Category: Equity

The stock exchanges of Brazil (Bovespa) and Mexico (BMV) say they hope to complete integration by next summer to allow investors in both countries to buy stocks listed on either exchange, instead of via New York. The first stage of the plan to integrate the exchanges was agreed last November. In time, the hope is to extend integration to include other markets in Latin America and ultimately create a regional capital market.

Brazil’s largest fixed-line telecoms operator, Telemar, has filed with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to launch an IPO for up to $997.5 million of common shares in the form of ADS. The IPO is part of a restructuring plan in which Tele Norte Leste Participacoes’ shareholders will exchange their stock for Telemar’s newly issued common shares, making Tele Norte Leste part of Telemar.

Mexican home appliance retailer Grupo Famsa is to launch a global IPO, representing around 33% of its capital, via the Mexican Stock Exchange. The IPO, which Famsa hopes will raise $230 million, will comprise $160 million of a primary share offering and $80 million of a secondary share offering. The money raised will be used to pay down debt and fund expansion. The issue is being jointly coordinated by BBVA Bancomer and Credit Suisse.

Argentine electricity distributor Edenor is preparing to list on the New York and Buenos Aires Stock Exchanges. The public offering of shares will be used to finance the company’s investment plans to improve services and meet increasing demand over the next five years. The amount of stock to be sold has not yet been announced. In February, the company completed a debt swap program with its creditors.

Horacio Fargosi has been appointed the new head of the Buenos Aires Stock Exchange, replacing Adelmo Gabbi, who completes his mandate. Fargosi, a lawyer specializing in commercial law, has already served as vice-president of the exchange.

Bahamas-based GP Investimentos, Latin America’s largest asset manager, is planning a public offering of shares on Bovespa. The firm is planning to float its stock via Brazilian depositary receipts (BDRs) and hopes to raise $300 million. The IPO is being coordinated by Credit Suisse. GP Investimentos specializes in the management of long- and short-term alternative asset investment funds.

Brazil’s state-owned oil company, Petrobras, began to list its shares on the Buenos Aires Stock Exchange yesterday, Thursday. The company said it would not be issuing any new shares but rather offer those already in the circulation. Petrobras will be the first foreign company to seek a listing in Argentina since the country’s financial meltdown in 2001 and will offer locals the opportunity to invest directly in the Brazilian company.

Abnote, the Brazilian subsidiary of US printing and document management company American Banknote, has raised $225.8 million from its IPO on the Novo Mercado of the São Paulo Stock Exchange. The company sold 28.26 million of common shares at a price of 17 reais per share, at the top end of the price range the company had estimated. The sale was arranged by Credit Suisse and UBS.

Brazilian manufacturer Lupatech is to float its stock on the Novo Mercado segment of the São Paulo Stock Exchange on May 15. The IPO will comprise 16,263 million common shares, 5,421 million of which will be sold via a primary offering and 10,842 million via a secondary offering. The shares will be sold in Brazil and also in the US under rule 144A. The sale is being arranged by Merrill Lynch and Banco Pactual.

The World Bank and the IMF have formally approved the HIPC debt forgiveness initiative which will see Bolivia, Honduras and Nicaragua benefit from a total of $2.88 billion of debt forgiveness. The approval came at the weekend during the World Bank-IMF Spring meeting in Washington, DC. Fourteen other developing nations worldwide will also benefit from the program which was proposed by the World Bank and IMF and agreed by governments around the world in the fall of 1996. However, the World Bank also issued a warning to developing nations not to fall into the same cycle of debt.