A disposal event involves selling off a business’s assets to convert them into cash. This event typically arises when a company faces insolvency, bankruptcy, or decides to cease operations. The objective is to generate funds to satisfy creditors, including lenders, suppliers, and employees, and to distribute any remaining proceeds to shareholders, if applicable. For example, a retail store that has filed for bankruptcy might conduct a store-wide event with significantly reduced prices on all merchandise to raise capital quickly.
These events play a critical role in the economic cycle, allowing for the reallocation of assets to more productive uses. For creditors, they represent an opportunity to recover at least a portion of the debts owed. Historically, formalized procedures for asset disposal have evolved to ensure fairness and transparency in the distribution of assets. These procedures also minimize potential losses for stakeholders by expediting the conversion of assets into liquid capital.