ARCTIC CAT is one of the world’s largest manufacturers of All Terrain Vehicles (ATVs) Side by Sides (ROV/UTV) and snowmobiles. The company is committed to providing quality, robust and class leading products to industries and users which demand high standards and value for money. Today ARCTIC CAT products are used on a truly global scale, and via a network of around 1.000 dealers, the company distributes products in more than 30 countries all over the world.

ARCTIC CAT GmbH, with its headquarters in St. Johann im Pongau, Austria, is the European centre of ARCTIC CAT and employs in excess of 40 employees. Personnel at this location manage the assembly, sales, After Sales support and distribution of ARCTIC CAT vehicles and products to over 24 European countries, with around 97% of its ATVs being designated for export. In line with the company’s corporate strategy, during the first quarter of 2006, ARCTIC CAT established fully owned subsidiaries in Germany, Italy, France, United Kingdom and Spain. These subsidiaries have been established so that ARCTIC CAT can manage and support the customers and market needs of these individual countries in a more accurate, timely and cost effective way. Its parent, ARCTIC CAT GmbH is focussed on supplying quality, robust class leading Arctic Cat products, but where possible seeking to improve these products and their services on a constant basis. In order to be able to offer our customers a quality driven service, the management decided in 2003 to introduce a quality management-system and to certify the company according to ISO 9001:2000/13.

What' next: Arctic Cat will be responsible for the support of the African market.

ARCTIC CAT Inc history spans back more than 50 years to date. The company is now one of the world’s largest manufacturers of ATV’s and snowmobiles and manufactures products which are used within the utility, leisure and racing markets. The origins of the company date back to the 1950’s, when company founder Edgar Hetten built the first snowmobiles. After testing these early machines for many years - and various technical advancements, in 1961 he created a snowmobile company in Minnesota. This initial company was founded later under the name "Polar Manufacturing", but was later changed to "Arctic Enterprises", and for the first time snowmobiles were called ARCTIC CATS. The following decades were characterised by technical advancements and constant growth. Today, ARCTIC CAT ranks among the most successful and largest manufacturers of snowmobiles in the world.

Compared to snowmobiles, ARCTIC CAT ATVs are rather young. In October 1995, ARCTIC CAT presented its first ATV in North Carolina, this model was the "Bearcat 440cc". The Bearcat rapidly established itself and ARCTIC CAT in the market, thanks mainly to some of its unique features such as large ground clearance and long spring travel. During the years that followed, ARCTIC CAT made constant and steady progress with new product releases and technical achievements. Today, ARCTIC CAT ranks among the most successful ATV manufacturers in the world.

The next chapter in this success story came during 2001, when ARCTIC CAT was encouraged to expand its operations more widely in Europe. The man behind this idea, Peter Preis,  founded the European branch of ARCTIC CAT at Bischofshofen, Austria. With a small team, he began to adapt standard ARCTIC CAT ATV’s for use on European roads. Under this adaptation, a number of alterations are made, but thanks to special engineering solutions relating to the braking and lighting systems, the company was successful in obtaining the general European street homologation for two models of the ARCTIC CAT brand. This was an important milestone in the short history of the company, and at the same time the catalyst which saw the overall European expansion. From this point in 2001, ARCTIC CAT AG witnessed rapid growth in terms of sales and its business infrastructure. In 2004 and due yet again to market demands, an additional production location was established at Altenmarkt im Pongau. Looking ahead from this point, ARCTIC CAT AG knew that they would eventually have to locate and occupy a much larger facility. Finally in 2005 the ideal building was found at St. Johann im Pongau, and since this date the offices, production and storage halls of ARCTIC CAT AG have been located on one site. As a conclusion to this history, In the second half of 2005 ARCTIC CAT AG became a 100 % subsidiary of ARCTIC CAT Inc, USA. Since the beginning of 2008, ARCTIC CAT is a limited liability company.

Arctic Cat celebrate the brand's 50th Anniversary as thousands of loyal Arctic Cat enthusiasts converge upon Thief River Falls, Mn on July 29th and 30th. The celebration was open to the public. It'was a great time and a great party.

Arctic Cat's 50th marks a major milestone which began in 1961 when Edgar Hetteen founded Polar Manufacturing in Thief River Falls. There he began producing snowmobiles that reflected his dreams. One year later he changed the company name to Arctic Cat, and began a series of innovations that transformed hulking snow "machines" into small, playful snowmobiles.

March 06, 2017

PROVIDENCE, R.I.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) announced today that it has completed the acquisition of Arctic Cat Inc. by means of a short-form merger under Minnesota law. As a result, Arctic Cat has become an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Textron.

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Going forward, Arctic Cat will operate as a subsidiary of Textron Specialized Vehicles Inc. This business, based in Augusta, Ga., designs and manufactures vehicles and equipment for a range of uses and industries, including E-Z-GO golf cars and personal transportation vehicles, Cushman commercial utility vehicles, Textron Off Road side-by-sides, Dixie Chopper zero-turn mowers, Jacobsen professional turf-care equipment, and TUG, Douglas, Premier and Safeaero ground support equipment. The powerful Arctic Cat brand brings an exciting lineup of snowmobiles, side-by-sides and ATVs into the Textron Specialized Vehicles product family. “Arctic Cat is an ideal fit with our growing range of off-road recreational vehicles,” said Textron president and CEO Scott Donnelly. “The addition of Arctic Cat to our Textron Specialized Vehicles business instantly gives us a deeper product line for customers, greater potential for innovation, and introduces new sales opportunities for our combined worldwide dealer network.” Arctic Cat’s operations will remain in Minnesota. The business will gain valuable new capabilities through its integration with Textron Specialized Vehicles and the global resources of Textron Inc.—a $13.8 billion multi-industry business with operations in more than 25 countries.

About Textron Specialized Vehicles Inc.

Textron Specialized Vehicles Inc. is a leading global manufacturer of golf cars, utility and personal transportation vehicles, snowmobiles, side-by-sides, all-terrain vehicles, professional turf-care equipment, and ground support equipment. Textron Specialized Vehicles markets products under the E-Z-GO®, Cushman®, Arctic Cat®,Textron Off Road™, Jacobsen®, Dixie Chopper®, Ransomes®, TUG™, Douglas™, Premier™ and Safeaero™ brands. Its vehicles are found in environments ranging from golf courses to factories, airports to planned communities, and theme parks to hunting preserves.

About Textron Inc.

Textron Inc. is a multi-industry company that leverages its global network of aircraft, defense, industrial and finance businesses to provide customers with innovative solutions and services. Textron is known around the world for its powerful brands such as Bell Helicopter, Cessna, Beechcraft, Hawker, Jacobsen, Kautex, Lycoming, E-Z-GO, Greenlee, Textron Off Road, Textron Systems, and TRU Simulation + Training. For more information visit www.textron.com.

Certain statements in this press release may describe strategies, goals, outlook or other non-historical matters; these forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they are made, and we undertake no obligation to update them. These statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause our actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements.