French-Belgian bank Dexia SA (DEXB.BT), a specialist in financing large government projects, said Tuesday a EUR138 million fine by a Slovakian court on one of its units won't affect operations.

"Dexia will appeal against this judgment as it considers the claim as groundless," the company said in a statement. "In any case, this judgment has no impact on the daily operations" of Dexia Banka Slovensko (PKB.BS), or DBS, Dexia's Slovakian unit, it said.

The lender said the fine by the first-instance court stems from a professional client's complaint dating back to 2008.

-By Alessandro Torello, Dow Jones Newswires; +32 2 741 14 88; alessandro.torello@dowjones.com