The latest reports concerning stage one bids received by Volkswagen by the appointed July date for Ducati did not, after all, include Harley. Yay, hurrah for our side! It is thought that by the time the reports emerged connecting Harley with seeking bid advice from Goldman Sachs, the executive suite at Juneau Avenue had already cooled on the idea, as the full gravitas of their way worse than expected second quarter results dawned on them.
On the other hand, several bids were received by VAG advisor Evercore – motorcycle related and investor-led bids. As a second stage of bidding is set to get underway, the Italian Benetton family and India’s giant (and KTM partner) Bajaj Auto are thought to be in the holeshot.
However, their 47.96% ownership stake in KTM, recently announced plans to work with KTM brand Husqvarna to take the venerable off-roaders global and their Ducati ambitions haven’t stopped Bajaj Auto CEO Rajiv Bajaj from continuing to get creative where finding ways to spending the conglomerate’s $13 bn cash reserve are concerned. On August 8, they announced a non-equity tie-up with British manufacturer Triumph to offer a range of mid-capacity motorcycles in emerging markets.
AMD is pleased to note that former World Championship competitor Athena “Chickie” Ransom has re-opened her Vagabond Choppers emporium at Pompano Beach, Florida, after a torrid few years.
Harley was in 6th spot in market share terms in Germany for the first half of 2017 (6.8%), selling 5,975 units there – down by some -20% on the 7,488 units it sold in Germany in the first six months of 2016 for a 7.48% market share. Its top sellers so far this year are the XL 1200X (673 units), Dyna Street Bob (654 units) and the Breakout (652 units).
Making their debut at AIMExpo last week, Blud Lubricants of Skippack, Pa., is a division of American Synthol (Medina, Ohio) who introduced its HawgBlud V-twin formulated performance engine oil.