Petrobras
Bonds of Brazilian construction companies slumped as authorities investigated allegations of corruption involving contracts signed with state-owned oil producer
Petroleo Brasileiro SA. (PETR4)
Police issued 27 arrest warrants including top executives from builders
Camargo Correa SA, Mendes Junior Engenharia SA and Construtora OAS Ltda. and undertook 11 searches at the offices of companies including Odebrecht SA and Queiroz Galvao SA, according to police and judiciary statements. Offices of Galvao Engenharia SA and UTC Engenharia SA were searched, according to the statements.
OAS’s $875 million of senior unsecured notes maturing in 2019 tumbled 5.2 cents to 87.36 cents on the dollar, the lowest level since they were issued in October 2012. Odebrecht’s $1.69 billion of bonds due in 2022 lost 0.08 cent to 94.64 cents on the dollar, the lowest since they were issued in July 2013, after dropping 6.3 cents Nov. 14. Queiroz Galvao’s $700 million in bonds due 2019 declined 0.78 cent to 89.69 cents on the dollar, the lowest since they first traded in November 2012.
“Recent scandals surrounding Petrobras’s contracting practices could have a negative implication for the company’s effectiveness in negotiating with equipment suppliers as its executives will likely exercise incremental caution when signing or amending contracts,” Fitch Ratings analyst Lucas Aristizabal wrote in an e-mailed report today. “Petrobras’s credit quality will deteriorate if the ongoing corruption investigation results in monetary penalties or loss of assets.” Fitch rates Petrobras at BBB, the second-lowest level of investment grade.
Petrobras Decline
Petrobras’s $3.5 billion of 2023 notes dropped 1.3 cents to 88.25 cents on dollar, the lowest level since Jan. 31, after saying last week that it would release unaudited third-quarter results on Dec. 12, a month later than originally scheduled.
Chief Executive Officer Maria das Gracas Foster said today on a conference call that the
oil company will set up a compliance division as it seeks to increase internal controls.
Police found “strong evidence” that at least seven builders formed a cartel to win public contracts, including a combined 59 billion reais ($23 billion) in orders from Rio de Janeiro-based Petrobras, Commissioner Igor Romario de Paula said Nov 14.
Petrobras, Camargo Correa, Odebrecht and Queiroz Galvao didn’t reply to e-mail messages seeking comment today.
Mendes Junior, OAS, Galvao Engenharia and UTC said in e-mailed statements last week that they’re cooperating with investigation. Camargo Correa criticized the warrants, saying it has been working with authorities. Odebrecht said by e-mail that police searched for documents related to Petrobras at its offices in
Rio de Janeiro, without making arrests. Queiroz Galvao said all its contracts are within the law.