Investindustrial pours water on Ducati sale speculation

Susannah Birkwood
15 August 2011

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Investindustrial has poured water on speculation that it is planning to float Italian motorcycle business Ducati in Hong Kong next year.

According to spokesman Carl Nauckhoff, Investindustrial is "not selling the company" and the rumoured £875m price tag is purely "speculation" at this point.

Investindustrial's acquisition of Bond Aviation in a deal valued at €300m in 2010 and last week's sale of engineering business Permasteelisa for a 3x return represent the firm's biggest recent successes.

"We are progressing very well with the turnaround of Ducati and are successfully launching the most exciting motorcycles in the industry," added Nauckhoff. The company is currently on its way to a £79m profit, with bike sales growing by 50% last year to 8,000. This is expected to increase to 120,000 sold in the next five years.

Investindustrial, BS Investimenti and the Hospitals of Ontario Pension Plan acquired nearly 85% of Ducati in February 2008. The deal valued the business at around €570m.