8K Management Change Potts Olson
 

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) January 11, 2012
 

 
 
 
Winnebago Industries, Inc.
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

Iowa
001-06403
42-0802678
(State or Other Jurisdiction
of Incorporation)
(Commission File Number)
(IRS Employer
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) Winnebago Industries, Inc. (Winnebago Industries) is filing herewith a press release issued on January 12, 2012, as Exhibit 99.1, which is included herein. The press release was issued to report the retirement, effective February 24, 2012, of Winnebago Industries' executive Chairman of the Board, Robert J. Olson, and the election of Winnebago Industries' Chief Executive Officer and President, Randy J. Potts, to the additional position of Chairman of the Board upon Mr. Olson's retirement. Mr. Olson will retain his role as a member of Winnebago Industries' board of directors.

(c) On January 11, 2012, Winnebago Industries' board of directors approved the grant of 50,000 shares of Winnebago Industries restricted common stock to Mr. Olson, in recognition of his contributions to Winnebago Industries' success during his 43 years of service. The restrictions on the common stock will lapse on final day of Mr. Olson's employment, February 24, 2012.


Item 9.01     Financial Statements and Exhibits

(d) Exhibits
Exhibit
 
Number
Description
 
 
99.1
Press Release of Winnebago Industries, Inc. dated January 12, 2012.


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:
January 12, 2012
WINNEBAGO INDUSTRIES, INC.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
By:
/s/ Randy J. Potts
 
 
Name:
Randy J. Potts
 
 
Title:
Chief Executive Officer and President


EXHIBIT INDEX
Exhibit
 
Number
Description
 
 
99.1
Press Release of Winnebago Industries, Inc. dated January 12, 2012.



Potts & Olson Release January 2012
For further information:     Sheila Davis, PR/IR Manager - 641-585-6803

WINNEBAGO INDUSTRIES ANNOUNCES RETIREMENT PLANS FOR CHAIRMAN BOB OLSON

FOREST CITY, IOWA, January 12, 2012 - Winnebago Industries, Inc. (NYSE: WGO), a leading United States (U.S.) recreation vehicle manufacturer, today announced the retirement of Bob Olson from the position of Chairman of the Board effective on February 24, 2012.

Randy Potts, 53, will assume the role of Chairman of the Board in addition to his current positions of Chief Executive Officer and President, in accordance with the Company's succession plans. A 28-year veteran of Winnebago Industries, Potts joined the Company in 1983 as a senior tool designer. He has served in various engineering and management positions since that time. In January 2011, he was elected to the position of President and was elected to the additional role of Chief Executive Officer in June 2011. Potts has also served as Vice President, Manufacturing and Senior Vice President, Strategic Planning in which he was responsible for new business development for the Company. Potts is a graduate of Hawkeye Institute of Technology in Waterloo, Iowa.

Olson, 60, is a 43-year veteran of Winnebago Industries. While relinquishing his role as Chairman of the Board, he will remain a member of the board of directors and will also continue to serve in his role on the Executive Committee of the Recreation Vehicle Industry Association and as Co-Chair of the Go-RVing Coalition. “I look forward to traveling more with my wife, Kathy, in our Winnebago Journey motor home as we experience the RV lifestyle we have promoted the last 43 years,” said Olson. “I am also excited to continue to serve the Company as a member of the Board of Directors. Randy has done an outstanding job in leading Winnebago Industries since his promotions last year and I have every confidence in his ability to lead as we continue to move forward and grow in the future.”

“Bob has successfully led Winnebago Industries through some of the most challenging times in our Company's history,” said Potts. “We are greatly indebted to Bob for his exemplary service, his unwavering dedication and his passion for improving quality and performance in every area of our organization. I feel fortunate to have ready access to his expertise in his continued role as a member of our Board of Directors and look forward to moving forward with the vision he has helped to chart for the Company's future.”

About Winnebago Industries
Winnebago Industries, Inc., "The Most Recognized Name in Motor Homes®," is a leading U.S. manufacturer of recreation vehicles, which are used primarily in leisure travel and outdoor recreation activities. The Company builds quality motor homes, travel trailers and fifth wheel products under the Winnebago, Itasca, Era and SunnyBrook brand names. Winnebago Industries has received the Quality Circle Award from the Recreation Vehicle Dealers Association every year since the award's inception in 1996. 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 or to add your name to an automatic email list for Company news releases, visit, http://www.winnebagoind.com/investor.html.

This press release may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Investors are cautioned that forward-looking statements are inherently uncertain. A number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from these statements, including, but not limited to increases in interest rates, availability of credit, low consumer confidence, significant increase in repurchase obligations, inadequate liquidity or capital resources, availability and price of fuel, a slowdown in the economy, availability of chassis and other key component parts, sales order cancellations, slower than anticipated sales of new or existing products, new product introductions by competitors, the effect of global tensions, integration of operations relating to mergers and acquisitions activities and other factors. Additional information concerning certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from that projected or suggested is contained in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) over the last 12 months, copies of which are available from the SEC or from the Company upon request. The Company disclaims any obligation or undertaking to disseminate any updates or revisions to any forward looking statements contained in this release or to reflect any changes in the Company's expectations after the date of this release or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any statement is based, except as required by law.

# # #