Private-equity firm says Decatur will be headquarters for RV business

Greater Fort Wayne Business Weekly

American Industrial Partners plans to make Decatur the headquarters for the Fleetwood recreational-vehicle business it now owns.

The private-equity firm announced Monday it had completed its acquisition of the Fleetwood RV business - which will retain the Fleetwood RV name - through the bankruptcy process. It plans to make Decatur the location of Fleetwood RV's headquarters and manufacturing operations, according to an AIP statement.

Fleetwood RV will operate as a separate company in AIP's portfolio.

Fleetwood RV President John Draheim said in the statement the company outlook is improving. Dealer inventories have bottomed and retail sales have grown in the last few months, he said.

Fleetwood filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in March. It sold its military housing business in May and announced AIP would buy the RV business in June. At its peak, Fleetwood employed about 1,500 in Decatur. More recent figures indicated about 443 worked there.

Fleetwood also has a housing plant in Garrett that three area investors are attempting to purchase. The investor group expects to hear in August whether its bid was accepted