Carsten Höltkemeyer, since May 2023 CEO of Solaris, is in the midst of a critical phase of corporate restructuring. After difficult times, exacerbated by a special audit by BaFin in 2020 and subsequent deep crises, he is steering the Berlin fintech company through a comprehensive reorganization. Recently, he was able to announce a significant success: a financial injection of 96 million euros from investors and additional financial guarantees of up to 100 million euros.

This financial stabilization marks a turning point for Solaris, which still reported a loss of 56 million euros in 2022. Höltkemeyer, who continued his career at prestigious banks such as Dresdner Bank and the Royal Bank of Scotland, emphasizes the need for compliance and adherence to regulations in the business model of Solaris, which enables third parties to offer banking services.

The challenges for Solaris are not yet over. The Bafin had criticized the company for deficiencies in anti-money laundering and customer due diligence, leading to increased capital requirements and the appointment of a special auditor. Höltkemeyer sees an urgent need for action here and, since taking office, has restructured the board to realign the company.

Despite Crisis Management Tasks, Höltkemeyer Also Saw Positive Developments. For example, in September 2022 Solaris was able to reach an agreement with ADAC to take over the management of 1.3 million credit cards. However, this additional business activity also required new equity, which presented a challenge in a difficult market environment.

The financing rounds in the summer of 2023, supported by existing investors, mark positive progress. Höltkemeyer now looks forward to continuing to meet the financial regulatory requirements and preparing the company for future partnerships and possibly an IPO. His experiences, including his time with the football second division club FC St. Pauli, seem to help him in tackling these tasks.