Winnebago acquires Newmar

[JFXG]

Originally Posted by hohenwald48

If my father had given me a business and I had the choice to work my butt off for the next 30 years and then retire or sell it today for $270M cash plus 6% of WGO stock, I'd be on my way to the islands as soon as I could get the paperwork signed.

I’m on the same page as you. Don’t overthink it. The Millers are cashin’ in on what Dad built, plain and simple, just as the Bontrager boys did a couple of years ago. It’ll benefit some and disadvantage others, but if history’s any judge it’s more likely Newmar’s will become more like Winnie’s than vice versa.

[BGDDYRV]

Winnie must have made an offer the Millers couldn't refuse!! It is sad to see the end of an era....maybe an opportunity for someone else to build a custom coach that is not part of the big 4.
I worry about all the people that are working at Newmar and what is going to happen with them.

[NealC]

Will NEWGLE become WIGLE?

[Gamaliel Kid]

Originally Posted by Jabber Jaw

My "off-line" date was today!

Well here's my take - after reading 200 plus posts. I am picking up my 2020 Ventana 4369 from my dealer. Glad I bought when I did and ordered when I did- but I doubt it will be that much different for a while. Two things stick out to me and a lot of based on previous conversations with my dealer over the last few years.

First, Newmar emphasized the family involvement and how it would remain a family business- this was on the plant tour I attended about 5 weeks ago - wow what a difference a month makes on family involvement!

Second, I have had this conversation with my dealer and saw it at the plant. The one thing that made Newmar standout - either a good things or a bad thing - depending on what you purchased I guess - is that all the coaches, the million dollar King Aire's to the 100 Thousand dollar Bay Star Sports were basically built by the same people on the same assembly line. My dealer was always talking about Newmar having capacity problems and that the gas coaches weren't very profitable for Newmar or the dealers- but they kept the plants running and got people introduced to Newmar. I think that made sense - the bread and butter was the Dutch Star line and now the Ventana Line. But the Dutch was the "money coach" - thats why many people believe that the Ventana was the best bang for your buck!

Anyway - the merger will potentially move much if not all of the gas line to Winnebago- possibly even dropping gas coaches all together from the Newmar Lineup. Newmar will focus on continuing to build better and more DP's with a greater emphasis in reality on the Dutch, Ventana and possibly the Kountry Star lines. Price points indicate the Dutch will continue to be the bread for Newmar and Ventana will probably become the Butter!

This logicallly makes sense in so many ways - have your best builders building your best and most popular coaches. Then Winnebago can learn from Newmar and improve their gas line while potentially building the Newmar Gas coaches at some of their plants. This would improve the production capabilities of both companies and should end up with a better line of products in both gas and diesel.

This is only my opinion - but as someone who has worked as independent and then as a ceo of a larger company - this is what I would be considering doing. So, the bottom line is the panic over Newmar - seems to be coming from the DP owner - when in reality this may be the best thing ever for them. The gas people - will probably see their coaches being built by Winnie - but to higher standards that Newmar has created. IMO, this will be the synergy that Winnie and Newmar are hoping for!

[dp7]

Has anyone revived Newmar Man??

[UAV]

Explains why Winnebago dropped most of it's DP lineup.

[MRUSA14]

For heaven’s sake, get a grip people. This is not the end of the world. The panic here is just like what occurred when Thor bought Jayco/Entegra. It was needless worry. Today, half my Entegra friends have upgraded to new Thor-produced Entegras and they are happier than ever. The sky is not falling. Winnebago did not buy Newmar just so they could ruin it.

[Steve Kieffer]

Wow, such unnecessary doom and gloom.


US tax laws make this inevitable. Transferring ownership of a large company between generations is almost impossible, and if you try it places the company in a position of high risk of financial failure for at least a decade. I've been through this. I bought out my company from my father and spent 10+ year recovering financially, and then later sold the company to new owners.



If instead of selling, they had transferred ownership to Matt, Newmar would have become a highly leveraged company which would likely fail during the next economic downturn. Everyone should be pleased they sold to a company in the industry with good financial resources.



Thoughts that Winnebago would trash this large investment are illogical. Many people in both organizations will be looking for way to build on the strengths of each business to improve the success of both.



Will there be changes? Of course. And there should be. Neither company is perfect. For my perspective, as an owner of 5 different brands over the past 11 years, there is plenty of room for improvement at Newmar. I look forward to seeing some of that accomplished.

[palehorse89]

Originally Posted by dp7

Has anyone revived Newmar Man??

His finger's are in shock, can't type..........

My guess is that the buyout was due to Newmar's success..........and it happens everyday, big company's buy smaller to add to their portfolio .......and changing and degrading Newmar is not what big smart company will do........... That is why Matt will remain at the Helm for some time, and maybe longer........That is the first sign that they don't want to change things.......same at Entegra...........and they are just fine.

[LabRat]

Originally Posted by Steve Kieffer

Wow, such unnecessary doom and gloom.


US tax laws make this inevitable. Transferring ownership of a large company between generations is almost impossible, and if you try it places the company in a position of high risk of financial failure for at least a decade. I've been through this. I bought out my company from my father and spent 10+ year recovering financially, and then later sold the company to new owners.

Good point - would this have fallen under something like the dreaded "death tax" that often destroys small businesses and farmers where there is not enough cash to pay the taxes and thus forcing the business to close or sell?

[HJLowell]

Originally Posted by AbdRahim

I for one do't need Winnie technology. I want a simple solid coach with old fashioned switches. I hate all the new fanged computer controls.

Yes
Beaver
C.C.
Monaco
With a
ISM or
Detroit

Pre 203, 4, 5, 6 maybe

We love our 99 Signature with a 500 hp ISM
Cummins

I can fix about anything myself. Or at least understand the electronic s.

[HJLowell]

Originally Posted by NealC

Anyone else going to pull an all-nighter keeping up with this thread? I can’t imagine the reading I would have to do in the morning.

Winnebago has tried and failed at offering a
Premier coach like the King Air.

Now they will offer the

Miller King Air
And
The
Winniequene [emoji6]

[wayno347]

Originally Posted by USMCRET

Not kidding.

https://www.globenewswire.com/news-r...er-Newmar.html

It’s going to take a while to digest this.

Hope they don't descend to putting crap RVs on the road like what happened to Fleetwood after REV acquired Monaco, Holiday Rambler, etc...Bigger means poor quality.

[tnedator]

Originally Posted by tim494

Prior to today these were some of the Newmar issues being discussed here in this forum

Poorly installed/wrong model sanicon pump
Miss adjusted entry door I have to slam shut
Sub standard radio/NAV unit that requires me to need a standalone GPS
Low quality tank level sensors
Poor quality audio to the exterior TV sound bar requiring modification

Now Winnie is going to take a perfect coach and inject imperfections. I don't think so.

My DSDP is the same coach we had yesterday and purchased from a dealer we expect to provide quality service. Annual pilgrimages to the factory for service seem strange to me.

As a matter of fact it is at the dealer now for warranty repairs, many due to fit and finish issues.

We really like the coach and are happy we went Newmar. We picked Newmar over Entegra and Tiffin due to floor plan and feature differences, not ownership.

When we replace it we will do our due diligence at that time. Blind brand loyalty is a mistake regardless of ownership/legacy. This level of the market will be served by somebody because there is a demand for it.

On electronics, Winnie tends to have better dash electronics from what I've seen, and this is potentially where combined buying power could actually help Newmar. There is no way that $250-350k coaches should have that Xite unit in them.