Briefs: BT Merchant Bank Eyes Emerging Markets

Bankers Trust New York Corp. has set up a separate merchant bank based in London for emerging markets.

The Emerging Europe, Middle East, and Africa Merchant Bank will focus on capital markets, local currency trading, finance, direct investment, and advisory activities in central and eastern Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, Bankers Trust said in a press release. Existing offices in the Czech Republic, Greece, Hungary, Poland, Turkey, Russia, South Africa, Bahrain, Egypt, and Israel will become part of the new bank.

Jay Pomrenze, senior managing director, was named head of the merchant bank. He will report to Yves de Balmann, chairman of Bankers Trust International and head of the bank's investment banking and risk management operations.

Bankers Trust said the move would regroup under a regional structure operations that had previously been managed along product lines. The banking company has been steadily expanding in emerging markets; arranging Eurobond issues, asset swaps, and structured transactions in areas such as project finance; and building up its operations in securities trading and distribution.

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