My Chapter 11 Bankruptcy

How to save your business from its troubles

Article Site Map             Contact             About            Chapter 11 Bankruptcy   

Chapter 11 bankruptcy
How Chapter 11 Reorganization Makes Business Sense

The rationale behind chapter 11 reorganization is simple—save the business. If the business debt exceeds that of the income, then many times the stockholders or sole proprietor get nothing after the court pays the creditors. However, many businesses can resurface with some good sound restructuring of their debt. The courts want to keep businesses afloat. Therefore, they do their best to evaluate honestly what they can do for the business.

Chapter 11 reorganization, as opposed to Chapter 7, does not sell assets to cover the debt. If a business owner is unprepared when dealing with the courts, the judge may decide the creditors should own the company, or the court may simply liquefy the business to pay off the contractual obligations and debt.

Chapter 11 reorganization can include canceling debts for unsecured loans, union contract obligations, other operational contracts, and real estate leases. This reorganization allows the company to get out from under some debt and hopefully bounce back to a profitable company. That is the goal of this type of reorganization. Businesses that fail can hurt the economy, so keeping these businesses going can help a community and much more.

Chapter 11 reorganization is not the end of a business. It can be a new beginning. With many businesses, the process seems overwhelming and insurmountable, but with help from professionals, the company can benefit.



Filing for a Chapter 11 Bankruptcy


How Chapter 11 Bankruptcy can help (and hurt) your failing business

 

 

The goal of Chapter 11 bankruptcy laws is to protect the company. During a bankruptcy filing, the business owner has no rights, the unsecured creditors have a few and the secured creditors have many rights to the business's capital. In short Chapter 11 takes care of the company's interests first and the secured creditors second. The unsecured creditors and the owner must fend for themselves.

That said an incorporated business can successfully come out of Chapter 11 bankruptcy. If they want to reduce their debt and have plans for a new business strategy, Chapter 11 may be the right move. Under such circumstances, the business must have enough cash in the bank to file for bankruptcy protection and pay the legal fees. If the business cannot afford the lawyer, then the court will later liquidate the business to pay the fees and the business will have to close its doors.

Procedure for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy

The most common reason companies file for bankruptcy is because they cannot afford to pay their debts. Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection is a last resort once a company realizes its debt payments have surpassed its incoming sales. However, businesses can make their unsecured creditors aware of their inability to pay. Often these creditors will not press further for repayments, although they can appear before the court to discuss their claims. They also can also appoint representatives to negotiate a settlement with the business in debt.

The procedure for filing a case under Chapter 11 bankruptcy is as follows:

i) The company asks for protection under Chapter 11.

ii) The court, lenders and creditors take all available financial information on the company and analyze it.

iii) The business prepares a reorganization plan. This must include amounts and the times the business will pay all creditors. After the court and creditors approve the reorganization plan, it becomes the blueprint for the future of the company. However, the judge will only accept this plan if it covers the following details:

a) Status of the debtor company's capital structure.
b) Availability of financing and credits in future.
c) The earning capacity of the company after complete reorganization and its ability pay the creditors.
d) Stability of the management.
e) The Industry’s general economic conditions.
f) The general economic condition of the company’s geographic regions of operation.

Finally, filing for a Chapter 11 bankruptcy has one more important part. It is the disclosure statement. This statement gives projected on business sales, financial settlements under the new plan with creditors and the estimates of the company’s liquidation value.

Fix your business and avoid Chapter 11 bankruptcy.

 

 
©Copyright MyChapter11Bankruptcy.Com