Venezuela Defaults on Gold Swap With Deutsche Bank

  • Missed payments result in acceleration of gold swap agreement
  • Second time this year Venezuela has failed to pay bank swaps

Nicolas Maduro with gold ingots in Caracas.

Photographer: Carlos Becerra/Bloomberg
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Venezuela has defaulted on a gold swap agreement valued at $750 million with Deutsche Bank AG, prompting the lender to take control of the precious metal used as collateral and close out the contract, according to two people with direct knowledge of the matter.

As part of a financing agreement signed in 2016, Venezuela received a cash loan from Deutsche Bank and put up 20 tons of gold as collateral. The agreement, which was set to expire in 2021, was settled early due to missed interest payments, said the people, who asked not to be named speaking about a private matter.