The Costs of Chapter 11 in Context: American and Dutch Business Bankruptcy

American Bankruptcy Law Journal, Vol. 85, 2011

Seton Hall Public Law Research Paper No. 1491351

28 Pages Posted: 20 Oct 2009 Last revised: 22 Jun 2013

See all articles by Oscar Couwenberg

Oscar Couwenberg

NHL Stenden University of Applied Sciences; University of Groningen - Campus Fryslan

Stephen J. Lubben

Seton Hall Law School

Date Written: October 19, 2009

Abstract

In this paper we adopt a new approach to the issue and contextualize the cost of chapter 11 by comparison to the costs of business bankruptcy in the Netherlands. Using unique data-sets that each author has developed in connection with other projects, we match a group of comparable cases from each jurisdiction. The results not only contextualize chapter 11 by reference to a comparable international economy, but also provide important comparative insights.

Most importantly, we find that "law matters." In particular, because the two jurisdictions consider the cost of corporate reorganization in different ways - chapter 11 includes almost all professional costs incurred during the case to be chapter 11 costs, whereas the Netherlands considers a narrower range of professionals - the difference in jurisdictions is initially the most important factor in explaining the cost of reorganization. We then account for these legal distinctions, and find that economic factors like the size of the debtor and the degree to which the firm's debts are secured explain most of the cost of corporate bankruptcy - irrespective of jurisdiction.

Keywords: chapter 11, bankruptcy costs, direct costs, financial distress, Netherlands

JEL Classification: G33, G44, K22, K29, K41

Suggested Citation

Couwenberg, Oscar and Lubben, Stephen J., The Costs of Chapter 11 in Context: American and Dutch Business Bankruptcy (October 19, 2009). American Bankruptcy Law Journal, Vol. 85, 2011, Seton Hall Public Law Research Paper No. 1491351, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1491351 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.1491351

Oscar Couwenberg

NHL Stenden University of Applied Sciences ( email )

Rengerslaan 8-10
Leeuwarden, Friesland 8917 DD
Netherlands
31 582441479 (Phone)

University of Groningen - Campus Fryslan ( email )

Wirdumerdijk 34
Leeuwarden, 8911 CE
Netherlands
31 582055000 (Phone)

HOME PAGE: http://www.rug.nl/staff/o.couwenberg/?lang=en

Stephen J. Lubben (Contact Author)

Seton Hall Law School ( email )

One Newark Center
Newark, NJ 07102-5210
United States
973-642-8857 (Phone)

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