TACHERTING, Germany - An investor has secured the future of bicycle component brand Syntace and the off-road bicycle brand Liteville. The new entity, SL International, has acquired all assets of both entities and was given a temporary helping hand from a well-known German industry participant for the acquisition. No details were provided on the purchase price.

FRANKFURT, Germany - Having been in the hands of Brockhaus Technologies AG for the last four years, Bikeleasing Service GmbH has been sold to the investment arm of French retail giant Decathlon. With this step, BLS is looking to create a strong basis for further growth as well as the targeted international expansion of its successful company bike leasing model. Having tripled revenues under Brockhaus ownership, the purchase agreement provides for an enterprise valuation of Bikeleasing of €525 million according to Brockhaus.

ZEIST, The Netherlands - It became apparent within the first few months of the year that 2025 would not be the turnaround year the bicycle industry needed. A muted Taipei Cycle show made clear that the supply chain was nowhere near back to being in full swing, and despite reasonable spring sales, the European market retracted again in the summer. Business-wise, there were reports of insolvencies, closures and redundancies. Knocks came from all sides: tariffs, human rights accusations, and very public non-alignment within the industry itself on several topics. However, pockets of innovation and newcomers managed to shine through, reminding the industry that its products are well-positioned for the long term. As the industry looks to realign and prepare for 'the fix in 2026', Bike Europe looks back at the articles that shaped 2025.

BAD HOMBURG, Germany - Existing minority shareholder, SKion GmbH has acquired "two significant business units" from the BMZ Group. BMZ Holding GmbH and BMZ Germany GmbH faced uncertainty when a sudden disruption in the customer base and subsequent legal proceedings led to an immediate financial challenge for the lithium-ion battery manufacturer. The acquisition is subject to approval by the antitrust authorities.

MUNICH, Germany - Following the successful launch of the trade-in portal in e-bike refurbisher Rebike Mobility GmbH's own flagship stores in Frankfurt and Munich, the onboarding of other major IBDs is now beginning. While the nationwide rollout is in preparation, an international scaling is already in the pipeline.

The international bicycle trade fair Cyclingworld Europe continues to grow: in 2026, the newly created Urban Hub will add a second location right in the heart of Düsseldorf. Visitors can look forward to more space, more brands, and even more bicycle culture.