South America

The Latin America primary bond market was quiet this week thanks to dollar investors instead enjoying the US Independence Day holiday, but bankers say sentiment is at its strongest at least since January 2018 as several of the region’s issuers lined up roadshows.

Colombian utility Empresas Públicas de Medellín (EPM) will begin fixed-income investor meetings on Thursday and could issue dollar bonds for the first time in 10 years as part of a $1bn-equivalent deal to refinance debt.

Bond market participants in Argentina say that more issuers from the country could look to pre-empt election-related uncertainty and take advantage of benign fundraising conditions after Pampa Energía followed in YPF’s footsteps with a 10 year deal on Tuesday.

Bond investors will have a chance to give a further indication of their appetite for Argentine risk as Pampa Energía looks to follow in YPF’s steps and continue to reactivate the primary markets from the country.

Three Latin American issuers took advantage of decreasing rates in dollar markets to raise funding this week, and debt capital markets bankers say primary activity should continue to pick up.

Chile’s decision to issue a second green bond in two weeks with a 12 year euro transaction paid off in the shape of 64 first-time investors, as more Latin American issuers turn to green finance.

A pair of emerging market banks placed MTNs this week. In Australian dollars, Banco del Estado de Chile printed a 10 year note on Tuesday, while on Monday, Qatar National bank placed short end dollar paper.

Italian-owned solar energy company Ergon Peru is looking to raise a 15 year green bond in dollars and has earned top marks from Standard & Poor’s on its green evaluation, the rating agency said.

Chile may be an expensive buy for many EM investors, but the country’s status as the top-rated Latin American sovereign is making it attractive for environmental, social and governance-focused investors, said debt capital markets bankers, after the government sold its second green bond in two weeks.

South American development bank CAF (Corporación Andina de Fomento) has raised $140m of 10 year debt via a private placement that will be used to fund education projects, GlobalCapital understands.

State-owned Argentine oil and gas company YPF became the first borrower from the country to tap international bond markets in 14 months on Monday. Yet despite a healthy reception from investors, bankers do not expect copycat trades from other Argentine issuers.

Cielo, the largest merchant acquiring and payment processing company in Brazil, on Friday wrapped up a consent solicitation and bond buy-back for its global 2022s that will effectively split the note in two.