LatAm Bonds

Holding company Ultrapar, one of the five largest conglomerates in Brazil, planned to sell a new bond to finance existing debt on Wednesday into a market showing no consistent sense of direction.

Brazil’s Suzano tapped international bond investors for the fourth time since September on Tuesday, capitalising on a dearth of recent supply from Latin America and favourable sentiment towards the pulp and paper sector.

Mexican media company Televisa returned to dollar bond markets after a three and a half year hiatus on Tuesday and was able to increase the size of a planned trade despite offering minimal concession.

Gran Tierra Energy, the Canada-listed oil and gas company that mostly operates in Colombia, ventured into bond markets for the second time on Monday to sell $300m of debt at a pick-up to its existing notes.

Chile attracted more international investors than ever before into a local currency deal this week as it braved a volatile market to raise $1.5bn-equivalent of new money and a further $420m through an exchange of old bonds.

DCM bankers said they were sitting on mandates for Latin American bond issuers as another week of volatility in global markets kept the region’s primary markets quiet.

Chile raised around $1.5bn-equivalent of new peso debt on Wednesday in its fourth Euroclearable local currency deal.

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.

Colombian airline Avianca is taking longer than expected to refinance a $550m senior unsecured bond coming due in less than a year, triggering ratings agency S&P into cutting the borrower's credit rating, driving up the yield on the note.

Mexican state-owned oil company Petróleos Mexicanos (Pemex) was the highlight of a difficult start to the week for Latin American bonds. But though news of a new $8bn loan allowed it to outperform the market, analysts warned its troubles were far from over.

Gran Tierra Energy, the Canada-listed oil and gas company that mostly operates in Colombia, held investor meetings and calls on Friday as it plots its second-ever international bond deal.

Latin American bond bankers believe primary market activity will pick up next week after a volatile week led some banks to postpone previously scheduled mandate announcements.