Major Bike Companies Change Ownership

As we have also mentioned in our Trade Talk Section, German based automotive and transport company Pon Holdings has bought Derby Cycle. Derby is the owner Focus, Kalkhoff, Rixe and Univega bicycle brands and has the rights to sell Raleigh in some European countries.

Last September, Pon bought 92% of Derby for approximately 195 million Euros ($243 million Australian dollars) and has since purchased the remaining shares.

Pon Holdings have also purchased Cervélo. For more information about this including the Australian implications, please refer to our Trade Talk article.

Meanwhile Dutch listed bicycle company Accell Group NV completed the purchase of Raleigh Cycle Ltd for $80 million in late April. Raleigh started in England 125 years ago and is now sold in 140 countries, including Australia. Raleigh sold approximately 850,000 bicycles last year worth $312 million Australian dollars and has 430 employees.

Accell Group already owns a wide range of bike brands including Batavus, Koga, Ghost, Lapierre and Redline. It had total sales of $782 million Australian dollars last year, earning a net profit of $50 million.