Claudio and Giovanni
Castiglioni, through their family holding company have
repurchased from Harley Davidson 100 percent of the
shares of MV Agusta Motor S.p.A. which owns historic
brands MV Agusta and Cagiva. Harley-Davidson, the latest
in a line of owners, announced in October 2009 its
intention to get rid of the loss-making MV Agusta
division to concentrate on its core business and brand.Along with Giovanni
Castiglioni, the company will be headed by Mr. Massimo
Bordi, a well known Italian manager. A 62-year-old
engineer, Bordi took Ducati to success during the years
when that company was owned by the Castiglionis and
continued to manage it successfully under the ownership
of Texas Pacific Group.
Since 2003 Massimo
Bordi has been the CEO of Same Deutz Fahr, contributing
largely to the running of the company. Massimo Bordi
commented that "MV Agusta has full capacity to once
again become a major player in the high luxury brand
motor bikes, this brand is one of the most recognized
worldwide. We will implement a number of reorganization
and managerial actions in the near future. Both the
current and new models under development have a very
strong character, great innovative features and a very
unique design, I have no doubts about their future
success."
In connection with the
repurchase transaction Lazard and Co. have acted as the
financial advisor along with counsel Alessandro Varrenti
(CBA) and Giuseppe Galeano whom provided legal and tax
assistance in conjunction with family counsellors
Giuseppe Carteni (Leadlaw), Andrea Lanata and Sergio
Caramella.
Claudio Castiglioni
will continue as chairman, and will concentrate on the
development of the new products. Upon signing the
agreement with Harley-Davidson, Claudio Castiglioni
stated "MV Agusta is the crown jewel of Italian
motorcycles, I am thrilled to have completed this
transaction. I have already won once together with
Massimo Bordi, we made the most beautiful bikes in the
world and we will continue with this tradition."
