I will let what takes place going forward color my judgement.

any of these purchases place a burden on the company to pay for the purchase, that monetization of the brand could be the trick.

[MENTION=111144]Andy_K[/MENTION], it's time to start monetizing the Gugificazione! brand.

Start sending some marketing collateral to this Texas guy, perhaps we can both retire early...

We need Gugificazione T-shirts featuring fork blades being re-raked.

-Kurt

I’m thinking a line of artisinally crafted dairy bells.

Sorry, I’ve already sold all threads containing the word Gugificazione! as an NFT. Bidders seemed to be concentrated in Madera, CA.

NFTs aren't ownership of the thread, only ownership of the NFT of the thread.

You can NFT the sales page for the shirt if you want.

-Kurt

Somewhere in Madera, California a tear is shed.

Excuse me while I make an NFT for that tear.

-Kurt

P.S.: And one for Madera, California's Twitter feed URL as well, if someone hasn't already.

Ok, I slept through the second one!

And fountain pens!

I think the lawyers live in the same industrial parks as the money does.

And this rubs you the wrong way, inciting cynical laughter, why, exactly? The seller is relieved to be free of the burden of running a no-longer-successful company. He gets some money in his pocket instead of watching his own “vision” of his firm bleed money (“gradually then suddenly” as the saying goes) until his capital is exhausted. It costs nothing to say nice things about the guy you sold to, so why not? — it was probably costed into the goodwill anyway.

Don't forget the desk clocks and keyrings.

"This system is feasible because product-liability lawyers are spore-based organisms who can survive for years without air." - Dave Barry

-Kurt

Rub me the wrong way? Not really. Cynical laughter (chuckle, really)? Yes, because of the perceived need to obfuscate the reasons for the deal and the over-the-top BS used to do the obfuscating. (Another possible scenario for the sale, by the way: The next generation of Colombos is not interested in running the business, so the current powers that be decided to cash out.) Whatever the reason for the deal is, the parties' apparent need for puffery that is so obvious and so cheesy makes it the object of my cynical expressions of warped mirth.

And I have no doubt whatsoever that neither the seller nor the buyer give a poop what I think, and I'm okay with that.

Yeah, you already have your Cinelli bikes. Little money from you, unless they do some amazing reissue wool kit.
How about this for a press release-

"I have guided the brand since 1983, I was young, I wish to reap some reward for all this effort.
I see So many high value Italian and French luxury brands change hands with terrific success, I want my Ferrari now. I am tired of driving a Fiat.
The buyer will make money, I have excluded them from making Cinelli coasters.
Thanks for all your euros over the years. The future will be profitable.
I will take Valentino out to lunch, we will talk"

Love the new press release. It would be refreshing to see them actually release this.

And speaking of reissue wool kit, here is the Christmas present I got for myself with the wife's blessing. Available now at wingedstore.com in the "Cino Collection" section.

https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...7deda4eba9.jpg

What is the world coming to when A) you can buy a Cinelli frame for a few hundred $$ and B) they are making bikes in Taiwan. Sad. Hopefully new ownership 86s these low end monstrosities.

That point came to mind because of my recent experience trying to get a consulting contract. The client company, an automotive Tier 1 supplier to all the vehicle manufacturers of heavy truck-tractors, is incorporated in Delaware though the program management, engineering, and development functions are all HQ in Michigan.

"Why does that matter to me?" I innocently cried? Came the response, "If they want to sue you they will file and probably litigate it in Delaware, and you'll have to spend a lot of time there!"

Since my bid to consult failed because of their litigation policies, I now see this as part of an important point.

Cinelli did not sell, it was wholly owned by Columbus, which is now Gruppo SPA, a division Of Gruppo Srl, which is the parent company. Controlling interest in the parent company sold.

This article explains it a bit more clearly, and in English. It may be a good thing.

https://www.bicycleretailer.com/anno...s#.YObM-2kpBPw

As a customer, a reseller of many of the materials these brands manufacture (many to my specs), and someone who assembles bicycles with components from Cinelli and Columbus, I'm very happy with this news story as well as grateful that the Columbo family kept this torch lit for so many decades. When the middle 1970s sale of Cinelli to Signor Columbo happened, very little changed internally. The real differences have come from the evolution within the industry, something very few labels are immune to. Gruppo has always been a modern and forward thinking company. Now it has a new majority owner from North America. I can't see a downside.

The hobootleg models were pretty versatile. Are you even aware if them? Screaming value for a year or so online.
Monstrosity isn't a word I would choose, even if given 100 words.

Well said, Thanks Richard.

I don't generally like mergers and acquisitions. I don't think they improve things for most people. So I shrugged upon seeing this news. In the Italian article, it says the aim is to double revenue. I definitely don't like the sound of that.

Except while the money is probably great, he doesn't need it. He may want it, but certainly doesn't need it. And he has been merging art culture and bikes for at least 40 years. I don't know why that gets anyone's knickers in a twist. The Haring behind his desk would get him at least a couple dozen Ferraris. The Haring Laser is probably worth at least one alone.

https://live.staticflickr.com/4669/4...2689781c_h.jpgCinelli 044 by iabisdb, on Flickr

Heh?
Huh!

The transfer of majority ownership isn’t so much about what Mr. Columbo needs or wants.
It’s to ensure the brands he’s been steward of for his adulthood remain in good stead.