Audi to Acquire Motorcycle Maker Ducati

Volkswagen's Audi unit says it has agreed to buy Italian motorcycle maker Ducati Motor Holding SpA from owner Investindustrial for an undisclosed price.

News reports say Audi will pay €860 million ($1.1 billion), including the assumption of debt, for the Bologna-based company, which specializes in premium performance bikes. Audi says it aims to complete the deal as soon as possible, pending regulatory approvals.

Audi says Ducati's expertise in high-performance engines and lightweight construction makes the brand an "excellent fit" for its own brand and the rest of the VW Group. Skeptical analysts say there is little synergy between Ducati and the group's 10 car and commercial truck brands.

Completion of the Porsche acquisition will expand VW's brand portfolio to 12, a number Chairman Ferdinand Piech has called ideal. He has engineered a flurry of acquisitions, including truckmakers Scania AG and MAN SE, at a time when many competitors are shedding brands to simplify operations.

Last year Ducati sold 42,000 motorcycles built at its factories in Bologna and Thailand and generated revenue of €480 million ($627 million).