Too much of a good thing? The impact of a new bankruptcy law in Canada

Volume
Numéro
Date de publication
Auteurs
Timothy C.G. FISHER, Jocelyn MARTEL

A new, more debtor-friendly bankruptcy law in Canada is associated with a tenfold increase in the proportion of insolvent firms choosing reorganization over liquidation. Comparing before-and-after samples of randomly-selected firms, we find that firms reorganizing under the new law are smaller and weaker with a capital structure exhibiting significantly higher tax claims. Reflecting the bargaining power shift towards debtors, we find the new law is also associated with 25% lower creditor recovery rates and a longer time in reorganization. Unintended effects of the new law include a possible increased government role in financing small businesses and an incentive for secured creditors to favour bankruptcy over other forms of distress resolution.

Publications can be viewed by AFFI members only.
Please login to your AFFI member account or subscribe an AFFI membership to access this publication.

Not yet a member?

Select your profile:

Starting at €600.00

Inclus dans les formules

  • A partir de 10 adhésions individuelles

  • Référence sur le site WEB

  • Référence sur l'annuaire papier

  • Un numéro gratuit de la revue FINANCE

Starting at €30.00

L'adhésion individuelle permet de recevoir les informations diffusées par l'AFFI, d'accéder à l'historique des publications dans la revue Finance et de bénéficier d'un tarif préférentiel pour participer aux conférences.

€100.00

Vous pouvez finaliser le processus de soumission d'un article à la revue Finance en vous acquittant des frais s'élevant à 100 euros.