Latin Finance - March/April 2012 - 24

secondary market

Finding a Bid
by Paul Kilby

L

iquidity in Latin America’s corporate debt markets has always been thin, but there is a growing unease that the situation may worsen as banks cut back trading activity in the region ahead of the implementation of the Volker rule and other regulatory requirements. As European banks beat a retreat, Brazilian institutions are to some extent filling the void as liquidity providers. But in a new issuance market now dominated by corporates, illiquidity is at the forefront of investors’ minds, forcing them to be more guarded than ever in how they construct portfolios. “Given my discussions with bondholders, they all say liquidity over the past year has deteriorated,” says David Spegel, global head of EM strategy at ING. “And that is a big concern for them.” The inability to trade in the secondary market has been a hot topic since the 2008 crisis when investors struggled to exit positions because dealers simply refused to bid. Investors are now asking what sort of premium is required to compensate them for that risk and how best to approach a market that is increasingly populated by illiquid corporate bonds. Banks have been keeping a close eye on discussions over the Volker Rule, which prohibits proprietary trading at banks, with some heavy lobbying seen against the measure during the comment period that ended in mid February. “There is a lot of concern from issuers, investors and banks about how liquidity for corporate bonds will change in the new regulatory environment,” says Karan Madan, Barclays’ regional head for Latin America. “It is an evolving discussion and I am hopeful we will end up with a compromise that preserves the depth of liquidity the market needs to function properly.”

Liquidity in the LatAm corporate bond market is shrinking as regulatory pressures force banks to reduce inventories. Investors are worried.

Where has the liquidity gone? For many, the distinction between market making and proprietary trading remains a grey area under the Volker Rule, leaving lead banks exposed to regulatory risks that many would rather not take. Uncertainty over the exact wording of the final legislation has left many investors in a wait-and-see mode and less willing to take on risk. “This will make portfolio construction difficult,” says Polina Kurdyavko, senior portfolio manager at BlueBay Asset Management. “We still haven’t heard the final version, but whatever the final version is likely to be, it is going to make it more difficult for banks to hold big inventories, especially when it comes to Eurobonds.” Across EM, traders are being told to cut their limits and inventory is already shrinking, while at the same time new issuance volumes reached record levels at the beginning of this year. This dynamic has only magnified market illiquidity, and leaves investors falling back on primary markets to pick up sizable tickets. “Clients are concerned because we are almost becoming a primary-only market,” adds Spegel. ”You buy and expect to hold.” This is important in a market that still faces many uncertainties, such as the outcome of the European debt crisis. If asset managers are suddenly faced with a wave of redemptions should the situation in Europe deteriorate, liquidity is key to

24 LatinFinance

March/April 2012



Latin Finance - March/April 2012

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Latin Finance - March/April 2012

