The Auto Channel
The Largest Independent Automotive Research Resource
The Largest Independent Automotive Research Resource
Official Website of the New Car Buyer

Ducati Motor Holding Announces First Half 2004 Results

Across the Board Improvements with Significant Net Debt Reduction

BOLOGNA, Italy, August 5 -- Ducati Motor Holding S.p.A. , a leading manufacturer of high performance motorcycles, today announced first half 2004 financial results.

First half 2004 revenues were Euro 221.0 million, up 6.9% excluding forex effects, (or up 5.6% including forex effects) versus first half 2003. Revenues from motorcycles for the period increased 0.9% to Euro 175.4 million and represented 79.4% of revenues. Motorcycle-related products, including spare parts, technical accessories and apparel, increased 21.3% to Euro 42.3 million over the comparable period in the previous year.

Gross margin was 35.9% versus 34.3% last year, thanks to product cost reduction and operational efficiencies partly offset by negative forex effect. EBITDA was Euro 28.0 million, or 12.7% of revenues, up 16.4% excluding forex effects (or up 8.5% including forex effects), versus Euro 25.8 million, or 12.3% of revenues in first half 2003.

At EBT level, the result was a profit of Euro 3.5 million versus a loss of Euro 1.6 million in first half 2003 thanks to a Euro 2.2 million increase in EBITDA and a Euro 3.5 million one-off restructuring cost accrued in 2003.

The Company's net debt at June 30, 2004 was Euro 100.4 million, down versus the Euro 112.2 million at the same date a year earlier and down versus Euro 117.2 million at December 31, 2003. The company's gearing ratio was 62% at June 30, 2004 versus 71% at the same date a year earlier and versus 74% at December 31, 2003.

In first half 2004 unofficial Ducati worldwide registrations, were up 2% versus last year, in a flat market, with the US up 33%, non-subsidiary countries up 6%, France up 5% and Italy up 3%, while the UK was down 4%, Germany down 13%, the Benelux Countries down 13% and Japan down 14%.

"In a difficult environment, where the two-wheeled market remains weak, Ducati continues to grow by focusing on its niche strategy", said Federico Minoli, President and CEO of Ducati Motor Holding. "First half financial results showed significant improvements across the board, and in particular a reduction of our net debt position. Though, the second quarter was weaker than 2003, following the excellent results of the first quarter".

"Our cost control and cash management efforts are bearing fruit and drove first half financial results, with return to profit and improvement of the Debt/Equity ratio", said Enrico D'Onofrio, Chief Financial Officer of Ducati. "We will continue to pay particular attention to these issues for the rest of 2004, as we pave the way for the growth of sales expected in 2005".

As for the second quarter, revenues were Euro 120,7 million, down 5.5% excluding forex effects, (or down 5.7% including forex effects) over the same period in 2003, due to lower bike sales.

Gross margin was 35.8% of revenues, versus 32.6% in the same period a year ago, thanks to product costs and operational efficiencies. EBITDA was Euro 15.7 million, down 4.3% excluding forex (or down 7.0% including forex effects), versus Euro 16.8 million of 2003, representing 13.0% of revenues in line with the same period year ago.

In the second quarter of 2004, earnings before tax were Euro 2.7 million versus Euro 4.6 million last year. The decrease was mainly due to lower EBITDA and higher financial charges.

By the end of June 2004, the Company had re-purchased 1,260,096 shares, equivalent to Euro 1,840,351 or 0.79% of its stock capital.

A discussion by Ducati management of the first half 2004 results is available at www.ducati.com under Company and then Investor Relations. It can be accessed until mid-September 2004 under "Webcast of Results" at the bottom of the IR Press Release Schedule section.

