Plastic Bag Manufacturer Hilex Poly Files Bankruptcy Petition, Seeks Approval of Prepack

Hilex Poly Co. LLC, which touts itself as the word's largest manufacturer of plastic bags, has filed a petition for relief under Chapter 11 of the United States Bankruptcy Code.  The debtor filed the petition on May 6, 2008 in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware.  The Honorable Kevin J. Carey is presiding over this case.

At the first day hearings in the case, Judge Carey granted interim approval of over $140 million in debtor-in-possession financing from prepetition lenders who include GE Capital Corp., Morgan Stanley Senior Funding, Inc. and others.  Judge Carey set a final hearing on this financing plan for May 27, 2008.

The debtor is proposing a prepackaged plan of reorganization under which existing equity would be wiped out.  Under the proposed plan, a new company, to be called Hilex Poly Investors Corp., would be created, with all equity in the new entity divided among the debtor's first and second lien holders.  While first lien holders will be made whole under the proposed plan, second lien holders will realize forty  (40) cents on each dollar.  General unsecured claims are anticipated to pass through the case unaffected, and are proposed to be paid in the ordinary course by the new company.  On May 7, 2008, Judge Carey scheduled a plan confirmation hearing for June 12, 2008 at 10:00 a.m.

Tropicana Entertainment Case Files in Delaware

Last evening, Tropicana Entertainment LLC and affiliated companies filed petitions under Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware.  The debtors, whose casino operations include the landmark Tropicana Casino & Resort in Las Vegas, and ten (10) other casinos, have arranged $67 million in debtor-in-possession financing from Silver Point Finance LLC.

Tropicana has been in the news because New Jersey regulators stripped the debtors of their license to operate the Tropicana Resort and Casino Atlantic City.  This event set off a crisis that culminated in these filings.  After New Jersey stripped the debtors of their license to operate the Tropicana Atlantic City, the Indiana Gaming Commission ruled that the failure to renew the New Jersey license imperils the debtors' ability to operate the Casino Aztar Evansville.  The debtors agreed to sell the Aztar to resolve this issue with the Indiana Gaming Commission.

The Tropicana Atlantic City, which currently is operated by a trustee, and the Casino Aztar Evansville, will likely be sold under section 363 of the Bankruptcy Code.  The debtors hope to use the bankruptcy process to restructure their businesses and continue to operate their remaining casinos and other business interests.   The Honorable Kevin J. Carey is presiding over these cases.

Updated: Leiner Health Products Inc. Files Chapter 11 Petition

Leiner Health Products Inc., a manufacturer of store brand vitamins, minerals, and nutritional supplements, today filed a voluntary Chapter 11 petition in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware.  The Honorable Kevin J. Carey is presiding over the case.

According to the website the debtor has set up to disseminate information about its case, “Leiner intends to use the Chapter 11 process to restructure its debt obligations and explore the sale of the business.”  

Related entities filing petitions today include LHP Holding Corp., Leiner Health Products, LLC and Leiner Health Services Corp.

UPDATED ON MARCH 11, 2008:
The debtors have filed a motion seeking approval of debtor-in-possession financing in the amount of $74 million.  The proposed maturity date of this DIP facility is the earlier of July 31, 2008, or other possible events in the case including the closing date of a sale of all or substantially all the debtor's assets under section 363 of the Bankruptcy Code, the conversion of the case to a case under Chapter 7, the effective date of a plan of reorganization, the date on which all the loans have been repaid in full or the date of the termination of all of the commitments under the DIP facility.

The first day hearing in this case is scheduled for March 12, 2008 at 11:00 a.m.