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Insolvency shock for HCM Kinzel: Zaberfelder Spielverlag in crisis!
HCM Kinzel, a toy publisher from Zaberfeld, filed for bankruptcy on May 12, 2025, under the supervision of the Heilbronn district court.
Insolvency shock for HCM Kinzel: Zaberfelder Spielverlag in crisis!
HCM Kinzel, a renowned company from Zaberfeld, filed for bankruptcy on May 12, 2025. The toy publishing house, which was founded in 1993 by Helmuth Kinzel and his sons Markus and Christian, is best known for its extensive range of children's games, board games and party games. The range also includes educational toys, decorations and experiment kits. The insolvency was supervised by the Heilbronn district court and the provisional insolvency administrator, lawyer Tibor Braun.
After filing for insolvency, security measures were ordered on May 19, 2025 to protect the insolvency estate. It is currently unclear whether a restructuring or a takeover by an investor is feasible. The court also ordered that HCM Kinzel may not dispose of its assets without the approval of the insolvency administrator, which could result in an orderly restructuring, insolvency plan proceedings or, if necessary, liquidation.
Financial condition and availability of products
The company's financial situation is worrying. It must be determined whether existing assets are sufficient to cover the costs of the procedure. The bankruptcy could have a serious impact on the range and availability of products. This not only affects the products themselves, but also the company's supply chains and partnerships.
Despite these challenges, HCM Kinzel has already reported successful pre-orders for the game “Braindrops”, which is part of the popular Brain Game series. This shows that there is still demand for the company's creative products. The game “Balloon Pop” by Mikko Punakallio is also nominated for the “German Toy Prize”. In 2023, Matthew Dunstan's Next Station: London was one of three finalists for Game of the Year.
Importance of the industry and outlook
HCM Kinzel is active in Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Italy and is considered an important provider in the games and toy industry. With a wide range of products ranging from children's, family and party games to experiment kits, the company has built up a loyal customer base. Nevertheless, it remains to be seen whether the interim measures will be enough to find a lasting solution to the company's financial problems.
Industry experts and the company itself see the possibility of a further deterioration in the financial situation and are trying to avoid the opening of main proceedings. The next steps will be crucial to secure HCM Kinzel's creative potential and brand assets while continuing operations during bankruptcy.
In Germany, insolvency applications are published in accordance with the insolvency regulations in order to ensure transparency in such proceedings. The official platform for announcements from the bankruptcy courts is at Bankruptcy notices to find.