438
Opinion of the Court
an Illinois real estate limited partnership.2 The Bank lent the Debtor some $93 million, secured by a nonrecourse first mortgage 3 on the Debtor's principal asset, 15 floors of an office building in downtown Chicago. In January 1995, the Debtor defaulted, and the Bank began foreclosure in a state court.
In March, the Debtor responded with a voluntary petition for relief under Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code, 11 U. S. C. § 1101 et seq., which automatically stayed the fore-closure proceedings, see § 362(a). In re 203 N. LaSalle Street Partnership, 126 F. 3d 955, 958 (CA7 1997); Bank of America, Illinois v. 203 N. LaSalle Street Partnership, 195 B. R. 692, 696 (ND Ill. 1996). The Debtor's principal objective was to ensure that its partners retained title to the property so as to avoid roughly $20 million in personal tax liabilities, which would fall due if the Bank foreclosed. 126 F. 3d, at 958; 195 B. R., at 698. The Debtor proceeded to propose a reorganization plan during the 120-day period when it alone had the right to do so, see 11 U. S. C. § 1121(b); see also § 1121(c) (exclusivity period extends to 180 days if the debtor files plan within the initial 120 days).4 The Bankruptcy Court rejected the Bank's motion to terminate the period of exclusivity to make way for a plan of its own to
2 The limited partners in this case are considered the Debtor's equity holders under the Bankruptcy Code, see 11 U. S. C. §§ 101(16), (17), and the Debtor Partnership's actions may be understood as taken on behalf of its equity holders.
3 A nonrecourse loan requires the Bank to look only to the Debtor's collateral for payment. But see n. 6, infra.
4 The Debtor filed an initial plan on April 13, 1995, and amended it on May 12, 1995. The Bank objected, and the Bankruptcy Court rejected the plan on the ground that it was not feasible. See § 1129(a)(11). The Debtor submitted a new plan on September 11, 1995. In re 203 N. La-Salle, 126 F. 3d 955, 958-959 (CA7 1997).
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