Struggling to figure out how to sell DVDs and CDs in a download-driven world, Toronto-based movie and music seller Cinram International Inc. has filed for bankruptcy protection while its executives move to sell its operations, Dow Jones DBR Small Cap reported. The company and several affiliates that it controls filed for Chapter 15 protection in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Wilmington, Del., to block the consequences that it would face when its agreement with its biggest lenders expires on June 30.

Acknowledging his concern that Canada’s housing market is overheating, Finance Minister Jim Flaherty is clamping down with four changes to mortgage insurance rules, The Globe and Mail reported. At a news conference in Ottawa, Mr. Flaherty confirmed that Ottawa will reduce the maximum amortization period to 25 years from 30 years. Secondly, the maximum amount of equity homeowners can take out of their homes in a refinancing is being reduced to 80 per cent from 85 per cent.

Catalyst Paper has announced that it is getting another chance to settle with creditors, Canada.com reported on a story from The Citizen. The company, whose holdings include the Crofton mill, has received approval from the court for additional meetings of its secured and unsecured creditors to consider a further amended plan of arrangement under the Companies' Creditors Arrangement Act. These meetings are scheduled for June 25.

Helicopter equipment and repair company Northstar Aerospace Inc. is filing for creditor protection in both Canada and the United States while it arranges the sale of its business for more than US$70 million, the Winnipeg Free Press reported. The troubled Chicago-area concern said Thursday that its U.S. subsidiaries, Northstar Aerospace (USA) Inc., Northstar Aerospace (Chicago) Inc., Derlan USA Inc. and D-Velco Manufacturing of Arizona Inc. have filed Chapter 11 petitions in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware. Meanwhile, Northstar Aerospace (Canada) Inc.

Air Canada and Aveos have reached an agreement that will help facilitate a sale of some assets of the bankrupt aircraft maintenance firm, and the airline promised to offer some service contracts to a buyer of the Aveos assets, Reuters reported. Aveos Fleet Performance Inc, once the airline's maintenance division, halted operations in March and laid off roughly 2,600 workers, most of whom were employed at maintenance centers in Montreal, Winnipeg and Vancouver. The monitor's report said Air Canada has agreed to waive any rent on facilities leased by Aveos until Sept. 30.

Lawyers who advise companies on insolvency proceedings, lenders for emergency financing for companies seeking court protection while they are restructuring and pension matters are closely watching the outcome of Supreme Court of Canada’s hearing today of an appeal in what has become known as the Indalex case, The Gazette Moves Deals And Takes blog reported.

Catalyst Paper Corp, a Canadian paper and pulp producer under creditor protection, will attempt to sell its assets after a proposed restructuring plan failed to win the backing of its unsecured lenders, Reuters reported. The plan won overwhelming support from its secured lenders, but fell slightly short of the two-thirds backing it needed from unsecured lenders, the Richmond, British Columbia-based company said. The company was granted creditor protection in January, as it attempted to restructure its business.

Canada's largest securities regulator alleged Tuesday that Sino-Forest Corp. and certain former executives inflated timber purchases and sales, capping an 11-month investigation into the troubled forest-products company, The Wall Street Journal Deals & Deal Makers blog reported. The Ontario Securities Commission signaled last month it would file fraud allegations against the company, after issuing a so-called enforcement notice. A spokesman for Sino-Forest, which conducts most of its business in China, declined to comment.

Home developer Unity Builders Group is seeking creditor protection after betting too heavily on luxury homes and condos in Alberta and the United States, the Edmonton Journal reported. The Calgary-based business, known for its Greenboro brand among others, is $180 million in debt to lending agencies and banks, with almost 10 per cent of that amount owed to trades, according to an affidavit filed by company founder Robert Friesen.

Canada's largest airline Air Canada warned on Thursday that its first-quarter results would be hurt by a C$120 million charge related to the creditor protection filing of its former maintenance unit Aveos, Reuters reported. The airline, struggling for months amid wildcat strikes and a series of feuds with its unions, said it expects to report quarterly earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, amortization and aircraft rent of between C$170 million and C$180 million.