Verkauf an Investor?: Investoren im Blick: Varta hofft auf schnelle Lösung

The insolvency administrator for the struggling battery manufacturer Varta expects a shareholder solution for the company in the coming months. "Interest in Varta's technological core competencies remains unchanged on the market," stated Tobias Wahl of the Anchor law firm in Ellwangen. The goal is to reach a successful conclusion to the sale process within the next few months.

It remains unclear whether the interested parties are financial investors or industrial companies. The insolvency administrator aims to develop a future-proof continuation solution that ensures the company's survival. Varta AG, based in Schwäbisch Ellwangen, filed for insolvency proceedings with itself as the parent company and three other units in mid-July.

The business unit dealing with household batteries, which important investors wanted to withdraw from, was not affected. The four companies were initially placed in a standard provisional insolvency procedure. Nördlingen, the location, is set to close as planned. The district court in Stuttgart opened the insolvency proceedings for the four affected companies on October 1st.

Wahl said that thanks to the great effort of all involved, the business operations have been stabilized during the provisional insolvency procedure, which is a good basis for further rehabilitation. Around 2,300 people worked at the four companies affected by insolvency. While stabilization was achieved at the business locations, a irreversible decision was made for one subdivision: due to the loss of the most significant customer, production was halted for the Varta Microbattery factory in Nördlingen, Bavaria, as previously decided in spring.

This step will be implemented as planned, resulting in the loss of approximately 350 jobs. The closure was announced in mid-May. According to reports, the major customer, now withdrawing, plans to source its new-generation batteries from China in the future.