Accell announced the sale of Van Nicholas, its titanium bike brand, to the Italian manufacturer Velo-ce S.R.L.
Terms were not disclosed.
Accell said the sale “streamlines its portfolio, removes overlap and ensures focus on brands with category depth, brand strength and geographic reach.”
Accell’s bike portfolio includes Haibike, Winora, Ghost, Batavus, Koga, Lapierre, Raleigh, Sparta, Babboe, and Carqon. XLC is its brand for bike parts and accessories.
“Van Nicholas is a niche brand with a strong reputation for handcrafted titanium bicycles. With limited potential to scale, the added value of the brand within Accell’s broader portfolio strategy was limited, and Accell is pleased to have found a good new owner of the business. The divestment allows Accell to further sharpen its strategic focus as it continues to execute its transformation plan,” said Accell.
“Velo-ce is a high-end bicycle manufacturer that designs, produces and assembles its products entirely in-house, managing the full value chain from concept to finished bicycle. This integrated approach enables a high degree of craftsmanship and flexibility and closely aligns with the DNA of Van Nicholas. Under Velo-ce’s ownership, Van Nicholas gains a dedicated long-term home where the brand can continue to develop within a focused, premium environment,” the company continued in a media release.
In a separate statement, Milan-based Velo-ce said the acquisition marks a “significant milestone in Velo-ce’s strategic expansion into the premium adventure and travel bicycle segment.”
In 2020, Velo-ce launched its family eBike brand Veloe.
“Bringing Van Nicholas into the Velo-ce family reflects shared values: building premium bicycles in a low-emission, cost-efficient European facility,” said Anton Nijhuis, business developer at Velo-ce S.R.L. “For sales, product, order status, or custom configurations, we are ready to support dealers and consumers around the globe. Velo-ce has vast experience in made-to-order and customized bicycle configurations.”
Image courtesy Van Nicholas
