Turkey

Akbank made a bullish return to the international syndicated loan market this week, going beyond its usual one year tenor refinancing, despite the recent difficulties Turkish borrowers have faced in obtaining longer dated loans. But the deal confirms that pricing levels have changed markedly in the past six months, said bankers.

Akbank has made a bullish return to the international syndicated loan market, going beyond its usual one year tenor refinancing, despite the difficulties Turkish borrowers have had recently in obtaining longer dated loans. But the deal confirms that pricing levels have changed markedly in the past six months, said bankers.

Turkey found itself firmly in junk territory on Friday after it lost its last investment grade rating from Fitch, but the issuer’s CDS has tightened in response and as Turkey’s blowout trade on January 18 attests, it always has the capability to fund.

Rating downgrades on Friday for Turkey sovereign debt have not dented the appetite of the country’s banks to borrow, with two firms said to be joining Akbank in pursuing loans.

Akbank plans to launch the first of its semi-annual one year refinancings early next week in the loan market’s first chance this year to gauge appetite for Turkish risk, but there is already a clear indication already that longer tenors will be challenging.

Akbank is set to provide the loan market’s first gauge this year of appetite for Turkish risk, with the bank said to have opened talks with lenders about the first of its two annual refinancings.

Rating: Ba1/BBB-

Typically an early mover in the race to fund, Turkey raised $2bn on Wednesday with an SEC-registered note maturing March 2027, a third of the total $6bn it plans to raise this year. But the sovereign has plenty of hurdles ahead, writes Virginia Furness.

The Republic of Turkey has surprised market participants by opening books on a 10 year dollar benchmark — but the 40bp-45bp new issue premium at the starting point hints at the elevated price investors will be demanding for Turkish risk.

Türkiye Vakıflar Bankası (Vakibank) is asking investors exchange its old style tier two bonds for new Basel III compliant notes, making it the second Turkish bank in as many weeks to turn to liability management to boost its capital.

Turkish borrowers face a tough year as security concerns about the country threaten access to a funding market that is already expected to suffer volatility. But bankers say it is business as usual in Turkey, and investors agree that Turkish spreads are still an attractive prospect.

Likely faced with an assault course of volatility inducing events this year, emerging market issuers will be keen to raise cash early before Brexit/Trump/rate rises/European elections (delete as appropriate) come to blight the market.