Press Releases

Kowert GmbH, a well-known horticultural and landscaping company based in Bielefeld, has filed for insolvency. On 10 December 2019, the Local Court of Bielefeld ordered provisional insolvency proceedings to be opened for the company’s assets and appointed Dr Stephan Thiemann from PLUTA Rechtsanwalts GmbH as provisional administrator.

• Long-established testing company acquired by a strategic investor
• All the jobs have been saved

Insolvency administrator Mr Florian Schiller from PLUTA Rechtsanwalts GmbH succeeded in finding an investor for Maier Drehtechnologie GmbH, based in Dunningen. The new owner is wafi Stahltechnologie GmbH & Co. KG, located in Sulz, which was advised in this process by Mr Christian Kühn, an attorney from the Reutlingen-based law firm Dr. Kroll & Partner. The purchase agreement was signed last Friday, and operations have been transferred with effect from 1 December 2019.

By an order of 21 November 2019, the Local Court of Bielefeld appointed Mr Frank Schorisch from PLUTA Rechtsanwalts GmbH as the provisional insolvency administrator for Göding + Partner GmbH. The family-managed medium-sized company, based in Spenge, had to file the application due to a decline in sales as a result of the difficult economic situation faced by automotive suppliers.

Gustav Knippschild GmbH, based in Rinteln, filed an application with the Local Court of Bückeburg for the opening of debtor-in-possession insolvency proceedings on 22 November 2019. The PLUTA restructuring expert Mr Torsten Gutmann will provide the mechanical engineering company with advice during the proceedings.

Sander Maschinenbau GmbH & Co. KG, based in Rinteln, filed an application with the Local Court of Bückeburg for the opening of debtor-in-possession insolvency proceedings on 22 November 2019. The PLUTA restructuring expert Mr Torsten Gutmann will provide the mechanical engineering company with advice during the proceedings. The company has close business relations with Gustav Knippschild GmbH, which also filed for insolvency.

The insolvency administrator Mr Michael Bremen from PLUTA Rechtsanwalts GmbH is currently holding promising talks with potential partners for Bäckerei Berns KG. In the meantime, the bakery’s business operations are being continued.

By an order of 14 November 2019, the Local Court of Stuttgart appointed Mr Ilkin Bananyarli from PLUTA Rechtsanwalts GmbH as the provisional insolvency administrator for Stambera Verpackungsmaschinen GmbH. The company’s business operations have been maintained without restrictions since the application was filed, and all orders are being processed as planned. Employee salaries are guaranteed for a period of three months thanks to specific substitute benefits provided under German insolvency law.

Mr Stefan Meyer from PLUTA Rechtsanwalts GmbH has started the process of finding an investor for the metal construction company HIK Systeme und Module. Together with the renowned M&A specialists from Montag & Montag, the restructuring expert is speaking to the first parties interested in investing in the long-established company based in Rahden.

The insolvency plan for GERRY WEBER International AG (GWI), which was approved by the creditors on 18 September 2019, has become legally effective, which means that it can now be implemented.According to these InsO provisions, a complaint can be rejected in accelerated proceedings if the disadvantages that may result from the implementation of the plan being delayed override those that may be caused to the complainants.

Mr Michael Pluta has succeeded in finding an investor for the well-known bus equipment provider Frenzel GmbH, based in Obersulm in Swabia. The restructuring expert and his team sold the business to Frenzel Competence GmbH as part of an asset deal with effect from 1 October 2019. All of the 60 jobs have been saved.

The creditors of the vehicle producer Meier-Ratio unanimously voted for the restructuring concept to be implemented at short notice. During the discussion and voting meeting at the Local Court of Dessau-Roßlau, they gave the green light to continue to pursue the restructuring process so as to bring the proceedings quickly to an end.

The Local Court of Halle (Saale) has successfully brought to an end the debtor-in-possession proceedings, which had been opened on 1 July 2018, for Bagel Bakery GmbH, a producer of American bakery products. In June, the creditors had unanimously approved the insolvency plan submitted by the company.

