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the provisions of section 143 or 144 of this Act, such final determination shall be conclusive for all purposes under this chapter.

"SEC. 146. Without limiting the generality of the meaning of the term 'good faith', a petition shall be deemed not to be filed in good faith if

"(1) the petitioning creditors have acquired their claims for the purpose of filing the petition; or

"12) adequate relief would be obtainable by a debtor's petition under the provisions of chapter XI of this Act; or

"(3) it is unreasonable to expect that a plan of reorganization can be effected; or

"(4) a prior proceeding is pending in any court and it appears that the interests of creditors and stockholders would be best subserved in such prior proceeding.

"SEC. 147. A petition filed under this chapter improperly because adequate relief can be obtained by the debtor under chapter XI of this Act may, upon the application of the debtor, be amended to comply with the requirements of chapter XI for the filing of a debtor's petition, and shall thereafter for the purposes of chapter XI be deemed to have been originally filed thereunder.

"SEC. 148. Until otherwise ordered by the judge, an order approving a petition shall operate as a stay of a prior pending bankruptcy, mortgage foreclosure, or equity receivership proceeding, and of any act or other proceeding to enforce a lien against the debtor's property.

"SEC. 149. An order, which has become final, approving a petition filed under this chapter shall be a conclusive determination of the jurisdiction of the court.

"ARTICLE VII-PROCEEDINGS SUBSEQUENT TO APPROVAL OF PETITION

"SEC. 156. Upon the approval of a petition, the judge shall, if the indebtedness of a debtor, liquidated as to amount and not contingent as to liability, is $250,000 or over, appoint one or more trustees. Any trustee appointed under this chapter shall be disinterested and shall have the qualifications prescribed in section 45 of this Act, except that the trustee need not reside or have his office within the district. If such indebtedness is less than $250,000, the judge may appoint one or more such trustees or he may continue the debtor in possession. In any case where a trustee is appointed the judge may, for the purposes specified in section 189 of this Act, appoint as an additional trustee a person who is a director, officer, or employee of the debtor. "SEC. 157. An attorney appointed to represent a trustee under this chapter shall also be a disinterested person: Provided, however, That for any specified purposes other than to represent a trustee in conducting the proceeding under this chapter the trustee may, with the approval of the judge, employ an attorney who is not disinterested.

"SEC. 158. A person shall not be deemed disinterested, for the purposes of section 156 and section 157 of this Act, if—

"(1) he is a creditor or stockholder of the debtor; or

"(2) he is or was an underwriter of any of the outstanding securities of the debtor or within five years prior to the date of the filing of the petition was the underwriter of any securities of the debtor; or

"(3) he is, or was within two years prior to the date of the filing of the petition, a director, officer, or employee of the debtor or any such underwriter, or an attorney for the debtor or such underwriter;

or

"(4) it appears that he has, by reason of any other direct or indirect relationship to, connection with, or interest in the debtor or such underwriter, or for any reason an interest materially adverse to the interests of any class of creditors or stockholders.

"SEC. 159. Where the indebtedness of a debtor is less than $250,000, the judge may at any time terminate the appointment of a trustee and restore the debtor to the possession of its property, or, if the debtor has been continued in possession, terminate its possession and appoint a trustee.

"SEC. 160. In any case, the judge at any time, without or upon cause shown, may appoint additional trustees or remove trustees and appoint substitute trustees.

"SEC. 161. The judge shall fix a time of hearing, to be held not less than thirty days and not more than sixty days after the approval of the petition, of which hearing at least thirty days' notice shall be given by mail to the creditors, stockholders, indenture trustees, the Securities and Exchange Commission and such other persons as the judge may designate, and, if directed by the judge, by publication in such newspaper or newspapers of general circulation as the judge may designate.

"SEC. 162. At the hearing required by section 161 of this Act, or at any adjournment thereof, or, upon application, at any other time, the judge may hear objections to the continuance of the debtor in possession, or to the retention in office of a trustee upon the ground that he is not qualified or not disinterested as provided in section 158 of this Act.

"SEC. 163. Upon the approval of a petition, where the debtor is continued in possession, the debtor shall, at the expense of the estate, prepare, make oath to, and file in court, within such time as the court shall fix

"(1) a schedule of its property, showing the location, quantity, and money value thereof;

"(2) a schedule of its creditors of each class, showing the amounts and character of their claims and securities and, so far as known, the name and post-office address or place of business of each creditor; and

"(3) a schedule of its stockholders of each class showing the number and kind of shares registered in the name of each stockholder, and the last-known post-office address or place of business of each stockholder.

