ITEM 4: BANKRUPTCY
On March 2, 2004, Belmont filed a petition to reorganize under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code in the District of Minnesota, 04-BR-3344. We continued to operate our business and manage our assets as a debtor-in-possession under bankruptcy court supervision. On October 2, 2005, the bankruptcy court confirmed our plan of reorganization, which restructured the rights of creditors by providing for certain payments and discharged their claims.
On March 1, 2007, Belmont Muffler Manufacturers, Inc., our affiliate, filed a petition to reorganize under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code in the District of Minnesota, 06-BR-4455.
Belmont’s president, Jane Doe, was president of Atlas, Inc., a Houston, Texas, manufacturer of automobile wheels from June 2000 until March 2002. On June 6, 2002, creditors filed an involuntary petition against Atlas for liquidation under Chapter 7 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code. In re Atlas, Inc., No. 04-BR-555 (S.D. Tex. 2002). On July 14, 2002, the bankruptcy court entered an order for relief against Atlas. A trustee was appointed; she closed Atlas’ operations, sold its assets, and distributed the proceeds to creditors in accordance with the priorities of the Bankruptcy Code.
Belmont manager of franchise operations, Philip E. Smith, filed a bankruptcy petition under the liquidation provisions of Chapter 7 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code on September 7, 1999, after obtaining employment with Belmont on January 1, 1998. In re Smith, No. 06-BR-6789 (D. Minn. 1999). On January 10, 2000, the bankruptcy court entered a discharge.
