If you sell anything, a house, a car, a company, you always appreciate a good bidding war. Rivals Audi and Daimler could be in such a bidding war, if Italy’s Corriere della Sera is correctly informed. They are feuding over a troubled maker of motor cycles, Ducati.
The Corriere says that Daimler may be interested in buying Italian motorcycle maker Ducati. The motorcycle maker has been on the dance card of Audi, which wants to expand the multibrand collection of Volkswagen.
Less than a week ago, Corriere della Sera had reported that the negotiations between Audi and Ducati are “in the home stretch,” that Volkswagen wants to pay €750 million ($1 billion) and that the deal is one step away from being signed.
According to Reuters, rumor has it that the price for Ducati already has crept up to around €870 million ($1.16 billion). Daimler had a loose marketing agreement with Ducati, and an old beau is always good for inflaming jealousy in a new suitor.
PS: Daimler denied having any interest in adding Ducati to its stable. “We have no interest in a takeover of Ducati,” a spokesman for Daimler told Reuters.
Godwin’s law: As an online discussion grows longer, the probability of a comparison involving Nazis or Hitler approaches 1.
Since this is where the thread will end up, I’ll get it out of the way now.
Ha! Looks like the Germans have managed to take over Europe with their money after failing to have achieved the goal with their bullets.
Now you will sing.
Deutschland, Deutschland über alles….
skor, Fortunately the Germany of today is not the Germany of the past.
http://www.veoh.com/watch/v18874565nT2pwNE8?h1=Top+Gear+VW+Scirocco+Polish+Ad
hehehehe
If by getting Ducati Piëch finds that he no longer needs Alfa Romeo, then I don’t mind.
I see BMW isn’t interested.
My understanding of the situation is that Ducati is actually in pretty good shape, and that the current shareholders are simply trying to cash out on a high note.