"SEC. 164. Upon the approval of a petition, where a debtor is not continued in possession, the court shall fix a time within which the trustee shall prepare and file in court a list of the creditors of each class, showing the amounts and character of their claims and securities and, so far as known, the name and the post-office address or place of business of each creditor; and a list of the debtor's stockholders of each class, showing the number and kind of shares registered in the name of each stockholder and the last-known post-office address or place of business of each stockholder.

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"SEC. 165. If in any case it appears that a person, other than the debtor or its trustee, has in his possession or under his control a list of security holders of the debtor or information in respect to their names, addresses, or the securities held by any of them, and such list or information is necessary in order to disclose the names and addresses of the beneficial owners of such securities, or to prepare or complete the schedules required to be filed under section 163 of this Act or the lists required to be filed under section 164 of this Act, the court shall direct such person, after a hearing upon notice to him, to produce such list or a true and correct copy thereof, or to furnish such information, or to permit the inspection or use thereof, as may be deemed by the court necessary for the foregoing purposes.

"SEC. 166. The court may, upon cause shown, direct the impounding of the schedules, lists, copies, or information filed under sections 163, 164, and 165 of this Act, but shall permit their inspection or use by the trustee, any indenture trustee or any creditor or stockholder upon such terms as the court may prescribe: Provided, That the court may refuse to permit such inspection by any creditor or stockholder who acquired his claim or stock within three months preceding the filing of the petition under this chapter or during the pendency of the proceeding.

"SEC. 167. The trustee upon his appointment and qualification

"(1) shall, if the judge shall so direct, forthwith investigate the acts, conduct, property, liabilities, and financial condition of the debtor, the operation of its business and the desirability of the continuance thereof, and any other matter relevant to the proceeding or to the formulation of a plan, and report thereon to the judge;

"(2) may, if the judge shall so direct, examine the directors and officers of the debtor and any other witnesses concerning the foregoing matters or any of them;

"(3) shall report to the judge any facts ascertained by him pertaining to fraud, misconduct, mismanagement and irregularities, and to any causes of action available to the estate;

"(4) may, subject to the approval of the judge, employ such person or persons as the judge may deem necessary for the purpose of assisting the trustee in performing the duties imposed upon him under this chapter;

"(5) shall, at the earliest date practicable, prepare and submit a brief statement of his investigation of the property, liabilities, and financial condition of the debtor, the operation of its business and the desirability of the continuance thereof, in such form and manner as the judge may direct, to the creditors, stockholders, indenture trustees, the Securities and Exchange Commission, and such other persons as the judge may designate; and

"(6) shall give notice to the creditors and stockholders that they may submit to him suggestions for the formulation of a plan, or proposals in the form of plans, within a time therein named.

"SEC. 168. If a debtor is continued in possession, the judge may at any time appoint a disinterested person as examiner to prepare and file a plan and to perform the duties imposed upon a trustee under paragraphs (1) to (5), inclusive, of section 167 of this Act, or to perform any of such duties.

"SEC. 169. Where a trustee has been appointed the judge shall fix a time within which the trustee shall prepare and file a plan, or a report of his reasons why a plan cannot be effected, and shall fix a subsequent time for a hearing on such plan or report and for the consideration of any objections which may be made or of such amendments or plans as may be proposed by the debtor or by any creditor or stockholder.

"SEC. 170. Where a debtor is continued in possession, a plan or plans may be filed, within a time fixed by the judge

"(1) by the debtor;

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(2) by any creditor or indenture trustee;

"(3) by any stockholder, if the debtor is not found to be insolvent; "(4) by the examiner, if so directed by the judge. The judge shall fix a subsequent time for a hearing on such plans and for the consideration of any objections or amendments thereto.

"SEC. 171. Notice of the time of any hearing, as provided in section 169 or section 170 of this Act, shall be given to the debtor, the creditors and stockholders, the indenture trustees, the Secretary of the Treasury, the Securities and Exchange Commission, and such. other persons as the court may designate. The judge may, upon the application of the trustee, any creditor, indenture trustee, or stockholder, advance the time of such hearing.

