EXCLUSIVE-Key Venezuela creditor group set to appoint Houlihan as adviser, sources say

By Libby George and Rodrigo Campos

LONDON/NEW YORK, Feb 9 (Reuters) - A key group of holders of Venezuela's defaulted sovereign bonds is poised to appoint Houlihan Lokey HLI.N as financial adviser, two sources told Reuters on Monday.

Venezuela's government and state oil firm PDVSA defaulted in 2017 on bonds with a combined face value of around $60 billion, while the country's total external debt including other obligations, bilateral loans and arbitration awards is estimated at between $150 billion and $170 billion.

The seizure of President Nicolas Maduro by the U.S. in early January has fuelled hopes that one of the largest and most complex sovereign debt restructurings ever could get under way.

The sources familiar with the situation could not be named due to the sensitivity of the situation.

The Venezuela Creditor Committee said on January 9 it was ready to start debt restructuring talks once authorization for such discussions was granted.

U.S. sanctions currently prevent engagement with the Venezuelan government without a waiver or special license.

Houlihan did not immediately reply to a request for comment.

The VCC's legal adviser, Orrick, declined to comment on the appointment.

Members of the VCC include Grantham Mayo Van Otterloo & Co, Greylock Capital Management, Fidelity Management & Research Company, Fidera, HBK Capital Management, Mangart Capital, Morgan Stanley Investment Management, T. Rowe Price Associates and VR Advisory Services, according to the statement from the group in January.