Venezuela paid Holcim Ltd. the final installment of a total $650 million agreed compensation for seizing the Swiss company’s cement plants in 2008, reported Bloomberg. The $97.5 million was due almost three months ago.
Former Venezuela President Hugo Chavez nationalized Venezuela’s cement industry in 2008 citing failures to sufficiently supply the local market. He also seized assets from Cemex SAB and Lafarge SA.
Investors have become increasingly concerned that Venezuela is running out of cash to pay its debt as its foreign reserves fall and its economy heads for its biggest contraction since 2009, according to data from the International Monetary Fund. Venezuela, which imports three-quarters of the goods it consumes, has seen export revenue slump as oil prices tumble.
The country ranks among the biggest losers from the recent decision by the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries to let the force of the market determine the price of oil, noted Bloomberg.
