CEE Bonds

NLMK, the Russian steel producer, is likely to keep its approaching benchmark small and tightly priced, according to an investor who met with the borrower on Monday.

Russian Rail’s debut green Eurobond last week met with strong demand, but some investors had reservations about buying green bonds from a company owned by the Russian state and used to transport fossil fuels. Antonio Keglevich, UniCredit’s head of sustainability bond origination, responded to the criticism.

PKO Bank Hipoteczny has published its green covered bond framework which complies with the International Capital Market Association’s Green Bond Principles, the Climate Bonds Initiative’s standard for residential buildings and has a second party opinion from sustainability rating agency, Sustainalytics.

Slovenska Sporitelna is planning to market its first internationally syndicated Aaa-rated euro covered bond, which could be sold in benchmark size. The expected deal follows Slovak Vseobecna uverova banka’s (VUB) €500m five year which was one of the best performing trades this year.

Russian Railways launched the first international green bond from its home country on Thursday, a €500m eight year bond. While many emerging market investors were keen to look at the paper, despite the US considering a new round of Russian sanctions, several green investors disliked the company’s ESG enough to not participate.

The European Investment Bank (EIB) has moved its new Climate Awareness Bond (CAB) documentation beyond the eurozone with the sale of a Polish zloty bond to a single Japanese investor.

Ceske Drahy, the Czech national railway company, hit screens on Thursday announcing a euro benchmark, returning to the bond market for the first time in three years.

Books for Russian Railways’ eight year euro green bond had breached the €1.4bn mark by lunchtime on Wednesday, allowing leads to tighten pricing. A banker away from the note said the levels offered looked fair.

Nepi Rockcastle, a Johannesburg- and Amsterdam-listed real estate fund, printed a €500m four year bond on Wednesday. In doing so, it seemed to shake off concerns about the company raised by research firm Viceroy in November, though investors still had questions during the marketing of the bond.

Russian Railways has told investors that it is focusing on an eight year tenor for its euro green bond, with pricing for the benchmark expected "as early as tomorrow." The deal will be the first international green bond from the country.

Investors appear to be split over whether or not Turkey will follow through with its proposed purchase of a Russian S-400 missile system, in the face of likely sanctions from the US if it does.

Investors are clear that president Recep Tayyip Erdoğan is once again to blame for another tumultuous week in Turkish assets. The country’s fate in the capital markets is in his hands. Investors have been quick to forgive in the past but their patience is not infinite.