Russian metals producer Norilsk Nickel is looking to tap the syndication market for a US$1.5bn five-year pre-export finance facility.

Citi and Société Générale are acting as the mandated lead arrangers and bookrunners on the deal and will also coordinate the senior stage of the syndication.

The facility will be used for general corporate purposes, although a Norilsk spokesperson declined to comment on the specific use of the funds, when contacted by GTR.

This will be Norilsk’s first syndicated loan since closing its three-year US$1.5bn deal in 2008.

The 2008 facility was arranged and underwritten by Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ, Bayerische Hypo- und Vereinsbank, Calyon, ING, RBS, Societe Generale, Sumitomo Mitsui Finance Dublin, UniCredit HVB and WestLB.