Ingersoll-Rand may sell Bobcat unit

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Diversified manufacturer Ingersoll-Rand Co. on Tuesday said it is reviewing a sale or spinoff of its Bobcat machines and construction-related businesses as it shifts away from capital-intense heavy machinery.

The company also announced plans to double its share-buyback program.

The news pushed shares up $3.30, or 6.8 percent, to $49.80 in morning New York Stock Exchange trading.

The company, which is moving away from cyclical businesses, plans to shift toward climate control, industrial and security businesses, it said in a statement. In February, it said it would sell its road construction machinery business to truck maker (VOLVb.ST: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz)

In addition to considering a sale, Ingersoll-Rand may also spin off the businesses to the company's shareholders, Ingersoll said.

The company said these businesses generated about $2.6 billion in revenues. In April, Merrill Lynch said in a research note that the Bobcat unit could sell for about $3 billion and allow it to acquire a company with less exposure to economic cycles. The division has been hurt by a downturn in U.S. home construction.

Ingersoll-Rand expects to finish the review process in the second half of 2007.

Ingersoll-Rand also said that it would increase its share buyback authorization to $4 billion from $2 billion and said it would complete $2 billion of share repurchases by the end of the 2007 third quarter. About $330 million in shares have been repurchased to date.

The timing of the remaining $2 billion of the share repurchase depends on the sale or spin off of Bobcat and other businesses, it said.

Ingersoll-Rand said it would continue to pursue growth through strategic acquisitions.