BofA/Merrill upgraded Allison Transmission to Buy from Neutral with a $55 price target.

Allison Transmission partnered with SANY, a global heavy equipment manufacturer for the mining and construction markets, to integrate the Allison 4970 Specialty Series transmission into SANY's STC5000 500-ton all-terrain crane. These new cranes will be in operation in remote areas of China including the desert and mountain terrain. "Our off-highway vehicles require a powerful transmission designed to meet the challenge of navigating difficult terrain," said Du Jian, R&D Director of Crane Chassis, SANY. "We selected the Allison 4970 SP due to its proven ability to increase vehicle productivity and maneuverability." In addition to SANY's STC5000 crane, Allison is also the propulsion solution provider for the company's SAC600E 60-ton crane.