The Antwerp Enterprise Court, Turnhout section, declared CASA Logistics and CASA International bankrupt on Thursday.
Three curators, Geert Naulaerts, Paul Van Rompaey, and Niels Feytons, have been appointed following the bankruptcy application submitted on Wednesday by the home decoration retailer.
Two commissioners have been appointed to supervise the curators.
CASA has been seeking a buyer or investor for some time without success, making it unlikely the curators will find one. Their main task will be to manage the debts, stores, and staff.
The chain operates in several European countries, including the Netherlands, France, Italy, Switzerland, Luxembourg, Spain, and Portugal, employing a total of 2,230 people.
The future of stores outside Belgium will depend on the legal framework and the specific circumstances in each country. Originally Belgian, the brand was acquired in 1988 by the renowned Dutch Blokker family.
In April 2021, the Amsterdam-based investment group Globitas took over, now holding 51% of the shares, with the remainder owned by Dutch entrepreneur Frank Pruijn.
The Swedish-Lebanese businessman Ayad Al-Saffar was briefly involved in the company’s capital for a few months.
