The Rossignol Group announced an agreement in principle for the disposal at an undisclosed price of Time Sport International, the French producer of high-end bicycle components that it had acquired four years ago as part of its diversification into the bike sector. Major investments made for its modernization have not been sufficient for Time to reach the desired critical mass, says the group, which reduced Time’s personnel in France early last year.
Provided it obtains the necessary financing, the buyer of Time is WhaTTfornow (sic), a small and innovative four-year-old French start-up, led by François Guers, that has developed a new generation of electrical mountain bikes. Time’s pedals will continue to be made at Rossignol’s factory for ski bindings at Nevers. The manufacture of carbon frames should remain in Slovakia. The 20-odd remaining French employees of Time and WhaTTfornow are reportedly going to work together from September at a former ski factory of Salomon at Rumilly, near Annecy.
Rossignol plans to continue to play a role in the bike sector through its Rossignol branded mountain bikes and its Felt brand of high-end road and triathlon bikes in the U.S.
