Ernest Doe & Sons Ltd has agreed Heads of Terms for the sale of its Ringmer branch in East Sussex, together with its Case IH agricultural business, to Haynes Brothers Ltd. The transaction is expected to complete on 6th November 2026, subject to the necessary agreements being finalised.
As part of the agreement and after discussion with CNH, Ernest Doe & Sons will relinquish the Case IH agricultural franchise for Kent and Sussex. A shared view is that the agricultural tractor market across Kent and Sussex can no longer support separate Case IH and New Holland dealerships serving the same territory. This move is in line with the trend for consolidation of the CNH dealer network across the UK that aims to ensure long term sustainability.
Ernest Doe & Sons remains committed to supporting customers across Kent, Sussex and Surrey. Our Albourne, Dartford and Esher branches will remain open and continue to offer a comprehensive range of machinery. This includes CASE Construction Equipment, Merlo Telehandlers for Agriculture and Construction, Ransomes Jacobsen Groundcare Equipment and a wide range of agricultural implements, construction and groundcare machinery from leading manufacturers, all backed by experienced sales, parts and service teams.
The company would like to thank the staff, customers and suppliers associated with the Ringmer branch for their hard work, loyalty and support since the acquisition of the former Harper & Eede business in 2004.
Further information will be shared as the transaction progresses.
About Ernest Doe & Sons Ltd
Founded in 1898, Ernest Doe & Sons Ltd is one of the UK’s largest family-owned machinery dealerships, serving customers across the agricultural, construction and professional groundcare sectors throughout East Anglia, the South-East and East Midlands.
Within agriculture, the company supplies tractors, Merlo agricultural telehandlers, specialist vegetable, root crop, fruit and viticulture machinery, together with a comprehensive range of agricultural implements from leading manufacturers including Lemken, Pottinger, Shelbourne Reynolds, KRM, Dalbo, Richard Western, Marshall, Spearhead, Maschio and AVR.
The company’s construction portfolio includes CASE Construction Equipment, Thwaites, Bomag, Atlas Copco, Epiroc and Merlo, while its professional groundcare division represents brands including Ransomes Jacobsen, Iseki, Ferris, Amazone, Husqvarna, STIHL, Cushman, E-Z-GO, Wessex International, GKB and Smithco. Across its branch network, Ernest Doe provides expert sales, parts and service support for all the brands it represents.
