New Press Release from Liquid Asset Partners Re: EBR

[noone1569]

Just received this via e-mail from LAP:

Kickstand Up, Ready to Roll...


EAST TROY, WI – EBR Motorcycles has recently completed the protracted Wisconsin Chapter 128 business restructuring that began last April. The EBR 2012 – 2015 model parts inventory, brand name, trademarks, patents, operating licenses, testing equipment, assembly lines and all the future models under development are now owned by Liquid Asset Partners of Grand Rapids Michigan.

Liquid Asset Partners is actively reviewing options for a qualified individual or company to acquire or finance the motorcycle business and take it to the next level.

Erik Buell, founder of EBR, said, “This is indeed an incredible opportunity for a huge head start on getting an American sport motorcycle business going. I have to thank Bill Melvin Jr., Bill Sr., and the team at Liquid Asset Partners for seeing this and working toward activating the assets and building motorcycles again. It is also great that they have stepped up to immediately address parts availability for EBR owners. The old company had many of the pieces in place for success, and I am very energized by the opportunity to re-engage under a new corporation with the right ownership and focus.”

Kim Tordik, key management member, has worked side-by-side with Erik for over 30 years. Kim started with Erik in the early years of the fledgling Buell Motor Company, continued through the Harley years and on to the start-up of Erik Buell Racing. “I have seen and been a part of all the challenges and successes over the years. Working with Erik, we have always focused on keeping the customer first and top-of-mind. The amount of energy and enthusiasm for Erik Buell and his legacy brand is as prevalent now as ever. Knowing personally the extraordinary assets that are available and the creative talent we have, the best years are still ahead.”

The first step, beginning next week, will be to make service and repair parts available directly from Liquid Asset to the owners of the EBR RS, RX and SX models, as well as performance parts for previous Buell models that had been available from EBR. Since the motorcycle selling season is approaching quickly, management is making significant progress towards plans for the production of new RX and SX models. The goal is to have 2016 model EBRs rolling by mid-March.

Steve Smith, key management member, says “the ‘muzzle is off’ and that it is time to reach out to EBR suppliers, dealers, customers and fans around the world. During the restructuring process it was inappropriate for the staff to talk about the specifics. Not being able to speak up was very frustrating, as there was no shortage of false information and speculation being spread. The “Buell Nation” and EBR enthusiasts were inundated with all sorts of opinions and misleading stories over the last 9-10 months. With Liquid Asset now in control of the motorcycle assets and intellectual property, we are in a position to begin the process of restarting. We love and appreciate the continued enthusiasm of the EBR riders groups; to help with the future success of EBR, we encourage riders and enthusiasts to talk to their closest dealer and prepare their personal finances for hopefully buying a 2016 model EBR.”

Once the plans are implemented, the path is open for the next step of growth. The American innovation, speed and persistence of Buell and EBR that have been demonstrated and appreciated by hundreds of thousands the world over will still require significant resources to move to the next chapter. Liquid Asset has taken on the mantle of “brand steward” and is committed to preserving the true American Sportbike company with its lineage going back to 1983. Along with production initiating on RX and SX, new segment busting models that deliver Erik’s unique vision are on the drawing board. The new company has many assets and is ready to expand rapidly.

Anyone interested in more information about the EBR opportunity should contact Liquid Asset Partners at www.LiquidAP.com.

Anyone interested in EBR parts should visit www.LiquidAP.com/EBRparts/

Thank you,
Team EBR

[zviadi]

Good sound!

[Scott]

Wow! Very interesting. Liquid Assets has hinted all along that they could finance. I wonder if their idea is to put minimal investment into them to get them up and running and demonstrate how they really are a functional company and then flip them.

[Street Bastard]

No mystical greek, no Bruce who?
Erik is back on board.

YESSS!

[Doug Porcaro]

No mystical greek, no Bruce who?
Erik is back on board.

YESSS!

Haha!

[Hellgate]

I'm not holding my breath. This is still a LONG ways off boys...

[Scott]

I'm not holding my breath. This is still a LONG ways off boys...

I agree, but I think the company is in better shape than it has been for the past 9 months.

It is still, and always has been about money. Somebody needs to step in with enough cash that they can convince suppliers, dealers and customers that they will invest to keep the company running for 5 years - after which it will be strong enough to stand on its own.

We have known since the first auction that nobody has yet been willing to step forward with a wad of cash, but we do know there were entities interested (such as US GP Holdings, S & S and Zero). If Liquid Assets has the money and is willing to invest it to keep some key people on who can organize things so the company is ready to go as soon as they have the funding and if Liquid Assets is actively out publicizing and looking for that buyer or buyers (with Erik Buell helping and making phone calls), I think someone will take a shot at owning the only American Sport-bike company - one that has a small but passionate group of current fans.

Right now, I suspect Liquid Assets is putting together a slick report that will demonstrate the operating costs and revenue that the company would expect selling 300 bikes per year, and then they can project out how those numbers will shift and become profitable under reasonable growth expectations. Prior to Liquid Assets purchase, nobody could really organize or present the company in a way that illustrated its potential. It was just a pile of machines, computers and vague intellectual property that required potential buyers to use quite a bit of imagination and take quite a bit of risk if they were even thinking about leaping in. Liquid Assets can collect and organize the components to tell a much more clear story of where things could go.

I don't know who the new owner will be or how similar the new company will or won't be to what we know, but I think, in time, it will happen.

[Hughlysses]

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New article at the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:

http://www.jsonline.com/business/erik-buell-racing -hopes-to-restart-motorcycle-production-in-march-b 99662505z1-367281991.html

This says they expect to restart production on a small scale in March before they find a buyer for the company.

[Scott]

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This says they expect to restart production on a small scale in March before they find a buyer for the company.

I found that very interesting. The previous release seemed to imply that they could be up and running by March, but this seems to imply that LAP will have them up and running by March while they continue to look for investors.

I think that makes a lot of sense if they have the pieces they need to make it happen.

[Doug Porcaro]

I'd say that's good news. I can't imagine they won't find investors or a buyer. These are the most practically unique and beautiful bikes in the world and they can make power and handle on a world class level. With a good plan, sufficient marketing, and targeting the right customers here and overseas, I don't see why a team of reasonably competent people couldn't sustain a prosperous business. Plus, regardless of what politicians and big corporations say, exports i.e. bringing back leaving/left money is the best thing for our economy and our survival. Stupid mindless phone apps are not enough, lets sell something real!