INTERVIEW
MV AGUSTA'S GIOVANNI CASTIGLIONI
P76
way or the other in sales and
marketing, of putting two presti-
gious brands in different but re-
lated sectors next to each other
in certain key markets as part of
a joint strategy. But then as we
intensified discussions about
possible co-operation in sales
and marketing, we both came
to understand that for this to suc-
ceed, you need to be married to
each other. So we decided that
Mercedes-AMG should acquire
a 25 percent interest in MV
Agusta and we have also signed
a long-term sales and marketing
cooperation agreement.
So that's how it all came
about, and for me personally
it's a cause for satisfaction that I
should be the one who brought
Mercedes-Benz to the world of
company with a healthy balance
sheet and a strong future, that
they should pay good money to
acquire a minority stake in MV.
And of course I'm very happy
about this and I believe I can
demonstrate to them that their
decision was a correct one, and
their investment wise.
MV Agusta and Mercedes-
AMG are a perfect brand fit.
They're two complementary
companies that stand for good
design, high performance and
sporting excellence. Mercedes-
AMG will help MV Agusta to
further expand globally and to
accelerate our growth to our
chosen ceiling through our
strategic partnership with each
other. And I believe, as do they,
that the unique qualities of MV
(Left) Cluzel and Giovanni on top
of the World Supersport podium at
Misano. (Right) Giovanni with his
late father Claudio Castiglioni.
two wheels for the first time ever
in their long and glorious history.
On the other hand, it's also an
honor for me to have Mercedes-
AMG as my partner, my married
partner in business, even as a
minority 25 percent shareholder
in MV Agusta. It doesn't often
happen that an industrial giant
buys a minority stake in a family-
owned business, but that's what
has happened here. And this is
good for Italy. And good for our
company.
It's an important implied
compliment that they consider
us to be a sufficiently well-run
