Russia

After a run of sovereign issuance, emerging market investors got their first taste of corporate paper since the Covid-19 coronavirus crisis struck bond markets.

Sovcombank, one of Russia’s largest privately owned banks, has kicked off a tender offer for two tranches of its debt, continuing a run of liability management exercises from its sector.

Russian commodity and metals companies are rethinking financing plans and talking to bankers about loans amid the drastic change in outlook due to Covid-19 and the oil price war. But bankers say borrowers insistent on pre-coronavirus terms on their deals must lower their expectations.

London-listed Russian steel firm Evraz has raised a syndicated loan with lenders honouring the pricing terms agreed before the outbreak of coronavirus that has wreaked havoc in markets.

Siberian Coal Energy Co (Suek) is seeking financing from lenders, according to two market sources. The borrower is braving lenders' wariness about coal companies, which last year weighed on demand for a Suek loan, and the global volatility caused by the spread of the Covid-19 virus.

The recent fall in the price of oil is having a knock-on effect on non-core currency issuance. While oil dependent markets could take a hit as their currencies weaken, some net importers could benefit from a stronger currency and safe haven flows.

Green deals from Hypo Vorarlberg and Russian Railways were sold in Swiss francs this week in what were immensely tricky conditions. The market was awash with deals in January and February, but many feel the spread of coronavirus will bring a halt to the momentum moving into March.

Rating: Ba1/BB/BB+

GTLK Europe, an air and sea vehicle lessor, has priced a seven year unsecured bond — its longest dated deal to date. It paid a premium to investors, but won praise for steering the transaction through a market that had recently been shuttered due to Covid-19 chaos.

GTLK Europe, an aircraft and ship lessor, was offering a healthy new issue premium for a benchmark seven year bond in dollars on Tuesday, with the Covid-19 outbreak still casting a shadow over global financial markets.

Syngenta, the Swiss agrichemicals company, on Tuesday sold its first Swiss franc bond since being acquired by China National Chemical Corp (ChemChina) in 2017. But other mandated deals hang in the balance as the Covid-19 coronavirus spreads across Europe.

Yandex, the Russian internet company, reopened the equity-linked bond primary market in EMEA after more than a month without any new issues, with a $1.25bn five year convertible bond. The deal was priced at the midpoint of the terms, suggesting healthy demand.