Publications
Publications
- February 2001 (Revised March 2004)
- HBS Case Collection
Ducati & Texas Pacific Group - A "Wild Ride" Leveraged Buyout
Abstract
Describes the attempt of Texas Pacific Group (TPG), a buyout firm, to purchase a controlling stake in Ducati Motor, the world's leading high-performance motorcycle company, based in Bologna, Italy. Ducati is part of Cagiva Group, a family-controlled industrial group. Cagiva has fallen on hard times and Ducati is the crown jewel in the group. Yet even Ducati is under great financial pressure and short on working capital. Abel Halpern, a partner at TPG, is frustrated because a deal with the owners seems to be an ever-moving target. Although TPG has negotiated with the seller for almost a year. In spite of costly due diligence efforts by TPG, Abel Halpern is now ready to walk away from the deal. In his decision he needs to consider not only valuation and the feasibility of hiring new management to turn the company around but also the feasibility of an eventual exit via the public markets in Italy.
Keywords
Valuation; Leveraged Buyouts; Entrepreneurship; Investment; Manufacturing Industry; Motorcycle Industry; Texas; Italy
Citation
Kuemmerle, Walter, and William J. Coughlin Jr. Ducati & Texas Pacific Group - A "Wild Ride" Leveraged Buyout. Harvard Business School Case 801-359, February 2001. (Revised March 2004.)