Deere & Company 8-K Announces: Buys Remaining Equity in Nortrax, Inc.

-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE----- Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov Originator-Key-Asymmetric: MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA, E0gxxfWBVUQ4W906GplAAohiUztRgi/yKv5V2Nc31so3PnitEi3Esp1h3aaWaDcE M4BlBJoeshD06W+ZritbPA== 0000315189-03-000141.txt : 20031215 0000315189-03-000141.hdr.sgml : 20031215 20031215165951 ACCESSION NUMBER: 0000315189-03-000141 CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: 8-K PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 3 CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT: 20031215 ITEM INFORMATION: Other events FILED AS OF DATE: 20031215 FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: DEERE & CO CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0000315189 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: FARM MACHINERY & EQUIPMENT [3523] IRS NUMBER: 362382580 STATE OF INCORPORATION: DE FISCAL YEAR END: 1031 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: 8-K SEC ACT: 1934 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 001-04121 FILM NUMBER: 031055143 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: ONE JOHN DEERE PLACE CITY: MOLINE STATE: IL ZIP: 61265-8098 BUSINESS PHONE: (309) 765-5688 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: ONE JOHN DEERE PLACE CITY: MOLINE STATE: IL ZIP: 61265-8098 8-K 1 emi8khtml.htm DEERE & CO. 8-K ANNOUNCES: BUYS REMAINING EQUITY IN NORTRAX, INC. Deere & Company 8-K Announces: Buys Remaining Equity in Nortrax, Inc.

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549


	FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the

Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report: December 15, 2003
(Date of earliest event reported)

D E E R E & C O M P A N Y

(Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)

DELAWARE
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)

1-4121
(Commission File Number)

36-2382580
(IRS Employer Identification No.)

One John Deere Place
Moline, Illinois 61265
(Address of principal executive offices and zip code)

(309)765-8000
(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)

______________________________________________

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report.)

Item 5.	Other Events

	The following is the text of a press release issued by Deere & Company 15 December 2003.

	Deere & Company One John Deere Place Moline, IL 61265 USA Phone: 309-765-8000 www.deere.com

NEWS RELEASE: December 15, 2003

For more information: Ken Golden Manager, Public Relations Deere & Company 309-765-5678

Deere To Buy Remaining Equity in Nortrax, Inc.

MOLINE, IL (December 15, 2003) - Deere & Company announced today that it will acquire an additional 42 percent of Nortrax, Inc. from Credit Suisse First Boston Equity Partners, L.P., and affiliates for $112 million on December 16, 2003. Furthermore, the Company intends to purchase the remaining equity in Nortrax during 2004 for an additional $55 million. Nortrax, Inc. was formed in 1999 to acquire and improve John Deere dealerships in construction and forestry equipment.

Today's announcement increases Deere's ownership in Nortrax, Inc. to 83 percent as of December 16, 2003. Deere said it plans to purchase the remaining 17 percent equity in Nortrax, Inc. and the remaining 60 percent interest in Nortrax Investments, Inc. as call options mature in March 2004.

John Deere (Deere & Company -NYSE:DE) is the world's leading manufacturer of agricultural and forestry equipment and a leading supplier of equipment used in construction and in lawn, grounds and turf care. Additionally, John Deere manufactures engines used in heavy equipment and provides financial services and other related activities that support the core businesses.

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Signature

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereto duly authorized.

	DEERE & COMPANY

	By:	/s/ JAMES H. BECHT James H. Becht Secretary

Dated: December 15, 2003

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