Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×
RV Trip Planning Discussions

Go Back   iRV2 Forums > iRV2.com COMMUNITY FORUMS > iRV2.com General Discussion
Click Here to Login
Join iRV2 Today

Mission Statement: Supporting thoughtful exchange of knowledge, values and experience among RV enthusiasts.
Reply
  This discussion is proudly sponsored by:
Please support our sponsors and let them know you heard about their products on iRV2
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
 
Old 11-21-2008, 02:56 AM   #1
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 135
Coachmen Industries announced today that it has entered into an agreement to sell its' RV group to Forest River, Inc. The purchase would still require shareholder approval:


MIDDLEBURY, Ind., Nov. 21 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- "A wide range of rumors have swirled around our company in recent months," said Richard Lavers, CEO of Coachmen Industries, Inc. (NYSE: COA) "During that time, we have consistently responded that we would make an announcement if and when there was something to say, but in the meantime, we were focused on managing through the worst economic crisis our country has endured in our lifetimes."

Lavers added: "Today, we are pleased to announce that Coachmen Industries, Inc. has entered into an agreement for the strategic integration of Coachmen's Recreational Vehicle Business by Forest River, a large, financially secure, diversified and well managed company with a proven track record of demonstrated success in the RV Industry. Forest River will acquire most of the assets of Coachmen's RV Business, including our brands, our product lines, our central manufacturing operations in Middlebury, Ind., and our dealership in Elkhart, Ind.

"For 44 years, Coachmen has been a leading and respected RV brand, employing thousands of dedicated and talented people in the communities where we have operated. Forest River is one of the largest and most profitable companies in the RV industry. The synergies of these two combined RV businesses are tremendous. Importantly, Forest River has agreed to offer continued employment to almost 85% of our RV Group employees in Indiana. Some will be able to interview with Forest River to explore career opportunities. Others will be transferred to the continuing operations of Coachmen Industries, Inc.

"With this transaction, we secure the future for this proud brand, and the employees of our RV Group. This announcement will also end the speculation over whether Coachmen itself will survive these extraordinarily difficult times, and preserve the jobs of our employee base, in both our RV and Housing segments. A healthy Coachmen Industries is clearly in the interests of all our stakeholders -- our shareholders, dealers and builders, our suppliers, vendors and other business partners, the communities where we do business, our customers and our employees. Our Company will emerge from this transaction as a systems-built housing company with a growing specialty vehicle business. The ARBOC Mobility bus previously unveiled this year will remain with Coachmen Industries. Our headquarters will remain in the Middlebury/Elkhart area. We will be financially sound with sufficient cash liquidity to not just survive, but to build our profitable housing businesses and continue our diversification into the bus and specialty vehicle transportation industries.

The full details of this transaction will be released at the appropriate time. This transaction is subject to shareholder approval, which the Company expects to seek in December. The Board of Directors of Coachmen Industries, Inc. has set November 25, 2008 as the Record date for the Special Shareholder meeting. The actual Special Shareholder meeting is expected to be held as soon as practical after the Coachmen's proxy statement clears the SEC. The Company will file the preliminary proxy statement with the SEC as quickly as it can.

"There is still much to be done, but we look forward to a long and bright future for both these fine companies," concluded Lavers.


See the full press release from Coachmen Industries here.


<span class="ev_code_WHITE">.</span>
Explore America is offline   Reply With Quote
Join the #1 RV Forum Today - It's Totally Free!

iRV2.com RV Community - Are you about to start a new improvement on your RV or need some help with some maintenance? Do you need advice on what products to buy? Or maybe you can give others some advice? No matter where you fit in you'll find that iRV2 is a great community to join. Best of all it's totally FREE!

You are currently viewing our boards as a guest so you have limited access to our community. Please take the time to register and you will gain a lot of great new features including; the ability to participate in discussions, network with other RV owners, see fewer ads, upload photographs, create an RV blog, send private messages and so much, much more!

Old 11-21-2008, 02:56 AM   #2
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 135
Coachmen Industries announced today that it has entered into an agreement to sell its' RV group to Forest River, Inc. The purchase would still require shareholder approval:


MIDDLEBURY, Ind., Nov. 21 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- "A wide range of rumors have swirled around our company in recent months," said Richard Lavers, CEO of Coachmen Industries, Inc. (NYSE: COA) "During that time, we have consistently responded that we would make an announcement if and when there was something to say, but in the meantime, we were focused on managing through the worst economic crisis our country has endured in our lifetimes."

