After Guatemala paid off its debt to Teco Energy, the $15.75 million embargo was lifted, resources that the country had allocated for interest payments from some Eurobond holders.
Arguing that from 2008 to 2013 the Guatemalan National Energy Commission set a maximum amount that electricity distribution companies could charge the user, Teco Energy, a company that was a shareholder of Empresa Electrica de Guatemala, sued the country internationally.
After receiving a ruling opposing the international arbitration disputed with Teco Energy, the New York State Supreme Court ordered the seizure of $15.75 million from Guatemala.
Teco Energy is a company that was a shareholder of Empresa Eléctrica de Guatemala and years ago claimed international arbitration, arguing that from 2008 to 2013 the National Energy Commission set a maximum amount that energy distribution companies could charge the user. This measure caused losses to the distributor.
The country issued $500 million in the international market with a 12-year term, at a rate of 5.37%, and $700 million in the 30-year term, at an interest rate of 6.13%.
The operation was carried out through the Bank of America (BOFA), one of the most important investment banks in the world, chosen through a competitive process, informed the Public Finance Ministry (Minfin).
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.
So far in the Morales administration, the Guatemalan government has raised $2.4 billion through the issuance of Eurobonds, but the quality with which the funds collected are being executed is questioned.
The last issuance of Eurobonds was on May 23, when the government issued $700 million over 30 years at a 6.12% rate, and $500 million over 10 years at a 4.9% rate.
The government was able to issue $700 million over 30 years at a 6.12% rate, and $500 million over 10 years at a 4.9% rate.
The operation was carried out through the bank Citigroup Global Markets Inc, one of the three most important investment banks in the world, chosen through a competitive process, informed the Ministry of Finance.
The issuance of $500 million in the international market was placed with a 10-year term and an interest rate of 4.5%, the lowest of all issuances so far.
From a statement issued by the Ministry of Finance:
The Ministry of Public Finance today concluded a transaction for US $500 million of Eurobonds with an interest rate of 4.5% for 10 years, the lowest rate of all issuances.This action is consistent with the strategy of diversifying the financing of public spending, obtaining funds from the local bond market, multilateral banking and global markets.
Before June the Ministry of Finance plans to issue between $500 million and $700 million in foreign debt securities on the international market.
The debt bond issue being prepared by the Ministry of Finance will have similar characteristics, to the issuance made in the international market in May 2016. In that issue $700 million was placed, at an interest rate of 4.6% and a term of 10 years.
The rate obtained is the lowest in history for a Eurobond Guatemala issue, and allowed the country to obtain significant savings, estimated at $20 million in annual interest expenses compared with current local rates.
From a statement issued by the Ministry of Finance:
Fitch has also downgraded the issue ratings on Guatemala's senior unsecured foreign and local currency bonds to 'BB' from 'BB+', with outlook revised to Stable.
From the press release by Fitch Ratings:
Fitch Ratings has downgraded Guatemala's long-term foreign and local currency Issuer Default Ratings (IDRs) to 'BB' from 'BB+'. Fitch has also downgraded the issue ratings on Guatemala's senior unsecured foreign and local currency bonds to 'BB' from 'BB+'. The Rating Outlooks on the long-term IDRs have been revised to Stable from Negative. In addition, Fitch has downgraded Guatemala's Country Ceiling to 'BB+' from 'BBB-' and affirmed the short-term foreign currency IDR at 'B'.
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