Founded in 1926, Ducati builds racing-inspired motorcycles characterized by unique engine features, innovative design, advanced engineering and overall technical excellence. Ducati has won thirteen of the last fiftheen World Superbike Championship titles and more individual victories than the competition put together. The Company produces motorcycles in five market segments which vary in their technical and design features and intended customers: Superbike, Supersport; Monster, Sport Touring and Multistrada. The Company's motorcycles are sold in more than 40 countries worldwide, with a primary focus in the Western European and North American markets. For more information about the Company, please visit our web site at http://www.ducati.com

    
                    Ducati Motor Holding S.p.A. and Subsidiaries
                             Net Sales and Shipment Data
 
                                 Three Months Ended        Three Months Ended
                              June, 30     June, 30     June, 30     June, 30
                                  2004         2003         2004         2003
                           -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------
    Net Sales (Euro in
     thousands, US$ in 
     thousands)
 
      Motorcycles          EUR  95,339  EUR 108,308    $ 116,542    $ 132,396
      Spare Parts,
       Accessories, Apparel     23,450       19,597       28,665       23,955
      Miscellaneous Other        1,893           86        2,314          105
                           -----------  -----------  -----------  ----------- 

    Total net sales        EUR 120,682  EUR 127,991    $ 147,521    $ 156,456
                           -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------
                           -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------
 
    Ducati Units
    Motorcycle shipments:                               % Change
 
      North America              1,387        1,218       13.9%
      Main European market       8,079        9,340      (13.5%)
      Japan                        564          832      (32.2%)
      Rest of World              2,379        2,332        2.0%
                           -----------  -----------  
 
    Total                       12,409       13,722       (9.6%)
 
    Motorcycle product mix:                             % Change
 
      Superbike                  2,680        2,835       (5.5%)
      Supersport                   477          997      (52.2%)
      Sport Naked                7,017        6,311       11.2%
      Sport Touring              1,063          541       96.5%
      Multistrada                1,172        3,038      (61.4%)
                           -----------  -----------  
 
    Total                       12,409       13,722       (9.6%)
 
    Unofficial Motorcycle
     Registrations:                                     % Change
 
      North America              2,058        1,602       28.5%
      Main European market       9,130       10,034       (9.0%)
      Japan                        922        1,031      (10.6%)
      Rest of World              2,155        2,118        1.7%
                           -----------  -----------  
 
    Total                       14,265       14,785       (3.5%)

                    Ducati Motor Holding S.p.A. and Subsidiaries
                             Net Sales and Shipment Data
 
                                   Six Months Ended          Six Months Ended
                              June, 30     June, 30     June, 30     June, 30
                                  2004         2003         2004         2003
                           -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------
    Net Sales (Euro in
     thousands, US$ in
     thousands)
 
      Motorcycles          EUR 175,353  EUR 173,826    $ 214,352    $ 212,485
      Spare Parts,
       Accessories, Apparel     42,274       34,841       51,676       42,590
      Miscellaneous Other        3,355          590        4,101          721
                           -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------
 
    Total net sales        EUR 220,982  EUR 209,257    $ 270,129    $ 255,796
                           -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------
                           -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------
 
    Ducati Units
    Motorcycle shipments:                               % Change
 
      North America              2,667        2,054       29.8%
      Main European market      13,800       14,040       (1.7%)
      Japan                      1,097        1,463      (25.0%)
      Rest of World              4,315        3,919       10.1%
                           -----------  -----------  
 
    Total                       21,879       21,476        1.9%
 
    Motorcycle product mix:                             % Change
 
      Superbike                  5,586        5,606       (0.4%)
      Supersport                   902        1,909      (52.8%)
      Sport Naked               11,369        9,808       15.9%
      Sport Touring              1,919        1,033       85.8%
      Multistrada                2,103        3,120      (32.6%)
                           -----------  ----------- 
 
    Total                       21,879       21,476        1.9%
 
    Unofficial Motorcycle
     Registrations:                                     % Change
 
      North America              3,383        2,552       32.6%
      Main European market      15,280       15,616       (2.2%)
      Japan                      1,649        1,915      (13.9%)
      Rest of World              3,442        3,257        5.7%
                           -----------  ----------- 
 
    Total                       23,754       23,340        1.8%
    
                            Ducati Motor Holding S.p.A.
                     Consolidated Statements of Operations Data
    (Euro in thousands, US$ in thousands, except per share and share amounts)
 