"SEC. 172. After the hearing, as provided in section 169 or section. 170 of this Act, and before the approval of any plan, as provided in section 174 of this Act, the judge may, if the scheduled indebtedness of the debtor does not exceed $3,000,000, and shall, if such indebtedness exceeds $3,000,000, submit to the Securities and Exchange Commission for examination and report the plan or plans which the judge regards as worthy of consideration. Such report shall be advisory only.

"SEC. 173. The judge shall not enter an order approving a plan submitted to the Securities and Exchange Commission until after the Securities and Exchange Commission has filed its report thereon or has notified the judge that it will not file a report, or until the expiration of such reasonable time for the filing of such report as the judge has fixed, whichever first occurs.

"SEC. 174. After the hearing, as provided in section 169 or section 170 of this Act, and, if a plan has been submitted to the Securities and Exchange Commission, as provided in section 172 of this Act, then after the filing of the report or notice that it will not be filed, or after the expiration of the time for its filing, whichever first occurs, the judge shall enter an order approving the plan or plans which in his opinion comply with the provisions of section 216 of this Act, and which are fair and equitable, and feasible, and shall fix a time within which the creditors and stockholders affected thereby may accept the same.

"SEC. 175. Upon the approval of a plan by the judge, the trustee or the debtor in possession shall transmit, by mail or otherwise, to all creditors and stockholders who are affected by any such plan"(1) the plan or plans so approved, together with a summary thereof approved by the judge;

"(2) the opinion of the judge, if any, approving the plan, or plans, or a summary thereof approved by the judge;

(3) the report, if any, filed in the proceeding by the Securities and Exchange Commission, as provided in section 172 of this Act, or a summary thereof prepared by the Securities and Exchange Commission; and

"(4) such other matters as the judge may deem necessary or desirable for the information of creditors and stockholders.

"SEC. 176. No person shall, without the consent of the court, solicit any acceptance, conditional or unconditional, of any plan, or any authority, conditional or unconditional, to accept any plan, whether by proxy, deposit, power of attorney or otherwise, until after the entry of an order approving such plan and the transmittal thereof to the creditors and stockholders, as provided in section 175 of this Act; and any such authority or acceptance given, procured, or received by reason of a solicitation prior to such approval and transmittal shall be invalid, unless such consent of the court has been so obtained. "SEC. 177. In case a debtor is a public-utility corporation, subject to the jurisdiction of a commission having regulatory jurisdiction over the debtor, a plan shall not be approved, as provided in section 174 of this Act, until

"(1) it shall have been submitted to each such commission;

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(2) an opportunity shall have been afforded each such commission to suggest amendments or offer objections to the plan; and "(3) the judge shall have considered such amendments or objections at a hearing at which such commission may be heard.

"SEC. 178. In case a debtor is a public utility corporation, wholly intrastate, subject to the jurisdiction of a State commission having regulatory jurisdiction over such debtor, a plan shall not be approved, as provided in section 174 of this Act, unless such State commission shall have first certified its approval of such plan as to the public interest therein and the fairness thereof. Upon its failure to certify its approval or disapproval within thirty days, or such further time as the court may prescribe, after the submission of the plan to it, as provided in section 177 of this Act, the public interest shall, for the purposes of such approval and of the confirmation of the plan, not be deemed to be affected by the plan.

"SEC. 179. After a plan has been accepted in writing, filed in court, by or on behalf of creditors holding two-thirds in amount of the claims filed and allowed of each class, and, if the debtor has not been found to be insolvent, by or on behalf of stockholders holding the majority of stock, of which proofs have been filed and allowed, of each class, exclusive of creditors or stockholders or of any class of them who are not affected by the plan or whose claims or stock are disqualified pursuant to section 203 of this Act, or for whom payment or protection has been provided as prescribed in paragraphs (7) and (8) of section 216 of this Act, the judge shall fix a hearing, upon notice to the debtor, creditors, stockholders, indenture trustees, the Secretary of the Treasury, the Securities and Exchange Commission, and such other persons as the judge may designate, for the consideration of the confirmation of the plan and of such objections as may be made to the confirmation.

"SEC 180. The order of the judge approving a plan, as provided in section 174 of this Act, shall not affect the right of the debtor, a creditor, indenture trustee, or stockholder to object to the confirmation of the plan.

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