Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

Advertisement

Humanities and Social Sciences Communications
  • View all journals
  • Search
  • My Account Login
  • Content Explore content
  • About the journal
  • Publish with us
  • Sign up for alerts
  • RSS feed
  1. nature
  2. humanities and social sciences communications
  3. articles
  4. article
Judicial review of corporate bankruptcy reorganization value in China: a critical analysis based on 590 judicial judgments
Download PDF
Download PDF
  • Article
  • Open access
  • Published: 25 February 2026

Judicial review of corporate bankruptcy reorganization value in China: a critical analysis based on 590 judicial judgments

  • Yi Chen1 

Humanities and Social Sciences Communications , Article number:  (2026) Cite this article

We are providing an unedited version of this manuscript to give early access to its findings. Before final publication, the manuscript will undergo further editing. Please note there may be errors present which affect the content, and all legal disclaimers apply.

Subjects

  • Business and management
  • Social policy

Abstract

Reorganization value is the logical starting point for a corporation to undergo bankruptcy reorganization. Establishing a judicial review system for corporate reorganization value is vital for protecting creditors’ interests and promoting the rational allocation of social resources. Empirical analysis reveals significant challenges in China concerning the judicial review of reorganization value. Courts need to reach a consensus on the necessity of reviewing reorganization value and address issues such as inconsistent adjudication standards, misapplication of the law, inadequate reasoning and insufficient grounds for judgment. To address these issues, China must explicitly mandate judicial review of corporate reorganization value in future amendments to the bankruptcy law. Furthermore, the introduction of an inquiry mechanism and a third-party investigation mechanism, along with differentiated burdens of proof for various applicants, is crucial for establishing a scientific and rational framework for assessing corporate reorganization value.

Similar content being viewed by others

Has corporate involvement in government-initiated corporate social responsibility activities increased corporate value?—Evidence from China’s Targeted Poverty Alleviation

Article Open access 27 June 2023

Financial decentralization and corporate risk: evidence from China

Article Open access 27 October 2025

The effect of incidental name similarity on favoritism in the Chinese financial market

Article Open access 16 April 2025

Data availability

Data used or generated in this study are available from the author upon reasonable request.

References

  • Bai B (2024) The Impact of International Corporate Group Bankruptcy Regime on China—The Perspective of Substantial Consolidation Theory. Tsinghua China Law Rev 17(1):95–130

    Google Scholar 

  • Baird DG (2005) Substantive consolidation today. Boston Coll Law Rev 47:5–22

    Google Scholar 

  • Baird DG, Rasmussen RK (2002) The end of bankruptcy. Stanf Law Rev 55(3):751–789. https://doi.org/10.2307/1229669

    Google Scholar 

  • Baird DG, Rasmussen RK (2003) Chapter 11 at twilight. Stanf Law Rev 56(3):673–699

    Google Scholar 

  • Buchanan NS (1939) The economics of corporate reorganization. Q J Econ 54(1):28–50. https://doi.org/10.2307/1882486

    Google Scholar 

  • Chemical Bank New York Trust Corporate v. Kheel, 369 F.2d 845 (2d Cir. 1966) https://law.justia.com/cases/federal/appellate-courts/F2/369/845/261401/

  • Chen J (2021) A discussion on practical issues in the formulation and implementation of reorganization plans in the consolidated reorganization of affiliated enterprises—from the perspective of the functional value of the bankruptcy reorganization system. http://www.zjbar.com/info/f90251cdd4744c21a36afd1cf439d9ef. Accessed 20 Mar 2024

  • Chongqing High People’s Court, Interim Guidelines on the Review of Bankruptcy Reorganization Applications (2018) (Yu Gao Fa〔2018〕No.190). https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s?__biz=MzAxNTI0NDU5NQ==&mid=2650140046&idx=7&sn=d1cf53bab0f2e5d922cad3670a7ec091&chksm=838641d2b4f1c8c496b7e5dbd95b8c7dfaa38ea134a08a3545c2a0b138f2d7d0d2975ba6b06a&scene=27&poc_token=HHc1mGmj6RNKerLC8YxNTitkMnow0xwMa8OOGSOW. Accessed 20 March 2024

