Basically, it can go either way. But they're not bankrupt, not at this time."
Chapter 11 bankruptcy, debt obligation restructuring, financial rehabilitation....basically all point to poor cash flow management and supply chain bottlenecks.
I wish the folks at Touratech best wishes during this challenging time. The company is an incredible Germanic entrepreneurial success story - started by two guys around a coffee table back in the early 1990s (reminds me a little of Rod Canion @ Compaq Computer origin story). They employ several hundred people in a small German town of
Niedereschach for most of their operations. Their workmanship is typical Teutonic quality which is synonymous with durability.
Touratech did an outstanding job at exploiting the European accessory market for motorcycles. Like many small companies undergoing the initial hyper-growth phase, it is challenging ramping up operations to the next level of maturity of sustained growth. I believe they tried to serve to many models and options through their catalog offerings.
Their MASSIVE 400 page plus catalog was probably quite expensive to print and generate too. Like the outdated "Sears" catalog, shoppers are using the online portal as a conduit to facilitate business to consumers transactions.
...if Touratec continues to reduce unneeded costs/expenses, improve customer support processes, enhance product fulfillment, and focus on the top revenue brand channels growth areas, I think Touratec will be fine.
Touratec has valueable IP & branding assets as well...perhaps BMW AG or another related larger brand could be a potential business suitor if things don't pan out for Touratech....
Onward and upward,
RB