I hope after the take over they rename them "Excelsior Henderson"
"Hawkins, Kevin" wrote:
> >From the October issue of Bike:
>
> Rumors are circulating in the financial world
> that Honda and BMW are in danger of being
> bought out by larger motor companies
> following declines in profit at both companies.
>
> In Japan, the strong value of the Yen is forcing
> Honda to scrap four of its seven motorcycle
> production lines in an attempt to improve
> profitability at its manufacturing plants,
> which are running at a barely profitable
> 45 percent capacity.
>
> Worse, the car division of Honda is
> struggling to keep up with the technology
> now being adopted by larger car makers.
> Honda boss Hiroyuiki Yoshino is
> fiercely opposed to any takeover.
>
> For BMW, the fiasco of buying Rover
> and pouring billions into it, then
> being forced to give up on it, has
> put the company in serious financial
> trouble. Its controlling shareholders,
> the Quandt family, are thought to be
> ready to opt out.
>
> If that happens, Ford and VW are ready
> to pounce, but neither firm manufacturers
> motorcycles, or are likely to want to.
> The word is that Deutsche Bank Morgan
> Grenfell, which has already helped TPG
> turn Ducati around, and is now doing the
> same with Piaggio, may take a keen
> interest in acquiring BMW motorcycles.
