Spartan Motors Form 8-K - 07/27/06


UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported):  July 27, 2006

SPARTAN MOTORS, INC
(Exact name of registrant as
specified in its charter)

 

Michigan
(State or other jurisdiction
of incorporation)

0-13611
(Commission
File Number)

38-2078923
(IRS Employer
Identification no.)

 



1165 Reynolds Road
Charlotte, Michigan

(Address of principal executive offices)

 


48813
(Zip Code)

 

Registrant's telephone number,
including area code:  (517) 543-6400

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):

o Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

o Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))







Item 2.02

Results of Operations and Financial Condition.

          On July 27, 2006, Spartan Motors, Inc. issued a press release concerning its financial results for the quarter ended June 30, 2006. The press release is attached to this Form 8-K as Exhibit 99.1 and is here incorporated by reference. This Report and the Exhibit are furnished to, and not filed with, the Commission.

Item 8.01

Other Events.

          On July 27, 2006, Spartan Motors, Inc. issued two press releases. The press releases are attached to this Form 8-K as Exhibits 99.2 and 99.3 and are here incorporated by reference. This Report and the Exhibits are furnished to, and not filed with, the Commission.



Item 9.01

Financial Statements and Exhibits.


 

(d)

Exhibits:

 

 

 

 

 

99.1

Spartan Motors, Inc. Press Release dated July 27, 2006. This Exhibit is furnished to, and not filed with, the Commission.

 

 

 

 

 

 

99.2

Spartan Motors, Inc. Press Release dated July 27, 2006. This Exhibit is furnished to, and not filed with, the Commission.

 

 

 

 

 

 

99.3

Spartan Motors, Inc. Press Release dated July 27, 2006. This Exhibit is furnished to, and not filed with, the Commission.






2


SIGNATURES

                    Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.


 

SPARTAN MOTORS, INC.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Date:  July 27, 2006

By  /s/ James W. Knapp


 

     James W. Knapp
     Chief Financial Officer











3


EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit Number

 

                     Document

 

 

 

99.1

 

Spartan Motors, Inc. Press Release dated July 27, 2006.

 

 

 

99.2

 

Spartan Motors, Inc. Press Release dated July 27, 2006.

 

 

 

99.3

 

Spartan Motors, Inc. Press Release dated July 27, 2006.








4

Spartan Motors Exhibit 99.1 to Form 8-K - 07/27/06

EXHIBIT 99.1


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Spartan Motors Announces Best-Ever Quarterly Sales & Earnings
Consolidated Backlog Increases 54.7 Percent, Return on Invested Capital Improves to 22.2 Percent

CHARLOTTE, Michigan, July 27, 2006 - Spartan Motors, Inc. (NASDAQ: SPAR) today reported its second consecutive quarter of record sales and earnings for the quarter ended June 30, 2006. Spartan also reported a 95.3 percent increase in net earnings and a 22.3 percent increase in net sales compared to last year's quarter.

Spartan Motors, a leading manufacturer of custom motorhome chassis, fire truck chassis, specialty vehicle chassis and emergency-rescue vehicles, reported net earnings of $5.0 million, or $0.38 per diluted share, on net sales of $109.2 million for the second quarter of 2006, compared with net earnings of $2.6 million, or $0.20 per diluted share, on net sales of $89.3 million for the second quarter of 2005.

Through the first six months of 2006, Spartan's sales increased 19.4 percent compared with the same period of last year, while earnings increased 105.8 percent compared to six months ended 2005. The company's earnings per diluted share for six months ended 2006 was $0.73 per share, exceeding its earnings for the whole of 2005, which was $0.65 per diluted share.

The company attributed its sixth consecutive quarter of improved quarter-over-quarter earnings to improvements across the board, including higher sales of its recreational vehicle (RV) and fire truck chassis, and to additional sales of military vehicle chassis. Spartan's Crimson Fire subsidiary returned to profitability in the quarter, helping the company's EVTeam operating group, consisting of Crimson Fire, Crimson Fire Aerials and Road Rescue, to narrow its loss and bring it one-step closer to profitability.

