Polaris Inc
For the period ended Dec 31, 2023. Filed Feb 16, 2024.
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FY2023 · Filed Feb 16, 2024
Contents
Item 1. Business
Polaris Inc., formerly known as Polaris Industries Inc., a Delaware corporation, was formed in 1994 and is the successor to Polaris Industries Partners LP. The terms “Polaris,” the “Company,” “we,” “us,” and “our” as used herein refer to the business and operations of Polaris Inc., its subsidiaries and its predecessors, which began doing business in 1954. We design, engineer, manufacture and market powersports vehicles which include: off-road vehicles (“ORV”), including all-terrain vehicles (“ATV”) and side-by-side vehicles; military and commercial ORVs; snowmobiles; motorcycles; moto-roadsters; quadricicycles; and boats. We also design and manufacture or source parts, garments and accessories (“PG&A”), which includes aftermarket accessories and apparel. Our products are sold online and through dealers and distributors principally located in the United States, Canada, Western Europe, Australia, and Mexico.
Business Segments
We operate in three business segments; Off Road, On Road, and Marine. Our products are sold through a network of approximately 2,500 independent dealers in North America, approximately 1,500 independent international dealers through over 25 subsidiaries, and approximately 70 independent distributors in nearly 90 countries outside of North America. A majority of our dealers and distributors are multi-line and also carry competitor products, however some dealers carry our full line of products and, while relatively consistent, the actual number of dealers carrying our products can vary from time to time.
Off Road:
The Off Road segment primarily consists of ORVs and snowmobiles. ORVs are four-wheel vehicles designed for off-road use and traversing a wide variety of terrain, including dunes, trails, and mud. The vehicles can be multi-passenger or single passenger, are used for recreation in such sports as fishing and hunting and for trail and dune riding, and for utility purposes on farms, ranches, and construction sites. The ORV industry is comprised of ATVs and side-by-side vehicles. Internationally, ATVs and side-by-sides are sold primarily in Western Europe, Australia, and Mexico by similar manufacturers as in North America.
Estimated North America and worldwide ORV industry retail sales are summarized as follows:
| Twelve months ended December 31, | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Estimated* Approximate Industry Sales (in units) | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
| North America ATV retail sales | 240,000 | 250,000 | 285,000 |
| North America side-by-side retail sales | 565,000 | 535,000 | 560,000 |
| North America ORV retail sales | 805,000 | 785,000 | 845,000 |
| Worldwide ATV retail sales | 335,000 | 355,000 | 415,000 |
| Worldwide side-by-side retail sales | 620,000 | 590,000 | 620,000 |
| Worldwide ORV retail sales | 955,000 | 945,000 | 1,035,000 |
| *Estimates are unaudited and based on internally-generated management estimates, including estimates based on extrapolations from third-party surveys of the industries in which we compete. See Market and Industry Data section for additional information. | |||
The side-by-side market has been consistently strong over the past several years primarily due to continued innovation by manufacturers. In 2023, we continued to be the North America market share leader in off-road vehicles. Our ORV lineup includes the RZR sport side-by-side, the RANGER utility side-by-side, the GENERAL crossover side-by-side, the Polaris XPEDITION adventure side-by-side and the Sportsman ATV. The full line spans 107 models, including two-, four- and six-wheel drive general purpose and recreational vehicles. In many of our segments, we offer youth, value, mid-size, premium and extreme-performance vehicles, which come in both single passenger and multi-passenger seating arrangements. Key 2023 ORV product introductions included the Extreme Duty RANGER XD 1500, RANGER XP Kinetic and the Polaris XPEDITION.
We sell our ORVs directly to a network of approximately 1,400 dealers in North America and 1,100 international dealers. Many of our ORV dealers and distributors are also authorized snowmobile dealers. We produce and deliver our products throughout the year based on dealer, distributor, and customer orders. ORV retail sales activity at the dealer level drives orders that are incorporated into each product’s production scheduling. International distributor ORV orders are taken throughout the year. We utilize our Retail Flow Management (“RFM”) ordering system for ORV dealers, which allows dealers to order daily and create a segment stocking order which helps to reduce order fulfillment times.
