CABEI signed a memorandum of understanding with other Central American organizations to strengthen the development of the regional public debt market.
The agreement was signed by the Central American Bank for Economic Integration (CABEI), the Executive Secretariat of the Council of Finance Ministers of Central America, Panama and the Dominican Republic (SECOSEFIN), the Executive Secretariat of the Central American Monetary Council (SECMA) and the Association of Central American Stock Exchanges (BOLCEN).
Arguing that due to the pandemic the current revenues of the General Government have been significantly reduced, Standard and Poor's downgraded Panama's sovereign rating from BBB+ to BBB.
The increase in total debt interest payments as a proportion of the General Government's current revenues is another factor that the rating agency considered when lowering Panama's rating.
The government issued $2.5 billion in sovereign bonds in the international market, maturing in 2056 and with an interest rate of 4.5%.
It is worth noting that this is the first sovereign bond issue since the beginning of the Covid-19 crisis in all of Latin America and that this transaction was executed with great success, exceeding more than 3 times the amount issued, reported the Ministry of Economy and Finance.
Standard & Poor's has given a B+ rating to the $1.5 billion debt issue that Costa Rica expects to place in the international market in November.
"Global Ratings today assigned a "B+" rating to the prospective reopening of Costa Rica's notes which have a 7.158% rate maturing in 2045 and a "B+" rating in its planned issuance of notes maturing in 2031, the latter issue still does not have a defined trading rate," the rating agency said on November 8.
Although the goal for this year was to issue $100 million in debt bonds, during the first quarter the Nicaraguan government only awarded $1.1 million, doubting the level of investor confidence.
According to the "Public Debt Report, First Quarter 2019", prepared by the Central Bank of Nicaragua, from January to March regarding Investment Securities in dollars, 1.03 million was issued at an average rate of 5.31% and an average term of 7 months.
For the business sector, the issuance of $2 billion in bonds by the government is positive, since "it allowed the country to quote, for the first time in history, a bond for more than 20 years with an interest rate below 4%.
On July 17, the Panamanian government was able to issue bonds for $1.25 billion with a 3.160% interest rate and maturity in 10 years (2030), and others for $750 million with a 3.870% rate and maturity in 40 years (2060).
Empresa de Transmisión Eléctrica de Panamá issued seven-year local market debt securities with a 3.85% interest rate.
Empresa de Transmisión Eléctrica S.A. (ETESA) made its first issue of corporate bonds in the Stock Market of Panama, for the sum of seventy-five million dollars ($75 million) to be used to finance investment projects included in the Expansion Plan of the National Interconnected System (PESIN) of 2018, said the institution in a statement.
The Empresa de Transmisión Eléctrica de Panamá issued debt securities for 30 years at a 5.125% interest rate.
The bonds have a deadline in May 2049, i.e. 30 years from the date of issue and will have a grace period on capital payments of 15 years, informed the institution.
Between March of this year and the same month of 2018, the government's debt rose from $23.673 million to $25.893 million, a rise explained by the increase in external debt.
The balance of total public debt increased by $188.6 million (0.7%) with respect to the balance recorded at the end of February 2019, highlighting the disbursement of $52 million corresponding to the tenth tranche of Treasury Note 2023 with a coupon of 3.0%, and $35 million corresponding to the second auction of 12-month Treasury Bills with a weighted average yield of 3%, informed the Ministry of Economy and Finance.
The Panamanian government issued debt securities in the local market at a 3.75% interest rate, with a seven-year term.
It is the first time that international investors agree to the purchase of a treasury note Baa1/BBB/BBB issued under Panamanian Law and listed on the Panama Stock Exchange, using the Euroclear platform, informed the Ministry of Economy and Finance (MEF), in a statement.
On April 12, Panama's state-owned electric company began the marketing stage for the potential issuance of international bonds, which would be at least $500 million.
"Once the issuer's international risk ratings have been obtained and after several months of arduous preparation, we are ready to market among the most important investors in the United States, Europe and Latin America, our company's first long-term bond issue," explained Gilberto Ferrari, general manager of Empresa de Transmisión Eléctrica, S.A. (ETESA).
The latest risk ratings for the issuance of long-term debt of Central American economies identify Panama as the most attractive country to invest in.
On March 8, Moody's decided to raise its long-term issuer rating in foreign currency from Baa2 to Baa1, arguing that the outlook remains more favorable in the medium term.
Empresa de Transmisión Eléctrica de Panamá was authorized to make one or more issues and reopen securities in international markets for up to $750 million.
The issuance will take place in the first half of 2019, will be listed in the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and in the Superintendence of the Securities Market of Panama, informed Empresa Eléctrica.
Aiming to settle outstanding debts and finance part of the Electric Expansion Plan, in Panama Etesa will issue rotating bonds in the local market for up to $300 million, with a term of no more than ten years.
The issue has already been approved by the Board of Directors of Empresa de Transmisión Eléctrica S.A. (Etesa), by the National Economic Council and by the Cabinet Council, so that the bonds are placed in public auction, privately, by order book or any other method.