/raid1/www/Hosts/bankrupt/TCRLA_Public/171017.mbx         T R O U B L E D   C O M P A N Y   R E P O R T E R

                     L A T I N   A M E R I C A

               Tuesday, October 17, 2017, Vol. 18, No. 206


                            Headlines



B R A Z I L

BRAZIL: Consumers are Back and Helping to Drive the Recovery
JBS SA: Withdraws Plan for U.S. Processed Food Unit IPO
OI SA: Largest Creditors Demand Meeting to Renegotiate Debt Plan


D O M I N I C A N   R E P U B L I C

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC: Economy Snowballs Toward Asphyxia
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC: Electricity Subsidy is 30% Lower Next Year


P U E R T O    R I C O

TSAWD HOLDINGS: Wins Bid for Summary Judgment vs. O2Cool
TSAWD HOLDINGS: Bradford Buying Fresh & Easy Claim for $77K


T R I N I D A D  &  T O B A G O

PTSC: Workers Protest Over Injured Mechanic


U R U G U A Y

URUGUAY: Gets $100MM-IDB Loan for CCLIP to Boost Productivity


V E N E Z U E L A

VENEZUELA: Holds State Elections


                            - - - - -


===========
B R A Z I L
===========


BRAZIL: Consumers are Back and Helping to Drive the Recovery
------------------------------------------------------------
Mario Sergio Lima at Bloomberg News reports that Brazil's
consumers are finally showing signs of life, helping to haul Latin
America's largest economy out of its worst recession on record.

With President Michel Temer's administration pushing austerity,
and investment levels low, consumers are proving a key part of the
recovery, according to Bloomberg News.  After making headway in
paying off their debts and rebuilding savings, they are now using
their improved financial standing to buy more, according to Andre
Perfeito, chief economist at the brokerage Gradual Cctvm, the
report notes.

"Consumption is the government's greatest hope for the economic
recovery," Perfeito said in an interview with, Bloomberg News
relays.   "There is good reason to believe that consumption in
families, which are more deleveraged, will continue to rise," he
added.

As reported in the Troubled Company Reporter-Latin America on
Aug. 17, 2017, S&P Global Ratings removed its 'BB' long-term
foreign and local currency sovereign credit ratings on the
Federative Republic of Brazil from CreditWatch, where it had
placed them with negative implications on May 22, 2017. At the
same time, S&P affirmed the 'BB' long-term ratings, and the
outlook is negative. S&P also affirmed its 'B' short-term foreign
and local currency ratings on Brazil. The transfer and
convertibility assessment is unchanged at 'BBB-'. In addition, S&P
removed the 'brAA-' national scale rating from CreditWatch with
negative implications and affirmed the rating with a negative
outlook. This incorporates the revision of the mapping table for
Brazil national scale ratings, published Aug. 14, 2017.


JBS SA: Withdraws Plan for U.S. Processed Food Unit IPO
--------------------------------------------------------
Reuters reports that JBS SA has pulled a planned $500 million
initial public offering of processed food subsidiary JBS Foods
International BV, almost six months after a spree of corruption
and food safety scandals hurt investor demand for the deal.

In a U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission filing, JBS Foods
International requested a withdrawal of the IPO because it
"decided not to pursue the sale of securities pursuant to the
registration statement at this time," according to Reuters.

Neither parent JBS SA nor the unit elaborated further or gave a
new timetable for the transaction.

Both companies first announced plans for a U.S. offering on Dec. 5
last year, the report relays.  Sao Paulo-based parent JBS, the
world's No. 1 meatpacker, reaffirmed plans to list the subsidiary
back in August, saying a transaction could take place by the end
of next year, the report notes.

The proposal for the JBS Foods International IPO was first tested
in March, after a scandal over an alleged bribery of health
officials triggered bans on Brazilian meat exports, the report
says.  Two months later, two members of the family that controls
JBS agreed to a plea bargain deal in Brazil relating to a
corruption probe, the report discloses.

The family members, brothers Wesley and Joesley Batista, were
arrested last month in connection with insider trading and other
offenses related to their plea deal, the report notes.  Mr.
Wesley, JBS's former chief executive officer, had to step down as
a result of his arrest, the report relays.

The cancellation of the offering deals a blow to the Batista
family, which was involved in a recent deal to refinance BRL21
billion (US$6.7 billion) worth of JBS debt and the sale of several
assets, the report discloses.

