Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela Barclays Capital
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LISTING MEMORANDUM Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela U.S.$825,179,000 7.00% Bonds due 2038 (the “Bonds”) ____________ The Bonds will bear interest at the rate of 7.00% per annum, accruing from November 15, 2007 and will pay interest on March 31 and September 30 of each year, commencing March 31, 2008. The Bonds will mature on March 31, 2038. The Bonds are not redeemable prior to maturity and are not entitled to the benefit of any sinking fund. The Bonds are direct, unconditional and unsecured obligations of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela (the “Republic” or “Venezuela”). Venezuela has applied to list the Bonds on the Official List of the Luxembourg Stock Exchange (the “Exchange”) and to trade the Bonds on the Euro MTF market of the Exchange. This Listing Memorandum constitutes a prospectus for the purposes of the Luxembourg law dated July 10, 2005 on Prospectuses for Securities. The Bonds are designated Collective Action Securities and, as such, contain provisions regarding future modifications to their terms that differ from those applicable to a substantial portion of Venezuela’s outstanding public issues of capital market indebtedness. Under these provisions, which are described in the section entitled “Description of the Bonds—Meetings and Amendments” in this Listing Memorandum, Venezuela may amend the payment provisions and certain other terms of the Bonds with the consent of the holders of 75% of the aggregate principal amount outstanding of the Bonds. The provisions relating to events of default in the Bonds differ from those contained in all other outstanding public issues of Venezuela’s capital market indebtedness in that the Bonds do not contain an event of default provision that would be triggered if Venezuela were to cease at a future date to maintain its membership in the International Monetary Fund (“IMF”) or cease to be eligible to use the general resources of the IMF. Issue Price: 131.52% plus accrued interest, if any, from November 15, 2007 Delivery of the Bonds has been made on November 15, 2007 through the book-entry facilities of The Depositary Trust Company (“DTC”), the Euroclear System (“Euroclear”) and Clearstream Banking, Luxembourg (“Clearstream, Luxembourg”). See “Risk Factors” beginning on page 5 to read about certain risks you should consider before investing in the Bonds. You should read this Listing Memorandum carefully before you invest. The Bonds have not been, and will not be, registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), or with any securities regulatory authority of any state or other jurisdiction of the United States and are subject to United States tax law requirements. The Bonds are being offered outside the United States in accordance with Regulation S under the Securities Act (“Regulation S”) and may not be offered, sold or delivered within the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, U.S. persons as defined in Regulation S except to persons in offshore transactions in reliance on Regulation S. This Listing Memorandum has been prepared by the Republic solely for use in connection with the offer and sale of the Bonds outside the United States pursuant to Regulation S. Barclays Capital This Listing Memorandum is dated as of November 29, 2007. You should rely only on the information contained in this Listing Memorandum. The Republic has not authorized anyone to provide you with different or additional information. The Republic is not making an offer of the Bonds in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted. You should not assume that the information provided by this Listing Memorandum is accurate as of any date other than the date on the front of this Listing Memorandum. The financial condition and prospects of the Republic may have changed since that date. TABLE OF CONTENTS Listing Memorandum ABOUT THIS LISTING MEMORANDUM ................................................................................................................1 FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS.....................................................................................................................2 ENFORCEMENT OF CIVIL LIABILITIES ................................................................................................................4 RISK FACTORS ...........................................................................................................................................................5 USE OF PROCEEDS ....................................................................................................................................................9 RECENT DEVELOPMENTS.....................................................................................................................................10 DESCRIPTION OF THE BONDS..............................................................................................................................15 REGISTRATION AND BOOK-ENTRY SYSTEM ...................................................................................................27 BANCO CENTRAL UNDERTAKING......................................................................................................................28 CLEARING AND SETTLEMENT.............................................................................................................................29 VENEZUELAN TAXATION.....................................................................................................................................31 NOTICE TO VENEZUELAN INVESTORS..............................................................................................................32 DEALER MANAGER ................................................................................................................................................33 VALIDITY OF THE BONDS.....................................................................................................................................34 AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE ........................................................................................................................34 GENERAL INFORMATION......................................................................................................................................34 Annex A Principal Economic Indicators.......................................................................................................................................2 Currency of Presentation ...............................................................................................................................................3 Introduction ...................................................................................................................................................................3 Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela.................................................................................................................................9 The Venezuelan Economy...........................................................................................................................................19 Principal Sectors of the Venezuelan Economy............................................................................................................47 The Financial System ..................................................................................................................................................66 Public Finance .............................................................................................................................................................74 Public Debt ..................................................................................................................................................................82 Tables and Supplementary Information.......................................................................................................................89 i ABOUT THIS LISTING MEMORANDUM The Republic, having made all reasonable inquiries, confirms that this Listing Memorandum contains all information with respect to the Republic and the Bonds which is material in the context of the issue and offering of the Bonds, that such information is true and accurate in all material respects and is not misleading, that the opinions and intentions expressed herein are honestly held, and that, to the best of the Republic’s knowledge and belief, there are no other facts the omission of which would make any such information or the expression of any such opinions and intentions materially misleading. The Republic accepts responsibility accordingly. Barclays Bank PLC has acted as a dealer manager (the “Dealer Manager”) and does not make any representation or warranty, express or implied, as to the accuracy or completeness of this information, and nothing contained in this Listing Memorandum is, or shall be relied upon as, a promise or representation, whether as to the past or the future. The Dealer Manager has not independently verified any of such information and does not assume any responsibility for its accuracy or completeness. The Dealer Manager does not warrant that no events have occurred that have not yet been publicly disclosed by the Republic and that would affect the accuracy or completeness of the information concerning the Republic included herein. Each person receiving this Listing Memorandum acknowledges that (i) such person has not relied on the Dealer Manager or any person affiliated with the Dealer Manager in connection with