Clauses & Controversies

Clauses and Controversies: A Podcast about International Finance, Contract Clauses and the Controversies Surrounding These Clauses

Clauses & Controversies is a education podcast hosted by Mitu Gulati & Mark Weidemaier, with 179 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80. PitchCentric scores this show on Booking Probability, Listen Score, and live audience signals refreshed every 24 hours.

Mitu Gulati & Mark Weidemaier hosts Clauses & Controversies, a education show with 179 episodes published.

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  Clauses & Controversies

  Ep 179 - Ethiopia’s Value Recovery Instruments

  Aug 3, 202636 min

  Ethiopia’s Value Recovery Instruments Value recovery instruments are a great idea in theory and a disaster in practice. The idea is to let investors share in the upside of a country’s recovery. But governments rarely want to pay and the instruments quickly migrate into the hands of investors with little stake in the recovery. Everyone involved looks to exploit loopholes. And since the instruments seemingly are drafted at the last minute, there are plenty of those. But maybe after several tries, Ethiopia has found a way to crack the code? Producer: Leanna Doty

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  Clauses & Controversies

  Ep 178 - $240 Billion?!

  Jul 13, 202635 min

  $240 Billion?! Venezuela's debt is purportedly $240 billion, larger than previous estimates by far. What gives? Is this a way to signal to investors that they should be prepared to take larger-than-expected haircuts? Or, maybe more likely, a signal that favored creditors — insiders? oil majors? — will have their claims inflated and thus can expect outsized recoveries? We probably won't know until the IMF completes its usual rigorous assessment of the country's debt and debt sustainability. Oh, wait... Producer: Leanna Doty

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  Clauses & Controversies

  Ep 177 - Is it Finally Time to Restructure Venezuela’s Debt?

  Jun 15, 202631 min

  Is it Finally Time to Restructure Venezuela’s Debt? Ever since Venezuela was allowed to hire advisors on its debt restructuring, rumors have been swirling about whether the restructuring might be attempted even before an IMF Debt Sustainability Analysis. Such a scenario is plausible, given the current context. But is it good for the Venezuelan people? Hell no. This is potentially going to be the most complicated debt restructuring in history. And it is going to be done without the involvement of the only competent institution (despite our frequent criticisms of it) in this space? In prior eras, we’d count on the US Treasury Department to insist on IMF oversight and active involvement. But can we count on that today? Producer: Leanna Doty

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  Clauses & Controversies

  Ep 176 - 1917 Tsarist Bonds

  Jun 1, 202635 min

  1917 Tsarist Bonds We know we promised to talk about Venezuela. But we got distracted by a filing in the district courts in DC. A claim for payment on Tsarist bonds from 1917, being made in 2026. How could we pass that up? We also confess to being intrigued that the lawyers for Russia have asked that the judge in DC — Judge Friedrich — give Rule 11 sanctions against the plaintiffs. There are clear potential barriers to this claim on the merits but asking for Rule 11 sanctions on this basis seems a bit rich. Plus, we love the resuscitation of old Tsarist or Imperial bonds. Producer: Leanna Doty

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  Clauses & Controversies

  Ep 175 - The Most Amazing Revolution

  May 18, 202639 min

  The Most Amazing Revolution In spring 1917, the United States government lent money to the new Provisional Government in Russia, which had promised both domestic reform and to maintain the fight against Germany. Within a few short months, the Bolsheviks took over and repudiated all prior international debt. Still unpaid, the loans have now been in default nearly 150 times longer than they were current. We have talked about these loans before, but not about the repeated attempts (in the 1930s and 1990s) to reach a settlement. Some of the loan proceeds went to efforts to keep the Bolsheviks from power? Did the succeeding governments have to repay those debts? Producer: Leanna Doty

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