Deutsche Pfandverwertung — Our expertise and services in lien law.
Why Deutsche Pfandverwertung?
We are authorized to conduct public auctions — and act as part of the administration of justice in the functional sense (§ 34b GewO). The public auction as a statutory standard case of pledge realization creates legal clarity and finality. It results in a legally compliant valuation that is recognized by courts and tax authorities.
Our publicly appointed and sworn auctioneers specialize in the realization of contractual or statutory liens in distressed and enforcement situations .
Our value maximization under time pressure.
In special situations, what counts is a resilient, fast and legally compliant realization channel — with a clear goal: the best possible realization proceeds through a professionally managed process. Through precise analysis, clear structuring and the right auction architecture, we activate precisely those market participants who potentially offer the highest value — legally compliant, efficient and finally by winning the bid.
Our strengths:
Speed with structure: We start immediately, deliver a marketing strategy within a very short time and, if desired, a realizable inventory and valuation (expert opinion).
Auction design and proven pricing: Whether auction/auction, hybrid M&A, asset deal by private treaty or packaging — we choose the instrument that experience has shown achieves the highest proceeds for the estate or the secured party.
Legally compliant processing: every step is documented, comprehensible and designed to meet the requirements of the creditors’ committee, court and secured party. This minimizes liability risks and increases acceptance of the process.
International reach: We increase demand through digital marketing and international bidding circles — especially for IP rights, company shares, special machinery, technical equipment and location-based assets.
Transparency right through to completion: clear time and revenue planning, regular reports and a robust data room (VDR/NDA) ensure that the client remains in control at all times.
We combine speed, market access and legal compliance to create a recovery process that quickly generates realizable proceeds from crisis assets.
Legal conformity and finality through sovereign award
The public auction is not a negotiation process, but a legally compliant, sovereignly legitimized procedure; the acceptance of the bid ends the procedure in a legally binding manner and excludes any renegotiation. Signing and closing coincide in one act (§ 156 BGB).
Core features:
Sovereign legal act with direct legal consequences
Legal compliance and transparency — verifiable and documented
Finality of the result — no reversal, no closing risk.
Efficiency and value maximization
Our procedures combine legal precision with economic efficiency.
Clear deadlines and short terms (regularly 4 — 6 weeks)
Predictable cost structure due to standardized procedure (low publication fee, buyer’s commission, staggered), regularly up to approx. 70 % below the costs of a distressed M&A process (no overheads, no retainers, etc.)
Digital data room (VDR) and existing contracts, own auction platform with live stream,
Market value and proceeds estimate,
Bidding competition via qualified buyer and investor network, short-term selective market development,
Legally compliant and comprehensible documentation.
The result is a structured and finality-oriented liquidation process that creates value by opening up the market. For creditors, financiers, funds and entrepreneurs, this means a clear process with a predictable time and cost framework — even in complex or time-critical situations.
Broad range of assets — national and international
We realize assets and rights of all kinds, in particular company shares and participations (share auctions), company rights. Receivables and other intangible assets such as patents, trademarks, licenses or domains and the sale of companies. Public auctions are an established international instrument that is easily accessible to investors from Germany, Europe, the UK and the USA. Together with our clients, we create a case-specific auction design that combines the strengths of the auction with those of an M&A transaction.
Public auction or distressed M&A?
Our alternative: hybrid M&A.
In distressed cases, the focus is on the legally compliant, swift and final realization of proceeds from collateral. The following methods can be considered: public auction or distressed M&A. Both differ significantly in terms of timing, costs and earnings risk.
At Deutsche Pfandverbindung, we combine the best of both approaches in a hybrid M&A transaction.
Public auction: As a standardized, legally compliant liquidation procedure, an auction is characterized by predictable costs. The net proceeds are not burdened by upstream transaction costs. Realization takes place in an open, documented bidding process. The price is formed transparently through competition; once the bid is accepted, the result is final and realized without a separate closing risk. The costs are standardized and calculable. Costs are only incurred in the form of a publication and third-party fee in the lower four-digit range and an expense allowance appropriate to the process. There are no incidental transaction costs such as vendor due diligence, data room set-up or multi-level consultancy mandates; the buyer pays a staggered commission. The net proceeds thus remain largely undiminished.
Distressed M&A: Distressed M&A is a negotiation-based, multi-stage transaction process that usually takes 3 to 8 months. Even before a possible closing, fixed costs, consultancy costs and typically considerable legal, financial and tax costs are incurred, which reduce the net proceeds — even if the process does not lead to a closing. In the distressed environment, the closing risk is increased; delays, renegotiations or terminations are structural. This approach is particularly sensible when continuation or synergy potential dominates the value.
Legal basis
The generally publicly appointed and sworn auctioneer performs sovereign functions in the proceedings with direct legal formative effect.
On the functions and significance of the publicly appointed and sworn auctioneer.
