Impact Of Insolvency On Companies

By Author: Paul Smythe
Total Articles: 10
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When a business entity reflects a negative economic net worth, it is considered insolvent. Whenever a situation of insolvency crops up, the business entity makes an effort to get over the situation and settle the dues outstanding, through the proceeds from the sale of a part of its assets or the employment of the cash reserves.

But, sometimes there arises a phase when the entity is declared as bankrupt as the debt problems turn severe. The creditors or the management itself can approach the United States Bankruptcy Court for being termed as bankrupt. When a company is declared by the court as bankrupt, the two options that lie before it are restructuring under Chapter 11 or liquidation under Chapter 7.

A decision to demand restructure is conducted after evaluating the financial and legal impact the decision will have on the economy. On decision, an appraiser evaluates the value of the property. An insolvency practitioner, on the other hand, then works for a formal or informal restructures. An informal restructure can be an ‘extension' of the time for repayment or a ‘composition', which is a part settlement ...
... of the amount outstanding by the creditors. Informal restructure can also take the shape of mergers. But where the insolvency practitioner is forced to liquidate the company or demand a formal reorganization, it is formal restructuring. Under formal restructuring, if a decision is made to formally restructure taking into account the legal and economic prospects, the company management gets transferred to the hands of a trustee who holds a greater control over the company affairs. Losing the power of management may not be a plausible solution to the shareholders, who will, therefore, make a greater effort to avoid bankruptcy.

Moreover, the chances for revival are typically extended to larger business entities. Smaller companies are not considered under normal circumstances for this decision. Larger the companies, the greater are the scope for revival through restructuring. Even though the federal government was a ‘reluctant shareholder' who held over 61 percent stake in the auto giant, General Motors, the turnaround made by the company who is expecting a profit this year after five years of consecutive losses, has indeed saved the economy from a major catastrophe.

Also, bankruptcy might force the business entity to close down all the unprofitable divisions, leading to job cuts. The decision of General Motors to exit from the production of Saturn is an example on the repercussions of this decision.

With financial constraints being a major cause for bankruptcy, an attempt may also be made by these companies to induce a cut on the R&D costs of the company.

Even though the decision for bankruptcy may not be acceptable, it can go a long way from liquidation, if managed successfully.

The author of this article has dealt with many Debt Problems. Being an Insolvency Practitioner the author writes great articles on Liquidation and insolvency.