Latin America

Frigorífico Concepción, the Paraguayan beef exporter, could return to bond markets this week with a tap of its 10.25% senior secured notes maturing in January 2025.

As even the IMF asks Mexico to spend more to prop up the economy during the Covid-19 crisis, deputy finance minister Gabriel Yorio denied accusations that the country’s forthcoming budget was austere. Despite concerns in the market about the lack of policy support for the economy, some investors see value in the country’s bonds.

Latin America’s bond bankers said that the primary markets remain open, but investors will see limited new paper after Petrobras sold its smallest bond in several years this week.

Brazilian state-owned oil company Petrobras returned to bond markets on Tuesday as part of a debt reducing liability management exercise as the issuer continues to lower its bond outstandings.

Colombian natural gas distributor Promigas could return to bond markets a year after its debut as it mandated banks for a reopening of its 2029s.

The Argentine City of Córdoba on Monday said it was still negotiating with a creditor group holding “a significant amount” of its $150m international bond, but that it had not been able to reach an agreement before non-disclosure agreements expired.

Banco Hipotecario, the Argentine bank focussed on mortgage and consumer loans, will swap nearly 47% of its dollar bonds maturing on November 30 for new 2025s and cash. Fitch says it understands the central bank — which in September announced restrictions on hard currency debt refinancing — has approved the deal and that Hipotecario will be able to access a sufficient amount of dollars to carry out the swap.

Chilean copper mining company Antofagasta, the longest continuously listed company on the London Stock Exchange, clinched its first international bond on Thursday as Latin American bond markets continued their recovery from recent wobbles.

Mexican state-owned oil company Pemex offered a winning mix of liquidity and yield on Thursday when it made its first visit to the bond markets since January with a deal that was smaller and shorter in maturity than its usual offerings.

Chilean energy company Empresa Eléctrica Angamos will repurchase nearly 80% of its bonds due 2029 after achieving strong participation in a tender offer despite the complaints of one bondholder advocacy group.

The Commonwealth of the Bahamas set initial price thoughts on a new 12 year bond on Wednesday. The deal is set to test demand for riskier emerging market credit. Pricing is expected on Thursday.

Costa Rica’s bonds have fallen this week after the government cancelled a proposed tax hike that it was planning to bring to discussions with the IMF. The bonds could still be vulnerable as analysts say there remain questions over the viability of a programme with the Fund.