The Central American Bank for Economic Integration (CABEI) successfully completed a USD500 million sale of senior bonds due in 2014 in the US market. The transaction took place on September 24th, 2009.

The main credit rating agencies, Fitch Ratings, Moody´s Investor Service and Standard and Poor´s have assigned the issue a rating of A-, A2 and A-, respectively with a stable outlook, and in effect have affirmed CABEI´s long term foreign currency debt ratings.

In a Press Release issued in New York, Fitch Ratings indicated that CABEI's ratings reflect its preferred creditor status and privileges conferred on to it by its member countries, as well as its solid fundamentals, which include a strong capital base, good asset quality and an established track record in terms of self-sustainable profitability.

Fitch Ratings considers CABEI´s liquidity position adequate given its current level of liquid assets, its strong cash flow, as well as its continued market access evidenced by its USD500 million issue in the US.

Furthermore, Fitch Ratings has highlighted the importance of CABEI as one of the few providers of medium term financing to the region, and has added that all privileges and immunities conferred to CABEI under its Constitutive Agreement have been preserved by all its member countries.

Given the latter, CABEI´s status as a prime international financial institution, and one of the best rated in Latin America has been ratified, further consolidating its relevance in the Central American region for the financing of projects with a high economic development impact.

About CABEI

CABEI is Central America’s main multilateral bank and promotes regional integration and balanced economic development. CABEI was founded on 13 December 1960 by Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua and Costa Rica. Its non-regional members include Mexico, the Republic of China (Taiwan), Argentina, Colombia, Spain, Panamá and Dominican Republic. Belize also joined as a non-founding beneficiary country.

Current CABEI Ratings: Standard& Poor’s A-, Moody’s A2, Fitch Ratings A-, Japan Credit Rating (JRC) A+