Reuters reported in March and in May, shortly after the food
safety and corruption scandals, respectively, that JBS would press
ahead with the $1 billion IPO plan despite dwindling investor
confidence.

As reported in the Troubled Company Reporter-Latin America on
July 31, 2017, S&P Global Ratings affirmed its 'B+' global scale
corporate credit ratings on JBS S.A. and JBS USA and its 'brBBB-'
national scale rating on JBS. S&P also affirmed the 'B+' senior
unsecured debt ratings on JBS and JBS USA and the 'BB' senior
secured debt ratings on JBS USA. At the same time, S&P removed all
ratings from CreditWatch. The outlook is negative.


OI SA: Largest Creditors Demand Meeting to Renegotiate Debt Plan
----------------------------------------------------------------
Brad Brooks at Reuters reports that a group of bondholders that
are Oi SA's largest creditors demanded that the company's top
executives meet them as soon as possible to renegotiate a debt
plan.

In a letter viewed by Reuters that was addressed to top Oi
executives and board members, Oi's two biggest bondholder groups
demanded the carrier's executives meet in New York to "negotiate
in good faith and on an expedited basis the terms of an acceptable
plan(s) of reorganization."

The letter was sent by the main advisors of the International
Bondholders Committee the Ad Hoc Group of Oi Bondholders,
according to Reuters.

The Oi restructuring, which started in June 2016 and remains Latin
America's largest bankruptcy protection case to date, has been
marked by a series of disputes between creditors and shareholders,
the report notes.

The steering committees of the bondholder groups and the so-called
ECAs rejected Oi' SAs recovery plan presented, the report relays.

They said the company "seems to have spent time negotiating with a
small group of conflicted creditors, some or all of whom also hold
equity, for a failed deal that focuses exclusively on preserving
value for the existing shareholders," the report notes.

Oi SA's revised restructuring plan proposed by management and
approved by the carrier's board "ignores fundamental creditor
concerns, threatens long-term viability of company and abusively
enriches existing shareholders," said the statement obtained by
the news agency.

                            About Oi SA

Headquartered in Rio de Janeiro, and operating almost exclusively
within Brazil, the Oi Group provides services like fixed-line data
transmission and network usage for phones, internet, and cable,
Wi-Fi hot-spots in public areas, and mobile phone and data
services, and employs approximately 142,000 direct and indirect
employees.

On June 20, 2016, pursuant to Brazilian Law No. 11.101/05 (the
"Brazilian Bankruptcy Law"), Oi S.A. and certain of its
subsidiaries filed for recuperao judicial (judicial
reorganization) in Brazil.

On June 21, 2016, OI SA and its affiliates Telemar Norte Leste
S.A. and Oi Brasil Holdings Cooperatief U.A. commenced Chapter 15
proceedings (Bankr. S.D.N.Y. Lead Case No. 16-11791).  Ojas N.
Shah, as foreign representative, signed the petitions.

Coop and PTIF are also subject to proceedings in the Netherlands.

The Chapter 15 cases are assigned to Judge Sean H. Lane.

In the Chapter 15 cases, the Debtors are represented by John K.
Cunningham, Esq., and Mark P. Franke, Esq., at White & Case LLP,
in New York; and Jason N. Zakia, Esq., Richard S. Kebrdle, Esq.,
and Laura L. Femino, Esq., at White & Case LLP, in Miami, Florida.

On July 22, 2016, the New York Court recognized the Brazilian
Proceedings as foreign main proceedings with respect to the
Chapter 15 Debtors, and granted certain additional related relief.



===================================
D O M I N I C A N   R E P U B L I C
===================================


DOMINICAN REPUBLIC: Economy Snowballs Toward Asphyxia
-----------------------------------------------------
Dominican Today reports that Herrera and Santo Domingo Province
Industries Association (AEIH) President Antonio Taveras warned
that the public debt burden is pushing the economy toward
"asphyxia," which could in the short term harm the fundamental
stability achieved in recent years.

He said macroeconomic stability will be unfeasible in the medium
term, with 42.5% of the government revenue committed to service
the debt, according to Dominican Today.  "The situation is even
more complicated if one takes into account the Central Bank's debt
stock, which reached RD$479.0 billion as of October 11 this year
and which only in interest payments required over RD$62.0 billion
in 2016," the report quoted Mr. Taveras as saying.

