Managing Financial Distress: Insight into the Dynamics of Insolvency Proceedings and Retrenchment in Small Businesses
Résumé
This study delves into the complex landscape of business restructuring, focusing on the
significant challenges posed by bankruptcy, particularly for small and medium-sized
enterprises (SMEs). Retrenchment, a crucial strategy in existing literature, involves costcutting measures and employee downsizing, while insolvency proceedings provide a legal avenue for comprehensive financial restructuring. Using a bivariate probit model, our Analysis explores the interdependence of these strategies and their impact on firm
survival. Drawing on a dataset from firms in the Rhône-Alpes region, the study reveals
consistent negative associations between sales, profitability, and availability with the
initiation of both insolvency proceedings and retrenchment. Supplier liabilities, on the
other hand, exhibit a positive association with both strategies. The Analysis identifies
shared explanatory variables, confirming the correlation between insolvency proceedings and retrenchment. Moreover, the study unravels a reciprocal causal relationship between these strategies, providing valuable insights for navigating the intricate landscape of business restructuring.