The Flemish Prime Minister Jan Jambon (nationalist) has told VRT News that there are private investors that are prepared to invest in the ailing Flemish bus builder Van Hool. However, Mr Jambon also told VRT News’ parliament programme ‘Villa Politica’ that it is still too early to say whether Van Hool can be saved from bankruptcy.
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Flemish PM says that “There are private investors that are interested in Van Hool”
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There have been storm clouds over the village over Koningshooikt, near Lier (Antwerp Province) ever since Van Hool announced its restructuring plan. 1,100 jobs will lost and the production of buses and coaches transferred to Van Hool’s site in North Macedonia.
Mr Jambon told VRT News that "We have already sat down with the banks. The crisis manager has put forward a restructuring plan and an external auditing bureau is examining it. We will look at everything with the best of intent”.
The Flemish PM reaffirmed that the Flemish government is not prepared to simply take Van Hool over. "EU reglations concerning don’t allow companies to be taken over completely by the state even if we wanted to”.
"Private capital needs to be mobilized”. But who wants to invest in Van Hool?
“There are candidates, but with this kind of thing there are always cowboys as well as bona fide candidates. This too is something we need to examine”.
Mr Jambon wouldn’t elaborate any further as “discretion is the key to achieving a good solution”.
Meanwhile, the Flemish Economy Minister Jo Brouns (Christian democrat) says that the crisis manager has drawn up a “strong plan” for the restructuring of Van Hool. He also confirms that private investors have come forward and showed interest in the bus builder.