Republic of Panama
Ministerio de Economía y Finanzas
Dirección de Crédito Público
Vía España y Calle 52
Edificio Ogawa, Piso 4
Apartado 0816-02886
Panama, Republic of Panama
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 4, 2008
PANAMA ANNOUNCES RESULTS OF INVITATION
Panama, Republic of Panama - The Republic of Panama (“Panama”) announced today that it expects to issue approximately U.S.$477,743,000 aggregate principal amount of its 9.375% U.S. Dollar-Denominated Global Bonds due 2029 (ISIN US698299AK07; CUSIP: 698299AK0) (the “2029 Bonds”) pursuant to its invitation to exchange announced June 2, 2008 (the “Invitation”). The Invitation expired June 3, 2008 at 5:00 p.m., New York City time. The 2029 Bonds will be issued in exchange for accepted offers of approximately U.S.$549,163,000 principal amount of:
| • | 9.625% Global Bonds due 2011 (ISIN: US698299AP93; CUSIP: 698299AP9) (the “2011 Bonds”) and |
| • | 9.375% Global Bonds due 2012 (ISIN: US698299AQ76; CUSIP: 698299AQ7) (the “2012 Bonds”, and, together with the 2011 Bonds, the “old bonds”). |
The definitive amount of 2029 Bonds to be issued is subject to final confirmation by the exchange agent. Capitalized terms used but not defined in this notice are defined in the Prospectus Supplement, dated June 2, 2008, describing the Invitation and the terms of the 2029 Bonds.
Approximately $262,308,000 aggregate principal amount of the 2011 Bonds and approximately $286,855,000 of the 2012 Bonds, was accepted by Panama in exchange for 2029 Bonds.
The Repurchase Price of the 2011 Bonds was 115.432% of par and the Repurchase Price of the 2012 Bonds was 119.624% of par.
The 2029 Reopening Price is 135.205% of par.
The Reference Treasury Yields, set by Panama as of approximately 11:00 a.m., New York City time, today, are:
2011 Bonds: 2.422%.
2012 Bonds: 3.199%.
2029 Bonds: 4.631%.
Settlement of the Invitation, including delivery of 2029 Bonds, cash amounts in respect of rounding, and net accrued interest against good delivery of old bonds, is expected to occur on June 11, 2008. Upon the settlement of the Invitation, Panama expects that a total of U.S.$977,743,000 aggregate principal amount of its 2029 Bonds will be outstanding.
Copies of the Invitation may be obtained free of charge by eligible participants from the information agent, the exchange agent or one of the joint dealer managers.
Further Information
Application has been made to list the newly issued 2029 Bonds on the Luxembourg Stock Exchange and to have the 2029 Bonds trade on the Euro MTF Market.
The Prospectus Supplement and the Prospectus incorporate by reference Panama’s Annual Report on Form 18-K for 2006 that has been filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). The Prospectus referred to above is incorporated herein by reference and may be accessed by clicking the following hyperlink:http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/76027/000119312506134090/dsb.htm. The Prospectus Supplement referred to above is incorporated herein by reference and may be accessed by clicking the following hyperlink:http://sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/76027/000119312508126114/d424b5.htm.
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The information agent, the exchange agent and the Luxembourg exchange agent for the Invitation are:
Information Agent
The information agent for the Invitation is Global Bondholder Services Corporation, located at 65 Broadway, Suite 723, New York, NY 10006 (Attention: Corporate Actions). The information agent can be reached by telephone at the following numbers: (Banks and Brokers) +1-212-430-3774; (toll free) +1-866-873-5600.
Exchange Agent
The exchange agent for the Invitation is Citibank, N.A., located at Citigroup Centre, Canada Square, Canary Wharf London E14 5LB, United Kingdom (Attention: Exchange Operations; Reference: Republic of Panama Exchange Offer). The exchange agent can be reached by telephone at +44-20-7508-3866 or by facsimile at +44-20-7508-3866. The exchange agent can be reached by email atexchange.gats@citigroup.com
Luxembourg Exchange Agent
The Luxembourg exchange agent for the Invitation is Deutsche Bank Luxembourg, S.A., located at 2, Boulevard Konrad Adenauer, L – 1115 Luxembourg. The Luxembourg exchange agent can be reached by telephone at +352-42122-243 or by facsimile at +352-42122-718.
Joint Dealer Managers
Citigroup Global Markets Inc. and Deutsche Bank Securities Inc. are acting as Joint Dealer Managers for the Invitation.
Citigroup Global Markets Inc. is located at 390 Greenwich Street, New York, NY 10013 (Attention: Liability Management Group). Citigroup Global Markets Inc. can be reached by telephone at the following numbers: (In the United States) +1-800-558-3745; (Outside the United States, call collect) +1-212-723-6108.
Deutsche Bank Securities Inc. is located at 60 Wall Street, New York, NY 10005 (Attention: Liability Management Group). Deutsche Bank Securities Inc. can be reached by telephone at the following numbers: (In the United States) +1-866-627-0391; (Outside the United States, call collect) +1-212-250-2955.
Panama has filed a registration statement (including the Prospectus and the Prospectus Supplement) with the SEC for the offering to which this communication relates. Before you invest, you should read the Prospectus and the Prospectus Supplement in that registration statement and other documents Panama has filed with the SEC for more complete information about Panama and this offering. You may get these documents for free by visiting EDGAR on the SEC Web site atwww.sec.gov. Alternatively, the joint dealer managers, the information agent, the exchange agent or the Luxembourg exchange agent will arrange to send you the Prospectus if you request it by calling any of Citigroup toll-free at 1-800-558-3745, Deutsche Bank Securities Inc. toll-free at 1-866-627-0391 or the information agent toll-free at 1-866-873-5600.
Panama is making the Invitation only in those jurisdictions where it is legal to do so. The Invitation is void in all jurisdictions where it is prohibited. If materials relating to the Invitation come into your possession, you are required by Panama to inform yourself of and to observe all of these restrictions. The materials relating to the Invitation do not constitute, and may not be used in connection with, an offer or solicitation in any place where offers or solicitations are not permitted by law. If a jurisdiction requires that the Invitation be made by a licensed broker or dealer and any joint dealer manager or any affiliate of a joint dealer manager is a licensed broker or dealer in that jurisdiction, the Invitation shall be deemed to be made by such joint dealer manager or such affiliate on behalf of Panama in that jurisdiction.
United Kingdom: Stabilisation/FSA.
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