Hammer rumour: Red Bull heir Mateschitz to save KTM

As the Salzburger Nachrichten first reported today, Red Bull heir Mark Mateschitz could soon extend his helping hand towards KTM. The Upper Austrian motorcycle and sports car manufacturer is currently struggling with a massive liquidity bottleneck. 4,700 employees are trembling for their jobs. They must already be prepared for part-time work in January and February. 300 jobs will be cut. In order to cover the acute need for money and get back on its feet, KTM needs at least a three-digit million amount.

In order to cover the acute need for money and get back on its feet, KTM needs at least a three-digit million amount. In talks with creditors and banks, the company is seeking a standstill agreement. The temporary waiver of debt repayment would buy KTM much-needed time. However, the two major shareholders Stefan Pierer, CEO of Pierer Industrie AG and main owner of KTM, and the Bjaj Group, India's largest motorcycle and car manufacturer, are still responsible.

And now it gets a little complicated for a moment: Together, Bjaj and Pierer hold almost 75 percent of the company with their "Pierer Bjaja". With 50.1 percent, Pierer has a wafer-thin majority. Keeping this seems to be an impossibility at the moment. The native Styrian would have to inject the same amount of capital as the Indian partner.

It is therefore rumoured that KTM could soon be transferred to a new ownership structure – for example, by Pierer bringing a new investor on board. In the Salzburger Nachrichten, a name is already being circulated for this: None other than Red Bull heir Mark Mateschitz is to step in.

Pierer and Mateschitz have already ventured into a project together. In June 2024, it was announced that the newly founded Robau Beteiligungsverwaltung GmbH, which is backed by Mateschitz and Pierer as well as Raiffeisenlandesbank Oberösterreich (RLB OÖ), will subscribe for 3.4 million shares of Rosenbauer. This corresponds to an investment of around 119 million euros and a share of about one third in the company. It was only at the beginning of the week that the EU Commission gave the green light for the mega-deal.

As the SN has learned, there has been an increase in coordination between Red Bull and KTM recently. Nothing new, according to KTM. The company has a long-standing partnership in motorsport with the Salzburg-based energy drink manufacturer. Of course, they talk to each other regularly.

Nonsense, the insider told the SN. The talks, which were scheduled at short notice, are also said to have dealt with questions about the business model. Red Bull does not want to comment on the rumours.