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From the PR Newswire:
Ducati Motor Holding Presents its Offer for the Acquisition of the Majority Share of Aprilia
Wednesday July 7, 11:12 am ET
BOLOGNA, Italy, July 7 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Ducati Motor Holding S.p.A. (NYSE: DMH, Borsa Italiana S.p.A: DMH), a leading manufacturer of high performance motorcycles, has presented today an offer for the acquisition of the majority share of the Aprilia Group.
This offer intends to solve the recent financial crisis of Aprilia in order to re-establish its role as a leader, built up over years of hard work and successes in the two-wheel market.
This operation is based on the wish to promote the Italian two-wheel industry consolidation. This new group, first of its kind in Europe, would be able to compete successfully at a global level, thanks to the strengths and peculiarities of each single brand, scale economies and the technological excellence resulting from the combination of each company's competencies.
"Ours is a long-term industrial project," said Federico Minoli, Ducati Chairman and CEO. "We are not financial investors. We are moved by passion and we are dedicated to the success of Italian bikes worldwide. We are conscious that this success depends on respecting and enhancing the different identities of each single brand, each one directly linked with its products, its history and its territory, where manufacturing sites have to be kept. Technological competencies, the real asset of each company, could be better used in an integrated and coherent development plan that avoids duplication, and that concentrates its investment efforts on technology and innovation. All together these companies will have a great market penetration force, in particular abroad, realizing in the meantime important synergies in sales structures and distribution channels, as well as in purchasing and administrative structures. Our Ducati turn-around experience leaves us confident of the possibility of success and conscious of the responsabilities we are assuming versus an industry sector that has always proudly brought the Italian geniality and passion for the two-wheel industry to the world."
Founded in 1926, Ducati builds racing-inspired motorcycles characterized by unique engine features, innovative design, advanced engineering and overall technical excellence. The Company produces motorcycles in five market segments which vary in their technical and design features and intended customers: Superbike, Supersport; Monster, Sport Touring and Multistrada. The Company's motorcycles are sold in more than 60 countries worldwide, with a primary focus in the Western European, Japan and North American markets. Ducati has won twelve of the last fourteen World Superbike Championship titles and more individual victories than the competition put together. For more information about the Company, please visit our web site at
http://www.ducati.com
This press release contains statements that are forward-looking and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated, as described in documents previously filed by the Company with CONSOB and with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
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