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Tiller
to Step Down as Polaris CEO at End of 2008
Search for Successor Underway
Medina, MN, (January 16,
2008) -- Polaris Industries Inc. (NYSE:
PII) announced today that its Chief Executive
Officer, Tom Tiller, expects to step down from
his position by the end of 2008 when his current
employment contract expires. Tiller, 46,
has been with the company since July, 1998 and
its CEO since May, 1999.
Tiller explained his decision as a personal one.
“After considerable thought and extensive
discussions with the Board of Directors, I felt
2008 was the right time to leave. When I
came to Polaris from GE, I expected to lead the
company for a considerable period, and 2008
marks my tenth year here. I absolutely
love our company, our products, and our people,
and I’m proud of what we have been able to
accomplish together. This past year was
another good one for us in a tough environment,
and I expect 2008 to be good as well. We
have a very solid and experienced team, and I am
confident in our ability to win well into the
future. Our company is in good shape so it
seems like the right time.”
“Polaris is a company that is built on
innovation. And a fresh set of eyes every
decade or so is a good thing. With just
two CEO’s over the past 27 years, we have
enjoyed consistent leadership and results.
I am confident that we will identify a successor
that will benefit our employees, dealers,
suppliers, shareholders and communities for the
long run. And for me personally, I am
excited about ending my tenure as CEO in a very
strong way, helping the Board choose a
successor, and then exploring some new
challenges.” Tiller is expected to remain
on the Polaris Board of Directors for a
transitional period after a successor is named.
The Board of Directors, led by its chairman
Greg Palen, is directing the search for Tiller’s
successor and will evaluate both internal and
external candidates. “The Board is
committed to ensuring that Polaris goes through
an effective and orderly leadership transition,"
said Palen. "We have had a comprehensive
succession plan in place for several years, and
are in the process of executing that plan, which
will ultimately identify the best possible
candidate. We will take the time necessary
to identify the very best person, and that
process is expected to be completed this year.”
In the interim, the current management team, led
by Tom Tiller and Bennett Morgan, President &
COO, will continue to direct the company to
ensure continuity.
As CEO, Tiller led Polaris to become a more
diverse and global company. Net sales grew
from $1.1 billion in 1998 to nearly $1.8 billion
today and the Company expanded its International
business outside of North America from 6 percent
of total Company sales in 1998 to approximately
14 percent of Company sales today. The
market capitalization of Polaris also grew from
approximately $1.0 billion in 1998 to nearly
$1.7 billion at the end of 2007.
Additionally, Tiller continued to diversify
the revenue and income generation capabilities
of the Company to better weather economic
changes including growing the side-by-side
business into what now represents more than
one-third of total Polaris ATV sales under the
RANGER™ brand, and establishing Victory as the
first successful launch of a major motorcycle
brand in more than 60 years. Tiller also
significantly grew Polaris’ financial services
business and expanded the highly profitable
parts, garments and accessories business. During
his tenure, Polaris invested $36 million into a
new 126,000-square-foot Product Development
Center in Wyoming, Minnesota, the single largest
investment in product development the Company
has ever made, which demonstrates the Company’s
commitment to continuing to create innovative,
top-of-the-line, high-quality vehicles for
Polaris and Victory riders.
“We are thankful to Tom for the direction and
success he has provided in the decade in which
he has led the Company, and support his decision
to take some time away from the life of a public
company CEO,” said Palen. “His focus on helping
the Board to identify the right person to lead
Polaris in the future and his decision to remain
as CEO until the successor is named and in place
are key steps to ensure both a smooth leadership
transition and a successful 2008 for Polaris.”
Polaris Reaffirms Full Year 2007 Sales and
Earnings Guidance
Polaris will release its fourth quarter and full
year 2007 financial results the morning of
Tuesday, January 29, 2008, and remains confident
in its previously announced full year 2007 sales
growth guidance of five to six percent growth
over 2006, and full year 2007 earnings per share
from continuing operations guidance range of
$3.05 to $3.10 per diluted share, a 12 to 14
percent increase over 2006.
Conference Call to be Held Today
Today at 10:00 AM (CST) Polaris Industries Inc.
will host a conference call regarding this
announcement.
To listen to the conference call by phone, dial
800-374-6475 in the U.S. and Canada or
706-679-2596 internationally. The
conference call will also be broadcast live over
the Internet at
www.polarisindustries.com (click on Our
Company then Investor Relations).
A replay of the conference call will be
available approximately two hours after the call
concludes for a one-week period by accessing the
same link on our website, or by dialing
800-642-1687 in the U.S. and Canada or
706-645-9291 internationally. The
Conference I.D. is 30950396.
About Polaris
With annual 2006 sales of $1.7
billion, Polaris designs, engineers,
manufactures and markets all-terrain vehicles
(ATVs), including the Polaris RANGER™,
snowmobiles and Victory Motorcycles for
recreational and utility use. Polaris is a
recognized leader in the snowmobile industry and
one of the largest manufacturers of ATVs in the
world. Victory Motorcycles, established in 1998
and representing the first all-new American-made
motorcycle from a major company in nearly 60
years, are rapidly making impressive in-roads
into the motorcycle cruiser and touring
marketplace. Polaris also enhances the riding
experience with a complete line of Pure Polaris
apparel, accessories and parts, available at
Polaris dealerships. Polaris Industries Inc.
trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the
symbol “PII,” and the Company is included in the
S&P Small-Cap 600 stock price index. Information
about the complete line of Polaris products,
apparel and vehicle accessories are available
from authorized Polaris dealers or anytime from
the Polaris homepage at
www.polarisindustries.com.
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