Ducati Motor Holding Announces Q4 and Full Year 2000 Revenues

    BOLOGNA, Italy--Jan. 22, 2001--Ducati Motor Holding S.p.A. , a leading manufacturer of high performance motorcycles, today announced consolidated revenues for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2000.
    For the fourth quarter, total revenues increased 34.2% to Lit. 201.7 billion (US$96.9 million) from Lit. 150.2 billion (US$72.2 million) during the same period in the previous year. Motorcycle revenues during the three-month period increased 31.8% over the fourth quarter of last year to Lit. 175.5 billion and represented 87.0% of total revenues. Three-month revenues of motorcycle-related products, including spare parts, technical accessories and apparel rose 65.0% over the comparable period in the previous year to Lit. 25.8 billion.
    Total revenues for full year 2000 increased 28.7% to Lit.734.0 billion (US$352.7 million) from Lit.570.3 billion (US$274.1 million) in the previous year. Twelve-month revenues from Ducati motorcycles were Lit. 612.5 billion, an increase of 24.5% over 1999, and represented 84.0% of revenues. For the year ended 2000, revenues of motorcycle-related products rose 49.7% compared to the year-ago period to Lit. 107.4 billion.
    "The impressive performance of sales during the fourth quarter of 2000 is a reflection of the enthusiastic reception by our dealer network of the new models we are introducing for 2001," said Carlo Di Biagio, Chief Executive Officer. "I am pleased that strong motorcycle sales in 2000 - accompanied by the continued increase in performance accessories and apparel - have once more brought us top line results beyond our targets."
    For the fourth quarter, motorcycle sales totaled 10,491 units, posting a 27.4% increase over the same period of 1999. Full year 2000 motorcycle sales increased 18.0% over the previous year, with 39,089 units sold. While official world registration data for 2000 are not yet available, the Company's best estimates suggest that registrations increased 21.0% in the fourth quarter versus the previous year quarter, and 19.0% in 2000 compared to 1999, with particular strength in North America and Japan.
    Revenues for full year 2000 include a positive effect from favorable exchange rates generated by sales made in US Dollars and Pounds Sterling during the period. Given our policy of selling forward future cash flow, however, this will be counter-balanced by exchange losses on forward contracts.
    "In addition, we are delighted with the success of the 996R sale on the Internet at the Bologna Motor Show in September 2000, where all available bikes were reserved in a single day," added Mr. Di Biagio. "This is confirmation, yet again, of Ducati's innovative product strategy and the power of our global brand."
    Ducati Motor Holding will provide a detailed breakdown of sales in conjunction with its release of full year 2000 earnings results on March 16, 2001.
    It should be noted that the data given above is preliminary and may be subject to minor changes.