Puerto Rico in Distress

ABI Analysis

Puerto Rico’s bankrupt power utility reached a tentative agreement with a “substantial number” of its bondholders, according to a federal oversight board, and received another week to finalize a potential deal to reduce nearly $9 billion of debt, Bloomberg News reported. U.S.

The judge overseeing the bankruptcy of Puerto Rico’s power utility granted it an additional week — for the second time in the past 10 days — to reach a deal with bondholders as talks are progressing, Bloomberg News reported.

U.S. prosecutors and IRS agents are deploying undercover agents and closely examining records to build criminal and civil cases against wealthy individuals suspected of illegally taking advantage of tax breaks offered by Puerto Rico, Bloomberg News reported. The cash-strapped island used eye-popping incentives to lure hedge fund managers, cryptocurrency traders and other Americans to the U.S.

A federal control board that oversees Puerto Rico’s finances on Friday approved a $12.7 billion general fund budget that contains increases for teachers, judicial employees and the U.S. territory’s public university, the Associated Press reported. It is the largest budget approved in the island’s history.

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.