POZZOLEONE, Italy - Today, Selle Royal S.p.A. and crankbrothers, inc. announce the completed merger of crankbrothers into Selle Royal. This agreement adds crankbrothers to Selle Royal’s group which includes fi’zi:k, Brooks, and Selle Royal.
“Crankbrothers has always been a very distinctive brand, with great people, strong distribution, and a unique focus on design,” said Massimo Losio, Managing Director of Selle Royal. “The team at crankbrothers has demonstrated their ability to create and grow an authentic brand. The company has enormous potential, and is an excellent addition to Selle Royal.”
Product Design in US
Crankbrothers partners Andrew Herrick, Carl Winefordner and Frank Hermansen become shareholders in Selle Royal. Herrick joins Selle Royal’s board of directors. He will operate from the Laguna Beach design center and report to the Selle Royal board in Italy. Winefordner and Hermansen will also remain in Laguna Beach to focus on product design.
Both companies felt the timing and chemistry was a good fit. “Selle Royal has an incredible authenticity and heritage. They are an amazing team, very much in line with us culturally,” expressed Herrick. “Selle Royal understands the importance of design and shares our vision that the industry is fast becoming equal parts innovation, luxury and lifestyle.”
Crankbrothers will remain based in their design center in Laguna Beach, California and the existing management team and staff will remain in place. The Laguna Beach location will complement Selle Royal’s factory and design development center in Pozzoleone, Italy.
"Not looking for synergies"
Consistent with Selle Royal’s philosophy, crankbrothers will remain a unique entity within the group. “Things aren’t going to change for the sake of change, but the future will take a new evolutionary path that it wouldn’t have been able to otherwise,” said Herrick. Losio agrees, “We’re not looking for synergies, nor is this some type of consolidation."
"We’re looking to grow these wonderful, genuine companies independently yet as a collection of brands that have strong relationships with and a passion for their customers.” This is a similar strategy to Selle Royal’s addition of the storied Brooks England company in 2002. Selle Royal management retained Brooks’ original factory in Birmingham, England, as well as its people and its historic integrity, while restoring the brand to its former glory and finding new audiences for Brooks products around the world.
US Distribution via HighwayTwo
Crankbrothers products will continue to be available through its USA distributors. As part of this merger, crankbrothers products will also be available in the US market through HighwayTwo, the sales and distribution company co-owned by Selle Royal and Continental. Crankbrothers’ international distribution does not change.
- For related items on crankbrothers, click here
- For related items on Selle Royal, click here
.jpg)
To make it easier for you to follow the news in the global bicycle industry we have launched a Bike Europe page on Twitter. With Twitter you are always the first to receive the news updates.
Stay on top of the news. 
