Exhibit
99.1
E
Mail: Drew@drewindustries.com
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DAVID
WEBSTER TO RETIRE AS KINRO CEO
JASON
LIPPERT, CEO OF LIPPERT COMPONENTS, TO ALSO ASSUME LEAD ROLE AT KINRO
White
Plains, New York - October 14, 2008 - Drew Industries Incorporated (NYSE: DW)
today announced that David L. Webster, age 72, will retire as Chairman,
President and Chief Executive Officer of Kinro, Inc., Drew’s subsidiary, by
December 31, 2008. Jason D. Lippert will assume responsibility for the
operations of Kinro, and will continue as Chairman, President and CEO of Drew’s
subsidiary, Lippert Components.
“We
thank
David for his 30 years of outstanding service as Kinro’s leader,” said Leigh J.
Abrams, Drew’s CEO. “And we wish him well in his retirement. Under David’s
management, Kinro has realized exceptional growth in sales and profits by
increasing market share, introducing new products and completing accretive
acquisitions.”
During
his tenure with Kinro, Mr. Webster earned and maintained a long-standing
reputation as a dynamic industry leader, and enjoyed wide respect for his
personal integrity. As a result, Kinro became known for quality products and
excellent customer service, and achieved extraordinary success. In 2006, Mr.
Webster was elected to the RV/MH Hall of Fame, and he intends to continue to
be
active in industry associations and councils.
Mr.
Lippert, age 36, has more than 14 years of service with Lippert Components.
He
has served as President and CEO of Lippert Components since 2003, and as
Chairman of Lippert Components and as a director of Drew since 2007. Under
Mr.
Lippert’s entrepreneurial leadership, Lippert Components has achieved
substantial growth in sales and earnings by increasing market share, by
introducing new products, and through strategic acquisitions. In September
2006,
Mr. Lippert was elected to the Board of Directors of the Recreational Vehicle
Industry Association.
“All
of
us at Drew and Kinro will miss David’s guidance in day-to-day operations.
However, under Jason Lippert’s leadership, together with Kinro’s outstanding
management team, we are confident that Kinro will continue to thrive as a
leading supplier to the RV and manufactured housing industries,” said Abrams.
“We have worked side-by-side with Kinro management for years, and we admire
their extensive knowledge of our industries, their tenacity, and their ability
to excel even in difficult times,” added Mr. Lippert.
About
Drew:
Drew,
through its wholly owned subsidiaries, Kinro and Lippert Components, supplies
a
broad array of components for RV’s and manufactured homes, including windows,
doors, chassis, chassis parts, upholstered furniture, RV slide out mechanisms
and power units, leveling devices, bath and shower units, axles, bed lifts,
steps, electric stabilizer jacks, and suspension systems, as well as trailers
for hauling equipment, boats, personal watercraft and snowmobiles, and chassis
and windows for modular homes and offices. Currently, from 36 factories located
throughout the United States, Drew serves most major national manufacturers
of
RVs and manufactured homes in an efficient and cost effective manner. Additional
information about Drew and its products can be found at www.drewindustries.com.
Forward-Looking
Statements
This
press release may contain certain “forward-looking statements” within the
meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 with respect
to
financial condition, results of operations, business strategies, operating
efficiencies or synergies, competitive position, growth opportunities for
existing products, plans and objectives of management, markets for the Company’s
common stock and other matters. Statements in this press release that are not
historical facts are “forward-looking statements” for the purpose of the safe
harbor provided by Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and
Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933.
Forward-looking
statements, including, without limitation, those relating to our future business
prospects, revenues, expenses and income, whenever they occur in this press
release, are necessarily estimates reflecting the best judgment of our senior
management at the time such statements were made, and involve a number of risks
and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from
those suggested by forward-looking statements. The Company does not undertake
to
update forward-looking statements to reflect circumstances or events that occur
after the date the forward-looking statements are made. You should consider
forward-looking statements, therefore, in light of various important factors
as
identified in this press release and in our Form 10-K for the year ended
December 31, 2007, and in our subsequent Form 10-Qs filed with the SEC.
There
are
a number of factors, many of which are beyond the Company’s control, which could
cause actual results and events to differ materially from those described in
the
forward-looking statements. These factors include pricing pressures due to
domestic and foreign competition, costs and availability of raw materials
(particularly steel and related components, vinyl, aluminum, glass and ABS
resin), availability of credit for financing the retail and wholesale purchase
of manufactured homes and recreational vehicles, availability and costs of
labor, inventory levels of retailers and manufacturers, levels of repossessed
manufactured homes, the disposition into the market by FEMA, by sale or
otherwise, of RVs or manufactured homes purchased by FEMA in connection with
natural disasters, changes in zoning regulations for manufactured homes, a
sales
decline in either the RV or the manufactured housing industries, the financial
condition of our customers, retention of significant customers, interest rates,
oil and gasoline prices, the outcome of litigation, and adverse weather
conditions impacting retail sales. In addition, national and regional economic
conditions and consumer confidence may affect the retail sale of recreational
vehicles and manufactured homes.
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