VDL confirms Van Hool acquisitions

VDL Group has confirmed plans to acquire Belgian and Macedonian interests from Van Hool following its bankruptcy

Following the recent and well-publicised problems at Van Hool, the VDL Group has confirmed that it is acquiring parts of the Flemish bus manufacturer. The family-owned industrial company, headquartered in Eindhoven in the Netherlands, is acquiring parts of the bankrupt company in Belgium and is also acquiring Van Hool’s production facility in North Macedonia. By acquiring the two Van Hool plants, VDL Group says it plans to further strengthen the activities of its bus division.

The Dutch company said that the acquisition will immediately save around 1,600 jobs in the high-quality European bus industry, but has not disclosed the financial details of the transaction.

Around 250 former Van Hool employees will be hired to work on parts production, after-sales, procurement, development and finance for the Van Hool plant in Koningshooikt (Belgium), VDL says, adding that agreement has been reached with the local trade unions on the terms and conditions of employment.

VDL Group will also acquire all the intellectual property, design rights, software, product names, equipment and machines from Van Hool, as well as its coach factory in North Macedonia where around 1,350 employees are employed. Furthermore, VDL has reached a distribution agreement with distributor existing Van Hool distributor ABC Companies for the delivery of Van Hool coaches and buses in the United States and Canada which it says will enable both parties to strengthen their markets and product portfolio.

VDL Group President & CEO Willem van der Leegte said: “We are delighted to announce that we have been able to acquire parts of Van Hool. These will add value to our bus and coach activities and enable us to strengthen our position as a bus manufacturer. The strategic partnership with our American partner ABC Companies makes it possible for us to further develop our international activities.”

VDL says it will not yet be integrating the business acquired from Van Hool into its own bus and coach activities.