                           Three Months Ended      Three Months Ended
 
                        June, 30     June, 30    June, 30    June, 30 Percent
                            2004         2003        2004        2003  Change
 
    Net Sales        EUR 120,682  EUR 127,991   $ 147,522   $ 156,456  (5.7%)
    Cost of goods
     sold                (77,483)     (86,210)    (94,715)   (105,383)
                     -------------------------------------------------
    Gross Profit          43,199       41,781      52,807      51,073   3.4%
    Other operating
     revenues              6,587        5,954       8,052       7,278
    SG&A expenses        (34,254)     (31,123)    (41,872)    (38,045)
    Other operating
     income/(expense),
     net                     191          316         233         386
    Depreciation &
     amortization         (9,359)      (9,245)    (11,440)    (11,301)
                     -------------------------------------------------
 
    Operating income/
     (loss)                6,364        7,683       7,780       9,391 (17.2%)
 
    Financing expense,
     net                  (3,161)      (2,519)     (3,864)     (3,079)
    Other non-operating
     income/(expense),
     net                    (476)        (562)       (582)       (687)
                     -------------------------------------------------
 
    Profit/(loss)before
     income taxes          2,727        4,602       3,334       5,625 (40.7%)
 
    Shares
     outstanding     158,826,407  158,500,963 158,826,407 158,500,963
 
                                                                      Percent
    Other Financial Data                                               Change
    Motorcycles
     Produced (Units)     11,939        8,751                          36.4%
    Motorcycles Sold
     (Units)              12,409       13,722                          (9.6%)
    Unofficial
     Registrations
     (Units)              14,265       14,785                          (3.5%)
    EBITDA                15,666       16,850      19,150      20,597  (7.0%)
    EBITDA Margin          13.0%         13.2%
 
    Note : On June 30, 2004 US$1= 0,8227 Euros

                            Ducati Motor Holding S.p.A.
                     Consolidated Statements of Operations Data
    (Euro in thousands, US$ in thousands, except per share and share amounts)
 
                             Six Months Ended        Six Months Ended
 
                        June, 30     June, 30    June, 30    June, 30 Percent
                            2004         2003        2004        2003  Change
 
    Net Sales        EUR 220,982  EUR 209,257   $ 270,128   $ 255,796   5.6%
    Cost of goods
     sold               (141,752)    (137,454)   (173,278)   (168,024)
                     -------------------------------------------------
    Gross Profit          79,230       71,803      96,850      87,772  10.3%
    Other operating
     revenues             12,422       12,056      15,185      14,737
    SG&A expenses        (63,545)     (57,996)    (77,677)    (70,894)
    Other operating
     income                  (43)         111         (53)        136
    Depreciation &
     amortization        (19,018)     (18,429)    (23,249)    (22,528)
                     -------------------------------------------------
 
    Operating income/
     (loss)                9,046        7,545      11,056       9,223  19.9%
 
    Financing expense,
     net                  (5,077)      (4,958)     (6,206)     (6,061)
    Other non-operating
     income/(expense),
     net                    (486)      (4,146)       (594)     (5,068)
                     -------------------------------------------------
 
    Profit/(loss)before
     income taxes          3,483       (1,559)      4,256      (1,906)    na
 
    Shares
     outstanding     158,826,407  158,500,963 158,826,407 158,500,963
 
                                                                      Percent
    Other Financial Data                                               Change
    Motorcycles
     Produced (Units)     23,177       19,117                          21.2%
    Motorcycles Sold
     (Units)              21,879       21,476                           1.9%
    Unofficial
     Registrations 
     (Units)              23,754       23,340                           1.8%
    EBITDA                27,997       25,811      34,224      31,550   8.5%
    EBITDA Margin          12.7%        12.3%
 
    Note : On June 30, 2004 US$1= 0,8227 Euros
    
                           Ducati Motor Holding S.p.A.
                   Consolidated Statements of Operations Data
                               (Euro in thousands)
 
