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:
- Matthias Flotmann (Counsel, Insolvency and Corporate Law, Bonn)
- Dr Cathrin Brünkmans (Counsel, Insolvency and Corporate Law, Bonn)
- Dr Jakob Wulff (Partner, Corporate/M&A, Bonn)
- Hans‑Peter Hoh (Partner, Corporate/Real Estate Law, Munich)
- Dr Markus Dierksmeier, LL.M. (Partner, Corporate/M&A, Bonn)
- Dr Patrick Schäfer (Senior Associate, Corporate/M&A, Bonn)
- Clara Sophia Pagel (Associate, Corporate/M&A, Bonn)
- Dr Clemens Holtmann (Partner, State Aid Law, Brussels)
- Dr Andreas Rosenfeld (Partner, Antitrust Law, Bonn/Brussels)
- Dr Torsten Stirner (Counsel, Antitrust Law, Berlin)
- Alexander Leidig (Partner, Real Estate Law, Bonn)
- Paulina Bardenhagen (Senior Associate, Real Estate Law, Bonn)
- Dr Matthias Ganske (Partner, Public Procurement Law, Bonn)
- Karolin Ludwig (Senior Associate, Public Procurement Law, Bonn)
- Leonie Born, LL.M. (Associate, Public Procurement Law, Bonn)
- Dr Andreas Wirtz (Associate Partner, Employment Law, Bonn)
- Bernadette Prauss (Associate, Employment Law, Bonn)
- Dr Daniel Krebühl (Counsel, Public Law, Bonn)
- Dr Philipp Bender (Senior Associate, Public Law, Bonn)
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).
