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Ducati Motor Holding Announces 2005 First Quarter Results

BOLOGNA, Italy, May 13, 2005 --

    
                                 1Q05        1Q04              Var%
    Revenues                     85,1        100,3             -15,1%
    EBTIDA                        8,5         12,3             -31,4%
    Profit/loss (pre-tax)        (1,0)         0,8                 na
    Net Debt                   (122,3)      (121,2)             -0,9%
    Million euro

Ducati Motor Holding S.p.A. , a leading manufacturer of high performance motorcycles, today announced financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2005.

For the first quarter of 2005, revenues were Euro 85.1 million, down 15.1% including forex effects (or down 12.4% excluding forex effects) over the same period in 2004. The fall was mainly due to a 5.3% decrease in unit sales, a negative bike mix, a decrease in accessories and apparel sales, and continuing adverse forex effects. Revenues from Ducati motorcycles for the period decreased 14.0% to Euro 68.8 million and represented 80.8% of total revenues. Motorcycle-related products, including spare parts, accessories and apparel, decreased 16.8% to Euro 15.7 million over the comparable period in the previous year.

Gross margin was 32.2% of revenues including forex effects (or 34.2% excluding forex effects) versus 35.9% during the same period a year ago.

EBITDA was Euro 8.5 million, down 31.4% including forex effects (or 14.9% excluding forex effects) and accounted for 10.0% of revenues, versus 12.3% in the same period last year.

Pre-tax profit for the Ducati Group was a loss of Euro 1.0 million in the first quarter of 2005, compared with a profit of Euro 0.8 million in the first quarter of 2004.

Unofficial Ducati worldwide registrations, an indication of retail sales, were down 16% versus last year's first quarter. Registrations were up 8% in the US and 1% in the non-subsidiary countries, while decreases were recorded in France down 5%, Italy down 23%, Germany down 23%, Japan down 31%, Benelux down 36% and the UK down 36%.

The Company's net debt as of March 31, 2005 was Euro 122.3 million, in line with the Euro 121.2 million on the same date a year earlier, and up versus Euro 116.2 million as of December 31, 2004. The company's gearing ratio was 82% as of March 31, 2005, versus 76% on the same date a year earlier and 78% on December 31, 2004.

"Despite the weakness in the market the results of the first quarter of 2005 have been in line with our expectations. However, as expected, 2005 will be back-loaded in terms of sales and bike mix, due to the introduction of the Sport Classic," announced Federico Minoli, Ducati Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. "While registrations were down in January and February, this trend reversed in March and April and shows encouraging signs of continuing."

"The upturn we have seen in March and April as well as the 3,000 pre-sold Sport Classics, give us reason to maintain our objectives of a return to profit and a net debt reduction for 2005 ," said Enrico D'Onofrio, Ducati Chief Financial Officer. "Based on results at the end of June, when the peak registration season will be just over, we will have better visibility of full-year results."

On March 31, 2005, the Company had re-purchased 3,769,249 shares, equivalent to Euro 4,082,096.67 or 2.37% of its stock capital.

First quarter 2005 financial results were approved by the Board of Directors on May 12, 2005.

Founded in 1926, Ducati develops racing-inspired motorcycles characterized by unique engine features, innovative design, advanced engineering and overall technical excellence. The Company produces motorcycles in six market segments which vary in their technical and design features and intended customers: Superbike, Supersport; Monster, Sport Touring, Multistrada and Sport Classic. The Company's motorcycles are sold in more than 60 countries worldwide, with a primary focus in the Western European, Japan and North American markets. Ducati has won thirteen of the last fifteen World Superbike Championship titles and more individual victories than the competition put together. For more information about the Company, please visit our web site at http://www.ducati.com

This press release contains statements that are forward-looking and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated, as described in documents previously filed by the Company with CONSOB and with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

     
                   Ducati Motor Holding S.p.A. and Subsidiaries
                           Net Sales and Shipment Data
 
                                        Three Months      Three Months
                                           Ended              Ended
                                     Mar,31      Mar,31  Mar,31     Mar,31
                                      2005        2004    2005       2004
 
    Net Sales (Euro in thousands,
    US$ in thousands)
 
