VARTA AG O.N.

The Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy is conducting an investment review under the Foreign Trade and Payments Ordinance to determine whether an ownership change at Varta could endanger Germany’s public order or security. Intervention would be possible if parts of the group were to be controlled from outside the EU in the future and this would have serious consequences. The consumer division with household batteries is now controlled by hedge funds and Deutsche Bank and has so far not been affected by the Apple-related crisis, while other Varta companies have filed for insolvency. » Plus sur wiwo.de

The Swabian battery maker Varta is in preliminary insolvency proceedings; the aim is to sell to an investor and preserve jobs. The provisional insolvency administrator reports a pleasingly large number of interested parties, without currently distinguishing between financial and industrial investors. Four group companies are affected and around 2,300 employees work in the impacted units; the immediate priority is securing business operations. » Plus sur t-online.de

Dirk Uwe Sauer warns that the planned spin-off and the threatened breakup of Varta could weaken the entire German battery sector. Creditors want to carve out the household-battery business, while Varta has filed for preliminary insolvency under self-administration. Sauer stresses Varta's technological strength and cautions that a lack of mass production and dependence on China make it harder to fund innovations. Varta is working, among other things, on sodium‑ion batteries; Porsche holds around half of the shares. » Plus sur finanzen.net