  • Civil Ruling of Baiyin Intermediate People’s Court, Gansu (2019) Gan 04 min Zhong No. 1400. Available via China Judgements Online. https://wenshu.court.gov.cn. Accessed 20 Mar 2024

  • Civil Ruling of Bijie Intermediate People’s Court, Guizhou (2020) Qian 05 Po Zhong No. 1. Available via China Judgements Online. https://wenshu.court.gov.cn. Accessed 20 Mar 2024

  • Civil Ruling of Changchun Intermediate People’s Court, Jilin (2020) Ji 01 Po Shen No. 57. Available via China Judgements Online. https://wenshu.court.gov.cn. Accessed 15 Mar 2024

  • Civil Ruling of Deyang Primary People’s Court, Sichuan (2022) Chuan 06 Po Shen No. 10). Available via National Enterprise Bankruptcy Information Disclosure Platform. https://pccz.court.gov.cn/pcajxxw/pcws/wsxq?id=2188BF070F0008D651E8D2457CF783DA. Accessed 15 Mar 2024

  • Civil Ruling of Donggang Primary People’s Court, Rizhao, Shandong (2018) Lu 1102 Po No. 4, 5, 6, 7. Available via China Judgements Online. https://wenshu.court.gov.cn. Accessed 20 Mar 2024

  • Civil Ruling of Donggang Primary People’s Court, Rizhao, Shandong (2019) Lu 1102 Po No. 1. Available via China Judgements Online. https://wenshu.court.gov.cn. Accessed 20 Mar 2024

  • Civil Ruling of Dongyang Primary People’s Court, Zhejiang (2022) Zhe 0783 Po No. 85–88. Available via China Judgements Online. https://wenshu.court.gov.cn. Accessed 15 Mar 2024

  • Civil Ruling of Dongying Intermediate People’s Court, Shandong (2020) Lu 05 Po Jian No. 2. Available via China Judgements Online. https://wenshu.court.gov.cn. Accessed 20 Mar 2024

  • Civil Ruling of Guangdong High People’s Court (2020) Yue Po Zhong No. 17. Available via China Judgements Online. https://wenshu.court.gov.cn. Accessed 20 Mar 2024

  • Civil Ruling of Hebei High People’s Court (2021) Ji Po Zhong No. 5. Available via China Judgements Online. https://wenshu.court.gov.cn. Accessed 15 Mar 2024

  • Civil Ruling of Huizhou Intermediate People’s Court, Guangdong (2019) Yue 13 Po Shen No. 22. Available via China Judgements Online. https://wenshu.court.gov.cn. Accessed 20 Mar 2024

  • Civil Ruling of Pingluo Primary People’s Court, Ningxia (2020) Ning 0221 Po Shen No. 1. Available via China Judgements Online. https://wenshu.court.gov.cn. Accessed 15 Mar 2024

  • Civil Ruling of Rizhao Intermediate People’s Court, Shandong (2019) Lu 11 Po Jian No. 4. Available via China Judgements Online. https://wenshu.court.gov.cn. Accessed 20 Mar 2024

  • Civil Ruling of Rizhao Intermediate People’s Court, Shandong (2019) Lu 11 Po Jian No. 5. Available via China Judgements Online. https://wenshu.court.gov.cn. Accessed 20 Mar 2024

  • Civil Ruling of Shanghai High People’s Court (2020) Hu Po Zhong No. 1. Available via China Judgements Online. https://wenshu.court.gov.cn. Accessed 15 Mar 2024

  • Civil Ruling of Shanghai High People’s Court (2020) Hu Po Zhong No. 2. Available via China Judgements Online. https://wenshu.court.gov.cn. Accessed 15 Mar 2024

  • Civil Ruling of Shanghai High People’s Court (2020) Hu Po Zhong No. 3. Available via China Judgements Online. https://wenshu.court.gov.cn. Accessed 15 Mar 2024

