ALNO insolvency: HEUKING successfully defends clients as lawsuits against former CEO Müller and former CFO Demirtas are withdrawn
Following the insolvency of kitchen manufacturer ALNO in the summer of 2017, which impacted numerous group companies, the insolvency administrator had filed several lawsuits against members of the former Management and Supervisory Board, each seeking claims in the double-digit million-euro range, announcing additional claims exceeding these amounts. Among those targeted were Max Müller and Ipek Demirtas, former CEO and CFO of ALNO group, respectively, whose tenures ended in connection with the entry of a Bosnian investor in late 2016 and early 2017.
The lawsuits filed in 2020, concerning contested liability claims and pending before Bielefeld and Dessau-Roßlau Regional Courts, have now been withdrawn by the insolvency administrator. Moreover, all claims asserted by the insolvency estates, including those not formally subject to litigation, have been fully and finally settled.
A HEUKING team led by Partner Prof. Dr. Georg Streit has advised Max Müller and Ipek Demirtas on civil law matters and disputes since the onset of ALNO’s insolvency proceedings. The defense in the now-concluded lawsuits was led by HEUKING Partner Dr. Stefan Proske. The withdrawal of the lawsuits and the settlement of all claims stem from an agreement reached between the insolvency estates and two D&O insurers. HEUKING Partner Rüdiger Schnug advised on insurance law issues related to this settlement.
Commenting on the settlement of all claims of the insolvency estates against Max Müller and Ipek Demirtas, Prof. Streit said: “In addition to the dedication of our own team, special thanks go to the team representing the relevant insurer, in particular our esteemed peers Mr. Björn Fiedler and Dr. Anna Cryns-Moll from FCM, for their highly competent and trust-based collaboration in bringing this extremely complex matter to a successful conclusion.”
HEUKING Team, Equity Partners:
Prof. Dr. Georg Streit (Lead), Munich,
Dr. Stefan Proske (Litigation), Berlin,
Rüdiger Schnug (Insurance), Cologne,
Dr. Christian Strasser (Litigation), Munich
Salaried Partners, Associates:
Dr. Fabian Bürk,
Dr. Kai Büchler (both Insolvency),
Yannick Greimann (Litigation), all Munich