The ORV industry in the United States, Canada and other global markets is highly competitive. As an ORV original equipment manufacturer (“OEM”), our competition primarily comes from North American and Asian manufacturers. Competition in such markets is based upon a number of factors, including price, quality, reliability, styling, product features, warranties and a manufacturer’s ability to produce vehicles to meet changing consumer demand.
Snowmobiles have been manufactured under the Polaris name since 1954. We estimate that worldwide industry sales of snowmobiles totaled approximately 125,000, 130,000, and 135,000 units for the 12 month seasons ended March 31, 2023, 2022, and 2021, respectively.
For the 12 month season ended March 31, 2023, we held the number two market share position for North America. We produce a full line of snowmobiles consisting of 57 models, ranging from youth models to utility and economy models to performance and competition models.
Key model introductions in 2023 included the new Series 9 325 track that further elevates the Polaris RMK line. We also manufacture a snow bike conversion kit system under the Timbersled brand and in 2023 we launched the new RIOT Gen 2 system, as well as more trim levels and options.
Polaris snowmobiles are sold principally in the United States, Canada, and Northern Europe. We sell our snowmobiles directly to a network of over 580 dealers in North America, primarily located in the snowbelt regions of the United States and Canada, and over 300 international dealers. We offer a pre-order SnowCheck program in the spring for our customers that assists us in production planning. This program allows our customers to order a true factory-customized snowmobile by selecting various options, including chassis, track, suspension, colors and accessories. Manufacturing of snowmobiles generally commences in late winter of the previous season and continues through late autumn or early winter of the current season.
The global snowmobile industry is primarily comprised of North American and Japanese competitors. Competitive market share position is driven heavily by product news (styling, technology, performance) and pricing.
Our commercial and government/defense businesses design and manufacture vehicles that support various commercial and government applications for transporting people and hauling equipment, as well as tactical defense vehicles. Our defense vehicles, which include ATVs and side-by-side vehicles with features specifically designed for military applications, provide versatile mobility for up to nine passengers, and include our DAGOR, Sportsman MV and MRZR models. We offer 26 models across our brands.
Our commercial and government/defense businesses each have their own distribution networks outside of our traditional dealer channels through which their respective vehicles are distributed. ProXD, one of our vehicle brands, is sold through a growing network of over 200 dealers and also direct to customer where permitted.
We design, engineer, produce or supply a variety of replacement parts and Polaris Engineered Accessories for our Off Road Segment. ORV accessories include winches, bumper/brushguards, plows, racks, wheels and tires, pull-behinds, cab systems, lighting and audio systems, cargo box accessories, tracks and oil. We also market a full line of gear and apparel related to our ORVs, including helmets, jackets, gloves, pants and hats. Snowmobile accessories include covers, traction products, reverse kits, electric starters, tracks, bags, windshields, oil and lubricants. We also market a full line of gear and apparel for our snowmobiles, including helmets, goggles, jackets, gloves, boots, bibs, pants and hats. Gear and apparel are designed to our specifications, purchased from independent vendors and sold by us through our dealers, distributors, and online.
PG&A products for the Off Road segment include our OEM brands as well as other portfolio brands including Kolpin, Pro Armor, Klim, 509, and Trail Tech. Kolpin, Pro Armor and Trail Tech serve various accessory related needs. Kolpin is a lifestyle brand specializing in purpose-built and universal-fit accessories for a variety of off-road vehicles and off-road outdoor enthusiasts. Pro Armor offers a lineup that specializes in accessories for performance side-by-side vehicles, snowmobiles and ATVs. Brands in our Apparel category include Klim, which specializes in premium technical riding gear for snowmobile and off-road activities, and 509, which is an aftermarket leader in snowmobile and off-road apparel, helmets and goggles. Kolpin, Pro Armor and Trail Tech are marketed through Apex Product Group, a unified sales, customer service, distribution and vertically integrated manufacturing organization. Apex allows us to access customers through strategic retail and e-commerce marketplaces, as well as dealerships (Polaris and non-Polaris), to reach owners of Polaris and other OEM’s products. Klim and 509 each have their own dealer/distributor networks.
On Road:
Our On Road segment designs and manufactures motorcycles, moto-roadsters, light duty hauling, and passenger vehicles.
Motorcycles are utilized as a mode of transportation as well as for recreational purposes. The industry is comprised of several segments. We currently compete in three segments: cruisers, touring (including three-wheel), and standard motorcycles. Competition in these segments of the motorcycle industry is based on a number of factors, including styling, price, quality, reliability and the dealer network supporting the brand.
