Dublin-based aviation finance company Avolon has secured $420 million through its first Samurai loan facility, announced on March 4, 2026. This marks the largest debut Samurai issuance by a European company and Avolon’s initial non-U.S. dollar borrowing.
The dual-tranche, five-year unsecured facility comprises approximately $346 million and ¥11.7 billion (about $75 million). A Samurai loan is a cross-border syndicated loan structured and distributed in Japan’s domestic market. The transaction involved a 12-bank syndicate, including nine new partners, all Japanese banks or international banks with Tokyo branches. Mandated lead arrangers and bookrunners were Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group (MUFG), Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Bank (SMTB), and Development Bank of Japan (DBJ), with MUFG as agent.
Strong lender demand underscored the appeal of unsecured aviation leasing debt. This facility contributes to Avolon’s $1.9 billion in new unsecured funding in Q1 2026, including $1.5 billion in senior unsecured notes priced February 18, 2026.
Avolon, headquartered in Ireland, manages an owned, managed, and committed fleet of 1,132 aircraft as of December 31, 2025, serving 139 airlines across 61 countries. The company focuses on young, fuel-efficient aircraft to support airline fleet renewal and growth.
“This inaugural Samurai Facility further diversifies our capital base and expands our global banking relationships through the addition of new institutional lenders,” stated Ross O’Connor, Avolon CFO. “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.”