Latin America

The sustainability-linked bond market is about to get its second deal. Suzano, the Brazilian pulp and paper company, is preparing to bring a deal linked to its carbon emissions intensity, as foreshadowed by GlobalCapital in February.

Bond bankers covering Latin America say that they expect the September 7 Labor Day holiday in the US to herald the resumption of primary supply after only a handful of the region’s issuers tapped markets in August despite very strong conditions.

Martín Guzmán, Argentina’s finance minister, said on Monday that 93.5% of international bondholders had participated in the sovereign’s debt restructuring as he promised to deliver a budget by the middle of the month.

Colombian airline Avianca is confident it will be able to exit bankruptcy soon after the Colombian government said it would provide just over 30% of the new money required in the company’s proposed debtor-in-possession (DIP) financing — much to the shock of some politicians in the country.

Ecuador has passed the final hurdle on its way to completing the restructuring of its $17.4bn of international bonds after reaching an agreement on a new IMF programme.

Bond investors said Argentina’s formal approach to the International Monetary Fund this week was a positive, if expected, development, but that it was still very uncertain whether the government would keep to a moderate path.

A bumper order book allowed Mexican bottling company Coca-Cola Femsa to sell a debut green bond inside guidance and inside its own curve this week, as the green aspect of the deal further broadened the audience for a credit that already holds diverse appeal.

Coca-Cola Femsa, the world’s largest franchised Coca-Cola bottler, is preparing to sell a debut green bond that it says it will use to finance its transition towards low-carbon operations and minimise its exposure to environmental risks.

The Province of La Rioja said on Monday that, for the second time this year, it would take advantage of a 30-day grace period on a bond coupon payment to weigh up its options as it looks likely to become the latest regional government in Argentina to restructure its debt.

Argentine oil and gas company Compañía General de Combustible (CGC) has extended the early-bird deadline on an offer to swap its 2021s for 2025s, with 63.92% of the bondholders having already agreed to participate in the exchange.

The agreement on collective action clauses (CACs) reached by Argentina, Ecuador and their creditors is highly complex. But it is hugely encouraging that major investors are actively participating on an issue that is crucial to the health of the market.

Senior secured bondholders of Colombian airline Avianca could recover 45% of their principal if they provide debtor-in-possession (DIP) financing to the company, which has been in chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings since May.