Opening doors to funding
Banks are increasing the interplay between their project financing and debt capital markets business to bring solutions to the region’s looming funding challenges.
One wonders how your average Latin American policymaker has avoided developing a squint, having to keep one eye firmly on domestic markets while the other is fixed so intensely on Europe’s unfolding Greek tragedy. Yet it is a measure of how LatAm financial markets have bolstered their resilience to foreign shocks that at this juncture a squint is likely to be the worst byproduct of the eurozone crisis. Nonetheless, ripples from Europe will still wash upon LatAm’s shores. That is a recurrent theme in this report – despite the inevitable...Read more
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Banks are increasing the interplay between their project financing and debt capital markets business to bring solutions to the region’s looming funding challenges.
Investors are keeping tabs on Brazil’s efforts to create a sustainable local corporate bond market, which, if it succeeds, will set a precedent for other emerging market countries looking to do the same.
Even by the standards of a continent with relatively low levels of infrastructure investment, Colombia desperately needs modernisation. Mired in geographical and political challenges, difficulties operating in or travelling through the country are an economic millstone around its neck. But in turning its fortunes around, Colombia provides an example to other, similar-sized Latin American countries.
Latin America offshore local currency may see a revival shortly – based on the conviction that there is renewed appetite for risk and yield.
The issue of regulation has risen up on the agenda of Chile’s ongoing capital market reforms in the wake of a major financial test following the crisis at La Polar and as it reasserts its ambition to become a regional financial leader.
Brazil has been at the helm of the Latin American equity issuance boom for years, but is now in the midst of a seven-month IPO drought. Eyes remained fixed on the continent’s largest economy, but focus is continuing to shift to other countries.
Latin America is seeing a record volume of corporate bond issuance in the international markets, as the syndicated loans market dries up and companies need to find another way of financing their acquisition sprees.
International investors fell over themselves to get a piece of the action when Brazilian lender Banco Votorantim sold an off-shore local currency inflation-linked bond in May – so much so that the bank doubled the deal size in response to demand.
Unlike the bond market, which has barely had to time to catch its breath, the syndicated loans market may take a while to get into gear this year, as reduced liquidity means tighter conditions.
On the face of it, Latin American banks face less pressure than their developed market peers to raise additional capital under Basel III.
With a reputation for ambitious and aggressive funding and investment plans America Movil is set for another year of setting precedents.