South America

The timing of Brazil’s return to bond markets last week was looking better by the day this week as the controversy surrounding the appointment and then suspension of former president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva to Dilma Rousseff’s cabinet brought volatility back to the curve.

Latin American euro denominated issuance looks here to stay, no matter the arguments made against it by US bankers, after Colombia sold its first bond in the single currency since 2001 on Wednesday.

Another blow to credibility in Brazil sent the sovereign’s bonds tumbling on Tuesday after former president, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva looked set to accept a ministerial position in Brazil’s government just a week after prosecutors requested his arrest as part of a corruption investigation.

Brazil’s emphatic return to international bond markets on Thursday was likely designed to encourage its non-sovereign issuers to the market, said Lat Am bond bankers, although some questioned whether these deals would materialise.

Votorantim Cimentos, the cement making arm of Brazilian conglomerate Votorantim SA, will buy back just €120m of its euro denominated bonds after most bondholders rejected the terms of a proposed tender offer. The company was hoping to buy back €350m.

Latin American debt bankers could not hide their delight on Wednesday evening after a remarkable day in new issue activity that included two heavily oversubscribed deals from high yield issuers that traded up in the grey.

The Province of Buenos Aires is likely to provide an early test of appetite for Argentine credit on Wednesday after completing a roadshow with Citi, HSBC and JP Morgan.

The arrest of former Brazilian president Lula da Silva gave new urgency to a strong rally in Brazilian bonds on Friday after the market appeared to take the detention as a sign that president Dilma Rousseff was closer to impeachment.

Latin America’s pain is Argentina’s gain. A torrid year for bond markets and economic struggles across the region have set the stage perfectly for Argentina — so long the sick man of Latin America — to return to international bond markets with an audacious trade.

Banco Santander Chile will buy back more bonds than originally planned after its tender offer was fully subscribed before the early tender deadline on March 1.

Colombia on Wednesday became the second Latin American issuer this week to announce a European roadshow, although the sovereign is understood to be still pondering over the currency of its next bond.

At least five Argentine provinces are considering tapping international bond markets this year, according to investors, with the Province of Buenos Aires likely to be first after announcing a roadshow on Wednesday.