Netherlands-based Accell Group, which owns a string of bike brands including Raleigh and Lapierre, has officially been declared bankrupt by an Amsterdam court, having suspended payments to suppliers earlier in August.However, help might be on its way in the form of Dublin-based Quanta Capital, which has expressed an interest in purchasing the group and its assets.The maker of the iconic Chopper in the 1970s, Nottingham-based Raleighs direct ownership is via a UK subsidiary, Accell UK & Ireland, which earlier this month filed a notice of intention to appoint administrators.Raleigh posted a 30m loss in 2023. Lapierre is sponsor of the Picnic-PostNL pro cycling team. Marijn Sourbron Meanwhile, Accell's French subsidiary, Lapierre, has filed for a judicial reorganisation with the Dijon Commercial Court in France, aiming to bring in an investor capable of providing long-term financing for its future," according to a press release. The brand recently celebrated the 80th anniversary of its founding.Accell sold the Van Nicholas titanium bike business to an Italian company in January this year, following a 22% fall in the group's reported revenue for the 2024 financial year. Van Nicholas was sold by Accell in January. David Caudery / Immediate Media It has been reported by NLtimes that Accells factory in Hungary has now shut, while Accell closed its last Dutch factory in 2025. The future of Accells 340 Dutch employees and its 2,000 employees across 15 countries is now in doubt.The Dutch bankruptcy trustees are aiming to restart parts of Accell Netherlands though, which they said will also involve examining the extent to which Accell entities abroad could be included in a potential sale or restart. Accell Group also owns the Haibike electric bike brand. Scott Windsor / Our Media Now Dublin-based investment firm Quanta Capital has expressed an interest in acquiring the Dutch parent company and all its assets.Quanta Capital is led by CEO Mel Sutcliffe, who was formerly an international cyclist, riding for the Irish national team from the late 1980s until 1996. He went on to found Eurocycles, which became one of Irelands foremost cycle retailers.He also got into bicycle distribution, purchasing Raleigh Ireland and building it up to become Irelands largest bicycle distributor, selling it to Accell Group in 2016.Accells troubles began in 2022, when it was bought for 1.1bn by a private equity consortium led by US-based KKR. The buyers bet that the electric bike market would continue its rapid growth. This failed to occur and Accell was left with unsold bikes, mirroring the industry-wide post-Covid slump. It also had to initiate a large recall of Babboe cargo bikes.The KKR-led consortium walked away from its investment, handing over control to Accells creditors last February, but despite this, according to Accell Group CEO Jonas Nilsson: 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.