Bauer Built Inc. has bought Fulton, Ill.-based tire distributor U.S. Wholesale Inc. from The Zurcher Group.
Financial details of the deal have not been disclosed.
The acquisition gives Bauer exclusive rights to distribute Michelin and BFGoodrich brand farm tires in Iowa, Nebraska, Wisconsin and parts of Minnesota, territories formerly under U.S. Wholesale's control.
U.S. Wholesale, launched in 1995, was instrumental in setting up Michelin North America (MNA) Inc.'s radial farm tire dealer network throughout several key midwestern states three years ago. The group also wholesales passenger, light truck and commercial truck tires.
It reported nearly $13 million in sales last year despite several management shake-ups.
U.S. Wholesale has a main office and warehouse in Fulton, Ill., plus it operates a satellite office in Lincoln, Neb.
Bauer Built, based in Durand, Wis., is the sixth largest independent commercial tire dealership in the United States, according to Modern Tire Dealer statistics.
Michelin ag tires enjoy 4% of the domestic radial farm tire replacement market and .5% of the domestic OE farm market; BFGoodrich farm tires comprise 1.5% of the domestic replacement market.