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Efficient processes and innovative solutions
Optimized and proven processes developed by us guarantee efficient and legally compliant recycling — quickly and at short notice.
We integrate AI into our processes.
We use legally compliant, modern methods for online live auctions,
Virtual data room (NDA), server in Germany
Legal certainty
The exclusion of any warranty at the auction protects creditors from subsequent claims.
Acquisition in good faith when selling pledged property provides security against third-party claims.
The value is irrevocably determined by a sovereign act.
Legally compliant processing in all procedural steps.
Market expertise
Our expertise includes the analysis of national and international markets for rights, company shares, patents, trademarks and objects of all kinds.
As export merchants, we correspond multilingually via international sales channels.
As proven experts in the field, we offer a good price/performance ratio.
Network and customer base
We combine traditional print communication with innovative strategies that combine video, audio and text formats to reach a broad national and international target group.
Our extensive network, established customer base for goods and rights of all kinds and intensive case-related research enable us to create markets for (new) prospective buyers at short notice.
How we work with creditors
Our function
We are not an enforcement body of the state. As publicly appointed, sworn auctioneers, we are an organ of the administration of justice in the realization of pledges. We help to solve problems. In doing so, we follow the commercial approach, because the default on contracts almost always has commercial causes. It is therefore the most effective course of action to solve the problem fairly. This results in the best possible realization of claims for creditors and a reduction in liabilities for debtors. We act independently and impartially. We are not a service provider for the creditor, but an authority sworn to independence in the realization procedure. We are called in to protect property rights, including those of the debtor, due to the state prohibiting self-help.
Special expertise
Legislation stipulates that a publicly appointed and sworn auctioneer must have special expertise. This is understood to mean above-average specialist knowledge and extensive practical experience. An auctioneer to be appointed has sound legal and specialist knowledge, many years of professional experience and particular trustworthiness and stands out from his professional colleagues.
We combine comprehensive expertise with the highest professional qualifications to enforce liens in a targeted and efficient manner — with the aim of achieving economically optimal solutions for both creditors and debtors in the short term. Our many years of experience enable us to precisely analyze national and international markets and develop optimal sales opportunities for rights such as company shares or patents and objects of all kinds in a targeted manner. Depending on the task at hand, we put together interdisciplinary teams from our network to develop tailor-made solutions. Our aim is to help creditors to enforce their claims promptly and at the same time help to reduce debtors’ liabilities.
What we stand for
Our profession in Germany has its origins in the days of the Hanseatic League, an era characterized by the fundamental values of the Hanseatic merchant. These values — integrity, reliability and the pursuit of commercial solutions — form the foundation of our corporate culture. For the free Hanseatic merchant, it is a matter of course to solve problems by commercial means first. We are committed to this tradition. It characterizes not only the way we work as publicly appointed and sworn auctioneers, but also the partnership-based cooperation with our clients.
Empathy
The realization of claims due to liens is often an unusual and stressful situation for creditors and debtors. For us, however, the realization of liens is part of our daily practice. We do not see ourselves as an enforcement body, but as a partner who respectfully considers the interests of both sides.
We address the underlying problems with empathy and develop individual, tailor-made solutions. Tolerance and respect form the basis of our actions. By putting ourselves in the shoes of everyone involved, we create a framework in which demands can be balanced responsibly and outstanding liabilities can be reduced — always in a spirit of mutual appreciation.
In some cases, we encounter difficult debtors who behave obstructively and irrationally, often acting against their own interests. Our many years of experience enable us to de-escalate such situations professionally and bring communication from an emotionally aggressive to a factual level.
In most cases, the legitimacy of the claims is beyond question. Nevertheless, attempts are often made to prevent the public auction by looking for formal errors. Our top priority is therefore complete and precise compliance with all legal requirements.
Entrepreneurial spirit
We understand the challenges of entrepreneurial activity and know what makes companies successful. For us, being an entrepreneur also means taking responsibility — for decisions, solutions and their consequences.
With this understanding, we develop innovative and sustainable strategies to enable creditors to realize their claims quickly and efficiently. Our approach combines foresight with pragmatism and aims to shape economic interests in a responsible and future-oriented manner.
Excellence
Excellence and innovation — for success at the highest level: We stand for outstanding results and set standards for measurable and sustainable success. Our commitment to excellence shapes everything we do, from strategic planning to working with creditors and debtors.
We always aim to achieve the best — through precision, commitment and a consistent focus on the highest standards. For us, excellence is not just a claim, but our promise.
If you are affected by a claim.
The “one-size-fits-all” approach is often not expedient when realizing receivables through contractual or statutory liens. Each case requires an individual approach and tailor-made solutions.
We offer you the opportunity to discuss your case with us in an initial free 30-minute online meeting. Simply select one of the available Teams meeting dates. We will send you relevant information in advance to help you prepare for the meeting.
Together we will analyze your situation and clarify whether a collaboration makes sense.
We look forward to hearing from you > contact us.
