SLEAFORD-based Simba International has new owners after the company was acquired by Great Plains Manufacturing Inc, of Salina, Kansas, USA.
The two companies began talks with a view to entering into a reciprocal trade agreement that it was hoped would open up sales opportunities for Simba products throughout North America through Great Plains' extensive dealer network, while also providing Simba with a broad range of seeding and planting equipment for its Central and Eastern European distribution network. As more detailed discussions between the two companies took place, however, it became apparent that the best way for both companies to achieve these objectives would be for Great Plains to acquire 100% of the shares of Simba International Ltd. Great Plains made an offer that was accepted by Simba's board and the deal was completed on April 30.
    Great Plains is the largest non-tractor, privately-owned agricultural implement manufacturing company in the US. It manufactures a broad line of products including tillage equipment, grain drills, air seeders, planters, trailed sprayers, compact tractor implements and zero-turn self-propelled mowers.
    Great Plains' factories are located on eight sites in central Kansas. The company employs about 1,000 people, has 116,000 square metres of modern manufacturing facilities, its own finance division and a fleet of 60 articulated lorries. The company has a very strong dealer network across North America and has enjoyed growing success overseas.
    In recent years Eastern Europe has become a strong market. Great Plains has sales and service locations in Ukraine, Southern Russia and Bulgaria.
    While Simba adds many world-class products to the Great Plains line-up, Great Plains also gets a team of people experienced in the design, marketing and selling of cultivation and seeding equipment throughout Western Europe. The acquisition also brings with it a production facility in Lincolnshire that will provide a good manufacturing and marketing location from which to base its growing European presence.

The Great Plains 8m Turbo-Till Series II cultivator.

    Great Plains is a 34-year-old family-owned business. Roy Applequist, the founder and owner, is the company's President. His son-in-law, Daniel Rauchholz, is President of Great Plains International and was a key driver in making this acquisition happen.
    Following the deal, former Simba chairman Rod Daffern retired, as he had planned to do, with Guy Leversha stepping up to become managing director. Dorothy Lyth, Simon Revell and Colin Adams remain as directors at Simba and are joined on the board by Daniel Rauchholz.
    It is the intention of the combined companies to offer all of Europe a broad range of tillage, seeding and planting equipment. Both companies are also active in other countries worldwide.
    The current agreement that Simba has with Horsch GmbH will ensure Simba's UK dealers have a proven range of cultivator drills and tined cultivators available exclusively throughout 2010 to March 2011 when the current marketing agreement expires.

For more information visit: www.simba.co.uk or www.greatplainsmfg.com.