                 Motorcycles     EUR 68,780   EUR 80,014 $ 89,166 $ 103,730
                 Spare Parts,        15,657       18,824   20,298    24,403
                 Accessories,
                 Apparel
                 Miscellaneous Other    702        1,462      910     1,895
 
    Total net                                                         
    sales                        EUR 85,139  EUR 100,300 $110,374 $ 130,028
 
    Ducati Units
    Motorcycle                                            %
    shipments:                                            Change
 
                 North America        1,710        1,280    33.6%
                 Main European        4,997        5,721  (12.7%)
                 market
                 Japan                  513          533   (3.8%)
                 Rest of World        1,745        1,936   (9.9%)
 
    Total                             8,965        9,470   (5.3%)
 
    Motorcycle                                            %
    product mix:                                          Change
 
                 Superbike            2,120        2,906  (27.0%)
                 Supersport             259          425  (39.1%)
                 Sport Naked          4,174        4,352   (4.1%)
                 Sport Touring          389          856  (54.6%)
                 Multistrada          2,023          931   117.3%
 
    Total                             8,965        9,470   (5.3%)
 
    Unofficial Motorcycle                                 %
    Registrations:                                        Change
 
                 North America        1,431        1,325     8.0%
                 Main European        4,717        6,164  (23.5%)
                 market
                 Japan                  494          720  (31.4%)
                 Rest of World        1,238        1,225     1.1%
 
    Total                             7,880        9,434  (16.5%)
    
         Ducati Motor
         Holding S.p.A. Consolidated Statements of Operations Data
        (Euro in thousands, US$ in thousands, except per share and
         share amounts)
 
                                   Three            Three
                                  Months            Months
                                   Ended            Ended
 
                           Mar, 31   Mar, 31    Mar, 31   Mar, 31     Percent
                              2005      2004       2005      2004     Change
 
    Net Sales          EUR 85,139   EUR 100,300 $ 110,374 $ 130,029  (15.1%)
    Cost of goods sold    (57,743)      (64,269)  (74,858)  (83,318)
    Gross Profit           27,396        36,031    35,516    46,711  (24.0%)
    Other operating         5,911         5,835     7,663     7,564
    revenues
    SG&A expenses         (24,511)      (29,291)  (31,776)  (37,973)
    Other operating          (324)         (234)     (420)     (303)
    income
    Depreciation &         (7,743)       (9,659)  (10,039)  (12,522)
    amortization
 
    Operating                 729         2,682       944     3,477  (72.8%)
    income/(loss)
 
    Financing expense,     (1,642)       (1,916)   (2,129)   (2,484)
    net
    Other non-operating       (40)          (10)      (52)      (13)
    income/(expense),
    net
 
    Profit/(loss)before      (953)           756   (1,237)      980  (226.1%)
    income taxes and
    min.interest
 
    Shares outstanding  158,826,407 158,500,963 158,826,407 158,500,963
 
                                                                    Percent
    Other Financial                                                 Change
    Data
    Motorcycles             9,616        11,238                     (14.4%)
    Produced (Units)
    Motorcycles Sold        8,965         9,470                      (5.3%)
    (Units)
    Unofficial              7,880         9,434                     (16.5%)
    Registrations
    (Units)
    EBITDA                  8,472        12,341     10,983   15,998 (31.4%)
    EBITDA Margin           10.0%        12.3%
 
    Note : On March 31, 200 US$1= 0,7713 Euros
    
                          Ducati Motor Holding S.p.A.
                  Consolidated Statements of Operations Data
            (Euro in thousands, except per share and share amounts)
 
                                 Three Months ended      Three Months ended
                                   March 31, 2005          March 31, 2004
                                   EUR          %          EUR          %

    Current assets
    Cash and cash equivalents      28,712                  26,168
    Trade receivables, net        103,854                 106,347
    Inventories                    98,400                 119,129
    Other current assets           16,149                  24,908
    Current assets - Credit Link   15,000                     -
    Total current assets          262,115      55.9%      276,552      55.1%
 
    Non current assets
    Property, plant and 
    equipment-net                  60,729                  65,089
    Intangible fixed assets, net  119,322                 122,671
    Equity investments                 20                      12
    Non current assets - 
    Credit Link / ABS              10,000                  25,000
    Other long-term assets         17,045                  12,160
    Total non current assets      207,116      44.1%      224,932      44.9%
 
