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|**BISNISHome PageSearchBISNISEmbassyReportsCountryReportsIndustryReportsPublicationsSourcesof FinanceLeadsand EventsExchangeRatesState ExportsOtherSources** |  | June 1997The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has launched its first
investment fund exclusively for  projects in Uzbekistan.  The ABN Amro Uzbekistan Post
Privatization Fund is capitalized with $34.7 million (ecu 30 million) from EBRD. The fund is
expected to have a total capital of $41.6 million (ecu 36 million), which will be augmented with
technical assistance from the European Union's TACIS Program.The fund's objective is to assist private and recently privatized enterprises to restructure and
modernize by providing equity finance and management and advisory support.  Investments will
range in size from $347,000 (ecu 300,000) to $3.47 million (ecu 3 million).  While investments
will not be limited to specific sectors, EBRD officials believe the fund has an important
opportunity to develop higher value-added products for markets in Uzbekistan and in neighboring
countries.The fund is being managed by a consortium of companies, including ABN Amro NV, Global
Securities Inc., and Sitrans Oy., which have committed to co-invest an initial $6.9 million (ecu 6
million). The fund's management office will be located in Tashkent. For more information,
contact Dean Peterson, U.S. Department of Commerce, Senior Commercial Officer at the
EBRD, in London at 011 44 (171) 338-6569 (voice), or 011 44 (171) 338-6487 (fax).This report is provided courtesy of the Business Information Service for the Newly
Independent States (BISNIS)