The bankruptcy agreement with VDL-Schmitz Cargobull has left the Christian trade union ACV feeling disappointed, but they remain hopeful for the future of the manufacturing industry. Despite this setback, there are still opportunities for growth and development.
At Van Hool, a final agreement was reached under time pressure, with the promise of a quick restart by the curators sealing the fate of the company. This outcome has been met with mixed reactions from employees and their families, as well as from the region and the manufacturing industry as a whole.
Kim Samison of ACV acknowledged that it will take time to process the blow of bankruptcy, particularly for those affected by it. The delay in the takeover and distribution of Van Hool could result in income loss and a brain drain, prompting hundreds of employees to seek new opportunities. However, there is still hope that Van Hool can rebuild and revitalize itself in North Macedonia.
The flash bankruptcy orchestrated by VDL-Schmitz Cargobull presented an opportunity for potential acquirers to negotiate better terms than they would have had if it had been a more traditional bankruptcy process. Moving forward, ACV emphasizes the importance of learning lessons from this experience and seeking new perspectives for the future.
Despite Belgian bidders losing out on acquiring Van Hool, a final agreement was reached with VDL and Schmitz Cargobull to divide responsibilities for the bus and coach division and trailers. Crisis manager Marc Zwaaneveld played a key role in negotiating this agreement, which is expected to provide work for up to 950 employees in North Macedonia. While not all employees will be able to return to Lier just yet, there is now a clear path forward for rebuilding and revitalizing Van Hool.
In conclusion, while there have been setbacks in recent years due to various reasons such as global economic downturns or internal management issues; these challenges present opportunities for growth if we learn from them effectively.