    Total assets                  469,231     100.0%      501,484     100.0%
 
    Current liabilities
    Short-term bank borrowings     95,124                  70,884
    Current portion of 
    long-term debt                 62,742                   5,532
    Accounts payable - trade       92,237                 112,726
    Deferred income taxes           3,438                   2,105
    Income and other 
    taxes payables                  8,687                  10,393
    Other current liabilities      18,858                  20,980
    Provisions for risks and 
    charges - current portion       4,726                   4,824
    Total current liabilities     285,812      60.9%      227,444      45.4%
 
    Long-term liabilities
    Long-term debt, net of 
    current portion                 7,134                  81,890
    Employees' leaving 
    entitlement                     9,530                   8,648
    Deferred income taxes           3,173                   4,871
    Income an other taxes 
    payables - long term portion    1,292                   2,583
    Other long-term liabilities    11,054                  14,075
    Provision for risks and 
    charges - long term portion     1,663                   2,518
    Total long-term liabilities    33,846       7.2%      114,585      22.8%
 
    Total liabilities            319,658                  342,029
 
    Total Group 
    shareholders' equity         149,553       31.9%      159,455      31.8%
    Minority interests                20                       -
    Total shareholders' equity   149,573       31.9%      159,455      31.8%
    Total liabilities and 
    shareholders' equity         469,231      100%        501,484      100%
    
                        Ducati Motor Holding S.p.A.
                  Consolidated Statements of Operations Data
           (US$ in thousands, except per share and share amounts)
 
                                Three Months ended      Three Months ended
                                  March 31, 2005          March 31, 2004
 
                                 US$          %          US$          %
 
    Current assets
    Cash and cash equivalents     37,222                  33,924
    Trade receivables, net       134,636                 137,868
    Inventories                  127,566                 154,439
    Other current assets          20,936                  32,291
    Current assets - Credit Link  19,446                  -
    Total current assets         339,806        55.9%    358,522      55.1%
 
    Non current assets
    Property, plant and 
    equipment-net                  78,729                  84,381
    Intangible fixed 
    assets, net                   154,689                 159,030
    Equity investments                 26                      16
    Non current assets - 
    Credit Link / ABS              12,964                  32,410
    Other long-term assets         22,097                  15,764
    Total non current assets      268,505        44.1%    291,601     44.9%
 
    Total assets                  608,311       100.0%    650,123    100.0%
 
    Current liabilities
    Short-term bank
    borrowings                    123,319                 91,894
    Current portion of 
    long-term debt                 81,339                  7,172
    Accounts payable - trade      119,576                 146,138
    Deferred income taxes           4,457                   2,729
    Income and other 
    taxes payables                 11,262                  13,473
    Other current liabilities      24,447                  27,198
    Provisions for risks and 
    charges - current portion       6,127                   6,254
    Total current liabilities     370,527        60.9%    294,858     45.4%
 
    Long-term liabilities
    Long-term debt, 
    net of current portion          9,248                 106,162
    Employees' leaving 
    entitlement                    12,355                  11,211
    Deferred income taxes           4,113                   6,315
    Income an other taxes 
    payables - long term portion    1,675                   3,349
    Other long-term liabilities    14,330                  18,247
    Provisionfor risks and 
    charges - long term portion     2,156                   3,264
    Total long-term liabilities    43,877         7.2%    148,548     22.8%
    Total liabilities             414,404                 443,406
    Total Group 
    shareholders' equity          193,881        31.9%    206,717     31.8%
    Minority interests                 26
 
    Total shareholders' equity    193,907        31.9%    206,717     31.8%
 
    Total liabilities 
    and shareholders' equity      608,311        100%     650,123    100%
    
                               Ducati Motor Holding S.p.A.
                          Consolidated Statements of Cash Flow
                                   (Euro in thousands)
 
                                                  Period ended  Period ended
                                                      31/03/05      31/03/04
                                                       EUR 000       EUR 000
 
    Cash flow generated by operating activities
 
    Net profit (loss) for the period                      (957)          756
    Change in cumulative translation adjustment            672           300
    Change in minority interests                             4             -
    Adjustments to reconcile net profit (loss)
    with the movements
    of funds generated by (used in) 
    operating activities:
       - Amortisation, depreciation and writedowns        7,743        9,659
                                                                                                                                   -
       - Net change in employees' leaving entitlements      277          371
 
