VDL Groep is acquiring parts of the Flemish bus manufacturer Van Hool. The family-owned industrial company headquartered in Eindhoven, the Netherlands, is acquiring parts of the bankrupt Van Hool in Belgium. VDL is also acquiring Van Hool’s production facility in North Macedonia. By acquiring these Van Hool plants, VDL Groep plans to further strengthen the activities of its Buses division. The acquisition will immediately save around 1,600 jobs in the European bus industry. The amounts involved in the acquisition are not being disclosed, as stated in a press release by the VDL Groep.
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). Agreement was reached with the trade unions on the terms of conditions of employment. VDL Groep 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 stationed. Furthermore, VDL has reached a distribution agreement with distributor ABC Companies for the delivery of Van Hool buses and
coaches in the United States and Canada. The partnership with ABC will enable both parties to strengthen their markets and product portfolio. VDL Groep President & CEO Willem van der Leegte says: “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 Groep will not yet be integrating the activities acquired from Van Hool in its bus and coach activities.