The president and CEO of Harley-Davidson declined to weigh in on a Reuters articleclaiming the company is mulling the acquisition of Italian motorcycle giant Ducati.
Reuters cited unnamed sources who said a deal for Ducati could top $1.6 billion.
Harley-Davidson President & CEO Matt Levatich spoke to the Milwaukee Business Journal's Power Breakfast on Friday morning, but was not available for questions from TODAY'S TMJ4 afterward.
A company spokesperson said Harley-Davidson did not have a comment on the Reuters report.
Michael McCabe, a Harley-Davidson rider and stockholder, said the rumored deal excites him.
"Harley is primarily a cruiser type industry, and I think this would give us the speed, sport side of the motorcycle industry," McCabe said. "I say go for it."
McCabe thinks Ducati's motorcycles could appeal to younger riders who think Harley-Davidson bikes are geared towards older motorcyclists.
"When I think Ducati, I think speed," McCabe said. "When I think of Harley-Davidson I think more of a motorcycle enthusiast, or people that like to cruise, like to travel."
Goran Zadrima, the general manager at Milwaukee Harley-Davidson, said Ducati could be a positive acquisition for Harley-Davidson.
"It would be one great company acquiring another great company, if it's true," Zadrima said.
According to the Reuters article, a possible Harley-Davidson bid for Ducati would come next month at the earliest.
