Type
Merger/Acquisition
Country
Austria
Region
Location of affected unit(s)
Sector
Retail
Retail Trade, Except Of Motor Vehicles And Motorcycles
Retail Sale Of Other Household Equipment In Specialised Stores
47.5 - Retail sale of other household equipment in specialised stores

400 - 1,100 jobs
Number of planned job losses
Job loss
Announcement Date
31 August 2015
Employment effect (start)
10 September 2015
Foreseen end date

Description

The ailing company Baumax, an Austrian chain of retail stores for construction materials and household goods, is to dismiss up to 1100 employees after being taken over.

In August 2015 Baumax was taken over by the German building materials stores operator OBI. OBI announced it would take over 49 out of 65 branches from Baumax Including all its employees (currently there are negotiations to find different buyers for the remaining 16 branches). The company headquarters in Klosterneuburg (Lower Austria) and a distribution centre in Aspern (Vienna) will be shut down. Baumax has registered 1100 employees with The Public Employment Services' (AMS) early warning system. Depending on which stores OBI chooses to close, the number of dismissals is subject to change. 

For the 280 affected employees at the headquarters and 120 in the distribution centre a social plan has been agreed upon by management and social partners. Baumax will provide €7.5 million for the social plan which also includes provisions for a 'Work Foundation' [Arbeitstifftung] for workers over 50 with more than 15 years experience.


Sources

  • 31 August 2015: Kurier
  • 4 September 2015: Kurier
  • 1 September 2015: Die Presse
  • 2 September 2015: Wirtschaftsblatt

Citation

Eurofound (2015), Baumax, Merger/Acquisition in Austria, factsheet number 84586, European Restructuring Monitor. Dublin, https://restructuringeventsprod.azurewebsites.net/restructuring-events/detail/84586.