WILLEMSTAD – The bankrupt retail chain Lovers may be able to make a restart through a so-called asset transaction, in which the court-appointed trustee sells the company’s assets to the highest bidder. According to heir and shareholder Cindy van der Dijs, there are multiple interested parties, including the children of the original founder, herself, and her brother. Van der Dijs made these remarks in a press statement.
She emphasized that the primary objective of a possible restart is to preserve as many of the 130 jobs as possible. According to Van der Dijs, new developments are expected later this week.
Van der Dijs described it as striking that the majority shareholder who filed for the company’s bankruptcy is now also being considered as a potential buyer of the assets. While such a scenario is legally permitted, she said it raises social and moral questions. According to her, the bankruptcy could have been used merely as an intermediate step to shed debts and continue the business in a new form.
An asset transaction can offer benefits for employees, creditors, and the broader economy, Van der Dijs noted, but only if the process is handled with transparency and due care. She warned that a takeover by the same majority shareholder would likely lead to new legal proceedings.
The future of Lovers remains uncertain as the trustee continues the process of selling the company’s assets.