The report notes that Mr. Taveras said that by 2018, US$4.26
billion in financing will be needed to cover the gap of the
deficit, much more than this year, which totals US$3.5 billion,
which he called a "snowball."

The business leader said with that scenario and the real external
risks associated with likely increases in the cost of financing,
interest rate variation, and rising fuel prices, "the economy's
vulnerability takes on more shape today," the report relays.


DOMINICAN REPUBLIC: Electricity Subsidy is 30% Lower Next Year
--------------------------------------------------------------
Dominican Today reports that an estimated RD$23.0 billion
(US$479.2 million) will be allocated in the bill for the 2018
Budget to cover the electricity subsidy, almost one-third less
than this year's RD$31.5 billion.

The figure would be 0.6% of GDP for 2018, instead of the 1% that
was allocated for this year, according to Dominican Today.

Government projections suggest that the price of fuels will be
lower next year, which would help reduce the energy bill and, as a
result, the amount of electricity subsidy, the report notes.  In
the budget bill, the West Texas Intermediate (WTI) oil is
estimated to average US$49.2 per barrel, slightly below the
US$49.5 established for this year, the report relays.

And despite that the proposed budget was submitted for debate to
Congress around two weeks ago, there's virtually no mention of the
Punta Catalina coal-fired power plant, for which no allocation was
earmarked for 2018, the report discloses.

The forecast is that the facility will start to operate by yearend
2018, which could reduce energy prices and, therefore, lower the
subsidy, the report adds.



======================
P U E R T O    R I C O
======================


TSAWD HOLDINGS: Wins Bid for Summary Judgment vs. O2Cool
---------------------------------------------------------
TSA Stores, Inc., and Yusen Logistics (Americas) Inc. filed a
Joint Motion for Summary Judgment in an adversary proceeding
captioned O2COOL, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company,
Plaintiffs, v. TSA STORES, INC. BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.; WELLS FARGO
BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION; WILMINGTON SAVINGS FUND SOCIETY, FSB;
YUSEN LOGISTICS (AMERICAS) INC.; and OOCL (USA), INC., Defendants,
Adv. No. 16-51014 (MFW) (Bankr. D. Del.).

In its Complaint, O2Cool seeks a determination that, inter alia,
certain goods that were shipped to TSA Stores from O2Cool were not
property of the estate and have, consequently, been converted. The
Movants contend that they are entitled to a ruling that these
goods are property of the estate.

Because the Court finds that the Movants have satisfied their
burden that there is no genuine dispute of material fact and that
they are entitled to a finding in their favor, Judge Mary F.
Walrath of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware
granted the Motion for Summary Judgment.

O2Cool commenced the adversary proceeding against TSA Stores,
Yusen, and others in the Debtors' chapter 11 bankruptcy case on
June 21, 2016. In Count I, O2Cool seeks a determination that the
Goods are not property of the estate and that certain parties are
required to complete an accounting of such Goods and proceeds
derived therefrom. In Count II, O2Cool requests a judgment stating
that it has rights to the Goods superior to certain lenders. In
Count III, O2Cool seeks a determination that the Defendants have
converted its property, namely, the Goods.

The Movants assert that the Goods remained property of the
Debtors' estates and could be sold by them because O2Cool failed
to exercise its reclamation rights after TSA Stores received the
Goods.  Therefore, they ask for judgment on Count III
(conversion).

A seller's right to stop goods from being delivered to a buyer
ceases once the buyer receives the goods. Instead, a seller has
only the right of reclamation once a buyer takes possession of the
goods. UCC section 2-702 states that "[w]here the seller discovers
that the buyer has received goods on credit while insolvent he or
she may reclaim the goods upon demand made within ten days after
the receipt."

O2Cool admits that it did not timely seek to reclaim the Goods. As
a result, the Court concludes that TSA Stores and Yusen are
entitled to summary judgment on Count III of the Complaint.

The Movants also argue that because the Stop Shipment Notices were
ineffective, O2Cool did not retain any rights in the Goods that
are superior to the Lenders. While O2Cool asserts that there is a
factual dispute as to when TSA Stores received actual possession
of the Goods, the Court finds that dispute is not material because
the Stop Shipment Notices never became effective. Therefore, the
Court concludes that the Movants are entitled to summary judgment
on Count II of the Complaint as well.

