2007 News Releases and Information

CARY, North Carolina (December 18, 2007) — As John Deere kicks off a new fiscal year, its golf business is reinvigorated and growing with the finalization of its merger with LESCO.

"We are excited our plans have come to fruition and we now have a more robust, in-house offering for golf industry professionals," said Gregg Breningmeyer, director of sales and marketing, John Deere Golf. "We have successfully merged the John Deere and LESCO golf organizations and are poised to provide our customers with the quality equipment, irrigation and agronomic products they've come to expect from our team, along with the high-level of support they deserve."

With this merger, John Deere Golf has added approximately 150 agronomic experts to its sales and support organization, including golf sales representatives and the widely popular Stores-on-Wheels (which will be co-branded John Deere and LESCO in the near future). And, according to internal sources, there are near- and long-term plans in place to grow the business – in terms of products, personnel and locations.

"We've looked at where additional support is needed and we've put in place a two-year plan to reach out to many customers who've previously not had access to our agronomic products," Breningmeyer said. In 2008 John Deere plans to add resources in several underserved regions of the country.

"Even as we grow, customers can count on getting what they've come to appreciate from both John Deere and LESCO," remarked Breningmeyer. "We have taken all the resources and products from LESCO, combined them with most of our former One Source partners' products, and made them easier to acquire through additional distribution points."

Agronomic products, including LESCO brands, will be available through golf sales representatives, Stores-on-Wheels and John Deere Landscapes Gold Branches, while equipment and irrigation products are available through John Deere Golf distributors.

"Golf course professionals can look to John Deere for the quality equipment and enduring support needed when building or maintaining a golf course," continued Breningmeyer. "If it's irrigation, we have the right experts and products to design a water management solution. Our broad equipment line provides options to meet most mowing and maintenance needs. And John Deere in-house personnel have the knowledge to help find the right agronomic mix to make a course the best it can be.

"All of these products and services are backed by dedicated golf personnel in manufacturing and distribution, along with the financing and parts service to keep a course running smoothly."

John Deere (Deere & Company - NYSE: DE) is the world's leading provider of advanced products and services for agriculture and forestry and a major provider of advanced products and services for construction, lawn and turf care, landscaping and irrigation. John Deere also provides financial services worldwide and manufactures and markets engines used in heavy equipment. Since it was founded in 1837, the company has extended its heritage of integrity, quality, commitment and innovation around the globe.