SummarySummary Companies Spain's new restructuring law faces looming testCelsa caught between creditors and shareholdersSuccessful outcome seen lifting Spain outlookLONDON/MADRID, Feb 15 (Reuters) - Spain's new restructuring law is just over four months old and already being tested as the economy slows, with companies and officials hopeful it will help cut high bankruptcy rates. Now, a restructuring plan for Celsa, Spain's largest private industrial group with debt worth roughly 2.8 billion euros ($3.04 billion), is going through the courts. LITMUS TESTA court-sanctioned restructuring plan in December for Spanish frozen food retailer Xeldist Congelados allowed it to receive fresh capital and save jobs in a first success for the new law. "The Celsa case shows that creditors can push for a restructuring plan and request the appointment of an expert to assist in the negotiations," said Juan Verdugo, partner at law firm Garrigues. Spain is playing catch up after the EU in 2019 told member states to improve restructuring toolkits.

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