Ducati For Sale ... Again?

[Mad4TheCrest]

A blurb in Soup claimed that Investindustrial, the Italian group that's owned Ducati since 2005, may be looking to sell for a price of a billion euros. The article says that would be a 3X profit.

I guess things ARE getting bad in Italy if Invest needs cash that badly.

BTW Ducatis sales were up 42 percent in the US, but down by 23 percent in Italy. 8 of 10 Ducatis are sold outside the home market.

Rumors are the group is looking to sell to a car firm, with BMW on the list. How would that work?

Here's the Soup blurb: http://www.superbikeplanet.com/2012/Feb/120213duc2.htm

[oldironnow]

Good time to sell while it's worth something.

But please not to a cage company.

[Mad4TheCrest]

Originally Posted by oldironnow

Good time to sell while it's worth something.

But please not to a cage company.

Can you imagine the horror? I own a VW, but the last thing I'd want to see is Ducati owned by VW (which is one of the rumored suitors).

Maybe Harley-Davidson should take another crack at an Italian bike company? That way I could avoid being ignored at two dealerships and combine my ignominy into just a single visit.

[Buelligan]

Originally Posted by Mad4TheCrest

Can you imagine the horror? I own a VW, but the last thing I'd want to see is Ducati owned by VW (which is one of the rumored suitors).

Maybe Harley-Davidson should take another crack at an Italian bike company? That way I could avoid being ignored at two dealerships and combine my ignominy into just a single visit.

I don't think it's such a terrible idea for Ducati to have access to greater technical support and money from a giant corporation. Surely any concern that would buy Ducati would not sully their reputation as a sporting bike maker.

I don't think Harley would do them justice. They have their niche and they're good at it. I doubt after their affair with MV, they'd be looking to get into that market again,

But they don't ask me, so who knows.

[Monkeyshines]

a billion euros? 1.3 billion USD ??
Pretty rich for anyone but a Volkswagen megaglomerate.

an easy prediction is that Harley's not buying any motorcycle companies as long as Wandell is in charge.

[oldironnow]

You're all right.

What does the large auto buyer get out of a Ducati deal? Cash flow?

[HapCall]

Originally Posted by Mad4TheCrest

Maybe Harley-Davidson should take another crack at an Italian bike company? That way I could avoid being ignored at two dealerships and combine my ignominy into just a single visit.

That's funny!

Hap

[Dan43]

How many bikes does Ducati build every year?

[Monkeyshines]

well....Kellogs just paid $2.7 billion for Pringles Potato Chips....

[fatfatboy]

Originally Posted by Monkeyshines

well....Kellogs just paid $2.7 billion for Pringles Potato Chips....

I bet the chips pay a higher return than the pasta bike.