Latest in the "Ducati up for sale?" story

[Drunken Monkey]

^^^ Beat me to it.

Interesting to note that Ducati had less debt on their books than originally thought. That's unusual for any business in any country in the  "PIIGS" group...

[thought]

So what if I am the type that thinks "growing up" is only good in moderation?  I worry that if they grow up too much, the new DucAudi may not be for me.

I think some growing up was needed... I know that for the countach back in the day you needed to pay a ridiculous amount in order to change the clutch... because, due to the design, you had to pull the engine out in order reach the clutch.  Estimates are normally around 10k+ for the service.

[SDRider]

I think some growing up was needed... I know that for the countach back in the day you needed to pay a ridiculous amount in order to change the clutch... because, due to the design, you had to pull the engine out in order reach the clutch.  Estimates are normally around 10k+ for the service.

Many mid engine cars are like that.  Some have designed them to be much easier to drop the entire drivetrain, like the Acura NSX.  Still, not cheap to work on, but not nearly as expensive as a Lambo.

[gjsnyc]

     (Updates with comment from analyst in fifth paragraph.)

By Chad Thomas
     April 17 (Bloomberg) -- Volkswagen AG’s Audi is poised to
purchase Italian motorcycle maker Ducati Motor Holding SpA from
owner Investindustrial SpA for about 860 million euros ($1.1
billion), a person familiar with the matter said.
     Audi has reached an agreement with Investindustrial to buy
the Bologna, Italy-based maker of luxury motorbikes, with VW’s
supervisory board set to approve the deal tomorrow, said the
person, who declined to be identified discussing the private
negotiations. Audi and Investindustrial declined to comment.
     At that price the deal, minus debt, would value Ducati at
about seven times last year’s earnings before interest, taxes,
depreciation and amortization. Ducati’s total liabilities are
less than 200 million euros, buyout firm Investindustrial said
last month.
     Volkswagen Chairman Ferdinand Piech, who turned 75 today,
has long coveted the brand, publicly expressing interest in
buying Ducati in April 2008 before eventually losing out to
Investindustrial. The purchase will make Ducati the 11th brand
in VW’s portfolio, alongside super-car marques Lamborghini and
Bugatti and heavy-duty truck manufacturers Scania AB and MAN SE.
     â€œDucati is one of the finest machines you can buy but
strategically it’s insignificant for Volkswagen,” said
Christoph Stuermer, a Frankfurt-based analyst with IHS
Automotive. “Its revenue is more than Lamborghini’s and
Bugatti’s combined, but to the automotive operations, it’s a
mere accessory.”

                        BMW Competition

     Ducati would complement Audi’s luxury-car lineup with
products such as the $28,000 Superbike 1199 Panigale S Tricolore
and expand the brand’s competition with Bayerische Motoren Werke
AG, which makes BMW and Husqvarna motorcycles. Ducati, which
last year sold about 42,000 motor bikes, had revenue for 2011 of
480 million euros.
     For Volkswagen, the deal would mean an entry into the
motorcycle business and gaining another asset in Italy after
buying super-car brand Lamborghini and Italdesign Giugiaro SpA.
Piech has also expressed interest in the past in Fiat SpA’s Alfa
Romeo brand.
     Hero MotoCorp Ltd., India’s biggest motorcycle maker, had
also expressed interest in Ducati after Milan-based
Investindustrial made it known in February that it planned to
sell the company. Daimler AG, which makes Mercedes-Benz cars,
reiterated today that it’s not interested in acquiring Ducati.
     Ducati, which was founded in 1926, sells the Superbike,
Monster, Streetfighter, Hypermotard, Multistrada and the new
Diavel models in 65 countries.

[Duck-Stew]

Ok, for the NEW forum...

go here:

www.ducaudimonsterforum.org





(I'm just kidding...)

[Slide Panda]

Lookin' official. Other places are reporting on the details of the deal. Official announcement is set for tomorrow though.

Hmmm, Germans and the Italians again. hmmm

[BMiller]

Ok, for the NEW forum...

go here:

www.ducaudimonsterforum.org





(I'm just kidding...)

 

[Speeddog]

Reuters says it's a done deal for $1.12 BB.

http://www.superbikeplanet.com/2012/Apr/120417a17.htm

http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/04/17/audi-ducati-idUSL6E8FHBIT20120417

[ducatiz]

wow, and now my VW Golf with my Ducati stickers doesn't looks so bad...