Imprimer

[obi]

Ducati Motor Holding, the listed Italian motorcycle manufacturer, would consider a merger with US-based Harley-Davidson “anytime”, said Enrico D’Onofrio, CFO.

A merger with Harley-Davidson would be “totally complementary”, he said, responding to speculation in the market that the two firms had been in talks. And while he declined to comment on the speculation, he did say that the two companies are similar in that they create recreational bikes that consumers fantasize about. “People want to buy a dream.” Harley-Davidson has an older consumer profile, with an average age of 55, while Ducati owners are about 35, on average. Half of all Ducati owners in the US also own a Harley, D’Onofrio added.

A potential combination with the US company could also help Ducati with procurement, as Harley is a larger company that is able to get better quality products at lower prices. A marriage would also increase distribution opportunities for Ducati, which is a relatively small manufacturer. “In the US, we do not have critical mass,” D’Onofrio said. “In this market, you must.”

D’Onofrio said Harley could also stand to benefit, as it could be interested in expanding internationally. “The US market is flattening,” D’Onofrio said.

Asked if Harley-Davidson has ever visited Ducati’s factory in Bologna, the executive said: “Yes, we are good friends.” He said Harley visited as recently as two months ago.

Still, D’Onofrio acknowledged that some at the top of the company believe a combination with another company could dilute the Ducati brand, which dates back to the 1920s. But D’Onofrio said it is his opinion that the company could maintain its strong brand identity, even in the case of a strategic buyout.

Ducati faced difficult times in 2005 and 2006, but now has a new shareholder and is focused on reducing fixed costs and increasing margins. The company has decided to limit the number of its entry bikes, and focus on its higher-end and higher-margin motorcycles, D’Onofrio said.

Texas Pacific Group sold its 30% minus one share stake in Ducati in March 2006, after holding it from 1996, to Investindustrial, an Italian private equity firm. The company has also changed its R&D structure, focusing more on racing, and has brought in a former Toyota executive to oversee quality, D’Onofrio said.

The executive estimates that Ducati will be ready to consider a “marriage” in about one- to- three years, or once it meets its goals promised to shareholders. D’Onofrio said Ducati aims to reach EBITDA of greater than 14% and to sell 50,000 bikes per year by the end of 2008. The company is currently at about 15% EBITDA, and sold 32,000 bikes in 2006.

Also as a result of its restructuring, Ducati has reduced its debt to about 30%, and could therefore also consider acquisitions, D’Onofrio said. Ducati once considered a purchase of Moto Guzzi, which has since been acquired by Piaggio. Husqvarna could also be a potential fit, but is likely to be acquired by BMW, and is therefore not really on the market, D’Onofrio said.

He also downplayed the likelihood of another private equity buyout, explaining that after the involvement of TPG and Investindustrial, Ducati now needs to focus on its strategic outlook. “I truly think we need to find an industrial alliance,” he said.

“It’s clear the market is consolidating. The Japanese own more than 80% of the market,” D’Onofrio noted. He cited speculation regarding a Piaggio and Harley-Davidson tie-up, as well as a Piaggio and Ducati combination, which he said could both be logical scenarios. But for Ducati, D’Onofrio said: “If you ask me, the best scenario is Harley.”

Ducati has longstanding relationships with both Unicredit and Mediobanca, but D’Onofrio said Mediobanca knows the company best. Ducati is not seeking advisors in the US, but has worked with Merrill Lynch and Morgan Stanley in the past for private placements.

The US and Italy each generate about 25% of Ducati sales, while Germany, UK, France, Japan and the rest of the world bring in 10% each, D’Onofrio said. Investindustrial, BS Investimenti and HOPP together own about 30% of Ducati.

Ducati trades at approximately 10x EBITDA and has a market capitalization of EUR 476m (USD 640m).

Alors vous me direz, ça parle pas aprilia, bah l'air de rien, y a quand même une hypothèse de rachat par piaggio. Au moins ça resterait italien. (dommage pour le SAV par contre...)

[loran]

tu me fais une traduction et apres on verra!! :plol

[obi]

Ah  :green1
http://moto.caradisiac.com/Vers-une-fusion-entre-Ducati-et-Harley-Davidson-839

[loran]

ouai c'est la mode en ce moment les rachats!!
heureusement qu'ils sont complementairent! les Ducatistes vont gueuler  :plol
merci pour Obi pour le lien!

[yugmoto]

Dans les années 70 harley avait racheté aermachi , y'avait une écurie de course avec W Villa et M Rougerie . Du coup y'avait des 125 Harley 2 temps des 250 etc ... Ca n'a pas duré très longtemps à cette époque harley était au creux de la vague personne n'en voulait . Il s'en est suivi une moitié de faillite avec des rachats plus ou moins réussis . Faut avouer qu'il ont bien relevé l'affaire depuis .  :v

[Falco]

Sorry guys but çà ne parle pas de rachat de Ducati...

Ducati souhaiterait une fusion avec HD pour bénéficier du réseau HD et vendre plus aux US.
HD bénéficierait de l'image Ducati en Europe pour s'étendre (marché stabilisé aux US).
De plus, la clientèle est, selon eux, la même pour 50% des propriétaires américains de Harley. Seuls l'âge moyen diffère pour les autres.
Le but est de vendre des Ducati entrée de gamme aux jeunes motards, haut de gamme quand ils ont plus de pouvoir d'achat et de les garder après 45 ans sur des Harley.

En fait, les actionnaires des deux sociétés sont voisins-amis-cousins-frères-identiques (choisissez le terme qui vous convient !  :-d ) et veulent plus de rentabilité et de chiffre d'affaire... surtout qu'ils viennent de racheter des parts récemment et que celui qui leur a remis Ducati en selle par exemple a vendu cher.

Les gentilles entreprises historiques ne les intéressent pas, ils n'ont pas dépensé des milliards sans savoir ce qu'ils voulaient en retour.

Quant à Piaggio, il a racheté Guzzi auquel Ducati faisait semblant de s'intéresser.

[yugmoto]

Ducati récemment a appartenu à un fond de pension us il me semble , tu as raison les intérets de l'un et l'autre ne sont très éloignés .  :v

[arsouille]

Entirèrement d'accord avec Falco. Pas de fausse spéculations!
Par contre quelqu'un peut-il me dire ce qu'est le EBITDA ?   :?.

[Falco]

EBITDA : Earning Before Interest and Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization...  :-?

Bénéfices avant impôts et amortissements etc...

Une valeur chiffrable de rentabilité d'une entreprise, à la mode chez les sociétés d'audits et le monde des affaires.