Africa

For the instrument to have a future, the process must be seen to have been fair

Ghana may request up to a 30% principal haircut from investors

Context and market conditions are always important when considering the merits of any new issue, but this was particularly the case in 2022, given how volatile markets were. Every CEEMEA issuer had to pay a high all-in price to get their deal away, and new issue premiums varied between issuers. EM issuers faced the toughest conditions in many years during 2022. The Russian invasion pushed investors to flee from riskier assets. The war had practical effects too: disruption to energy and food supplies sent inflation soaring and the resulting interest rate rises meant borrowing costs jumped sharply for CEEMEA issuers. New issue volumes dropped from 2021, particularly among CEEMEA corporates. By George Collard and Oliver West.

The hospital operator completed a €107.6m deal

After a calamitous year in EM bonds, market participants are wary of predicting how the next 12 months could play out. Few foresaw the war in Ukraine — and even fewer the Covid pandemic, which influenced volumes for the two previous years. But there is some hope of normalisation in 2023, as GlobalCapital’s poll of bankers and investors shows. By Francesca Young.

After a year of war, rate rises, inflation and political pressures on the CEEMEA region, fixed income markets have been badly shaken. Citi and JP Morgan’s vice-like grip on the top of the primary market league tables remains, though others have been forced to question their commitment to the emerging market bond markets. Francesca Young reports.

Outflows from EM bond funds are not far off the $100bn mark in 2022, writes George Collard.

Egypt would be the first B rated issuer to print a Panda bond

Egypt is mulling a Panda debut but its traditional investor base may also be receptive to a deal

African sovereign will exchange domestic bonds for new ones but no terms for Eurobonds yet

A proposal to reduce principal payments and freeze coupons could be beyond what is necessary

Sovereign will have to look outside of conventional bonds for cheaper funding