In the debtor-in-possession proceedings for the Kornwestheim-based plant construction company SFI Stotz Fredenhagen Industries, a long-term solution has been found under the leadership of Mr Steffen Beck from PLUTA Rechtsanwalts GmbH. The management team, headed by Hans Georg Schneider, Gregor Bernhard and Philipp Schöck, took over the business with effect from 1 October 2019. The purchase agreement has already been approved by the creditors’ assembly. The persons responsible for the transaction have agreed to maintain confidentiality about the purchase price.

The Dormacenter in Dormagen is to be revitalised under a restructuring plan. The multi-faceted shopping centre comprises a specialist retail centre, a restaurant business and a multiplex cinema on a total usable floor space of more than 10,000 square metres, as well as an underground garage.

At today’s discussion and voting meeting appointed by the court, the vast majority of the creditors of GERRY WEBER International AG (GWI) approved the insolvency plan which provides for the company being preserved. The plan was approved by all creditor groups, except for the shareholders, which are expected to leave the company in the planned financial restructuring process.

The restructuring expert Dr Christian Kaufmann from PLUTA Rechtsanwalts GmbH has succeeded in finding a solution for the bus company Gerhard Paul von Grönheim, which will allow the business to be preserved in a new entity. The company ‘von Grönheim Personenbeförderung GmbH & Co. KG’ has taken over the business operations with effect from 1 September 2019. All the remaining 86 members of staff have been kept on.

Restructuring expert Dr Christian Kaufmann from PLUTA Rechtsanwalts GmbH has succeeded in finding an investor for the forwarder W & F Franke Schwerlast Internationale Spedition GmbH from Bremen. As of 1 October 2019, Blanke Management GmbH, based in Bremen and owned by the multi-entrepreneur Kurt Zech, will take over the business and some 80 employees. This means that the vast majority of jobs will be saved; 13 employees will not be kept on and will unfortunately have to be laid off. Of the originally 119 employees, a number have left the company of their own accord and found new work.

Insolvency administrator Mr Michael Pluta from PLUTA Rechtsanwalts GmbH has succeeded in finding an investor solution for Bullyland GmbH. The toy manufacturer’s business operations have been sold to the newly established Bullyworld GmbH.

The insolvency administrator Mr Torsten Gutmann from PLUTA Rechtsanwalts GmbH has succeeded in finding an investor for the nursing home Haus Meinersen GmbH. A member of the DOREA Group acquired the business of the nursing home in Meinersen (Lower Saxony) with effect from 1 September 2019 by means of an asset transfer.

Mr Florian Schiller from PLUTA Rechtsanwalts GmbH is in the process of looking for an investor for Maier Drehtechnologie GmbH, based in Dunningen. In this context, the PLUTA restructuring team, which also includes the business management expert Mr Michael Hieber, has held talks with several potential buyers during recent weeks.

Mr Michael Wahl from PLUTA Rechtsanwalts GmbH succeeded in finding an investor for the security company SWS GmbH based in Bad Wurzach. He sold the business to Kahl Sicherheit GmbH, based in Ravensburg, as part of an asset deal with effect of 26 August 2019. All of the 49 jobs have been saved.

Städtebahn Sachsen GmbH (SBS) will resume operations on another partial section of the diesel railcar network managed by the Upper Elbe Transport Association (VVO) from Monday.

An investor has been found for ROTEC Anlagenbau GmbH. WK Wärmetechnische Anlagen Kessel- und Apparatebau GmbH & Co. KG, based in Wetzlar, has taken over the company’s business operations and all of the 17 members of staff with effect from 1 August 2019. The Radebeul site has been preserved.

The insolvency plans submitted by GERRY WEBER International AG (GWI) and GERRY WEBER Retail GmbH & Co. KG (GWR) in the debtor-in-possession insolvency proceedings have been laid out by the Local Court of Bielefeld in accordance with section 234 of the German Insolvency Code (InsO). This means that the plans can now be inspected by the parties to the proceedings, as the court has completed its preliminary examination. Creditors will be provided with the insolvency plans and all of their appendices in digital form.

Three months after IT-Informatik GmbH filed an application with the Local Court of Ulm for the opening of restructuring proceedings involving debtor-in-possession management, the restructuring process has now been successfully completed. Restructuring expert Mr Martin Mucha of the Stuttgart law firm Grub Brugger has succeeded in selling most of the company to DATAGROUP SE based in Pliezhausen. Some 300 jobs in Ulm, Berlin and Barcelona have thus been saved.

