Kukje, Montana & Branson Sign Letter Of Intent For Joint Venture

South Korea’s Kukje Machinery Co., Ltd, Branson Tractors, Inc., and Montana Tractors, LLC, Springdale, AR, announced the signing of a letter of intent for potential joint venture including the merger of Branson Tractors and Montana Tractors to form a North American entity to distribute farm tractors in North America.

The potential joint venture, the companies said, is expected to be a more powerful player in the North American tractor market in coming years by consolidating distribution-based Montana and manufacturing-based Branson. By forming joint forces through extensive dealership networks of both companies, the new entity will be a strong competitor to other players in North America.

Kukje Machinery is an affiliate company of Donkuk Steel Mill, a steel products manufacturing group in South Korea. It manufactures tractors, combines, rice transplanters as well as diesel engines. Kukje Machinery is currently distributing its 21 to 65 horsepower tractors in North America through its wholly owned U.S. subsidiary, Branson Tractors, with over 210 dealer networks.