Transocean, world’s largest offshore drilling contractor, has closed a private offering $410 million in senior secured notes with an annual rate of 5.52% and maturing in 2022. Transocean last week posted a net income of $95 million for the first quarter of the year, which is a drop when compared to $242 million in the corresponding... Continue Reading →
Brazil on edge as ex-president Lula squares off with judge Moro
When Brazil's former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and Judge Sergio Moro meet for the first time in a courtroom on Wednesday, the contrasts - and the stakes - could hardly be greater. One is the country's most popular president ever and the front-runner in next year's election - a former union leader who... Continue Reading →
Odebrecht Oil & Gas is close to settlement agreement
While the Odebrecht Group is trying to avoid a way out of the liquidity crisis it faces, especially in its main construction arm, the oil and gas subsidiary works on an out-of-court settlement to settle the accounts with bondholders. The agreement is expected to be signed in two weeks. Negotiations with these creditors has been... Continue Reading →
Brazil annual inflation in April likely hit lowest in nearly 10 years
Brazil's annual inflation rate in April likely eased to its lowest level in nearly 10 years, which could help prod the central bank to make another steep interest rate cut this month, a Reuters poll showed on Monday. The IPCA benchmark consumer price index was seen rising 4.10 percent in the 12 months through the... Continue Reading →
Venezuela Braces for Double Whammy If U.S. Imposes Oil Sanctions
Venezuela would be hit from two directions if the U.S. were ever to impose oil-related sanctions against the South American nation where at least 30 have diedin anti-government protests in the past month. American drivers may pay more at the pump as well. Speculation about possible new U.S. sanctions has increased because of President Nicolas... Continue Reading →
Brazil mulls longer, flexible port licenses to draw investment
Brazil may revise public port regulations to lengthen operators' contracts and encourage improvements, officials told Reuters, in an effort to attract more private investment in infrastructure that is crucial to the country's powerhouse farm sector. Building on the success of recent airport and power line auctions , President Michel Temer's government is hoping to add... Continue Reading →
EDISON CHOUEST SIGNS SERVICE CONTRACT WITH SHELL BRASIL
May, 7, 2017 Two affiliates of Edison Chouest Offshore signed a five-year contract with Shell Brazil for construction, inspection, maintenance and underwater repair services. The agreement includes a varied list of projects servicing a construction and subsea installation vessel of Bram Offshore, a subsidiary of Edison Chouest. The contract also provides inspection services for C-Innovation,... Continue Reading →
Prysmian invoices R $ 1.3 billion in Brazil and has an 80% increase in profit
05/05/2017 Prysmian in Brazil, a leading global company in cables and systems for the energy and telecommunications sectors, earned R $ 1.3 billion in the country in 2016 and obtained a net profit, before extraordinary effects, of R $ 61.7 million in year. Although sales volume fell by around 15% from one fiscal year to... Continue Reading →
Odebrecht Testimony in Brazil Points to Pemex Bribe in Mexico/WSJ
A former top official of Brazilian construction giant Odebrecht SA testified that he was asked in 2014 to bribe the then-head of Mexican state oil firm Petróleos Mexicanos, according to a document filed with Brazil’s Supreme Court as part of a broader corruption investigation. In the document, a copy of which was reviewed by The Wall Street... Continue Reading →
Former Petrobras executive: Lula knew about massive corruption scheme
Brazil's former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva had "complete knowledge" of the massive political kickback scheme that centered on contracts at state-run oil firm Petrobras, a former top executive testified on Friday. Former Petrobras (PETR4.SA) engineering and services director Renato Duque, testifying in the first of five corruption trials Lula faces, told a federal... Continue Reading →