Rostselmash, Russia’s largest producer of agricultural combine harvesters, has acquired its first foreign asset, the Canadian tractor-maker Buhler Industries. Rostselmash will pay CA$143,3 million in the next five years for about 80% of the common stock in the company.
Established in 1929 at Rostov-on-Don, has produced more than two million combine harvesters including 5 200 sold in 2006. The company has a dealer network with over 220 outlets in 17 countries. Buhler Industries designs, manufactures and distributes agricultural equipment under the Buhler brand name, including the Farm King, Allied, Inland and Versatile product lines.
In 2006 turnover was CA$168 million. Versatile tractors are in the 220kW to 400kW range, and 193 were sold to Russia last year. The company operates 10 modern manufacturing plants and eight distribution centres in the US and Canada.
Visit www.buhler.com and www.rostselmash.com/eng. – Joe Spencer
