranger, are syndicating the facility on a low profile basis among core Anglo-American relationship banks. Each has been asked to sign up for $10m.

* General Electric Capital Corp Rating: Aaa/AAA