Ducati: 1 BILLION Euro Price Tag

An Italian business publication is reporting that Ducati may be for sale, and the asking price could be as high as 1 billion Euros ($1.32 billion US).

The Italian national daily business paper Il Sole 24 Ore indicated that Investindustrial Holdings could recoup three times its initial investment in Ducati in 2005 if a sale is completed for 1 billion Euros.

"Ducati is currently holding perfect, but further growth requires a world-class industrial partner," Investindustrial President Andrea Bonomi told the Financial Times. "This year we will work to find that partner."

Potential suitors probably will be involved in the automotive industry. Among those rumored to be interested include German car makers BMW, Mercedes and Volkswagen, and Indian automotive and motorcycle manufacturer Mahindra, which began World Championship competition last season in 125cc and will continue this year in Moto3.

A BMW spokesperson denied that BMW is pondering a purchase of Ducati. Expect denials from other interested parties and Ducati, even while negotiations take place behind closed doors or over Lambrusco-soaked business dinners.

Ducati has been held largely in Italian hands since brothers Adriano, Marcello and Bruno Ducati formed Societa Scientifica Radio Brevetti Ducati in 1926 in Bologna to produce a variety of radio components. But the U.S.-based private equity firm Texas-Pacific Group held majority ownership of Ducati from 1996-2005. Ducati returned to Italian ownership with the purchase of majority ownership by Investindustrial in 2005. 

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