Estimated combined 900cc and above cruiser, touring, and standard market segments (including the moto-roadster Slingshot®) motorcycle industry sales in North America and worldwide are summarized as follows:
| Twelve months ended December 31, | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Estimated* Industry Sales (in units) | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
| North America 900cc cruiser, touring, and standard retail sales | 180,000 | 195,000 | 220,000 |
| Worldwide 900cc cruiser, touring, and standard retail sales | 300,000 | 315,000 | 350,000 |
| *Estimates are unaudited and based on internally-generated management estimates, including estimates based on extrapolations from third-party surveys of the industries in which we compete. See Market and Industry Data section for additional information. | |||
In 2023, we held the number two position in North America market share for the 900cc+ category. Our motorcycles lineup includes Indian Motorcycle and Slingshot, a three-wheel open air roadster. Our 2024 model year line of motorcycles for Indian Motorcycle and Slingshot consists of 38 models. In 2023, Indian Motorcycle launched its all-new 2024 lineup, featuring a limited edition FTR x 100% R Carbon, a new Challenger Elite, and completely redesigned PowerBand Audio system. Slingshot launched its all-new 2024 lineup with thoughtful refinement and bold graphics.
We design, engineer, produce or source a variety of replacement parts and accessories for our motorcycles. Motorcycle accessories include saddle bags, handlebars, backrests, exhausts, windshields, seats, oil and various chrome accessories. We also market a full line of gear and apparel for our motorcycles, including helmets, jackets, leathers and hats. Gear and apparel are purchased from independent vendors and sold by us through our dealers, distributors, and online under our brand names. PG&A products for the On Road segment include our OEM brands as well as other portfolio brands including Klim and 509.
Indian Motorcycle and Slingshot are distributed directly through independently owned dealers and distributors. Indian Motorcycles are sold through a network of over 200 dealers in North America and over 350 international dealers. Slingshot currently has over 325 dealers globally. We utilize our RFM ordering system for motorcycle dealers, which allows dealers to order daily and create a segment stocking order which helps to reduce order fulfillment times.
We also design and manufacture vehicles that support various commercial and industrial work applications and include products in the light-duty hauling, industrial and urban/suburban commuting sub-sectors. Our vehicle brands include Goupil and Aixam which are primarily marketed in Western Europe. We offer 13 models across these brands. These businesses each have their own distribution networks through which their respective vehicles are distributed. Goupil and Aixam sell directly to customers in France, through subsidiaries in certain Western European countries and through several dealers and distributors for markets outside such countries.
Marine:
Our Marine segment designs and manufactures boats that are designed to compete in key segments of the recreational marine industry, specifically pontoon and deck boats. Inclusive of the segments in which we compete, we estimate total
U.S. 2023 powerboats market sales were approximately $15.0 billion, with pontoon being one of the larger segments therein.
Our brands, Bennington, Godfrey and Hurricane, are strategically positioned with over 500 base models across a range of price points. We also offer custom layouts and features and work with most engine manufacturers enabling customers to build a boat that meets their specifications. We believe that the combination of our Bennington and Godfrey brands is currently the market share leader in pontoon boats.
In 2023, Polaris Marine launched the model year 2024 boats for the Bennington, Godfrey and Hurricane brands. Notable launches include Bennington’s SV and S series refresh that offers an enhanced style and streamlined product offering at a competitive price point, and Godfrey’s XP series, a new halo product that elevates design, sound and lighting. Additionally, Godfrey launched the entry level Xperience series and Hurricane launched the Sundeck 217/Sundeck Sport 218 models as well as the Sundeck 2050/Sundeck Sport 2050 models.
Our extensive, experienced and loyal network of over 550 global dealers is a competitive advantage, helping to generate steady demand. Concentrated primarily in North America, this dealer network is organized into distinct sales territories supported by experienced sales representatives and leadership. Through the use of offseason incentive programs, we adhere to level production throughout the year, minimizing disruption to the workforce and vendor network.
Polaris Adventures
Our Polaris Adventures business partners with local outfitters to deliver unique ride experiences leveraging many of our global vehicle platforms. The Polaris Adventures network has completed over 1,500,000 rides since 2017, and had over 250 locations as of December 31, 2023. The financial results of the Polaris Adventures business are included within the Off Road and On Road segments, depending on the vehicle platform used in the ride experience.
