Argentina says it struck deal with creditors over $65 billion debt

Argentina said it would extend the original deadline of Tuesday for reaching a deal to August 24 to finalise it

By Tom Arnold

LONDON (Reuters) - Recession-hit Argentina said on Tuesday it had reached a deal with three creditor groups to restructure $65 billion in defaulted sovereign debt.

The deal with the Ad Hoc Group of Argentine Bondholders, the Argentina Creditor Committee, the Exchange Bondholder Group and other significant holders would let members of these groups support a restructuring and grant the country significant debt relief, the Ministry of Economy said.

Argentina said it would extend the original deadline of Tuesday for reaching a deal to Aug. 24 to finalise it.

One of the world's wealthiest countries, Argentina fell into its ninth sovereign default in May and is headed for an estimated 12% economic contraction this year on the back of two years of recession.

News of the deal helped lift the government's existing eurobonds by as much as 3 cents. They had already rallied on Monday in anticipation.

The country had been at an impasse with creditors, which included big-name funds such as BlackRock and Ashmore, over revamping the debt ahead of Tuesday's deadline.

There was no immediate confirmation of an agreement from the creditor groups.

As part of the deal, the government said it would adjust some of the payment dates for the new bonds set out in the offer sent to creditors on July 6. This would not raise the aggregate amount of principal or interest payments for Argentina but would enhance the proposal's value for creditors, it said.

A key issue during the restructuring talks were so-called collective action clauses (CACs), which determine how future changes can be made to bond agreements

Some bondholders, fearing Argentina would try to use the CACs to adopt the "Pac-Man" strategy of attempting to get them on board one at a time, had made informal contact with global bodies including the International Monetary Fund for their support to amend legal clauses.

To address creditors' proposals on the contractual framework, the government said in its statement it would adjust certain aspects of the CACs in the new bond documentation.

Under the deal, payment dates on the new bonds will be Jan.9 and July 9, instead of March 4 and Sept. 4. The new bonds will begin amortizing in January 2025 and mature in July 2029.

New U.S. dollar and euro-denominated 2030 bonds will begin amortizing in July 2024 and mature in July 2030, Argentina said, with the first instalment in an amount equivalent to one half of each remaining instalment.

The new dollar and euro-denominated 2038 bonds to be issued in exchange for existing discount bonds will begin amortizing in July 2027 and mature in January 2038, the ministry said.

President Alberto Fernandez and Guzman had been adamant that Argentina was unable to surpass the offer made in early July after months of talks.

 

(Reporting by Tom Arnold; Editing by Dhara Ranasinghe, Sujata Rao and Andrew Cawthorne)