| Profile: | Accell Group is an European group of companies which designs, produce, markets and sells bicycles, bicycle accessories and fitness equipment. With its brand portfolio, Accell Group has a strong position in the middle and upper segment of the market. Brands like Batavus, Hercules, Koga-Miyata, Lapierre, Loekie, Mercier, Sparta, Staiger, Tunturi and Winora are sold through specialist retailers. Accell has production facilities in the Netherlands, Finland, France and Hungary. Sales of bicycles, bicycle accessories and fitness equipment are sold in the Netherlands (49%), Germany (27%), France (14%) and in other countries (10%) like Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Austria, the United Kingdom and Switzerland. After the acquisition of Tunturi, Accell is market leader in Europe on the bicycle market and is located in the top 5 of the market for home use fitness equipment. |
| Description: | In the metal industry, both aluminum and steel producing companies are listed. Besides these major markets of the sector, also producers of other types of metals and metal products are counted among companies in this industry.
The aluminum market is dominated by a handful of large multinationals. Core activities of companies operating in the aluminum industry are the production and further processing of aluminum. The largest customers of aluminum products are the automotive and packaging industries.
Unlike the aluminum industry, the steel industry is still fragmented. Trade in steel increased in recent years by the entering of Russian and Asian steel producers on the world market. Demand from Asia, particularly China, has increased markedly in recent years. As a result, the steel industry suffers from structural over-and under-capacity, thereby also affecting the steel prices. The biggest customers of the steel industry are the car manufacturers and construction companies. |
