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BRIEFS
One of the many concoctions of the Wall Street financial community , the SPAC or Special Purpose Acquisition Company has now made its way into the powersports industry . Canadian electric PWC and snowmobile manufacturer Taiga Motors is set to sidestep the conventional IPO route to achieving a stock exchange listing and acquiring capital resources . They will do so by ' merging ' with a ' Blank Cheque Company ' ( Canaccord Genuity Group Inc .), established for the specific purpose of allowing privately held businesses to access investor capital and achieve a listing without the costs , regulatory requirements and needed time scales of the conventional Initial Public Offering process .
As many custom bike shows in Europe continue to postpone or still await opportunity , the Devitt Insurance backed ' Kickback Custom and Retro Bike Show ' in the UK has announced May 23 for a 2021 one-day event in the upscale spa town of Cheltenham , England . As an innovative way of maximizing attendance under COVID protocols , the organizers will allow the public to attend in two 3.5-hour sessions between 10:00 to 12:30 and 12:30 to 17:00 .
Industry veteran and former Chairman Larry Little has been given the MIC Chairman ' s Award by present Chairman Paul Vitrano , in recognition of a 40-year career that included 30 years as publisher of Cycle World , 16 years on the MIC Board , 10 as Chairman . Little was also the co-founder of the MICExpo at Market Place Events - now owned and operated by MIC Events .
Will Pan America buyers be getting automatic no cost first year enrolment into dealership H . O . G . Chapters ? If so , will H . O . G . Road Captains start catering to ADV buyers in their ride-out programs ? If not , what incentive ( s ) can ADV riders expect instead ? Or is theirs a future of being a perennially oppressed minority , subjected to prejudice and discrimination ?
Having gotten its Cruisetec tire onto an Indian Motorcycle model for the first time in 2019 ( as OE fitment for the 2020 Challenger ), Metzeler has announced that Indian is to use Cruisetec on the Roadmaster , Chieftain , Springfield and Vintage . On the FTR ( including the S and R Carbon ), Indian is using the Metzeler Sportec ( M9 RR ; 120 / 70 ZR 17 front , 180 / 55 ZR 17 rear ).
PDG Acquires Motorcycle Storehouse
Breda , Netherlands based Powersports Distribution Group ( PDG ) has announced a further addition to its fast growing portfolio of powersports industry businesses with the acquisition of Motorcycle Storehouse ( MCS ) from its current shareholders Nedvest and management . PDG says it will " support the MCS management team in continuing its impressive growth trajectory . PDG aims to further develop MCS and strengthen its position as a leading pan-European player with the largest assortment of premium brands , including own brands of aftermarket parts and lifestyle products for Harley- Davidson motorcycles ." Iwan Vollebregt , CEO of MCS , comments : " We are excited about our cooperation with PDG , which will help us fuel and accelerate our ambition . PDG and its management team have shown that they have the relevant expertise and vision in the industry to help us continue our growth . More importantly , we are convinced that joining forces will open up many new opportunities , in several countries and market segments ." Headquartered at Groningen in the Netherlands , MCS is a " leading European player with the largest selection of leading brands in niche custom motorcycle aftermarket parts and lifestyle products with a track record of growth and 40 years of pioneering the industry ." This has created a pan-European platform with international reach and sales to more than 90 countries . With its 47 team members , a product offering of more than 70,000 SKUs , and more than 1,000,000 items in stock , MCS says it " offers the largest assortment in Harley-Davidson aftermarket hard parts and lifestyle products in Europe . MCS distributes its products globally from a state-of-theart warehouse , and also operates a warehouse facility in the United Kingdom ( Manchester ), serving the UK market . Tom Beyers , CEO of PDG , commented that " PDG is extremely impressed by MCS , the width and depth of their product assortment , their ability to create a large and loyal fanbase and their state-of-the-art operations and warehouse in Groningen . Their impressive leadership position in the Harley-Davidson niche segment will further establish the position of PDG as a European market leader . We look forward to actively supporting MCS and its management in the next phase
Tom Beyers , CEO of PDG : " PDG is extremely impressed by MCS , the width and depth of their product assortment , their ability to create a large and loyal fanbase and their state-of-the-art operations and warehouse in Groningen . Their impressive leadership position in the Harley-Davidson niche segment will further establish the position of PDG as a European market leader ."
of growth ." PDG positions itself to be " the preferred partner for its customers and suppliers based on its broad premium product assortment , ease of ordering , availability , service level and perfect fit .
PDG is proud to have the most professional and passionate individuals on board , to work with the industry ' s most respected brands and to earn the trust of thousands of customers every day ." The PDG Group currently consists of three divisions . General motorcycle aftermarket B2B distribution with Hoco Parts , a premium motorcycle parts & accessories aftermarket distributor in the Benelux , Denmark , the UK and France . " With the addition of MCS , we now also offer aftermarket B2B distribution for Harley-Davidson motorcycles in Europe ." Additionally , PDG operates category management with DC Afam ( Belgium ), an aftermarket supplier to European motorcycle parts wholesalers , retail chains and large web-shops with transmission , battery and filter brands like Afam , Nitro and Shido . Finally , PDG is a player in the vintage parts distribution segment with Dutch specialist CMS ( Consolidated Motor Spares ), " the leading global distributor of vintage Japanese motorcycle parts ." PDG is majority owned by Torqx Capital Partners in partnership with management and former owners . www . powersportsdistribution group . com
10 AMERICAN MOTORCYCLE DEALER - APRIL 2021 www . AMDchampionship . com