My dealer predicts that the Bobcat sell off deal will be complete by the end of this month. Approximately, 8 companies in the running, including Kubota, Komatsu, Scat Trac, Terex... Asking price is over 3 billion. Bobcat is number one in sales for skid steers in the world. Currently Bobcat has backorders for 4000-5000 machines. Company is currently very profitable according to him and the sell off is not due to poor company health. My personal choice would be Kubota. With the exception of the excavator line, all the current bobcat lines would be new for kubota. He says kubota is number 1 in excavator sales in the world and bobcat is number 2 in excavator sales. The excavator overlap could be a problem for kubota. Maybe the escavator lines could merge with time. Also bobcat currently uses all kubota engines. Who else could buy the engines cheaper than kubota itself! Kubota has the finances to buy it. Kubota already has a credit company which bobcat doesn't. Kubota has the expertise and networks in place to keep bobcat going in the right direction.
Still, it makes sense what you are saying... especially given the Kubota engines, healthy finances and gap in the current line-up. Guess they better make room at the Yuppie Palaces for more parking. 