The European League of Football (ELF) is proving its resilience by moving forward with its 2026 season despite filing for preliminary self-administration. This strategic financial restructuring, filed with the Hamburg District Court, Germany is designed to secure the league's long-term viability without disrupting day-to-day operations.

While the league has faced recent turbulence - including a high-profile split and subsequent reunification with the European Football Alliance - the management confirms that business remains “normal". Employees' salaries are secured, and a match schedule is expected by late February. CEO Zeljko Karajica views the proceedings as a necessary step to strengthen the league’s economic foundation and intensify talks with new investors. Supported by restructuring specialists, the ELF aims to transition into a more collaborative, team-led governance model, ensuring that professional American football in Europe has a stable, competitive future for players and fans alike.

Read more at GridIron Magazine

---

​

The Allianz Risk Barometer 2026 highlights a major shift in the global threat landscape, with cyber incidents retaining the top spot for the fifth consecutive year. Cited by 42% of risk experts, cyber threats now lead by their widest margin ever, driven by ransomware, data breaches, and a growing reliance on third-party digital providers.

The most dramatic movement reported, however, is the surge of Artificial Intelligence, which leapt from 10th to 2nd place globally. While AI offers strategic value, it is now viewed as a primary source of operational and legal risk, specifically regarding biased outputs, intellectual property misuse, and system failures. 

Business interruption, linked to geopolitical tensions and supply chain pressures, falls to third place but remains significant.

You can read the full details of the report at Allianz

---

​

According to this January 2026 report from Coface, a global leading player in trade credit risk management, global business insolvencies are projected to rise by 2.8% this year, marking a period of "misleading stabilization" after years of sharp increases. While the pace of failure is decelerating, corporate fragility remains high due to persistent debt burdens and compressed margins.

The report explains that this forecast is highly sensitive to interest rates warning that a mere 25-basis point increase in borrowing costs could trigger a much steeper surge of 4-5%. Regionally, failures are expected to rise in the US +4%, France and the UK +2%, while Germany at +1% remains pressured by weak private activity. Conversely, Italy -2% and Spain -3% are predicted to see slight declines. 

Hardest-hit sectors include construction, chemicals, and textiles. The report summarises that 2026 offers a "respite rather than an improvement" with financing costs remaining the primary determiner of corporate survival.

Read the full report at Coface

---

​

Revo Hospitality Group, Europe’s largest white-label hotel operator, has filed for insolvency under self-administration in Germany. This move affects approximately 140 companies within the group, which manages over 260 hotels across 12 countries for major brands including Marriott, Hilton, and Accor.

The crisis follows a period of significant and ambitious expansion, growing from 51 to 250 hotels since 2020, that resulted in integration issues and duplicate management structures. Rising operational costs for energy, food, and wages further strained finances when occupancy rates failed to meet 2025 projections.

Despite the filing, 125 hotels in Germany and Austria remain operational, with 5,500 jobs secured for now, with bookings through March 2026 expected to be honoured. As of January 2026, the group is seeking new international investors to restructure by summer 2026.

More at the Independent

---

​

In January 2026, UK high street staples Claire’s and The Original Factory Shop entered administration, putting approximately 2,500 jobs and 294 stores at risk. Both retailers, owned by investment firm Modella Capital, filed notices of intention to appoint administrators following a "disastrous" Christmas trading period and an "alarming" drop in footfall.

Modella, which acquired the brands in the latter part of 2025, after previous financial struggles, blamed the collapse on a "perfect storm" of high cost inflation, weak consumer confidence, and adverse government fiscal policies. While Claire’s faced stiff competition from online specialists like Temu and Shein, The Original Factory Shop was severely impacted by supply chain issues following a transition to a new logistics provider. Administrators from Kroll and Interpath are currently seeking buyers, though industry experts warn that full liquidations remain a significant risk for both chains.

More on this story at Drapers

---

​