The Munich, Frankfurt and New York offices of international law firm Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP advised Superior Industries Group, one of the world’s leading manufacturers of aluminum wheels for the automotive industry, in the successful completion of its European transformation.

In connection with this transformation, Weil advised the German subsidiary Superior Industries Production Germany GmbH in relation to protective shield proceedings under German insolvency law (Schutzschirmverfahren). Even though the economic circumstances did not allow a turnaround of the Werdohl facility, Superior Industries Group was able to relocate the production to Poland within an extremely tight time frame. Delivery to OEM customers continued without any restrictions through the entire relocation process. In addition, the majority of the staff affected by the transformation could be re-employed through the implementation of a transfer company.

Weil already advised the company ahead of the transformation in relation to obtaining a new term loan financing. Originally, this involved Superior Industries Production Germany GmbH as well as other German Superior Industries group companies. In the context of the European transformation, Weil advised on the implementation of all of the restructuring measures with a continuation of the financing. While production was relocated and the European business transformed, the term loan financing was extended in August 2024 in order to redeem a USD 200 million bond issued at the level of Superior Industries International, Inc.

The transformation of the European business activities of Superior Industries Group was one of Weil’s most prominent restructuring matters in Europe and is testament to the Firm’s exceptional expertise in transatlantic restructurings.

The Weil team was led by Co-Managing Partner of Weil’s German offices Gerhard Schmidt (Munich) and included partners Tobias Geerling (Tax, Munich), Capital Markets practice Co-Head Michael Hickey and Jessie Chiang (both Corporate, New York), counsel Andreas Fogel (Corporate, Munich), Matthias Eiden (Restructuring, Frankfurt), Konstantin Hoppe (Litigation, Munich), Thomas Zimmermann (Finance, Munich) and Gero Pogrzeba (Litigation, Frankfurt) as well as associates Carolin Vettermann (Tax, Munich), Christopher Schletter (Corporate, Munich), Hans-Christian Mick (Finance, Frankfurt), Silvia Lengauer (Finance, Munich), Nicolas Nöller, Melina Husic (both Restructuring, Frankfurt) and Daniel Matijevic (Litigation, Munich).