The bankruptcy case is In re: TSAWD HOLDINGS, INC., et al. Chapter
11, Debtors. O2COOL, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company,
Plaintiffs, v. TSA STORES, INC. BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.; WELLS FARGO
BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION; WILMINGTON SAVINGS FUND SOCIETY, FSB;
YUSEN LOGISTICS (AMERICAS) INC.; and OOCL (USA), INC., Defendants,
Case No. 16-10527 (MFW) (Bankr. D. Del.).

A copy of Judge Walrath's Memorandum Opinion dated Sept. 20, 2017,
is available at https://is.gd/VgTsJ7 from Leagle.com

O2Cool, LLC, Plaintiff, represented by Yesha Bennett, Campbell &
Levine, LLC, Mark T. Hurford -- mhurford@camlev.com -- Campbell &
Levine, LLC, Katherine H. Oblak -- koblak@hmblaw.com -- Horwood
Marcus & Berk, Chartered & Jason M. Torf, Horwood Marcus --
jtorf@hmblaw.com --& Berk Chartered.

TSA STORES, INC., Defendant, represented by Andrew L. Magaziner --
amagaziner@ycst.com -- Young Conaway Stargatt & Taylor, LLP &
Michael S. Neiburg -- mneiburg@ycst.com -- Young Conaway Stargatt
& Taylor, LLP.

Bank Of America, N.A., Defendant, represented by Paul Samson --
psamson@riemerlaw.com -- Riemer & Brauistern LLP & Gregory A.
Taylor gtaylor@ashby-geddes.com -- Ashby & Geddes.

Wells Fargo Bank, Defendant, represented by Andrew Dean, Richards,
Layton & Finger, P.A..

WILMINGTON SAVINGS FUND SOCIETY, FSB, Defendant, represented by
Daniel B. Butz -- dbutz@mnat.com -- Morris, Nichols, Arsht &
Tunnell LLP.

Yusen Logistics (Americas) Inc., Defendant, represented by Simon
E. Fraser -- sfraser@cozen.com -- Cozen O'Connor, Rachel
Hollander, Olasov + Hollander LLP & David M. Olasov, Olasov &
Hollander LLP.

OOCL (USA) Inc., Defendant, represented by Alfred J. Kuffler --
akuffler@mmwr.com -- Montgomery, McCracken, Walker & Rhoads,
Richard G. Placey -- rplacey@mmwr.com -- Montgomery, McCracken,
Walker & Rhoads LLP & Rick Aaron Steinberg --
rsteinberg@pricemeese.com -- Price Meese Shulman & D'Arminio, P.C.

Kurtzman Carson Consultants LLC, Claims Agent, represented by
Albert Kass, Kurtzman Carson Consultants, LLC.

                  About TSAWD Holdings Inc.

TSAWD Holdings Inc., formerly known as Sports Authority Holdings,
and its affiliates are sporting goods retailers with roots dating
back to 1928.  The Debtors currently operate 464 stores and five
distribution centers across 40 U.S. states and Puerto Rico.  The
Debtors offer a broad selection of goods from a wide array of
household and specialty brands, including Adidas, Asics, Brooks,
Columbia, FitBit, Hanesbrands, Icon Health and Fitness, Nike, The
North Face, and Under Armour, in addition to their own private
label brands.  The Debtors employ 13,000 people.

TSAWD and six of its affiliates filed Chapter 11 bankruptcy
petitions (Bankr. D. Del. Case Nos. 16-10527 to 16-10533) on March
2, 2016.  The petitions were signed by Michael E. Foss as chairman
and chief executive officer.

The Debtors have engaged Robert A. Klyman, Esq., Matthew J.
Williams, Esq., Jeremy L. Graves, Esq., and Sabina Jacobs, Esq.,
at Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP as general counsel; Michael R.
Nestor, Esq., Kenneth J. Enos, Esq., and Andrew L. Magaziner,
Esq., at Young Conaway Stargatt & Taylor, LLP as co-counsel;
Rothschild Inc. as investment banker; FTI Consulting, Inc., as
financial advisor; and Kurtzman Carson Consultants LLC as notice,
claims, solicitation, balloting and tabulation agent.

Andrew Vara, Acting U.S. trustee for Region 3, appointed seven
creditors of Sports Authority Holdings Inc. to serve on the
official committee of unsecured creditors.  Lawyers at Pachulski
Stang Ziehl & Jones LLP represent the Official Committee of
Unsecured Creditors.

