WIESBADEN, Germany - Komatsu and Linde signed an agreement whereby each company will own a part of each other's fork lift and warehouse operations. The transaction involves Komatsu's subsidiary Komatsu Forklight taking a 10 percent stake in Linde's Italian unit Fiat GM and Linde taking a 10 percent holding in Komatsu Forklift. Komatsu will market Linde products in Japan under its own name while Fiat will market specified Komatsu products in Europe.

Also, Komatsu will supply Linde Truck Lift in North America with products designed specifically for the U.S. market, and Linde will manufacture Komatsu fork lifts at its plant in Xiamen, China.