Insights & Perspectives

A company’s realizable value is determined long before negotiations begin. Owners who can demonstrate the quality of earnings, cash conversion, growth potential, and risk profile early on lay the foundation for a robust valuation, an attractive pool of buyers, and a controlled sales process. Those who have to wait until they approach the market to make a case for the company’s value find themselves on the defensive during negotiations.

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.

For Franz A. Wenzel, Managing Director USA, the last five months in Anderson, South Carolina have felt like an entire year. Born, raised, and educated in the US, our consultant has returned to the US after nearly two decades abroad in both Germany and Europe, at large—as a consultant for German SMEs in the Upstate boom. What are his impressions after five months in the southeastern US? Has his focus shifted? And what questions does he frequently encounter from German companies expanding into the US? From risks to future prospects: an honest, personal, and practical insight.

Succession, more expensive capital and more selective valuations are increasing the number of complex ownership situations in Germany's industrial Mittelstand. The advantage goes to those who select targets early, finance them through the downside, and create value after closing.

The final publication of IDW S 16 provides, for the first time, a concrete reference framework that operationalizes the legal obligation for early crisis detection under Section 1 of the StaRUG. IDW S 16 does not create a new legal framework, but rather specifies how companies can properly fulfill the previously often abstract requirements for early crisis detection, planning, and risk management. enomyc partner and financial expert Jonas Keppler explains what the standard means in practice—and what consequences it has for business decisions .

In phases with high decision-making and time pressure, every minute counts. When key roles in finance, operations, or project management are vacant, implementation becomes a risk—in times of crisis, but also during growth, transformation, or transition phases. In such situations, tailor-made interim and executive search solutions bring targeted leadership experience and implementation expertise to the company. They create additional certainty by clearly anchoring responsibility, driving decisions forward, and confidently involving relevant stakeholders. The decisive factor here is not only the speed of recruitment, but also the ability to actually make an impact in challenging phases. In this interview, Anne Rienecker, head of enomyc's new People Advisory business unit, and managing director Julia Hammer explain how they support medium-sized companies with their services and why even the best interim manager is not a “jack of all trades.