ROFU concludes investor agreement with well-established market participant with extensive industry experience

Toy and baby product retailer ROFU Kinderland Spielwarenhandelsgesellschaft GmbH has achieved an important milestone in its debtor-in-possession proceedings just three months following its insolvency filing and the opening of the debtor-in-possession proceedings on 1 April 2026. The company has concluded an investor agreement with Kids & School Holding GmbH owned by TOP Locc GmbH. Managing partner Mr Achim Weniger has decades of extensive industry experience and an excellent network. Together with an investor group, the conditions needed to put ROFU on a financially viable and economically sound footing will be created.

ROFU has been involved in debtor-in-possession proceedings aimed at ensuring the company’s long-term sustainability since 19 January 2026. Under such an arrangement, management remains in charge and is supported by restructuring specialists. Mr Marcus Katholing from PLUTA Management GmbH, acting as chief restructuring officer, has recently implemented important restructuring measures. Ms Daniela Jeske is also part of the 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 und Collegen as insolvency monitor to oversee the proceedings in the interests of creditors.

Insolvency plan solution in progress

The purchase agreement has already been signed by the parties. 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. Once the creditors’ assembly approves the insolvency plan, the investors will be able to acquire the business operations and key assets. A discussion and voting meeting to be convened for this is expected to be held in the summer. If the insolvency plan solution 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 operate independently again and exit insolvency proceedings from August 2026.

The investor agreement envisages maintaining 77 ROFU stores. These employ 1,035 people, who will be kept on by the investor. Twenty-seven locations are not part of the acquisition concept. These stores will hold a clearance sale that is expected to last until July, after which the facilities will be returned to the respective landlords. Regrettably, around 330 employees (more than three-quarters of whom are part-time or temporary staff) in the affected stores will have to be made redundant. Jobs will also be lost at the headquarters in Hoppstädten-Weiersbach as part of the acquisition concept. More than 80 of the 360 or so employees there will be kept on. The external warehouse in Rammstein with around 60 employees will be closed as there will be no longer a need for it. Approximately 1,120 jobs will therefore be saved through the investor solution.

“The investor agreement within the framework of an insolvency plan provides an opportunity to safeguard ROFU’s future. This is also the best possible outcome for the creditors. The job cuts are painful, but unfortunately unavoidable,” said PLUTA restructuring expert Mr Marcus Katholing in his capacity as ROFU managing director. This solution is the only way to safeguard the company’s long-term future; without it, the entire business would have to be closed. With the more streamlined setup going forward, the structures will be adapted to market conditions.

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.”

Experienced investor with industry expertise

Mr Achim Weniger from Kids & School Holding GmbH said, “We are delighted that our concept has been well received. We see great potential in further developing ROFU and positioning it as a major brick-and-mortar retail partner in the toy sector in the long term. We want to take targeted measures and use the presented restructuring plan to make ROFU profitable again and steer it towards a positive future. The focus will be on efficient processes and strategic partnerships to ensure the stores are run economically. This long-standing family business with a large store network offers fantastic ranges for children and families, comprehensive services and in-store advice.”

Operations at the more than one hundred ROFU stores have been maintained without interruption during recent months. The company has also improved processes and taken steps to increase efficiency in inventory and space management and work more closely in partnership with suppliers. Despite the proceedings having been opened, the business is still fully operational. The employees’ salaries are being paid from ongoing revenue and all specialist stores remain open, offering an appealing product range at regular opening hours. Customers can also use our online shop to place orders as normal.

ROFU managing director Mr Michael Fuchs will remain available to the company in the coming weeks and leave after the planned handover to the investors. Managing director Mr Michael Edl already stepped down from the management board in early April.

ROFU is the leading toy and baby product retailer in the southwest of Germany. The company has been selling toys from all well-known brands for over 40 years. Children’s books, exercise books, craft kits, puzzles and board games round out its offering.