Possible sale of Ducati / MV Agusta

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Nuts @ Nov 30 2009, 11:42 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Have just returned from Italy, and was talking to some well connected people about Ducati.
I have been told there are negotiations underway in two different directions, that could effect MotoGP / WSBK; (second hand details only, but sounds plausable)

VW have been negotiating to buy up to 50% of Ducati and it seems likely this sale may proceed.
Previously the Fiat Group were also negotiating to buy in to Ducati, however the existing owners tried to cap the sale to Fiat at not more than 20%. On that basis Fiat did not proceed. However, on the basis Ducati could potentially sell 50%, Fiat have again started negotiating with Ducati to take over up to 50% of the company.
Fiat own 56% of Ferrari, and would provide a close direct link between Ducati and Ferrari. With the existing link between Rossi and Fiat / Ferrari, could that be the link for Rossi to go to Ducati in 2011.

Fiat have also been negotiating to take over 100% MV Agusta and Cagiva from Harley Davison with plans for big investment in the company to increase world sales.
Could this mean Agusta returning to MotoGP or WSBK, and could Rossi be tempted to front a new MotoGP program with MV Agusta (and follow the footsteps of Ago).

If Fiat does buy into Ducati or Agusta, would that be the end of sponsorship of the Yamaha factory

team.
Fiat are effectively paying Rossi now, so surely they would have a big influence on where he goes.

very intriguing
I believe it could go either way, depending on dorna and the rule changes for 2011, the link to Ferrari could also mean four wheels......mv more likely to be wsbk and then vr would get to choose between that or the duck, I still doubt that vr will ride for ducati in motogp ever

Lots of ifs. But the best if would be Rossi to Ducati. How long before we see Hayden near top 5 before that Red machine gets too tempting for Rossi? That would be something to see.

Ya think MV will storm on to GP like no other?!!! COme on you crazy italians! THis dose swound do able for Fiat and Ducati merging though, so maybe we will see Vale on a Duck.

I don"t even think MV will hit SBK before Valentino retires, and if it dose while #46 inters superbike, Vale better be on the Aprilia.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Traverser @ Nov 30 2009, 10:13 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Ya think MV will storm on to GP like no other?!!! COme on you crazy italians! THis dose swound do able for Fiat and Ducati merging though, so maybe we will see Vale on a Duck.

I don"t even think MV will hit SBK before Valentino retires, and if it dose while #46 inters superbike, Vale better be on the Aprilia.
First of all MV Agusta which I do love and appriciate hasn't done a dang thing racing wise of any real significance. They did try in the US with FBF but they sucked to say the least. If they do race they will be in SBK somewhere. As for GP that is NOT going to happen due to the fact that they just don't have the resources. I mean they are up for sale after just being bought, damage control is the main deal here.

As for Ducati the VW thing has been in talks for a long time even since the Texas Pacific group sold their shares. So with the resounding success that was the 1098 selling out everyone in the first year they bounced back a bit and are looking very good. THey are currently developing new bikes and releasing new machines so I think they are doing very well so far by themselves. If VW does decide to buyt them or even Fiat it will be intresting to see what happens. I just don't see them being sold anytime soon. So all rumour.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (ROCKGOD01 @ Nov 30 2009, 02:41 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>First of all MV Agusta which I do love and appriciate hasn't done a dang thing racing wise of any real significance. They did try in the US with FBF but they sucked to say the least. If they do race they will be in SBK somewhere. As for GP that is NOT going to happen due to the fact that they just don't have the resources. I mean they are up for sale after just being bought, damage control is the main deal here.

As for Ducati the VW thing has been in talks for a long time even since the Texas Pacific group sold their shares. So with the resounding success that was the 1098 selling out everyone in the first year they bounced back a bit and are looking very good. THey are currently developing new bikes and releasing new machines so I think they are doing very well so far by themselves. If VW does decide to buyt them or even Fiat it will be intresting to see what happens. I just don't see them being sold anytime soon. So all rumour.

Whoever buys MV Agusta is going to have to race the brand b/c it can't survive on Massimo Tamburini alone. They've got to continue their racing legacy.

As far as Ducati is concerned, they were just sold and they did a massive equity offering to the debtors they couldn't afford to pay off. As you point out, Ducati have got strong sales and the product line, but Ducati have never had the profitability. Last year they did 403M euros and they only turned a profit of 32M euros. That is abysmal. Not only is it a tiny net profit margin for a small company (normally require large profit margins) it is a god-awful return on assets and return on equity. I guess you have to put it in context though. A meager net profit was one of their best year's in quite a while, and it did come during a recession.

