Raleigh owner starts insolvency proceedings

Accell, the Dutch owner of Raleigh, has started insolvency proceedings after saying it could no longer meet its financial obligations.

The company that owns iconic Nottingham bike manufacturer Raleigh has begun insolvency proceedings. Accell, based in the Netherlands, bought Raleigh for $100m in 2012 but said on Wednesday it had "exhausted all the available options" and was "no longer able to meet its financial obligations".

It comes after a difficult period for Raleigh, which saw redundancies made in 2024 and suffered losses of £30m in accounts released the following year. Jonas Nilsson, chief executive of Accell, said it was "a deeply sad and frustrating situation".

What is the background to Raleigh’s troubles?

Raleigh was founded in Nottingham in 1887 and at one stage was the biggest bicycle maker in the world, employing about 8,000 people at its peak. It stopped making bikes in the city decades ago, and in 2024 it vacated its headquarters on Church Street in Eastwood to move to new premises less than a mile away.

What did Accell say about the insolvency process?

Announcing plans to initiate insolvency proceedings, Nilsson said Accell had worked "to restructure [its] operations and finances".

"Every realistic option for the future of the business has been tirelessly explored, and none have resulted in a solution to continue the group in its current form," he said.

"Our immediate focus is to support an orderly process, provide clarity wherever possible, and work with the relevant court-appointed administrators to preserve viable activities and employment where circumstances allow."

How did Raleigh’s recent finances look?

Raleigh had already been through a difficult period before the insolvency announcement. The company saw redundancies in 2024 and later recorded losses of £30m in accounts released the following year.

How significant is Raleigh in the bicycle industry?

Raleigh has a long history in Nottingham and was once the biggest bike maker in the world. The company is known for the Chopper and employed about 8,000 people at its peak.

It stopped manufacturing bikes in the city decades ago, but its Nottingham roots remain central to its identity. In 2024, the business moved from its headquarters on Church Street in Eastwood to new premises less than a mile away.

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