Native Instruments has entered formal insolvency proceedings in Germany, the latest development in the financial crisis that digitalDrummer has been tracking since January.
The Berlin-based company, maker of Kontakt, Maschine, Reaktor and Traktor, and parent to iZotope, Brainworx and Plugin Alliance, filed for preliminary insolvency on 27 January, triggering a court-supervised restructuring process. As digitalDrummer subsequently reported, the filing sent ripples through the drum and sample software community, with third-party Kontakt developers closely watching for any impact on the platform they depend on.
CEO Nick Williams posted an update to the NI blog on 19 March confirming the transition to formal proceedings, while stressing that operations have not been disrupted. “Business continues as usual across Native Instruments, iZotope, Plugin Alliance, and Brainworx,” he wrote. “Our products, platforms, services, downloads, and customer service remain fully available.”
The most significant disclosure in the March statement was confirmation of an active acquisition process. “We are currently in an active process to find new shareholders, with strong interest from multiple parties with deep roots in audio and technology,” Williams said. “We see a clear path to achieve our goal to provide continuity for creators, customers, and partners.”
On the legal transition, Williams was careful to frame the move as procedural. “As part of the restructuring process, Native Instruments GmbH and a number of our German entities will shortly be moving through expected legal steps, including transitioning from ‘preliminary insolvency’ into formal ‘insolvency’ proceedings where applicable,” he wrote. “These are expected steps in the process we are working through.”
Plugin Alliance has confirmed that its US and German operating entities are outside the insolvency proceedings, though German holding structures connected to the wider group are involved.
No acquisition has been announced. The 19 March blog post remains NI’s last formal public communication on the matter — the company’s blog has continued to publish regular artist and product content since then, but has carried no further insolvency updates.
Williams closed his statement on a personal note. “What gives me confidence in our future isn’t just the progress we’re making — it’s also the extraordinary passion and dedication of the entire team here at Native Instruments. We continue to deliver every day, building and shipping products, and looking after our customers.”
For Kontakt-dependent drum developers, the key question remains who ultimately acquires the platform and on what terms.
Meanwhile, Native Instruments continues its development work, launching Komplete 26, the latest version of its flagship music production bundle. Designed as an all-in-one toolkit for producers, composers, and musicians, Komplete 26 delivers a significant upgrade with over 190 premium instruments, effects, and tools, along with more than 180,000 sounds. The company also exhibited at the Superbooth show in Berlin.
digitalDrummer will continue to monitor developments.