Brazil

Business services company Atento became the fourth Latin American credit in recent weeks to cancel borrowing plans on Friday, blaming “unfavourable” market conditions as it postponed a proposed liability management exercise.

Bond buyers welcomed Brazilian retailer Lojas Americanas to international markets for the first time on Tuesday — showing that there is still strong appetite for the right debut issuers despite two fellow Brazilian companies cancelling first-time deals in recent weeks.

After a second Latin American borrower in a week pulled plans to issue a bond, bankers are suddenly concerned that the region’s idyllic issuance conditions may be over. But with two infrequent corporates, a Colombian bank and a debut high yield name preparing deals, the extent of the deterioration should be clear soon.

FS Agrisolutions Indústria de Biocombustíveis, South America’s largest corn-based ethanol producer, delayed pricing its debut dollar bond on Wednesday as emerging market credits endured a volatile day.

Brazilian retail group Lojas Americanas began calls with investors on Wednesday as it looks to sell a benchmark dollar bond with an intermediate maturity.

A proposed debut bond from a Brazilian oil company that ratings agencies said had “high operating risk” and a “small” and concentrated asset base proved to be one step too far for the rampant EM bond market that is showing signs of nearing its peak.

Latin American business services company Atento began investor calls on Friday ahead of a proposed senior secured benchmark bond as it looks to refinance a $500m 2022 maturity.

Brazilian foods company BRF fetched a 10 times oversubscribed order book on its way to a 30-year benchmark on Wednesday as appetite for Latin American risk remains irrepressible.

South America’s largest corn-based ethanol producer, FS Agrisolutions Indústria de Biocombustíveis (FS), will look to become the latest Latin American borrower to sell a sustainability-themed bond as it proposes a green format for its international market debut.

Brazilian food company BRF is planning a new dollar bond to finance a buy-back of euro and dollar notes maturing between 2022 and 2026 as investors say the protein sector’s strong performance this year means conditions are ideal for liability management trades.

Last week’s flurry of new deals from Latin America were performing well on Friday as cash continues to flow into EM bond funds. The region looks well placed for a busy September of primary market activity, say bankers.

It is rare for one issuer to recognise another's bond issue, but Enel's chief financial officer went to the trouble on Friday of issuing a statement to commend the previous day's sustainability-linked bond issue by Suzano, the Brazilian pulp and paper company which is unaffiliated with Enel.