UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13
or 15(d) of
The Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report (Date of Earliest Event Reported): May 29, 2009
SPARTAN MOTORS, INC.
(Exact Name of
Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)
| Michigan (State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation) |
0-13611 (Commission File No.) |
38-2078923 (IRS Employer Identification No.) |
|
1000 Reynolds Road, Charlotte, Michigan (Address of Principal Executive Offices) |
48813 (Zip Code) |
517-543-6400
(Registrant’s
Telephone Number, Including Area Code)
Not Applicable
(Former Name or Former
Address, if changed Since Last Report)
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:
[_] Written communications pursuant
to Rule 425 under the Securitites Act (17 CFR 230.425).
[_] Soliciting
material pursuant to
Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12).
[_] Pre-commencement communications
pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b)).
[_] Pre-commencement communications
pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c)).
| Item 5.02 | Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers. |
| (b) | Retirement of Chief Financial Officer |
On May 29, 2009, Spartan Motors, Inc., a Michigan corporation (the “Registrant”), announced the retirement of James Knapp, the Registrant’s senior vice president, chief financial officer, chief compliance officer, and treasurer. Mr. Knapp’s retirement is expected to be effective within the next few months. A copy of the press release issued by the Registrant to announce the retirement is attached to this Current Report as Exhibit 99. This press release is being furnished to, as opposed to filed with, the Securities and Exchange Commission.
| Item 9.01 | Financial Statements and Exhibits. |
| (d) | Exhibits |
| Exhibit 99 | Press Release issued by the Registrant on May 29, 2009 |
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
Dated: May 29, 2009 |
SPARTAN MOTORS, INC. /s/ James W. Knapp —————————————— By: James W. Knapp Its: Chief Financial Officer |
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Exhibit 99
|
|
SPARTAN MOTORS, INC. |
1000 REYNOLDS RD. • CHARLOTTE, MI 48813 • USA
TELEPHONE 517.543.6400 • FACSIMILE 517.543.5403
WEB PAGE - WWW.SPARTANMOTORS.COM
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Spartan Motors Announces Retirement of CFO James Knapp
CHARLOTTE, Michigan, May 29, 2009 – Spartan Motors, Inc. (NASDAQ: SPAR) today announced that senior vice president, chief financial officer, chief compliance officer and treasurer James Knapp will be retiring from the company within the next few months.
Knapp, 63, has been Spartan’s chief financial officer, secretary and treasurer for the past seven years, senior vice president since 2004 and chief compliance officer since 2008. Spartan Motors, the leading manufacturer of custom chassis and emergency-rescue vehicles, said it has initiated a search for Knapp’s successor led by the board of directors with assistance from a national executive search firm.
“Jim has been an integral part of our senior management team in what has been the most rapid period of Spartan’s growth in our history,” said John Sztykiel, president and CEO of Spartan Motors. “We are grateful for his leadership and wisdom, and want to thank him for his lasting contributions as well as for his assistance in making this a smooth transition as we search for his replacement.”
Sztykiel added: “Jim leaves big shoes to fill, but we are also excited about the opportunity to bring a fresh perspective to Spartan and to continue to build on our long-term track record of sales and earnings growth and healthy financial position.”
About Spartan Motors
Spartan Motors, Inc.
(www.spartanmotors.com) designs, engineers and manufactures custom chassis and
vehicles for the recreational vehicle, fire truck, ambulance, emergency-rescue and custom
vehicle markets. The company’s brand names –
SpartanTM, Crimson
FireTM, Crimson Fire
AerialsTM, and Road
RescueTM – are known for quality, value, service
and being the first to market with innovative products. The company employs approximately
1,200 at facilities in Michigan, Pennsylvania, South Carolina and South Dakota. Spartan
reported sales of $844.4 million in 2008 and is focused on becoming the premier
manufacturer of custom vehicles and chassis in North America.
This release contains forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, statements concerning our business, future plans and objectives and the performance of our products. Forward looking statements are identifiable by words such as “believe,” “anticipate,” “will,” “sustain,” and “continue.” These forward-looking statements involve certain risks and uncertainties that ultimately may not prove to be accurate. Actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Technical complications may arise that could prevent the prompt implementation of the plans outlined above. The company cautions that these forward-looking statements are further qualified by other factors including, but not limited to, those set forth in the company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filing and other filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (available at http://www.sec.gov). Government contracts and subcontracts typically involve long payment and purchase cycles, competitive bidding, qualification requirements, delays or changes in funding, extensive specification development and changes, price negotiations and milestone requirements. An announced award of a governmental contract is not equivalent to a finalized executed contract and does not assure that orders will be issued and filled. Government agencies also often retain some portion of fees payable upon completion of a project and collection of contract fees may be delayed for long periods, which can negatively impact both prime contractors and subcontractors. The company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any statements in this release, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.
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CONTACT:
| John Sztykiel, CEO, or Jim Knapp, CFO Spartan Motors, Inc. (517) 543-6400 |
Jeff Lambert, Ryan McGrath Lambert, Edwards & Associates, Inc. (616) 233-0500 / rmcgrath@lambert-edwards.com |