South America

A Brazilian high yield duo is set to test the Lat Am bond market’s appetite for risk next week as they plot two of the racier deals to emerge from the region this year.

Brazilian energy company Petrobras has returned to the loan market after a four year absence with a $1bn syndicated loan.

Brazilian engineering group Andrade Gutierrez has begun to reduce a looming bond maturity, which is concerning rating agencies, with a tender offer to be funded by cash.

Minas Gerais state power utility Cemig announced its second roadshow of the year the day after signing a R$4bn ($1.23bn) bank loan as it looks to improve its liquidity position via a renewed attempt to sell international bonds.

Bond investors will have more sub-sovereign supply from Argentina to enjoy next week after a new borrower announced issuance plans.

The banking arm of Brazilian conglomerate Votorantim will kick off investor meetings later this week ahead of a planned Basel III-compliant additional tier one (AT1) deal as Latin America DCM bankers say that more bank capital trades are on the way.

The City of Buenos Aires has sold a Ps7.1bn ($403m) domestic peso-denominated floating rate note to a mixture of international and local investors, according to bankers close to the deal.

Coupon payments on Venezuela, PDVSA and Electricidad de Caracas (Elecar) trickled in late this week, leaving markets feeling calmer after an unconstructive but scare-free meeting between the government and a small number of bondholders.

The Commonwealth of the Bahamas returned to bond markets for the first time in nearly four years on Tuesday with a tight deal that performed well in secondary.

Despite the end of the year fast approaching, and Venezuela’s debt saga challenging buy-side patience, investors have at least one more major test with Nigeria marketing the first sub-Saharan African 30 year sovereign bond away from South Africa.

Entre Ríos kept Argentine bond issuance ticking over on Tuesday with a $150m tap of its 8.75% 2025s first issued in February.

Those hoping that Monday would bring clarity to the confusion surrounding Venezuela’s debt situation were out of luck as a meeting between the government and some bondholders offered no clues as to the country’s strategy.