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Coachmen and Transamerica Announce New Strategic Alliance

29 November 2000

Coachmen Industries and Transamerica Distribution Finance Announce New Strategic Alliance

           New Financing Package Offers RV Dealers Preferred Rates

    ELKHART, Ind., Nov. 28 Two of the most powerful names in
the recreational vehicle business have teamed up to offer new financing
solutions for RV dealers. Coachmen Industries, Inc. and
Transamerica Distribution Finance (TDF) have established a strategic alliance
to offer inventory financing solutions to qualified dealers of Coachmen's four
RV companies. Participating Coachmen companies include Coachmen RV Company in
Middlebury, Indiana; Georgie Boy Manufacturing in Edwardsburg, Michigan;
Shasta Industries in Middlebury, Indiana; and Viking Recreational Vehicles in
Centreville, Michigan.
    As part of the alliance, TDF will offer a competitive and aggressive
finance package exclusively for qualified Coachmen Industries' dealers. The
package includes preferred wholesale finance rates on new Coachmen Industries
products, preferred trade-in finance programs, a competitive rental finance
program, expanded dealer services, special marketing programs and dedicated
credit facilities.
    A winning solution for dealers, the preferred finance program designed by
Coachmen Industries and TDF will provide dealers with a competitive means to
affordably increase their Coachmen inventories, commensurate with
corresponding increases in retail sales opportunities, decreasing their cost
and improving their overall cash flow.  TDF will provide credit loans,
typically referred to as floorplanning, to enable dealers to carry the broad
array of proven product lines offered by the companies of Coachmen Industries.
    "This program is available to all qualified dealerships as an attractive
alternative or supplement to their financing resources.  We are delighted to
work with TDF to bring this complete floorplanning program to our dealers,"
stated James E. Jack, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer for
Coachmen Industries.
    "We look forward to our partnership with Coachmen Industries. We will work
tirelessly to provide the best services to Coachmen dealers in order to
solidify our role as a leading provider of financing solutions for the RV
industry," commented Rick Compton, National Account Manager for TDF.