FTCA Inc., Maker of Folding Camping Trailers Signs Agreement With Coleman
SOMERSET, PA--(August 6, 2008) - FTCA, Inc., the manufacturer of North America's best selling folding camping trailers, today announced that it has signed a trademark licensing agreement with The Coleman Company, Inc. Originally a division of Coleman, FTCA's folding camping trailers will once again feature the Coleman brand under the terms of this agreement.
"Rejoining this skilled manufacturer's pedigreed products with the legendary Coleman brand is a momentous step in reinvigorating this company and creating value for our investors," said Murry N. Gunty, Managing Partner of Blackstreet Capital, Bethesda, Md., the private equity group which acquired FTCA, Inc., from Fleetwood Enterprises, Riverside, CA, in May 2008.
With its portfolio of lightweight, easy-to-tow and stow-folding camping trailers once again displaying the Coleman brand, FTCA is poised to prosper at a time when high gasoline prices have contributed to a significant slowdown in the RV market and a changing landscape of tow vehicles. FTCA believes this partnership represents a winning combination of product, branding and distribution ideally suited for the present and future camping marketplace.
"This branding partnership, along with our recapitalization of the division and aggressive focus on innovation and quality, re-establishes the solid foundation and successful formula this great company was built upon," said Aldus H. Chapin II, Managing Director of Blackstreet Capital and Chairman of FTCA.
"Our hard working and highly skilled people take very seriously their long-standing reputation of building the finest folding camping trailers in the world, and they value the reputation of uncompromising quality that is synonymous with the Coleman brand. This is a much welcomed event for the dedicated people of this company and its many dealers," added James Sylvester, President of FTCA, Inc.
About FTCA, Inc.
Founded in 1966, FTCA originated as a division of The Coleman Company, Inc., to manufacture folding camping trailers, with the first trailers rolling off the assembly line in 1967. In 1979 the company attained market share leadership and has never relinquished the position. Fleetwood Enterprises, Inc. acquired the division in 1989 to augment its position in the RV industry. As Fleetwood Folding Trailers, Inc., the division continued the Coleman heritage of producing innovative high quality camping trailers, and with its customer satisfaction focused dealer network, achieved new market share heights. Today, FTCA designs, manufactures and distributes its folding camping trailers, such as the Destiny, Americana, Highlander and Evolution model lines, from its facility in Somerset, Pa., through a network of independent RV dealers around the world.