The new German stabilizing and out of court restructuring regime came into effect on 1 January 2021. The "Stabilization and Restructuring Framework of Companies Act", known as StaRUG1, heralds a new phase in the German restructuring landscape, introducing a framework of tools including a new restructuring plan, which will enable debtors to restructure and cram down minority creditors outside of German insolvency proceedings for the first time.
The StaRUG provides for a so-called stabilisation order to make it easier for companies to restructure. This is also referred to as a moratorium. We explain the requirements and consequences.
On 1 January 2021, the StaRUG, which goes back to an EU directive, came into force and wants to provide a `second chance for businesses. The abbreviation stands for 'Unternehmensstabilisierungs- und –restrukturierungsgesetz' ('Corporate Stabilisation and Restructuring Act').
With this overview, we want to provide you with a high-level overview of the StaRUG on the following main issues:
The German Act on the Further Development of the Restructuring and Insolvency Law (Sanierungs- und Insolvenzrechtsfortentwicklungsgesetz – SanInsFoG) took effect on January 1, 2021, transforming the European Restructuring Directive of June 20, 2019 ((EU) 2019/1023) and introducing a self-administrated restructuring option outside the standard insolvency proceeding.
The Pre-Insolvency Restructuring Plan
Die Neuregelung vermindert Haftungsgefahren für Zahlungen bei Insolvenzreife gegenüber der bisherigen Regelung.
The UK's withdrawal from the European Union has created uncertainty around insolvency law. Let's look at how things have changed in the wake of Brexit, and what that means for current and future German insolvency proceedings.
What is the state of play post-transition period?
A comprehensive change to German insolvency and restructuring law has become effective starting 1 January 2021. The change allows that a company's reorganization is possible without insolvency and includes the majority decision of its creditors.
In brief
Im Fortgang des Jahres 2021 laufen die Aussetzungsregelungen unter dem COVID-19-Insolvenzaussetzungsgesetz (COVInsAG) allmählich aus. Um die Folgen der Covid-19-Pandemie trotzdem weiterhin abzumildern, trat am 1. Januar 2021 das Gesetz zur Fortentwicklung des Sanierungs- und Insolvenzrechts (SanInsFoG) in Kraft, dessen Zweck zum einen die Neuregelung der Insolvenzantragspflicht und zum anderen die Umsetzung der europäischen Richtlinie über präventive Restrukturierungsrahmen Nr. 2019/1023 ist.
Prior to the introduction of the Preventive Restructuring Framework by the StaRUG out-of-court restructurings in Germany other than the restructuring of German law-governed bonds generally required unanimous approval by all affected creditors. Existing in-court procedures were only available in case of insolvency, and entailed substantial court involvement.