APPLETON, Wis. (October 11, 2009) ¾ Pierce Manufacturing Inc., an Oshkosh Corporation [NYSE: OSK] company, today announced the winner of the Pierce employee and dealer sweepstakes drawing as part of an in-house NFFF Full Throttle Support initiative to benefit the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation (NFFF). The winner, Mark Jones, received the keys to a custom, one-of-a-kind Harley-Davidson Fat Boy Firefighter Special Edition motorcycle. Jones is vice president of sales and service for the Pierce dealership Ten-8 Fire Equipment Inc. of Bradenton, Fla., where he has sold Pierce apparatus for 23 years.
The announcement and presentation were made during the Pierce Open House to celebrate the success of the three-month long program wherein Pierce employees and its dealer organizations raised a total of $26,000. An estimated 1,800 employees and families attended the Open House at Pierce’s headquarters in Appleton, Wis.
“It speaks volumes about Pierce employees – and my fellow dealers – that we’ve stepped up to do our part in supporting the NFFF Full Throttle Support program. I am extremely proud to be part of such a great team,” said Mark Jones. “I also happen to be an avid motorcycle enthusiast, and to be awarded this beautiful motorcycle from Pierce has left me speechless. Our plan is to display and show this bike at upcoming Ten-8 shows and local events to further promote the NFFF.”
The Harley-Davidson Fat Boy Firefighter Special Edition motorcycle was provided through the financial support of Pritchard Chassis Corporation, a supplier of chassis components to Pierce for the company’s line of custom fire apparatus.
“The NFFF Full Throttle Support campaign to benefit the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation has touched the Pierce family of employees, dealers and suppliers to such an extent that we wanted to recognize and celebrate their support and involvement,” said Wilson Jones, Oshkosh Corporation executive vice president and president, Fire & Emergency. “This sweepstakes drawing and Open House is a gesture of thanks to everyone for their financial support and dedication to the NFFF as we move ahead into year two of our national program to give back to the families and loved ones of fallen firefighters.”
Earlier this year, Pierce and Harley-Davidson presented a check for $135,000 to the NFFF, representing the money raised in year one of the national Full Throttle Support campaign. Year two of this program is in full swing, and individuals can donate to the NFFF and enter the 2010 sweepstakes at http://NFFF.FullThrottleSupport.com.
“Throughout the NFFF Full Throttle Support campaign we’ve been moved beyond words by the commitment and dedication shown by the people of Pierce, their dealers, Harley-Davidson and Oshkosh Corporation,” said Ron Siarnicki, National Fallen Firefighters Foundation executive director. “Without their advocacy we would not be able to grow our programs to support the loved ones of our fallen heroes. On behalf of the NFFF and the families we serve, our heartfelt thanks for your tireless work and support.”
The NFFF is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that remembers and honors America’s fallen firefighters by providing their survivors with a place to turn for help rebuilding their lives. Spouses and children of fallen firefighters are eligible, through NFFF, for education, scholarship assistance and job training. Furthermore, NFFF-established peer networks offer families and coworkers essential emotional support.
About Pierce Manufacturing
Pierce Manufacturing Inc., an Oshkosh Corporation [NYSE: OSK] company, is the leading North American manufacturer of custom fire apparatus. Products include custom and commercial pumpers, aerials, rescue trucks, wildland trucks, mini-pumpers, elliptical tankers, and homeland security apparatus. In addition, Pierce designs its own foam systems and was the first company to introduce frontal airbags and the Side Roll Protection system to fire apparatus. To learn more about Pierce, visit www.piercemfg.com.
About Harley-Davidson Motor Company Harley-Davidson Motor Company, the only major U.S.-based motorcycle manufacturer, produces heavyweight motorcycles and a complete line of motorcycle parts, accessories and general merchandise. For more information, visit Harley-Davidson's Web site at www.harleydavidson.com.
About National Fallen Firefighters Foundation
The National Fallen Firefighters Foundation is a 501(c)3 organization with a Congressional mandate to honor all firefighters who die in the line of duty in the United States. The National Fallen Firefighters Foundation is the only fire service organization that represents every facet of the American fire service – career, volunteer and wildland. The Foundation has launched major initiatives to reduce firefighter deaths. The Foundation has no allegiance to any special interest. For more information, visit www.firehero.org.
About Oshkosh Corporation
Oshkosh Corporation is a leading designer, manufacturer and marketer of a broad range of specialty access equipment, commercial, fire & emergency and military vehicles and vehicle bodies. Oshkosh Corporation manufactures, distributes and services products under the brands of Oshkosh®, JLG®, Pierce®, McNeilus®, Medtec®, Jerr-Dan®, Oshkosh Specialty Vehicles, Frontline™, SMIT™, CON-E-CO®, London® and IMT®. The Oshkosh brands are valued worldwide in businesses where high quality, superior performance, rugged reliability and long-term value are paramount. For more information, log on to www.oshkoshcorporation.com.
®, ™ All brand names referred to in this news release are trademarks of Oshkosh Corporation or its subsidiary companies.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains statements that the Company believes to be “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements other than statements of historical fact, including, without limitation, statements regarding the Company’s future financial position, business strategy, targets, projected sales, costs, earnings, capital expenditures, debt levels and cash flows, and plans and objectives of management for future operations, are forward-looking statements. When used in this press release, words such as “may,” “will,” “expect,” “intend,” “estimate,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “should,” “project” or “plan” or the negative thereof or variations thereon or similar terminology are generally intended to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors, some of which are beyond the Company’s control, which could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These factors include the consequences of financial leverage associated with the JLG acquisition, including the level of the Company’s borrowing costs, the increased interest rates the Company would face if it experienced a deterioration or downgrade in credit agency ratings and the Company’s ability to maintain compliance with its financial covenants under its credit agreement; the cyclical nature of the Company’s access equipment, commercial and fire & emergency markets, especially during a global recession and credit crisis; the duration of the global recession, which could lead to additional impairment charges related to many of the Company’s intangible assets; risks related to the required increase in the rate of production for the M-ATV and FMTV contracts, and the amount, if any, of additional orders for M-ATVs and/or FMTVs that the Company may receive; the outcome of the formal protests of the FMTV award to the Company: the expected level and timing of U.S. Department of Defense procurement of products and services and funding thereof; risks related to reductions in government expenditures and the uncertainty of government contracts; risks related to production delays as a result of the economy’s impact on the Company’s suppliers; the potential for commodity costs to rise sharply in a future economic recovery; risks associated with international operations and sales, including foreign currency fluctuations; risks related to the collectibility of receivables during a recession, particularly for those businesses with exposure to construction markets; and the potential for increased costs relating to compliance with changes in laws and regulations. Additional information concerning these and other factors is contained in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. All forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release. The Company assumes no obligation, and disclaims any duty, to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
