Linamar says the acquisition, worth $640 million (Canadian) will further enhance its industrial segment's diversified offerings and advance its position as a leading short-line agriculture equipment manufacturer.

Bourgault is an agriculture equipment manufacturer specialising in broadacre seeding gear. Linamar's existing agricultural brands include harvesting specialist MacDon, and tillage and crop nutrition business, Salford.

Linamar says Bourgault will become part of a new Linamar Agriculture division within its broader industrial segment.

The acquisition includes Bourgault's Highline Manufacturing division which produces hay handling and livestock feeding equipment, as well as roto-moulding producer Free Form Plastics.

Linda Hasenfratz, Linamar executive chair and chief executive officer, said: "We are thrilled to welcome Bourgault Industries into the Linamar family.

"Bourgault is another Canadian manufacturing success story that draws many similarities to Linamar's history of entrepreneurism and technical innovation.

"The Bourgault name is synonymous with broad acre agricultural seeding innovation and offers a tremendous opportunity for Linamar to further diversify and grow our agriculture platform, as well as our Industrial segment overall."

Bourgault president, Gerry Bourgault, said: "Bourgault was started by my father and has a rich history in agriculture.

"The Bourgault family is incredibly proud of the legacy we have created both here in in St. Brieux, Saskatchewan, but also around the world.

"We are excited to have our team of over nine-hundred people in Saskatchewan, and over one thousand worldwide, join the Linamar family."