                      *     *     *

In May 2016, the Delaware Court allowed Sports Authority to
proceed with the liquidation of all of its roughly 450 stores
across the country after the Debtors resolved or beat out about
100 objections to the sale.  Judge Mary F. Walrath approved an
agreement for a joint venture of Gordon Brothers Retail Partners
LLC, Hilco Merchant Resources LLC and Tiger Capital Group LLC to
conduct going out of business sales.  The Joint Venture won an
auction for the Debtors' inventory.  The Debtors failed to obtain
a winning going-concern bid at a May 17, 2016 auction.

In July 2016, Judge Walrath approved the sale of the Debtors'
intellectual property and more than two dozens of property leases
to Dick's Sporting Goods Inc.  A Wall Street Journal report,
citing anonymous sources, said Dick's bid was for $15 million.


TSAWD HOLDINGS: Bradford Buying Fresh & Easy Claim for $77K
-----------------------------------------------------------
TSAWD Holdings, Inc., and affiliates ask the U.S. Bankruptcy Court
for the District of Delaware to authorize the sale of the claim
they owned in In re Fresh & Easy, LLC., Bankruptcy Case No.
15-12220 (Bankr. D. Del.) (BLS) to Bradford Capital Holdings, LP
or its designee or permitted assignee for $77,477.

A hearing on the Motion is set for Oct. 31, 2017 at 10:30 a.m.
(ET).  The objection deadline is Oct. 24, 2017 at 4:00 p.m. (ET).

The Fresh & Easy Claim comprises the Debtors' right, title, and
interest in one general unsecured claim (Claim No. 960) they held
in the Fresh & Easy Bankruptcy Case, which is pending in the U.S.
Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware.  The Fresh & Easy
Claim was reconciled by Fresh & Easy, LLC in the Fresh & Easy
Bankruptcy Case, reduced to reflect an agreed-upon rejection
damage claim in the amount of $407,774, and subsequently allowed.

As such, the Fresh & Easy Claim remains on the official claims
register maintained in the Fresh & Easy Bankruptcy Case, and
entitled to a distribution under the Fresh & Easy's liquidation
plan.

The Fresh & Easy Plan was confirmed by the Court on April 27,
2017, and it is the Debtors' understanding that allowed claims
will receive distributions in accordance therewith sometime in the
next calendar year.

As demonstrated in the Fresh & Easy Plan, the related disclosure
statement and at hearings thereon, it is currently anticipated
that Class 4 General Unsecured Claims, as classified in the Fresh
& Easy Plan, will receive between 14% and 26% on allowed claims,
contingent, in part, on the claim objection process.  Given the
recent claim objection deadline extension, the possibility that
the new deadline will be further extended, and the uncertainty
surrounding the estimated recovery for general unsecured claims
such as the Fresh & Easy Claim held by TSA Stores, Inc., the
Debtors entertained interest in such claim to buttress collection
efforts in these Chapter 11 Cases in an efficient and prudent
manner.

The Debtors engaged with the Purchaser because they knew the
Purchaser participated in the claims buying industry and, in an
effort to gauge the market's interest in the Fresh & Easy Claim,
the Debtors invited an offer from the Purchaser for such claim.
After multiple rounds of negotiations, the Debtors determined that
the Purchase Price appropriately reflects the risks involved in
purchasing the Fresh & Easy Claim and the timing restrictions
which are out of the Debtors' control.

The parties entered into Assignment of Claim Agreement, dated as
of Oct. 10, 2017.  Pursuant to the terms and conditions of the
Assignment Agreement, and subject to the Court's approval, the
Debtors propose to sell the Fresh & Easy Claim on an "as is, where
is" basis, free and clear of all liens, claims, encumbrances and
other interests.

The salient terms of the Agreement are:

     a. Legal Description of the Fresh & Easy Claim: Claim No.
        960, a general unsecured claim, in In re Fresh & Easy,
        LLC, Bankruptcy Case No. 15-12220 (Bankr. D. Del.) (BLS)

     b. Purchase Price: $77,477

     c. Effective Date: The Assignment Agreement becomes effective
        on the date an order approving the Sale is entered in the
        Chapter 11 Cases

     d. Relief from Bankruptcy Rule 6004(h): The Proposed Order
        provides that the provisions of Bankruptcy Rule 6004(h)
        will be waived.

     e. Sale Free and Clear: The Proposed Order provides that the
        Fresh & Easy Claim will be transferred to the Purchaser
        free and clear of all liens, claims, encumbrances, and
        interests of any kind or nature.

