Turkey

Sukuk stepped into the spotlight after JP Morgan decided to include Islamic bonds in its EM bond indices, but while eligibility will give the asset class a boost, it will be a while before the product is more broadly used.

Just over a month has passed since the attempted coup in Turkey. With a backlog of issuance from the country sitting in the pipeline, GlobalCapital discussed the investment case with four London-based fund managers.

Though many of Turkey’s borrowers are facing ratings downgrades, Turkish-Japanese tyre maker Brisa has raised $310m of loans from Japanese investors and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD).

Just over a month has passed since the attempted coup in Turkey. With a backlog of issuance from the country sitting in the pipeline, GlobalCapital discussed the investment case with four London-based fund managers.

Appetite for the longer-dated tranche in Akbank’s refinancing was so low that the deal shrunk by more than two thirds and only received commitments in euros. The one year piece was about the same size, however.

Korea Development Bank, one of the two co-ordinating banks for Akbank’s loan, stepped away from the mandate last week, it has been revealed, after the attempted military coup left the borrower facing a rating downgrade into junk territory.

Akbank will widen the margin on its loan by 25bp if the bank is downgraded. The move is a condition the bank’s relationship lenders required after the attempted coup in Turkey on July 15. While Burgan Bank this week avoided a similar clause, other Turkish banks will likely have to accept them.

Last Friday, Turkey managed to cling on to its investment grade status after Moody’s left its credit rating on hold. But with selling pushing the sovereign wider than several countries with lower ratings, bankers and investors are questioning where the money has been moved to.

Burgan Bank Turkey has signed a $150m one year loan which does not include a margin flex if the bank is downgraded. The signing comes as the country’s larger banks face increasing calls to write in such clauses in case of rating changes.

Akbank will widen the margin on its loan by 25bp if the bank is downgraded, a condition the bank’s relationship lenders called for after Turkey’s attempted coup on July 15. But two lenders said the step-up should be bigger.

CEEMEA primary markets have finally become a victim of the summer heat but there’s no snoozing on the beach for syndicate bankers. Planning for the second half of the year has already started in earnest.

A third Turkish bank has returned to the MTN market, joining Vakifbank and Yapi Kredi with a short dated private placement as prices approach the levels they held before the failed military coup on July 15.