LatAm Bonds

Two Latin American sovereigns priced dollar deals on Wednesday in what some were interpreting as a rush to beat possible volatility surrounding Donald Trump’s inauguration as US president on Friday. But if markets are worried about what’s round the corner, they’re yet to show it.

Sovereign issuers may have grabbed the headlines in Lat Am bonds on Wednesday, but the operator of Santiago’s metro system was certainly able to attract enough investor attention as it raised $500m of funding on Wednesday.

Argentine energy company Pampa Energía clinched pricing that was “very competitive” versus peers on its debut bond issue, said EM syndicate bankers, as borrower-friendly conditions showed no sign of fading ahead of Argentina’s crucial sovereign bond issue on Thursday.

Belize is asking bondholders to allow it to delay the amortisation of and reduce the coupon rate on its $526.5m 2038 bond in what the country’s financial secretary said would be the “mildest adjustment” to the notes that could make them “sustainable”.

All seven new issues to emerge from Latin America last week ended Friday above their respective reoffer prices to reiterate the favourable conditions available to the region’s borrowers.

Tecnoglass, the Colombian window manufacturer, may sell dollar bonds this week just two months after it postponed its initial issuance plans after Donald Trump’s US election victory.

Argentina could not wish for better market conditions as it prepares its crucial first bond of 2017, said Lat Am bankers this week. After many sleepless nights for DCM bankers pitching the deal, the South American sovereign on Wednesday mandated bookrunners, writes Oliver West.

Brazilian state-owned oil company Petrobras cemented its popularity as an improving credit story with a hugely oversubscribed $4bn new issue that flew above par in secondary markets, triggering a great week for Lat Am new issues and reiterating the renewed optimism around Latin America’s largest economy.

Honduras’s first bond issue in more than three years capped a roaring week for Latin American primary markets, with seven borrowers raising more than $7.5bn between them, when the issue was priced with a negative new issue premium.

Investors saw Brazilian pulp and paper company Fibria Celulose’s new 10 year green bond pricing very tight to its existing curve, despite the company having to remove controversial covenant language after it proved unpopular with investors.

Four private sector corporates from Latin America sold dollar denominated bonds this week, although borrower-friendly market conditions were not enough to allow the issuers to get away with more aggressive covenant language.

The Republic of Ecuador’s thirst for new debt shows no sign of being quenched as the South American nation raised $1bn of bonds on Tuesday.