South America

Bolivia-headquartered multilateral lender Fonplata sold its first ever bond on Monday, raising Sfr150m ($150m) of five year money from Swiss investors.

Corporación Andina de Fomento (CAF) laminated its SSA membership card this week as it tightened pricing while equalling its largest ever dollar benchmark for size — despite political turmoil in one of its shareholders.

US sanctions have brought secondary markets in Venezuelan sovereign bonds and those of state oil company PDVSA to a standstill, leaving investors unable to trade. As a result, the bonds may be withdrawn from the JP Morgan Emerging Markets Bond Index.

Brazilian airline Gol found it difficult to prise its bonds out of investors’ hands with a tender offer in January, receiving only 14% take-up. CFO Richard Lark said it indicated investors’ positive sentiment towards Brazilian credit in general and Gol in particular.

Investors are waiting feverishly for regime change in Venezuela. With US sanctions having stopped trading in the sovereign bonds and those of state oil company PDVSA, investors are unable to alter their exposure to the country.

Corporación Andina de Fomento (CAF) may be playing it safe with its first dollar benchmark of the year, according to investors, amid uncertainty over the political future of Venezuela — one of its shareholders and the country in which it is headquartered.

Corporación Andina de Fomento (CAF) will break the silence of the public sector dollar market this week, after circulating initial price thoughts on Tuesday for its first benchmark of the year in the currency.

Latam Airlines returned to the bond market for the first time in almost two years, printing $600m of seven year paper.

Brazilian airline Gol Linhas Aéreas Inteligentes received just $13.46m of tenders for its outstanding 2022s after having launched a buy-back for all $91.533m.

Investor hopes that the US Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) would retract a ban on US persons buying PDVSA debt were dashed on Friday, when the department made the situation worse for bondholders by adding Venezuelan sovereign bonds to the trading ban.

Brazilian pulp and paper producer Suzano and Chilean copper producer Codelco got Latin American bond markets going this week with smooth dollar deals.

Brazilian lender BTG Pactual will hit the road next week as it looks to capitalise on improving investor sentiment around Brazil, in order to issue a 10 year non-call five Basel III compliant tier two note.