Having already achieved OE status with Honda, Yamaha and Suzuki, Italy’s family-controlled brake caliper and rotor manufacturer Brembo is about to add the last of the Japanese Big Four to its client roster.
While declining to give details, Brembo deputy chairman Matteo Tiraboschi has said this deal will be announced soon. A Kawasaki Heavy Industries spokesman separately confirmed the group would be using Brembo brakes as OE fitment on some of its motorcycles.
Revelations of an impending Kawasaki connection follow release of Brembo’s first-half financial results. In the first six months of 2014, revenue increased by 18.2 per cent to £715.2m. Operating profit grew by 63.9 per cent to £72.1m. Net profit was up by 48 per cent to £50.8m.
Brembo signed agreements with Suzuki and Yamaha in 2012 and Honda a year later. Besides leading Italian bike brands such as Moto Guzzi, Aprilia and Ducati, it also a source of components for Harley-Davidson, Triumph and BMW Motorrad. About 70 per cent of its output is to major European and US car manufacturers.
Although Brembo is listed on the Borsa Italia in Milan, the Bombassei family still owns 53.5 per cent of the business. It was founded by Emilio Bombassei, father of current chairman Alberto Bombassei.