Financial Services Arrangements
Floor plan financing. We have arrangements with Polaris Acceptance (United States), a joint venture between Polaris and a subsidiary of Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., Wells Fargo affiliates (who provide floor plan financing for customers in many countries and regions, including Canada, Australia, France, Germany, the United Kingdom and Scandinavia), and a subsidiary of Huntington Bancshares Incorporated to provide floor plan financing for many of our dealers. A majority of our sales of ORVs, snowmobiles, motorcycles, boats, and related PG&A are financed under these arrangements whereby we receive payment within a few days of shipment of our product. We participate in the cost of dealer financing and have agreed to repurchase products from the finance companies under certain circumstances and subject to certain limitations. No material losses have been incurred under these agreements during the periods presented. See Note 11 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for a discussion of these financial services arrangements.
Customer financing. We do not offer consumer financing directly to the end users of our products. Instead, we have agreements in place with third-party financing companies to provide financing services to those end consumers. We have no material contingent liabilities for residual value or credit collection risk under these agreements.
Manufacturing and Distribution Operations
Our products are primarily assembled at our 20 global manufacturing facilities, many of which are shared across business segments. We are vertically integrated in several key components of our manufacturing process, including plastic injection molding, precision machining, welding, clutch assembly and painting. Raw materials and other component parts are purchased from third-party vendors. We have a long-term supply contract with a boat engine manufacturer, which requires a certain volume of total engine purchases, and includes favorable pricing, as well as various growth and volume incentives.
Contract carriers ship our products from our manufacturing and distribution facilities to our customers. We maintain several leased wholegoods distribution centers where final set-up and up-fitting is completed for certain models before shipment to dealers, distributors, and customers.
Our products are distributed to our dealers, distributors, and customers through a network of over 40 distribution centers, including third-party providers.
Sales and Marketing
Our marketing activities are designed primarily to promote and communicate with consumers to enable the marketing and selling efforts of our dealers and distributors globally. We make available and advertise discount or rebate programs, retail financing or other incentives for our dealers and distributors to remain price competitive to accelerate retail sales to consumers. We advertise our brands directly to consumers via digital, television, print, out of home, radio, events and sponsorships. We utilize public relations and partnerships to drive earned media. We provide advertising assets and content and partially underwrite dealer and distributor advertising to a degree and on terms which vary by brand and from year to year. We also provide print materials, signage and other promotional items for use by dealers. We spent $542.3 million, $480.8 million and $458.2 million for sales and marketing activities in 2023, 2022 and 2021, respectively. Our corporate headquarters facility is in Medina, Minnesota, and we maintain numerous sales and administrative facilities across the world.
Engineering, Research and Development, and New Product Introduction
We have over 1,400 employees who are engaged in the development and testing of existing products and research and development of new products and improved production techniques, located primarily in Roseau, Minnesota; Wyoming, Minnesota; Elkhart, Indiana; Novi, Michigan; Burgdorf, Switzerland; and Bangalore, India.
We utilize internal combustion engine testing facilities to design engine configurations for our products. We utilize specialized facilities for matching engine, exhaust system and clutch performance parameters in our products to achieve desired fuel consumption, power output, noise level and other objectives. Further, we are continuing to execute our electrification initiative to position the Company as a leader in powersports electrification. Our engineering department is equipped to make small quantities of new product prototypes for testing and for the planning of manufacturing procedures. In addition, we maintain numerous facilities where each of the products is extensively tested under actual use conditions. We utilize our Wyoming, Minnesota facility for engineering, design and development for our line of engines and powertrains, ORVs, and motorcycles, and our Roseau, Minnesota facility for our snowmobile, ATV and powertrain research and development. We utilize our Elkhart, Indiana facility for engineering, design and development for our boats research and development. We also own Polaris Technology Center Burgdorf LLC, an engineering company that develops high-performance and high-efficiency engines and innovative vehicles.
Intellectual Property
Our products are marketed under a variety of valuable trademarks. Some of the more important trademarks used in our global operations include POLARIS, RANGER, RZR, GENERAL, Polaris XPEDITION, SPORTSMAN, INDIAN MOTORCYCLE, SLINGSHOT, BENNINGTON, and KLIM. We protect these marks as appropriate through registrations in the United States and other jurisdictions. Depending on the jurisdiction, trademarks are generally valid as long as they are in use or their registrations are properly maintained and they have not been found to have become generic. Registrations of trademarks can also generally be renewed indefinitely for as long as the trademarks are in use.
