South America

Tecnoglass, the Colombian window manufacturer, may sell dollar bonds this week just two months after it postponed its initial issuance plans after Donald Trump’s US election victory.

Argentina could not wish for better market conditions as it prepares its crucial first bond of 2017, said Lat Am bankers this week. After many sleepless nights for DCM bankers pitching the deal, the South American sovereign on Wednesday mandated bookrunners, writes Oliver West.

Brazilian state-owned oil company Petrobras cemented its popularity as an improving credit story with a hugely oversubscribed $4bn new issue that flew above par in secondary markets, triggering a great week for Lat Am new issues and reiterating the renewed optimism around Latin America’s largest economy.

Investors saw Brazilian pulp and paper company Fibria Celulose’s new 10 year green bond pricing very tight to its existing curve, despite the company having to remove controversial covenant language after it proved unpopular with investors.

Four private sector corporates from Latin America sold dollar denominated bonds this week, although borrower-friendly market conditions were not enough to allow the issuers to get away with more aggressive covenant language.

Both of Petrobras’ new benchmark bonds traded up more than a point the day after pricing as bankers said the level of demand for the deal would have allowed the company to print even more than the $4bn it managed on Monday.

Bond bankers were struggling to remember a time when a single-B credit had provided the first LatAm deal of the year, but Petrobras’ new issue succeeded in blowing the market wide open as borrowers line up to raise funding.

BRF, the Brazilian food conglomerate, has confirmed that it is considering London for an IPO of its halal food business, although a final decision has not been made.

Petrobras has opened books on the first non-Asian emerging markets bond of the year, and is marketing a four-tranche dollar bond.

Fast growing Argentine energy company Pampa Energía will begin investor meetings on Tuesday as it plans a much anticipated debut bond sale to refinance loans used to purchase Petrobras’ Argentine operations last year.

Venezuela’s surprise issuance of $5bn of 20 year bonds in a private placement sold this week to state-owned Banco de Venezuela had no obvious explanation, said bond market participants.

Pulp and paper producer Fibria Celulose is looking to become the second Brazilian company in the sector to issue green bonds after mandating five banks to manage an investor roadshow.