Puerto Rico in Distress

ABI Analysis

Puerto Rico's debt-laden power authority, Prepa, said on Friday that it will hold off on presenting a restructuring plan as it tries to secure an extension of an agreement from creditors not to foreclose on its $9 billion in debt, Reuters reported.

A bill to give Puerto Rico's ailing public utilities a way to restructure debt under the U.S. Bankruptcy Code drew skepticism from congressional Republicans but support from Democrats, who said that it would relieve the island's problems, Reuters reported yesterday.

A proposed bill to give Puerto Rico's ailing public agencies a way to restructure debts under U.S. bankruptcy law is a "Wild West" solution that would likely hurt bondholders, an adviser for major investors argued in written testimony ahead of a key congressional committee, Reuters reported today.
Puerto Rico has asked a U.S. court for a quick decision in its appeal against a federal court ruling that voided a local bankruptcy law, arguing that the decision hampers its efforts to deal with a financial emergency that could disrupt basic public services on the Caribbean island, Reuters reported on Friday.