Natixis CIB Expands in India with the Establishment of GIFT City Branch
Natixis Corporate & Investment Banking, (Natixis CIB) has announced that it has opened a branch in Gujarat International Finance Tec-City (GIFT City).
This marks a significant milestone in the bank’s long-term strategy to strengthen its presence in India and the wider Asia Pacific region. The GIFT City branch will enable Natixis CIB to drive growth, broaden international diversification, and enhance client servicing capabilities in India.
The branch will be led by Pranav Vyas, Head of Natixis IFSC Banking Unit (IBU), GIFT City. With over 23 years of banking experience, Pranav brings with him a wealth of expertise in building a successful entity in GIFT City. He has a deep knowledge of the Indian market and extensive experience expanding a business franchise in India. He reports to Sanjeev Kumar, Senior Country Manager, Singapore, and Head of South East and South Asia, Natixis CIB.
Bruno Le Saint, CEO, Asia Pacific & Middle East, Natixis CIB, said: “Establishing our new branch in GIFT City is an important step in delivering our Asia Pacific expansion strategy and deepening our regional presence. It reinforces our ability to serve key clients in this fast-growing and strategic market.”
Sanjeev Kumar, Senior Country Manager, Singapore, and Head of South East and South Asia Natixis CIB, added: “The new branch will focus on providing high-value, tailored financing solutions which will support Indian clients with global ambitions, whilst also connecting international clients with India’s vibrant and growing financial market. We are pleased to welcome Pranav Vyas as Head of Natixis IBU, GIFT City, who, as an experienced and strategic leader, will further strengthen the development of our India business.”
Natixis CIB’s branch in GIFT City offers foreign currency-denominated structured products and finance, spanning energy and commodities, infrastructure, aviation, and export financing which includes External Commercial Borrowings. It caters to corporate and institutional clients. In line with operational needs and regulatory frameworks, Natixis CIB plans to scale the branch in tandem with business growth.
Mohamed Kallala named Global Head of Natixis Corporate & Investment Banking businesses
Mohamed Kallala will be responsible for the Natixis Corporate & Investment Banking businesses, after acting as their Co-Head for more than two years. He will remain a member of the management committee of Groupe BPCE’s Global Financial Services division. The nomination will be effective on February 1st.
Stéphanie Paix, CEO in charge of the BPCE Group’s global businesses, stated: “The nomination of Mohamed Kallala testifies to the success of his actions to support Natixis Corporate & Investment Banking’s clients while controlling the volatility of our revenue profile in a very demanding economic and financial environment. I am fully confident in his ability and that of the Natixis Corporate & Investing Banking teams to successfully continue implementing the BPCE 2024 strategic plan, which he helped draw up, at the service of our clients and the Group.”
Mohamed Kallala’s biography
Mohamed Kallala began his career in 1993 as ALM trader at BNP Paribas before being nominated Head of Mergers & Acquisitions at Crédit Agricole Indosuez in 1995. In 2000, he founded Global Equities Corporate Finance and in 2005, joined Natixis as Head of Real Estate consulting activities. Mohamed was nominated Head of Real Estate Finance in 2010, and then Head of Global Investment Banking in 2016. In early 2020, Mohamed Kallala became Global Head of the Natixis Corporate & Investment Banking global markets business, before becoming its global Co-Head during the same year.
Natixis Corporate & Investment Banking and Natixis Wealth Management launch a green debt instrument and support the Institut Pasteur’s Explore program
Natixis Wealth Management has successfully marketed to its clients an investment product structured by Natixis Corporate & Investment Banking (Natixis CIB), to finance or refinance renewable energy projects and incorporating a donation to the Institut Pasteur.
The investment product, Opportunité Juin 2022, is a green debt security, structured by equity derivatives teams at Natixis CIB and eligible for life insurance policies, endowment contracts and securities accounts. Opportunité Juin 2022 offers an alternative investment to traditional dynamic equity products and is indexed to the performance of the French equity market via the CAC Large 60 Equal Weight Excess Return®. The recommended investment timeframe is 10 years. Opportunité Juin 2022 was marketed by Natixis Wealth Management between May 16th and June 17th, 2022.
Dynamic investment product to support the environmental transition…
Opportunité Juin 2022 addresses investor clients’ interest in products that support the environmental transition as amounts invested will be used to finance or refinance photovoltaic parks or hydraulic station projects, wind turbines, and the development of biomass, meeting stringent eligibility and traceability criteria that comply with the methodology approved by environmental rating agency VigeoEiris.
… and scientific progress by the Institut Pasteur
Opportunité Juin 2022 also incorporates a charitable dimension as Natixis CIB has made a donation to the lnstitut Pasteur – exempt of tax advantages – equating to 0.20% of the total securities invested. This donation will support the Institut Pasteur’s financing of its Explore research projects and fits within the broader partnership between Natixis CIB and the Institut Pasteur whereby Natixis CIB pledged to make a donation to the Institut Pasteur on structured issues.
“We are particularly proud to have designed this innovative structured product – Opportunité Juin 2022 – for Natixis Wealth Management’s clients, addressing the challenges raised by the environmental transition and incorporating a charitable dimension” states Mohamed Kallala, Co-Head of Natixis Corporate & Investment Banking.
“The successful marketing of Opportunité Juin 2022 with our clients reflects their increasing interest in responsible investment, which offers greater meaning and aligns with their personal convictions”, adds Audrey Koenig, CEO of Natixis Wealth Management.
“The Institut Pasteur derives more than a third of its resources from private donations. Support from companies and in particular those in the banking sector such as Natixis CIB, is crucial for us to continue our work and promote good health for all. With this partnership, the banking and financial community is committed to supporting innovative scientific projects that will lead to the breakthrough successes of the future. I am delighted and would like to thank Natixis CIB for this generous and original initiative to support our Explore program and its teams”, notes Antoine Bogaerts, Director, Department of Philanthropy at the Institut Pasteur.