What Is Chapter 15 Bankruptcy? (2024)

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David Haynes

David Haynes is a full-time attorney experienced in basic bankruptcy concepts, as well as secured transactions, liens, and lawsuits in bankruptcy court. He currently serves as the senior attorney and privacy officer at the Office of Systems Integration in Sacramento. Over the course of the last decade, he has written about complex bankruptcy topics for various publications, including The Balance and the Loyola Los Angeles Entertainment Law Review. He also provides legal advice relating to complex, sensitive, and high-profile IT contracts.

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Updated on February 3, 2022

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Thomas J. Catalano

What Is Chapter 15 Bankruptcy? (1)

Thomas J Catalano is a CFP and Registered Investment Adviser with the state of South Carolina, where he launched his own financial advisory firm in 2018.Thomas' experience gives him expertise in a variety of areas including investments, retirement, insurance, and financial planning.

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What Is Chapter 15 Bankruptcy? (2)

Definition

Chapter 15 bankruptcy is legal filing that allows a foreign debtor to file for bankruptcy in the United States court system. It is used for insolvency cases that involve people or businesses with assets in more than one country.

Key Takeaways

  • Chapter 15 bankruptcy allows a foreign debtor to file for bankruptcy in the United States.
  • It is used for insolvency cases that involve people or businesses with assets in more than one country.
  • Chapter 15's primary objectives are to increase international cooperation and legal certainty for businesses and individuals that hold assets in multiple countries.
  • A Chapter 15 proceeding is generally the secondary bankruptcy proceeding for the foreign individual or entity, with the main one taking place in a foreign country.

Definition and Example of Chapter 15 Bankruptcy

Chapter 15 bankruptcy allows foreign nationals to file for bankruptcy in the U.S. bankruptcy courts if they have assets, property, or business in multiple countries, including the United States. It was added to the Bankruptcy Code in 2005 by the Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act. Chapter 15 is the newest adoption of the Model Law on Cross-Border Insolvency, which was created by the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law ("UNCITRAL") in 1997.

Note

Chapter 15 replaced section 304 of the Bankruptcy Code.

Chapter 15 bankruptcy is found in the United States Code, 11 U.S.C. §15. It has five primary objectives:

  • Cooperation between the courts and parties of interest in the United States with the courts, parties of interest, and other authorities of foreign countries involved in international insolvency cases.
  • Increased legal certainty for trade and investment.
  • Efficient and fair administration of cross-border insolvencies while protecting the interests of all creditors and interested parties, including the debtor.
  • Protect and maximize the value of the debtor's assets.
  • Facilitate the rescue of financially troubled businesses to protect investment and preserve employment.

A Chapter 15 proceeding is generally the secondary bankruptcy proceeding for the foreign individual or entity. The main proceeding typically takes place in the foreigner's home country.

Note

A foreign company may choose to file a case under Chapter 7 or Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code, instead of Chapter 15, if itsassets or entanglements with U.S. commerce are sufficiently complex.

How Chapter 15 Bankruptcy Works

A foreign company may choose to file a Chapter 15 proceeding if an insolvency case is pending in another country. When this happens, the petition must prove that the foreign proceeding exists.

After the filing, the bankruptcy court will designate the foreign proceeding as either "foreign main proceeding" or "foreign non-main proceeding," with the difference being that in a non-main proceeding, the debtor does not have its main interests in that country. Upon the recognition of a foreign main proceeding, the automatic stay goes into effect in the United States to protect the assets of the foreign debtor that are within the United States.

Once a foreign entity files for bankruptcy under Chapter 15, the U.S. bankruptcy court can authorize the appointment of a trustee or examiner to act in the other country on behalf of the bankruptcy estate in the United States. Chapter 15 also:

  • Allows U.S. courts to offer additional aid to foreign representatives when the laws of the foreign country do not violate U.S. laws.
  • Allows U.S. courts to offer additional assistance to foreign nationals filing bankruptcy cases when the laws of the foreign court may be lacking.
  • Gives foreign creditors the right to participate in bankruptcy cases in the U.S.
  • Prevents discrimination against foreign creditors in bankruptcy cases.
  • Requires notice to foreign creditors in bankruptcy cases filed in the U.S.
  • Gives foreign creditors the right to file claims in U.S. bankruptcy cases.

