Coachmen Industries Forms New State-Of-The-Industry Financing Program

Exclusive Financial Services Will Benefit Coachmen(R), Georgie Boy(R) and Viking(R) RV Dealers

ELKHART, Ind., Sept. 29 -- Coachmen Industries is announcing the formation of a private label finance program that will provide exclusive financing services to its recreation vehicle (RV) dealers. The creation of Coachmen Financial Services(SM) will offer industry- leading inventory financing solutions to qualified dealers who carry RVs manufactured by Coachmen Industries' RV Group: Coachmen Recreational Vehicle Company, LLC; Georgie Boy Manufacturing, LLC; and Viking Recreational Vehicle Company, LLC.

Initially, Coachmen Financial Services will focus primarily on wholesale inventory financing, providing Coachmen Industries dealers with dedicated lines of credit to purchase products at highly competitive rates and terms. The program provides a broad breadth of wholesale finance features and is intended to expand to other financial services.

"We believe this is the best finance package in the RV industry. It provides our dealers with the wholesale financing they need at competitive rates and terms," said Joseph P. Tomczak, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Coachmen Industries, Inc.

"Coachmen Financial Services is a dynamic program providing finance solutions to our dealers through a branded financing package. This program adds value to our relationships with our dealers as it offers qualifying Coachmen Industries dealers features designed specifically to support their efforts in selling more Coachmen product at lower operating costs." said Michael R. Terlep, Coachmen RV Group President.

Terlep said Coachmen Financial Services represents one of the best national programs for new product 'floorplanning' offered in the industry, plus provides expanded finance features that include a used/trade-in program, a pre-sold program, a rental program and much more. He added that Coachmen Financial Services will provide Coachmen Industries dealers with better service and greater flexibility.

"By providing competitive financing programs for a broad range of dealer sizes and product stocking levels, Coachmen Financial Services will help increase dealer profitability and differentiate Coachmen Industries from other manufacturers and lenders. As a result, Coachmen looks to increase its volume by growing wholesale and retail market share," stated Terlep.

In establishing Coachmen Financial Services, Coachmen Industries selected Transamerica Distribution Finance, a leading provider of financial plans for the recreational vehicle industry. The Company formed a relationship with Transamerica over two years ago through a "Preferred Finance Program" that provided dedicated lines of credit to fill the product needs of dealers, along with exceptional service and support.

For Coachmen Financial Services, Transamerica will establish a unit dedicated to servicing Coachmen Industries and its dealers, including credit, account management and customer service functions. Its staff will consist of experienced industry professionals from Transamerica's Charlotte, N.C., RV Business Group.

"Coachmen Financial Services brings a whole suite of financial services to Coachmen's dealer network," said Kevin Riehl, Vice President and General Manager of Transamerica Distribution Finance's Home and Recreational Products Group. "It also helps Coachmen strengthen their relationship with dealers by offering a more competitive rate structure and dedicated credit lines."

"We are a leader in the RV industry, and Transamerica is a leader in the wholesale recreational vehicle dealer floorplanning arena. It makes good business sense for us to team up with other leaders, and no one is better positioned than Transamerica to provide our dealers with the financing package, service and support they need and deserve," said Tomczak.

Coachmen Industries, Inc., founded in 1964, is one of the nation's leading manufacturers of recreational vehicles with well-known brand names including COACHMEN(R), GEORGIE BOY(R), SHASTA(R), SPORTSCOACH(R) and VIKING(R). Coachmen Industries is also one of the largest systems-built home producers in the nation with its ALL AMERICAN HOMES(R) subsidiary. Modular commercial structures are manufactured by the Company's Miller Building Systems subsidiary. Prodesign, LLC is a subsidiary that custom thermoforms composite and plastic parts for numerous industries under the PRODESIGN(R) brand. Coachmen Industries, Inc. is a publicly held company with stock listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) under the COA ticker symbol.

Located in Hoffman Estates, Ill., Transamerica Distribution Finance is a leading provider of distribution finance solutions for manufacturers, distributors and dealers in the recreational vehicles industry. The company delivers consistent, reliable finance solutions for customers around the world through its inventory finance, accounts receivable finance and asset-based lending services. Additional information about Transamerica Distribution Finance can be found at www.TransamericaFinance.com/tdf .

Transamerica Distribution Finance is a member of the family of businesses of Transamerica Finance Corporation.