Bathoorn Car Damage in Roden has been saved. The company was declared bankrupt last Tuesday, but is now making a fresh start under the wings of Boekhorst Autoschade.
It is not yet entirely clear what this means for the 25 employees. Owner Martijn Boekhorst of Boekhorst Autoschade expects that the majority of the staff will be able to stay. “We will talk to everyone and together we will see how we can continue the company successfully. We try to maintain employment as much as possible.” Yet he looks at it critically. “This company did not go bankrupt because of success.”
“It’s nice that there has been a restart,” says curator Paul van Boven. “Bathoorn has been around since the early 1960s. The company is a household name in Roden.”
But recently the company has been struggling with large debts. That is why the company was declared bankrupt more than a week ago. Van Boven: “It was important that a restart was made as quickly as possible. Partners such as insurance companies, leasing parties and companies with fleets want clarity quickly. The flow of claims will quickly come to a standstill.”
Three parties came forward to take over the bankrupt company. “We looked at all three bids and Boekhorst came out best,” said the curator.
The company in Roden will continue under the name Boekhorst Bathoorn Roden. It is the 29th non-life insurance company that falls under the group, which also has a branch in Hoogeveen.