                                           June 30, 2004       June 30, 2003
 
                                            EUR        %        EUR        %

    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Current assets
    Cash and cash equivalents            30,821              35,067
    Trade receivables, net               90,213              85,900
    Inventories                         111,542             103,740
    Other current assets                 17,548              21,377
    Current assets - Credit Link         15,000                   -
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Total current assets                265,124    56.3%    246,084    52.3%
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
    Non current assets
    Property, plant and equipment-net    63,325              69,686
    Intangible fixed assets, net        120,472             129,838
    Equity investments                       12                  12
    Non current assets - Credit Link
     / ABS                               10,000              25,011
    Other long-term assets               12,110                 549
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Total non current assets            205,919    43.7%    225,096    47.7%
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
    Total assets                        471,043   100.0%    471,180   100.0%
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
    Current liabilities
    Short-term bank borrowings           71,210              45,687
    Current portion of long-term debt    67,873              19,148
    Accounts payable - trade            107,775              91,160
    Income and other taxes payables       8,355               8,123
    Other current liabilities            19,146              19,573
    Provisions for risks and charges 
     - current portion                    4,906              10,867
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Total current liabilities           279,265    59.3%    194,558    41.3%
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
    Long-term liabilities
    Long-term debt, net of current
     portion                              3,835              91,000
    Employees' leaving entitlement        8,900               7,798
    Deferred income taxes                   211                  35
    Income an other taxes payables -
     long term portion                    1,292                   -
    Other long-term liabilities          13,282              16,525
    Provision for risks and charges -
     long term portion                    1,687               3,022
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Total long-term liabilities          29,207     6.2%    118,380    25.1%
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
    Total liabilities                   308,472             312,938
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Total Group shareholders' equity    162,558    34.5%    158,242    33.6%
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
    Minority interests                       13                   -
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
    Total shareholders' equity          162,571    34.5%    158,242    33.6%
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
    Total liabilities and
     shareholders' equity               471,043     100%    471,180     100%
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    
                          Ducati Motor Holding S.p.A.
                   Consolidated Statements of Operations Data
                               (US$ in thousands)
 
                                           June 30, 2004       June 30, 2003
 
                                            US$        %        US$        % 
 
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Current assets
    Cash and cash equivalents            37,462              42,624
    Trade receivables, net              109,654             104,411
    Inventories                         135,579             126,096
    Other current assets                 21,330              25,984
    Current assets - Credit Link         18,233                   -
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Total current assets                322,258    56.3%    299,115    52.3%
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
    Non current assets
    Property, plant and equipment-net    76,971              84,703
    Intangible fixed assets, net        146,434             157,818
    Equity investments                       14                  14
    Non current assets - Credit Link
     / ABS                               12,155              30,401
    Other long-term assets               14,720                 667
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Total non current assets            250,294    43.7%    273,603    47.7%
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
    Total assets                        572,552   100.0%    572,718   100.0%
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
    Current liabilities
    Short-term bank borrowings           86,556              55,532
    Current portion of long-term debt    82,500              23,274
    Accounts payable - trade            131,001             110,805
    Income and other taxes payables      10,155               9,874
    Other current liabilities            23,272              23,791
    Provisions for risks and charges
     - current portion                    5,963              13,208
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Total current liabilities           339,447    59.3%    236,484    41.3%
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
    Long-term liabilities
    Long-term debt, net of current
     portion                              4,661             110,611
    Employees' leaving entitlement       10,818               9,478
    Deferred income taxes                   256                  43
    Income an other taxes payables -
     long term portion                    1,570                   -
    Other long-term liabilities          16,144              20,086
    Provisionfor risks and charges -
     long term portion                    2,051               3,673
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Total long-term liabilities          35,500     6.2%    143,891    25.1%
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
    Total liabilities                   374,947             380,375
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Total Group shareholders' equity    197,589    34.5%    192,343    33.6%
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
    Minority interests                       16
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
    Total shareholders' equity          197,605    34.5%    192,343    33.6%
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
    Total liabilities and
     shareholders' equity               572,552     100%    572,718     100%
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------