Russia

Russian gold miner Nordgold and coal company Siberian Coal Energy Co (suek) signed syndicated loans in the week leading up to Vladimir Putin’s victory in the Russian general elections.

A book of $7.5bn suggests investors had few qualms about investing in Russia’s $4bn Eurobond, despite unusual clauses contained in the documentation, which has been designed to explicitly help wealthy Russians circumvent future sanctions.

Many equity investors are still keen on Russian equities, despite the growing political tension between the country and the UK.

International condemnation of Russia, which stands accused of poisoning Sergei Skripal and his daughter in the UK, has not stopped the country from forging ahead with plans to raise money in the Eurobond market. Russia had taken orders of $4.5bn and revised guidance for a new 11 year bond and a tap of its 2047s by Friday lunchtime.

Gazprom made full use of its newly regained fully investment grade status on Wednesday to raise a larger than indicated €750m, flat to its indicative curve. The deal is the issuer’s longest euro denominated bond to date.

Gazprom opened books on an eight year euro transaction on Wednesday, having recently regained three investment grade ratings for the first time in several years.

Gazprom has mandated five banks for a euro benchmark bond with a maturity between eight and 10 years.

Russian Copper Company has signed a $250m loan with a club of banks to refinance a previous facility.

Gazprom made its sixth appearance in the Swiss franc bond market on Wednesday, but for only the first time as an investment grade credit after S&P upgraded its rating. Institutional investors, which only buy bonds that are eligible for the Swiss Bond Index, piled into the transaction, pushing pricing down and the size up.

Emerging market bonds have been buoyed by several positives in key markets this week including a cabinet reshuffle in South Africa that has seen the return of respected former finance minister Nhlanhla Nene, and the upgrade of Russia to investment grade by S&P.

Russia’s return to investment grade status could unlock $2bn-$3bn of passive inflows, according to analysis by Goldman Sachs — though this is expected to result in a gradual grind, rather than a sudden snap tighter in spreads. Bankers said that credit committees may also consider lending to Russia again.

Gazprom is looking to enter the Swiss franc market for the fifth time, mandating four banks to arrange meetings for a benchmark bond. After Moody’s upgraded the Russian company to investment grade, the arrangers are particularly confident of Swiss interest.