Audi Poised to Acquire Ducati?

Volkswagen AG's Audi unit plans to announce next week that it will buy Ducati Motor Holding SpA from the U.K.'s Investorindustrial, according Reuters and Italy's Il Corriere della Sera, which cite unidentified sources.

Reuters reports that Audi has completed its due diligence examination of the motorcycle maker without discovering any problems. The news service says Deutsche Bank, Goldman Sachs and Turin-based bank Intesa Sanpaolo are advising Investorindustrial on the sale.

Other news reports say Audi could pay as much as €840 million for Ducati, including the assumption of about €650 million of debt.

Britain's Car magazine reported last month that Audi has exclusive rights to bid for Ducati until April 15. After that date, it said, Investindustrial would be free to talk to other potential buyers.

Ducati would expand VW's brand portfolio to 11, a number that Chairman Ferdinand Piech has called ideal.