Bahrain-based Gulf Finance House said yesterday it is seeking to defer payment of a third of a $300m loan due next week. 'Gulf Finance House ... confirms that it has been in discussions with members of the WestLB syndicate to extend only $100m of its $300m facility for a period of six months," it said in a statement, adding it proposes to pay $200m on Feb. 10 when the loan comes due, reported Reuters.