COBURG, Ore., Jan. 25 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Monaco Coach
Corporation (NYSE: MNC), one of the nation's leading manufacturers of
recreational vehicles, today announced it has signed a definitive
agreement to form a joint venture with International Truck and Engine
Corporation to manufacture rear engine diesel chassis.
Under the joint venture agreement, Monaco
Coach Corporation and International will own 49 percent and 51 percent,
respectively, of the newly formed company called Custom Chassis
Products, LLC. Initial plans call for the joint venture to manufacture
more than 5,000 diesel chassis in the first year.
"The opportunity to team up our
best-in-class chassis with the resources of International Truck and
Engine will allow Monaco Coach to fine tune what we are already building
and grow our business with additional one-of-a-kind chassis designs,"
said Kay Toolson, Chairman and CEO of Monaco Coach Corporation.
Tom Cellitti, Vice President and
General Manager of Medium Vehicle Center for International Truck and
Engine, stated, "This exciting development further strengthens
International's commitment and capabilities within the RV market. The
acquisition of Workhorse in late 2005, coupled with this announcement,
positions the company as a true full line supplier of chassis to the RV
market."
The transaction, which will be subject
to customary closing conditions, is expected to close in February, and
will be immediately accretive to Monaco Coach Corporation. The joint
venture will begin production in February, and Monaco Coach Corporation
will lease its 210,000 square foot Roadmaster chassis plant, located in
Elkhart, Ind. to the joint venture.
About International Truck and Engine
Corporation
International Truck and Engine
Corporation produces IC brand school buses, school bus chassis,
mid-range diesel engines, International brand medium and heavy trucks,
and severe service vehicles. International also provides parts and
service sold under the International(R) brand. International is a
subsidiary of Navistar International Corporation (NYSE: NAV). For
additional information call Roy Wiley 630-753-2627.
About Monaco Coach Corporation
Dedicated to quality and service,
Monaco Coach Corporation is one of the nation's leading manufacturers of
motorized and towable recreational vehicles. Headquartered in Coburg,
Oregon, with substantial manufacturing facilities in Indiana, Monaco
Coach employs approximately 6,000 people. The Company offers entry-level
priced towable RVs up to custom made luxury recreational vehicle models
under the Monaco, Holiday Rambler, Safari, Beaver, McKenzie, R-Vision
and Dodge brand names. Monaco Coach maintains RV service centers in
Harrisburg, Ore., Elkhart, Ind., and Wildwood, Fla.
Ranked as the number one manufacturer
of diesel powered motorhomes, Monaco Coach is a leader in innovative RVs
designed to meet the needs of a broad range of customers with varied
interests. Monaco Coach Corporation trades on the New York Stock
Exchange under the symbol "MNC," and the Company is included in the S&P
Small-Cap 600 stock index. For additional information about Monaco Coach
Corporation, please visit
www.monaco-online.com or
www.trail-lite.com.
The statements above regarding Monaco
Coach Corporation's expectations with regard to the joint venture,
including the anticipated closing and commencement of production,
production expectations, and the immediate accretive nature of the
transaction to Monaco Coach Corporation, are forward- looking statements
subject to various risks and uncertainties that could cause actual
results to differ materially from these statements, including failure of
the joint venture to achieve anticipated production volumes and/or cost
savings and failure of the parties to satisfy one or more closing
conditions and to close the transaction.
CONTACT: Craig Wanichek
Director of Investor Relations
Monaco Coach Corporation
(541) 681-8029
craig.wanichek@monacocoach.com
SOURCE Monaco Coach Corporation
01/25/2007
/CONTACT: Craig Wanichek, Director of Investor Relations of Monaco Coach
Corporation, +1-541-681-8029, craig.wanichek@monacocoach.com/
/Photo: NewsCom:
http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/19991018/MONACO
AP Archive:
http://photoarchive.ap.org
PRN Photo Desk,
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/Web site: http://www.trail-lite.com
/Web site:
http://www.monaco-online.com
(MNC NAV)
CO: Monaco Coach Corporation; Navistar International Corporation;
International Truck and Engine Corporation; Custom Chassis Products,
LLC.
ST: Oregon, Indiana
IN: AUT TRN MAC
SU: JVN
CM
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4188 01/25/2007 06:00 EST
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