Bombardier Inks Supply Agreements With Key Boat Builders; Evinrude and Johnson focused on building strategic business alliances.

Business Editors

STURTEVANT, Wis.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 7, 2001

Bombardier Recreational Products' Boats and Outboard Engines division announced today it has secured supply agreements to provide Evinrude(R) and Johnson(R) outboard engines to several of the marine industry's most prominent boat builders.

"Our focus has been to develop strategic business relationships with a range of boat builders who share our business ideals, offering premium-quality, market-leading products and superior customer service," said Henry Lonski, Vice President of Sales and Communications for the Boats and Outboard Engines division. "With our Evinrude and Johnson outboards, the builders will be able to offer products and packages that take quality to new levels and deliver value over competitive products on the market."

Bombardier's boat builder affiliates currently include all Genmar companies, including: Aquasport; Crestliner; Four Winns; Glastron; Hydra-Sports; Larson Boats; Lowe Industries; Lund Boats; Nova; Ranger Boats; Seaswirl Boats; Stratos/Javelin Boats; Triumph/Logic Marine; and Wellcraft Marine.

Bombardier has also teamed with many of the outstanding independent boat builders, including Angler Boats; Baymaster; Blue Wave/Parks Manufacturing; Carolina Skiff; Dargel; Dusky Marine; FishHawk; Forrest River/Odyssey; Godfrey Marine; Harris-Kayot; Intrepid; Maurell Products/Crest; Northport Marine; Playbuoy Pontoons; Sea Pro Boats; Smoker Craft/Sylvan; and Triton Industries.

The relationships formed with key industry builders, according to Jim Ferrero, Director of OEM Sales, need to make strong business sense for both the boat builder and Bombardier. Many factors come into play when considering strategic partners, including meeting or exceeding projected performance standards mutually established by the boat builder and the Evinrude and Johnson OEM sales team. Additionally, the make-up of the boat builders' dealer network is also extremely important.

"We want to do business with industry leaders who have strong business models that demonstrate stability, professionalism and growth potential throughout their entire operations," said Ferrero. "To make that possible, each builder is supported by strong distribution networks comprised of the industry's most successful and committed marine dealers who demonstrate a similar business acumen. Many of these dealers also currently offer their customers Evinrude and Johnson outboard products, which means they are well positioned to support our products in the field as well as take advantage of the promotional and customer service support both Bombardier and their respective boat builder partners offer."

According to Ferrero, one of the key factors supporting the Evinrude and Johnson OEM sales team's success in securing the long-term supply agreements has been Bombardier's strong reputation for offering products that exceed customers' expectations for durability, quality, and reliability - DQR.

"Builders want a strategic engine partner that can deliver the superior power products that create added value and enhance the overall dependability of their complete packages," said Lonski. "With Bombardier, boat builders can rest assured they are teaming up with an engine builder that can deliver on its strong reputation."

Bombardier Recreational Products designs, develops, builds, distributes and markets Ski-Doo(R) and Lynx(R) snowmobiles, snowgrooming equipment and multi-purpose tracked vehicles, Bombardier(R) all-terrain vehicles, Sea-Doo(R) watercraft and sport boats, Bombardier Fish Hawk(TM) fishing boats as well as the Evinrude(R) and Johnson(R) outboard marine engines and the Ficht Ram Injection(R) technology. Snowmobiles, ATVs, watercraft and some sport boats are powered by Rotax(R) engines that are designed and built by Bombardier-Rotax GmbH, which also builds motors for motorcycles, scooters, karts and aircraft.

Bombardier Inc., a diversified manufacturing and service company, is a world leading manufacturer of business jets, regional aircraft, rail transportation equipment and motorized recreational products. It is also a provider of financial services and asset management. The Corporation employs 79,000 people in 24 countries in the Americas, Europe and Asia-Pacific and its revenues for the fiscal year ended Jan. 31, 2001 totalled $16.1 billion Cdn.

(R),(TM) Trademarks of Bombardier Inc. or its subsidiaries.