IN
THE
WIND
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CASTIGLIONI CONFIRMS
POLARIS INTEREST IN MV AGUSTA
M
V Agusta's President and
CEO Giovanni Castiglioni
has confirmed to Cycle News
that Polaris, the U.S company
responsible for Victory and
Indian Motorcycles, is in talks
with MV Agusta about acquiring
a majority share in the legendary
Italian brand.
"I can confirm that we've been
in discussions with them [Polar-
is] about some form of partner-
ship, just as with other compa-
nies interested in investing in the
commercially successful pre-
mium brand that is MV Agusta,"
Castiglioni exclusively told Cycle
News European correspondent
Alan Cathcart in an extensive
interview, part one of which is
live in this issue of Cycle News,
on page 84. "But we absolutely
have not made any agreement
with Polaris at this stage, even in
draft form. Beyond that, I can't
comment any further."
The alignment of MV Agusta
and Polaris could be a perfect
marriage for both companies.
Polaris has been on a spending
spree over the last five years,
acquiring not just Indian Motor-
cycles but also electric giant
Brammo. Purchasing a control-
ling share in MV Agusta would
give Polaris a foot in the door of
the sportbike and sport touring
market, both of which Victory
and Indian do not service. The
MV Agusta name would also be
a massive commercial feather in
Polaris' cap.
Castiglioni made the com-
ments to Cathcart at the MV's
Varese headquarters in Italy. He
also noted the partnership with
Mercedes AMG has been noth-
ing short of a disaster.
"Mercedes was interested in
joining up with MV Agusta as a
partner by purchasing equity in
it, but I'm sorry to say the part-
nership has been disastrous, a
total failure. I mean, there is no
partnership to speak of," Cas-
tiglioni said. "They [Mercedes]
made no strategic use of MV.
Zero."
On page 84 of this issue,
Castiglioni reveals the full extent
of MV Agusta's financial and
commercial hardship, and how
he plans to rectify the compa-
ny's ills. CN
Could Polaris and MV Agusta be
about to jump into bed together? It
could go that way, according to MV
President Giovanni Castiglioni.