The bakery Bäckerei Berns KG filed an application for the opening of insolvency proceedings on 12 August 2019. On the same day, the Local Court of Mönchengladbach ordered measures to preserve the company’s assets and appointed Mr Michael Bremen, a restructuring expert from PLUTA Rechtsanwalts GmbH, as the provisional insolvency administrator.

The Local Court of Frankfurt ordered provisional insolvency proceedings to be opened for the assets of ayondo GmbH on 13 August 2019. The court has appointed Mr Frank Mößle from PLUTA Rechtsanwalts GmbH as provisional insolvency administrator. Several thousand customers use the social trading platform developed by the company to trade various investment products. The application had to be filed due to high expenditure relating to the company’s restructuring, which has already commenced. These costs led to liquidity problems.

The Local Court of Stuttgart ordered provisional insolvency proceedings to be opened for the assets of ifa Akademie gGmbH on 14 August 2019. Mr Michael Pluta, a restructuring expert from PLUTA Rechtsanwalts GmbH, has been appointed provisional administrator.

Two Städtebahn Sachsen GmbH lines will be up and running again from Monday, just in time for the start of the school term in Saxony. Provisional insolvency administrator Dr Stephan Laubereau of PLUTA Rechtsanwalts GmbH announced the welcome news in relation to train services around Dresden.

By an order of 12 August 2019, the Local Court of Aalen appointed Mr Fritz Zanker from PLUTA Rechtsanwalts GmbH as the provisional insolvency administrator for KlimaFlex Wintergarten und Faltwände GmbH. Filing for insolvency became inevitable for the company due to liquidity problems, which were caused by miscalculations concerning a major order and other projects.

PEACOCK Moden GmbH filed an application for the opening of insolvency proceedings on 8 August 2019. Following this, the Local Court of Münster ordered provisional insolvency proceedings and appointed Mr Stefan Meyer from PLUTA Rechtsanwalts GmbH as the provisional administrator. Filing for insolvency became inevitable for PEACOCK Moden GmbH due to a liquidity shortage as a result of imminent non-payment by business partners.

Good news for rail traffic in and around Dresden ‒ the provisional insolvency administrator Dr Stephan Laubereau from PLUTA has decided that the urban railway company Städtebahn Sachsen GmbH will resume business activities. It is planned that all the 16 trains will start running again soon on the regional lines around Dresden. The administrator will announce the exact date as soon as all the details have been clarified.

• Business operations will continue without any changes; customers and suppliers have remained loyal to the company
• Structured bidding process has been set up
• Initial talks with potential investors have been successful

The insolvency administrator Mr Steffen Beck from PLUTA Rechtsanwalts GmbH has succeeded in finding an investor for the flight service provider Stuttgarter Flugdienst GmbH (SFD). The well-known Bremen-based Atlas Air Service AG took over business operations as part of an asset deal with effect from 1 August 2019. Six of the original ten employees were kept on by the new owner.

Schnigge Wertpapierhandelsbank SE, which is listed on the regulated market of the Düsseldorf stock exchange, is no longer involved in insolvency proceedings. The securities trading bank has put behind it the debtor-in-possession proceedings, which were opened on 1 January 2019. The bank’s insolvency monitor was the business management expert and attorney Dr Stephan Laubereau from PLUTA Rechtsanwalts GmbH, who represented the interests of the creditors while monitoring the proceedings.

The restructuring expert Dr Christian Kaufmann from PLUTA Rechtsanwalts GmbH is currently in the process of holding talks with potential investors for TIS Technischer Industrie Service GmbH based in Leer (East Frisia).

Mr Michael Wahl, insolvency administrator of Kaufmanns Warenwelt GmbH & Co. KG, has succeeded in finding an investor for the company. The restructuring expert from PLUTA Rechtsanwalts GmbH has sold the business to the newly established company Fulfillment Gustav GmbH as part of an asset transfer. The five employees have been kept on by the buyer.

The insolvency administrator and PLUTA restructuring expert Mr Stefan Meyer has announced that the terms of the purchase agreement have been met for the kitchen manufacturer Warendorf. This means that the agreement has come into effect and the process of selling the plant to the investor can be implemented according to plan. The newly founded company, called Warendorf Küchenfabrik GmbH, whose managing director is Mr Stefan Hofemeier, is being directed in close coordination with representatives of the Chinese investor.

