Eichbaum repositions itself
Restructuring in self-administration planned - restructuring manager appointed
Advertisement
Privatbrauerei Eichbaum GmbH & Co KG, Mannheim, filed an application for self-administration on October 28, 2025. "This step is intended to mark a new beginning," explained Frank Reifel, Managing Director of Restructuring. The aim is to preserve the traditional brewery in Mannheim, strengthen its competitiveness and secure as many jobs as possible. According to Reifel, he is aware that "a major task lies ahead of us".
Self-administration means that the management remains capable of acting and can actively and independently shape the restructuring of the company. A court-appointed (provisional) administrator accompanies the proceedings and ensures that the interests of the creditors are safeguarded. The basis for self-administration is a restructuring concept that has been submitted to the court and is intended to form the basis for Eichbaum's future. It envisages strengthening sales activities and opening up new markets (particularly in the ready-to-drink segment). The aim is to develop from a pure beer brewer into a beverage manufacturer. An investor search is underway to provide the company with the financial resources required for implementation. The first promising contacts have already been made.
The situation for the oldest industrial company in the city of Mannheim, founded in 1679, has become increasingly difficult in recent months. Like many other export-oriented companies, Eichbaum is facing a difficult general situation characterized by deglobalization trends as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, turbulent geopolitical conditions and an increasingly unpredictable customs policy in key sales markets. Added to this is the high price and competitive pressure on the beer market, which has intensified further due to the unusually sharp drop in per capita beer consumption this year, as well as the well-known problems in the hospitality industry.
The decision to go down the road of restructuring under debtor-in-possession management was made by mutual agreement after intensive examination of all options by the management and the Hiby-Durst owner family. "It is an expression of responsibility towards the employees, the region and the company's more than 340-year history," affirmed the previous Managing Director Andreas Hiby Durst. Hiby-Durst and co-managing director Markus Lopsien had resigned from their positions, paving the way for the appointment of a restructuring management team. This consists of restructuring specialist Frank Reifel (FALK, Mannheim) and Eichbaum's long-standing head of sales Uwe Aichele. They will be supported by Dr. Christoph Glatt (Schiebe und Collegen), a lawyer specializing in insolvency and restructuring law, who has been appointed as general representative.
A works meeting was held last Tuesday to inform the workforce about the situation and the next steps to be taken. The works council is closely involved in the restructuring and will also send a representative to the creditors' committee appointed by the court.
The local court also appointed Mannheim-based lawyer Thomas Oberle (SZA Schilling, Zutt & Anschütz) as provisional administrator in a ruling dated October 29, 2025. Following initial talks with the new management, Oberle expressed his confidence: "The company's plans for restructuring under self-administration are plausible and comprehensible". He sees good chances of saving the company.
Note: This article has been translated using a computer system without human intervention. LUMITOS offers these automatic translations to present a wider range of current news. Since this article has been translated with automatic translation, it is possible that it contains errors in vocabulary, syntax or grammar. The original article in German can be found here.
Other news from the department business & finance
