CEE Bonds

Ukrainian poultry producer MHP was offering a chunky concession to its own curve on Thursday as it looks to push out its debt maturity profile with a new issue to finance a buy-back of its 2020s.

Russia’s new bond may well be an act of defiance from the government, but it was also a savvy move in the capital markets as pressure on the country increases. Russia must have been keen to show that it did not need to alter course for funding in the face of allegations that it has poisoned ex-spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter in the UK. But financially it was also a sensible move that helps to fund the country in the face of an escalation of the situation.

Ukrainian steel and mining company Metinvest is planning to buy back the complex secured bonds it issued as part of its $2.3bn debt restructuring last year, and will finance the move with a new dual tranche dollar offering.

A book of $7.5bn suggests investors had few qualms about investing in Russia’s $4bn Eurobond, despite unusual clauses contained in the documentation, which has been designed to explicitly help wealthy Russians circumvent future sanctions.

International condemnation of Russia, which stands accused of poisoning Sergei Skripal and his daughter in the UK, has not stopped the country from forging ahead with plans to raise money in the Eurobond market. Russia had taken orders of $4.5bn and revised guidance for a new 11 year bond and a tap of its 2047s by Friday lunchtime.

Credit Suisse has put two emerging markets DCM bankers at risk.

Two central and eastern European corporates announced euro trades on Friday, adding to a busy pipeline of emerging markets deals.

PKO Bank Hipoteczny may not have attracted the most overall demand in Thursday’s packed issuance window, but its covered bond was notable for having the highest spread and strongest subscription ratio of the five deals in the market.

Gazprom made full use of its newly regained fully investment grade status on Wednesday to raise a larger than indicated €750m, flat to its indicative curve. The deal is the issuer’s longest euro denominated bond to date.

The primary market was quiet on Wednesday, but activity looks set to improve as a trio of issuers from Poland and Germany mandated joint lead managers for benchmark covered bonds — to be issued in euros and sterling on Thursday.

Gazprom opened books on an eight year euro transaction on Wednesday, having recently regained three investment grade ratings for the first time in several years.

Hungary has priced its first Japanese yen deal in over a decade, achieving its lowest ever funding cost, as its love affair with Asian currencies for diversification continues.