Donald Trump did it, GM did it, and Delta did it; the Rising Tide of Commercial Bankruptcies

Friday, July 10th, 2009

While details of super-sized corporate failures, like GM and Chrysler, are being splashed across front pages of newspapers and websites, grabbing our attention and garnering an inordinate amount of debate, the reality is that the vast majority of commercial bankruptcies are filed by entrepreneurs and small-business owners. The first five months of this year have shown a 52% increase in the total number of commercial bankruptcy filings. On average, during the first six months of 2009, some 350 commercial enterprises file for bankruptcy daily — an increase of 240% from 2006, the first year after the bankruptcy law was changed.

Today’s economic landscape has proven to be especially toxic to small business owners.…

Six Flags’ new thrill ride: Chapter 11

Monday, June 15th, 2009

One of the most popular amusement park companies in the world, Six Flags, is experiencing a financial rollercoaster of it’s own, having just filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. But it looks the company will come out of the economic corkscrew all smiles.

If the company’s plan is approved by the court, it will be owned primarily by its creditors. With more than $2 billion in debt, the company has been negotiating a stock for equity deal, similar to what both Chrysler and General Motors were trying to accomplish before filing for protection. The park chain’s owners could not reach a deal, which was also affected by a pending payment of $300 million to preferred stockholders.…