government debt

Creditors back Argentina restructuring of $66-billion debt

Agence France-Presse

This is AI generated summarization, which may have errors. For context, always refer to the full article.

Creditors back Argentina restructuring of $66-billion debt

Argentina's Economy Minister Martin Guzman (L) speaks next to President Alberto Fernandez (R) and Vice President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner (C) during the announcement of the restructure of a $66-billion foreign-law debt, during a ceremony at Casa Rosada Presidential Palace in Buenos Aires on August 31, 2020. - Recession-hit Argentina has managed to restructure 99 percent of a $66 billion debt issued under foreign legislation, Economy Minister Martin Guzman announced on Monday, following months of strained talks and several missed deadlines. (Photo by Juan MABROMATA / AFP)

AFP

The deal means Argentina would benefit from $37.7 billion in debt relief while its annual interest rate will drop from 7% to 3%

Recession-hit Argentina has managed to restructure 99% of $66 billion in debt issued under foreign legislation, Economy Minister Martin Guzman announced on Monday, August 31.

The news comes approximately a month after Argentina reached an agreement with 3 major creditor groups to renegotiate the terms of the debt following months of strained talks and several missed deadlines.

“There has been massive acceptance, thanks to the dialogue process,” said Guzman, speaking alongside President Alberto Fernandez and Vice President Cristina Kirchner.

Guzman said that the deal meant Argentina would benefit from $37.7 billion in debt relief while its annual interest rate will drop from 7% to 3%.

“This gives us a sufficient economic timeframe to generate sustainable policies and allow development,” said Guzman.

The high acceptance rate also lifts the specter of litigation by speculative funds, which have successfully sued the country in the past.

“We’ve come out of the labyrinth,” said Fernandez. “We don’t want to condemn any more Argentines to groveling.”

As for the remaining 1%, “this debt will surely be paid,” said Matias Rajnerman, an analyst at Ecolatina.

“It’s very little money, $600 million. For Argentina it’s practically nothing.”

The deal, reached on August 4, is worth 54.8 cents on the dollar, a significant increase on Argentina’s original offer of 39 cents.

The bonds represent roughly a fifth of the country’s $324 billion in debt, which amounts to around 90% of its gross domestic product.

Further restructuring due

The country is also waiting to find out this week how many creditors involved in a $41.7-billion debt under local legislation will sign on to a restructuring deal with the same conditions.

Last week, Argentina formally opened consultations with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to agree new terms on the repayment of a $44-billion bailout loan agreed in 2018.

The loan was due to be worth $57 billion but center-left Fernandez refused the remaining disbursements when he took power in December 2018. The loan had been agreed by his liberal predecessor Mauricio Macri.

Argentina, which is in the midst of an economic crisis and has been in recession since 2018, is due to start repaying that debt in September 2021.

“Unlike its neighboring countries, Argentina didn’t go to the Fund in the midst of the [coronavirus] pandemic,” economist Marina Dal Poggetto from the EcoGo consultancy, told Agence France-Presse.

“What that means is the government wants to refinance the repayments.”

It has been in default – for the 9th time in its history – since May 22 when the country missed a deadline to pay $500 million in interest on the debt that is subject to the current negotiation.

It missed another deadline in July to pay $600 million more.

Argentina’s troubles have been exacerbated by the coronavirus pandemic, with more than a third of the country’s population of 44 million living in poverty. 

Inflation stands at 40% and the IMF expects Latin America’s 3rd largest economy to shrink by 10% this year. – Rappler.com

Add a comment

Sort by

There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation.

Summarize this article with AI

How does this make you feel?

Loading
Download the Rappler App!