Chapter 11: The Drink of Choice Public companies tend to try to file under Chapter 11 rather than Chapter 7 because it allows them to still run their businesses and control the bankruptcy process. Rather than simply turning over its assets to a trustee, a company undergoing Chapter 11 has the opportunity to restructure its financial framework and be profitable again. If it fails, all assets are liquidated and stakeholders are paid off according to absolute priority.
Keep in mind that Chapter 11 isn't a get-out-of-jail-free card. When a company files for Chapter 11, that company is assigned a committee that represents the interests of creditors and stockholders. This committee works with the company to develop a plan to reorganize the company and to get it out of debt, reshaping it into a profitable entity. Shareholders may be given a vote on the plan, but as their priority is second to all creditors, this is never guaranteed. If no suitable reorganization plan can be prepared by the committee and confirmed by the courts, shareholders may not be able to stop their company's assets from being sold off to pay creditors. (For related reading, check out Finding Profit In Troubled Stocks.)
News 
Market Data 
Discover 
AI
