Policy brief Distressed firms: how effective are preventive procedures? What conclusions can be drawn from the safeguard procedure (“sauvegarde” in French) some fifteen years after its introduction into French law? This preventive procedure enables a firm in financial distress to enter into discussions with its creditors to restructure its debt before insolvency. To answer this question, this report relies on an original database built from public information about the safeguard and receivership (“redressement judiciaire”) procedures. Published on : 06/02/2020 Temps de lecture 2 minutes France Stratégie publishes policy analyses and medium- and long-term forecasting studies to contribute to public decision-making and inform public opinion. All France Stratégie staff and most of their contacts are teleworking, which allows us to ensure the continuity of this mission while respecting the lockdown measures. We are thus in a position to complete and publish the work begun before the health crisis. At the same time, we are launching new work that will take into account the crisis itself and its consequences. The numbers speak for themselves: firms that choose the safeguard procedure are better of than those that go into receivership. More than 62% of them obtain a debt restructuring agreement compared with only 27% of firms in receivership. There are several possible explanations for this 35% difference. It may reflect differences in the observable characteristics of firms such as debt ratio, size, sector or geographical area and/or differences in the unobservable characteristics such as the personality of the manager. But it may also be the result of a better reputation of the safeguard procedure. Since firms under safeguard have a greater chance of survival, the opening of this procedure does not drive away stakeholders – customers, creditors, employees, suppliers – which in turn increases the firm's chances of survival. This report concludes that this reputation effect predominates. The effect of the observable characteristics is small (five points), and the one of the unobservable characteristics undetectable. However, despite its success, few companies file for the safeguard procedure. This procedure represents on average only 6% of the restructuring procedures over the period 2008 and 2018. It is understandable that firms prefer confidential procedures more protective of their reputation such as the ad hoc mandate or conciliation. Yet it is regrettable that some firms that could use the safeguard procedure do not do so and end up in receivership. Better information and a clearer distinction between the safeguard and receivership procedures could help increase the use of this procedure. The forthcoming transposition of the European Directive on preventive procedures provides an opportunity for progress in this respect. Partager la page Partager sur Facebook - nouvelle fenêtre Partager sur Twitter - nouvelle fenêtre Partager sur Linked In - nouvelle fenêtre Partager par email - nouvelle fenêtre Copier le lien dans le presse-papier Téléchargement Distressed firms: how effective are preventive procedures? Download the full document PDF - 2 550.9 Ko Read the full document in french PDF - 3 046.0 Ko Topics Entreprises Action publique Published by France Stratégie Authors Anne Épaulard Chloé Zapha Reference Reference Fermer Reference Autres options d'export Version FR More Travailler dans la fonction publique : le défi de l'attractivité 15 % des postes offerts aux concours de la fonction publique d'Etat non pourvus en 2022, 21 % des lits de l'AP-HP fermés la même a... Compétences/métiers Travail Action publique Rapport 09 December 2024 Les impacts territoriaux du télétravail : angle mort des politiques publiques ? En 2023, 19 % des salariés français, en majorité des cadres, ont eu recours au télétravail, plus fréquent dans les grandes agglomé... Travail Territoires Action publique Note d’analyse 14 November 2024 Séminaire Soutenabilités - Digital: new uses, new questions Although the social, economic, political and geopolitical consequences of the health crisis are only partially visible today, the ... Digital/IA Public action Study 10 February 2021
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