Caterpillar unit to buy Electro-Motive Diesel

Progress Rail Services, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Caterpillar Inc.,  has signed a definitive agreement to purchase Electro-Motive Diesel (EMD) for $820 million in cash from Berkshire Partners LLC and Greenbriar Equity Group LLC.

Upon completion of the transaction, EMD will become a wholly-owned subsidiary of Progress Rail.

Progress Rail Services is one of the largest providers of rail and transit products
and services in North America, including: locomotive upgrade and repair, railcar
remanufacturing, trackwork, rail welding, rail repair and replacement, signal design and installation, maintenance of way equipment, parts reclamation and recycling.

With 2009 revenues of $1.8 billion, EMD has the largest installed base of diesel-electric locomotives in the world and offers the most extensive range of locomotive products in the rail and transit industry, according to a company statement.

“We feel this is an ideal fit for EMD and our customers and we look forward to
developing and providing an even greater portfolio of products and services for the rail
and transit industry that we have proudly served for more than 85 years,” said John S.
Hamilton, president and CEO of Electro-Motive Diesel.