Michigan

The counterparties to Detroit's interest-rate swaps mounted their first public defense of a controversial settlement with the city Friday, arguing that the derivatives are legally secured and warning that litigation would be costly and painful for Detroiters.

Three Detroit-area hospital systems said Friday they plan to merge into a single $2.8 billion system.

The bond insurers that wrap Detroit's unlimited-tax general obligation bonds have been ordered into a Monday mediation session with the city several weeks after the judge overseeing the case said he would issue a ruling on whether or not the city can treat the debt as unsecured.

Detroit has reportedly yet to finalize a crucial settlement with its interest-rate swap counterparties.

Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder told local reporters that he wants Detroit to reach an agreement with its retirees to help advance legislation that would appropriate $350 million in state funds for the city's unfunded pensions.

After Gov. Rick Snyder affirmed his declaration of fiscal emergency, the Detroit Suburb of Royal Oak Township now has seven days to choose one of four options, including Chapter 9, to address the problem.

A pair of bond insurers filed lawsuits this week challenging key aspects of Detroit's bankruptcy debt plan, litigation that could derail the city's goal of exiting by the fall.

Syncora is challenging Detroit's latest attempt to settle with its interest-rate swap counterparties, a day after FGIC filed a challenge to the city's lawsuit attempting to invalidate its pension certificates.

Bond insurer Financial Guaranty Insurance Company has asked the bankruptcy court overseeing Detroit's Chapter 9 to allow it to intervene in a city lawsuit that attempts to repudiate $1.4 billion of pension certificate debt.

Michigan lawmakers passed a $330 million mid-year 2014 budget supplemental bill last week that features more road money for local governments hit hard by the harsh winter.

Six months after first announcing a deal, bankrupt Detroit is still struggling to secure a key debtor-in-possession loan with Barclays.

Detroit's high-profile battle with its bondholders will likely have limited impact in the national market, as general obligation pledges vary widely across the country, Moody's Investors Service said in a new report.

Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder said Monday that the financial emergency in Benton Harbor is officially resolved and the city is leaving emergency management.

The city of Holland, in western Michigan, is gearing up for a $160 million bond sale to raise funds for a new natural gas power plant, its largest borrowing ever.

Work is set to begin this summer on a controversial $3.3 billion bridge spanning the Detroit River despite a lack of commitment of expected funds in President Barack Obama's budget.

Market observers say no Detroit scenarios are on the Northeast municipal finance horizon and some situations have improved, notably in Pennsylvania and Rhode Island

U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Steven Rhodes pushed back by one month a trial date on the city's plan of debt adjustment after bond insurers and other creditors asked for more time to respond to the controversial plan.

Detroit in a court filing Thursday said it has reached agreement with Barclays Inc. for a $120 million debtor-in-possession financing.

Detroit Wednesday asked the bankruptcy court to set a March 20 date for a hearing on its latest settlement with its interest-rate swap counterparties, calling it key to the city's overall plan of debt adjustment.

Detroit has reached a new settlement with its interest-rate swap counterparties that could significantly boost its efforts to pursue a cramdown plan of adjustment if necessary.