Citi

The Islamic Republic of Pakistan met investors this week as it looks to return to the international bond market. But while the issuer’s fundamentals are improving, it will still have to work to win over investors, writes Isabella Zhong.

International Telecommunications Group Batelco is buying back $131.4m of its 2020 bonds, and expects to settle the transaction on Friday. The Bahraini issuer paid a decent premium for the tender offer, designed to use excess cash on its balance sheet, said a banker on the deal.

Digicel, the Caribbean telecoms company, will buy back over 70% of its 2018 bonds as part of a liability management exercise to be funded by last month’s bond issue. The company was aiming to redeem all the 2018s.

SSAB, the Swedish producer of high strength steel, is finishing investor meetings today (Wednesday) for a potential bond issue. It might launch a deal in the €300m range as early as Thursday.

Damac Real Estate Development has launched $650m of sukuk – more than the planned $500m – and set the deal well inside initial guidance.

Nigeria's Zenith Bank will start a roadshow on Thursday with Citi and Goldman Sachs for a 144A/Reg S senior unsecured dollar bond. It is likely to have a size of over $350m and a maturity of around five years.

Oil India is looking to issue its first bond in the dollar market as market conditions improve for Indian credits.

Latin American borrowers are rushing to the bond market to take advantage of strong new issue conditions. Four deals were printed on Tuesday. Bankers say there is no sign of indigestion yet as several companies line up potential debuts.

Astra Sedaya Finance has managed to more than double the size of its loan to $670m from the launch size of $330m, gathering a stellar response from lenders thanks to the company choosing to do a targeted syndication. The final deal size has surpassed that closed last year by sister company Federal International Finance, which used a similar strategy, with even bankers on the loan surprised by the tremendous market interest.

Sinopec Group Overseas Development has launched another jumbo bond into the dollar market, issuing up to five tranches, just six months after raising $2.75bn last October.

Shinhan Bank printed a $500m three year bond Wednesday night as a warm response from US investors helped the issuer to price tight to its comparables.

Lippo Karawaci is looking to make a return to the dollar market with an eight year offering as Indonesian names start to fill up the pipeline.