Section 1112 of the House amendment represents a compromise between the House bill and Senate amendment with respect to the factors constituting cause for conversion of a case to chapter 7 or dismissal. The House amendment combines two separate factors contained in section 1112(b)(1) and section 1112(b)(2) of the Senate amendment. Section 1112(b)(1) of the House amendment permits the court to convert a case to a case under chapter 7 or to dismiss the case if there is both a continuing loss to or diminution of the estate and the absence of a reasonable likelihood of rehabilitation; requiring both factors to be present simultaneously represents a compromise from the House bill which eliminated both factors from the list of causes enumerated.
Sections 1112(c) and 1112(d) of the House amendment is derived from the House bill which differs from the Senate amendment only as a matter of style.
This section brings together all of the conversion and dismissal rules for chapter 11 cases. Subsection (a) gives the debtor an absolute right to convert a voluntarily commenced chapter 11 case in which the debtor remains in possession to a liquidation case.
Subsection (b) gives wide discretion to the court to make an appropriate disposition of the case sua sponte or upon motion of a party in interest, or the court is permitted to convert a reorganization case to a liquidation case or to dismiss the case, whichever is in the best interest of creditors and the estate, but only for cause. Cause may include the continuing loss to or dimunition [sic] of the estate of an insolvent debtor, the absence of a reasonable likelihood of rehabilitation, the inability to effectuate a plan, unreasonable delay by the debtor that is prejudicial to creditors, failure to file a plan within the appropriate time limits, denial of confirmation and any opportunity to modify or propose a new plan, revocation of confirmation and denial of confirmation of a modified plan, inability to effectuate substantial consummation of a confirmed plan, material default by the debtor under the plan, and termination of the plan by reason of the occurrence of a condition specified in the plan. This list is not exhaustive. The court will be able to consider other factors as they arise, and to use its equitable powers to reach an appropriate result in individual cases. The power of the court to act sua sponte should be used sparingly and only in emergency situations.
Subsection (c) prohibits the court from converting a case concerning a farmer or an eleemosynary institution to a liquidation case unless the debtor consents.
Subsection (d) prohibits conversion of a reorganization case to a chapter 13 case unless the debtor requests conversion and his discharge has not been granted or has been revoked.
Subsection (e) reinforces section 109 by prohibiting conversion of a chapter 11 case to a case under another chapter proceedings under which the debtor is not permitted to proceed.
The Federal Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure, referred to in subsec. (b)(4)(G), are set out in the Appendix to this title.
2010—Subsec. (b)(1). Pub. L. 111–327, § 2(a)(33)(A)(i), amended par. (1) generally. Prior to amendment, par. (1) read as follows: “Except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection, subsection (c) of this section, and section 1104(a)(3), on request of a party in interest, and after notice and a hearing, absent unusual circumstances specifically identified by the court that establish that the requested conversion or dismissal is not in the best interests of creditors and the estate, the court shall convert a case under this chapter to a case under chapter 7 or dismiss a case under this chapter, whichever is in the best interests of creditors and the estate, if the movant establishes cause.”
Subsec. (b)(2). Pub. L. 111–327, § 2(a)(33)(A)(ii)(I), inserted introductory provisions and struck out former introductory provisions which read as follows: “The relief provided in paragraph (1) shall not be granted absent unusual circumstances specifically identified by the court that establish that such relief is not in the best interests of creditors and the estate, if the debtor or another party in interest objects and establishes that—”.
Subsec. (b)(2)(B). Pub. L. 111–327, § 2(a)(33)(A)(ii)(II), substituted “converting or dismissing the case” for “granting such relief”.
Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 111–327, § 2(a)(33)(B), substituted “521(a)” for “521”.
2005—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 109–8 added subsec. (b) and struck out former subsec. (b) which consisted of introductory provisions and pars. (1) to (10) relating to conversion of cases under this chapter to chapter 7 cases or dismissal for cause in the best interest of creditors and the estate.
1994—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 103–394 inserted “or bankruptcy administrator” after “United States trustee”.
1986—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 99–554, § 224(1)(A), inserted “or the United States trustee” after “party in interest”.
Subsec. (b)(10). Pub. L. 99–554, § 224(1)(B)–(D), added par. (10).
Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 99–554, § 256, inserted reference to chapter 12 and added par. (3).
Subsecs. (e), (f). Pub. L. 99–554, § 224(2), (3), added subsec. (e) and redesignated former subsec. (e) as (f).
1984—Subsec. (a)(2). Pub. L. 98–353, § 505(a)(1), substituted “originally was commenced as an involuntary case” for “is an involuntary case originally commenced”.
Subsec. (a)(3). Pub. L. 98–353, § 505(a)(2), substituted “other than on” for “on other than”.
Subsec. (b)(5). Pub. L. 98–353, § 505(b)(1), inserted “a request made for” before “additional”.
Subsec. (b)(8). Pub. L. 98–353, § 505(b)(2), substituted “or” for “and”.
Amendment by Pub. L. 109–8 effective 180 days after
Amendment by Pub. L. 103–394 effective
Effective date and applicability of amendment by section 224 of Pub. L. 99–554 dependent upon the judicial district involved, see section 302(d), (e) of Pub. L. 99–554, set out as a note under section 581 of Title 28, Judiciary and Judicial Procedure.
Amendment by section 256 of Pub. L. 99–554 effective 30 days after
Amendment by Pub. L. 98–353 effective with respect to cases filed 90 days after