03/07/07
The investment being made by AGCO Corporation to form a 50:50
joint venture with ARGO SpA for the production of combine harvesters,
has been welcomed by ARGO’s president Valerio Morra as a
vote of confidence in the competence of the Laverda business.
Laverda M306
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“This agreement is important recognition of the quality
and professional capabilities we have developed in Laverda over
the years,” he says. “The joint venture is in the best
interests of the two companies and we are confident we have found
common ground and interests with a partner that shares the same
objectives as ARGO.”
Laverda is a major producer of combine harvesters in Europe, making
more than 700 machines last year. The company and its wholly-owned
subsidiary Fella-Werke, which makes grass harvesting equipment
in Germany, generated a sales turnover of €133 million (£90
million).
Under the agreement, which remains subject to approval by European
Union competition authorities, the US-based AGCO Corporation will
invest in a 50% shareholding in Laverda SpA to create a joint-venture
business headed by Mr Morra.
In continuation of an OEM supply agreement begun in 2004, Laverda
will manufacture combine harvesters at its engineering and production
facility in Breganze, northern Italy, for distribution by AGCO.
It will also continue to make the full line of Laverda combines
distributed through the company’s own dealer network.
“Laverda combines have a well-deserved reputation for durability
and a technical specification that is traditional, effective and
reliable,” says Andrea Ugatti, export manager for the UK. “Our
specialist dealers continue to support customers with parts and
service for the Laverda combines operating on British farms, while
also supplying new combines to new and existing Laverda users.”
The specialist dealers in Britain are Michael Garwood at Alton
in Hampshire, covering southern England; Burgess Group, which has
several branches serving the Midlands and Wales; and Yorkshire-based
Wilfred Scruton, with branches at Driffield and near York, handling
Laverda sales and service in the north of England.
The range is led by the high performance Laverda M Series with engine
power outputs of up to 335hp while the LCS and REV ranges provide
a choice of performance and specification levels to suit professional
and smaller farm users alike.
Note:
ARGO SpA is a privately-owned group based in
Italy that in addition to Laverda combine harvesters produces Landini,
McCormick and Valpadana tractors, Fella grass machinery and Pegoraro
cultivation implements.
AGCO Corporation is a US-based agricultural equipment
manufacturer.
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