    Change in operating assets
    and liabilities
       - Trade receivables                              (19,522)     (25,926)
       - Inventories                                     (6,107)     (14,355)
       - Other current assets                            (1,344)         906
       - Trade payables                                  15,125       23,223
       - Other current liabilities                        2,922        5,863
       - Due to tax authorities                             432          764
       - Deferred tax liabilities                             6           (4)
       - Other long-term assets and liabilities               -            -
 
    Net cash generated                                     (749)       1,557
    by operating activities
 
    Cash flow (used in) generated
    by investing activities                              (1,294)      (2,064)
    Net change in property, plant and equipment          (4,007)      (3,467)
    Net change in intangible fixed assets                     -            -
    Decrease (increase) in equity investments               (47)         (64)
    Other non-current assets
                                                         (5,348)      (5,595)
    Net cash used in investing activities
 
    Net cash generated by operating activities
    less cash flow used in investing activities          (6,097)      (4,038)
 
    Cash flow (used in) generated by financing activities
    Change in short- and long-term debt                   1,482       22,041
    Subscription to (buy back of) bonds                       -      (15,000)
    Increase in share capital and reserves                    -            -
    Other non-current financial assets                        -         (808)
 
    Net cash (used in) generated by financing activities  1,482        6,233
 
    Increase (decrease) in cash on hand, bank
    deposits and securities                              (4,615)       2,195
 
    Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of the period   33,327       23,973
 
    Cash and cash equivalents, end of the period         28,712       26,168
    
                             Ducati Motor Holding S.p.A.
                        Consolidated Statements of Cash Flow
                              (US$ in thousands)
 
                                            Period ended        Period ended
                                                31/03/05            31/03/04
                                                   $/000               $/000
 
    Cash flow generated by 
    operating activities
    Net profit (loss) for the period              (1,241)                980
    Change in cumulative 
    translation adjustment                           871                 389
    Change in minority interests                       5                   -
    Adjustments to reconcile net
    profit (loss) with the movements
    of funds generated by (used in)
    operating activities:
      - Amortisation, depreciation 
        and writedowns                            10,038              12,522
                                                      -                    -
      - Net change in employees' 
        leaving entitlements                         359                 481
 
    Change in operating assets
    and liabilities
      - Trade receivables                        (25,308)            (33,610)
      - Inventories                               (7,917)            (18,610)
      - Other current assets                      (1,742)              1,174
      - Trade payables                            19,608              30,106
      - Other current liabilities                  3,788               7,601
      - Due to tax authorities                       560                 990
      - Deferred tax liabilities                       8                 (5)
      - Other long-term assets and liabilities         -                  -
 
    Net cash generated                              (971)             2,018
    by operating activities
    Cash flow (used in) generated
    by investing activities                       (1,677)            (2,676)
    Net change in property, plant and equipment   (5,195)            (4,495)
    Net change in intangible fixed assets              -                  -
    Decrease (increase) in equity investments        (61)               (82)
    Other non-current assets
                                                  (6,933)             (7,253)
    Net cash used in investing activities
 
    Net cash generated by operating activities
    less cash flow used in investing activities   (7,904)             (5,235)
 
    Cash flow (used in) generated by 
    financing activities
    Change in short- and long-term debt            1,921              28,574
    Subscription to (buy back of) bonds                -             (19,446)
    Increase in share capital and reserves             -                   -
    Other non-current financial assets                 -              (1,047)
 
    Net cash (used in) generated by 
    financing activities                           1,921               8,081
 
    Increase (decrease) in cash 
    on hand, bank
    deposits and securities                       (5,983)              2,846
 
    Cash and cash equivalents, beginning 
    of the period                                 43,205              31,078
 
    Cash and cash equivalents,
    end of the period                             37,222              33,924

For further information, please contact: Fabrizio Nardi, Investor Relations, Ducati Motor Holding S.p.A., Via Cavalieri Ducati, 3, Bologna 40132, Italy, Main Tel: +39-051-6413-111, Direct tel: +39-051-6413-213, Direct fax: +39-051-6413-223, E-mail: fabrizio.nardi@ducati.com