Harley Davidson announces buyout of Yamaha

[eazyduzzit]

Harley-Davidson company today announced that it has purchased Yamaha's motorcycle division.

Harley-Davidson company, a brand name for 107 years, would be at the top of any list of immediately identifiable corporate logos recognized worldwide," said Matthew S. Levatich, president of Harley-Davidson.

 

"We are proud to bring this storied company to American ownership. We intend to maximize the value of the name and to fully utilize the manufacturing, marketing and worldwide distribution assets of the company to create appreciation and value for our shareholders. We also plan to increase the company's revenues through expanded branding activities and strategic acquisitions that will compliment the company's current product lines. As part of the synergy between our two companies, we plan to incorporate Yamaha products into the lines manufactured by H-D.

 

The stock purchase agreement between Harley-Davidson and Yamaha encompasses all assets including patents, trademarks, intellectual property, distribution rights, machine drawings, inventory, equipment and physical assets of Yamaha, including its corporate headquarters in Newnan, Georgia.

 

Under the agreement, Harley-Davidson will pay $15 billion in cash, with $5 billion paid upon closing and the balance due in May 2012. As of the close, Yamaha's total assets were approximately $17 billion, which includes two manufacturing facilities. The main facility is a 660,000 square foot plant on 160 acres located in Newnan. The other facility is a 36,000 square foot plant in Kennesaw, GA. Total liabilities are approximately $53 million, which includes a 10-year note payable to Yamaha for $15 billion due in May 2012.

 

 

About Harley-Davidson

 

Harley-Davidson, Inc. produces and sells heavyweight motorcycles, as well as offers motorcycle parts, accessories, and related services. It operates in two segments, Motorcycles and Related Products, and Financial Services. The Motorcycles and Related Products segment engages in the design, manufacture, and sale of primarily heavyweight touring, custom, and performance motorcycles primarily in North America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, the Asia/Pacific, and Latin America. It also provides a line of motorcycle parts and accessories, including replacement parts, and mechanical and cosmetic accessories; general merchandise, such as apparel and accessories; and related services. This segment manufactures five families of motorcycles, including Touring, Dyna, Softail, Sportster, and VRSC. It offers its products under the Harley-Davidson, Buell, MV Agusta, and Cagiva brand names. The Financial Services segment provides wholesale and retail financing, and insurance and insurance-related programs primarily to the company’s dealers and retail customers in the United States and Canada. It engages in financing and servicing wholesale inventory receivables and retail consumer loans primarily for the purchase of motorcycles. This segment’s wholesale financial services include floorplan and open account financing of motorcycles, and motorcycle parts and accessories to Harley-Davidson and Buell motorcycle dealers. Its retail financial services include installment lending for its new and used motorcycles. The Financial Services segment also provides motorcycle insurance and property/casualty insurance, as well as sells extended service contracts, gap coverage, and debt protection products to motorcycle owners. Harley-Davidson sells its products through independent dealers and distributors. The company was founded in 1903 and is based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

 

April Fool!

[eazyduzzit]

I thought if I included a bunch of words that someone would believe it for a minute or two.

[Freebird]

I was immediately suspicious but getting ready to do a search. You just never know now days.

 

Thank you for reminding me that it is April Fool's Day though. Now I will be more careful the rest of the day.

[kenw]

Good One!

[Renne]

WHEW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!There for a moment I thought, a "YARLY"? "HADAYA"? "YADUH",,, OMG!... a

 

"YADA YADA"!!!!

 

I know,,,! A "HADYA"!!!!!!

 

(an ya did "EASY") !!

 

 

 

 

Renne,,,,,,,,,,,,,

[bryan52577]

It would not surprize me.

Like we say about the company I work for, "If you can't beat them, buy them!"

Bryan

[Eddie Fulmer]

Now I just didn't like that one little bit. Don't do it again...

 

[donphantasmo]

forgetting that it's April Fool's Day, I actually thought this was true. I was going to take pictures of my bike so I can put it on craigslist...

 

Thank god you told the truth at the end!!

[bongobobny]

Nah! You got to get up earlier than that, I had it figured out from the title! It should have read the other way around, Yama buys HD...

[CaptainJoe]

Now thats a distinct possibility...LOL

[Condor]

April Fool!

 

Saw that one coming a mile away..... ya gotta do better than that.....

[utadventure]

Potato whine anyone?

[RandyR]

ya sorta got me. I was thinking as I read it, no one has bought a major Japanese company before. Also thinking, didn't I just read that Harley was having economic problems and closing plants it already has....

[KiteSquid]

And here I thought that H-D would be bringing their entire line up of motorcycles to the water cooled, four or more cylinder stage.

 

Also, they would be bringing their reliability up to Yamaha's standards and adding a cassette deck to all of their bikes with stereos......

[Brake Pad]

Yamaha, will not take care of their own problems with these bikes, you really think someone else wants too?

[Yammer Dan]

First thing I thought was "I know what today is!!" And the Warden tried to show it to me. I knew something was up!!

[Guest human4m]

If it ever DID happen, we'd have a lot more chrome & accessories available, but in turn, they would cause random oil leaks and bikes would break down for no apparent reason after adding said chrome.

[dragerman]

[aharbi]

Harley ain't got that kind of money. If anything Yamaha could buy Harley.