Belgian transport firm Ziegler has filed for bankruptcy with the Brussels Commercial Court, French-language financial newspaper L'Echo reports. Trade unions have confirmed the news.
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Transport firm Ziegler is bankrupt; majority of 500 Belgian jobs lost
Colin Clapson
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The bankruptcy affects four companies: Ziegler NV, Intertrans, Dornach and Universal Express. Administrators will be appointed to try to find one or more buyers for the business.
The bankruptcy was confirmed to staff on Monday during a special works council meeting, says Philippe Lescot of the Christian trade union. “The aim remains to save as many jobs as possible,” said Lescot.
According to the Christian trade union, around 500 people work for the company in Belgium. Various parts of the company are expected to be taken over, but the majority of these jobs will be lost.
The Belgian group Ziegler has been in existence since 1908 and employs more than 3,200 people across 16 countries worldwide. The transport company’s main hub is in Neder-Over-Heembeek (City of Brussels), where the group’s administrative offices are also based.
The company has been in financial difficulties for several months, partly due to rising fuel prices. In March, the French subsidiary went into administration, resulting in around 1,500 people losing their jobs.
Earlier this year, Diane Govaerts was removed as Ziegler CEO with immediate effect. Her tenure was terminated “following recent turbulence within certain departments of the company and after a thorough analysis of the situation within the sector and the group”, a press release read. Govaerts was succeeded by Briton Lee Marshall.