Africa Bonds

IHS Nigeria printed the largest ever deal from an African sub-investment grade issuer on Wednesday, raising $800m with a five year non-call two. The deal is testimony to Africa’s improving infrastructure scene, and sets a strong tone for Access Bank, which finished roadshows this week.

IHS Nigeria printed the largest ever deal from an African sub-investment grade issuer on Wednesday, raising $800m with a five year non-call two trade. The deal marks a success for Africa’s improving infrastructure story.

IHS Nigeria was on track to print its five year non-call deal on Tuesday having circulated initial price thoughts at mid-9% area.

The Republic of Namibia, which has outlined plans to issue around $5bn of loans and bonds over the next 10 years, is to undertake a non-deal roadshow with fixed income investors in the US and UK.

Kemi Adeosun, the finance minister of Nigeria, has attacked the “hypocrisy” of Western governments in stopping developing countries accessing development bank finance for coal power.

MTN Group, the South African telecoms company, priced $1bn of five and 10 year bonds on Wednesday in line with initial guidance that some investors said was generous.

South African telecoms company MTN finally emerged with a dual-tranche dollar deal on Wednesday morning more than three weeks after finishing investor meetings.

After a slow start to the week, emerging market investors were offered a smorgasbord of options as borrowers from four continents and across the credit spectrum launched bonds in dollars and euros.

After a turbulent summer, South Africa swept in for its biggest ever bond issue on Thursday, taking $3bn with a dual tranche 12 and 30 year bond. The deal was a yield hunters dream and proved that investors are willing to put aside concerns of an impending downgrade, and political infighting, for a decent return.

South Africa has opened books on a dual tranche 2028 and 2046 dollar bond after a turbulent summer and while the generous starting price is likely to generate momentum in the book, fears of a downgrade overhang the transaction with one investor telling GlobalCapital he saw better value elsewhere.

The cheerful and businesslike mood in European equity capital markets, despite clear risks of volatility in the offing, was highlighted again today by the launch of a €2.5bn capital raising by Steinhoff, the South African retail group.

After a two year absence from the capital markets, two Nigerian corporate issuers are lining up to test investor demand for sub-Saharan Africa high yield credit.