A copy of the Agreement attached to the Motion is available for
free at http://bankrupt.com/misc/TSAWD_Holdings_3839_Sales.pdf

The Debtors submit that there is more than ample business
justification to sell the Fresh & Easy Claim to the Purchaser
through a private transaction rather than conducting a public sale
or second auction process.  Given the anticipated recovery on
account of the Fresh & Easy Claim, they and their advisors do not
believe that an auction is appropriate under the circumstances.
Given the value which the estates will realize if the Assignment
Agreement is consummated, the Debtors believe that proceeding as
proposed is in the best interest of their estates and creditors.
Accordingly, the Debtors ask the Court to approve the relief
sought.

The Debtors further ask that the Order approving the Sale be
effective immediately by providing for the waiver of the 14-day
stay period under Bankruptcy Rule 6004(h).  Promptly closing the
Sale is of critical importance to the Purchaser and to the Debtors
in their efforts to maximize and monetize the value of the Fresh &
Easy Claim.

The Purchaser can be reached at:

          BRADFORD CAPITAL HOLDINGS, L.P.
          Attn: Brian L. Brager
          P.O. Box 4353
          Clifton, NJ 7012

                   About TSAWD Holdings Inc.

TSAWD Holdings Inc., formerly known as Sports Authority Holdings,
and its affiliates are sporting goods retailers with roots dating
back to 1928.  The Debtors currently operate 464 stores and five
distribution centers across 40 U.S. states and Puerto Rico.  The
Debtors offer a broad selection of goods from a wide array of
household and specialty brands, including Adidas, Asics, Brooks,
Columbia, FitBit, Hanesbrands, Icon Health and Fitness, Nike, The
North Face, and Under Armour, in addition to their own private
label brands.  The Debtors employ 13,000 people.

TSAWD and six of its affiliates filed Chapter 11 bankruptcy
petitions (Bankr. D. Del. Case Nos. 16-10527 to 16-10533) on March
2, 2016.  The petitions were signed by Michael E. Foss as chairman
and chief executive officer.

The Debtors have engaged Robert A. Klyman, Esq., Matthew J.
Williams, Esq., Jeremy L. Graves, Esq., and Sabina Jacobs, Esq.,
at Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP as general counsel; Michael R.
Nestor, Esq., Kenneth J. Enos, Esq., and Andrew L. Magaziner,
Esq., at Young Conaway Stargatt & Taylor, LLP as co-counsel;
Rothschild Inc. as investment banker; FTI Consulting, Inc., as
financial advisor; and Kurtzman Carson Consultants LLC as notice,
claims, solicitation, balloting and tabulation agent.

Andrew Vara, Acting U.S. trustee for Region 3, appointed seven
creditors of Sports Authority Holdings Inc. to serve on the
official committee of unsecured creditors.  Lawyers at Pachulski
Stang Ziehl & Jones LLP represent the Official Committee of
Unsecured Creditors.

                      *     *     *

In May 2016, the Delaware Court allowed Sports Authority to
proceed with the liquidation of all of its roughly 450 stores
across the country after the Debtors resolved or beat out about
100 objections to the sale.  Judge Mary F. Walrath approved an
agreement for a joint venture of Gordon Brothers Retail Partners
LLC, Hilco Merchant Resources LLC and Tiger Capital Group LLC to
conduct going out of business sales.  The Joint Venture won an
auction for the Debtors' inventory.  The Debtors failed to obtain
a winning going-concern bid at a May 17, 2016 auction.

In July 2016, Judge Walrath approved the sale of the Debtors'
intellectual property and more than two dozens of property leases
to Dick's Sporting Goods Inc.  A Wall Street Journal report,
citing anonymous sources, said Dick's bid was for $15 million.



================================
T R I N I D A D  &  T O B A G O
================================


PTSC: Workers Protest Over Injured Mechanic
-------------------------------------------
Trinidad and Tobago Newsday reports that workers at the Public
Transport Service Corporation (PTSC), San Fernando, downed tools
and walked off the job, after one of their employees suffered a
broken leg when an unmanned bus pinned him against a steel work
table.

