County Kleve acquires majority stake in hospital in insolvency plan proceedings with Redeker Sellner Dahs at its side

Bonn, 2 June 2025. With the support of Redeker Sellner Dahs, County Kleve has acquired a majority stake in the insolvent St. Willibrord Hospital in Emmerich. The acquisition is a key component in an extensive restructuring of the hospital. Its operation is not only to be continued – going forward it is also to receive a stable new ownership structure, a tailored medical strategy and a solid financial footing.

Redeker Sellner Dahs has provided intensive support to County Kleve since the opening of insol‑​vency proceedings in the middle of last year. The insolvency plan proceedings have now been completed. A team headed by Matthias Flotmann, Dr Cathrin Brünkmans and Dr Jakob Wulff pro‑​vided the public sector client with legal support and comprehensive advice, inter alia on the continuation of hospital operations at St. Willibrord‑​Spital, in particular on contractual agreements underlying the continuation of operations as well as investor agreements and negotiations in connection with the insolvency plan. Concluded on a successful note on 28 May 2025, the insolvency plan proceedings are viewed in Germany as a prime example of successful municipalisation in a challenging environment.

The owner of Willibrord Hospital – St. Willibrord‑​Spital Emmerich‑​Rees gGmbH – filed for insol‑​vency in May 2024. Kleve Local Court opened insolvency proceedings on 1 August 2024, ap‑​pointing Dr Bero‑​Alexander Lau (White & Case) as insolvency administrator. The hospital was initially able to continue in insolvency with the support of County Kleve. The insolvency proceed‑​ings have in the meantime been brought to a positive conclusion.

St. Willibrord‑​Spital Emmerich‑​Rees gGmbH has been successfully restructured within the frame of the insolvency plan proceedings concluded on 28 May 2025. County Kleve has acquired a ma‑​jority stake in St. Willibrord‑​Spital Emmerich‑​Rees gGmbH through a newly founded holding company by means of a capital cut in the insolvency plan. The consulting firm AccuMeda, which has been supporting St. Willibrord‑​Spital in coordination with the County since August 2024 and is to manage its operations in future, is to become a co‑​shareholder.
St. Willibrord‑​Spital is a hospital with over 500 employees and 271 beds, six specialist departments and eight medical centres. By treating around 40,000 patients a year, the hospital helps se‑​cure emergency and healthcare services for the population of County Kleve.
Redeker's insolvency and restructuring team assists clients with reorganisations, restructurings and company acquisitions in the healthcare sector on a regular basis.

Under the lead of Matthias Flotmann, Dr Cathrin Brünkmans (both Counsel, Insolvency and Cor‑​porate Law, Bonn) and Dr Jakob Wulff (Partner, Corporate/M&A, Bonn), this complex transaction was carried out with an interdisciplinary team of lawyers from different RSD offices.

Advisors to County Kleve

Redeker Sellner Dahs:

DHPG:

  • Quentin Adrian (Senior Partner, Tax Law)
  • Dr Lutz Engelsing (Senior Partner, Tax Law)
  • Julien Jeuckens (Partner, Tax Law)

The debtor was supported by AccuMeda Holding GmbH: In particular by Elmar H. Willebrand, Iris Nötling and Dennis Figlus

The advisory team headed by insolvency administrator Dr Bero‑​Alexander Lau from White & Case included:

  • Dr Bero‑​Alexander Lau (Partner, Insolvency & Restructuring, Düsseldorf)
  • Sylvia Fiebig (Partner, Insolvency & Restructuring, Hamburg)
  • Dr Felix Höpker (Partner, Insolvency & Restructuring, Düsseldorf)
  • Dr Gero von Jhering (Partner, Litigation, Hamburg)
  • Hendrik Roeger (Partner, Employment Law, Hamburg)
  • Christoph Arhold (Counsel, Public Law, Berlin)
  • Carola Boeckmann (Associate, Employment Law, Hamburg)
  • Constantin Sturm (Associate Insolvency & Restructuring, Düsseldorf)
  • Birgit Schleicher‑​Bartels and Maike Bredick (Associates, Insolvency & Restructuring, Düsseldorf).

your contact

Christiane Legler

Christiane Legler

legler@redeker.de

Willy‑​Brandt‑​Allee 11
53113 Bonn
T +49 228 72625‐472
F +49 228 72625‐99