German companies are expected to go bust at a higher rate this year following a sharp increase in insolvencies in 2023, as businesses hit by high energy costs and the end of pandemic aid throw in the towel.
Restructuring experts warn that many “zombie” companies kept afloat after the coronavirus pandemic by generous government aid and a suspension of the obligation to file for bankruptcy — which caused insolvencies to drop to unusually low levels — are now collapsing.
Since the start of this year, several well-known German companies — including the department store chain Galeria Karstadt Kaufhof and Hamburg-based bag maker Bree, whose customers include Chancellor Olaf Scholz — have filed for insolvency.
The ranks of struggling…
