Caterpillar and Bucyrus Interna-tional have announced that they have entered into an agreement under which Caterpillar will acquire Bucyrus International in a transaction valued at approximately $8.6 billion (including net debt). The acquisition is based on Caterpillar’s key strategic imperative to expand its leadership in the mining equipment industry, and positions Caterpillar to capitalize on the robust long-term outlook for commodities driven by the trend of rapid growth in emerging markets, which are improving infrastructure, rapidly developing urban areas and industrializing their economies.

The transaction is expected to close in mid-2011. Caterpillar intends to locate its mining business headquarters in South Milwaukee, Wis., where Bucyrus headquarters currently is located, and maintain the Bucyrus brand for the principal Bucyrus legacy products.

“For several years, mining customers have been asking us to expand our range of products and services to better serve their increasingly complex requirements,” says Caterpillar chairman and CEO, Doug Oberhelman. “This announcement says to those customers that we heard you loud and clear. It is a strong statement about our belief in the bright future of the mining industry. Our strategy calls for disciplined investment in attractive industries that value our product and service delivery model. Our performance through the global economic turmoil of 2008-2009 allowed us to emerge with a strong balance sheet and the ability to make strategic investments in companies like Bucyrus.”

Tim Sullivan, Bucyrus president and CEO, says, “This is an outstanding and financially compelling transaction for our shareholders. More fundamentally, it is a testament to the tremendous value our talented team of employees has created over the past several years, and to the strength of our brand in the global mining machinery marketplace. I am confident that we have found an excellent partner in Caterpillar. We are very pleased that Caterpillar has committed to locate its mining business headquarters in Milwaukee, and we are confident that the combined global platform will be extremely well positioned to capitalize on the substantial growth opportunities in this market in the years ahead.”