Uwe Köstens

The construction sector has faced sustained pressure for years. Mid-sized companies are particularly exposed: their reliance on debt financing leaves them vulnerable when interest rates rise, potentially threatening their viability. Securing additional funding therefore requires a robust, credible plan. In this interview, real estate expert Jan-Eike Ratjen discusses how lenders assess project viability—and why an independent adviser can be critical at key decision points.

At the beginning of May, enomyc announced its partnership with Ufenau Capital Partners. The objective: to build a leading consulting platform for transformation and restructuring — initially across the German-speaking region, with a clear path toward international reach. In this interview, Julia Hammer, Managing Director of the enomyc Group Holding, explains why the market now requires new consulting models, the role Ufenau will play in the next phase of development, and how enomyc aims to combine growth, entrepreneurship, and platform capability.

The production networks of most medium-sized companies have evolved over time. What may have been sensible and efficient years ago often no longer serves its purpose in an era of volatile demand, fluctuating customer orders, and short product life cycles. For example, if one plant is operating at full capacity while others are underutilized, alarm bells should be ringing in the executive suite. Christian Zeller and Max Stehr explain what companies can do in such situations, when certain measures make sense, and how the production footprint becomes a competitive advantage.

Many business owners first encounter the term IDW S 6 when dealing with banks or financing partners. This often gives the impression that it is a formal report or a regulatory formality for companies in crisis. However, as enomyc author Tom Hammer explains, a restructuring plan in accordance with IDW S 6 can do much more: when intelligently designed and implemented, it ensures clarity in corporate management and builds trust among financing partners—thereby laying the foundation for a sustainably successful future.

In recent months, many small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) have faced existential crises due to challenging economic conditions, the unique structural situation in Germany, and the lasting effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. The situation has been further exacerbated by sharply rising capital costs, increased risk aversion among financiers, and repayment obligations from the pandemic period. According to enomyc author Dr. Stefan Frings, these multiple crises present the perfect opportunity for decisive and consistent action. Often, it takes significant pressure before stakeholders are willing to confront harsh realities and, with careful consideration, bring an end to long-standing but unsustainable practices.

The real estate sector is currently experiencing one of the most severe crises in its history. The number of building permits has dropped by a quarter, and transaction volumes have plummeted by more than 70 percent. Few expect a genuine recovery in the short term. What can companies do now to escape the downward spiral of the industry? Christian Kuhs, founder and Business Development at Nordantech, discussed this with enomyc founder and Managing Partner Uwe Köstens, and enomyc partner and real estate expert Matias Otto, in the #SHIFTHAPPENS Podcast by Nordantech. Here are some key excerpts from the conversation.

While crises used to be exceptions, they have become a constant state due to the pandemic and wars. The business world is not exempt, with many companies currently facing turmoil. Martin Hammer, founder and managing partner of enomyc, has witnessed over a thousand companies in crisis and has successfully led many out of trouble. Here, he discusses the causes, symptoms, and the Tarragona Strategy, a proven concept in both medicine and business.

Following an unprecedented boom, the real estate industry is facing what is probably the biggest challenge in its history. Project developers in particular are being hit hard. News of ailing companies has dominated the headlines for months; several industry giants have already filed for insolvency. Rising construction costs, delivery bottlenecks and the sharp rise in interest rates before the previously historically low level have caused their calculations to collapse like a house of cards. enomyc author and distressed real estate expert Janina Elisa Buchholz explains how it came to this, what options for action now remain for the companies and for whom the crisis also offers opportunities.