• Business operations continue without any restrictions
• Company has a staff of 119 employees at several locations in Northern and Eastern Germany

• Investment agreement with Robus and Whitebox
• Financial restructuring within the scope of an insolvency plan
• Robus and Whitebox provide a total of up to EUR 49.2 m
• GERRY WEBER receives a secure perspective for customers, business partners and suppliers, continuing the ongoing restructuring plan
• Trustee Stefan Meyer from PLUTA also satisfied with the results of the negotiations from a creditors perspective

Following an application filed by the Rexer Group, the Local Court of Tübingen ordered provisional insolvency administration for the group’s assets today. Mr Ilkin Bananyarli, a restructuring expert from PLUTA Rechtsanwalts GmbH, has been appointed provisional administrator. The group consisting of five companies operates a major part of the local public transport network in the districts of Calw, Esslingen and Heilbronn in the federal state of Baden-Württemberg. The company’s business has been maintained without any interruption since the application was filed. This means that Rexer Group passengers can be assured of a bus service.

A team headed by SHW CT managing director and PLUTA restructuring expert Mr Marcus Katholing has sold the Wasseralfingen site of what was formerly SHW CT to Aalen-based company Gebr. Rieger. It has been agreed that the purchase price will not be published. This sale means an increased recovery rate for creditors.

New sales potential in Asia thanks to a strategic investor. Die Küche GmbH filed for insolvency on 11 March 2019, and the Local Court / Insolvency Court of Münster initially appointed the restructuring expert and attorney Mr Stefan Meyer as provisional insolvency administrator. Since then, business operations have been stabilised and have continued without any restrictions. On 1 June 2019, insolvency proceedings were opened.

• Employee salaries guaranteed thanks to insolvency substitute benefits
• Business operations being continued
• Sister company Stöhr GmbH Metalltechnologie not affected by the application for insolvency proceedings

• Debtor-in-possession proceedings opened as planned on 1 July 2019
• Business operations being continued without any restrictions
• Initial restructuring measures implemented
• PLUTA restructuring expert Stefan Meyer appointed as insolvency monitor

The Local Court of Cloppenburg in the German federal state of Lower Saxony has ordered provisional insolvency administration for the assets of the coach operator Gerhard Paul von Grönheim on 7 June 2019. Dr Christian Kaufmann, a restructuring expert from PLUTA Rechtsanwalts GmbH, was appointed as the provisional administrator. Filing for insolvency became inevitable for the company due to liquidity problems.

• PLUTA restructuring expert Dr Thiemann confirmed as insolvency monitor
• Restructuring concept drawn up
• Good order situation

• Holtmann takes over business operations of Fürth-based Brandspaces GmbH
• Restructuring experts conducted discussions with several potential investors
• Insolvency proceedings opened on 1 June

The insolvency proceedings for DEGIA Berlin GmbH (formerly DEG Deutsche Energie GmbH) have been opened on 1 June 2019. The insolvency administrator Mr Michael Pluta will launch the official claim filing phase for creditors in the coming days, which will involve a very simple electronic claim filing process.

• Trustee Stefan Meyer and committee of creditors confirmed by creditor’s assembly
• Binding offers by potential investors expected throughout June; insolvency plan procedure also still possible
• Implementation of the announced closure of stores in Germany in three phases scheduled as of September

The provisional insolvency administrator Mr Ivo-Meinert Willrodt from PLUTA Rechtsanwalts GmbH has together with his team taken important steps in the proceedings for the assets of SiWo-Bau GmbH.

• Staff meeting at the Warendorf site
• Business operations will continue without any restrictions even after proceedings have been opened
• Final negotiations exclusively with one investor

Today, the Local Court of Regensburg has ordered provisional insolvency proceedings to be opened for the assets of SiWo-Bau GmbH. Mr Ivo-Meinert Willrodt, a restructuring expert from PLUTA Rechtsanwalts GmbH, was appointed as the provisional administrator. Filing for insolvency became inevitable due to a liquidity shortage, which was due, amongst other things, to bad debt losses.