We continue our focus on developing and marketing innovative, proprietary products, many of which use proprietary expertise, trade secrets, and know-how. We consider the collective rights under our various patents, which expire from time to time, a valuable asset, but we do not believe that our businesses are materially dependent upon any single patent or group of related patents.
Product Safety & Regulatory Affairs
Federal, state/provincial and local governments around the world have promulgated and/or are considering promulgating laws and regulations relating to product safety and consumer use. For example, in the United States: (i) the Consumer Product Safety Commission (“CPSC”) has federal oversight over product safety issues related to snowmobiles, snow-bikes and off-road vehicles; (ii) the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (“NHTSA”) has federal oversight over product safety issues related to motorcycles and Slingshot; and (iii) the U.S. Coast Guard and its foreign equivalents have oversight over the marine safety regulations for our marine products. In addition, we design our products to comply with various applicable voluntary safety standards promulgated by industry associations. While we are currently effectively managing compliance with these various regulatory schemes and standards around the world, changes in the regulatory climate in any of the jurisdictions where we operate could have a material adverse effect on our total sales, financial condition, profitability, or cash flows. For a more detailed discussion of these risks, please see Item 1A. Risk Factors of this Annual Report.
Human Capital Management
Best Team, Best Culture is a Polaris guiding principle. Our greatest asset is our employee base. We are committed to providing an inclusive and engaging work environment, and we aim to leverage our Polaris values to drive a positive culture. Our employees are also among our largest shareholder groups, driven by our Employee Stock Ownership Plan (“ESOP”) and our equity compensation program.
Headcount. Due to the seasonality of our business and changes in production cycles, total employment levels vary throughout the year. Despite such variations in employment levels, employee turnover has not been materially disruptive to our business. As of December 31, 2023, we had approximately 18,500 full-time employees globally, with approximately 5,500 in salaried roles. Our employees are based in 19 countries with approximately 53% of our employees located outside of the United States.
Commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. Our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion is foundational to our success. We remain committed to a multi-year strategy, R.I.D.E. Together, that defines and progresses our commitment to Respect, Inclusion, Diversity, and Equity, with our assertion that we will make meaningful progress leveraging our full workforce. The composition of our employee base reflects this priority, as seen in the increase in diverse representation across the enterprise since the introduction of the R.I.D.E Together framework.
Our leaders are equipped to foster a diverse and inclusive workplace through leadership training and tools for inclusive team conversations. We undertake regular reviews of human capital practices to assess for unintended bias and to improve our practices. We have leveraged external partners to review our performance management, talent acquisition, inclusion and pay equity. As members of the Corporate Partnership Council of the Society of Women Engineers and the Women in Manufacturing Association, we have enabled team development opportunities and a pipeline for future talent. We have also created partnerships with the Society for Professional Hispanic Engineers, People of Color Careers, Disability Solutions, DoD Skillbridge and others to further our ability to reach a diverse candidate base. Our relationship with Code2College is helping us create a non-traditional talent pipeline for technical talent, and our early career leadership development programs are a catalyst for future diverse leaders.
Employee engagement. As a core element of our human capital management strategy, we developed a multi-faceted employee listening strategy inclusive of new hire pulse surveys across the global salaried employee base, our bi-annual engagement survey of global salaried employees, and our bi-annual ethical culture survey. In 2023, 96% of our employees participated in the employee engagement survey, and the positive responses rated Polaris in the top quartile compared with a best-in-class global normative database, on par with high performing company norms. Consistent positive employee responses across diverse groups reflect the results of our focus on building an inclusive work environment. Our leaders continue to evaluate and implement opportunities for improvement identified by these sources of employee feedback.
Leadership development. As a part of our growth strategy, we are committed to strategically and intentionally developing our current employees to become the next generation of leaders through external partnerships and employee development programs such as Succeeding as a Polaris Leader and Polaris Leadership Development 1 and 2. These programs provide high-potential employees opportunities to gain experience and prepare for next-level roles. In 2023, we expanded that investment with additional external partnerships to bolster our succession and development processes for senior leadership, including external leadership courses and internally hosted acumen training.
