Japanese company becomes majority partner of Ariens

Ariens Company released the following press release about Yanmar, a Japanese company becoming a major stakeholder, on Thursday, Sept. 3.

BRILLION, WI / OSAKA, JAPAN – Yanmar Holdings Co., Ltd. (“Yanmar”) and AriensCo today announced a strategic partnership that unites two multigenerational family-owned businesses to accelerate the development of next-generation technologies and deliver even greater value for dealers, customers and partners of both companies. Through the combination, Yanmar, a Japan-based manufacturer of engines, agricultural machinery and energy systems, becomes the majority partner in AriensCo, a family-owned manufacturer of outdoor power equipment. The Ariens family will retain a significant stake in the business and lead operations and strategy for the company from its existing headquarters in Brillion, Wisconsin.

Both companies will continue operating as usual under their respective brands, from their current headquarters, with the same teams, and with their manufacturing and distribution networks intact. Ariens®, Gravely®, AS-Motor® and all associated brands will uphold their commitments to dealers, customers, employees and communities.

“Strong relationships have always been at the core of AriensCo’s strategy, and we are confident this new partnership with Yanmar is the right next step to position our company as an R&D leader while maintaining the same commitments to quality and longevity that have always distinguished our brands,” said Dan Ariens, Chairman & CEO, AriensCo. “As a family business with a history spanning more than 100 years, Yanmar shares our belief that family ownership is a competitive advantage. This partnership provides continuity by keeping family ownership at the heart of AriensCo. It allows both companies to look beyond short-term business performance to deliver long-term value to our dealers, customers, partners and communities around the world. We are stronger together.”

The partnership positions Yanmar and AriensCo to lead the development of next-generation industrial power equipment as automation, artificial intelligence, electrification and complex global supply chains transform the industry. Yanmar’s world-class engineering, production and diagnostic capabilities, alongside AriensCo’s established North American and European manufacturing and distribution networks, enable the partners to compete at scale while staying grounded in the quality, longevity and trust that have defined both companies for decades.

The partnership is also expected to create new opportunities for AriensCo’s nationwide dealer network. Over time, dealers may benefit from broader product and technology capabilities, enhanced service and diagnostic resources, and access to Yanmar’s global business network. AriensCo will continue to emphasize the personal, relationship-based service that has long defined its relationships with dealers and customers.

“AriensCo has built trusted brands and strong customer and dealer relationships over generations,” said Takehito Yamaoka, President and Representative Director of Yanmar Holdings Co., Ltd. “Together, we aim to create greater value for customers, dealers and the communities we serve. This partnership will also provide a strong foundation for the long-term growth of both companies. We look forward to building a lasting partnership founded on our shared values.”

AriensCo was advised in this transaction by Baird as financial advisor and Reinhart Boerner Van Deuren s.c. as legal counsel. Yanmar was advised in this transaction by JP Morgan as financial advisor and Arnold & Porter s.c. as legal counsel.

About AriensCo AriensCo is a privately owned manufacturer of outdoor power equipment based in Brillion, Wisconsin. Established in 1933, the company is now under the fourth and fifth generation of leadership with Chairman and CEO Dan Ariens along with his sons, President Nicholas Ariens, and Chief Revenue Officer Stephen Ariens. AriensCo manufactures equipment under the Ariens®, Gravely® and AS-Motor® brand names. Its RapidCare® division provides service and support to dealers with parts, a call center and trained field service technicians. The company launched Henry’s Parts & Equipment in 2023, a will-fit aftermarket parts business. AriensCo Hospitality began in 2020 with two luxury event venues, Stone Prairie and Round Lake Farms. It opened Ariens Nordic Center in December 2022. These venues are part of the mission to attract visitors and support the Brillion community. Find us at ariensco.com.

About Yanmar With beginnings in Osaka, Japan, in 1912, Yanmar was the first ever to succeed in making a compact diesel engine of a practical size in 1933. A pioneer in diesel engine technology, Yanmar is a global innovator in a wide range of industrial equipment, from small and large engines, agricultural machinery and facilities, construction equipment, energy systems, marine, to machine tools and components—Yanmar’s global business operations span seven domains. Guided by its purpose, “A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE—New Value through Technology,” Yanmar provides advanced solutions to the challenges customers face on land, at sea and in the city, working toward realizing a sustainable future.

Additionally, Ariens Company Chairman and CEO Dan Ariens shared a letter with the community.

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

There are moments in the life of a family business when you have to make brave leaps the earlier generations never could have imagined because you know, in your heart, it’s right for all the people depending on you. This is one of those moments.

Today, we are announcing that Yanmar—one of the world’s great family-owned companies—will become a majority partner of AriensCo. Our family retains a significant stake in the company we love, and we will continue to lead it, day in and day out, exactly as we always have. We are joining forces with Yanmar to meet customers’ demand for more advanced technologies in their equipment and to realize the benefits of scale in an increasingly complex sourcing environment.

We are confident it’s the right decision. We also know that news like this can feel unsettling, especially in our home community of Brillion where so many of you have a personal connection to this company. Maybe you or someone in your family works here. Maybe your neighbor does. Maybe you’ve watched our building from the road your whole life and thought of it as part of what makes this town what it is.

We hope to alleviate any concerns by explaining more about our decision, what we hope to achieve and the many great things about our company that will remain just as they are today.

Why we did this:

The industry we are in is changing faster than at any point in its history. Autonomous equipment, battery-powered products, artificial intelligence and global supply chains are transforming what customers expect and what it takes to compete. We have watched our industry consolidate around us, and we made a choice: move boldly with the right partner, or risk falling behind.

Yanmar is that partner. They are a family business, founded over a century ago in Japan, with the same commitment to quality, craftsmanship and long-term thinking that our family has always stood for. When we sat across from them, we felt like we were talking to people who understood us—not a corporation looking for an acquisition, but a family looking for a partner.

Together, we will form one of the largest family-owned global industrial power equipment company. We will share technology and resources and leverage our combined global reach to become stronger.

What this means for Brillion and all our communities:

We know this is the question that matters most to you, so let us answer it plainly.

Brillion is home. Our headquarters is here. Our people are here. Our roots are here. This partnership does not change any of that.

More broadly, we remain committed to all of the communities around the world that have welcomed us over the years. There are no plans to move operations or reduce our local workforce at any site. If anything, the strength of this partnership means we are better positioned to grow.

Also important: The Ariens family will continue to lead this company’s operations. The same people you know, the same faces, the same values that have guided us since the beginning—they’re all still intact. A new partner does not change who we are.

Of course, we do expect there will be some changes to achieve the advantages we hope to realize. We commit to you that as this partnership develops, we will keep communicating openly and we will always put this community first.

Thank you all.

This community has given our family more than we could ever repay. The trust you have placed in us, the pride you have taken in what we build here, the generations of families who have made AriensCo part of their lives—none of that is lost on us, and none of it will be forgotten.

We are proud to be from Brillion. We are proud to build here. And we are grateful, more than you know, for your continued support.

With gratitude and respect,

Dan Ariens

Chairman & CEO, AriensCo

On behalf of the Ariens Family