PLUTA Management GmbH advises on ROFU Kinderland M&A process

PLUTA Management GmbH has successfully advised on the M&A process for ROFU Kinderland Spielwarenhandelsgesellschaft GmbH. The well-known toy retailer, which has been involved in debtor-in-possession proceedings since mid-January 2026, has concluded an investor agreement with Kids & School Holding GmbH. Managing partner Mr Achim Weniger has decades of extensive industry experience and an excellent network.

The PLUTA Management GmbH team has conducted the entire sales process, taking charge of all steps from the search for an investor to the conclusion of the investor agreement. The solution underscores the team’s implementation expertise and many years of experience, especially in distressed M&A mandates. The PLUTA Management GmbH transaction team comprised managing director Mr Marcus Katholing as well as Mr Luca Reifenberg as project manager, Mr Michael Kögl and Mr Max Mayer.

Mr Katholing, who has also been chief restructuring officer at ROFU since the start of the year, said, “We are pleased that we have successfully concluded the transaction, helping to secure around 1,120 jobs. The discussions with the investor were consistently positive and quickly led to an agreement. This is not an easy economic environment. I am therefore all the more pleased that Mr Achim Weniger and Mr Bernd Stocker with Kids & School Holding GmbH will take responsibility for charting a successful course for ROFU going forward.”

Project manager Mr Luca Reifenberg said, “Despite challenging time constraints, we have managed to clearly structure the transaction and bring it to a successful conclusion within just three months. The entire M&A process has been highly efficient and marked by transparent communication and close coordination with all relevant stakeholders. This has allowed us to ensure a smooth process at all times.”

Ms Daniela Jeske is also part of the PLUTA restructuring team. Attorney Mr Stefan Warmuth from PLUTA Rechtsanwalts GmbH is helping to advise on matters of insolvency law. The Local Court of Idar-Oberstein appointed attorney Ms Annemarie Dhonau from law firm Schiebe & Collegen as insolvency monitor to oversee the proceedings in the interests of creditors. Insolvency monitor Ms Annemarie Dhonau said, “Despite the tight timeline and difficult economic environment, the M&A process has been completed successfully. The cooperation with all involved has been very good in recent months.”

Insolvency plan solution in progress

The parties involved have already signed and notarised the investor agreement. The investor solution will be implemented within the framework of an insolvency plan. This means that ROFU will work together with the PLUTA team to draw up an insolvency plan over the coming weeks and thereby seek a settlement with its creditors. If the plan is approved by a majority of the creditors, the parties will be able to complete the transaction and the proceedings will then be terminated. The intention is for ROFU to be in a position to exit debtor-in-possession proceedings and operate independently again from August 2026.

The investor agreement envisages maintaining 77 of ROFU’s 104 stores. These employ 1,035 people, who will be kept on by the investor. More than 80 employees at the company’s headquarters will be retained. Approximately 1,120 jobs will therefore be saved through the investor solution.