"Looking at our record-level performance, improved return on invested capital and highest-ever backlog, Spartan's future continues to move in the right direction," said John Sztykiel, president and CEO of Spartan Motors. "With our additional military contracts, Spartan is evolving its business model in line with our vision of becoming North America's premier manufacturer of specialty vehicles and chassis.

"Though we are pleased with our results this quarter, we are not satisfied with them. There remain opportunities and issues that we need to address to continue the growth in shareholder value. The good news is that there are disciplined initiatives and positive trends in place that will address both. Our record-level backlog indicates the growing strength and demand of Spartan's brands - Spartan Chassis, Crimson Fire, Crimson Fire Aerials and Road Rescue - and bodes well for the future."

Spartan's consolidated backlog was approximately $241.8 million as of June 30, 2006, compared with backlog of $156.3 at the end of last year's second quarter, a 54.7 percent increase year-over-year and the highest backlog in Spartan's history. Spartan Motors anticipates filling 65 to 70 percent of its current backlog orders by December 31, 2006.

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Spartan Motors / Page 2 of 6

On a consolidated basis, Spartan posted a return on invested capital (ROIC) of 22.2 percent in the second quarter of 2006, a 62.0 percent increase compared to ROIC of 13.7 percent for the same quarter in 2005. (Spartan defines return on invested capital as operating income, less taxes, on an annualized basis, divided by total shareholders' equity.) Spartan reported its balance sheet remains sound, and the company ended the quarter with $1.3 million in long-term debt and $6.8 million in cash and cash equivalents.

Spartan reported its gross margin improved to 17.1 percent in the second quarter of 2006, compared with 13.8 percent for the same period in 2005, reflecting improved product mix, pricing, overhead utilization and labor efficiencies. Operating margin also improved to 7.4 percent in the second quarter of 2006, compared with 4.2 percent in the same quarter of 2005.

Spartan Chassis
Quarterly net earnings at Spartan Chassis, the company's largest operating subsidiary, improved 91.8 percent in the quarter compared to last year's second quarter, while sales increased 31.9 percent. Sales of RV chassis in the quarter increased 25.2 percent compared to the second quarter of 2005 and sales of fire truck chassis increased 20.8 percent, reaching a new company record.

"We grew RV chassis sales compared to last year's quarter, despite the overall downturn in the RV market," said Sztykiel. "This improvement was due to our market share gains and the increased number of models that now feature Spartan chassis. Over the short term, current geopolitical events and economic uncertainty continue to create challenges for the RV industry. Looking over the long term, 11,000 people turn the age of 50 each day; this bodes extremely well for Spartan and the RV industry.

"This quarter was our third consecutive quarter of increased orders for fire truck chassis, and our backlog for fire truck chassis as of June 30, 2006 increased 160 percent compared to the same date last year. Our orders for fire truck chassis in the first six months of 2006 exceeded our total shipments for the whole of 2005. We will break ground in early August 2006 on a 102,000-square-foot manufacturing facility, which will give us increased capacity for existing fire truck chassis products and allow us to expand our product offerings into new markets."

Since May 2005, Spartan has been a key supplier of chassis and other components for the Cougar blast-protected military vehicle. In July 2006, BAE Systems awarded Spartan a contract to assist with the production of the Iraqi Light Armored Vehicle (ILAV), a variant of the Cougar. Both vehicles are designed to withstand explosions from mines and improvised explosive devices (IEDs), a leading source of causalities among the U.S. military in Iraq.

Spartan's sales for specialty vehicle chassis, including chassis for military vehicles, increased six fold in the second quarter of 2006 compared to last year's second quarter, though the first Cougar units only started shipping near the end of the second quarter of 2005. Spartan's specialty vehicle chassis backlog as of June 30, 2006 increased 50.2 percent compared to the same time last year.

