India's Bajaj Auto sets sights on Italy's Ducati, UK's Triumph - report
07.16.07, 2:53 AM ET
(Thomson Financial) - Indian two-wheeler major Bajaj Auto Ltd is looking for a big-ticket acquisition in the European motorcycle market to increase its product line-up of high-end bikes, according to industry sources.
The company is targeting two cult bike companies, Italy-based
Ducati Motor Holding (nyse:
DMH -
news -
people ) SpA and Triumph Motorcycles Ltd of the UK, local business daily The Economic Times reported.
Bajaj Auto managing director Rajiv Bajaj refused to comment on the deal, the paper said.
The Indian company has been looking for an acquisition to help boost its engineering and product development expertise in order to crank out cruisers and higher displacement bikes in the 200cc-plus range.
Bajaj has been on record as saying that the company will produce more products to help stock its bike retail channel Probiking and it has taken the view that entry-level four-stroke motorcycles will become defunct as the second-largest bike market in the world moves towards performance, the paper said.
Ducati is a 95.4 mln eur company and all its products are in the 700cc-plus range with the brand having a formidable reputation in the MotoGP series.
Triumph is a 165.0 mln stg company and has cruisers, urban sports bikes and other lifestyle products in its range including apparel and accessories.
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