The Ulm-based IT company IT-Informatik GmbH, with branches in Berlin, Hamburg and Barcelona, is taking advantage of the opportunities offered by debtor-in-possession proceedings to reposition itself. IT-Informatik GmbH filed an application with the Local Court of Ulm for the opening of insolvency proceedings as a debtor in possession on 13 May 2019. This application was fully accepted. The court has appointed the experienced restructuring expert Mr Michael Pluta from PLUTA Rechtsanwalts GmbH as the provisional insolvency monitor.

• Trips starting on or after 1 June 2019 have to be cancelled
• Service will continue to be provided for existing bookings
• Business operations will probably end in August

• Notarized purchase agreement signed
• The investor is planning a year-round nature and leisure programme under the new name of ‘Grünten BergWelt’

• Company re-files for insolvency
• Business operations being continued without any restrictions

ROTEC Anlagenbau GmbH, a machine and plant construction company based in Radebeul in Saxony, filed for debtor-in-possession proceedings with the local court responsible on 17 April 2019. One week ago, SFI Stotz Fredenhagen, another company in the same group, also filed for debtor-in-possession proceedings. The restructuring expert Mr Steffen Beck from PLUTA Rechtsanwalts GmbH is providing both companies with advice during the restructuring process.

The green light for additional H&H Touristik Group trips starting on or before 31 May 2019 has been given. Up until now, this had only been possible for trips beginning until the end of April.

SFI Stotz Fredenhagen Industries GmbH filed an application for debtor-in-possession proceedings on 9 April 2019. The company is provided with support and advice by the restructuring expert and general agent Mr Steffen Beck from PLUTA Rechtsanwalts GmbH.

Last week, Feel Fiber GmbH filed an application for insolvency. Following this, on 3 April 2019, the Local Court of Neu-Ulm ordered provisional insolvency proceedings and appointed Mr Florian Zistler from PLUTA Rechtsanwalts GmbH as the provisional administrator.

The chocolate business Leysieffer GmbH & Co. KG filed an application with the Local Court of Osnabrück for in-court restructuring proceedings as a debtor in possession.

By an order of 1 April 2019, the Local Court of Aalen appointed the restructuring expert Mr Fritz Zanker from PLUTA Rechtsanwalts GmbH as the provisional insolvency administrator for Gmünder Stahl + Edelstahlguss GmbH & Co. KG. Filing for insolvency became inevitable for the company due to liquidity problems.

Today, the local court Bielefeld has ordered the scheduled opening of insolvency proceedings under self-administration for GERRY WEBER International AG. The court has appointed lawyer Stefan Meyer of PLUTA Rechtsanwalts GmbH as trustee (Sachwalter), who was previously already appointed provisional trustee. GERRY WEBER International AG had applied for the court order of insolvency proceedings under self-administration on 25 January 2019.

• Company already filed for debtor-in-possession proceedings in late 2018
• Management withdrew its application for insolvency
• The court reordered proceedings and appointed Mr Pluta as provisional administrator

• The PLUTA team advised the company during the debtor-in-possession proceedings
• 110 jobs saved in Ulm, Ludwigsburg and Ratingen
• Arndt Geiwitz has overseen the proceedings as insolvency monitor since autumn 2018

• RUPF SPW Technologies GmbH will take over business operations with effect from 1 April 2019
• All 168 employees will be kept on
• Last company in the well-known Hock Group successfully sold

• Business operations to be taken over by the well-known transport and logistics company Finsterwalder
• All the jobs have been saved
• Insolvency proceedings opened on 1 March

Mr Ilkin Bananyarli from PLUTA Rechtsanwalts GmbH succeeded in finding an investor for the industrial services provider QSSL Industrieservice GmbH. The restructuring expert is selling the business operations with effect from 1 April 2019 to the well-known TRIGO Group. All of the 73 members of staff of the company in Fellbach near Stuttgart will be kept on. The new owner is TRIGO Böllinger Technik GmbH & Co. KG based in Bremen, a subsidiary of the TRIGO Group, which has its headquarters in France.

