THIEF RIVER FALLS, Minn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 10, 2003--Arctic
Cat Inc. (Nasdaq:ACAT) announced today that it has dropped a lawsuit
it filed against Polaris Industries Inc. The suit alleged infringement
of Arctic Cat's innovative exhaust temperature ignition timing patent
on high- performance engines used chiefly for snowmobile racing.
Arctic Cat dismissed the suit after Polaris revealed it had
discontinued use of Arctic Cat's technology in Polaris' racing
snowmobiles.
"We sued Polaris to prevent it from selling racing snowmobiles
that infringed our patent," said Christopher A. Twomey, chairman and
CEO of Arctic Cat. "Our pioneering technology provides a competitive
advantage to our snowmobile racers. During the course of the
litigation, Polaris revealed that it had stopped using Arctic Cat's
patented technology in its racing snowmobiles. We conclude that
Polaris stopped because the company knew it had infringed our patent.
We achieved our goal, so we dismissed the lawsuit."
Continued Twomey: "Arctic Cat prides itself in leading innovation
in the snowmobile industry. We will not tolerate anyone who copies our
patented products and we will vigorously protect our intellectual
property. Arctic Cat holds several patents that cover the exhaust
temperature ignition timing technology found in the allegedly
infringing snowmobiles. Should Polaris sell snowmobiles in the future
using our technology, Arctic Cat will sue Polaris again."
Arctic Cat Inc. designs, engineers, manufactures and markets
snowmobiles and all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) under the Arctic Cat(R)
brand name, as well as related parts, garments and accessories. The
company markets its products through a network of independent dealers
located throughout the contiguous United States and Canada, and
through distributors representing dealers in Alaska, Europe, the
Middle East, Asia and other international markets. For more
information, please visit Arctic Cat's Web site at www.arcticcat.com.
CONTACT: Arctic Cat Inc., Thief River Falls
Tim Delmore, 218-681-9868
or
Padilla Speer Beardsley Inc.
Shawn Brumbaugh/Marian Briggs, 612-455-1700
SOURCE: Arctic Cat Inc.