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Business in Cologne: Smaller businesses at risk
Photo: Rolf Vennenbernd / DPA
After the end of the corona exception rules for companies in distress, the Center for European Economic Research (ZEW) expects an increase in bankruptcies, especially of smaller companies. According to the study, companies with up to ten employees as well as self-employed and freelancers are particularly susceptible to the negative effects of the corona crisis. Due to the temporarily suspended obligation to file for insolvency, the number of company bankruptcies fell to a record low in the Corona crisis year.
"The number of insolvent companies with few employees will decrease significantly by September 2020, while the number of insolvency registrations will increase again at the end of the year," reported ZEW expert Georg Licht.
A further increase can be expected in the coming months.
Small companies with limited cash reserves and little collateral for taking out new loans are particularly at risk.
Return to bankruptcy law
Especially in the areas of gastronomy, accommodation, tourism and clothing affected by the corona crisis, the number of bankruptcies is likely to increase in the coming months.
In the four months after the start of the pandemic in 2020, the service and trade sector reported even fewer company failures than in previous years.
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Usually, an application for bankruptcy must be filed no later than three weeks after the occurrence of a reason for bankruptcy such as over-indebtedness or insolvency.
In order to prevent a wave of bankruptcies in the corona crisis, the state had suspended this obligation to file for bankruptcy for a transitional period.
Since October 2020 it has been valid again for insolvent companies, and from the end of December also for overindebted companies.
The last exemption for companies that are still waiting for the state aid planned since November to be paid out ceased to apply on May 1, 2021.
Federal Justice Minister Christine Lambrecht (SPD) also expects an increase in company bankruptcies after the return to the obligation to file for insolvency.
However, it is difficult to make reliable forecasts, she told the Handelsblatt.
The effects of the crisis have been cushioned through aid payments and there is still a large amount of state financial aid available.
In addition, the regulations on insolvency protection have been supplemented by a new restructuring law: "Anyone who repositions themselves and convinces the majority of their creditors can make a fresh start - completely without bankruptcy," said Lambrecht.
In addition, the number of corona infections decreased.
According to her, this results in opening perspectives.
mik / dpa-AFX
