VENTURE CAPITAL POST

General Electric Co. and Alstom have won contracts from India's state owned rail company worth a combined of $5.6 billion to supply and service diesel locomotives as the country works to modernise its infrastructure. The contracts are also the biggest deal to be awarded by India to foreign firms.

Bombardier Inc outlined plans to list a minority stake in its rail unit on Thursday, as it reported a quarterly profit that topped market expectations. The initial public offering is expected to take place in the fourth quarter and the main listing is likely to be in Germany, where its rail business is headquartered.

Bombardier Inc is exploring a possible sale of all or part of its railway business, which bankers value at up to $5 billion, among options to pay for huge cost overruns in its aircraft business, sources familiar with the matter said.

Ivory Coast's national carrier Air Cote d'Ivoire is in discussions with Airbus (AIR.PA) and Canada's Bombardier Inc (BBDb.TO) to renew its existing fleet and provide new aircraft for a planned expansion, the company's chief executive said.