TV Azteca Borrowed $290M From Saint Lucia Lender Before Bankruptcy
Mexican broadcaster TV Azteca obtained a credit line of up to US$290 million from AlterBank, a Saint Lucia-registered lender, in January, shortly before seeking bankruptcy protection. Investigative outlets Armando.info and El Faro reported the arrangement, and Proceso followed up. TV Azteca says the financing was lawful and used for tax payments, while creditor Bank of New York Mellon has asked a US court to examine whether the transfer was fraudulent.
The credit arrangement was dated 29 January 2026, with repayment scheduled for July, according to BankruptcyData and creditor statements in a Miami court. TV Azteca sought Mexico's concurso mercantil in September; five subsidiaries, among them Ganador Azteca, filed separately on 18 September.
The broadcaster owes creditors roughly 24 billion pesos, about US$1.4 billion, and is restructuring under judicial oversight. AlterBank is described as a Saint Lucia-registered entity with three staff. Proceso named two Venezuelans behind it, reporting alleged ties to El Salvador's government; none of the claims has been tested in court.
The restructuring may affect TV Azteca's employees, suppliers, viewers and creditors, who could face uncertainty over jobs, programming and recoveries. Because the company says the loan went to tax payments, questions about offshore financing could shape public trust in media ownership and in how insolvency cases are supervised. A US court's review of the transfer may also influence how creditors pursue claims, though outcomes remain uncertain and no wrongdoing has been established.