  • Civil Ruling of Shenhe Primary People’s Court, Shenyang, Liaoning (2021) Liao 0103 Po Shen No. 9. Available via China Judgements Online. https://wenshu.court.gov.cn. Accessed 20 Mar 2024

  • Civil Ruling of Shouguang Primary People’s Court, Shandong (2020) Lu 0783 Po No. 4–1. Available via China Judgements Online. https://wenshu.court.gov.cn. Accessed 15 Mar 2024

  • Civil Ruling of Tongliang Primary People's Court, Chongqing ((2019) Yu 0151 Po Shen No.1). Available via China Judgements Online. https://wenshu.court.gov.cn. Accessed 20 March 2024

  • Civil Ruling of Tongliang Primary People's Court, Chongqing ((2019) Yu 0151 Po Shen No.2). Available via China Judgements Online. https://wenshu.court.gov.cn. Accessed 20 March 2024

  • Civil Ruling of Weifang Intermediate People’s Court, Shandong (2020) Lu 07 Po Jian No. 1. Available via China Judgements Online. https://wenshu.court.gov.cn. Accessed 20 Mar 2024

  • Civil Ruling of Wuzhong Intermediate People’s Court, Ningxia (2022) Ning 03 Po Shen No. 2. Available via China Judgements Online. https://wenshu.court.gov.cn. Accessed 15 Mar 2024

  • Civil Ruling of Yuncheng Primary People’s Court, Shandong (2023) Lu 1725 Po Shen No. 1. Available via National Enterprise Bankruptcy Information Disclosure Platform. https://pccz.court.gov.cn/pcajxxw/pcws/wsxq?id=318667071BC3F13AEDAC4ABD5E406D87. Accessed 15 Mar 2024

  • Coase RH (1937) The nature of the firm. Economica 4(16):386–405. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-0335.1937.tb00002.x

    Google Scholar 

  • Company Act (2021) https://law.moj.gov.tw/ENG/LawClass/LawAll.aspx?pcode=J0080001. Accessed 10 Mar 2024

  • Cotterrell R (2017) Law, culture and society: legal ideas in the mirror of social theory. Routledge, London. https://scholar.google.com/scholar?cluster=11232552709329175030and&hl=zh-CN&&as_sdt=0,5

  • Fujita M, Tago S (2021) General overview of and recent developments in Japanese rescue-type insolvency proceedings. Insolv Restruct Int 15(2):39–43

    Google Scholar 

  • Gan P, Zhou C, Zhou Y (2021) Enterprise and company law. Peking University Press, Beijing

  • Gilbert JS (1990) Substantive consolidation in bankruptcy: a primer. Vanderbilt Law Rev 43(1):207–243

    Google Scholar 

  • Hashi I (1997) The economics of bankruptcy, reorganization, and liquidation: Lessons for East European Transition Economies. Russ East Eur Financ Trade 33(4):6–34

    Google Scholar 

  • Hunan High People’s Court, Guidelines on the Handling of Enterprise Reorganization Applications (Trial Implementation) (2020) (Xiang Gao Fa〔2020〕No.69). http://zyzk.jcrb.com/fl/dffl/contentsimple.html?gid=B1114383. Accessed 20 March 2024

  • Lee E (2011) The reorganization process under China’s corporate bankruptcy system. Int Lawyer 45(4):939–974

    Google Scholar 

  • Li S (2022) Multidimensional deconstruction of China’s bankruptcy reorganization system and its improvement. Law Rev 40(3):99–113

  • Li Y (2002) Reshaping the spirits of private law in the bankruptcy law. Trib Polit Sci Law 20(3):28–34

  • Li Y, Li D (2013) The conditions of the reorganization procedure beginning and the judicial review of it: a query about the “merger reorganization”. J Beijing Univ Aeronaut Astronaut Soc Sci Ed 26(6):48–53

  • Liebman BL, Roberts ME, Stern RE, Wang AZ (2020) Mass digitization of Chinese court decisions: how to use text as data in the field of Chinese law. J Law Courts 8(2):177–201

