| "As of now there are no private equity funds in the country, but a couple of large business houses have shown interest in setting up such funds. We would be keen to take a stake in these entities," said C K Bhattacharya, managing director of SBI. |
| "We have tried our hands on equity funding through SBI Caps but have burnt our fingers because projects did not take off. SBI does not have the expertise to run a private equity fund; it is not our cup of tea. We would like to remain away from it. But given an opportunity we would take a stake in such funds if set up by other entities." |
| He was addressing a banking conclave in the city today organised by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry and the Indian Chamber of Commerce. |
| Although Bhattacharya declined to name the business houses intending to set up equity funds, sources close to the development said SBI has already entered into talks on this score. |
| Meanwhile, SBI hopes to sanction Rs 8,000 crore for project financing and expects to disburse around Rs 4,000 crore this year in the category. |
| If achieved this would be a 25 per cent growth over the previous fiscal. The bank has also firmed up plans of making its presence in the international arena felt in a big way and has also decided to open offices in Muscat, a third office in Bangladesh, in the Middle East, and one more each in Thailand and Korea. |
| Bhattacharya also said that the bank has targeted a 18 per cent growth in deposits mobilisation and a 16 per cent growth in credit disbursal this year. |
| On the retail front, he said, SBI was expecting a 30 per cent growth. |
| Talking on project financing, he said that SBI has developed the segment as a separate strategic business unit. |
| "We see huge opportunities in the petrochem, iron & steel, engineering, oil and coal products, petro products, natural gas segment, paper and paper board, hospitality and the health care segments," explained Bhattacharya. |
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