Some Estimates of Direct and Indirect Bankruptcy Costs in Australia: September 1978–May 1983

Abstract

This study estimates some direct and indirect costs of bankruptcy in the Australian context from September 1978 to May 1983. The findings are: first, there was some degree of capital market inefficiency in the processing of infor Mation relevant to the bankrupt firms; second, bankruptcy costs, in particular indirect costs, were sizeable, approximately over 20% of firm's value; third, the expected present value of bankruptcy costs greatly exceeded the tax benefits from leverage for thirteen of the fourteen firms under study; and, fourth, there was a negative relationship between corporate leverage and the probability of bankruptcy (or expected bankruptcy costs), implying capital structure decisions are affected by the prospect of bankruptcy costs.