Peoria, Ill.-based Caterpillar Inc. this week announced that the Industrial Division of Sime Darby Berhad has acquired a portion of the former Bucyrus distribution business, which was included in Caterpillar’s purchase of Bucyrus. The transaction, valued at approximately $360 million, encompasses the Sime Darby Industrial Cat dealerships operated by Hastings Deering in Queensland and the Northern Territory of Australia, Papua New Guinea and New Caledonia.

This deal marks the first of several that are expected to transition the product distribution and support of former Bucyrus machinery to Cat dealers that support mining customers around the world. While not part of the transaction, Caterpillar also intends to start selling former Bucyrus mining products through Sime Darby's other Cat dealerships.

Following Caterpillar’s acquisition of Bucyrus, the company made two key strategicdecisions; utilize the Cat brand, and dealers would be best suited to sell and support former Bucyrus mining products.

“Cat dealers have a proven track record in helping customers realize the highest productivity and lowest owning and operating costs, and many mining customers have told us how important the dealers are to their success,” said Steve Wunning, Caterpillar group president with responsibility for Resource Industries. “Wherever there is mining, Caterpillar and our dealers will be there to serve our mining customers.”

Hastings Deering, the principal Australian subsidiary of Sime Darby Industrial, has a significant field population of former Bucyrus machines in its territories. As part of the deal, nearly 400 former Bucyrus employees are expected to transition to Hastings Deering, bringing the dealer’s total employment to more than 4,000 employees with a continued focus on providing uninterrupted service to customers.

“We are very excited to be the first Cat dealership to take on the former Bucyrus distribution business,” said Scott Cameron, Sime Darby executive vice president who heads up Sime Darby Industrial. “The addition of the former Bucyrus product line is a unique and exciting opportunity to grow Sime Darby Industrial’s presence in the region and offer mining customers an unparalleled range of products and services.”

Caterpillar is currently holding discussions with other Cat dealers that have mining activity in their territories. Caterpillar will continue to operate the former Bucyrus distribution business in a given dealer’s territory until the transitions have occurred.

Sime Darby is a Malaysia-based diversified multinational involved in key growth sectors, namely, plantations, property, motors, industrial equipment, energy & utilities and healthcare. Sime Darby’s Industrial Division ranks amongst the largest Cat dealership groups, with more than 100 branches in 10 countries throughout the Asia Pacific region.

Hastings Deering is the Cat dealer in Queensland, Northern Territory, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands and New Caledonia and is a member of the Sime Darby Industrial Division.

With 22 branches throughout its Caterpillar territories, it will have nearly 4,000 employees following this acquisition from Caterpillar.