ADDITIONAL CASES GLM DFW, Inc., Appellant, v. Windstream Holdings Inc., et al., Appellees OPINION AND ORDER Before the Court is the appeal of Appellant GLM DFW, Inc. (“GLM”) from the Bankruptcy Court’s April 22, 2019 Final Order Authorizing the Debtors to Pay Certain Prepetition Claims of (I) Critical Vendors, (II) Lien Claimants, and (III) Section 503(b)(9) Claimants in the Ordinary Course of Business on a Postpetition Basis, (Bankr. Doc. 377 (“Final Order”)).1 For the following reasons, the Bankruptcy Court’s order is AFFIRMED. I. BACKGROUND Debtors-Appellees Windstream Holdings, Inc., et al. (“Debtors”) are providers of “advanced network communications and technology solutions for businesses across the United States”; “offer broadband, entertainment and security solutions to consumers and small businesses primarily in rural areas in 18 states”; and “supply core transport solutions on a local and long-haul fiber network spanning approximately 150,000 miles.” (Bankr. Doc. 2 5.) GLM “provided waste management, hauling, and recycling brokerage and advisory services” to Debtors, and is a prepetition creditor of Debtors “with an unsecured claim for almost $2 million.” (Doc. 8 (“GLM’s Mem.”) at 5.) GLM provided services to Debtors “pursuant to an executory contract under which it would have been obligated to continue to perform [after Debtors' bankruptcy filing] pending the Debtors’ decision to assume or reject (or GLM’s obtaining relief from the Bankruptcy Court).” (Doc. 9 (“Debtors’ Mem.”) at 2.) On February 25, 2019, Debtors filed voluntary petitions for relief under chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code (the “Bankruptcy Code” or the “Code”). (Bankr. Doc. 1.) After filing their petitions, Debtors “continue[d] to operate their business and manage their property as debtors in possession pursuant to sections 1107(a) and 1108 of the Bankruptcy Code.” (Bankr. Doc. 2 7.) The same day that Debtors filed their Chapter 11 petitions, they filed a motion for “Entry of Interim and Final Orders Authorizing the Debtors to Pay Certain Prepetition Claims of (I) Critical Vendors, (II) Lien Claimants, and (III) Section 503(b)(9) Claimants in the Ordinary Course of Business on a Postpetition Basis.” (Bankr. Doc. 16 (“Vendor Motion”).) In their motion, Debtors noted that they “identified approximately 263 vendors as Critical Vendors” and “believe[d] they owed the Critical Vendors approximately $80 million,” which was approximately twenty percent of Debtors’ outstanding accounts payable. (Id.
