After Saab, is Mahindra & Mahindra looking at Ducati?

After we announced yesterday that Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd may drop a plan to bid for bankrupt Saab, now, Financial Times mentions M&M among possible buyers for the Italian motorcycle maker Ducati.

An M&M spokesperson refused to comment, saying, “We do not comment on speculation.”

However, according to some auto industry sources, with M&M intending to be a global player — looking at a brand like Ducati is a logical approach.

Ducati’s private- equity owner may hold an initial public offering of the luxury motorcycle-maker in Hong Kong this year or sell it to a rival, according to two sources familiar with the plans.

Besides Mahindra & Mahindra, Germany’s Volkswagen AG (VOW) and Bayerische Motoren Werke AG are among possible buyers, the Financial Times said, citing unidentified people close to the situation. The motorcycle maker might also be a good fit for Harley-Davidson Inc. (HOG), the people familiar with the matter said.

Ducati, maker of premium and professional racing bikes, was in crisis in 2005 before a big stake in the company was bought by Investindustrial.

Deutsche Bank AG (DBK.XE), Goldman Sachs Group Inc (GS) and Banca IMI of Intesa Sanpaolo SpA (ISP.MI) are the joint global coordinators of a possible sale.

• Warren Buffett buys GM stake, trims Intel
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• ResCap is bankrupt. Board of Directors Approves Chapter 11
• Official: Audi buys Ducati for $1.1 billion
• Mahindra may drop plan to buy Saab because of GM
• Investindustrial plans to sell Ducati
• Hero MotoCorp might buy Ducati

• Warren Buffett buys GM stake, trims Intel
• Thai Floods: Honda restarts motorcycle production in Thailand
• ResCap is bankrupt. Board of Directors Approves Chapter 11
• Official: Audi buys Ducati for $1.1 billion
• Mahindra may drop plan to buy Saab because of GM
• Investindustrial plans to sell Ducati
• Hero MotoCorp might buy Ducati