Profile of Bankrupts, Types of Petitioners and Multi-time Bankruptcy

Annual Statistics on Profile of Bankrupts and Types of Petitioners (Jan 2018 – Dec 2018)

Profile of Bankrupts

Age of bankrupts Percentage
30 or below 15.76%
Above 30 – 40 23.13%
Above 40 – 50 26.19%
Above 50 34.92%
Total 100.00%

Monthly income of bankrupts Percentage
$0 35.47%
Above $0 - $10,000 15.47%
Above $10,000 - $15,000 22.01%
Above $15,000 - $20,000 15.39%
Above $20,000 - $25,000 6.64%
Above $25,000 5.02%
Total 100.00%

Liabilities level of bankrupts Percentage
$200,000 or below 22.24%
Above $200,000 - $400,000 36.13%
Above $400,000 - $600,000 18.61%
Above $600,000 - $800,000 8.15%
Above $800,000 - $1,000,000 4.76%
Above $1,000,000 - $2,000,000 6.40%
Above $2,000,000 - $6,000,000 2.64%
Above $6,000,000 1.07%
Total 100.00%

Residence type of bankrupts Percentage
Public housing 55.12%
Private apartment (mortgaged/charged) 1.39%
Private apartment (others1) 43.49%
Total 100.00%

1 Mainly include property of which the bankrupt is not the owner/co-owner


Cause of failure of bankrupts Percentage
High operating costs 0.10%
High staff costs -
High rental 0.05%
High interest rates 0.18%
Cash flow problem - insufficient capital 0.29%
Cash flow problem - lender withdrew support 0.03%
Cash flow problem - excessive bad debts 0.24%
Goods/services no longer or not competitive 0.08%
Goods rejected -
Decline in business 1.15%
Poor management 4.31%
Improper management 0.21%
Fraud 0.29%
Argument amongst directors/shareholders -
Excessive use of credit facilities 9.25%
Overspending 32.20%
Lack of gainful employment 36.10%
Personal guarantee liabilities 0.99%
Gambling 5.41%
Speculation in shares etc. 0.31%
Loss in investment 1.15%
Others 7.66%
Total 100.00%

Types of Petitioners

Petitioner type Percentage
Director of Legal Aid 0.08%
Trade creditors 0.01%
Bank or financial institution 3.54%
Landlord 0.01%
Shareholders -
Debtor's self-petition 92.16%
Others 4.20%
Total 100.00%

Note: Statistics are based on the information collected as at 8 Jan 2019 from the bankrupts or relevant parties (such as creditors) in bankruptcy cases with bankruptcy orders made or petitions received during the year.