Latin Finance - March/April 2012
Contents
Man of the Year
Local Currency Debt
Brazil Private Equity
Asia Buyside
Secondary Markets
Finance Ministry Scorecards
Markets cheer the appointment of a new Petrobras CEO
Banco do Brasil breaks new ground with hybrid perp
Oil services company Lupatech faces an uphill struggle
Bankers vie for a foothold in a booming wealth management segment
Offshore assets soar in price as foreigners fight to secure oil-rich real-estate
Vitro’s restructuring raises questions over bankruptcy system
Bottling-sector consolidation is underway. More is expected
Chile fails in efforts to kick start huaso market
Can Peru meet investment needs in the face of potential social unrest?
Colombia’s banking system is enjoying its salad days amid an acquisition frenzy
Latin Finance - March/April 2012 - Latin Finance - March/April 2012
Latin Finance - March/April 2012 - Cover2
Latin Finance - March/April 2012 - Contents
Latin Finance - March/April 2012 - 2
Latin Finance - March/April 2012 - 3
Latin Finance - March/April 2012 - 4
Latin Finance - March/April 2012 - 5
Latin Finance - March/April 2012 - 6
Latin Finance - March/April 2012 - 7
Latin Finance - March/April 2012 - 8
Latin Finance - March/April 2012 - 9
Latin Finance - March/April 2012 - 10
Latin Finance - March/April 2012 - 11
Latin Finance - March/April 2012 - Man of the Year
Latin Finance - March/April 2012 - 13
Latin Finance - March/April 2012 - 14
Latin Finance - March/April 2012 - 15
Latin Finance - March/April 2012 - Local Currency Debt
Latin Finance - March/April 2012 - 17
Latin Finance - March/April 2012 - 18
Latin Finance - March/April 2012 - Brazil Private Equity
Latin Finance - March/April 2012 - 20
Latin Finance - March/April 2012 - 21
Latin Finance - March/April 2012 - Asia Buyside
Latin Finance - March/April 2012 - 23
Latin Finance - March/April 2012 - Secondary Markets
Latin Finance - March/April 2012 - 25
Latin Finance - March/April 2012 - Finance Ministry Scorecards
Latin Finance - March/April 2012 - 27
Latin Finance - March/April 2012 - 28
Latin Finance - March/April 2012 - 29
Latin Finance - March/April 2012 - 30
Latin Finance - March/April 2012 - 31
Latin Finance - March/April 2012 - Markets cheer the appointment of a new Petrobras CEO
Latin Finance - March/April 2012 - 33
Latin Finance - March/April 2012 - 34
Latin Finance - March/April 2012 - 35
Latin Finance - March/April 2012 - Banco do Brasil breaks new ground with hybrid perp
Latin Finance - March/April 2012 - 37
Latin Finance - March/April 2012 - 38
Latin Finance - March/April 2012 - Oil services company Lupatech faces an uphill struggle
Latin Finance - March/April 2012 - 40
Latin Finance - March/April 2012 - 41
Latin Finance - March/April 2012 - 42
Latin Finance - March/April 2012 - 43
Latin Finance - March/April 2012 - Bankers vie for a foothold in a booming wealth management segment
Latin Finance - March/April 2012 - 45
Latin Finance - March/April 2012 - 46
Latin Finance - March/April 2012 - Offshore assets soar in price as foreigners fight to secure oil-rich real-estate
Latin Finance - March/April 2012 - 48
Latin Finance - March/April 2012 - 49
Latin Finance - March/April 2012 - Vitro’s restructuring raises questions over bankruptcy system
Latin Finance - March/April 2012 - 51
Latin Finance - March/April 2012 - 52
Latin Finance - March/April 2012 - Bottling-sector consolidation is underway. More is expected
Latin Finance - March/April 2012 - 54
Latin Finance - March/April 2012 - 55
Latin Finance - March/April 2012 - Chile fails in efforts to kick start huaso market
Latin Finance - March/April 2012 - 57
Latin Finance - March/April 2012 - 58
Latin Finance - March/April 2012 - Can Peru meet investment needs in the face of potential social unrest?
Latin Finance - March/April 2012 - 60
Latin Finance - March/April 2012 - 61
Latin Finance - March/April 2012 - 62
Latin Finance - March/April 2012 - Colombia’s banking system is enjoying its salad days amid an acquisition frenzy
Latin Finance - March/April 2012 - 64
Latin Finance - March/April 2012 - Cover3
Latin Finance - March/April 2012 - Cover4
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/latinfinance/0319QMR
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/latinfinance/1218JYM
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/latinfinance/paraguay_2018
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/latinfinance/8320YTM
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/latinfinance/8465TBM
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/latinfinance/1476YBW
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/latinfinance/7835THM
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/latinfinance/8655TGL
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/latinfinance/0614IJP
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/latinfinance/ecuador_20170910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/latinfinance/2713KNP
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/latinfinance/4982CFT
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/latinfinance/7803HWE
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/latinfinance/3829THA
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/latinfinance/7891MDD
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/latinfinance/7714JCR
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/latinfinance/5619CMK
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/latinfinance/6939ASL
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/latinfinance/1364ASF
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/latinfinance/0453DAS
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/latinfinance/0453DAS_supp
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/latinfinance/1304APV
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/latinfinance/7234GSD
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/latinfinance/1643XGS
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/latinfinance/9511JKM_supp
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/latinfinance/9511JKM
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/latinfinance/8745TNV
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/latinfinance/3629PBC
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/latinfinance/7466TBC_HSBC
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/latinfinance/7466TBC_supp
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/latinfinance/7466TBC
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/latinfinance/9463RVB
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/latinfinance/7345GPY
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/latinfinance/6398TVB
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/latinfinance/4899EXM_supp
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/latinfinance/4899EXM
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/latinfinance/3885CWS
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/latinfinance/45923GBC
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/latinfinance/67449NBD
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/latinfinance/46733NLP
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/latinfinance/78456HCL
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/latinfinance/89456RBM
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/latinfinance/22278HBL
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/latinfinance/2895YBM
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/latinfinance/9033TBM
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/latinfinance/8934TNP
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/latinfinance/costarica20130304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/latinfinance/4672PNB
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/latinfinance/9377BKL
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/latinfinance/drmtest
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/latinfinance/drmtest2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/latinfinance/5532LMC
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/latinfinance/9044TBM
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/latinfinance/4877RBC
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/latinfinance/3008JHV
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/latinfinance/3728YBC
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/latinfinance/9337KLM
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/latinfinance/5674GNJ
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/latinfinance/8330KMC
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/latinfinance/7663HCM
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/latinfinance/2319ZMB
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/latinfinance/7110MKL
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/latinfinance/8599FHG
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/latinfinance/4517HJK
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/latinfinance/7813GHB
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/latinfinance/1564FBM
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/latinfinance/8884HGV
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/latinfinance/7863SVB
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/latinfinance/5233SFB
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/latinfinance/5899SML
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/latinfinance/4311PMN
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/latinfinance/1366FBB
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/latinfinance/9355AXC
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/latinfinance/8559EBN
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/latinfinance/8244QXC
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/latinfinance/1779BBN
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/latinfinance/7144XVB
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/latinfinance/8971QGH
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/latinfinance/200805
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/latinfinance/200804
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/latinfinance/200803
https://www.nxtbookmedia.com