Audi Set To Buy Ducati For $1.1 Billion
Automotive News reports VW board will approve deal on Wednesday 4/18/2012

Audi is poised to purchase Italian motorcycle maker Ducati from owner Investindustrial for about 860 million euros ($1.1 billion), a person familiar with the matter said.

Audi has reached an agreement with Investindustrial to buy the maker of luxury motorbikes, with VW's supervisory board set to approve the deal on Wednesday, said the person, who declined to be identified discussing the private negotiations.

Audi and Investindustrial declined to comment. At that price the deal, minus debt, would value Ducati at about seven times last year's earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization.

Ducati's total liabilities are less than 200 million euros, buyout firm Investindustrial said last month.

Volkswagen Chairman Ferdinand Piech, who turned 75 today, has long coveted the brand, publicly expressing interest in buying Ducati in April 2008 before eventually losing out to Investindustrial.

The purchase will make Ducati the 11th brand in VW's portfolio, alongside super-car marques Lamborghini and Bugatti and heavy-duty truck manufacturers Scania AB and MAN SE.

"Ducati is one of the finest machines you can buy but strategically it's insignificant for Volkswagen," said Christoph Stuermer, a Frankfurt-based analyst with IHS Automotive. "Its revenue is more than Lamborghini's and Bugatti's combined, but to the automotive operations, it's a mere accessory."

Read the full story here: Automotive News

 

Awesome, I think its a great fit. Maybe they can get it back on track (so stoppie will stop bitching)

 

I agree with it being a great fit. Looking forward to this.

 

sounds like a good deal

 

How does a company like Ducati go for 1.1 billion and Instagram go only 100k less?

 

Hmm ducati or instagram..hmm hmm..what would i get

I think i would go ducati...i rather ride a free 1199 than post pictures of someone elses with instagram effects

PS
It would not surprise me if Instagram will end up turning out more cash than ducati though..but i still like things i can actually touch..rather than software..

 

I don't even know what instagram is but I know people on Facebook>people buying ducatis

 

What model is this? There's a red & black one downstairs with Utah plates. I'm in Cali which is what makes that interesting. I've seen it daily for the past two weeks and can't get enough of it.

 

i believe thats a ducati monster

Ducati Monster 1100 ^EVO^ - Ducati

ever since i saw Tron i always wanted a ducati 1000.

 

Still boggles my mind... Instagram has 35M users and zero revenue!
...and valued almost as much as Ducati(?)... zero revenue!

What's even more puzzling is that the initial valuation was 500M and 8 days later it was doubled - are analysts these days clueless? How can a valuation double in 8 days?