The Italian scooter manufacturer PIAGGIO (turnover EUR 1.04 billion in 2000 with 480,000 units sold under the brand names "Piaggio", "Vespa" and "Gilera") has signed an agreement providing for the acquisition of 20% of the capital of its compatriot MV AGUSTA (turnover by way of EUR 124 million in 2000 with 23,000 motorcycles produced). The agreement will take the form of a capital increase reserved to PIAGGIO.