A lot of creditors took equity during the restructuring program, I think they are eager to sell their stake. I think the company will be sold if the money is right.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (mylexicon @ Dec 1 2009, 01:01 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Whoever buys MV Agusta is going to have to race the brand b/c it can't survive on Massimo Tamburini alone. They've got to continue their racing legacy.

As far as Ducati is concerned, they were just sold and they did a massive equity offering to the debtors they couldn't afford to pay off. As you point out, Ducati have got strong sales and the product line, but Ducati have never had the profitability. Last year they did 403M euros and they only turned a profit of 32M euros. That is abysmal. Not only is it a tiny net profit margin for a small company (normally require large profit margins) it is a god-awful return on assets and return on equity. I guess you have to put it in context though. A meager net profit was one of their best year's in quite a while, and it did come during a recession.

A lot of creditors took equity during the restructuring program, I think they are eager to sell their stake. I think the company will be sold if the money is right.
http://www.motorcycle.com/news/mv-agusta-s...eeds-88968.html
Massimo is done dude, retired, so he isn't going to be making any more bikes at least for MV anytime soon.
And yes for the right price anything will be sold.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (ROCKGOD01 @ Dec 1 2009, 04:07 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>http://www.motorcycle.com/news/mv-agusta-s...eeds-88968.html
Massimo is done dude, retired, so he isn't going to be making any more bikes at least for MV anytime soon.
And yes for the right price anything will be sold.

I know Massimo is done. I was speaking about the F4 which as been their flagship since 1998. They can't keep relying on that bike forever.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (mylexicon @ Dec 1 2009, 05:49 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>I know Massimo is done. I was speaking about the F4 which as been their flagship since 1998. They can't keep relying on that bike forever.

Why not? Harley Davidson has done it!

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (mylexicon @ Dec 2 2009, 01:49 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>I know Massimo is done. I was speaking about the F4 which as been their flagship since 1998. They can't keep relying on that bike forever.
Ok well you know they just made a debut of the new F4 right? It was all messed up from what the original design was previously. I am so disappointed in mv putting that mess out with the square organ pipes instead of the round ones. LOL uuuuuugggly. The front of the bie is awful now as well with the intakes drooping the way they do. Shame. But you are right they cannot rely on the same bike in a way. But on the other hand look at porshe and the 911. So maybe they can, just maybe.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (ROCKGOD01 @ Dec 2 2009, 05:28 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Ok well you know they just made a debut of the new F4 right? It was all messed up from what the original design was previously. I am so disappointed in mv putting that mess out with the square organ pipes instead of the round ones. LOL uuuuuugggly. The front of the bie is awful now as well with the intakes drooping the way they do. Shame. But you are right they cannot rely on the same bike in a way. But on the other hand look at porshe and the 911. So maybe they can, just maybe.

No. I didn't know they had a new F4 out.

Edit: I just took a look. It's hideous. Maybe they should rely on Tamburini and keep the F4 going while making only minor styling updates.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (mylexicon @ Dec 3 2009, 02:42 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>No. I didn't know they had a new F4 out.

Edit: I just took a look. It's hideous. Maybe they should rely on Tamburini and keep the F4 going while making only minor styling updates.
Yes it is awful. I cannot believe they actually approved that design.

I think the "new" MV is basically the same MV with square pipes, not any better not any worse cause it's almost the same desing, at least performance wise they have improved.

Gotta agree that 848/1098/1198 is the best looking, of course things are made being simpler with Yamaha and Honda turning their nice looking sbks into horrible monsters taken from a manga comic.
Kawasaki and Aprilia also making their bikes uglier and KTM and BMW making their sbks just a little too weird.
GSXR is nice IMO, they improved, but it looks so ordinary compared to Ducati.

BTW I'm no Ducatisti, I think most of their model are f ugly and the 999 made me want to tear my eyes off.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Teomolca @ Dec 4 2009, 10:30 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>I think the "new" MV is basically the same MV with square pipes, not any better not any worse cause it's almost the same desing, at least performance wise they have improved.

Gotta agree that 848/1098/1198 is the best looking, of course things are made being simpler with Yamaha and Honda turning their nice looking sbks into horrible monsters taken from a manga comic.
Kawasaki and Aprilia also making their bikes uglier and KTM and BMW making their sbks just a little too weird.
GSXR is nice IMO, they improved, but it looks so ordinary compared to Ducati.

BTW I'm no Ducatisti, I think most of their model are f ugly and the 999 made me want to tear my eyes off.
Well I am a Ducatisti and I like the 999 for what it is, a champion. Plus the Mv if youy look at the front it has morphed a bit. The whole bike looks cheap compared to the original.