More info posted over at Asphalt and Rubber.com

They broke a story about a year ago regarding some talks between Mercedes and Ducati (which likely led to the AMG Diavel), but nothing went anywhere.

Link here
http://www.asphaltandrubber.com/rumors/mercedes-benz-purchase-ducati/

Their post today reiterates most of what was posted above, with a bit different backstory.  Interesting to know how anxious Ducati is to find a partner.

http://www.asphaltandrubber.com/news/ducati-valued-1-billion-acquisition-talks-continue/#more-28160

I just hope whatever happens, they gain/maintain the support to have parts available for my S2R for many years to come.  If Ethanol is going to wear out my air cooled engine faster, I just want to know that parts will be available when it's time for a rebuild.

Quote from: Travman on February 13, 2012, 06:40:42 PM
I think some of you guys read this as Ducati is in trouble and is faltering.  When I read the article that was not the case.  Ducati is doing very well.  All of their new models over that last couple of years have sold very well. 

Agreed.  You can't sell a company at a premium if it's not doing well.  The private equity company is looking to sell it for a billion euros.  I'm curious to know how many times revenues that is. 

Quote from: hillbillypolack on February 13, 2012, 06:08:46 PM

I also don't see any US companies opting in, simply because they don't understand Ducati in NA much less the world.

I wouldn't rule it out.  Many companies here understand a marque brand and more than half the fortune 500 companies have over 60% of their revenue from overseas markets.  How's that for not understanding the world?

In any event, Ducati may very well have sold a shit ton of bikes and has had an impressive penetration rate but no one here knows their debt so for all we know they may be saddled badly.

Quote from: muskrat on February 13, 2012, 09:52:36 PM
In any event, Ducati may very well have sold a shit ton of bikes and has had an impressive penetration rate but no one here knows their debt so for all we know they may be saddled badly.

I'd figure we'd can indirectly suss out the financial health of Ducati by watching how things line up with this sale.

Quote from: muskrat on February 13, 2012, 09:52:36 PM
In any event, Ducati may very well have sold a shit ton of bikes and has had an impressive penetration rate but no one here knows their debt so for all we know they may be saddled badly.

"Ducati has debts of about 1.7 times its earnings before interest, depreciation and amortization, a low level when compared with most private equity portfolio companies."

those are estimates.  no one knows for sure since they aren't required to disclose anything.

Quote from: muskrat on February 14, 2012, 07:25:40 AM
those are estimates.  no one knows for sure since they aren't required to disclose anything.

Submit a bid and they will have to disclose their numbers to you - I'll be your analyst and go over the figures 

I wonder if I can pull a D&B overseas and see whats reported to them? hmmmm?

I have most of next week free.  Maybe a trip is worthwhile after winning the lotto this Saturday. 

Looks like VW might be interested

http://www.motoblog.it/post/35655/volkswagen-tratta-lacquisto-di-ducati

Quote from: Raux on February 17, 2012, 05:30:34 AM
Looks like VW might be interested

http://www.motoblog.it/post/35655/volkswagen-tratta-lacquisto-di-ducati

i'll believe that when i see it.  pieche apparently rides Ducati though.

VW is big enough and acquisition-happy enough to do it.

my question is:

what will this mean?

Maybe Ducati will be the two wheel research arm for VW like they did with Suzuki. VW hit China with an electric scooter from that partnership.

Quote from: Raux on February 17, 2012, 05:49:22 AM
Maybe Ducati will be the two wheel research arm for VW like they did with Suzuki. VW hit China with an electric scooter from that partnership.

suzuki makes scooters.  ducati doesn't. 

Ask Mark how his concepts come back around at Ducati

That is cool. I'd ride that to work