Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group

Commodities company Trafigura has closed its annual dual-tranche borrowing, increasing the deal from $1bn-equivalent to around $1.5bn.

The fourth quarter began on a rocky note for global equities but the US high grade bond market has shrugged off concerns about stalling growth and issuance conditions remain strong.

India’s PNB Housing Finance is breaking a five-year absence from the loan market, launching a new $75m deal into syndication.

Commodities company Mercuria has returned for its annual outing to the syndicated loan market, and is seeking $1bn from a four-tranche borrowing.

SMBC has made two additions to its London desk for syndication origination in structured finance.

Ghana Cocoa Board (Cocobod) has closed its annual refinancing, securing a $1.3bn facility from a range of international lenders. The facility, Cocobod's second international borrowing this year, has tighter margins than last year's round, illustrating a healthy appetite for one of Africa's most frequent borrowers.

Lagos-headquartered Africa Finance Corporation (AFC) has debuted in the Samurai loan market, raising a $150m-equivalent loan from a consortium of Japanese lenders. The deal is one of two Samurai loans signed by African borrowers in recent weeks.

Freeport Indonesia, a mining company that was acquired by Asahan Aluminium (Inalum) last year, is in talks with 10 banks for a $3bn term loan for its capital expenditure.

Housing Development Finance Corp has made a quick return to the syndicated loan market for a $200m borrowing, five months after it sealed a Samurai loan.

ING's Turkish arm, ING Bank AS, has raised a $309m-equivalent trade finance loan from international lenders. The deal is a precursor to the year's second round of Turkish bank refinances, expected to begin in the next month.

The UK’s Foresight Solar Fund has signed a £245m bank financing package, as lenders to smaller companies say that they might hit record lending levels this year despite sharply pared down volumes elsewhere.

China Lesso Group Holding has launched a $900m four year borrowing into general syndication.