Adell Mohammed was taken to the San Fernando General Hospital,
where he is still warded, according to Trinidad and Tobago
Newsday.

After the incident, workers at the engineering department refused
to work demanding that PTSC make their environment safe and
provide a reliable service for the travelling public, the report
notes.

Ken Ramdath, branch secretary of the Transport and Industrial
Workers Union (TIWU) explained that while Mohammed was at his work
station, an electrician was instructed by his supervisor to start
a bus, not from the ignition, but from the back, the report
relays.

"The bus was started but like it went into a gear for itself and
it start to move forward so fast that it pinned Mohammed against
the work table," the report quoted Mr. Ramdath as saying.

The electrician tried to stop the bus, trying to engage the hand
brakes, which was not working and then the reverse gear, the
report notes.  The bus rolled back and slammed into another bus
behind, but it was too late for Mohammed, the report relays.  Mr.
Ramdath said the accident could have been prevented if proper
maintenance were done on those buses, the report notes.

The report notes that Mr. Ramdath added, "The hand brakes was not
working, the foot brakes was not working.  When the union went in,
we saw there were no chucks on the wheels."  Mr. Ramdath said they
had repeatedly complained about the buses, which had outgrown
their usefulness and needed to be replaced, the report says.

Mr. Ramdath said workers in the engineering department were
traumatised and scared, because their lives were at risk due to
lax safety measures, the report notes.

Mr. Ramdath said the compound was not safe either as there was no
wire fence to secure it, the report discloses.

"We operate on a 24 hour basis and external forces walk in and out
of the compound.  Workers have to constantly be looking behind
their backs to make sure they are not attacked and robbed," Mr.
Ramdath said, the report notes.

"Recently one of our colleagues was killed. We want to work. We
want to make a positive contribution, but we need the public
support.  We also need those in authority to stop making
compromises and provide a safe environment for workers.

"The union is taking a firm stand on this issue of safety," Mr.
Ramdath added.



=============
U R U G U A Y
=============


URUGUAY: Gets $100MM-IDB Loan for CCLIP to Boost Productivity
-------------------------------------------------------------
The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) has approved a $100
million Conditional Credit Line for Investment Projects (CCLIP) to
boost corporate productivity in Uruguay by fostering innovation,
entrepreneurship, research and human capital.

This credit line includes an initial $25 million loan to help
consolidate public policies on Science, Technology and Innovation
by providing technical and financial support to the National
Agency for Research and Innovation (ANII, after its Spanish
initials), which will be the program's executing agency.

The operation aims to rise private investment in innovation. To
this end, it will focus on two major goals: strengthening early-
financing availability for innovative ventures, and increasing the
offer of advanced human capital in an effort to meet the demands
of the productive sector. It will also provide support to ANII's
institutional capabilities to achieve these goals.

The loan's lines of support include validation of new technologies
and innovative business ideas, seed money for innovative ventures,
business incubator services, support for early investment funds
management, and public-private co-investment of these funds in
innovative undertakings. In addition, it will finance student
grants for master's and doctoral courses both at home and abroad,
mechanisms for national and international circulation of talent,
and the insertion of postgraduate students in Uruguayan companies
embarked on innovative projects.

While Uruguay's national innovation system has significant
strengths such as political stability and adequate legal framework
and information technology infrastructure, there are other areas
where it is lagging behind? R&D investment is only 0.36% of GDP,
way below that of successful economies (3.9%), while a merely 30%
if this investment comes from the private sector, compared with
60% in more advanced countries.

Some of the main obstacles that private investment in R&D face in
Uruguay are lack of financing for innovation and innovating
ventures, limited supply of advanced human capital, low level of
collaboration between universities and industries, and a failure
of research efforts to focus on the country's challenges, among
others. Bridging these gaps requires long-term policies and stable
financing in order to strengthen institutional capabilities.

The loan is for a 25-year term, including a 5.5-year grace period,
at a LIBOR-based interest rate.



=================
V E N E Z U E L A
=================


VENEZUELA: Holds State Elections
--------------------------------
Alianza News reports that voters are heading to the polls for
gubernatorial elections in Venezuela's 23 states.

President Nicolas Maduro called on citizens to "vote
conscientiously" to "consolidate peace" in the South American
country, according to Alianza News.

"We are all going to vote conscientiously, the National
Constituent Assembly (ANC) has called this first election, called
by them under their plenipotentiary powers," Mr. Maduro said in an
address broadcast by state-owned VTV, the report relays.

