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[SITUATION] · [ACTIVE]

3 clusters · 119 sources · 5 days · First seen 5 days ago · Last updated about 19 hours ago

Categories: BUSINESS

Varta battery maker insolvency

Entities: Apple Inc. · Varta AG · Deutsche Bank · Porsche AG · Michael Tojner

Overview

On 26 July 2026 the Stuttgart Local Court confirmed VARTA AG’s four self‑administered insolvency filings for the parent and three subsidiaries. The procedure is framed as a preliminary step to protect the group’s long‑term future while allowing day‑to‑day operations—especially the consumer‑household battery business (AA and AAA cells)—to continue unchanged.

The filing follows a steep market slowdown, lower demand, adverse exchange‑rate effects and the loss of Apple’s CoinPower button‑cell contract, which was moved to Chinese suppliers. Financing requests from shareholder Porsche AG and investor Michael Tojner were denied, leaving VARTA with limited cash.

VARTA reported 2024 revenue of roughly €793 million and a loss of €64.5 million. About 3,260 jobs are at risk, including roughly 350 positions at the Nördlingen plant. Creditors, led by Deutsche Bank, are examining a takeover of the profitable household‑battery segment, which may be spun off. Michael Tojner has expressed interest in acquiring the micro‑battery division.

Analysts warn that fragmenting the group could weaken Germany’s battery sector and impede future innovation, while potential buyers are weighing the value of the split business units.

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.

[● 9 SOURCES] VARTA AG filed for preliminary insolvency under self‑administration at the Stuttgart Local Court. (multiple)
[● 7 SOURCES] The insolvency filing does not affect VARTA's household battery business, which will be separated. (multiple)
[● 6 SOURCES] Creditors led by Deutsche Bank are considering taking over the profitable household battery segment. (multiple)
[● 6 SOURCES] Investor Michael Tojner expressed interest in acquiring VARTA's micro‑battery division. (multiple)
[● 5 SOURCES] VARTA lost its key customer Apple, which switched to a Chinese supplier for its CoinPower button batteries used in AirPods. (multiple)
[● 4 SOURCES] Porsche AG and investor Michael Tojner refused to provide additional financing, prompting the insolvency. (multiple)
[● 4 SOURCES] VARTA employed about 3,260 people, many of whom are at risk due to the restructuring. (multiple)
[● 3 SOURCES] VARTA reported 2024 revenue of approximately €793 million and a loss of €64.5 million. (multiple)

Timeline

about 19 hours ago

[BUSINESS] 15 sources
VARTA AG files for self‑administered insolvency as creditors eye household battery unit
VARTA AG entered self‑administered insolvency; creditors may take over its household‑battery unit after Apple switched suppliers and Porsche/Tojner denied financing, risking 3,260 jobs.
3 days ago

[BUSINESS] 50 sources
German battery maker Varta files insolvency applications
Varta, the German battery maker, filed four insolvency applications, seeking self‑administration restructuring while keeping its consumer‑battery unit afloat. Loss of Apple orders and creditor pressure drive a潜
5 days ago

[BUSINESS] 60 sources
German battery maker Varta files for insolvency
Varta AG filed four insolvency applications; creditors plan to split off its consumer‑battery unit, while owners Tojner and Porsche refuse further funding after losing Apple as a customer. About 3,260 jobs are

Sources

24ur.com · akishaber.com.tr · aktuality.sk · amica.de · augsburger-allgemeine.de · bani.md · bild.de · bizlife.rs · biznisinfo.mk · byc-news.de · cash.ch · circleline.prague · civilmedia.mk · curioctopus.guru · dartsnmore.com · de.euronews.com · de.rt.com · derchotv.de · dnevno.hr · donanimhaber.com · dunya.com · euronews.com · faz.net · fehmarn24.de · feldkirch.vol.at · finance-magazin.de · finansgundem.com · finanzen.at · finanzen.ch · finanzen.net · finanznachrichten.de · forexinfo.it · gastronomia.unlp.edu.ar · gazetepencere.com · haber7.com · haberx.com · halktv.com.tr · hdmotori.it · hiddennews.com · hna.de · img.zeit.de · industriemagazin.at · iphoneaddict.fr · it-boltwise.de · ithome.com · jornaleconomico.sapo.pt · jungewelt.de · juniorskisport.pl

This summary has been updated 6 times: see revision history