General Growth files restructuring plan

General Growth Properties, the second-largest shopping mall owner in the country, which operates Boca Raton’s Mizner Park mall, has filed a $9.7 billion mortgage loan restructuring plan in bankruptcy court, a move that could inch the troubled company closer to removing 166 of its malls from bankruptcy protection. Speculation has abounded that the company could exit bankruptcy protection by the end of the year — if the plan is confirmed Dec. 15, the group could accomplish this goal. Still, General Growth Properties has $11.7 billion in debt to account for, and must reach pacts with lenders for that debt before it’s out of the woods. “We will continue to work with our other secured mortgage lenders and are hopeful that we will reach additional consensual agreements quickly,” Thomas Nolan, COO of General Growth, said. TRD