Avolon announced the successful completion of its inaugural Samurai loan facility raising a total of US$420 million equivalent of unsecured financing from a consortium of Japanese and International banks. The dual tranche five-year facility comprises c. US$346 million and ¥11.7 billion (c. US$75 million), representing the largest and longest tenor debut Samurai issuance of a European issuer. The transaction also represents Avolon’s first non-USD borrowing. A Samurai loan facility is a cross-border syndicated loan structured and distributed in the Japanese loan market.
The financing attracted strong demand, and the 12-bank syndicate included nine new banking partners. All participating lenders are Japanese banks or international banks with Tokyo branches, underscoring the unique access provided by the Samurai loan structure and enabling further diversification of Avolon’s sources of capital. The transaction was arranged by MUFG, SMTB and DBJ acting as mandated lead arrangers and bookrunners. MUFG served as agent for the facility.
Avolon has successfully raised US$1.9 billion in new unsecured facilities so far in Q1, including the Samurai Facility and US$1.5 billion of senior unsecured notes announced on 18 February 2026.
Ross O’Connor, Avolon CFO, commented: “This inaugural Samurai Facility further diversifies our capital base and expands our global banking relationships through the addition of new institutional lenders. This transaction further demonstrates the strong global appetite for unsecured lending to aviation leasing companies and reflects confidence in Avolon’s performance and growth outlook.”
Stratos expands aircraft sales
Aircraft investment specialist Stratos has announced it has sold several aircraft in the past few months on behalf of various investor clients. The transactions include:
- 737-800 MSN39006 – which Stratos placed on lease with Sunexpress on behalf of a Japan-based equity investor as part of a complex Covid-related restructuring – was sold to a US institutional investor who retained Stratos as servicer for the aircraft.
- 777-300ER MSN32968 leased to Air France was sold on behalf of a Korea-based asset manager to a leading US-based private equity firm who retained Stratos as servicer for the aircraft and added sistership MSN 37433 to its serviced fleet.
- Four 777-300ERs leased to a leading middle eastern flag carrier including MSNs 39232 and 37896 which were sold to the operator on behalf of multiple Japan-based investors and ownership of MSNs 41740 and 43215 was transferred to a UK-based alternative investment firm on behalf of a leading Korea-based venture capital specialist.
Gary Fitzgerald, CEO of Stratos, said: “We are delighted to have successfully liquidated a number of large equity investments on behalf of our clients at an optimum time. These transactions reaffirm our team’s expertise in delivering attractive above-market returns to our various investor clients.”
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