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Delaware Judge Narrows Jevic to Prohibit Only End-of-Case Priority Skipping
San Antonio Tour Operator Exits Bankruptcy
San Antonio’s City Tours Inc. emerged from bankruptcy yesterday almost 14 months after it sought protection from creditors because of troubles with its airport-shuttle business, the San Antonio Express-News reported yesterday. Chief U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Ronald King confirmed the chapter 11 reorganization plan for City Tours, which operates a charter bus service, along with double decker buses and trolleys offering tours of San Antonio. City Tours filed for bankruptcy reorganization in July 2016, blaming increased competition from Uber and Lyft for siphoning away revenue from its SuperShuttle shared-ride service at San Antonio International Airport. City Tours’ downtown hotel shuttle contract at the airport was not renewed and expired at the end of May. The company also attributed its financial difficulties to airport construction, which led to the relocation of its ticket counters away from passenger traffic areas, according to a July court filing.

Third-Party Releases Approved Without Awaiting the Outcome of Merit Management
Rue21 Wins Confirmation of Chapter 11 Turnaround Plan
Ailing retailer rue21 got a fresh start in bankruptcy court, and its exiting owners, Apax Partners, got out from under the threat of lawsuits from vendors, landlords and other creditors owed $409 million, the Wall Street Journal reported today. A seller of low-cost apparel and accessories to young adults, rue21 blamed “an evolution in customer tastes” and competition from online sellers of goods for its financial distress, and closed 396 stores. Rue21 expects to have 780 stores in operation when it exits bankruptcy, court papers said. When it emerges from bankruptcy, rue21 will have beaten the odds against large store chains. Retailers such as Sports Authority and American Apparel, once familiar sights in shopping areas across the country, were swept under and liquidated in bankruptcy. Reorganized, rue21 will be worth from $340 million to $465 million, its advisers estimate, with $700 million in financial debt erased from the books. Read more. (Subscription required.)
What does the future hold for retail bankruptcies? Be sure to attend ABI’s Bankruptcy 2017: Views from the Bench on October 17.
