CEE Bonds

Equity and debt markets were fretting on Thursday over the implications of new US sanctions against Russia. A prohibition of US investment in Russian sovereign bonds marked an escalation in tensions, threatening sovereign borrowing costs. It could also damage Russian companies’ chances of funding in the capital markets, write Mariam Meskin and Sam Kerr.

Ukraine is once more at the forefront of emerging market investors' worries as military tensions with Russia escalate. Amid the uncertainty, Ukraine is fighting another uphill battle to access IMF funding in order to recover its economy as soon as possible. The governor of the National Bank of Ukraine, Kyrylo Shevchenko, spoke to GlobalCapital about the challenges the country is facing and the importance of central bank independence.

Trans-Oil Group, a Moldova agriculture company, was in the market on Wednesday for a dollar bond. The issuer has a rocky history in debt markets, following a failed attempt at a debut bond in 2018.

The Slovak Republic entered bond markets on Wednesday, seeking to sell a bond in euros. Though volatility in global markets has dampened primary markets in CEEMEA, emerging European sovereigns have continued to tap investors this year.

Georgia is returning to the bond market after its existing dollar notes matured just days ago.

Sovcomflot, the shipping company majority-owned by the Russian state, is planning to enter the debt capital markets. But the dollar bond mandate comes at a tricky time as military escalation between Russia and Ukraine has caused investor confidence of assets on both sides to fall.

Slovakian lender Tatra Banka is hoping to launch its debut green bond in euros this week, with deal arrangers urging rare issuers to take advantage of quieter markets in the run-up to results season.

Romania this week returned to the international debt markets to issue euro-denominated bonds.

Mobile TeleSystems, Russia’s largest mobile operator, has sold a social bond in roubles, as it became the latest major Russian corporate to foray into ESG financing. The issuer has not ruled out a return to international markets, although in recent years it has pivoted towards domestic funding.

Play, the Polish mobile network operator, has raised a syndicated loan from European banks, according to sources, while total volumes from central and eastern Europe’s biggest economies have been low so far this year.

Confidence in Turkish assets hit fresh lows this week as investors struggled to digest a fresh wave of volatility after its central bank governor was sacked following an interest rate hike. With government and bank funding needs to be met in the international market, the Central Bank of the Republic of Turkey has a big job on its hands in regaining investor confidence — though some say the damage has already been done.

Belfius cancelled a consent solicitation for one of its tier two bonds this week after the Single Resolution Board took the market by surprise and broadened the scope of its grandfathering period for ‘Brexit bonds’.