• Ongoing business operations
• Employee salaries guaranteed thanks to insolvency substitute benefits
• No application was filed for the distribution company Warendorf Retail GmbH

• Teilzeit Thiele Group successfully stabilised
• Almost all the jobs saved

Today, the Local Court of Heilbronn opened insolvency proceedings for the assets of Frenzel GmbH. Mr Michael Pluta, a restructuring expert from PLUTA Rechtsanwalts GmbH, was appointed as the insolvency administrator. He previously had acted as the provisional administrator for the bus equipment provider.

Good news for the customers of the H&H Touristik Group. Following intensive discussions with all those involved, the PLUTA restructuring experts announce that it will now also be possible for the trips starting on or before 30 April 2019 to go ahead. This applies to all trips travellers booked via H&H Touristik, galavital and Travel Direkt, which can take place thanks to the support provided by the insurer HanseMerkur Reiseversicherung AG.

The green light for additional H&H Touristik Group trips booked by travellers via H&H Touristik, galavital and Travel Direkt and starting on or before 28 February has been given.

The Local Court of Stuttgart has ordered provisional insolvency proceedings to be opened for the assets of the industrial services provider QSSL Industrieservice GmbH. Mr Ilkin Bananyarli, a restructuring expert from PLUTA Rechtsanwalts GmbH, was appointed as the provisional administrator on 7 February 2019. Filing for insolvency became inevitable for the company due to liquidity problems.

• Trips starting on or before 20 February 2019 will go ahead
• The salaries of the roughly 80 employees are guaranteed

• Production being continued without any changes
• No redundancies being planned under the proceedings
• PLUTA restructuring expert Dr Thiemann appointed as provisional insolvency monitor

• Local Court of Heilbronn opening debtor-in-possession proceedings as planned
• Initial restructuring measures implemented by the management and the general agents
• Operations being continued without restrictions

• Velibre GmbH based in Bremen filed for insolvency
• Start-up company developing coffee capsules from paper

• Business operations will be continued
• Local branch stores will open as usual
• Online business not affected

Today, GERRY WEBER International AG applied for the court order of preliminary insolvency proceedings under self-administration according to § 270 a InsO at the responsible local court Bielefeld, aiming at successfully restructuring the company through the ongoing restructuring program. The application was approved by the local court Bielefeld. The preliminary insolvency exclusively applies to the mother company GERRY WEBER International AG with about 580 employees; all subsidiaries including HALLHUBER are excluded from the proceedings. Within the scope of the preliminary self-administration, business operations of GERRY WEBER International AG are continued entirely at normal course. According to the current status, the continued financing of operations is safeguarded until the year 2020. The Managing Board remains in office with all powers and responsibilities, ensuring operations. For support, the Managing Board consults the insolvency law experienced and in the fashion industry very well-versed self-administrator and reorganization expert Christian Gerloff, Gerloff ⋅ Liebler Rechtsanwälte. In the function of a General Representative, he will coordinate in particular with regard to procedural and insolvency law issues. The local court has appointed lawyer Stefan Meyer, PLUTA Rechtsanwalts GmbH, a restructuring expert with experience in both the industry and insolvency law as provisional trustee (Sachwalter). The staff is immediately informed about the preliminary proceedings. All pay claims of employees are guaranteed by the instrument of insolvency payment.

• Operations being continued without restrictions
• Efforts being made to restructure and save the company with the help of a new investor
• PLUTA restructuring expert Stefan Meyer appointed as the provisional insolvency monitor
• Restructuring expert Silvio Höfer supporting the management
• Wages and salaries guaranteed until the end of March 2019 thanks to insolvency substitute benefits

• Wirelane takes over business operations
• All the jobs have been saved
• PLUTA restructuring experts providing support during debtor-in-possession proceedings

By its decision taken on 27 December 2018, the Local Court of Heilbronn ordered provisional insolvency proceedings for the assets of Frenzel GmbH and appointed Mr Michael Pluta from PLUTA Rechtsanwalts GmbH as the provisional administrator.

• The Local Court of Aurich terminates debtor-in-possession insolvency proceedings

• PLUTA restructuring expert Dr Christian Kaufmann acting as insolvency monitor

• Vast majority of creditors had voted in favour of the insolvency plan at the beginning of December 2018

• Thanks to the debtor-in-possession proceedings, the SKN Group has saved 288 jobs in Emden and Norden