Venezuela bondholders, creditors clash ahead of Citgo auction decision

HOUSTON (Reuters) -The auction of the parent of Venezuela-owned U.S. refiner Citgo Petroleum is turning into a heated contest between creditors trying to get compensation for the expropriation of their Venezuelan assets and holders of a defaulted bond issued by the country's oil company PDVSA. The interests of both groups have become increasingly opposed as a court in Delaware moves toward the completion of a bidding process that has lasted nearly two years and saw the supervising officer change his recommended winner last month amid a bidding war. At stake is the future of the seventh largest U.S. refiner, owned by Venezuela and found liable for the South American nation's debt.