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Maurice Sporting Goods Approved for Financial Lifeline in Bankruptcy

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Maurice Sporting Goods Inc., a privately owned distributor of outdoor sports equipment that has filed for bankruptcy, received permission Tuesday to access a financial lifeline that is intended to keep it afloat as it moves to complete a sale of the business before Christmas, WSJ Pro Bankruptcy reported. Bankruptcy Judge Christopher Sontchi of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Wilmington, Del., approved Maurice’s request to begin drawing from a $17.4 million bankruptcy loan provided by the company’s senior lender, BMO Harris Bank N.A. The order allows Maurice immediate access to up to $13.39 million on an interim basis. The court also signed off on other requests that will allow Maurice to keep the lights on as it eases into chapter 11.

21st Century Oncology, Patients Settle Battle over Data Breach

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21st Century Oncology Inc., a bankrupt cancer treatment provider, and patients whose personal information was jeopardized by a cyberattack have struck a deal that clears a significant hurdle in the company’s efforts to restructure its balance sheet, WSJ Pro Bankruptcy reported. In court papers filed on Monday with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in White Plains, N.Y., lawyers for the embattled company said the deal expunges a claim for $123 million sought by patients but sets aside insurance assets to fund any future judgments related to the data breach. Separately, the company reached a $26 million settlement with the U.S. government related to allegations of fraudulent billing practices. The settlement amount is nondischargeable and slated to be paid over five years, court papers show. 21st Century Oncology, which is continuing to treat patients while in chapter 11, says it is the world’s largest provider of integrated cancer treatment services. The cancer giant, based in Fort Myers, Fla., filed for bankruptcy in May after falling behind on debt payments. The company says that tightening insurance reimbursements and a number of costly government penalties are to blame for its financial hardship.

National Air Cargo Cleared to Leave Bankruptcy

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National Air Cargo Inc.’s debt-repayment plan has been approved by a federal judge, clearing the way for the struggling military-transport contractor to emerge from bankruptcy protection after more than three years, the Wall Street Journal reported. Founder Christopher Alf said that he is prepared to put more than $12 million into the upstate New York-based carrier, which filed for bankruptcy in October 2014 after the U.S. military cut back spending on Middle East operations. Mr. Alf and his wife, Lori, own the airline. The proposal from National Air Cargo officials to pay off a portion of the airline’s roughly $12.4 million in debt received approval from Bankruptcy Judge Michael Kaplan, according to a Nov. 9 order signed in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Buffalo, N.Y. Company officials said that at least 60 percent of that amount will be paid, but the exact dollar figure hasn’t been disclosed. It is also unclear how much money Mr. Alf will ultimately contribute. Most of National Air Cargo’s debt stemmed from a roughly $10 million legal judgment won by aircraft provider Global BTG LLC in an aircraft-leasing dispute. Global BTG officials sued National Air Cargo in February 2011, saying that the company unfairly walked away from a deal to use eight Boeing 747 cargo planes that was being arranged by Global BTG.

Bankrupt Toys ‘R’ Us Seeks Cash Bonus for Its Chief Executive

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Toys ‘R’ Us is seeking bankruptcy court permission to pay Dave Brandon, the company’s chief executive officer since 2015, a cash bonus of as much as $12 million for 2017, on top of a $2.8 million “retention” bonus he received just before the company filed for bankruptcy in September, the Wall Street Journal reported. Moreover, Brandon would be entitled to receive 40 percent of that bonus, or $4.8 million, within the first quarter of 2018, according to court filings. The request for a bonus for Brandon is part of a broader plan by Toys ‘R’ Us to award bonuses to company executives and rank-and-file employees ahead of the retailer’s crucial holiday season, the spokeswoman added. Brandon and 16 other top executives are entitled to a total of $32 million in maximum bonuses if the company’s earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (Ebitda) hits $616 million for 2017, or 22 percent below the 2016 level of $792 million. Toys ‘R’ Us’ lawyers at Kirkland & Ellis LLP have said that hitting that Ebitda level is highly unlikely, according to papers filed in court last week.

LDI to Lose Ownership of Motorsports Firm That Filed for Bankruptcy

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A motorcycle-products company controlled by Indianapolis-based business-holding firm LDI Ltd. LLC has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy after racking up about $440 million in debt. And its reorganization plan calls for replacing LDI as majority owner, the Indianapolis Business Journal reported. Motorsport Aftermarket Group (MAG) and its 18 affiliated companies filed the bankruptcy plans on Wednesday in Delaware. The Coppell, Texas-based company also disclosed a recapitalization plan that it says is expected eliminate about $300 million in debt. MAG is a manufacturer, distributor and online retailer of aftermarket products for the powersports industry. LDI has been involved with a MAG’s predecessor company since 1989 and took over majority ownership through a merger in 2014. LDI owns 59 percent of the company, according to bankruptcy documents.

