Automotive News is reporting that Audi is set to lay down $1.1 billion to purchase Ducati from the motorcycle manufacturer's current owner, Investindustrial. The news comes courtesy of a source "familiar with the matter," though neither Audi nor Investindustrial have officially commented on whether that price is accurate. As Automotive News points out, the price is around seven times what Ducati earned last year before interest, taxes and depreciation – even after subtracting any debt Ducati holds. Currently, the motorcycle maker's liabilities are less than $262.6 million.
 |
| AUDI ACQUIRES DUCATI |
Most analysts view the purchase as a thinly veiled jab at rival BMW, itself a longtime motorcycle builder. Last year, the Italian firm sold somewhere in the neighborhood of 42,000 bikes with a revenue of $630 million. While that's technically more than either Bugatti or Lamborghini, both Volkswagen brands, adding a motorcycle manufacturer to the VW portfolio probably won't do much for the rest of the company's brands. Longtime industry watchers may remember that VW Chairman Ferdinand Piech tried to purchase Ducati once before in 2008 before loosing out to Investedindustrial.
 | ||
|
(1926–1950) Ducati Family
(1950–1967) Government IRI management
In 1953 split into Ducati Meccanica-now called Ducati Motor and Ducati Elettronica-now called Ducati Energia
(1967–1978) Government EFIM management (control over day-to-day factory operations)
(1967–1973) Headed By Giuseppe Montano
(1973–1978) Headed by Cristiano de Eccher
(1978–1985) VM Group
(1985–1996) Cagiva Group ownership
(1996–2005) Texas-Pacific Group (US-based) ownership and going public
Headed by CEO Federico Minoli, 1996-2001; returning for 2003–2007
(2005–2008) Investindustrial Holdings SpA
(since 2008) Performance Motorcycles SpA
An investment vehicle formed by Investindustrial Holdings, BS Investimenti and Hospitals of Ontario Pension Plan
DUCATI's Current lineup
Ducati Hypermotard
Ducati Desmosedici RR
Ducati 1098 S Tricolore
Monster
696
796
1100 Evo
Multistrada
1200
1200 S
Diavel
Diavel, Cromo, Carbon, and AMG
Superbike
848 Evo
1199 Panigale
Hypermotard
796
1100 Evo
1100 Evo SP
Streetfighter
Streetfighter
Streetfighter
Ducati has produced the following motorcycle engine types:
Single-cylinder,
pullrod actuated, 48 cc and 65 cc (Cucciolo)
pushrod actuated, 98 and 125 cc
two-stroke, 50, 80, 90, 100, 125 cc
bevel actuated, spring valved: 98 cc, 100 cc, 125 cc, 160 cc, 175 cc, 200 cc, 239 cc, 250 cc, 350 cc, 450 cc
bevel actuated, desmodromic valved : 125 cc, 239 cc, 250 cc, 350 cc and 450 cc
belt actuated, desmodromic valved : 549/572 cc Supermono, only 65 made.
Two-cylinder,
bevel actuated, spring valved (V-twin): 750 cc, 860 cc
bevel actuated, desmo valved (V-twin): 750 cc, 860 cc, 973 cc (Mille)
bevel actuated, desmo valved (parallel twin): 125 cc,
chain actuated, spring valved (parallel twin): 350 cc, 500 cc (GTL)
chain actuated, desmo valved (parallel twin): 500 cc (500SD)
belt actuated, desmo valved (V-twin): Almost all motors since 1986.
Four-cylinder,
gear actuated, desmo valved (V4): (Desmosedici)
pushrod actuated, spring valved (V4): Prototype Apollo, only two made.
 | |
|
 | |
|
 | |
|
 | ||
|
 | |
|
 | |
|
 | |
|
 | |
|
 | |
|
 | |
|
 | |
|
 | |
|
 | |
|
![](https://pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=http://greaseandgasoline.blogspot.com/2012/04/ducati-sold-for-11-billion-to-audi.html&media=https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyZ-7cbJxp3VDxLYKOO7YC3tFwFVUCikDh02WL9ZJETx2LT9ng_LIqhlBKmd0NtG7GMLeWgzCT2FR_okcjF-IAUia0tmktlpsQ3ZBhwYN-mU2WyPzDzlmU_vGYDrN1g7Mh09xUr31qvsA/s640/topTeaser_crop_Ein-Ducati-Emblem-in-den-vier-Ringen-eines-Audi-K-hlergrills-Der-Autohersteller-aus-Ingolstadt-interessiert-sich-f-r-den-Luxus-Motorrad-Hersteller-Ducati.-Foto-David-Ebener.jpg&description=Ducati sold For $ 1.1 Billion to Audi -" DUCAUDI "){kind=link}