s previously reported on July 11, 2008, Harley-Davidson announced that it was acquiring Italian motorcycle manufacturer MV Agusta. That purchase has now been completed for $39 million (25 million euros) plus the assumption of another $69 million (45 million euros) of debt. H-D already has a solid presence in Europe but this acquisition further consolidates their position and diversifies their market into the high-performance sportbike arena.

This is actually The Motor Co.'s second foray into ownership of an Italian company. In 1960, H-D acquired 50% of Aermacchi, with the other 50% purchased in 1974. Aermacchi motorcycles, with two-stroke engines displacing between 125cc and 350cc, we're rebadged and sold as Harley-Davidsons. H-D even won the 250cc GP World Championship with those bikes with racer Walter Villa in 1974, 1975 and 1976. H-D, under the control of AMF, sold Aermacchi to Cagiva in 1978.