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Doosan Infracore has agreed to acquire Bobcat, the world's largest
compact construction equipment business, positioning Doosan Infracore
as one of the top seven global construction equipment companies.
On July 29, 2007 U.S. EST, Doosan Infracore announced that it
entered into a definitive agreement to acquire three businesses
of Ingersoll-Rand Company Ltd (Ingersoll Rand), comprising the Bobcat
compact equipment business (Bobcat), the utility equipment business
(Utility Equipment), and the attachments business (Attachments),
for US$4.9 billion. The signing took place in New York City and
was attended by Vice Chairman Yongmaan Park of Doosan Infracore
and Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer Herbert L. Henkel
of Ingersoll Rand.
The Bobcat, Utility Equipment and Attachments businesses have
an established network of over 2,700 dealers in the U.S. and Worldwide
and operate 16 manufacturing plants in six countries around the
globe. In 2006 the three businesses generated approximately US$2.6
billion in sales and US$370 million in operating profits and currently
maintain the highest world market share in their respective business
sectors. The "Bobcat" name is well recognized worldwide
as a leading construction equipment brand.
Doosan Infracore's primary objective of the acquisition is to
enhance its overall product portfolio by adding compact construction
equipment to its existing medium and large-scale construction equipment
product lines and to help expand and strengthen Doosan Infracore's
global manufacturing and sales networks. The acquisition also provides
Doosan Infracore with world-class technologies and brand names.
Upon completion of this transaction, Doosan Infracore will have
a combined network of over 3,700 dealers worldwide and 20 manufacturing
plants in countries such as the U.S., China, Belgium, France and
the Czech Republic. As a result, Doosan Infracore will be well positioned
to become a market leader in the U.S., Europe and China. Pro forma
for the transaction, Doosan Infracore's sales will be approximately
US$7.4 billion, which will improve the Company's worldwide ranking
from 19th to 7th in the construction equipment sector.
It is also Doosan Infracore's objective to secure world-class
talent and R&D capability. The acquired businesses are already
considered to be leading global companies and Doosan Infracore intends
to run the businesses with the current management and employees
going forward.
Yongmaan Park, the Vice-Chairman of Doosan Infracore, commented:
"The businesses we are acquiring have outstanding management
personnel and engineers, which we consider to be the most important
criteria of our acquisition strategy. We therefore plan to maintain
the current management to best utilize their expertise and skills
in an effort to evolve Doosan Infracore into truly a global company."
Vice Chairman Park added that, by making maximum use of synergies
from the acquisition of Bobcat, Doosan Infracore will endeavor to
rank in the top 5 globally in construction equipment by 2010.
As part of its global vision, Doosan Infracore has continuously
pursued and completed significant overseas M&A transactions.
Recently completed transactions include the acquisition of a Chinese
manufacturer of Wheel loaders and CTI, an U.S. Company specializing
in environmentally friendly engine technologies.
A majority of the financing for this acquisition is being arranged
on a target level basis, non-recourse to Doosan Infracore and as
a result Doosan Infracore will be assuming US$700 million in incremental
indebtedness to complete the transaction.
Citi acted as financial advisor and Kim & Chang and Paul Weiss
acted as legal advisors to Doosan Infracore in this transaction.
David McMurray General Manager Bobcat Australia (A business unit
of Clark Equipment Sales), distributor of Bobcat products in Australia
& Oceania. "Welcomes the new owners and offers the full
support of our extensive dealer network and the continued growth
of the Bobcat Brand".
For more information contact Bobcat Australia on 1800 643 853 or
visit www.bobcat.com.au
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