Lavers added: "Today, we are pleased to announce that Coachmen Industries, Inc. has entered into an agreement for the strategic integration of Coachmen's Recreational Vehicle Business by Forest River, a large, financially secure, diversified and well managed company with a proven track record of demonstrated success in the RV Industry. Forest River will acquire most of the assets of Coachmen's RV Business, including our brands, our product lines, our central manufacturing operations in Middlebury, Ind., and our dealership in Elkhart, Ind.

"For 44 years, Coachmen has been a leading and respected RV brand, employing thousands of dedicated and talented people in the communities where we have operated. Forest River is one of the largest and most profitable companies in the RV industry. The synergies of these two combined RV businesses are tremendous. Importantly, Forest River has agreed to offer continued employment to almost 85% of our RV Group employees in Indiana. Some will be able to interview with Forest River to explore career opportunities. Others will be transferred to the continuing operations of Coachmen Industries, Inc.

"With this transaction, we secure the future for this proud brand, and the employees of our RV Group. This announcement will also end the speculation over whether Coachmen itself will survive these extraordinarily difficult times, and preserve the jobs of our employee base, in both our RV and Housing segments. A healthy Coachmen Industries is clearly in the interests of all our stakeholders -- our shareholders, dealers and builders, our suppliers, vendors and other business partners, the communities where we do business, our customers and our employees. Our Company will emerge from this transaction as a systems-built housing company with a growing specialty vehicle business. The ARBOC Mobility bus previously unveiled this year will remain with Coachmen Industries. Our headquarters will remain in the Middlebury/Elkhart area. We will be financially sound with sufficient cash liquidity to not just survive, but to build our profitable housing businesses and continue our diversification into the bus and specialty vehicle transportation industries.

The full details of this transaction will be released at the appropriate time. This transaction is subject to shareholder approval, which the Company expects to seek in December. The Board of Directors of Coachmen Industries, Inc. has set November 25, 2008 as the Record date for the Special Shareholder meeting. The actual Special Shareholder meeting is expected to be held as soon as practical after the Coachmen's proxy statement clears the SEC. The Company will file the preliminary proxy statement with the SEC as quickly as it can.

"There is still much to be done, but we look forward to a long and bright future for both these fine companies," concluded Lavers.


See the full press release from Coachmen Industries here.


<span class="ev_code_WHITE">.</span>
Explore America is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-21-2008, 03:13 AM   #3
JC2
Senior Member
 
JC2's Avatar
 
Texas Boomers Club
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Mo/Texas
Posts: 3,555
Thanks for the info. That makes (2) RV companies that I won't be buying from. The first was FR after our fiasco with them on poor customer service for our previous 01 Sandpiper.
JC2 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-21-2008, 03:31 AM   #4
Senior Member
 
Dick & Pat's Avatar
 
Thor Owners Club
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Ft. Dodge IA, Kerrville TX
Posts: 246
"Tis a sign of the tough economic times; the RV industry will survive, but names and faces are bound to change dramatically...

Glad we picked up a good seven year extended warranty/service plan when buying our Grand Junction fiver in 2006.....haven't heard of any problems about Thor Industries, but the way things are changing, who knows?
__________________
Dick & Pat Swanstrom
Fort Dodge Iowa
2014 Thor Challenger 37GT
Dick & Pat is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-24-2008, 01:31 PM   #5
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 135
Coachmen has scheduled an online investor conference call to discuss the sale of its' RV group to Forest River, Inc. Details of the conference call will be made available at www.coachmen.com, and will be held on December 1, beginning at 2 p.m.(Eastern Time). The online replay will be available at approx. 4 p.m. (Eastern Time) and continue for 30 days.

Apparently, Forest River will retain the Coachmen brand name.
Explore America is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply



Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Berkshire by Forest River knipp4la MH-General Discussions & Problems 3 01-05-2009 08:15 PM
forest river larry penner Thor Industries Owner's Forum 4 02-08-2008 09:47 AM
Rock Crusher RV Park SOLD, Crystal River, FL Tom N Southeast Region 29 01-21-2008 04:33 PM
Rock Crusher RV Park SOLD, Crystal River, FL Tom N Camping Locations, Plans & Trip Reports 2 01-09-2008 06:27 PM
Surveyor by forest river superduty 5th Wheel Discussion 2 07-12-2006 04:01 AM

» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 03:07 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.