Greece has threatened to default on any of its bondholders who do not take part in a €206bn debt restructuring that officials believe is key to returning Athens to solvency, a move that turns up the heat on potential holdouts ahead of a deadline tomorrow.
The Greek public debt management agency said in a statement that Athens “does not contemplate the availability of funds” to pay private investors who hold on to their bonds once the restructuring occurs. The transaction is projected to wipe €100bn from Greece’s debt pile, but 95 per cent of bondholders must participate for that target to be reached.
“There is no commitment not to pay, but there is a threat,” said Charles Blitzer, a former senior IMF official.