Lehman Brothers Bankruptcy: Firm Wins Approval To End Largest Bankruptcy In U.S. History

NEW YORK - Lehman Brothers
Holdings Inc on Tuesday won court approval
for its reorganization plan, allowing it to end the largest
bankruptcy in U.S. history and a major trigger of the 2008
global financial crisis.

The approval was granted by U.S. Bankruptcy Judge James Peck
at a hearing in Manhattan. Lehman expects to begin payouts of an
estimated $65 billion to creditors early next year.

Once the fourth-largest U.S. investment bank, Lehman is now
a shell of its former self, having sold or closed many of its
operations. Peck said Lehman may now proceed with its plan to
wind down its remaining operations.

Peck spent more than three years overseeing the bankruptcy
of Lehman, which filed for protection from creditors on Sept.
15, 2008. He said that while Lehman may have been "too big too
fail," it was not too big to make it through Chapter 11.

The reorganization has cost Lehman's bankruptcy estate more
than $1.5 billion to cover fees for lawyers and advisers, as
well as other expenses.

The case is In re: Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc, U.S.
Bankruptcy Court, Southern District of New York, No. 08-13555.

(Reporting by Caroline Humer; Editing by Lisa Von Ahn)