LatAm Bonds

Just one day before a likely hard default on its $150m of 7.875% 2024s, Argentina's City of Córdoba on Wednesday asked bondholders to modify the payment terms according to a plan that already has the backing of Chilean asset management firm Moneda.

Chile, which in 2019 became the first Latin America sovereign to issue a green bond, is weighing up different thematic bonds as it makes its funding plans for 2021, according to a senior funding official.

Eye-watering bond yields on Argentina’s recently restructured sovereign bonds indicate that investors have little faith in its economic plans. That will make it hard for issuers and investors to see eye-to-eye in the wave of provincial debt restructuring talks that has followed the sovereign's deal with bondholders.

Chile's sovereign dollar bonds hardly budged in Monday trading despite its electorate voting to change the country's constitution the night before. But analysts believe uncertainty along the road to a new political agreement could harm investment, and the new constitution will likely drive up government spending.

Total Play Telecomunicaciones, the Mexican telecommunications company, is approaching international bond investors for the first time. With some EM investors saying they are ready for a pre-US election lull in bond issuance and mixed fortunes for recent new Latin America deals, it could provide a good test of the state of play in the region’s primary markets.

Suriname’s new government said on Thursday that it would not make a coupon payment due next Monday on its $550m of 9.25% 2026s as it prepares for restructuring discussions. But with the Surinamese economy capable of generating high levels of hard currency, the focus could be on liquidity relief rather than principal haircuts.

Two corporate deals on Monday and a tiny tap from a Paraguayan beef exporter on Wednesday were all investors had to choose from in Latin American primary bond markets this week as issuance remains light ahead of the US elections next month.

Brazilian oil company Petrobras this week announced it will spend $1.95bn on repurchasing existing bonds via a tender offer, as the rapid pace of its reduction continues.

A group of Neuquén’s bondholders swiftly rejected an improved debt restructuring offer this week, saying any reduction in interest payments on the Argentine province’s senior secured bonds cannot be justified.

Panama’s bonds traded lower on Wednesday, a day after Moody’s became the third agency to place the sovereign’s rating on negative outlook. Moody’s highlighted, however, that Panama’s broad bond market access remained a key credit strength.

Frigorífico Concepción, the Paraguayan beef exporter, raised $40m in bond markets on Wednesday after a three-day sales process.

Brazilian oil company Petrobras will continue the rapid reduction of its debt burden after completing a tender offer under which it will spend $1.95bn on repurchasing existing bonds.