FTX Customers Could Get $9B Shortfall Claim Payout By Mid-2024

Customers of bankrupt crypto exchange FTX and FTX US could see over 90% of assets returned to them by the end of the second quarter of 2024 after a proposed settlement was reached between FTX creditors and debtors.

On Oct. 17, FTX debtors said they reached a “major milestone” in their Chapter 11 case after “extensive discussions” with the unsecured creditors’ committee, a committee of non-US customers, and class action plaintiffs regarding customer property disputes.

FTX ebtors filed a notice of the proposed settlement to a Delaware-based United States Bankruptcy Court on Oct. 16 (for information purposes). However, they need to submit an official filing by Dec. 16 seeking the court’s approval.

(1/4) The FTX Debtors have announced another major milestone in their chapter 11 cases.

— FTX (@FTX_Official) October 17, 2023

Part of the amended plan consists of the “Shortfall Claim,” in which FTX debtors estimates that customers of FTX.com and FTX US would collectively receive 90% of assets available for distribution.

The Shortfall Claim is estimated to be approximately $8.9 billion for FTX.com and $166 million for FTX US. If approved by the Bankruptcy Court, FTX expects these funds to be disbursed by the end of the second quarter of 2024.

John. J. Ray III, CEO and chief restructuring officer of the FTX, was pleased with the terms of the settlement:

“Together, starting in the most challenging financial disaster I have seen, the debtors and their creditors have created enormous value from a situation that easily could have been a near-total loss for customers.”

The amended plan involves FTX dividing the assets into three pools — assets segregated for the benefit of FTX.com customers, U.S. customers and a general pool of other assets. However, only the first two groups are included in the Shortfall Claim.

The Plan Term Sheet is a compromise between the Committee, the Debtors, the ad hoc customer committee and other representatives on a range of issues that balance the rights of customer and non-customer creditors across the U.S. and foreign debtors.

— Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors of FTX (@FTX_Committee) October 17, 2023

FTX debtors however anticipate that customers of both exchanges will not be paid in full and that FTX.com would likely see a greater percentage of losses.