UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of report (Date of earliest event reported) May 1, 2007
Winnebago Industries, Inc.
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)
| Iowa | 001-06403 | 42-0802678 |
| (State or Other Jurisdiction | (Commission File Number) | (IRS Employer |
| of Incorporation) | Identification No.) | |
| P.O. Box 152, Forest City, Iowa | 50436 | |
| (Address of Principal Executive Offices) | (Zip Code) |
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code 641-585-3535
___________________________________________________________________
(Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report.)
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):
| o | Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425) |
| o | Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12) |
| o | Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b)) |
| o | Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c)) |
| Item 5.02 | Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers. |
| (b) and (c) | On May 1, 2007, the Board of Directors of Winnebago Industries, Inc. (the “Company”) elected Robert J. Olson to the office of President of the Company, effective May 4, 2007, the effective date of the retirement of Edwin F. Barker as President. Information regarding Mr. Olson’s tenure with the Company and his business experience can be found in the Company’s Proxy Statement relating to the Annual Meeting of Shareholders held on January 9, 2007 and filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 9, 2006, the descriptions of which are incorporated herein by reference. In connection with Mr. Olson’s election as President, his annual salary was increased to $350,000, effective May 14, 2007. |
| (e) | On May 1, 2007, the Board of Directors also approved the grant of 6,000 shares of restricted common stock of the Company to Mr. Barker. The restrictions on the stock will lapse on May 4, 2007, the effective date of his retirement. |
| Item 9.01 | Financial Statements and Exhibits. |
| (d) | Exhibits |
| EXHIBIT
NUMBER |
DESCRIPTION | ||
| 99.1 | Press Release of Winnebago Industries, Inc. Announcing Retirement of Edwin F. Barker and Election of Robert J. Olson to the Position of President, dated May 1, 2007. | ||
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
| Dated: May 2, 2007 | WINNEBAGO INDUSTRIES, INC. | ||
| By: | /s/ Bruce D. Hertzke | ||
| Name: Bruce D. Hertzke | |||
| Title: Chief Executive Officer | |||
-2-
Exhibit 99.1
|
Contact: |
Sheila Davis |
WINNEBAGO INDUSTRIES ANNOUNCES RETIREMENT OF
EDWIN F. BARKER AND ELECTION OF ROBERT J. OLSON
TO THE POSITION OF PRESIDENT
FOREST CITY, IOWA, May 1, 2007 -- Winnebago Industries, Inc. (NYSE: WGO), announced that Company President Edwin F. Barker is retiring from the Company effective May 4, 2007. Robert J. Olson, Senior Vice President, Operations, has been elected President to fill that role.
Olson, 55, is a 37-year veteran of Winnebago Industries. He has served as Vice President, Manufacturing and most recently as Senior Vice President, Operations since January 2006. Olson began his career with the company in 1969 as an hourly production employee. He served in progressively more responsible positions in manufacturing and material management, leading to his promotion to Vice President, Manufacturing in 1996.
“Bob’s experience with the Company and his solid background in manufacturing management will suit him well in his new role as President,” said Winnebago Industries’ Chairman and CEO Bruce Hertzke. “Bob has played an integral role in decision making for the Company, as well as overseeing new construction and introducing Lean Manufacturing. Bob will be a valuable asset in his new leadership position.”
President since May 2005, Barker, 59, began his career at Winnebago Industries in April 1969 as a cost accountant and has served in various financial and management positions since that time. During his tenure with the Company, he also served as Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Controller.
“While we wish Ed well in retirement; he will certainly be missed,” said Hertzke. “We are extremely grateful for his contribution to Winnebago Industries’ success throughout his 38-year tenure with the Company. He played a vital role in helping Winnebago Industries become a leader in the motor home industry in profitability returns such as return on invested capital since fiscal 1999. We are pleased that in retirement, Ed has agreed to continue to be available for consultation with the Company on an ongoing basis.”
About Winnebago Industries
Winnebago Industries, Inc. is a leading U.S. manufacturer of motor homes, self-contained recreation vehicles used primarily in leisure travel and outdoor recreation activities. The Company builds quality motor homes under the Winnebago and Itasca brand names with state-of-the-art computer-aided design and manufacturing systems on automotive-styled assembly lines. The Company’s common stock is listed on the New York and Chicago Stock Exchanges and traded under the symbol WGO. Options for the Company’s common stock are traded on the Chicago Board Options Exchange. For access to Winnebago Industries’ investor relations material, to add your name to an automatic email list for Company news releases or for information on a dollar-based stock investment service for the Company’s stock, visit, http://www.winnebagoind.com/investor.html.
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