Despite the economic downturn which began last year, Ducati Motor Holding was able to boost both its revenue and operating profit, according to the company's first balance sheet since being taken off the stock market after returning to private hands in 2008.
Turnover for 2008 was put at 469.2 million euros, up from 398.2 million euros in the previous year, while operating profit or EBITDA (earnings before tax, interest, depreciation and amortization) rose from 55 million euros to 76.5 million euros.
In presenting the 2008 results, Ducati Chairman and CEO Gabriele Del Torchio said he hoped 2009 would see only a ''modest decline'' in earnings but said it was too early to predict any profits.
So far this year Ducati has been able to keep its losses below those of the motorcycle sector in general with year-on-year sales in March dropping 12% compared to 21% for the sector, while April should see some improvement thanks to government incentives to boost the motor vehicle sector in general.
Since last year Ducati has been privately owned by Performance Motorcycles SpA, an investment vehicle made up of Investindustrial Holding Spa, BS Investments and Hospitals of Ontario Pension.
Investindustrial Holdings is the company which returned Ducati to Italian hands by acquiring it in 2005 from the American equity fund Texas Pacific.
It was Texas Pacific which bought Ducati from Italy's Cagiva Motorcycles in 1996 and took it public.
