Niederweningen, 03 February 2005

Bucher Industries is taking over Companhia de Implementos Agricolas MTS, a member of the Brazilian Metasa Group in Passo Fundo, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, for the extension of its Kuhn Group Division. Both Kuhn Group and Metasa are leaders in complementary fields of specialized agricultural machinery. The transaction will strengthen the presence of Kuhn Group in the upcoming Latin American markets. The transaction price will be treated confidential.

The company, renamed in Kuhn Metasa, is a major provider of seeding machines for large agricultural enterprises in Latin America, especially Brazil. Kuhn Metasa produces a wide range of precision seeders in Passo Fundo in the south of Brazil. In 2004, the highly profitable and rapidly growing company with 440 employees, achieved sales of approximately 35 million CHF. The innovative product program of Kuhn Metasa, the new, modern manufacturing infrastructure, and the well-established, efficient marketing and sales organization offer an excellent platform for Kuhn Group to build a strong market position in South America and to sell its largely complementary product program. The transaction also provides an ideal basis for exporting Kuhn Metasa products through the marketing organization of Kuhn Group.

Kuhn Metasa plans to also distribute Kuhn products in Brazil through its existing sales organization. The current management of the company will continue to manage the business of Kuhn Metasa with Mario Wagner holding the position of General Manager and Paulo Montagner as Engineering Manager.

Kuhn Group, the largest Division of Bucher Industries, is the worldwide leading supplier of specialized agricultural machinery under one single trademark. With its main product lines including hay and forage harvesting, feed mixing and arable farming machinery, Kuhn Group achieved sales of 712 million CHF with 2 475 employees in 2004.

Bucher Industries is a globally operating industrial group, with leading market positions in special fields of the engineering and automotive industries. Its product offer comprises specialized agricultural machinery, municipal vehicles, wine and fruit juice production plants, hydraulic components, and container glass production plants. In 2004, Bucher Industries had approximately 5 800 employees and achieved group sales of 1.64 billion CHF. The group is listed on the SWX Swiss Exchange (SWX: BUC).

Contact
Philip Mosimann, CEO
Roger Baillod, CFO
Phone +41 44 857 22 07