In the insolvency proceedings concerning the assets of the key operating companies of the Native Instruments Group, the insolvency administrator, Prof. Dr Torsten Martini of GÖRG, has successfully sold the business operations of the globally active group. The sale was completed with effect from 1 July 2026. 

“With the completion of the transaction, we have succeeded in securing a sustainable solution for the continued operation of all core divisions of the Native Instruments Group. The preservation of the majority of jobs and the key international subsidiaries through the entry of two strategic investors creates stability for customers and business partners and opens up long-term prospects for the group,” explains insolvency administrator Prof. Dr Torsten Martini.

Based in Berlin, Native Instruments is one of the most influential companies in digital music production technology, with over 20 million users.

Insolvency proceedings

In March, April and May 2026, the Berlin Local Court opened insolvency proceedings in respect of the group’s key German companies and appointed Prof. Dr Torsten Martini of GÖRG as insolvency administrator. He had already been acting as provisional insolvency administrator since the order for provisional administration was issued in January 2026 and had successfully stabilised business operations. 

Investor process

Immediately following the order for provisional insolvency administration, a structured investor process was initiated, in which numerous national and international interested parties participated. During this process, the two buyers prevailed. The investor process was managed by PwC, while legal support for the process was provided by a team led by GÖRG partners Dr Christian Wolf and Dr Christoph Janssen.

Completion of the transaction

Upon completion of the transaction, the US-based company inMusic Brands will take over the business operations of Native Instruments’ three German companies, as well as its subsidiaries in the UK and Hong Kong and one of its two US companies, while another US company (iZotope) has been acquired by the US-based Artel Software Inc. This lays the foundation for the sustainable continuation of the Native Instruments Group’s business operations. Headquartered in Cumberland, Rhode Island, USA, inMusic is a global leader in music technology. The company’s portfolio of hardware and software brands includes Akai Professional, Moog Music, Numark and Rane, among others. Artel Software is part of BorisFX, a developer of plug-ins for visual effects, video editing, photography and audio, based in Miami, Florida, USA. The company is known for its flagship products: Continuum (formerly Boris Continuum Complete/BCC), Sapphire, Mocha and Silhouette.

A GÖRG team led by the two Cologne-based restructuring partners Dr Christian Wolf and Dr Christoph Janssen provided comprehensive legal advice to the insolvency administrator on structuring the transaction, coordinating the transfer of the foreign subsidiaries in the USA, the UK and Hong Kong, and implementing and finalising the sale process.

Insolvency Administration of the Native Instruments Group 

GÖRG Insolvency Administration Partnership of Lawyers mbB
Prof. Dr Torsten Martini (insolvency administrator, partner, Berlin)
Oliver Dankert (Partner, Insolvency Law, Hamburg)
Dr Nele Maria Herbold (Senior Associate, Insolvency Law, Hamburg)
Johannes Lenzinger (Associate, Insolvency Law, Berlin)

Adviser to the Native Instruments Group 

GÖRG Partnership of Solicitors mbB 
Dr Christian Wolf (Lead, Partner, Insolvency Law, Restructuring, M&A, Cologne)
Dr Christoph Janssen (Partner, Insolvency Law, Restructuring, M&A, Cologne)
Dr Axel Dahms (Partner, Labour and Employment Law, Berlin)
Dr Markus Heider (Partner, Real Estate Law, Cologne)
Johannes Bitter-Suermann (Of Counsel, Insolvency Law, Hamburg)
Michael Winkelhog (Counsel, Corporate and Tax Law, Cologne)
Dr Matthias Terlau (Partner, Finance, Cologne)
Katharina Meeser (Counsel, Real Estate Law, Cologne)
Jannik Gesekus (Associate, Finance, Cologne)
Nico Reisener (Senior Legal Consultant, Data Protection Law, Berlin)
Lena Lämmchen (Legal Consultant, Insolvency Law, Restructuring, M&A, Cologne)

Spencer West US LLP advised on matters of US and English law, whilst Zhong Lun Law Firm LLC advised on matters of Chinese law.