Finacom Investment House Limited of Guaramangia acted as advisor to the Imcopa Group in Brazil to obtain a two-year secured $50 million Export Prepayment Facility. This was Imcopa’s first approach to the international syndicated loan market and will finance, on a revolving basis, the warehousing and processing of non-GMO Brazilian soybeans, soy-meal and soy-oil for the crop 2004/2005 and 2005/2006.

Imcopa, founded in 1969, is the largest soy crusher of Paraná state, Brazil’s second largest soybean producer. Its current crushing capacity totals 1.8 million tons per year and represents a market share of over 15 per cent of the Paraná State exports.

On the advice of Finacom Investment House Limited, Imcopa Group, Brazil instructed HVB Group comprising Vereins–und Westbank AG and Bayerische Hypo-und Vereinsbank AG to act as mandated lead arrangers.

The deal raised more than $90 million during syndication, though bank commitments have been scaled back to $50 million due to the borrower’s reduced funding requirements

The international syndicate comprises Credit Suisse and HSH Nordbank AG as co-arrangers and Banque Cantonale Vaudoise, Dekabank Deutsche Girozentrale, and RZB Finance LLC as lead managers.

Finacom’s chief executive, Patrick Zrinzo, said: “The diverse lending group is proof of Finacom’s sound standing in the international debt markets, and Malta’s reputation as a serious financial centre.

The success of this loan refinancing demonstrates the continuing international banking confidence in

Finacom and its clients, and in the Brazilian economy. As one of the leading companies in this sector, Finacom is committed to expanding its resources and range of services to keep pace with the rapid transformation and business opportunities in Brazil’s booming economy.”