Audi to buy Ducati?

[Wretched]

Audi Said in Talks to Buy Italian Luxury Motorcycle Maker Ducati
By Chad Thomas - Mar 12, 2012

Audi AG (NSU) is in talks to buy Ducati Motor Holding SpA (DMH), the maker of luxury motorbikes ridden by celebrities such as Brad Pitt, from owner Investindustrial SpA, according to two people familiar with the matter.

Audi, which has the right of first refusal on a purchase until mid-April, is considering a total price of about 850 million euros ($1.12 billion) for the Italian company, which would include assuming some 800 million euros in liabilities, said one of the people, who declined to be identified discussing private negotiations.

Volkswagen AG (VOW) Chairman Ferdinand Piech first publicly expressed interest in buying Ducati in April 2008, eventually losing out to current owner Investindustrial. Purchasing Ducati would add a motorcycle maker to VW’s nine brands, which include the Audi, Skoda and Lamborghini auto marques as well as heavy truckmakers Scania AB and MAN SE. Ducati would complement Audi’s luxury-car lineup with products such as the $28,000 Superbike 1199 Panigale S Tricolore.

“You really have to push the envelope to see obvious benefits for a car company to own a motorcycle business,” said Erich Hauser, a London-based analyst at Credit Suisse Group AG. One could be forgiven for seeing this as “just another attempt by VW in empire building,” he said.

Investindustrial, a Milan-based private equity company, may hold an initial public offering of Ducati in Hong Kong this year or sell it to a rival, two people familiar with the plans said last month. Ducati was delisted from the Milan exchange in 2008.
Ducati Interest

Audi must still do due diligence on the potential deal, the people said. Christine Ritz, head of VW investor relations, said the carmaker doesn’t comment on market speculation. A spokesman for Investindustrial declined to comment on the matter when contacted by Bloomberg.

Hero MotoCorp Ltd. (HMCL), India’s biggest motorcycle maker, said March 5 that Ducati is one of the assets it’s examining as it looks for acquisitions to expand overseas. Bayerische Motoren Werke AG (BMW), which already makes motorcycles under the BMW brand, said last month it’s not interested in Ducati.

Volkswagen Chief Executive Officer Martin Winterkorn said yesterday at the carmaker’s annual meeting that he keeps his eyes open to what’s for sale on the market, when asked about whether VW was interested in buying Ducati.

U.K. automotive magazine CAR first reported the discussions between Audi and Ducati.

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-0...er-ducati.html

It seems VAG are wanting to build an empire to take over the world. Goodluck to them

[Polyal]

Has Audi helped Lamborghini? Perhaps its more profitable, and there cars are hardly boring, but they are very safe, very Audi. To me Audi is the Euro equivalent of Toyota.

Great cars lacking soul.

Im not saying Lambo's are boring, far from it, and they do usually bring out 2WD version off all their cars so thats ok. Of course I have little to base that on other than a feeling. But my point is that if such a deal was to go ahead then hopefully the culture of the brand is kept intact.

[csv8]

BMW builds bikes.. competition if Audi buy Ducati!!! Honda, Suzuki also build cars and bikes...it will be interesting to see how this goes...

[wrongwaynorris]

Italian passion will dissapear German teutonic efficiency will take over . Within a decade Ducati will be soleless.

[stevanford]

Originally Posted by wrongwaynorris

Italian passion will dissapear German teutonic efficiency will take over . Within a decade Ducati will be soleless.

They said the same thing about Lamborghini...

[MethodX]

Originally Posted by stevanford

They said the same thing about Lamborghini...

And it happened, Lambo are now the fanboy special with cars that all look the same.
I pray this doesnt happen, Italy needs to keep its own.

[Till_Lind]

Originally Posted by Polyal

Has Audi helped Lamborghini? Perhaps its more profitable, and there cars are hardly boring, but they are very safe, very Audi. To me Audi is the Euro equivalent of Toyota.

Great cars lacking soul.

Im not saying Lambo's are boring, far from it, and they do usually bring out 2WD version off all their cars so thats ok. Of course I have little to base that on other than a feeling. But my point is that if such a deal was to go ahead then hopefully the culture of the brand is kept intact.

To me I feel VW is the German Toyota, but with heaps better interiors to be sure.

[Brazen]

What the article doesn't say is that Piech is a big Ducatti nut and actually owns a couple. I'm sure he will push for this acquisition.

[dimka100]

Why not look at yamaha instead? they actually make better engines and have the experience building a number of car engines or some aspects of them (e.g. heads)

[SteveJH]

Originally Posted by dimka100

Why not look at yamaha instead? they actually make better engines and have the experience building a number of car engines or some aspects of them (e.g. heads)

Because Yamaha isnt European?

Yamaha is also a MUCH larger company than Ducati.

[GK]

Originally Posted by csv8

BMW builds bikes.. competition if Audi buy Ducati!!! Honda, Suzuki also build cars and bikes...it will be interesting to see how this goes...

I see your logic, if BMW can do it, why not Audi?

Originally Posted by MethodX

I pray this doesnt happen, Italy needs to keep its own.

I tend to agree with you, but which Italian companies have that kind of cash?

Originally Posted by wrongwaynorris

Italian passion will dissapear German teutonic efficiency will take over . Within a decade Ducati will be soleless.

Perhaps! Which is why you need to buy a Ducati now. LOL! I actually own a 2001 Monster 900S i.e. Awesome fun!

Originally Posted by Brazen

What the article doesn't say is that Piech is a big Ducatti nut and actually owns a couple. I'm sure he will push for this acquisition.

So let's say the acquisition goes through. Would Piech would be hard pressed to ensure that the soul of Ducati over time stays intact?

OR

Perhaps he's just the kind of Ducati nut to ensure that the acquisition takes place, but with Ducati having total control over the design process etc.

Interesting times ahead.

GK