Restructuring expert Michael Pluta achieves a long-term solution for ifa Akademie

Mr Michael Pluta has succeeded in achieving a solution for the language school ifa Akademie. The restructuring expert and managing director of PLUTA Rechtsanwalts GmbH sold the business to the renowned educational organization Kolping-Bildungswerk Württemberg with effect from 1 January 2020. In future, well-trained professionals will continue to provide high-quality language courses under the umbrella of the Kolping-Bildungswerk.

In 2016, ifa Akademie was spun-off from the ifa Institute for International Relations as a gGmbH (a charitable company with limited liability). ifa itself continues to be financed by the German Foreign Office, the German Land of Baden-Württemberg and the city of Stuttgart, the capital of Baden-Württemberg. ifa Akademie gGmbH had to file for insolvency in 2019. The educational facility headquartered in Stuttgart offered comprehensive German courses at all levels. The Local Court of Stuttgart has appointed Mr Michael Pluta as insolvency administrator. Together with his team, which also included the attorney Dr Matthias Lehr, he continued the business without any restriction; the scheduled courses took place. During the proceedings, the administrator also spoke to several interested parties in order to provide a viable long-term solution for the institution.

High-quality German courses under the umbrella of the ifa Institute for International Relations in Stuttgart look back on a tradition of 50 years. This will now be continued under Kolping. “In Kolping Bildungswerk we have found a reliable investor who will continue the ifa Akademie in accordance with its previous high standards. This was important to us. We enjoyed constructive talks which resulted in a very satisfactory conclusion,” said Mr Pluta. He added, “All courses can continue to run as scheduled. The courses offered and the registrations continue to apply.” The persons responsible for the transaction have agreed to maintain confidentiality about the purchase price.

Five of the original ten permanent employees will be taken over by the buyer; all other employees have already moved on. The roughly 40 freelance staff will continue to work at ifa Akademie, which will retain its name.

Dr Klaus Vogt, Chairman of the Kolping-Bildungswerk Württemberg e.V., said, “We are happy about the outcome of the negotiations which will allow us to further strengthen our Stuttgart site and expand our offerings. This reflects our most important principle, i.e. that a diverse education shall be achievable for anybody.”