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Country
Coach
bought
by
private
company
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February
16,
2007,
Junction
City,
Oregon
-
Country
Coach,
Inc.,
a
highline
diesel
motorcoach
builder
celebrating
its
34th
year
of
luxury
motorcoach
manufacturing
excellence,
announced
today
the
signing
of
a
binding
definitive
agreement
for
the
acquisition
of
the
Company
led
by
Riley
Investment
Partners.
The
transaction
is
expected
to
close
early
next
week.
"We
are
pleased
to
share
some
exciting
news
with
our
coach
owners,
business
partners
and
fellow
employees,"
said
Country
Coach
President
and
CEO
Jay
Howard.
"The
purchase
of
our
company
by
a
highly
successful
investment
management
company
allows
us
to
focus
on
what
we
do
best.
Our
mission
remains
to
design
and
build
the
highest
quality,
most
innovative
motorcoaches
in
the
marketplace.
Simply
put,
we
will
continue
to
produce
The
World's
Finest
Motorcoaches."
Adding
to
the
day's
news,
the
Company
heralded
the
return
of
Company
Founder
and
RV
Industry
patriarch
Bob
Lee
to
the
Country
Coach
Family.
In
his
role
of
Chairman
Emeritus,
Mr.
Lee
will
provide
valuable
counsel
to
the
Country
Coach
management
team.
"My
heart
has
always
been,
and
will
always
be
with
Country
Coach,"
said
Bob
Lee
from
the
Company's
headquarters
in
Junction
City,
Oregon,
where
he
is
busy
moving
into
his
new
office.
"I
am
pleased
to
be
back
home
where
I
began
in
1973.
We
can
once
again
focus
solely
on
the
business
of
making
beautiful
luxury
motorcoaches
for
our
many
RV'ing
friends.
Country
Coach
has
a
solid
management
team,
wonderful
long-term
employees,
and
a
great
business
plan.
With
our
newfound
operational
independence,
there
is
nothing
we
can't
achieve."
Riley
Investment
Partners
Principal
Bryant
Riley
added,
"When
we
evaluated
the
RV
industry
and
its
management,
we
looked
for
two
things:
quality
management
and
the
highest
quality
products.
With
this
investment,
we
have
accomplished
that
goal
in
spades,
and
look
forward
to
continuing
to
build
on
the
company's
well
deserved
reputation
as
the
builder
of
the
world's
finest
motorcoaches."
Riley
continued,
"Additionally,
we
are
very
pleased
that
the
Company
President
and
CEO
Jay
Howard,
Founder
and
Chairman
Emeritus
Bob
Lee,
and
Sales
Senior
Vice
President
Jim
Howard
are
all
making
financial
investments
in
the
Company,
further
demonstrating
their
belief
and
commitment
to
the
future
of
Country
Coach.
"
Mark
Andersen,
Chief
Financial
Officer
for
Country
Coach,
highlighted
the
positive
impact
the
Company's
new
independence
will
have
on
future
development.
"Country
Coach
will
be
able
to
reinvest
its
profits
in
the
business,
creating
the
opportunity
to
make
the
Company
even
more
effective
and
competitive."
Company
President
&
CEO
Jay
Howard
continued
to
emphasize
a
"focused"
approach
to
Country
Coach's
future.
"In
a
challenging
marketplace,
where
many
companies
have
suffered,
Country
Coach
has
just
completed
its
14th
consecutive
profitable
quarter."
Mr.
Howard
observed.
"We
have
done
so
by
concentrating
on
the
luxury
market,
listening
to
our
customers,
and
taking
the
time
to
do
it
right.
Bob
Lee
has
directed
us
towards
building
each
motorcoach
like
it
was
for
our
own
Mother.
We
intend
to
spend
all
of
our
time
making
him
proud
of
our
Company
and
our
motorcoaches."
Jim
Howard,
Senior
Vice
President
of
Sales
&
Service
for
Country
Coach,
is
enthusiastic
about
the
Company's
ability
to
be
a
leader
in
innovation.
"Our
dealer
partners
provide
us
with
constant
and
valuable
input
on
the
kind
of
features
we
should
provide
to
help
them
be
successful.
This
refreshed
and
independent
Country
Coach
will
be
able
to
respond
more
quickly
and
accurately
than
ever
before
to
market
demands,
helping
our
dedicated
business
partners
to
grow
their
businesses
in
tandem
with
ours."
This
newly
private
Company
has
big
plans
for
2007.
Country
Coach
will
next
be
in
Jekyll
Island,
Georgia
in
March
for
their
East
Coast
Class
Reunion
Rally.
This
event
will
be
followed
immediately
by
the
Family
Motor
Coach
Association
convention
in
Perry,
Georgia,
where
the
Company
will
mark
the
public
debut
of
its
new
Rhapsody
900
luxury
coach,
in
addition
to
other
innovations
in
luxury
and
craftsmanship.
No
matter
where
the
Company
may
be
presenting
new
products,
Country
Coach's
doors
are
open
at
its
Headquarters
for
factory
tours
nearly
any
time
of
the
year.
"For
people
who
want
to
see
the
difference,
there's
nothing
better
than
a
visit
to
Junction
City,"
commented
Bob
Lee.
"The
coffee's
always
on.
Come
see
us,
and
let
us
show
you
what
it
takes
to
call
a
motorcoach
a
Country
Coach."
Country
Coach
currently
employs
over
1,700
men
and
women
manufacturing
highline
motorcoaches
in
lengths
ranging
from
34
to
45
feet.
These
102-inch
wide-body
diesel
pusher
engine
luxury
coaches
include
the
Tribute
260,
Inspire
360,
Allure
400
Series,
Intrigue
530,
Magna
630,
Affinity
700
Custom,
Rhapsody
900
and
Country
Coach
Prevost
Conversion.
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