Middle East Loans

Equate Group, the Kuwaiti petrochemical producer, has amended and extended its $1.9bn term loan and $1bn revolving credit facility, achieving a reduction in pricing and strong demand from international lenders.

Opec+, the oil producing countries’ cartel and their non-member oil producing allies, decided to cut oil production by 1.2m barrels a day, sending the Brent crude price up 5%. Market participants are evaluating the potential impacts on capital markets and international relations.

Loan bankers and market analysts are weighing up the implications of Qatar's shock announcement on Monday that it would leave the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries in January after 57 years of membership, writes Mariam Meskin.

Saudi Electricity Co has closed a $2.15bn revolving credit facility after months of talks, as bankers concede that banks are "unlikely to turn the tap off" on Saudi deals amid international political upheaval.

High hopes for a bumper corporate finance year in Saudi Arabia have been dashed by the pulled Aramco IPO, the blockade of Qatar and the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, writes David Rothnie.

A Russia euro-denominated bond has taken investors by surprise this week, as emerging markets issuers seem to be taking their last gasps in the bond market this year.

Saudi Arabia is mired in international controversy but its national energy company, Saudi Aramco, is said to have been sounding out the syndicated loan market for a deal to finance a $5bn petrochemicals plant. With even larger deals on the horizon, lenders appear to be supportive of the borrower despite the highly charged political situation. Mariam Meskin reports.

Dubai Aerospace Enterprise, the aircraft lessor 96% owned by state-controlled Investment Corp of Dubai, has closed a $720m loan with an international, rather than regional, syndicate, as Gulf borrowers continue to pivot away from local financing.

Bahrain-headquartered Gulf International Bank has successfully increased and closed a $500m loan, the bank announced on Wednesday.

UAE-based Bin Butti International Holdings has launched its debut syndicated loan to refinance existing debt worth $500m.

Despite commodity catastrophes and diplomatic discord, the Gulf is set to be one of the most promising regions for the syndicated loan market in coming years, with a number of projects in the pipeline and governments seeking to modernise their economies by diversifying their funding sources. Banks seeking long-term returns and future ancillary business should pay close attention.

Abu Dhabi’s sovereign wealth fund, Mubadala, is targeting the loan market to refinance a $1.75bn facility, amid a busy end-of-year period for the holding company in terms of funding activity.