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).
Arguing that a lower economic growth and a higher fiscal deficit are expected due to the effects of the covid-19, the agency decided to modify from BB to BB- the country risk rating.
The situation of the tax burden in the country is another factor affecting Fitch's decision, which was communicated to the Banco de Guatemala through the preliminary bulletin that the agency sent to the authorities.
It was agreed that debtors and financial institutions may define a new maximum payment date, in all those cases where the customer had to pay their fee during the curfew, which will be in force until April 12.
A grace period will also be granted that could be until June 30, 2020, depending on the needs of each client and the ability of the bank to maintain the necessary liquidity without receiving those payments, reported the National Commission of Banks and Insurance (CNBS).
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.
In order to face the health crisis, the Assembly authorized the issuance of securities for up to $2 billion, which will be issued in the national or international market.
According to the motion, 70% of the funds obtained will be used, as a priority, to attend to the health emergency and may be allocated to the fund for direct monetary transfers to economically vulnerable households, to cover the income shortfalls in the current budget, generated by covid-19 and to incorporate the resources into the General State Budget 2020, informed the Legislative Assembly.
The Ministry of Finance issued Treasury Bonds for an amount equivalent to $116 million, of which $52 million was in local currency and $64 million in foreign currency.
The overall amount of Treasury Bonds issued by the Republic of Guatemala so far, amounts to $414 million, corresponding to Fiscal Year 2020, of which one million correspond to Treasury Bonds issuances for small investors.
The rating agency kept the country's debt rating at B3, but decided to change the outlook from stable to positive, arguing that the government's liquidity risks have been substantially reduced.
The affirmation of El Salvador's B3 sovereign ratings reflects high public debt ratios and a growing interest burden, the rating agency said.
Treasury authorities announced that plans for this year are to negotiate with the Legislative Assembly for approval to issue debt in the international market, and if approved, the issuance would take place in 2021.
Last year the executive branch's plans were to issue $6 billion in Eurobonds, but the Legislative Assembly approved the issuance of only $1.5 billion, arguing that the amount proposed at the beginning was too high.
The Central Bank announced that for the first half of 2020 it expects to issue $438 million in the primary market, as Stabilization Bonds.
From the BCCR statement:
San José, February 27, 2020. Consistent with monetary policy goals, the Central Bank of Costa Rica expects to carry out an issuance of Monetary Stabilization Bonds (BEM), in the primary market, for ₡250.000 million.
The balance of private external debt at the end of 2019 was US$1,816.6 million, increasing US$175.6 million compared to the one reported at the end of 2018; result of a net use of US$191.4 million and a favorable exchange variation that reduced the balance by US$15.8 million.
The Ministry of Finance issued Treasury Bonds for an amount equivalent to $215 million, of which $155 million was in local currency and $60 million in foreign currency.
The amount awarded represents 8.42% of the total value for which the Global Representative Certificate for Fiscal Year 2020 was issued, including issuances for Small Investors, officials said.
Arguing that the high fiscal deficit is still on an upward trend, the rating agency downgraded the long-term and senior unsecured government bond issuer's note from B1 to B2.
Fiscal deficits averaging more than 6% of GDP since 2015 have led to higher public debt/GDP than its 'B'-rated peers, the rating agency said.
From Moody's statement:
New York, February 10, 2020. Moody's Investors Service, ("Moody's") has today downgraded the Government of Costa Rica's long-term issuer and senior unsecured bond ratings to B2 from B1 and changed its rating outlook to stable from negative.
For this year, the government of Guatemala plans to issue an amount equivalent to $2.392 million, which includes new issues and titles that will expire soon and will be awarded again.
According to information from the Directorate of Public Credit, an entity of the Ministry of Finance (Minfin), during 2020 new issues will reach $ 1.845 million and collections or roll over, titles that expire but will be re-issued in the market, will be of $547 million.
To ensure financing for its future functions, the Costa Rican government will seek loans from the World Bank, IDB, CABEI and CAF during 2020, and plans to insist on the approval of $4.5 billion in Eurobonds.
For this year, the Costa Rican government plans to continue negotiating loans for budget support with the World Bank, the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), the Central American Bank for Economic Integration (CABEI) and the Andean Development Corporation - Latin American Development Bank (CAF).
Arguing that continuity in economic policies is expected after the change of administration in January 2020, Standard & Poor's maintained the country's credit risk rating at BB-.
From S&P report:
S&P Global Ratings confirmed its long-term sovereign credit ratings of "BB-" in long-term foreign currency and "BB" in Guatemala. The outlook for our long-term ratings remains stable. We also affirmed our short-term 'B' foreign and local currency ratings in Guatemala, the international agency reported.
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