"Spartan Chassis is serving a key role in the production of IED-resistant vehicles, which are a top priority for the U.S. military effort. Spartan designs its chassis and components to break off and deflect safely away from the Cougar and ILAV's occupants during an explosion. This design, coupled with Force Protection's V-shaped hull that absorbs the blast, has helped the Cougar serve in hundreds of operations in Iraq without a single fatality."

Emergency Vehicle Team (EVTeam)
Spartan's EVTeam, which consists of its Crimson Fire, Crimson Fire Aerials and Road Rescue subsidiaries, posted a loss for the second quarter of 2006. The EVTeam's net sales decreased less than one percent compared to the prior year's second quarter. Improved pricing and a more disciplined cost structure among the EVTeam subsidiaries and an improved net profit at Crimson Fire helped the EVTeam narrow its net loss by 7.3 percent compared to the second quarter of 2005.

-more-




Spartan Motors / Page 3 of 6

Crimson Fire also increased its sales in the second quarter by 18.1 percent compared to the same period of last year and Crimson Fire Aerials increased its sales by 93.5 percent compared to the second quarter of 2005. Road Rescue reported a decrease in sales for the quarter of 41.6 percent compared to last year's quarter.

"We are very pleased with the progress of the EVTeam," Sztykiel said. "Road Rescue continues to have challenges with controlling labor costs and working through its backlog of lower-priced units. At the same time, the increased sales at Crimson Fire and Crimson Fire Aerials, along with their expanding market share, significantly increased pull-through sales of Spartan fire truck chassis. The performance of Spartan Chassis did not occur overnight, and the EVTeam continues to move in the right direction."

Conference Call, Webcast and Presentation
Spartan Motors will host a conference call for analysts and portfolio managers at 10 a.m. ET today to discuss these results and current business trends. To listen to a live webcast of the call, please visit http://www.spartanmotors.com/webcasts.asp.

About Spartan Motors
Spartan Motors, Inc. (www.spartanmotors.com) designs, engineers and manufactures custom chassis and vehicles for the recreational vehicle, fire truck, ambulance, emergency-rescue and specialty vehicle markets. The Company's brand names - SpartanTM, Crimson FireTM, Crimson Fire AerialsTM, and Road RescueTM - are known for quality, value, service and being the first to market with innovative products. The Company employs approximately 900 at facilities in Michigan, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, and South Dakota. Spartan reported sales of $343.0 million in 2005 and is focused on becoming the premier manufacturer of specialty vehicles and chassis in North America.

This release contains forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, statements concerning our business, future plans and objectives and the performance of our products. These forward-looking statements involve certain risks and uncertainties that ultimately may not prove to be accurate. Actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Technical complications may arise that could prevent the prompt implementation of the plans outlined above. The company cautions that these forward-looking statements are further qualified by other factors including, but not limited to, those set forth in the company's Annual Report on Form 10-K filing and other filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (available at http://www.sec.gov). Government contracts and subcontracts typically involve long payment and purchase cycles, competitive bidding, qualification requirements, delays or changes in funding, extensive specification deve lopment and changes, price negotiations and milestone requirements. An announced award of a governmental contract is not equivalent to a finalized executed contract and does not assure that orders will be issued and filled. Government agencies also often retain some portion of fees payable upon completion of a project and collection of contract fees may be delayed for long periods, which can negatively impact both prime contractors and subcontractors. The company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any statements in this release, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

###


CONTACT:

John Sztykiel, CEO, or Jim Knapp, CFO
Spartan Motors, Inc.
(517) 543-6400

Ryan McGrath or Jeff Lambert
Lambert, Edwards & Associates, Inc.
(616) 233-0500 / rmcgrath@lambert-edwards.com





Spartan Motors / Page 4 of 6

Spartan Motors, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations
Three Months Ended June 30, 2006 and 2005
 

 


 

June 30, 2006

 

June 30, 2005

 

