The Texas based Motorsport Aftermarket Group (MAG) has sold Stockport, UK off-road and street parts specialist Renthal back to founder Henry Rosenthal.
Renthal was formed in 1969 by motorcycle and engineering enthusiasts Andrew Renshaw and Henry Rosenthal, initially making handlebars for trials bikes.
Most recently Renthal has successfully entered the MTB market. Noted for their manufacturing quality and innovation in engineering, these days Renthal offers a wide range of parts and accessories for street and off-road applications such as grips, bar mounts, levers, handguards, chainwheels, chain and brake pads, in addition to the handlebars and sprockets for which it remains best known.
Rosenthal sold the company to MAG in 2006, where it joined a then growing stable of internationally respected aftermarket brands that includes the likes of Vance & Hines, Kuryakyn, Performance Machine, Roland Sands Design and Progressive Suspension. In 2014 MAG merged with Tucker Powersports (formerly known as Tucker Rocky), one of the U.S. market’s leading aftermarket parts and accessory distributors, with deep roots in the off-road industry as owners of brands such as MSR, Pro-Taper, DragonFire and Answer.
Henry has remained in an active leadership role at Renthal, and commenting on the deal to sell Renthal back to its founder, Andy Graves, MAG’s President and CEO said: “Renthal has performed very well under MAG ownership, and we are excited to continue our close relationship as their leading US distributor going forward. Henry’s passion and experience in the off-road market gives us confidence in the brand’s continued success built upon great products”.
As part of the deal, Tucker Powersports has entered into a multi-year distribution agreement that will see it continue to represent the British manufacturer to its dealers in the United States. The sale of Renthal marks the completion on MAG’s plan to withdraw from its European investments, having recently also sold its UK based subsidiary MAG Europe to Dutch distributor Motorcycle Storehouse.
In other corporate news, French helmet manufacturer SHARK also has new ownership.
Prior owner Naxicap Partners, a Paris based private equity investor, has sold a majority stake in French motorcycle aftermarket group 2R Holding (2RH), owner of Shark Helmets and the Bering, Bagster and Segura brands.
Eurazeo PME specialises in small and mid-cap corporates, but its parent is a multinational investment group with more than £5bn in assets under management and a significant US presence, so opportunities in the American market are obviously on his agenda.
Founded in 2008 out of the Shark brand, the 2RH group designs and manufactures protective motorcycle and winter sports equipment. In line with the company’s innovative strategy and spirit, the equipment meets the highest standards in terms of performance and safety.
Founded in 2008 as a holding company for Shark and its other motorcycle brands, 2RH has a workforce of over 600 and three production sites in France and abroad (Portugal, Thailand). The group currently generates over half of its sales outside France, principally in Europe. Present group sales are reported to be in the region of € 90m a year; since 2016 the group has also included the Cairn brand of ski and cycling products.
