Brazil

International investors this week enthusiastically bought a $500m ‘sustainable transition bond’ issued by Marfrig, the second biggest Brazilian beef producer. The deal highlighted its efforts to make its supply chain more sustainable. But Greenpeace, the environmental NGO, argues it is impossible to be sure the supply chain does not include harmful practices.

Investors happily agreed to buy new senior secured debt from a Petrobras service provider at a healthy pick-up to the oil giant’s curve on Thursday, but a cancelled deal from Argentina suggested idyllic conditions for Lat Am issuers were slightly fading.

The latest idea captivating sustainable finance enthusiasts is transition bonds.

Marfrig Global Foods, the Brazilian beef producer, has stirred up the green finance market by issuing a $500m ‘sustainable transition bond’. To some, it is a template for a new asset class that can help finance the global economy’s shift to lower carbon emissions. To others, it is a shocking case of greenwashing. By Oliver West and Jon Hay.

Brazilian conglomerate Cosan will repurchase around 60% of its 2024s after wrapping up the early-bird stage of a tender offer.

Brazilian meatpacker Marfrig on Tuesday sold $500m of bonds that will be used to fund cattle purchases that meet its environmental and sustainable criteria.

Brazilian meatpacker Marfrig is looking to fund cattle purchases that meet its environmental and sustainability criteria through a debt sale that the company is describing as a “sustainable transition” bond.

Three Latin America companies sold new bonds to buy back old ones this week as investor appetite shows no sign of letting up.

Brazilian conglomerate Cosan returned to bond markets on Wednesday with a $750m 10 year non-call five year trade that bankers on the deal said landed close to fair value.

Brazilian airline Gol reopened its convertible bonds for a further $80m last week, taking advantage of a strong performance of its existing bonds and stock to achieve pricing that the CFO described as “fantastic” and leave the company in a position to continue its liability management.

Latin American borrowers continue to make up for lost time amid encouraging issuance conditions as debt capital markets bankers say a few more could sneak through to primary markets before the August break.

Petrobras will buy back $1.79bn of dollar bonds to go with the $639m-equivalent it spent repurchasing sterling and euro notes last week, but the Brazilian state-owned oil giant’s debt buy-back looks set to fall below the $3bn target on this occasion.