Avolon raises US$420 million through its inaugural Samurai loan facility, marking the largest debut Samurai issuance by a European company and expanding its global funding sources.
Largest debut Samurai issuance by a European company
DUBLIN, 4 MARCH 2026 – Aviation finance company Avolon has completed its inaugural Samurai loan facility, raising the equivalent of US$420 million in unsecured financing from a consortium of Japanese and international banks.
The dual-tranche five-year facility comprises approximately US$346 million and ¥11.7 billion (approximately US$75 million). According to the company, the transaction represents the largest and longest-tenor debut Samurai issuance by a European issuer. It also marks Avolon’s first borrowing outside of US dollar-denominated financing.
A Samurai loan facility is a cross-border syndicated loan structured and distributed within the Japanese loan market.
FINANCING ATTRACTS STRONG BANK PARTICIPATION
The transaction attracted strong demand from lenders and resulted in a 12-bank syndicate that includes nine new banking partners. All participating lenders are either Japanese banks or international banks operating through Tokyo branches.
The company noted that the Samurai structure provided access to Japanese institutional capital and enabled further diversification of its funding sources.
The facility was arranged by MUFG, Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Bank and Development Bank of Japan, acting as mandated lead arrangers and bookrunners. MUFG also served as the agent for the facility.
PART OF BROADER Q1 FUNDING ACTIVITY
The Samurai facility forms part of Avolon’s broader funding activity during the first quarter of 2026. The company has raised US$1.9 billion in new unsecured financing so far this year, including the Samurai loan and US$1.5 billion in senior unsecured notes announced on 18 February 2026.
Ross O’Connor, Chief Financial Officer at Avolon, said the facility expands the company’s banking relationships and further diversifies its capital base.
He noted that the transaction reflects continued global demand for unsecured lending to aviation leasing companies and demonstrates lender confidence in the company’s performance and growth outlook.
ABOUT AVOLON
Avolon is a global aviation finance company that provides aircraft leasing and capital solutions to airlines. The company works with 139 airline customers across 61 countries.
As of 31 December 2025, Avolon reported an owned, managed and committed fleet of 1,132 aircraft.
Further information: https://www.avolon.aero/
SOURCE AND IMAGE: AVOLON AERO
