In a pivotal moment for Celsius Network LLC and its affiliates, the Southern District of New York Bankruptcy Court has issued a confirmation order for the modified joint Chapter 11 Plan of the crypto lender. The approval sets the stage for a significant overhaul following the tumultuous financial whirlwind that ensnared the firm.
The Long Road to Reorganization
After filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on July 13, 2022, for most debtors, and on December 7, 2022, for the GK8 debtors, Celsius has maintained its business decisions under the court’s supervision. Two months ago, Alex Mashinsky, the ex-CEO of Celsius Network, submitted a request for the dismissal of the lawsuit brought against him by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).
Celsius’s journey through bankruptcy has been marked by critical milestones, including the court-sanctioned bidding procedures to sell its assets. Notable among these was the successful bid by Galaxy Digital for the firm’s GK8 assets, underscoring a strategic shift in Celsius’s asset management. This sale, which closed on February 21, 2023, signified a turning point in the reorganization efforts, Christopher Ferraro, Celsius’s chief restructuring officer said.
As part of the restructuring process, Celsius filed its joint Chapter 11 Plan of Reorganization on March 31, 2023, which Ferraro says was repeatedly amended and supplemented to reflect evolving circumstances and stakeholder input. These amendments were part of an iterative process to refine the plan.
A pivotal auction held on April 25, 2023, for substantially all of Celsius’s assets culminated in Fahrenheit LLC being named the successful bidder, with the Blockchain Recovery Investment Consortium as the backup bidder. The entry of these players through a plan sponsor agreement, Ferraro remarked, signaled a juncture in the company’s bid to emerge from bankruptcy.
The chief restructuring officer disclosed that the road to the plan’s confirmation included the distribution of detailed disclosure statements and solicitation packages, ensuring that stakeholders were fully informed and could participate in the decision-making process. The court’s approval marks the end of a challenging period for Celsius and sets it on a new trajectory.
Amidst speculations, similar to those that surrounded FTX, Celsius might experience a resurgence under new management. The company’s native exchange token, CEL, remained stable when bankruptcy closure news began to spread across social media platforms, showing a contrast to FTT, which witnessed an 80% surge based solely on hearsay. This week, CEL has seen a modest increase of 6.3%, and it has climbed 70% over the last month, currently valued at $0.23 per coin.
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