Puerto Rico in Distress

ABI Analysis

The coronavirus pandemic could cut Puerto Rico’s tax revenue by as much as $2 billion in fiscal year 2020, the commonwealth’s federal oversight board said Wednesday, the latest setback for efforts to restructure the commonwealth’s debt, Bloomberg News reported.

Puerto Rico’s government called for deeper cuts in debt repayment in light of the coronavirus pandemic’s severe economic impact, saying a $35 billion restructuring proposal from financial-oversight officials “is simply not feasible,” WSJ Pro Bankruptcy reported. The U.S.

A U.S. judge ruled yesterday that bankrupt Puerto Rico cannot fund more than $300 million in annual pension and health costs for its municipalities, but suspended the effective date of the order for three weeks due to the ongoing coronavirus health crisis, Reuters reported. Puerto Rico’s federally created financial oversight board sued the U.S.

Puerto Rico and a group of investors in February agreed to a debt-cutting deal that would allow them to recover as much as 77.6 cents on the dollar from their investment in the island’s bonds. But that deal may have to be revisited as the coronavirus darkens the outlook for the economy, Bloomberg News reported.

Other Resources

The Financial Oversight and Management Board for Puerto Rico was created under the Puerto Rico Oversight, Management and Economic Stability Act of 2016. The Board consists of seven members appointed by the President of the United States and one ex officio member designated by the Governor of Puerto Rico. Access information on the Board, documents, videos of meetings, calendar of events and live webcasts by clicking here.