<div>Australia's Perdaman Chemicals and Fertilisers sought to widen its legal battle against Lanco Infratech over a stalled coal-to-urea project by launching a A$3.5 billion damage claim against ICICI Bank, the lender to Lanco's Griffin Coal unit.</div><div> </div><div>Perdaman filed its application in federal court in Perth, Australia, on January 2, the company said in an email on 10 January' 2013.</div><div> </div><div>Lanco called Perdaman's move a "desperate attempt" and said ICICI Bank had no contractual relationship with the Australian company. It said the case has not yet been admitted by the court.</div><div> </div><div>Perdaman filed a lawsuit against Lanco in 2011 in the Supreme Court of Western Australia seeking compensation of A$3.5 billion for breach of a coal supply agreement. Lanco termed Perdaman's claims baseless and said in its statement on Thursday that it expected the case to be decided in its favour shortly.</div><div> </div><div>Shares of ICICI, India's No.2 lender, fell as much as 1.63 per cent in early trade in a flat Mumbai market. They pared losses to trade down 0.8 per cent, at 1,171 rupees at 8:13 GMT.</div><div> </div><div>A Bank of America-Merrill Lynch analyst said in a note to clients he did not expect the lawsuit to have "any material impact" on ICICI shares.</div><div> </div><div>ICICI officials declined to comment.</div><div> </div><div>Lanco Infratech acquired Griffin Coal Mining Co in 2011.<br /><br />(Reuters)<br /> </div>
