Southern Green's Deep-Tine Aerators Expand Toro's Popular Line of ProCore(R) Aeration Equipment

BLOOMINGTON, Minn., Oct 13, 2008 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- The Toro Company (NYSE:TTC) today announced that it has acquired certain assets from Southern Green, Inc., a leading manufacturer of deep-tine aeration equipment based in Zachary, Louisiana. The acquisition of Southern Green's versatile line of Soil Reliever(R) aerators helps grow the company's offering of highly-productive cultivation equipment and provides entry into a new product category.

"Enhanced cultivation practices are becoming increasingly critical to the success of our customers," said Michael Happe, general manager of Toro's commercial business. "Southern Green brings a well-respected line of deep-tine aerators known for their precision, performance and unique functionality. During the past several years, we have worked intentionally to deliver innovative products to enhance our lineup of cultivation equipment. Along with the recent market success of our ProCore aerators and ProCore Processor, the addition of the Soil Reliever technology helps complement and extend our offering to customers around the world."

Established in 1993, Southern Green is a leading manufacturer of deep-tine aeration equipment for golf course and sports field applications. Southern Green has built a solid reputation around its popular Soil Reliever product line, which is considered to be the only purpose-built, deep-tine aerator manufactured in the United States.

About The Toro Company

The Toro Company (NYSE:TTC) is a leading worldwide provider of turf and landscape maintenance equipment, and precision irrigation systems. With sales of nearly $1.9 billion in fiscal 2007, Toro's global presence extends to more than 140 countries through its reputation of world-class service, innovation and turf expertise. Since 1914, the company has built a tradition of excellence around a number of strong brands to help customers care for golf courses, sports fields, public green spaces, commercial and residential properties, and agricultural fields. More information is available at www.thetorocompany.com.

Safe Harbor

Statements made in this news release, which are forward-looking, are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected or implied. These uncertainties include factors that affect all businesses operating in a global market as well as matters specific to Toro. Particular risks and uncertainties that may affect the company's operating results or overall financial position at the present include: slow growth rates in global and domestic economies, resulting in rising unemployment and weakened consumer confidence; the threat of further terrorist acts and war, which may result in contraction of the U.S. and worldwide economies; fluctuations in the cost and availability of raw materials, including steel, resins and other commodities; rising fuel and other costs of transportation; the impact of abnormal weather patterns and natural disasters; the level of growth in our markets, including the golf market; reduced government spending for grounds maintenance equipment due to reduced tax revenue and tighter government budgets; dependence on The Home Depot as a customer for the residential segment; elimination of shelf space for our products at retailers; inventory adjustments or changes in purchasing patterns by our customers; market acceptance of existing and new products; increased competition; our ability to achieve the goals for our current three-year growth, profit and asset management initiative called "GrowLean" which is intended to improve our revenue growth, after-tax return on sales and working capital efficiency; our increased dependence on international sales and the risks attendant to international operations; interest rates and currency movements including, in particular, our exposure to foreign currency risk; our relationships with our distribution channel partners, including the financial viability of distributors and dealers; our ability to successfully achieve our plans for and integrate acquisitions and manage alliances; the costs and effects of complying with changes in tax, fiscal, government and other regulatory policies, including rules relating to environmental, health and safety matters; unforeseen product quality or other problems in the development, production and usage of new and existing products; loss of or changes in executive management or key employees; ability of management to manage around unplanned events; our reliance on our intellectual property rights and the absence of infringement of the intellectual property rights of others; the occurrence of litigation or claims, including the previously disclosed pending litigation against the company and other defendants that challenges the horsepower ratings of lawnmowers, of which the company is currently unable to assess whether the litigation would have a material adverse effect on the company's consolidated operating results or financial condition, although an adverse result might be material to operating results in a particular reporting period. In addition to the factors set forth in this paragraph, market, economic, financial, competitive, weather, production and other factors identified in Toro's quarterly and annual reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, could affect the forward-looking statements in this press release. Toro undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements made in this release to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this release.

SOURCE: The Toro Company

The Toro Company
Investor Relations
John Wright, 952-887-8865
Director, Investor Relations
invest@toro.com
or
Media Relations
Branden Happel, 952-887-8930
Manager, Public Relations
pr@toro.com
www.thetorocompany.com