Latest in the "Ducati up for sale?" story

[Drunken Monkey]

Semi-Derby: http://jalopnik.com/5892457/audi-could-buy-italian-bike-maker-ducati

(I've seen other posts in local club boards, but nothing in General...)

[duccarlos]

Saw this today on MCN:

http://www.motorcyclenews.com/MCN/News/newsresults/General-news/2012/March/mar1212-audi-poised-to-buy-ducati/

[hbliam]

"Ducati chairman Andrea Bonomi has in the past pointed out that he views 'Ducati as the two-wheel equivalent of Audi', a perception Ferdinand Piech would likely agree with."

Seriously? I've heard, "The Ferrari of motorcycles." Never Audi.

[gjsnyc]

Audi Said in Talks to Buy Luxury Italian Motorcycle Maker Ducati
2012-03-12 18:20:15.755 GMT


By Chad Thomas
     March 12 (Bloomberg) -- Audi AG is in talks to buy Ducati Motor Holding SpA, 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.
     Buying Ducati would add a motorcycle maker to VW’s nine- brand empire and include products such as the $28,000 Superbike
1199 Panigale S Tricolore. 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.
     Audi, owned by Volkswagen AG, 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 immediate comment on the matter when contacted by Bloomberg.
     Hero MotoCorp Ltd., 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, which already makes motorcycles under the BMW brand, said last month it’s not interested in Ducati.
     Volkswagen Chief Executive Officer Martin Winterkorn said today 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 reported the discussions between Audi and Ducati earlier today.

[Travman]

"Ducati chairman Andrea Bonomi has in the past pointed out that he views 'Ducati as the two-wheel equivalent of Audi', a perception Ferdinand Piech would likely agree with."

Seriously? I've heard, "The Ferrari of motorcycles." Never Audi.

Maybe that is an example of German humor.  

What does this mean?  "...there is no way Audi will pay telephone numbers for Ducati."  Is that some sort of expression?

[lethe]

Maybe that is an example of German humor.  

What does this mean?  "...there is no way Audi will pay telephone numbers for Ducati."  Is that some sort of expression?

10 digits
so not billions

[ducatiz]

10 digits
so not billions

phone numbers in Europe have 11 and 12 and 14 digits.

[lethe]

phone numbers in Europe have 11 and 12 and 14 digits.

hmmm hexidecimal phones, those tricky bastards!

[Moto Motivo]

Seriously? I've heard, "The Ferrari of motorcycles." Never Audi.

More like, " The Porsche of motorcycles" then.   Much rather Audi than Indian Mahindra!

[jvax]

Much prefer Audi to any other company.

Plus, if Audi acquires Ducati, Ducati will be a sister company with Lamborgini, which could mean a Diavel Aventador 

[NorDog]

I've always like the sound of, "The Ducati of Motorcycles".

[Drunken Monkey]

Ducati: The of motorcycles

[brimo]

Ducati: The of motorcycles

or to turn it on it's head

 : the Ducati of foods.

[10/10ths]

Ducati: The Fiat of Motorcycles------Fix it again, Tony!

[ducatigirl100]

Doe's Audi own Lamborghini now ??  Correct me if I'm wrong, but the chassis of the R8 is base on a Lamborghini