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John Deere Distributor Flint Equipment Company Expands into the Carolinas with Acquisition of Van Lott Inc.

ALBANY, Ga.-(Business Wire)-August 27, 2008 - Flint Equipment Company, an Albany-based John Deere distributorship for nearly 40 years, completed its largest acquisition to date through an asset purchase of Van Lott Inc. Van Lott is a 73-year-old, family-owned John Deere construction and forestry equipment distributor in Columbia, S.C. with branches in North Carolina and South Carolina.

The Albany law firm of Watson Spence Lowe & Chambless LLP assisted with the negotiations and handled the closing of the transaction, which expands Flint Equipment’s construction and forestry footprint into North Carolina and South Carolina. Flint Equipment provides sales and product support of new and used construction, forestry, utility, compaction and mining equipment.

Dunn Stapleton, one of the Watson Spence Lowe and Chambless partners who represented Flint Equipment in the acquisition, said, “Flint Equipment is a company that goes quietly about its business, below the radar screen. Then, all of a sudden, you realize it has expanded into five states.”

The Van Lott acquisition significantly expands Flint Equipment’s John Deere territory to include 10 full-service facilities in Georgia, Florida, Alabama, South Carolina, and North Carolina. Besides John Deere, Flint represents other equipment manufacturers, including Hitachi, Timberjack, Dynapac, Trail King, Sakai, and Gomaco.

“This expansion enables us to provide superior service to our customers on a broader scale, offers greater growth opportunities for our 450 employees and allows us to better compete in the marketplace,” said Chris Cannon, president and CEO of Flint Equipment Holdings Inc. and a life-long resident of Albany. Over the past several years, Cannon and his senior management team have grown the company by seven acquisitions. However, he said, “‘Big’ is not what Flint is about. We’re not growing to get “big.” We’re growing to perform better. Our operations are decentralized but with centralized support functions. We are very relationship-oriented with our customers, and we also are big believers in supporting our products with the best parts and service support.”

About Flint Equipment Holdings Inc.

Flint Equipment Holdings Inc. is the holding company for Flint Equipment Company, Albany Tractor Company and Flint Power Systems. Albany Tractor Company is a John Deere ag and consumer products company serving South Georgia through ten locations. Flint Power Systems is a John Deere master engine distributor serving Georgia, Florida, Alabama, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and the Caribbean. Flint Equipment Company has branches in Albany, Ga., Perry, Fla., Dothan, Ala., Troy, Ala., Tallahassee, Fla., Cuthbert, Ga., and the former Van Lott locations in Columbia, S.C., Greenville/Spartanburg, S.C., Myrtle Beach, S.C., and Asheville, N.C.

About Watson Spence Lowe & Chambless LLP

Watson Spence Lowe & Chambless LLP has been firmly rooted in the Albany community for 60 years. The firm provides a broad range of specialized legal services to large corporations, small businesses, individuals, professional associations, agribusinesses and health-care providers. The firm’s practice includes both state and federal trial and appellate courts, and extends to the state and national capitols before the legislative, judicial and executive branches of government.

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