FLE Fleetwood Enterprises

Fleetwood Enterprises, Inc. to Pursue Legal Action Against The Coleman Company And Coachmen Industries Judge Lifted Prior Restraining Order Against Parent Company, Allowing Fleetwood to Pursue Monetary Damages Against Coleman; Will File Separate Suit Against Coachmen Industries RIVERSIDE, Calif., Feb. 9 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Fleetwood Enterprises, Inc. , the nation's leader in recreational vehicle sales and a leading producer and retailer of manufactured housing, announced today that the judgein its legal dispute with The Coleman Company, Inc. made several favorable rulings last Friday, eliminating an existing temporary restraining order. An earlier judge had placed a temporary restraining order both on Fleetwood Enterprises and its subsidiary, Fleetwood Folding Trailers. The current judge ruled that the two Fleetwood companies are separate and distinct legal entities, and lifted the restraining order completely as it applied to Fleetwood Enterprises. The judge also agreed to consider moderating some of the restrictions contained in the portions of the order that still affect Fleetwood Folding Trailers. Nonetheless, Fleetwood Folding Trailers understands that it will still be restricted from using the "Coleman" trademark and logos on its products. As a result of the ruling, Fleetwood Enterprises will pursue its legal action against Coleman, and also expects to file a lawsuit by the end of this week against Coachmen Industries, Inc., a smaller competitor of Fleetwood in the recreational vehicle industry. All litigation is in connection with a dispute over the use of the "Coleman" brand name. Coachmen announced at the end of January that it had signed a long-term exclusive licensing agreement with Coleman to produce a new line of recreational vehicles. Fleetwood's 1989 purchase agreement with Coleman includes an agreement by Coleman to refrain from any use of the "Coleman" trademark in connection with recreational vehicles. "We are pleased that the judge has made rulings on all of the motions that had been pending before the court, and that we can now proceed in our claims against Coleman," said Chris Braun, senior vice president of Fleetwood's RV Group. "Meanwhile, our Fleetwood Folding Trailer division is continuing to manufacture and sell the highest quality folding trailers. Many of the people operating that business were there in 1989 when Fleetwood purchased the company, and they are the ones who have continued to strengthen our market position. In fact, as of the most recent Statistical Survey information, more than 40 percent of all folding trailers sold during the year were manufactured by Fleetwood Folding Trailers." This press release contains certain forward-looking statements and information based on the beliefs of Fleetwood Enterprises' management as well as assumptions made by, and information currently available to, Fleetwood Enterprises' management. Such statements reflect the current views of Fleetwood Enterprises with respect to future events and are subject to certain risks, uncertainties, and assumptions, including risk factors identified in Fleetwood Enterprises' 10-K and other SEC filings. These risk factors include, without limitation, the cyclical nature of both the manufactured housing and recreational vehicle industries; ongoing weakness in the manufactured housing market; the potential impact on demand for our products as a result of weak consumer confidence; the effect of global tensions on consumer confidence; continued acceptance of the Company's products; expenses and uncertainties associated with the introduction of new products; the future availability of manufactured housing retail financing, as well as housing and RV wholesale financing; changes in retail inventory levels in the manufactured housing and recreational vehicle industries; competitive pricing pressures; the ability to attract and retain quality dealers, executive officers and other personnel; and the ability to obtain the financing we need in order to execute our business strategies. Actual results, events and performance may differ materially. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. Fleetwood Enterprises undertakes no obligation to release publicly the result of any revisions to these forward-looking statements that may be made to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. For further information please contact: Lyle Larkin, Vice President, Treasurer, +1-909-351-3535, or Kathy A. Munson, Director-Investor Relations, +1-909-351-3650, both of Fleetwood Enterprises, Inc. DATASOURCE: Fleetwood Enterprises, Inc. CONTACT: Lyle Larkin, Vice President, Treasurer, +1-909-351-3535, or Kathy A. Munson, Director-Investor Relations, +1-909-351-3650, both of Fleetwood Enterprises, Inc.

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