08.10.2025 20:15
The bankruptcy process of Lehman Brothers, a U.S.-based investment bank that deeply shook the global financial system in 2008 and triggered the crisis, has been completed after a challenging liquidation period lasting nearly 17 years. The bank's London unit concluded an era by fully repaying its debts, while some investors profited from the bankruptcy.
The bankruptcy of the US-based investment bank Lehman Brothers in 2008 caused a major shock in the global economy. The bank's collapse led to a chain reaction of crises in the financial sector, shaking markets worldwide. With this bankruptcy, Lehman Brothers became one of the most significant turning points in modern financial history.
LONG-TERM LIQUIDATION PROCESS COMPLETED
The liquidation process that began after the bankruptcy of Lehman Brothers' parent company in 2008 lasted nearly 17 years. The bank's European unit continued its operations in London with a limited number of employees and worked on debt repayment and asset liquidation during this time. Eventually, a court in London approved the completion of the process.
"A HISTORIC TURNING POINT"
Judge Robert Hildyard stated that the liquidation process was much more successful than expected. Hildyard pointed out the uniqueness of this bankruptcy in financial history, saying that the likelihood of such an event happening again is low. He described this development as "a historic turning point."
THEY PROFITED FROM THE BANKRUPTCY
During the liquidation process, not only were debts settled, but a significant financial return was also achieved. Thanks to the liquidation operations conducted by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), approximately £28 billion (about $37.5 billion) was recovered from Lehman Brothers' international assets. This amount was recorded as a high profit obtained after the bankruptcy.
Some investors who took on risk by purchasing the bank's bad debts made high profits from this process. Additionally, the liquidation process created a significant area of work for accountants, lawyers, and hedge funds for many years. PwC generated approximately £1 billion in service revenue during this process, while law firms earned a total of £489 million since 2008.
IT TRIGGERED THE 2008 CRISIS
The liquidation that began after the bankruptcy process of Lehman Brothers, which started on September 15, 2008, was also the beginning of the global financial crisis. The company's bankruptcy was not only one of the largest collapses in modern financial history but also triggered the 2008 global crisis by shaking markets worldwide through a chain reaction.