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December saw Yamaha Corporation sell more of its shareholding in former subsidiary Yamaha Motor Co. The company divested some 2.3 % of the voting shares( some 8 million shares), selling to investment and securities houses for around 190m euro. Estimates at the time suggested that Yamaha Corporation will remain the single largest shareholder in Yamaha Motor Co., but with its share dropping below 10 %( estimated at 9.93 % from 12.22 %), it will now no longer be classed as a“ major shareholder” under Japanese stock market rules.
Pirelli has launched what it says is the world’ s first“ multicompound” motorcycle tyre. Derived from its experience as the spec tire supplier for the FIM WSBK Championship series, their Diablo Rosso Corsa II is a highperformance sport bike tyre, said to be particularly good for riders who corner hard with greater lean angles.
Italian helmet manufacturer Nolan is now selling dealer-direct in Germany.
Italian boot maker TCX Boots has signed a multi-year sponsorship deal with Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing. Team rider Mitchell Harrison( No. 30 FC250) debuted the all-new TCX COMP EVO 2 Michelin at Anaheim in January.
On November 3, Paul Liao, owner of( hitherto) Düsseldorf based chain store group Hein Gericke Europe, filed a petition for self-administration insolvency proceedings. This is believed to be( at least) the fourth time that Hein Gericke, one way or another, in one country or another, has been involved in insolvency proceedings since it was sold by founder Hein Gericke to Eurobike AG in 1987. A legal dispute is also underway in the German courts concerning the rightful ownership of certain Hein Gericke IP assets.
LSL goes Paaschburg & Wunderlich
German parts and accessory specialist Paaschburg & Wunderlich GmbH( P & W) is to take over all sales activities and trademark rights of LSL Motorradtechnik GmbH, with both companies cooperating on all future parts, accessory and motorcycle project concepts and designs. Based in Glinde near Hamburg, this asset deal is effective February 9, 2018, with the entire warehousing and sales activities of LSL being relocated to the P & W facility at Glinde. The logistical excellence of P & W will be complemented by the LSL development department, design and engineering teams, which stay at the existing LSL facility at Krefeld under the leadership of the founder and head of development Jochen Schmitz- Linkweiler. Dr. Oliver Moosmayer of P & W said:“ With LSL, we have considerably strengthened the brand and product portfolio of Paaschburg & Wunderlich. I am also very pleased that Jochen Schmitz-Linkweiler and his team are exclusively available to us for product development, which will significantly increase our product development capabilities and capacities.” Jochen Schmitz-Linkweiler commented on the new cooperation, saying:“ With Paaschburg & Wunderlich, we have found a perfect partner to further expand the LSL brand and make it even more successful worldwide.“ For me personally, this new cooperation means that I will have much more time to do more in order to promote product development in Krefeld and to develop new techniques for the production and perfection of LSL products.” A former Harley-Davidson dealer, Jochen Schmitz-Linkweiler founded
Jochen Schmitz-Linkweiler:“ With Paaschburg & Wunderlich, we have found a perfect partner to further expand the LSL brand”
LSL over 30 years ago and has an enviable reputation for performance, styling and handling product quality and innovation that isn’ t only limited to parts- with the Clubman brand, LSL has also created an internationally recognised name in the fast-growing retro classic market. Paaschburg & Wunderlich is an equally well-respected designer and distributor of own brand and thirdparty products, having been founded in the early 1980s by Uwe Paaschburg and Norbert Wunderlich. With more than 28,000 articles and more than 4,500 customers worldwide, the company specialises in lighting, exhausts, accessories, spare parts, care products, workshop and service parts for motorcycles, ATVs and quads. Their highly regarded own brand programme includes brands such as HIGHSIDER, Shin Yo, Takkoni and Moto Professional. www. pwonline. com www. lsl. eu
64 INTERNATIONAL DEALER NEWS- FEBRUARY / MARCH 2018