French weekly Moto Journal (July 5 issue, page 10) says that takeover or JV speculations were actually triggered by a report in the electronic version of the FinancialTimes (June 12) about the visit two Harley Davidson representatives had paid Ducatilast May.
Ducati would since have acknowledged the visit but denied that it was about bringing the two companies together.
Yes that one has been going around too. It seems Ducati is at least operating in the black now and probably will be for the next few years so it could cost HD some cash.