The U.S. bankruptcy court is instructed to "cooperate to the maximum extent possible" with foreign courts and entities, so the U.S. court will defer to many actions of the foreign court in Chapter 15 cases. This approach promotes cooperation with foreign nations and courts not only in allowing for a foreign entity to protect its rights in the United Statesbut also to avoid excessive interference in aforeign country's affairs.

Note

Chapter 15 is one of the least-used types of bankruptcy in the United States system. Chapter 9, bankruptcy for municipalities, is also infrequently used.

Notable Happenings

Since it was created, few cases have been filed under Chapter 15 each year.

Chapter 15 Bankruptcy Cases Filed in the U.S.
Year# of Cases
20056*
200675
200742
200876
2009136
2010124
201158
2012121
201388
201458
201591
2016179
201786
2018100
2019130
2020236

As of the first quarter of 2021, the highest number of Chapter 15 bankruptcy cases have been filed in 2009, 2016, 2019, and 2020.

During the spring of 2020, a number of foreign companies filed for Chapter 15 bankruptcy, including:

  • French media company Technicolor SA
  • Canadian tea distributor DAVIDsTEA
  • Australian airline Virgin Australia
  • Canadian circus company Cirque du Soleil Entertainment Group

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Sources

The Balance uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

  1. United States Courts. "Chapter 15 - Bankruptcy Basics: Ancillary and Other Cross-Border Cases." Accessed Feb. 3, 2022.

  2. GovInfo.gov. "US Code 2010: Title 11 - Bankruptcy: Chapter 15 - Ancillary and Other Cross-Boarder Cases." Accessed Feb. 3, 2022.

  3. GovInfo.gov. "US Code 2010: Title 11 - Bankruptcy: Chapter 15 - Ancillary and Other Cross-Boarder Cases: Subchapter IV - Cooperate with Foreign Courts and Foreign Representatives." Accessed Feb. 3, 2022.

  4. American Bankruptcy Institute. "Chapter 15 Quarterly Filings (2005- Present) Ancillary and Other Cross-Border Cases." Accessed Feb. 3, 2022.

  5. Animation World Network. "Technicolor Files for Chapter 15 in US Citing COVID-19 Impact." Accessed Feb. 3, 2022.

  6. DAVIDsTEA. "DAVIDsTEA to Implement Restructuring Plan Under Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act." Accessed Feb. 3, 2022.

  7. Deloitte. "Virgin Australia Holdings Limited and Subsidiaries Chapter 15 information (United States)." Accessed Feb. 3, 2022.

  8. Cirque du Soleil. "Press Releases: Cirque du Soleil Entertainment Group Announces Comprehensive Plan to Restart Business." Accessed Feb. 3, 2022.

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What Is Chapter 15 Bankruptcy? (2024)

FAQs

What Is Chapter 15 Bankruptcy? ›

Chapter 15 – This chapter of the bankruptcy code allows for the recognition in the U.S. of foreign bankruptcy proceedings and access to domestic judicial proceedings by foreign representatives. Find detailed information for all chapters of bankruptcy on the U.S. Courts Bankruptcy Basics Web page.

What is the purpose of Chapter 15 bankruptcy? ›

One of the most important goals of chapter 15 is to promote cooperation and communication between U.S. courts and parties of interest with foreign courts and parties of interest in cross-border cases.

What is the difference between Chapter 11 and Chapter 15 bankruptcy? ›

In contrast to a case under Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code, which centralizes a company's debt adjustment efforts in the U.S. and provides for expansive oversight and supervision by a U.S. court, a Chapter 15 recognition proceeding is an ancillary proceeding in which the U.S. court acknowledges the foreign ...

