Joined Apr 2002
3K Posts | 11+
Phoenix Arizona
Wow, here is a bombshell out of the UK! Well, that is what MCN is reporting, the deal for BMW to sell off Husky to KTM is close to being complete.
Of all the improbable events, this one seem like such an unlikely outcome. Is the short lived marriage of the German and Italian brands over so soon? They are hardly past the honeymoon.
But regardless of your feelings towards the brands. There can be no disputing the fact that they have been on a strange and slow moving path together. Apparently BMW has accomplished much in revitalizing the manufacturing of the brand, but that has yet to yield much for new models on showroom floors. Is BMW jumping ship just as it is leaving the dock?
One can only guess what possible direction KTM would want to take with the brand.
But it gets even more interesting....
A little further research....
It is not really KTM buying Husqvarna, it is Cross Industries AG CEO Stefan Pierer. If I am understanding it correctly he is selling the Cross AG stake in KTM to Bajaj, which already controls 49% of KTM, and is leaving Cross and purchasing Husky....so really Frank this would be a really good thing for Husky! Perhaps not so good for KTM depending on how you look at it. The Cross Organizational Chart is as follows:
http://www.cross-ag.com/en/company/organization-chart/
http://www.cross-ag.com/en/company/management/
Notice WP and Pankl are part of the holdings as well.
Those of you not familiar with Bajaj of India, they are a billion dollar company with very deep pockets and control the lightweight motorcycle market in India:
http://www.bajajauto.com/
They have owned a significant stake in KTM for many years now.
Of all the improbable events, this one seem like such an unlikely outcome. Is the short lived marriage of the German and Italian brands over so soon? They are hardly past the honeymoon.
But regardless of your feelings towards the brands. There can be no disputing the fact that they have been on a strange and slow moving path together. Apparently BMW has accomplished much in revitalizing the manufacturing of the brand, but that has yet to yield much for new models on showroom floors. Is BMW jumping ship just as it is leaving the dock?
One can only guess what possible direction KTM would want to take with the brand.
But it gets even more interesting....
A little further research....
It is not really KTM buying Husqvarna, it is Cross Industries AG CEO Stefan Pierer. If I am understanding it correctly he is selling the Cross AG stake in KTM to Bajaj, which already controls 49% of KTM, and is leaving Cross and purchasing Husky....so really Frank this would be a really good thing for Husky! Perhaps not so good for KTM depending on how you look at it. The Cross Organizational Chart is as follows:
http://www.cross-ag.com/en/company/organization-chart/
http://www.cross-ag.com/en/company/management/
Notice WP and Pankl are part of the holdings as well.
Those of you not familiar with Bajaj of India, they are a billion dollar company with very deep pockets and control the lightweight motorcycle market in India:
http://www.bajajauto.com/
They have owned a significant stake in KTM for many years now.