Shiekh Shoes Seeks Financing to Avoid Bankruptcy

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U.S. sneaker seller Shiekh Shoes LLC is searching for financing to avoid bankruptcy, its owner Shiekh Ellahi said on Friday, as increasing online competition has caused major upheaval for brick-and-mortar retail chains, Reuters reported.  “We are struggling because of the situation with the banks and suppliers,” said Ellahi, who in 1991 founded the shoewear retailer that caters to so-called “sneakerheads” who collect funky and rare sneakers. Shiekh Shoes, which also sells streetwear apparel, has about 120 stores across 10 states stretching from California to Tennessee. If Shiekh Shoes’ attempts to find financing fail and the company files for bankruptcy, it would allow the retailer to exit its unprofitable leases, Shiekh said. Shiekh Shoes is talking to four to five banks about funding to avoid filing for bankruptcy, he said, adding that he is not in default with any creditors or landlords.

Real Industry Files for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy Protection

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Real Industry Inc. and its aluminum recycling business Real Alloy Holding Inc. filed for bankruptcy protection on Friday, the Wall Street Journal reported today. Real Industry, a publicly traded holding company, and its Beachwood, Ohio-based Real Alloy unit plus seven related companies sought chapter 11 protection in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Wilmington, Del., with funded debt obligations of some $401 million. In a declaration filed with the court, Chief Executive Michael Hobey blamed the aluminum recycling company’s financial problems on continued weakness in the steel industry and significantly lower commodity prices, which put downward pressure on the price of steel scrap and boosted demand for aluminum scrap, a key input for its business. The company was also forced to shut down its Houston aluminum recycling facility for 10 days due to Hurricane Harvey, the CEO said.

Michael Vick Set to Complete Final Payment in Bankruptcy Case

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Former NFL quarterback Michael Vick listed his mailing address in his 2008 bankruptcy filing as Leavenworth, the federal prison in Kansas where he was detained at the time, USA Today reported. The bankruptcy filing — which came a year after he pleaded guilty to a conspiracy charge related to running a dog-fighting ring — was expected after his career was interrupted by the 23-month sentence. Nine years later, however, there’s something atypical about this bankruptcy case: Vick has paid back about 99 percent of the money owed to creditors. “It’s not too often you can recover and distribute this much value in a chapter 11,” Joseph Luzinski, the liquidation trustee who has overseen disbursements to creditors since 2009, said in a statement. Vick was $17.8 million in debt when he filed for chapter 11 bankruptcy. The final payments to creditors ($1.53 million) began going out Nov. 1, according to court records. Vick has paid a total of $17.46 million in the bankruptcy case, which includes legal fees.

Plus-size Women's Clothing Retailer Files for Bankruptcy

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Less than a month after announcing it would close up to 10 stores, a plus-sized women's clothing retailer has filed for bankruptcy, NJ.com reported. Fashion to Figure filed for chapter 11 protection on Monday in bankruptcy court in Newark, N.J., according to court papers. It has 23 stores in seven states, including three in New Jersey. Fashion to Figure's CEO Michael Kaplan told NYPost.com in October that the company made a mistake in expanding into malls too quickly at a time when the retail business was changing. Kaplan is the great-grandson of Lena Bryant, who rolled out the first plus-sized clothing with the founding of Lane Bryant.

Bankrupt Manhattan Art Gallery Accused of Defrauding Clients

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Paintings by Marc Chagall, Wassily Kandinsky and the Italian surrealist Giorgio de Chirico were allegedly used by a New York art dealer to lure investors and collectors into paying hundreds of thousands of dollars for works he never owned or didn’t have a right to sell, Bloomberg News reported. At least three lawsuits filed this week against the dealer, Ezra Chowaiki, accuse him and the Park Avenue gallery in which he’s the president and a minority shareholder, of carrying out a variety of frauds. The gallery, Chowaiki & Co. Fine Art Ltd., filed for bankruptcy on Nov. 13. David Dangoor, the gallery’s Swedish director and majority owner, was also sued with buyers accusing him of knowing about Chowaiki’s frauds and failing to warn them.