NO CLE - ABI-Live: Supply Chain Disruptions & Other Financial Effects of the Coronavirus

With so many tiers of global supply chains and multinational investments being connected to China, financial risk is magnified when there is a widespread interruption, such as the current coronavirus pandemic.

Extended disruption of supply chains could lead companies to financial distress and possible bankruptcy. The resulting distress from the disruption could also activate insurance-related claims and litigation, further complicated by interpretations of "force majeure" (unforeseeable circumstances) clauses in insurance policies. A recent Wall Street Journal article detailed how plunging shipping volumes out of China due to shutdowns in the wake of the outbreak have crimped industrial production worldwide.

As the coronavirus continues to spread in China and other parts of the world, it is critical for businesses to reassess their connections to global supply chains, evaluate workforce-related issues, and examine risk-minimization and quantization brought about by the pandemic.