US Bankruptcy List and Filings

Due to the economy, hundreds of large, name brand businesses will file for bankruptcy protection or simply go under in 2009, according to the estimates.

A few years ago Americans had a lot of money to spend. All kinds of business were booming. Now, in the current state of the economy, consumers are struggling and for many companies it's survival of the fittest time.

Going bankrupt can help them emerge as stronger companies?

Most of them are seeking Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection what doesn't mean the company is going out of business. It gives the company benefits such as paring debt and writing off unused facilities.

For investors willing to gamble, a company with shares trading for less than a pack of gum could offer a big return if it is able to rebound.

Studies in the last period of multiple recessions (1980 through 1993) found that returns were strong for companies that emerged from bankruptcy.

However, investors who bought companies before and during bankruptcy proceedings often lost out. The few ones who chose the right companies to invest in during the restructuring process achieved strong average returns.

Betting on restructured companies is the same as playing the lottery: It's almost impossible to predict which ones will survive.

The following is a partial list of companies that have filed for Bankruptcy protection.

Some of the companies on the bankruptcy list below could still maintain afloat and survive, get restructured and come back swinging. Many though, will sink fast or have already gone under.

Aloha Airlines
Alitalia
Appalachian Oil
ATA
Bally Total Fitness
BearingPoint Inc
Bed, Bath and Beyond
Bennigan’s
Bombay Co
Boscov's
BTWW Retail
Circuit City
CompUSA
Continental Promotion Group
Covad Communications
Downey Financial Corp
Excite@Home
Exodus Communications
Fremont General Corporation
Hollywood Video
Harold’s
IndyMac Bancorp, Inc.
KB Toys
Lenox Group Inc.
Levitz Furniture
Lillian Vernon Corp.
Linens ‘N Things
Lyondell Chemical Company
Mervyns
Midway Games Inc
NorthPoint Communications
Performance Team Freight
Pilgrim's Pride
Sharper Image
Shoe Pavilion
Skybus
Smurfit-Stone Container Corporation
Station Casinos
Steak & Ale
Steve & Barry’s
Tribune Company
Tropicana Entertainment LLC
Trump Entertainment Resorts Holdings
Washington Mutual, Inc.
Whitehall Jewelers

AND

EQUIBANC
FOXTONS INC.
FIRST MAGNUS
HOME EQUITY
LEHMAN BROTHERS
LEXINGTON LENDING
OPTIMA FUNDING

Here are the Biggest Bankruptcy Fillings in the USA.

Lehman Brothers Holdings
Assets: $691 billion
Date of filing: 09/15/08

Washington Mutual
Assets: $327.9 billion
Date of filing: 09/26/08

WorldCom
Assets: $103.9 billion
Date of filing: 07/21/02

General Motors
Assets: $91 billion
Date of filing: 6/1/09

Enron
Assets: $65.5 billion
Date of filing: 12/02/01

Conseco
Assets: $61 billion
Date of filing: 12/17/02

Chrysler
Assets: $39 billion
Date of filing: 04/30/09

Thornburg Mortgage
Assets: $36.5 billion
Date of filing: 05/01/09

Pacific Gas and Electric Co.
Assets: $36 billion
Date of filing: 04/06/01

Texaco
Assets: $34.9 billion
Date of filing: 04/12/87

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