Polling places opened at 6:00 a.m. and no incidents have been
reported, VTV said, the report notes.

Half of election precincts opened within 30 minutes of the
official start time and there is a "good flow" of voters, National
Electoral Council (CNE) Chief Tibisay Lucena told VTV, the report
relays.

Carlos Ocariz, the opposition candidate for governor in the north-
central stae of Miranda, said polling places in the anti-
government bastion of Chacao opened late due to a lack of election
workers, the report relays.

The MUD opposition alliance, meanwhile, said state media outlets
were trying to help pro-government candidates win the elections,
the report discloses.

"All the national system radio stations in the public media and,
especially, Radio Nacional de Venezuela (RNV) have been engaged in
banned campaigning since the early morning hours," MUD campaign
chief Gerardo Blyde said in a press conference, the report relays.

Public media outlets "are airing different messages in favor of
the government's candidates and against the unity candidates," an
"absolute violation of the law," the report quoted Mr. Blyde as
saying.

The official campaign period ended on Oct. 12.

Governing Venezuelan Socialist Unity Party (PSUV) first vice
president Diosdado Cabello, for his part, warned that the winners
in Sunday's elections would have to take an oath before the
constituent assembly, the report relays.

As reported in the Troubled Company Reporter-Latin America on
Sept. 28, 2017, S&P Global Ratings suspended its 'CCC-' local
currency issue ratings on four of the Bolivarian Republic of
Venezuela's local currency-denominated debt issues. S&P said, "At
the same time, S&P affirmed our 'CCC-' long-term foreign and local
currency sovereign issuer credit ratings. The outlook on the long-
term ratings is negative. In addition, we affirmed our 'C' short-
term foreign and local currency sovereign issuer credit ratings.
The transfer and convertibility assessment remains 'CCC-'."


                            ***********


Monday's edition of the TCR-LA delivers a list of indicative
prices for bond issues that reportedly trade well below par.
Prices are obtained by TCR-LA editors from a variety of outside
sources during the prior week we think are reliable.   Those
sources may not, however, be complete or accurate.  The Monday
Bond Pricing table is compiled on the Friday prior to publication.
Prices reported are not intended to reflect actual trades.  Prices
for actual trades are probably different.  Our objective is to
share information, not make markets in publicly traded securities.
Nothing in the TCR-LA constitutes an offer or solicitation to buy
or sell any security of any kind.  It is likely that some entity
affiliated with a TCR-LA editor holds some position in the
issuers' public debt and equity securities about which we report.

Tuesday's edition of the TCR-LA features a list of companies with
insolvent balance sheets obtained by our editors based on the
latest balance sheets publicly available a day prior to
publication.  At first glance, this list may look like the
definitive compilation of stocks that are ideal to sell short.
Don't be fooled.  Assets, for example, reported at historical cost
net of depreciation may understate the true value of a firm's
assets.  A company may establish reserves on its balance sheet for
liabilities that may never materialize.  The prices at which
equity securities trade in public market are determined by more
than a balance sheet solvency test.

Submissions about insolvency-related conferences are encouraged.
Send announcements to conferences@bankrupt.com


                            ***********


S U B S C R I P T I O N   I N F O R M A T I O N

Troubled Company Reporter-Latin America is a daily newsletter
co-published by Bankruptcy Creditors' Service, Inc., Fairless
Hills, Pennsylvania, USA, and Beard Group, Inc., Washington, D.C.,
USA, Marites O. Claro, Joy A. Agravante, Rousel Elaine T.
Fernandez, Julie Anne L. Toledo, Ivy B. Magdadaro, and Peter A.
Chapman, Editors.

Copyright 2017.  All rights reserved.  ISSN 1529-2746.

This material is copyrighted and any commercial use, resale or
publication in any form (including e-mail forwarding, electronic
re-mailing and photocopying) is strictly prohibited without prior
written permission of the publishers.

Information contained herein is obtained from sources believed to
be reliable, but is not guaranteed.

The TCR Latin America subscription rate is US$775 per half-year,
delivered via e-mail.  Additional e-mail subscriptions for members
of the same firm for the term of the initial subscription or
balance thereof are US$25 each.  For subscription information,
contact Peter A. Chapman at 215-945-7000 or Joseph Cardillo at
856-381-8268.


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