PLUTA restructuring expert Dr Christian Kaufmann finds a long-term solution for the bus company Gerhard Paul von Grönheim

The restructuring expert Dr Christian Kaufmann from PLUTA Rechtsanwalts GmbH has succeeded in finding a solution for the bus company Gerhard Paul von Grönheim, which will allow the business to be preserved in a new entity. The company ‘von Grönheim Personenbeförderung GmbH & Co. KG’ has taken over the business operations with effect from 1 September 2019. All the remaining 86 members of staff have been kept on.

The contracts have already been signed. However, approval has to be given by the creditors’ assembly at their meeting in October. On 1 September 2019, the Local Court of Cloppenburg in Lower Saxony has opened insolvency proceedings for the assets of the bus company Gerhard Paul von Grönheim and appointed Dr Christian Kaufmann as the insolvency administrator. Dr Kaufmann had previously been active as the provisional administrator since 7 June 2019.

Mr Gerhard Paul von Grönheim ran the business as a sole proprietorship in Pirgo Industrial Park in Friesoythe (Lower Saxony) and, at the time of filing for insolvency, had a staff of 96 persons in full-time and part-time employment. In the past few weeks, ten members of staff have left the company of their own accord. The coach company mainly focuses on transporting passengers in the charitable and social area. Each day, up to 500 disabled children and juveniles are brought to school and similar establishments with 53 vehicles. The business was kept operating in full during the provisional insolvency proceedings, which means that the transport of the children in the Southern Oldenburg Region had been ensured at any time.

“We have kept the business going without any restrictions and have now achieved the ideal solution for the workforce and the creditors alike. My thanks go in particular to all the staff, who continued to show their reliability in transporting the children throughout this difficult period,” said the PLUTA restructuring expert Dr Kaufmann, who is being supported in the proceedings by the attorney Mr André Gildehaus and the economist Mr Jürgen Schendel.

Mr Patrick von Grönheim, Managing Director of the new operating company, added, “We would like to assure the parents that we will continue to transport all the children to their venues safely and reliably at all times – now and in the future. I am particularly proud of our staff, who always gave the company their loyal support at this difficult time, and I am looking forward to working together with all those concerned.”