We see a notable increase in bankruptcy filings during the coronavirus pandemic. We describe the typical bankruptcy process in this primer.
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Summary:
A rise in corporate bankruptcies, as well as the pressure felt by companies not in bankruptcy to rid themselves of non-core assets, are expected to result in an increase in private equity opportunities for investment in bankruptcy sales and corporate divestitures. Because management and operational problems typically accompany the financial difficulties experienced by such companies, investments in these companies are difficult to analyze. Federal bankruptcy laws govern how companies go out of business or recover from crippling debt. A bankrupt company, the “debtor,” might use Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code to reorganize its business and try to become profitable again. Management continues to run the day-to-day business operations but all significant business decisions must be approved by a bankruptcy court. Under Chapter 7, the company stops all operations and goes completely out of business. A trustee is appointed to liquidate (sell) the company’s assets and the money is used to pay off the debt, which may include debts to creditors and investors. The investors who take the least risk are paid first. For example, secured creditors take less risk because the credit that they extend is usually backed by collateral, such as a mortgage or other assets of the company. They know they will get paid first if the company declares bankruptcy. Bondholders have a greater potential for recovering their losses than stockholders, because bonds represent the debt of the company and the company has agreed to pay bondholders interest and to return their principal. Stockholders own the company, and take greater risk. They could make more money if the company does well, but they could lose money if the company does poorly. The owners are last in line to be repaid if the company fails. Bankruptcy laws determine the order of payment. The bankruptcy court may determine that stockholders don’t get anything because the debtor is insolvent – debtor’s solvency is determined by the difference between the value of its assets and its liabilities. Most publicly-held companies will file under Chapter 11 rather than Chapter 7 because they can still run their business and control the bankruptcy process. Chapter 11 provides a process for rehabilitating the company’s faltering business. Sometimes the company successfully works out a plan to return to profitability; sometimes, in the end, it liquidates. Under Chapter 11 reorganization, a company usually keeps doing business and its stock and bonds may continue to trade in securities markets. The U.S. Trustee, the bankruptcy arm of the Justice Department, will appoint one or more committees to represent the interests of creditors and stockholders in working with the company to develop a plan of reorganization to get out of debt. The plan must be accepted by the creditors, bondholders, and stockholders, and confirmed by the court. However, even if creditors or stockholders vote to reject the plan, the court can disregard the vote and still confirm the plan if it finds that the plan treats creditors and stockholders fairly.
