Motorcycle industry gossip is at a fever pitch this week with speculation that Italian motorcycle apparel manufacturer Dainese is up for sale. Adding credence to that rumors, Asphalt & Rubber has received a number of tips about the possible sale of the company, with a private investment group cited as a possible buyer.
When we approached with this information, Dainese simply said that rumors were simply that, rumors. However it is worth noting that at the helm of the company for the past few months has been interim-CEO Federico Minoli, the same man that lead Ducati Motor Holding to being acquired by Texas Pacific Group, and later took the Italian motorcycle manufacturer public on the New York Stock Exchange.
A long-time friend of Dainese founder Lino Dainese, Minoli would hypothetically be an ideal candidate to help the Italian gear maker to navigate the investment waters and any possible acquisition. However, if such a sale should come to fruition, it is not clear what this could mean for the Italian brand.
Dainese is currently putting a great deal of its future into its air bag technology, which has been showcased with the company’s D-Air equipped motorcycle apparel for the race track and street. With applications beyond motorcycling and even sports in general, the technology and intellectual property behind Dainese’s D-Air products could prove to be very lucrative.
Still a European centric brand as well, Dainese’s growth potential in North America, as well as in other emerging markets, remains not fully tapped — a valuable area for growth that would-be investors would be keen to exploit. For now though, keep an eye on this space. More news as we get it.
Source: Bothan Spies
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