HB Ludwigsburg has submitted an bankruptcy application. Due to the lack of sponsors, the future of the professional department of German handball masters is uncertain. What’s next?
Last year, the most successful German handball team of women changed the location and the name. The SG BBM Bietigheim became HB Ludwigsburg, from then on the team played in the arena in Ludwigsburg. The handball players are located in the baroque city under the roof of HB Ludwigsburg GmbH & Co. KG. The first season was extremely successful: with the winning of the German championship title, the DHB Cup, the victory in the Supercup and the quarter-finals in the Champions League, the handball players around captain Xenia Smits provided a brilliant record. The team of coaches, players and fans about the news that it is economically so badly so badly that an application for bankruptcy has been submitted. We answer the most important questions.
When did the team from Bankruptcy application experience?
According to SWR information, the Job message reached the team on Tuesday during the training company and preparing for the coming season. On August 23, the Supercup game in Munich against HSG Bormberg-Lippe will start. A week later, on August 30th, the first game of the new Bundesliga season (away game in Göppingen) is on the program. The players were surprised by the economically tense situation of the association on Tuesday. They were informed that there should be an important session in the evening.
What are the reactions?
Captain Xenia Smits (31) was affected in conversation with SWR Sport. “We fell out of all clouds and have to let it sink.” The team is much more than a sporting interest group for Germany’s handball player in 2024. “We all like ourselves very much, we are even more than one family. It hurts us as people.” The training company continues as normal, but: “It is difficult for us to concentrate on a sporty one.” Nevertheless, the national player, who played 141 games for Germany, wants to state that everything will be fine. “We won’t give up hope – to the bitter end,” she says.
“Of course, a good situation looks different,” Andreas Thiel told the SID on Wednesday. The chairman of the handball Bundesliga women (Hbf) knows about the signals that work out from the Ludwigsburg case. It seems uncertain whether the Swabian star ensemble with its six internationals around Captain Xenia Smits will be at the Supercup on August 23. Even for Thiel, practicing lawyer, the news of the industry leader came “surprisingly”. However, it is not a scenario, according to Thiel, which “is absolutely unusual. Cases of this kind have already existed in the past.”
How does that work Bankruptcy proceedings away?
Insolvency proceedings go through several stages. According to the Hamburg Chancellery of Görg, the discussions with everyone involved are currently running after the application. The court checks whether the prerequisites for the opening of insolvency proceedings are met. In order to secure the assets of HB Ludwigsburg, the Stuttgart lawyer Holger Leichtle was temporarily appointed as insolvency administrator from the Ludwigsburg District Court. He is currently taking care of the further processing. According to the association and the responsible law firm, the declared goal is to save the club and to put it again on financially healthy legs. For the time being, everything should continue as usual.
Expiry of insolvency proceedings HB Ludwigsburg
- Insolvency application: Ludwigsburg’s managing director Sebastian Götz had filed for bankruptcy due to financial difficulties.
- Exam phase: The court is currently examining whether all the prerequisites for insolvency proceedings are met. For the time being, the Stuttgart lawyer Holger Leichtle ensures and manages the wealth of the professional club.
- Insolvency begins: If the procedure is opened, an insolvency administrator is appointed who collects the claims of the creditors and manages the assets. Within a few weeks, HB Ludwigsburg should already take place.
- Report and exam: The administrator will create a report on the financial situation of the HB Ludwigsburg and the chances of success of a renovation. In addition, the claims of the creditors are checked. The court decides whether it will continue or the HB Ludwigsburg needs to be liquidated.
- Proceedings: Either the assets are distributed or the HB Ludwigsburg is saved with a renovation plan. The procedure is then completed.
In the coming weeks, it should be clarified whether the court will open an official procedure. Then it is important to check what the economic situation of the HB Ludwigsburg looks like in detail. For this purpose, the assets and the claims of the creditors are compared. Only then can it be determined in an examination date whether the professional team of the Ludwigsburg handball players can be saved or whether the club must be liquidated – i.e. dissolved.
What happens when a Insolvency proceedings?
The opening of insolvency proceedings would “result in a deduction of eight plus points at the end of the main round in accordance with §8b of the statutes of the league association.” This was announced by the handball Bundesliga women. An application for bankruptcy alone has no sporting consequences, explained the Hbf. If insolvency proceedings are averted, nothing would change in terms of sport. Only when the bankruptcy proceedings are opened will points be deducted – the team would not be disqualified.
What does this mean for coaching teams and players?
Most players live on their sport. You are dependent on the salary by your club. For the time being, the game continues as normal and thus also the income of the players. If the HB Ludwigsburg is insolvent and the players can no longer pay, the employment agency pays the outstanding salaries in the form of bankruptcy money for the last three months before.
If the players’ salary is missing, the professional athletes have to look for a new club. Since all athletes are in the national team and have already made themselves well internationally, it shouldn’t take long for them to find a new employer.
What’s the way for handball in Ludwigsburg?
HB Ludwigsburg has around 20 youth and active teams. However, only the Bundesliga team of women is affected by the bankruptcy proceedings. It belongs to the specially founded HB Ludwigsburg eV under the roof of HB Ludwigsburg GmbH & Co. Kg. How it will continue is still open.
Broadcast on Wed., 23.7.201.2025 3:00 p.m., SWR Currently in the afternoon, SWR Current
