Harley haters, now have to hate MV Agusta!

Milwaukee, Wis., July 11, 2008 -- Harley-Davidson, Inc. (NYSE: HOG) today announced the signing of a definitive agreement to purchase the Italian motorcycle maker MV Agusta Group (MVAG). Under the agreement, Harley-Davidson will acquire 100 percent of MV Agusta Group shares for total consideration of approximately 70 million euros ($109 million), which includes the satisfaction of existing bank debt for approximately 45 million euros ($70 million). In addition, the agreement provides for a contingent payment to Claudio Castiglioni in 2016, if certain financial targets are met. MV Agusta Group is privately held, with the Castiglioni family owning 95 percent of MVAG shares.

from superbike planet feed...

 

A couple of weekends ago I rode with a guy on a new Brutale. What an incredible machine - it looked like a piece of jewelery and blasted around the backroads like a racebike. I just hope that this acquisition is a good thing..... :frown:

 

It's a fact, here's Forbes on it: Harley-Davidson acquires Italy's MV Agusta for 70 mln euros UPDATE - Forbes.com

 

So for the cost of about ten thousand VFR's you could have bought the company.... I hope this works out for both parties and we see more road racing participation from the folks in Wisconsin.

 

Consider your sources MD.... Motorcycle News or Nozzle News..

I'm guessing HD is eager to get the story out and some at Agusta are not, but if the dude with the special payout in 2016 is onboard and has control of his family's shares.... It will be more exciting to watch than motoGP this weekend... with Stoner's times on the Ducati.

Here's HD's press release:
http://www.harley-davidson.com/wcm/...ess_release.hdnews&newsYear=2008&history=news

And there's an announcement of the intended purchase on the MV Agusta site..
http://www.mvagusta.com/_vti_g2_1.aspx

I can imagine there are some very very excited Buell employees.

 

WOW! how bout that...maybe there will be more MVs running around after the take over. so far I've only seen 1, and that was in a showroom.
Even though I'm not a Harley fan, I'll still be lusting after the MVs. A shift in ownership won't change that. Hell, I even like Buells!

 

Nozzle News is the most reliable source I now of, c'mon MD!

It is for sure, HOG has already even made their SEC 8K filing on this. (I'm a former financial analyst/stock broker, I look these kind of things up)

 

Noz...not good news for Bubba Zanetti.

Much like RVFR would like a Ducati to make love to (preferabbly a 1098), BZ loves the MV Agusta F4. Even Mrs. Zanetti knows I secretly sneak looks at the MV.

But alas, my love affair may have to be broken with my sweet Italian mistress who probably won't take it hard anyway since she doesn't even know we are together!

Who knows maybe Harley will make the MV's at a price I can afford with realiability to boot!

YEAH RIGHT!

BZ

 

They even started to change their catalogue...


Note the fingerless gloves and all the "cool" content that has been removed...

(this is a joke)

 

How do you say "potato potato potato" in Italian? Next thing you know, Harleys will have under-seat exhaust.

Actually, this is an interesting move. Or as mello dude said, more of a weird move. Why would Harley want to own a semi-boutique Italian motorcycle manufacturer?

 

Looks like Reuters has also published the story. It's a done deal.

 

Harley is jumping at an in-road to the Euro market. I would be surprised to see much more Agustas here in the US or even lower prices. I don't think HDs motives are American Public minded.

 

Good point Drewl. You're probably right. Damn, I was hoping to see some Italian beauties on the road around here . I guess I'll just have to settle for Ducatis.

 

my take is that mv agusta must have ownership of a patent(s)/corporate knowledge, that harley is very interested in obtaining. my guess is that they are buying a technology and not a company......

 

Hopefully MV Agusta do better than China's Huanan company buyout of Sachs where Sachs have since collapsed into a black hole.

 

Looks to me like Harley is doing the exact same thing to MV that AMF did to them, buying something that they know NOTHING about. AMF almost killed Harley. I hope Harley learned something from their near-death experience, so they won't kill MV.

 

maybe mv will be cheaper now! probably not......