Korys joins Dutch bike manufacturer Santos Bikes

19.10.2021

Halle/Nieuw-Vennep, October 19th, 2021 - Korys is joining Dutch Santos Bikes. Santos is an independent bike manufacturer which builds durable and technically high-quality bikes tailored to the needs of each individual cyclist. The investment is perfectly in line with Korys' investment philosophy, which focuses on consumers who are health conscious and think about their impact on the environment. The involvement of Santos founder Robbert Rutgrink (CEO) and investor Robert Vaneman (also current CFO) remains unchanged. After 4 years, Think2Act is passing the torch to Korys, but looks back on the cooperation with satisfaction.

Sustainable mobility and a healthy lifestyle are themes we want to continue to work on. Bicycles are becoming more important, both from a recreational and a functional point of view. The pandemic has only accelerated this process further,’ says Thomas De Kempeneer, Investment Director at Korys. ‘Santos will now have access to the knowledge and expertise of the extensive Korys network and we look forward to working with the Santos management on the further development and growth within the organisation.’

Santos founder Robbert Rutgrink adds: ‘We have noticed that the demand from abroad is increasing and we see a lot of growth potential. Geographical expansion and a further extension of our range will therefore receive our full attention with the arrival of Korys.’

Besides custom-built bikes for consumers, Santos also builds patrol bikes for professional organisations. The extremely long life and high reliability of the bikes has ensured that Santos has been supplying police forces at home and abroad for more than 15 years.

‘We look back on the past years with satisfaction. Santos has grown significantly, not in the least because of their customer-oriented customisation philosophy and the sustainable character of Santos bikes,’ says Pieter Walravens of Think2Act. ‘With Korys, a strong new shareholder comes on board who will provide excellent support for the Santos team in the next phase of growth. And of course, we’ll always remain absolute Santos fans!

Press contacts - Korys

Press contact - Santos Bikes

About Korys:

Korys is the investment company of the Colruyt family. Today, it has more than EUR 4.5 billion of assets under management. Korys also actively manages participations in privately held companies and its investment decisions are taken with a long-term perspective and based on strict economic (Profit), social (People) and ecological (Planet) criteria. Korys aims to create sustainable value in 3 major ecosystems: Life Sciences, Energy Transition and Conscious Consumer. To do so, Korys can count on a motivated team of 30 professionals based in Belgium and Luxemburg.

For more information, go to:  www.korys.be

About Santos Bikes:

Santos is an independent Dutch bicycle brand with a big passion for cycling, a great love for quality and an innovative Research and Development policy. It was founded in 1997 by Robbert Rutgrink, an avid mountainbiker who started building his own bikes at a very young age.

Santos continuously strives to build the best bike for each individual cyclist. With the right frame for a good posture, the best drive system that meets the specific needs and the unique option to customize all bicycle parts according to taste. No assembly line production but custom building. With great attention to sustainability: built for life.

Every Santos contains Santos Only parts, specially designed in-house for the ultimate cycling experience. Sometimes these are prominent, sometimes barely visible. To further enhance the modularity and durability of each bicycle.

All bikes are custom made in the Santos factory just outside Amsterdam. Santos has a large dealer network, mainly in the Netherlands and Belgium. The bikes are also shipped worldwide.

For more information, go to:  www.santosbikes.com