Q&A with Marlene Ruf, on Leoni’s restructuring

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German wire and cables manufacturer Leoni is in the process of implementing its restructuring plan, approved by the Nurembourg court under the new German bankruptcy regime StaRUG. It is the first big test of the new framework, which proved useful for cramming down dissenting minority shareholders and getting an agreement in place with several stakeholders in time to save the group from insolvency.

9fin sat down with Marlene Ruf, restructuring partner from Kirkland & Ellis, who represented a group of creditors holding its €750m revolving credit facility (RCF I) which was due to mature two months ago. Marlene takes us through what a StaRUG process entails, how it helped with Leoni’s restructuring plan as well as the precedent this case sets for future restructurings under the regime.