Chile

Crédit Agricole is opening representative offices in Colombia and Chile, the lender said on Monday, as its looks to improve strengthen client relationships in the countries.

Debt capital markets bankers are beginning to pitch additional tier one deals to Chile’s banks as the South American country’s general banking law brings regulations in line with Basel III recommendations.

Debt capital markets bankers are beginning to pitch additional tier one deals to Chile’s banks as the South American country’s general banking law brings regulations in line with Basel III recommendations.

Chilean company Prime Energía is looking to raise $575m of seven year bonds via a debut deal to be issued in conjunction with another company owned by the same group.

Caribbean sovereign the Dominican Republic could become the first Latin American issuer to seek local currency bonds in the international markets this year as bankers say that timing could not be better for traditionally hard to execute deals.

South America’s best-rated sovereign sold its second cross-border bond in three business days on Monday, matching the lowest spread it has ever paid in the dollar market — despite offering more new issue premium than recent lower rated Lat Am deals.

DCM bankers said Chile was reaping the rewards of repeated issuance in the euro market after the sovereign clinched an €830m 11 year deal at a slimmer than usual premium to its dollar curve.

Chilean lender Banco del Estado de Chile (Banco Estado) returned to the Aussie dollar market last week with a A$40m ($31.9m) trade.

Former president Sebastián Piñera won Chile’s elections on Sunday to book himself a second stint in charge of the Latin American country with the best credit rating. But though Chilean bonds rallied marginally on the news, analysts say the incoming leader faces a struggle to make significant policy changes.

Banco Santander Chile sold $500m of three year bonds on Tuesday in its first dollar-denominated sale in three and a half years, offering investors a rare chance to buy such highly rated paper.

Banco Santander Chile sold $500m of three year bonds on Tuesday in its first dollar-denominated sale in three and a half years, taking advantage of a beneficial swap rate for opportunistic trades, according to DCM bankers.

As Venezuela edges closer to a catastrophic default, bond issue markets in Latin America continued to thrive this week as three Lat Am borrowers snatched blow-out deals.