Forward Motions

Caesars Entertainment Operating Co., the bankrupt unit o

Patriot Coal Corp. hopes to secure a judge’s permission next week for the latest iteration of its chapter 11 exit plan as well as transactions that would hand the company’s West Virginia mines to new owners.

Blink and you missed it, but Hercules Offshore Inc. is set to ask for court approval of its bankruptcy-exit plan next week, concluding its month-long case.

On Thursday, the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Wilmington, Del., will consider the rig operator’s proposal to hand ownership of the restructured company to bondholders in exchange for $1.2 billion in debt forgiveness.

Next week in bankruptcy, Patriot Coal Corp. will kick off a series of hearings on Monday, including a request to sell off its remaining mines and a trial over its bid to reject the labor agreements governing its union members.

Patriot has asked Judge Keith Phillips of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Richmond, Va., for permission to terminate a union contract that includes pension contributions and health benefits for its union miner retirees.

Energy Future Holdings Corp. on Tuesday will ask the bankruptcy court to grant initial approval of its restructuring deal, allowing it to begin to poll creditors and move a step closer to exiting chapter 11.