Commercial Chapter 11 Filings Increase 19 Percent from Last Year, Total Filings Drop 3 Percent

Commercial Chapter 11 Filings Increase 19 Percent from Last Year, Total Filings Drop 3 Percent

Alexandria, Va. Commercial chapter 11 filings increased 19 percent in August 2019 from last year, according to data provided by Epiq Systems, Inc. The 432 commercial chapter 11 filings in August 2019 were up 19 percent over the 364 filings registered in August 2018. Overall commercial filings also increased in August 2019, as the 3,337 filings were a 3 percent increase over the 3,231 filings in August 2018. Conversely, the 66,478 total U.S. bankruptcy filings for August 2019 represented a 3 percent decrease from the August 2018 total of 68,547 filings. The 63,141 consumer filings in August 2019 also represented a 3 percent decrease from last year’s consumer filing total of 65,316.

“Increasing trade costs and rising debt loads present challenges for financially distressed families and businesses,” said ABI Executive Director Samuel J. Gerdano. “Legislation was recently signed into law providing better access to the financial fresh start of bankruptcy for struggling small businesses, veterans and family farmers.”

President Donald J. Trump on Aug. 23 signed the “Small Business Reorganization Act of 2019” (H.R. 3311), “HAVEN Act” (H.R. 2938) and “Family Farmer Relief Act of 2019” (H.R. 2336) into law. The bipartisan bills, which ABI testified in support of in June, passed the House in late July and the Senate on August 1. To view a webinar featuring a panel of experts discussing the new laws, please click here.

Total bankruptcy filings in August 2019 represented a 3 percent increase from the 64,310 total filings in July. The 432 commercial chapter 11 filings recorded in August 2019 also represented a 3 percent increase over the 421 commercial chapter 11 filings in July. The 63,141 consumer filings in August represented a 4 percent increase from July’s consumer total of 61,006. August 2019 business filings increased 1 percent to 3,337 from July’s business total of 3,304.

The average nationwide per capita bankruptcy filing rate in August was 2.51 (total filings per 1,000 per population), a slight increase from the filing rate of 2.50 during the first seven months of 2019. Average total filings per day in August 2019 were 3,022, up from the 2,980 total daily filings recorded in August 2018. States with the highest per capita filing rates (total filings per 1,000 population) in August 2019 were:

1. Alabama (5.68)

2. Tennessee (5.45)

3. Georgia (4.40)

4. Mississippi (4.24)

5. Nevada (3.81)

ABI has partnered with Epiq Systems, Inc. in order to provide the most current bankruptcy filing data for analysts, researchers and members of the news media. Epiq Systems is a leading provider of managed technology for the global legal profession. To view the full monthly statistic tables provided by Epiq Systems, be sure to visit ABI’s Newsroom.

For further information about the statistics or additional requests, please contact ABI Public Affairs Manager John Hartgen at 703-894-5935 or [email protected].

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ABI is the largest multi-disciplinary, nonpartisan organization dedicated to research and education on matters related to insolvency. ABI was founded in 1982 to provide Congress and the public with unbiased analysis of bankruptcy issues. The ABI membership includes nearly 11,000 attorneys, accountants, bankers, judges, professors, lenders, turnaround specialists and other bankruptcy professionals, providing a forum for the exchange of ideas and information. For additional information on ABI, visit www.abi.org. For additional conference information, visit http://www.abi.org/calendar-of-events.

Epiq Systems is a leading provider of managed technology for the global legal profession. Epiq Systems offers innovative technology solutions for electronic discovery, document review, legal notification, claims administration and controlled disbursement of funds. Epiq System’s clients include leading law firms, corporate legal departments, bankruptcy trustees, government agencies, mortgage processors, financial institutions, and other professional advisors who require innovative technology, responsive service and deep subject-matter expertise. For more information on Epiq Systems, Inc., please visit http://www.epiqsystems.com.