    Google Scholar 

  • Lin S (2018) The empirical studies of China’s Enterprise bankruptcy law: problems and improvements. Int Insolv Rev 27:77–109. https://doi.org/10.1002/iir.1297

    Google Scholar 

  • LoPucki LM (2003) The nature of the bankrupt firm: a response to Baird and Rasmussen’s “the end of bankruptcy”. Stan L Rev 56:645–671

    Google Scholar 

  • Luan F (2009) Evaluation of the value reorganized bankrupted enterprises—a discussion with Cheng Hong, Yuan Guo-dong. J Audit Econ 24(4):38–43

    Google Scholar 

  • Luan F, Hou J (2017) Study on the value judgment system of bankruptcy reorganization of listed companies. J Beijing Univ Technol Soc Sci Ed 17(4):22–28

    Google Scholar 

  • MacKinnon J (1986) Substantive consolidation: the back door to involuntary bankruptcy. San Diego Law Rev 23(1):203–26

    Google Scholar 

  • Miller JM (2003) A typology of legal transplants: using sociology, legal history and Argentine examples to explain the transplant process. Am J Comp Law 51(4):839–885. https://doi.org/10.2307/3649131

    Google Scholar 

  • Mooney Jr CW (2004) A normative theory of bankruptcy law: bankruptcy as (Is) civil procedure. Wash Lee L Rev 61:931–1061. Available at: https://scholarlycommons.law.wlu.edu/wlulr/vol61/iss3/2. Accessed 10 May 2025

  • Payne J (2018) The role of the court in debt restructuring. Camb Law J 77(1):124–150

    Google Scholar 

  • Rasmussen RK, Baird DG (2003) Chapter 11 at Twilight. John M. Olin Program in Law and Economics Working Paper No. 201. Available at: https://chicagounbound.uchicago.edu/law_and_economics/99/. Accessed 15 May 2025

  • Sampsell v. Imperial Paper & Color Corp., 313 U.S. 215 (1941) https://supreme.justia.com/cases/federal/us/313/215/

  • Shanghai High People’s Court, Bankruptcy Trial Work Guidelines (2021) (Hu Gao Fa (2021) No. 257. http://zyzk.jcrb.com/fl/dffl/content.html?gid=B1336925&libid=all. Accessed 20 Mar 2024

  • Steele S, Godwin A, Chun Jin, Changyin H, Yimin R, Weihong C (2018) Trends and developments in Chinese insolvency law: the first decade of the PRC Enterprise Bankruptcy Law. Am J Comp Law 66(3):669–712. https://doi.org/10.1093/ajcl/avy038

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang W (1996) On the reorganization system. Chin J Law 1:81–99

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang X (2005) A comprehensive discussion on the new bankruptcy legislation. J Cap Norm Univ Soc Sci Ed 4:34–41

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang W (2006) The New Bankruptcy Law: Legislation Keeping Pace with the Times (Xin Pochan Fa:Yibu Yushi Jujin De Lifa). The People's Congress of China (Zhongguo Renda) (17):17-20

  • Wang X (2012) On the theory and practice of reorganization system. J Law Appl 11:10–19

  • Wang X, Yangguang X (2007) A study on several issues in bankruptcy reorganization legislation. Polit Sci Law 1:89–93

  • Wu Q (2021) How do zombie firms affect pollution emissions: evidence from China’s micro-environment data. China Popul Resour Environ 31(11):34–47

    Google Scholar 

  • Wu Z, Qin H (2021) How to Accurately Grasp the Profound Implications of Supply-Side Structural Reform. Available at: http://theory.people.com.cn/n1/2021/0225/c40531-32036538.html. Accessed 10 Mar 2024

  • Xiao L (2011) On the reorganization hope as a requirement for initiating reorganization. Southeast Acad Res 6:167–177

  • Yao T, Yang X (2021) A brief discussion on the application of bankruptcy reorganization value in management accounting. Chin Certif Public Account 8:83–87

