The High Plains/Midwest Ag Journal reports Kubota Corporation, Osaka, Japan, parent company to Kubota U.S.A., Inc. of Torrance, California, announced it has entered into an agreement to purchase Great Plains Manufacturing, Inc., based in Salina, Kansas, according to a news release issued by the companies.
Once final, the purchase will expand the company’s long-time partnership with Land Pride and will include all five Great Plains divisions with multiple facilities in Kansas and a manufacturing plant in Sleaford, England. A sales price was not announced.
“This acquisition aligns with our long-term strategic vision to continue our market expansion and provide high-quality products and comprehensive solutions for our customers,” said Masato Yoshikawa, president and CEO of Kubota Tractor Corp. “Great Plains and Kubota share a common set of values in that we both were founded four decades ago on a reputation for quality, innovation and engineering excellence. We believe these synergies will continue to add value for our dealers and our customers for many years to come.”
For the foreseeable future, all five Great Plains divisions will continue to operate as they have been with their infrastructure intact, the news release stated.
“Once final, this acquisition is going to lead to great advancements for both businesses without being a significant change for our people,” according to Todd Stucke, senior vice president of sales, marketing and product support for Kubota. “We intend to respect the distinctiveness of the brands, trademarks and operational strengths. Doing so will allow employees, dealers and customers to do business with the same great companies they have come to know and trust.”
Roy Applequist, Great Plains’ founder and chairman will remain on the leadership team to help guide the operations and facilitate a seamless transition.
“My plan is to play a significant role in helping Great Plains become a vital part of the Kubota family,” Applequist said. “Great Plains’ leadership position in the agricultural implement business has been earned by striving to do our best in satisfying our customers’ needs, and we are confident that teaming up with Kubota will allow us to continue to uphold this tradition.”
Partnering with Applequist in overseeing and managing the transition is Linda Salem, president of Great Plains Manufacturing. “I’ve worked alongside Roy for 26 years, and I intend to carry forward the entrepreneurial and successful legacy that he has created at Great Plains,” Salem stated. “I’ve also worked collaboratively with Kubota for over 10 years, which has allowed us to create a foundation for a strong working relationship that we will continue to build as we move forward.”
The partnership further builds on Kubota’s presence in Kansas where the company recently announced the establishment of its North American Distribution Center in Edgerton, Kansas, which serves as the primary distribution hub for Kubota parts and whole goods distribution across the U.S. and Canada.
