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VOL. 53 ISSUE 22 JUNE 7, 2016 P111 had put my own resources into the company, I spoke to Mer- cedes about their investing in the company by purchasing a majority stake in MV, leaving me to go down into a minority. We discussed everything, but there was no interest from them. They didn't want to invest, so I will take it on myself and restructure the company. The only thing to protect the MV workforce, sup- pliers, dealers and customers was to ask for a concordato in continuita, which means you freeze your current financial exposure for 120 days, which takes us to the end of July. This was given to us by the courts in order to submit an industrial plan, which includes a restruc- turing plan for the company, and a restructuring plan for the debt. It's something done by banks and companies all the time. We are not the first one, and we won't be the last. What is the sum total of the debt MV Agusta has with its suppliers? 50 million Euro. So you plan to restructure the payments for this in order to be able to continue manu- facturing? No, we are continuing anyhow to build bikes now, because the process is aimed at preserving continuity by making us a cash- positive company. So you have to pay cash for new parts from suppliers? That depends from supplier to supplier, but our company is receiving cash from our past invoices to dealers and distribu- tors, so we are able to pay cash to our suppliers to produce the bikes. And then in search of a long-term solution to the prob- lem, I also started discussions with new potential investors who in discussions with them about some form of partnership, just as with other companies interested in investing in the commercially successful premium brand that is MV Agusta. 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. Are you prepared to reduce your equity in MV Agusta to less than 51 percent? Obvi- ously you want to retain a majority shareholding, but will you offer anyone interested the chance to purchase a controlling interest? Yes, for sure, if necessary to save the company. As I said, I am discussing with several new potential investors to buy equity in the company and inject cash into it. The more cash I can bring to the table, the better it is for the company, and the sooner I can exit the concordato. What happens to the 25 percent of equity owned by Mercedes-Benz, which is es- sentially non-performing? It's better to be alone in a company than to be with a very rich partner who is so disen- gaged from the company's day-to-day operation that it won't invest in it to help maintain stabil- ity, and help it grow further. I started a discussion with Mer- cedes to re-acquire my com- pany's shares, since for them it's not a strategic investment, and I need a partner who is prepared to be involved in the operation "IN SEPTEMBER LAST YEAR I CLEARED OUT THE MANAGEMENT GUYS. I SAID, I DON'T NEED ANY OF THEM, I'LL RUN THE COMPANY BY MYSELF. AND I AM." are interested in working along- side me on the future develop- ment of MV Agusta. It's been rumored in the Italian press that you're close to agreeing a deal with Polaris for them to acquire a majority of MV Agusta equity, possibly leaving you still in charge of running the com- pany for them. Can you com- ment on that? I can confirm that we've been