Chapter 11 Proceedings

Chapter 11 Proceedings

Provisions of the Bankruptcy Reform Act under which the debtor firm is reorganized by a court because the estimated value of the reorganized firm exceeds the expected proceeds from its liquidation.

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Chapter 11

The process of the reorganization of a bankrupt company under the supervision of a court or the appropriate regulator. Chapter 11 proceedings require a reorganization plan, which is filed with the bankruptcy court or regulator and describes how an insolvent company will change structurally to help it pay its debts and stay in business. This plan is subject to court or regulator oversight to ensure enforcement. Depending upon the specific plan, a company's original owner or managers may maintain control. Other times, the company's creditors become the new owners of the business; this especially happens when one or more creditors have had their debt completely discharged. Changes also must occur structurally (perhaps in risk management or marketing or perhaps in something more fundamental) to ensure that the bankruptcy does not repeat itself.