Genmar Holdings Inc. (parent company of boat brands Ranger, Stratos, Champion and many others) filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in Minnesota yesterday.

Genmar, considered the "GM" of the boat world, counts several brands in its portfolio – from the bass brands mentioned above to pleasure boat lines like Larson and Glastron to high-end yachts and specialty boats.

The news of its filing shocked the fishing and boating industry much in the way GM's recent bankruptcy shocked the auto world.

The company is owned by chairman and CEO Irwin Jacobs, who also owns FLW Outdoors. Jacobs has stated many times that the one primary goal of FLW Outdoors is to push the sale of Genmar-brand boats (notably Ranger). What effect the bankruptcy filing might have on the league isn't known at this time.



Official Statements

Credit markets, which remain relatively frozen in the marine industry, appear largely to blame.

In a press release about the filing, Jacobs stated the following:

"I've been in the boating industry for over 30 years, and throughout those many years, I've personally experienced several of what I thought were the worst and most difficult business conditions our industry had ever gone through. However, those conditions do not even remotely resemble anything close to what has taken place in the retail and wholesale recreational boating industry over the past approximately 12 months. If someone would have said to me as recently as even one month ago that Genmar would someday be filing for Chapter 11, I would have said it was not even a remote possibility.

"I've always looked for ways to enhance Genmar's balance sheet and felt that even though business conditions were incredibly difficult, there were alternatives available. Unfortunately, I didn't have the necessary time to complete any alternative financing acceptable to the banks. I am sure none of that is necessarily comforting to those individuals and/or companies who are being affected by Genmar's filing for Chapter 11. Although it's impossible for me to try to anticipate and/or answer in this press release all of the questions that I am sure are being asked by our Genmar dealers, vendors and employees, it is important that every interested party affected by Genmar's situation knows that we plan on successfully reorganizing and ultimately coming out of Chapter 11 as a stronger and better company with a bright and stable future ahead in the recreational boating industry.

"Surely it's going to be very difficult for most people to understand and/or anticipate the stressful days, weeks, and months ahead. I know I can speak for everyone within Genmar, including myself, that we are fully committed not only to getting through the very difficult and stressful times that are ahead of us, but we're committed to attempting to do everything humanly possible throughout the Chapter 11 proceedings in trying to help each Genmar dealer, vendor and employee as best we can. I have every reason to believe that GE Finance will continue their Genmar dealer floor plan financing program subject to the Court's approval, which will take place over the next few days."

Jacobs further stated, "We believe that Genmar will have access to sufficient cash and has current assets available to support our ongoing businesses to service and build dealer boat orders and pay our vendor suppliers on future purchases promptly. Genmar has received a commitment for Debtor-in-Possession (DIP) financing proposal from the Wells Fargo and Fifth Third banks that will be submitted for approval to the bankruptcy court in the first bankruptcy hearing scheduled to take place within the next few days. Additionally in the first court hearing, Genmar will be asking the bankruptcy court for approval to allow Genmar to pay appropriate dealer warranty and rebate claims.

"Genmar currently has over $100 million of current assets as well as substantial additional fixed assets and intangible assets that we believe will allow Genmar to come through and exit the Chapter 11 proceedings as a financially stable and strong company with a great future ahead of it in the boating industry. Further, Genmar will be submitting an overall reorganization plan for approval to the bankruptcy court as soon as possible, which will include the necessary details for all interested parties to better understand Genmar's short and long-term plans and objectives in ultimately successfully exiting the Chapter 11 proceedings.

"It's our intention to do everything we can to protect and support our valuable Genmar brands which will ultimately allow Genmar to exit Chapter 11 and continue to be a leader in the recreational boating industry."

Notable

> Several years ago, Genmar spun its VEC technology into a separate company, and VEC was not part of the filing. FLW Outdoors is also a separate entity and not part of the filing.

> Reporting will continue on this breaking story.