Venezuela bondholders inch toward showdown

Investors holding billions of dollars in defaulted Venezuelan bonds have formed at least one bondholder committee that is seeking a financial adviser, several sources said, in a sign they may be gearing up for a legal dispute. President Nicolas Maduro's government began quietly halting interest payments on some US$50bn in publicly traded debt last year in an effort to save hard currency for the collapsing socialist economy, which is suffering from hyperinflation. The committee that is close to naming an adviser recently met in London, with a follow up meeting planned in Washington, the sources said. More…