HFO saves 1000 jobs: Gerhardi medium-sized company saved after bankruptcy!

HFO saves 1000 jobs: Gerhardi medium-sized company saved after bankruptcy!

In a positive step for the region, the investor HF Opportunities (HFO) has taken over the main assets of the insolvent Gerhardi Kunststoff GmbH. This takeover was recently completed and thus secures around 1,000 jobs at the Lüdenscheid, Altena-Rosmart and Ibbenbüren locations. The approval of the cartel office and all parties involved, including customers, has already been received, which underlines the stability of the company and its workforce. come-on.de reports that ...

The takeover is no coincidence: Gerhardi had to file for bankruptcy in November 2024, mainly as a result of project delays and uncertainties in the automotive industry. Such developments are not unique, as the number of corporate bankruptcies in Germany reached a new peak last year. According to ifm-bonn.org, over 21,800 companies filed for bankruptcy in 2024, representing an increase of 22.4% compared to the previous year. The economic crises of recent years have left their mark on many industries, and Gerhardi is just one example of many.

Realignment and perspectives

The operational management will be realigned after the takeover, with the current CFO, Christoph Huberty, remaining with the company. HFO is part of the Hannover Finanz Group and specializes in supporting companies in special situations. The investment will be made through a Germany fund founded in 2024 that aims to strengthen medium-sized companies in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. Not only are the existing structures maintained, but the goal is also to achieve sales growth and synergies.

The integration of other companies, such as the plastic injection molding company Freeglas from Schwaikheim, into Gerhardi GmbH is part of this strategy. Dr. Gerd Sievers, Managing Director of HFO, highlights Gerhardi's technological substance and speaks of a clear vision to maintain and expand the company's industrial strength. These new perspectives make the takeover a central point in stabilizing Gerhardi's business model.

A look at the challenges

But there are no guarantees for the future. The insolvency events in Germany are part of a larger picture. The increasing number of bankruptcies correlates with the problems that many companies have had to experience due to the economic conditions. Shortly before the Gerhardi bankruptcy alone, around 270,000 commercial companies closed, while more than 90,000 freelance jobs were also discontinued. The aforementioned debts of over 23,000 formerly self-employed people mean that the financial impact on medium-sized businesses is increasing excessively. Insolvency will therefore remain a hot topic that companies will have to deal with in the future.

In this context, the good news of the takeover becomes even more important: it not only brings a ray of hope for the workforce, but also gives the Lüdenscheid region hope for economic recovery. It remains to be seen how the Gerhardi brand will develop under new management, but the first steps in the right direction have been taken.