Subscribe for access:
Bank’s perspective on committing to projects: What has changed in the COVID- era? What are banks thinking from a lending perspective?
- Assessing market optimism and appetite for new financing: Where do banks see opportunities for growth in the next 6-12 months?
- Does the trend for refinancing in the loan market (versus the bond market) look set to continue? How has this changed banks’ flexibility to lend?
- What impact has price compression, increased tenors and liquidity had on banks’ willingness to lend to projects and how has this market shift impacted their ROI?
- To what extent can banks lend competitively on bigger ticketed deals in this new environment?
Moderator

Sara Pirzada

Managing Director, Loan Capital Markets at SMBC
Sara Pirzada recently joined SMBC as a Managing Director, heading the Latin America business for Loan Capital Markets in New York. Prior to her current position, Sara was a Managing Director at Mizuho Securities, heading Latin America as well as Americas Project Finance, for Loan Capital Markets. She has more than 20 years of broad experience executing debt financings for corporate, structured, and project finance transactions for the oil and gas, power, renewable energy, infrastructure, mining, and commodities sectors across the Americas. Prior to joining Mizuho, Sara was a Director at WestLB, where she spent more than ten years, and was involved in many high-profile transactions in the United States, Canada, Latin America, and the Caribbean. Previous to WestLB, Sara spent several years at JP Morgan in the investment banking division focusing on the oil and gas sector in the Americas. Sara holds an MBA and BSc. in Finance and International Business from New York University’s Stern School of Business.
SMBC

With over four centuries of history and rooted in the stability of Japan and growth of Asia, SMBC Group reaches out around the world to provide the advice, connections and support that create value. Our customers in Africa and MENA choose SMBC Group because we offer local knowledge and global expertise.
With one of the most extensive domestic and international branch networks of any Japanese bank, SMBC Group uses the strength of its extensive footprint with powerful capabilities in loan and debt capital markets, project and trade finance, and a wide range of other financial services to deliver customer-focused, integrated solutions.
African & MENA customers benefit from SMBC Group's position as a world leader in loan capital markets bookrunning and arranging of loan facilities, including structuring, pricing, advising, executing and distribution of syndicated loans. A specialist debt capital markets team can provide expert advice and execution in core markets for public and private bond issuance, and offer issuers with guidance through the process from structuring, documentation and legal requirements, to execution of relevant funding solutions and investor relations. Particular focus is dedicated to corporate and structured finance and emerging market benchmark transactions for distribution to an international investor audience.
Speakers

Michael Jakob

Managing Director, Global Emerging Markets Loan Syndication at Credit Suisse
Michael (“Michi”) Jakob is Head of Emerging Markets (ex Asia) Loan Syndicate at Credit Suisse, based in New York. He has over 25 years of experience in various loan syndication and lending functions globally.
Michael graduated with an MPhil from the University of Cambridge, UK and holds a BA (Hons) from Trent University, Canada.