The High Court has appointed an examiner to the Thomas Read Group, which operates a number of well-known pubs in Dublin.
The move follows the appointment last week of an interim examiner.
TRG is the operator of drinking establishments such as the Bailey, Ron Black's, the Globe and the Harbourmaster, the Winding Stair restaurant and Rí Rá nightclub as well as bars in Dublin airport
The company employs around 400 people and is €26.7m in debt.
Thomas Read Group solicitor Barry Lyons said it would be 'business as usual' for the establishments during the examinership period.
It secured a €60m refinancing package from Ulster Bank last year, but the deal is understood to have collapsed after the valuations on its premises and leases were questioned.
A report by an independent accountant has concluded that Thomas Read would have a reasonable prospect of survival.
