First potential buyer steps forward for bankrupt bicycle group Accell

The Irish investment firm Quanta Capital is interested in acquiring Accell, the Dutch company behind the bicycle brands Sparta, Batavus, Raleigh, and Babboe, which was declared bankrupt on Tuesday.

Trustees are exploring a restart

“We are considering making an offer to acquire the entire Accell Group,” said Quanta Capital, the investment fund of former professional cyclist Mel Sutcliffe, who sold his company Eurotrek Raleigh Ireland to Accell ten years ago. According to Sutcliffe, Accell has “a spectacular collection of well-known bicycle brands worldwide.” However, it remains unclear just how concrete his interest is.

Accell was declared bankrupt on Tuesday, after the company had filed for a stay of payments a week earlier. The Dutch bicycle group ran into trouble following the pandemic, due to a decline in demand and a recall of 22,000 Babboe cargo bikes. The receivers are exploring the possibility of a restart.