Accell Group Reveals Strategy for Further Growth

AMSTERDAM, The Netherlands – During last week’s press conference on Accell Group’s 2009 half year results, CEO René Takens raised the curtain on how the company plans its further growth. Plans that even include bike assembly in Asia.

Accell Group NV wants to secure a position in Asia; that’s what CEO Takens made clear at last week’s financial press conference. As various markets like China and Taiwan are showing a growing interest in sports bikes, it is becoming increasingly interesting for the holding company with its numerous brands.

Takens said: “Sale and the usage of bikes is growing in Asia. People in Taiwan for instance are discovering bikes for sports and fitness. Next to that bikes are drawing the attention of city planners as more and more plans pop up for using bikes in city rental schemes like the Vélib in Paris. All this prompted us to have a stand at this year’s Taipei Cycle Show that was more sales focused in stead of the usual supplier oriented booth. And with securing a position in the Asian markets it’s of course only sensible to start an assembly operation there.”

On further questions raised by financial journalists on Accell’s acquisition strategy, Takens answered with his usual explanation that the company is looking for renowned national bike brands to take-over in especially Southern Europe with special focus on Italy and Spain. But he also pointed out, replying on questions raised by this trade journal that referred to the recent take-over of Raul Hellberg Oy in Finland, that: “We are also looking for distributors to take-over in various European countries. And with distributors I am not referring to wholesalers, but to companies that do more than that.”

That Accell Group is actively looking to take-over distributors, is of course related to its successful P&A business. Sale of parts and accessories through companies like Wiener Bike Parts (Germany), Juncker (Benelux), Hellberg for the Nordic countries and SBS in the US grew by 13% during the first half of 2009 to a total of 58 million euro. The sale of bicycles during the same period increased by 11% to 263 million euro.