- Forest River (company)
Forest River Inc, a US manufacturer of a diverse line of primarily recreational vehicle products, $1.6 billion in sales, 60 plants, 5,400 employees. Located in Elkhart Indiana, the company operates multiple manufacturing facilities throughout the mid-west and west coast. CEO, Peter Liegl founded the company in 1996, which today makes all classes of RV's, cargo trailers, utility trailer, pontoon boats, light and medium-duty buses (primarily shuttle buses, not inner-city transit buses), portable offices, and structures to use for temporary schools. Forest River also owns a manufactured housing business, Hart Homes.
On June 22, 2005,
Warren Buffett , head ofBerkshire Hathaway , made an offer to purchase Forest River over the telephone while speaking to Pete Liegl. This offer came just one day after he had first learned about the company from a fax received at his office which detailed why Forest River would be a solid acquisition for Berkshire.On June 28 Warren and Pete shook hands on a deal. Warren then gave Pete his home telephone number and his cell number and told him if he needs something to call him, "Otherwise I talk to you in a year, or so". The transaction was closed on August 31, 2005.
In Berkshire Hathaway Inc's 2005 annual report, the seventy-five year-old Buffett states, "Pete is a remarkable entrepreneur".And adds, "You can be sure that I won't be telling Pete how to manage his operation".
Competitors:Thor Industries
External links
* [http://www.forestriverinc.com/ Official site]
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