International Dealer News 170 Dec2022/Jan 2023 IDN 170 DEC2022/JAN 2023 | Page 9

SBMC - standardisation progress and EU Commission discussions

SIDI - Dino Signori sells to Italmobiliare news ROOM

Founded in 1960 by its current president Dino Signori ( SIgnori DIno !), the era of the internationally famous Italian footwear specialist SIDI ' s independence is over - with Italian investor Italmobiliare taking over 100 % ownership of SIDI in a deal that closed in October 2022 . Founded in 1946 , Italmobiliare Investment Holding S . p . A . is a leading Milan stock exchange listed ( effective 1980 ) investment holding company controlled by Efiparind ( the Pesenti family ) of Clessidra Private Equity fame . It is a company that owns and manages a " diversified portfolio of equity and other investments with a strategic vision based on a financial and industrial history that goes back more than 150 years ". Based in Maser ( Treviso ), in the heart of the Montebelluna sports footwear
industrial district , SIDI employs over 250 people and distributes its products in over 60 countries around the world . The company , which posted € 38m of revenue and € 7m of EBITDA in 2021 , has been taken over by Italmobiliare based on an enterprise value of € 66m plus € 20m in net cash held by the company . The overall outlay of € 86m consists of a net payment by Italmobiliare of € 53.5m , with the rest of the funds (€ 32.5m ) borrowed from Banco BPM . SIDI shoes and boots have trodden the podiums of all the major international sporting events . From Joel Robert through Giacomo Agostini , Stefan Everts , Loris Capirossi , up to nine-time world champion Tony Cairoli , SIDI has written itself into an indelible place in the history of motorcycling . The cycling champions of the SIDI team
include the Italian legends Francesco Moser and Paolo Bettini , the Tokyo 2020 Olympic gold medalist Richard Carapaz and Pauline Ferrand-Prévot , who entered history as the winner of the first edition of the Women ' s Gravel World Championship in 2022 with four gold medals in four different specialities . In a press conference on the SIDI booth at EICMA , Italmobiliare CEO Carlo Pesenti introduced Davide Rossetti as the newly appointed CEO of SIDI . Rossetti has over 25 years of experience in the world of sporting goods in situations of multinational excellence in Italy and abroad , both at wholesale and retail level , including Safilo Group ( sport division ), 55DSL by Diesel , Cisalfa Sport , Alpinestars and most recently
Northwave , a company of technical sports footwear for bikes and snowboards . Also joining the board is Davide Cassani , former professional cyclist and manager of the Italian national cycling team , who led them to victory in twotime trial world championships and four European road championships . " The world of two wheels in Italy needs investment , competence and passion ," says Cassani , " I am thrilled to find these three elements within Italmobiliare ' s top management and to be part of this new development challenge for SIDI ."

Bihr adds " Bubba " Stewart ' s Seven MX gear brand

Distributed in the United Kingdom since 2016 by Race FX Ltd . - which became a subsidiary of the Bihr group in 2021 - the Seven gear brand of MX race , riding and casual apparel is now available throughout the Bihr distribution network in Europe ( excluding Italy ). Founded by American race legend and AMA Hall of Fame inductee James " Bubba " Stewart in 2013 - " to take the protection and quality of athlete gear to new heights " - Bihr says that " with his fierce competitiveness and passion for performance , James set out to assemble a team of like-minded creatives and visionaries who would help him redesign the future ". " Today , as a team and a family , Seven continues to push the boundaries , just as James did throughout his career ," said Jaimy Scevenels , Bihr VP of Brand and Product . " We are happy to welcome Seven to the Bihr team . Seven really elevates our motocross apparel program and we are excited to now being able to offer it to Bihr dealers throughout our network ." Christophe Piron , CEO of Bihr , said : " We are proud of this partnership with this iconic brand . With the addition of Seven to the portfolio of brands distributed by Bihr , we will be able to meet the demand for premium offroad equipment ." Stewart , who earned the nickname " The Fastest Man on the Planet ", scored 68 total career Supercross and 48 Motocross wins . He was a seventime Loretta Lynn ' s Amateur National Motocross Champion , a two-time Motocross Des Nations Champion , three-time National Motocross Champion , and two-time Supercross Champion of the World .
Commenting on the expansion of his relationship with Bihr , Stewart is quoted as saying : " Our two brands match perfectly . The prospect of combining our brand with the Bihr distribution system was impossible to resist . This is a genuine ' win-win ' for both our businesses and for passionate racers and riders throughout Europe ." www . mybihr . com

SBMC - standardisation progress and EU Commission discussions

More than 25 companies gathered at the Swappable Batteries Motorcycle Consortium ( SBMC ) " stakeholders meeting " at EICMA in November 2022 . " The international motorcycle exhibition provided an excellent forum for it , with many new models of electric Powered Two-Wheelers being showcased . " SBMC welcomed representatives of various European institutions , including Thierry Legrand ( Account Manager Mobility at the CEN- CENELEC ) and . Cesar Santos Gil ( Policy Officer for Circular Economy Unit at DG ENVI ) who took part in the meeting and contributed to the discussions . " Light vehicles are especially suitable for compact and low-voltage batteries .
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Nowadays , most scooters and motorcycles used for daily commuting are within the so-called 50 cc and 125 cc category and have a performance range to a maximum of 11 kW . " SBMC will emphasize a reference battery which will bear an energy mark up to 2 kWh , enabling a relatively low weight per battery pack - below 12 kg and relative handling dimensions . With a 48 volt solution , these batteries are easy to handle and are classified as low-voltage equipment ( voltage class A limits ) in terms of European regulation . This makes it safe and userfriendly for riders to swap , store and recharge . " The objective of SBMC is ensuring that batteries can be exchanged among different brands and types .
Thus , swapping stations will be one of the key focus areas of the initiative . To make it safe and convenient for users , electrical , mechanical and safety requirements are addressed too and will be in line with existing and upcoming European and international regulations ". To allow freedom of design on one hand and to guarantee interoperability on the other hand , only the essential battery parameters will be standardised . SBMC is concentrating on subjects such as geometry , mechanical fixing and connectors and is finalising the identification of the last relevant items . As a next step , SBMC says it will carefully take into account considerations related to the connectivity of the battery and its infrastructure , as well as cybersecurity . In line with potential legal requirements , originating from upcoming EU battery regulations , communication parameters and state machine architecture will be standardised to guarantee interoperability .
INTERNATIONAL DEALER NEWS - DECEMBER 2022 / JANUARY 2023 9