Core Insights - The aging population of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Germany is leading to a significant succession crisis, with many owners unable to find suitable successors [1][2] - The number of SMEs planning to close due to lack of successors has increased by 67,500 compared to the previous year, highlighting the urgency of the issue [1] - Government measures to support succession planning have been largely ineffective, prompting calls for more substantial actions to enhance the attractiveness of SMEs [3] Group 1: Current Situation - Over half of SME owners in Germany are over the age of 55, a significant increase from 20% a decade ago [2] - 39% of SME owners are aged 60 and above, compared to 30% of the total German population [2] - Approximately 42% of SMEs are unable to find family members willing to take over the business [2] Group 2: Economic Impact - SMEs account for more than half of Germany's economic output and provide nearly 60% of employment [1] - The lack of successors threatens not only employment but also the overall economic position of Germany [2] Group 3: Government Response - The German government has implemented measures such as low-interest loans and free platforms for finding successors, but these have not yielded significant results [3] - Experts suggest that private equity acquisitions are not a viable solution for smaller enterprises, indicating a lack of systematic solutions for succession [3] - Calls for urgent government action to improve the attractiveness of SMEs and assist in finding successors have been made by industry leaders [3]