What is a Chapter 15 discharge? ›

Chapter 15

(1) hom*osexual conduct is engaging in, attempting to engage in, or soliciting another to engage in a hom*osexual act or acts; a statement by the Soldier that he or she is a hom*osexual or bisexual, or words to that effect; or marriage or attempted marriage to a person known to be of the same biological sex.

What happens in Chapter 13 of bankruptcy? ›

This chapter of the Bankruptcy Code provides for adjustment of debts of an individual with regular income. Chapter 13 allows a debtor to keep property and pay debts over time, usually three to five years.

What do you lose in Chapter 11 bankruptcy? ›

The Chapter 11 Debtor in Possession

A corporation exists separate and apart from its owners, the stockholders. The chapter 11 bankruptcy case of a corporation (corporation as debtor) does not put the personal assets of the stockholders at risk other than the value of their investment in the company's stock.

Why should you not file for bankruptcies? ›

You Could Hurt Your Job Prospects

Depending on the type of bankruptcy you file, a record of your bankruptcy can be on your credit report for seven to 10 years. 6 Many employers have no interest in checking your credit score, but you give them the right to do so when you approve a background check.

Is Chapter 11 bankruptcy worth it? ›

Chapter 11 reorganization is not necessarily terminal for a business. It can provide relief from unsustainable debt levels, the ability to unravel burdensome contracts, and breathing room to develop a plan. Once a debtor and its creditors reach agreement, the business starts fresh with a new balance sheet.

How long will a bankruptcy affect your credit history? ›

The bankruptcy will be reflected on your credit score for as long as 7-to-10 years depending on the type of bankruptcy you enter. Until the nation's three large credit-rating bureaus remove the bankruptcy from your credit report, any potential lender will know you filed a bankruptcy.

What happens to debt when you file Chapter 13? ›

Chapter 13 allows debtors to repay all, or a significant portion, of their debts in 3-5 years under a court-ordered plan. The most common debts discharged in a Chapter 13 proceeding are medical bills, credit card debt and personal loans.

Who gets paid first in chapter 11? ›

Secured creditors like banks are going to get paid first. This is because their credit is secured by assets—typically ones that your business controls.

What is a Chapter 10 discharge? ›

a. Chapter 10 provides that a member who has committed an offense or offenses for which the authorized punishment included a punitive discharge may submit a request for discharge for the good of the service in lieu of trial by court-martial. The request may be submitted at any time after charges have been preferred.

What is a Chapter 7 discharge? ›

The Chapter 7 Discharge. A discharge releases individual debtors from personal liability for most debts and prevents the creditors owed those debts from taking any collection actions against the debtor.

Is it better to file Chapter 7 or 13? ›

You Can Keep Property You'd Lose in Chapter 7

However, there's a catch. You must pay its value through the repayment plan. So, if you have nonexempt property you can't bear to part with and can afford to pay to keep it, Chapter 13 bankruptcy might be the better choice.

Is Chapter 7 or 13 worse? ›

Generally, Chapter 7 is more appropriate for simple cases while Chapter 13 for more complicated bankruptcies. Or somewhat more accurately, Chapter 13 can give you more power over and flexibility with certain kinds of creditors, and if you have non-exempt assets.

Is it cheaper to file Chapter 7 or 13? ›

What Is the Cheapest Type of Bankruptcy? Not only are the fees of Chapter 7 bankruptcy lower, but you also end up paying less to your creditors. While Chapter 7 only requires that you pay the value of your liquidated assets, a Chapter 13 bankruptcy could result in you paying far more over three to five years.

What is the purpose of Chapter 12 bankruptcy? ›

Background. Chapter 12 is designed for "family farmers" or "family fishermen" with "regular annual income." It enables financially distressed family farmers and fishermen to propose and carry out a plan to repay all or part of their debts.

What is the Chapter 15 Title 11 Code? ›

Chapter 15, Title 11, United States Code United States bankruptcy code that deals with jurisdiction in certain bankruptcy cases. Under Chapter 15, a representative of a corporate bankruptcy proceeding outside the United States can obtain access to the U.S. courts.

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