International
PILSEN, Czech Republic (BRAIN)—Former WTB Europe president Katerina Rejchrtova confirmed on Friday that she is in the process of leaving the company.
HEERENVEEN, The Netherlands (BRAIN)—Accell Group’s revenue rose just 1 percent in 2010 as poor weather conditions and unfavorable exchange rates hampered fourth quarter sales.
Still, the company posted an 11 percent rise in net profit due to tax benefits and lower interest charges.
CLOPPENBURG, Germany (BRAIN)—Derby Cycle Werke reported a 30 percent increase in revenue for the first quarter of the fiscal year in its first financial report since going public on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange earlier this month.
NEW DEHLI, India (BRAIN)—Hit hard by rising input costs, bike manufacturers in Ludhiana, India, which accounts for over 90 percent of country's bicycle and bicycle parts output, have demanded setting up of a regulator to monitor steel prices, according to India's Business Standard.
DRESDEN, Germany (BRAIN)—Taiwan wheel manufacturer Pro-Lite will begin hand building wheels in Germany to help jumpstart growth in the European market.
TAICHUNG, Taiwan (BRAIN)—Taichung Bike Week will be held a week earlier this year beginning on Nov. 29 and running through Dec. 2, organizer Steve Fenton said on Tuesday.
MUTLANGEN, Germany (BRAIN)—Advanced Sports Inc. has completed the acquisition of its former German sales agent, Twin Sport, giving the company full ownership over its European subsidiary.
AIGLE, Switzerland (BRAIN)—Bike suppliers seemed pleased with a new cost structure that reduces the price of the UCI’s labeling program by more than half, though some concerns linger over the tight time frame to gain approvals.
CLOPPENBURG, Germany (BRAIN)—Derby Cycle Werke, Germany’s largest bicycle company, is going public.
Derby, which owns the Focus, Kalkhoff, Raleigh, Univega and Rixe brands, will launch an initial public offering on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange.
By Matt Wiebe
TAICHUNG, Taiwan—U.S. and European retailers may find it hard to reorder bikes during the production season as bike builders in Taiwan work to fulfill orders from emerging bike markets such as Singapore, Indonesia and other Pacific Rim countries.
TAICHUNG, Taiwan (BRAIN)—Tony Lo, Giant’s CEO, has been selected as the new president of the Taiwan Bicycle Exporters' Association (TBEA). He replaces Ying Ming Yang, Kenda’s president, who has held the post for six years. In addition, the TBEA membership has elected 27 new directors and nine supervisors.
GENT, Belgium (BRAIN)—The European Two-Wheelers’ Association, known as ETRA, will submit a report to the European Commission in the first half of 2011 outlining a strategy for a low carbon economy by 2050, including incorporating the use of bicycles as part of a clean transport system.
TAICHUNG, Taiwan (BRAIN)—Cycling Sports Group has signed a distribution deal with Ti Cycles to sell its GT and Mongoose brands in India, the company’s latest move to penetrate emerging markets in the Asia Pacific region.
TAICHUNG, Taiwan (BRAIN)—DT Swiss has expanded its reach in Asia with the production of spokes at its facility, DT Swiss Asia Ltd in Taichung.
TAICHUNG, Taiwan—A new group of five exhibitors will band together to show their products in one room at this year’s Taichung Bike Week.
TAICHUNG, Taiwan (BRAIN)—Giant’s CEO Tony Lo offered a more modest vision for growth in Europe’s electric bike market, vowed to continue improving the business talents of retailers worldwide, and praised new cooperation between mainland China and Taiwan.
TAICHUNG, Taiwan (BRAIN)—Taiwan’s bicycle industry—some 7,000 miles from Interbike’s offices in Southern California—is still buzzing over the trade show’s decision to move its annual show to early August in Anaheim. And it’s an angry buzz.
BY NICOLE FORMOSA
NEUSTADT, Germany—European companies grappling with a slew of cost challenges—primarily the decreased value of the euro—expect to ratchet up 2011 retail prices anywhere from 5 to 20 percent to help cushion the financial setback.
BY MARC SANI
TAIPEI, Taiwan—Most major Taiwan bicycle manufacturers appear to support a new trade agreement between the island nation and China. Beginning next year, as the agreement starts to ratchet down duties, it could open the door for more high-end exports into the world’s largest domestic market.