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhang X (2022) Why do people apply for bankruptcy insolvency in China: empirical evidence and policy analysis. J Corp Law Stud 22(1):431–467. https://doi.org/10.1080/14735970.2022.2093889

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhang Z (2020) Resolving corporate insolvencies in China: the gap between law and reality. U Miami Int’l Comp L Rev 27(2):370–395

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhang Z, Tomasic R (2016) Corporate reorganization reform in China: findings from an empirical study in Zhejiang. Asian J Comp Law 11(1):55–85. https://doi.org/10.1017/asjcl.2016.3

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhang Y, Li M (2008) Value objective of corporate readjustments and its realization–from the perspective of corporate readjustment regulations. J Beijing Inst Technol Soc Sci Ed 6:3–8

Download references

Acknowledgements

The author gratefully acknowledges the assistance of research assistants Zekun Zhang and Zhaolin Tian in collecting and organizing the case samples used in this study.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. City University of Macau, Macao, China

    Yi Chen

Authors
  1. Yi Chen
    View author publications

    Search author on:PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Yi Chen.

Ethics declarations

Competing interests

The author declares no competing interests.

Ethical approval

This study does not involve human participants.

Informed consent

This article does not contain any studies with human participants performed by any of the authors.

Additional information

Publisher’s note Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Open Access This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License, which permits any non-commercial use, sharing, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons licence, and indicate if you modified the licensed material. You do not have permission under this licence to share adapted material derived from this article or parts of it. The images or other third party material in this article are included in the article’s Creative Commons licence, unless indicated otherwise in a credit line to the material. If material is not included in the article’s Creative Commons licence and your intended use is not permitted by statutory regulation or exceeds the permitted use, you will need to obtain permission directly from the copyright holder. To view a copy of this licence, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/.

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Chen, Y. Judicial review of corporate bankruptcy reorganization value in China: a critical analysis based on 590 judicial judgments. Humanit Soc Sci Commun (2026). https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-026-06652-y

Download citation

  • Received: 11 January 2025

  • Accepted: 29 January 2026

  • Published: 25 February 2026

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-026-06652-y

Share this article

Anyone you share the following link with will be able to read this content:

Sorry, a shareable link is not currently available for this article.

Provided by the Springer Nature SharedIt content-sharing initiative

Download PDF

Advertisement

Explore content

  • Research articles
  • Reviews & Analysis
  • News & Comment
  • Collections
  • Follow us on X
  • Sign up for alerts
  • RSS feed

About the journal

  • Journal Information
  • Referee instructions
  • Editor instructions
  • Journal policies
  • Open Access Fees and Funding
  • Calls for Papers
  • Events
  • Contact

Publish with us

  • For authors
  • Language editing services
  • Open access funding
  • Submit manuscript

Search

Advanced search

Quick links

  • Explore articles by subject
  • Find a job
  • Guide to authors
  • Editorial policies

Humanities and Social Sciences Communications (Humanit Soc Sci Commun)

ISSN 2662-9992 (online)

nature.com sitemap

About Nature Portfolio

  • About us
  • Press releases
  • Press office
  • Contact us

Discover content

  • Journals A-Z
  • Articles by subject
  • protocols.io
  • Nature Index

Publishing policies

  • Nature portfolio policies
  • Open access

Author & Researcher services

  • Reprints & permissions
  • Research data
  • Language editing
  • Scientific editing
  • Nature Masterclasses
  • Research Solutions

Libraries & institutions

  • Librarian service & tools
  • Librarian portal
  • Open research
  • Recommend to library

Advertising & partnerships

  • Advertising
  • Partnerships & Services
  • Media kits
  • Branded content

Professional development

  • Nature Awards
  • Nature Careers
  • Nature Conferences

Regional websites

  • Nature Africa
  • Nature China
  • Nature India
  • Nature Japan
  • Nature Middle East
  • Privacy Policy
  • Use of cookies
  • Legal notice
  • Accessibility statement
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Your US state privacy rights
Springer Nature

© 2026 Springer Nature Limited