Panama Airport ABS Aims GDN

Panama City’s Aeropuerto Internacional de Tocumen (AITSA) is understood to be working with Morgan Stanley for the placement of the GDN component of a 2023 structured bond, expected at $250m, according to a source familiar with the transaction. The first $400m portion of the $650m total was placed with Panamanian buyers, with the remainder to be sold in El Salvador and elsewhere in the international markets through a GDN, possibly before the end of this month. The BBB rated NC5 note backed by passenger departure tax revenues priced at par with a 5.75% coupon last month. The debt issued by AITSA is secured by a trust, to which passenger exit fees will be transferred. Prival Bank managed the first portion. The airport is the busiest airport in Central America based on passenger volume and the principal hub for Copa Airlines.