| Author | Message | ||
     Mideon |
Maybe this is what they get for shuttering Buell Harley-Davidson Stock Price Surging On Takeover Speculation http://www.fox43.com/news/features/saveourplant/wp mt-harleybouyout-newyork-3-16-2010,0,5210791.story | ||
| Mideon |
and another article http://www.reuters.com/article/idCNN16251531201003 16?rpc=44 | ||
| Tocino |
Wow. That would be huge. The same thing happened with Ducati; Texas Pacific Group bought them, turned the company around and sold at a profit (of course part of this was by emulating Harley's lifestyle-focused branding  ). If the rumors *are* true, then someone thinks they can turn a profit. Wouldn't it be hilarious if a private equity group did buy them and hired Erik Buell back? Let the speculation begin! | ||
| Hangetsu |
I'm not sure I would call this Karma, at least not the kind you're hinting towards. Depending on how you look at at, this could be a very good thing for Harley. What I would call Karma would be to see HD go Chapter-11 because the bulk of their current aging customer base is either dying off or getting too old to justify buying new bikes; while the younger crowd (40 - 60) are going to Ducati, Motoguzzi, KTM, BMW, and even (gods forbid) an UJM, because HD has failed to produce anything since Buell that excites them. That would be karma | ||
| Buellerxt |
For Harley workers, and current and future customers, Chapter 11 would be a disaster. For the American economy a Harley Chapter 11 would be a disaster. For Buell owners counting on continuing parts and/or dealer support, a Harley Chapter 11 would be a disaster. Personally, I hope Harley gets through this and thrives in the future, as I hope Buell Racing and any future Buell endeavors thrive. The more success of American companies the better. (Message edited by buellerxt on March 18, 2010) | ||
| Oldwesterncowboy |
dont get me wrong, I like my Buell, I got mine a year ago. They are different and the connection to HD was a plus. Had I waited a few months, seen that HD was going to dump Buell, I would have got something else. HD has lost my respect. yeah Im bitter. in a few years we all will be looking for parts. If HD goes belly up, Harley workers would be out of work. Buell workers are out of work. Thanks HD | ||
| Pherris |
It would be bad in my view if KKR bought HD. KKR is an investment group. They know nothing about bikes and will surely make short term changes to yield financial gains in the short term with detrimental long term effects. I'm pissed at HD too and have probably purchased my last harley in my 04 RK but I don't want this and don't see it as good. KKR bought my wife's employer and it was a disaster but predictable. I hope HD pulls their head out of their ass and gets it together but I'm skeptable especially after buell. | ||
| Sharkguy |
Harley getting bought out would probably be bye bye as far as parts go for us Buell riders. It's bad now, I'm sure it'll be worse if this happens. Some of these companies like to buy up others and sell them off piece-meal too. Any way you slice it, it would be bad for us and especially bad for the Harley brand and all the workers. I wonder if an overtaking Co. would have to honor Harleys parts agreement for Buellers? | ||
| Itileman |
Looks like they're being set up to be plundered. Cash & short term investments + $1.6 Billion Current ratio = 2:1 for the good. March Option Strike Price = $28.00 + .84/sh Take them over, pull out all the cash and assets, leave them for dead. Remember the 80's? M&A is back. | ||
| Stevewauk |
This must be a disturbing rumor for those former Buell employees who took job offers at Harley because they needed some stability in their employment. The H-D management has been making some silly looking decisions recently but there are some very good people working there and I hope they come through this OK. | ||
| Tocino |
would probably be bye bye as far as parts go for us Buell riders I believe the requirement to stock parts is an NTSB thing, not really in HD's control. Besides, aren't most of the parts from outside suppliers anyways? | ||
| Wolfridgerider |
What if they bought Harley and decided to let Bombardier buy the Buell rights? | ||
| Trevd |
If they bought Harley, they would probably be interested in doing whatever is the most profitable, so I would think that they might be open to selling the Buell rights... After all, it makes no sense for Harley to not sell them, unless there are personal vendettas... | ||
| Miamiuly |
"Ignorance is bliss, I guess, because this is dripping with it. Yeah, very cool that a big American company would go Chapter 11 and have to lay off thousands of American workers! How cool would that be! What la la world did that ignorant comment come from? For Harley workers, and current and future customers, Chapter 11 would be a disaster. For the American economy a Harley Chapter 11 would be a disaster. For Buell owners counting on continuing parts and/or dealer support, a Harley Chapter 11 would be a disaster. Need I go on? Wow!" Funny, I didn't see him say that Karma was "cool," he just described what Karma would be, HD failing, not getting bailed out or helped. Didn't see him say he wanted that to happen, just that it would be karma. | ||
| Itileman |
Probably not going to happen. FWIW if you're into this kind of stuff: http://www.optionszone.com/market-commentary/optio ns-activity/2010/03/harley-davidson-hog-options-ac tive-on-buyout-rumors.html | ||
| Jphish |
"They know nothing about bikes"... ya mean like the HD CEO ?? Man, that guy is a over paid disaster. I'd hate to see HD go out of business, just for the jobs lost - don't care much for their products - but each to his/her own. They clearly need new management - because they clearly can't fathom the future. It's like folks investing in casset tape recorders - maybe a nostalgia nich market - but not the direction the rest of the world is going. | ||
| Hangetsu |
That is, in fact, all I said. Thanks Miamiuly, for seeing what I said and not reading in your own interpretation. The collapse of any large company, particularly in our current economy would be a disaster. I'm no big fan of HD product, but their demise would not only be an economic tragedy on many levels, it would also leave a huge void in the motorcycle world at large. They do have their place, even if it's not in my garage. (Message edited by Hangetsu on March 18, 2010) | ||
| Cyclonedon |
if some company takes over Harley-Davidson, there first piece of business should be dump Keith Wandell! He is a total idiot and you can't have people like that running your company! | ||
| Buellerxt |
Quote: That is, in fact, all I said. The collapse of any large company, particularly in our current economy would be a disaster. I'm no big fan of HD product, but their demise would not only be an economic tragedy on many levels, it would also leave a huge void in the motorcycle world at large. They do have their place, even if it's not in my garage.:Unquote My apology. I did 'interpret', as you say, that you would like that to happen. Good to see how you feel. I amended my post. | ||
| Hangetsu |
Thanks Mike. We do sometimes get a little trigger happy on this site, don't we? I'm guilty of the same. Apology accepted. | ||
| Wolfridgerider |
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