Distressed firms - The standards strategy - Directors

7 important questions on Distressed firms - The standards strategy - Directors

How are directors liable in case of insolvent company?

Directors, including de facto and shadow directors, may be held personally liable for net increases in losses to creditors resulting from improper behaviour

What are the different levels of intensity to affect the directors' incentives?

1. Fraud: actions so harmful to creditors to call into question the director's good faith

2. Negligence; worsening the financial position of the insolvent company by neglecting it

3. Enforcement: facilitated when the duties are owed directly to creditors, reduced for duties owed only to the company (unlikely unless bankruptcy)

What is the intensity dependent on?

Ownership structure and/or governance of the debtor firm
- Shareholder creditor agency problems: managers and shareholders interests are closely aligned (directorial liability is most effective)

- Dispersed shareholders (larger firms): less incentive for directors to prefer shareholder interest over creditors.
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How does the intensity relate to the US and UK?

Lowest intensity: US/UK: a shift in the content of duties of directors of insolvent firms only to the company, not to creditors
- Directors need to take "reasonable care" in protecting creitors

How does the intensity relate to Europe?

More intensive standards against directors
- Liability for negligence (when neglected)
- France and Italy: liability for failing to take action following serious loss of capital

How does the intensity relate to Japan?

Creditors can bring direct action to directors for the damage they suffer as a result of the director's negligence (even if the company is solvent)
- Japanese supreme court: oversight liability doctrine - under which non-executive directors are liable to creditors if they grossly fail to monitor misbehaving managers

"A director has a duty of care of a prudent manager in performing his duties"

How does the intensity relate to Brazil?

Fiduciary rights are always owed to the company and do not change if the firm is in distress

"It is the officer's duty to take all care that any ordinary man should employ in managing his own business, being personally responsible for negligence or misconduct in the performance of its acts (before that company and any third party)"

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