For traders investing in one of the world’s riskiest companies, Simon Zerpa is an important man to know. He’s also a dangerous man to know.
Wall Street bankers are keeping their distance from the 33-year-old vice president of finance at Petroleos de Venezuela, the state oil company, after the Trump administration levied sanctions on him and 12 other Venezuelan nationals last week. Compliance departments at at least two major U.S. investment firms have banned meetings with Zerpa for fear of overstepping Treasury Department guidelines, according to people familiar with the matter.