Attracting and developing early career talent remains a key element of our talent strategy. We invest in the development of early talent, providing our interns with weekly development opportunities. Our internship programs are a key pipeline to our early career leadership development programs across engineering, operations, sales, marketing, finance, human resources and information technology. Our first leadership development program launched over 20 years ago, and the structured rotations and formal development within the programs have proven successful in bolstering our functional and management leadership succession. For our interns and post-graduate development program participants, we host a week-long summit event in Minnesota, providing an opportunity to learn from executives, network with others, participate in professional development activities, and experience Polaris products.
Employee well-being. We believe the holistic focus on well-being, including our employees’ health, safety, and financial security drives our success and is a key focus of our guiding principles. We offer our employees a total rewards package that includes competitive base pay, annual incentives, product discounts, comprehensive health and wellness benefits, and equity compensation plans that include the ESOP, the Employee Stock Purchase Plan (“ESPP”), and additional incentive equity grants for certain levels. Employees are provided with customized, comprehensive total rewards statements and resources to understand the various pay and benefits elements of our total rewards program.
Our strong safety culture remains a primary focus. In 2023, we launched a year-long Rider Safety campaign to provide employees with additional training and tools to operate our vehicles safely both while working at our facilities and outside the office. Wellness is a significant focus with the personalized well-being model that provides employees with the tools to manage a diverse set of needs. Financial well-being is one of our focuses, and we endeavor to support our employees’ financial wellness in a variety of ways, including by offering financial wellness education that supports employees navigating market volatility and inflation. We also offer free one-on-one financial counseling sessions to employees, allowing employees to receive counseling tailored to their priorities. We view our comprehensive total rewards package with a broad focus on employee well-being as instrumental in our ability to attract, motivate and retain quality candidates and employees to drive our strategic mission to continue to be the global leader in powersports.
Market and Industry Data
We have obtained the market and industry data presented in this Annual Report from a combination of internal surveys, third-party information and estimates by management. There are limited sources that report on our markets and industries. As such, much of the market and industry data presented in this Annual Report is based on internally-generated management estimates, including estimates based on extrapolations from third-party surveys of the industries in which we compete. While we believe internal surveys, third-party information and our estimates are reliable, we have not verified them, nor have they been verified by any independent sources and we have no assurance that the information contained in third-party websites is current, up-to date, or accurate. While we are not aware of any misstatements regarding the market and industry data presented in this Annual Report, whether any such future-looking data will be accurate involves risks and uncertainties and are subject to change based on various factors, including those factors discussed under the headings “Forward-Looking Statements” and “Risk Factors.”
Available Information
Our Internet website is http://www.polaris.com. We make available free of charge, on or through our website, our annual, quarterly and current reports, and any amendments to those reports, as soon as reasonably practicable after electronically filing such reports with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). We also make available through our website our corporate governance materials, including our Corporate Governance Guidelines, the charters of the Audit Committee, Compensation Committee, Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee and Technology Committee of our Board of Directors, our Code of Business Conduct and Ethics, and our Corporate Responsibility Report. Any shareholder or other interested party wishing to receive a copy of these corporate governance materials should write to Polaris Inc., 2100 Highway 55, Medina, Minnesota 55340, Attention: Investor Relations or email polaris.investorrelations@polaris.com. Information contained on our website is not part of this report. In addition, the SEC maintains an internet site that contains reports, proxy and information statements, and other information regarding issuers that file electronically with the SEC and state the address of that side (http://www.sec.gov).
Forward-Looking Statements
This Annual Report contains not only historical information, but also “forward-looking statements” intended to qualify for the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These “forward-looking statements” can generally be identified as such because the context of the statement will include words such as we or our management “believes,” “anticipates,” “expects,” “estimates” or words of similar import. Similarly, statements that describe our future plans, objectives or goals, such as future sales, future cash flows and capital requirements, operational initiatives, supply chain, tariffs, currency fluctuations, interest rates, and commodity costs, are forward-looking statements that involve certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those forward-looking statements, are also forward-looking. Forward-looking statements may also be made from time to time in oral presentations, including telephone conferences and/or webcasts open to the public.
