Rite Aid, one of the largest U.S. pharmacy chains, received permission from a U.S. judge on Thursday to begin voting on a bankruptcy restructuring plan that would turn over most of the company's equity to its bondholders, while still leaving open the possibility of a sale. U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Michael Kaplan approved Rite Aid's voting proposal at a court hearing in Trenton, New Jersey, saying that the bankruptcy case needed to move quickly to avoid further restructuring costs that could push the company into liquidation. Rite Aid's bankruptcy plan, revised on Thursday, would cut $2 billion in debt and provide $47.5 million to junior creditors, including individuals and local governments who have sued the company for allegedly ignoring red flags and illegally filling prescriptions for addictive opioid medication.