Natwest Hires Credit Suisse Executive To Boost Syndicated Lending

Continuing to build the syndicated loan arm of its acquisition finance group, Natwest Markets hired William "Will" Ziglar as a vice president from Credit Suisse First Boston this week.

Mr. Ziglar, 33, will work in loan sales, trading, and structuring. He will report to David Knowlton, managing director and head of acquisition finance at Gleacher Natwest, the investment banking arm of London-based Natwest Group.

At Credit Suisse, Mr. Ziglar worked on leveraged financings for prominent buyout firms, including Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. and Hicks, Muse, Tate & Furst. "Will has demonstrated a high degree of competence in service to investors; he is well respected in the bank syndicate market," said Mr. Knowlton.

In April Natwest hired Edward Weld, 33, from Credit Suisse First Boston's Clipper Group, and Stephanie Warner-Grise, 28, from Chase Securities Inc. as vice presidents in the acquisition finance group.

The group now includes 28 people and is expected to make additional senior appointments this year. Another high-level hire is expected to be announced next week.

Natwest ranked 18th in the first quarter on agent-only investment syndication league tables, with more than $4.4 billion in volume on just four deals, according to Loan Pricing Corp.

This year Natwest has lost three members of its loan syndication team to Smith Barney, including former head of syndications Glenn Marchak, who left in March to head Smith Barney's group. Caesar Wyszomirski and David Wirdnam, both vice presidents, followed Mr. Marchak in May.

-Omri Ben-Amos

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CIBC Wood Gundy has named M. Elizabeth Byck as managing director and head of its global asset-based finance group.

The unit, part of the structured finance group, manages CIBC Wood Gundy's structured finance and advisory business, including large leveraged lease transactions in Canada and the United States. The global asset unit also advises and arranges transactions for groups interested in equipment leasing.

CIBC Wood Gundy is a subsidiary of Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce.

Michael J. Neilson, managing director and head of the structured finance group, said he foresees no change in course under Ms. Byck.

The group will continue to focus on three industries: transportation equipment, such as aircraft; telecommunications equipment; and rural or regional transportation equipment.

Rural transportation, such as light trains, is the newest arena for the group, which it entered about a year and a half ago.

"That has been a very good success story for us," Mr. Neilson said. "We have been doing quite a bit of rail stocks transportation equipment for the large metropolitan municipals across the country."

Ms. Byck will head the 22-person team, which will be spread across New York, San Francisco, London, Singapore, and Toronto. Ms. Byck is based in New York and reports to Mr. Neilson.

Ms. Byck joined CIBC in 1979. Before this appointment, she served as managing director in the bank's taxation and leasing departments.

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