PLUTA attorney Ivo-Meinert Willrodt appointed provisional insolvency monitor for Sono Motors GmbH
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PLUTA attorney Ivo-Meinert Willrodt appointed provisional insolvency monitor for Sono Motors GmbH

22 May 2023 · Munich · Business Area Insolvency Administration

On 15 May 2023, Sono Motors GmbH filed an application for protective shield proceedings with the competent court, namely the Local Court of Munich. The court approved the application and appointed Mr Ivo-Meinert Willrodt from PLUTA Rechtsanwalts GmbH as provisional insolvency monitor.

The solar car start-up’s business will be kept operational during the protective shield proceedings. At the end of February 2023, Sono Motors announced that it would realign its business model and focus exclusively on retrofit activities and the integration of solar technology into vehicles of third parties and fleet operators in the future. At the same time, the company discontinued its Sion solar car project with immediate effect. In this context, a repayment plan was prepared for the settlement of claims asserted by customer based on their Sion reservations. However, the company did not succeed in obtaining funding, which is why management filed for protective shield proceedings.

Given the circumstances, the protective shield proceedings will provide Sono Motors GmbH with the flexibility required to restructure their start-up business. During the proceedings, the focus will be exclusively on retrofit activities and the integration of solar technology into third-party vehicles. According to information provided by the company, it has already signed letters of intent and received customer orders/contracts with a total of 25 partners in this segment. The company will be supported in the proceedings by a Dentons restructuring team led by restructuring experts Dr Holger Ellers and Mr Dirk Schoene.

Provisional insolvency monitor Mr Ivo-Meinert Willrodt from PLUTA said, “Over the coming months, we will support the debtor-in-possession management team and the company’s realignment efforts. To this end, a restructuring plan will be drawn up under the proceedings, which should offer the company good prospects for the future. At the same time, we will oversee the proceedings in the best interests of creditors.” Mr Willrodt will be supported in the proceedings by PLUTA attorney Mr Wolfgang Bernhardt.

Once the proceedings have been opened, creditors may file their claims with the insolvency monitor for registration in the insolvency schedule. As a rule, this is not possible during provisional proceedings. As matters stand, the proceedings are expected to be opened in August 2023. The insolvency monitor will inform all creditors once it will be possible for them to file their claims. Following an initial assessment, there are more than 20,000 creditors in these proceedings.

PLUTA expert

Ivo-Meinert Willrodt

Ivo-Meinert Willrodt
Rechtsanwalt, Fachanwalt für Insolvenz- und Sanierungsrecht, Executive M.B.A.-HSG

Wolfgang Bernhardt

Wolfgang Bernhardt
Rechtsanwalt, Diplom-Kaufmann

PLUTA press contact

Patrick Sutter
relatio PR

+49 89 210 257-22

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