Potential risks and uncertainties include such factors as the Company’s ability to successfully implement its manufacturing operations strategy and supply chain initiatives; the Company’s ability to successfully source necessary parts and materials on a timely basis; the ability of the Company to manufacture and deliver products to dealers to meet demand, including as a result of supply chain disruptions; the Company’s ability to identify and meet optimal dealer inventory levels; the Company’s ability to accurately forecast and sustain consumer demand; the Company’s ability to mitigate increasing input costs through pricing or other measures; product offerings, promotional activities and pricing strategies by competitors that may make our products less attractive to consumers; the Company’s ability to strategically invest in innovation and new products, including as compared to our competitors; economic conditions that impact consumer spending or consumer credit, including recessionary conditions and changes in interest rates; disruptions in manufacturing facilities; product recalls and/or warranty expenses; product rework costs; impact of changes in Polaris stock price on incentive compensation plan costs; foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations; environmental and product safety regulatory activity; effects of weather on the Company’s supply chain, manufacturing operations and consumer demand; commodity costs; freight and tariff costs (tariff relief or ability to mitigate tariffs); changes to international trade policies and agreements; uninsured product liability and class action claims (including claims seeking punitive damages) and other litigation expenses incurred due to the nature of our business; uncertainty in the consumer retail and wholesale credit markets; performance of affiliate partners; changes in tax policy; relationships with dealers and suppliers; and the general global economic, social and political environment. Investors are also directed to consider other risks and uncertainties discussed in documents filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company does not undertake any duty to any person to provide updates to its forward-looking statements except as otherwise may be required by law.
Any forward-looking statements made in this report or otherwise speak only as of the date of such statement, and we undertake no obligation to update such statements to reflect actual results or changes in factors or assumptions affecting such forward-looking statements. We advise you, however, to consult any further disclosures made on related subjects in future Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K that are filed with or furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Information about our Executive Officers
Set forth below are the names of our executive officers as of February 16, 2024, their ages, titles, the year first appointed as an executive officer, and employment for at least the last five years:
| Name and Position | Age | Business Experience During the Last Five or More Years |
|---|---|---|
| Michael T. SpeetzenChief Executive Officer | 54 | Mr. Speetzen was appointed Chief Executive Officer in April 2021; preceding this, Mr. Speetzen was Interim Chief Executive Officer since January 2021. Mr. Speetzen joined Polaris in August 2015 as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. |
| Lucy Clark DoughertySenior Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary | 54 | Ms. Clark Dougherty joined Polaris in January 2018 as Senior Vice President—General Counsel and Corporate Secretary. |
| Michael D. DoughertyPresident of On Road and International | 56 | Mr. Dougherty was appointed President of On Road and International in December 2019. Prior to this, Mr. Dougherty was President of International since September 2015. |
| Benjamin D. DukePresident of Marine | 51 | Mr. Duke was appointed President of Marine in May 2022. Prior to this, Mr. Duke was General Manager of Godfrey and Hurricane Boats since joining Polaris in 2019. Prior to joining Polaris, Mr. Duke was President of the Job Site and Standby Power Group at Briggs and Stratton, a manufacturing company. |
| Stephen L. EastmanPresident of PG&A and Aftermarket | 59 | Mr. Eastman was appointed President of PG&A and Aftermarket in September 2015. Prior to this, Mr. Eastman was Vice President of PG&A since joining Polaris in February 2012. |
| Robert P. MackChief Financial Officer and Executive Vice President of Finance and Corporate Development | 54 | Mr. Mack was appointed Chief Financial Officer in April 2021. Mr. Mack also serves as Executive Vice President of Finance and Corporate Development. Mr. Mack was Interim Chief Financial Officer since January 2021 and originally joined Polaris in 2016 as Senior Vice President of Corporate Development and Strategy, and President of Global Adjacent Markets and Marine. |
| Steven D. MennetoPresident of Off Road | 58 | Mr. Menneto was appointed President of Off Road in December 2019. Prior to this, Mr. Menneto was President of Motorcycles since September 2015. |
| James P. WilliamsSenior Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer | 61 | Mr. Williams joined Polaris in April 2011 as Senior Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer. |
Executive officers of the Company are elected at the discretion of the Board of Directors with no fixed terms. There are no family relationships between or among any of the executive officers or directors of the Company.
The text of this filing, as the company filed it with the SEC, without its images or exhibits. This is not investment advice.