The number of companies sliding into insolvency in Germany rose by 10.4 per cent in September compared to the year before, according to preliminary data, the Brussels Signal reported. This was announced by the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis) on October 13. The final tally for July – which was published on the same date – shows that insolvency rose by 13.4 per cent year-on-year in the month. The preliminary data is based on insolvency announcements from German courts that are later complemented by official statistics to arrive at the final number.

Archer Aviation has emerged as the winning bidder for Lilium’s extensive portfolio of advanced air mobility patents, ZagDaily.com reported. The California-based company has secured around 300 intellectual property assets for €18 million following a competitive process that also involved Joby Aviation and the Ambitious Air Mobility Group (AAMG). Announced at the NBAA Business Aviation Convention in Las Vegas, the deal marks the latest chapter in Lilium’s drawn-out insolvency proceedings and underscores the growing consolidation in the advanced air mobility (AAM) sector.

German wind turbine manufacturer eno energy has filed for bankruptcy, ReNews.biz reported. Documents published last week by the Rostock District Court in Germany’s Mecklenburg-Vorpommern state show that that eno energy and its service and maintenance subsidiary, eno energy systems, have started the bankruptcy proceedings. The court has appointed Christoph Morgen from Hamburg law firm Brinkmann and Partner and the provisional insolvency administrator. Rerik-based eno energy produces onshore units in the 2MW-6MW range.

Closed is in the clear. After filing bankruptcy proceedings in August, the German denim brand’s two-month investor process has come to an end. Fashion executives Dieter Holzer and the Böck family—sole shareholder of contemporary lifestyle label Marc O’Polo—are the new owners of Closed, SourcingJournal.com reported. “The investor consortium of the Böck and Holzer entrepreneurial families has presented a convincing offer and business concept,” said Stefan Denkhaus, the insolvency administrator.

German exports unexpectedly declined in August, hampered by weaker trade with other European nations and the uncertainty prompted by U.S. tariffs over the summer, the Wall Street Journal reported. Exports of goods fell 0.5% on month in August, while imports fell 1.3%, German statistics agency Destatis said Thursday. Exports of goods to other European Union countries dipped 2.5%, while to outside the bloc they increased 2.2%, the data showed. However, despite the U.S.

German industrial production slipped unexpectedly sharply in August, reflecting the impact of uncertainty prompted by rising U.S. tariffs on the sector, the Wall Street Journal reported. Output in factories in Europe’s largest economy sank 4.3% on month, Germany’s statistics agency Destatis said Wednesday. It came after a 1.3% rise in July, which was the first increase since March. Automotive production fell 18.5% on month, although some of that may be due to annual plant closures over the summer, Destatis said. Machinery and pharmaceutical output also led the overall trend downward.

The insolvency of an operator of a decommissioned nuclear power plant in Germany raises questions about the financial responsibilities for deconstructing the reactor and disposing of its radioactive materials, TheEnergyMix.com reported. HKG, the owner of the nuclear plant Hamm-Uentrop that was opened in 1983 and taken out of service only six years later, filed for insolvency at a court in western state North Rhine-Westphalia, reports Clean Energy Wire, citing the German business weekly WirtschaftsWoche.

German manufacturing orders unexpectedly sank for the fourth straight month in August, as tariff uncertainty over the summer damped international orders, the Wall Street Journal reported. Total orders tumbled 0.8% on month in August, from a 2.7% fall in July, Germany’s statistics agency Destatis said Tuesday. Orders rose in the first quarter in the run-up to the announcement of expected tariffs from the Trump administration at the start of April. Since then, they have slumped. Germany, in common with other European Union members, faces a 15% tariff on most goods imports into the U.S.

German regional solar systems provider Sungrade Photovoltaik has filed for insolvency, facing increasing price pressure, material and supplier issues, as well as volatile market conditions, RenewablesNow.com reported. The Neu-Ulm Local Court ordered on October 2 preliminary insolvency proceedings over the company’s assets, law firm Pluta Rechtsanwalts GmbH said on Monday. Florian Zistler from Pluta was appointed as the preliminary insolvency administrator. According to the statement, Sungrade’s business operations will continue, and existing orders will be fulfilled.

The German retail sector has suffered another major blow as the a large retail group confirms the closure of approximately 70 stores following its insolvency filing, InteriorDaily.com reported. The company, Schlau Brothers Group, which owns both Schlau and Hammer specialty stores, entered self-administered insolvency in summer 2025 amid rising costs and financial strain. While the Hammer chain will be partially salvaged through acquisition, saving around 1,200 jobs, roughly 70 of its 93 locations are still set to shut down.