At the first meeting of the newly constituted MV Agusta board on November 15, a capital increase of €30million was agreed - the sum KTM paid to acquire its minority shareholding in the company. As part of this alliance, KTM took charge of purchasing all components needed to manufacture MV Agusta's entire range of models, as well as responsibility for marketing, distribution and after-sales service on a global basis outside Italy.
At that stage, no agreement was revealed for Pierer to assume a majority shareholding in the company, although on October 24, 2023 an option was granted to KTM AG to acquire a majority stake in MV Agusta, which would be exercised in Spring 2026 based on a satisfactory financial statement as of December 31, 2025. But, in March this year, it was announced that Pierer would be exercising that call option prematurely, with immediate effect and, two years earlier than envisaged, would acquire a further 25% of the shares to take outright 50.10% control of MV Agusta, for an unrevealed cash amount. Hubert Trunkenpolz, 62, a long-time member of the Executive Board of Pierer Mobility, would take over the role of CEO and Chairman of the Board of Directors from Timur Sardarov who, while retaining 49.90% of MV equity, would continue to serve the company as Vice-Chairman, brand ambassador and consultant.
The chance to interview Hubert Trunkenpolz - whose family name denotes the 'T' in KTM, and who has been associated with Stefan Pierer since he rescued KTM from bankruptcy in December 1991 - about Pierer Mobility's plans for Italy's most historic manufacturer, winner of 270 Grand Prix races, 38 World Riders' Championships, and 37 World Constructors' Championships, came by visiting the historic MV Agusta factory at Schiranna, on the shores of Lake Varese. Here's what he had to say.
AC: Hubert, why did KTM AG purchase a majority shareholding in MV Agusta?
This story is from the September 2024 edition of Motorcycle Sport & Leisure.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the September 2024 edition of Motorcycle Sport & Leisure.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Honda CRF1100L ES Africa Twin
Without panniers he was adventuring nowhere - so at least Bertie's got something sorted now
BMW R 12 nineT
Chad gets a track day surprise when BMW's R 12 nineT turns out to be surprisingly fun on track
Test fleet: VOGE 525 DSX
After testing the Voge's abilities on a long ride, it was time to take it to the Cotswolds and see how it would manage on the rougher stuff
Portuguese Perambulations
Nearly over before it had begun, a brief workshop stint allows Spain and Portugal to be explored
Highway to Heaven
Three friends take on the challenge of riding the length of Canada, from Vancouver in the southwest to Inuvik in the north. The road is long, the conditions merciless, and wildfires are tearing through the country. To top it all off, the final leg of the journey is the ultimate test of gravel riding skills, nerves, and courage - it's the legendary Dempster Highway...
Battlaxes at the ready!
We tend to take tyres for granted, never really looking at them in any detail, or at how they work, just hoping that they keep us shiny side up at all times. Even in the wet
Ducati Riding Experience
When I rode the Ducati DesertX to France last year, I did have a bit of an explore on some easy fire roads and gentle green lanes in the wilds of the Médoc area, but was left with the feeling that, had I the experience, the DesertX would have been capable of taking me along some more extreme trails to some even more exciting places. If only there was a way of finding out just how well the Italian adventure bike could cope with some more extreme terrain...
Four pot flyer
Many said that sports bikes, and particularly bikes in the traditional Supersports class that was populated by 600cc inline fours, were dead. Maybe they spoke too soon?...
Eastern adventurer
With an increasing interest in smaller capacity adventure bikes, the market expands with a new entry
First Time Lucky?
It's ironic that the first all-new MV Agusta model to hit the marketplace right after Italy's No.1 trophy brand was acquired by Austrian giant Pierer Mobility, owner of off-road titans KTM, should be the company's first dual-purpose model of the modern era, powered by MV's all-new 931cc three-cylinder engine that's destined to form the basis of a whole series of new models in coming months and years.