 

$-000-


 


%


 


$-000-


 


%


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sales

109,227

 

 

 

89,341

 

 

 

Cost of Products Sold

90,553


 


 


 


76,969


 


 


 

Gross Profit

18,674


 


17.1


 


12,372


 


13.8


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating Expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

     Research and Development

2,966

 

2.7

 

2,212

 

2.5

 

     Selling, General and Administrative

7,673


 


7.0


 


6,398


 


7.1


 

Total Operating Expenses

10,639

 

9.7

 

8,610

 

9.6

 

 

 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 

Operating Income

8,035


 


7.4


 


3,762


 


4.2


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other Income (Expense):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

     Interest Expense

(30

)

(0.0

)

(31

)

(0.0

)

     Interest and Other Income

211


 


0.1


 


178


 


0.2


 

Total Other Income (Expense)

181

 

0.1

 

147

 

0.2

 

 

 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 

Earnings before Taxes on Income

8,216


 


7.5


 


3,909


 


4.4


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Taxes on Income

3,223

 

2.9

 

1,352

 

1.5

 

 

 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 

Net Earnings

4,993


 


4.6


 


2,557


 


2.9


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 

Basic Net Earnings per Share

0.39


 


 


 


0.20


 


 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 

Diluted Net Earnings per Share

0.38


 


 


 


0.20


 


 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic Weighted Average Common Shares Outstanding

12,829

 

 

 

12,492

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Diluted Weighted Average Common Shares Outstanding

13,155

 

 

 

12,737

 

 

 





Spartan Motors / Page 5 of 6

Spartan Motors, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations
Six Months Ended June 30, 2006 and 2005
 

 


 

June 30, 2006

 

June 30, 2005

 

 

$-000-


 


%


 


$-000-


 


%


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sales

212,893

 

 

 

178,242

 

 

 

Cost of Products Sold

177,451


 


 


 


154,136


 


 


 

Gross Profit

35,442


 


16.6


 


24,106


 


13.5


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating Expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

     Research and Development

5,811

 

2.7

 

4,466

 

2.5

 

     Selling, General and Administrative

14,729


 


6.9


 


12,718


 


7.1


 

Total Operating Expenses

20,540

 

9.6

 

17,184

 

9.6

 

 

 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 

Operating Income

14,902


 


7.0


 


6,922


 


3.9


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other Income (Expense):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

     Interest Expense

(86

)

(0.0

)

(77

)

(0.0

)

     Interest and Other Income

515


 


0.2


 


340


 


0.1


 

Total Other Income (Expense)

429

 

0.2

 

263

 

0.1

 

 

 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 

Earnings before Taxes on Income

15,331


 


7.2


 


7,185


 


4.0


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Taxes on Income

5,857

 

2.7

 

2,582

 

1.4

 

 

 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 

Net Earnings

9,474


 


4.5


 


4,603


 


2.6


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 

Basic Net Earnings per Share

0.74


 


 


 


0.37


 


 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 

Diluted Net Earnings per Share

0.73


 


 


 


0.36


 


 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic Weighted Average Common Shares Outstanding

12,765

 

 

 

12,506

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Diluted Weighted Average Common Shares Outstanding

12,970

 

 

 

12,760

 

 

 





Spartan Motors / Page 6 of 6

Spartan Motors, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
 
 

 


 

June 30, 2006

 

December 31, 2005

 

 

$-000


 


$-000


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ASSETS

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

     Cash and cash equivalents

$

6,849

 

$

9,702

 

     Marketable securities

 

 

 

 

1,988

 

     Accounts receivable, net

 

54,991

 

 

37,017

 

     Inventories

 

50,905

 

 

44,265

 

     Deferred income tax assets

 

3,745

 

 

3,745

 

     Taxes receivable

 

464

 

 

990

 

     Other current assets

 


6,031


 


 


1,949


 

          Total current assets

 

122,985

 

 

99,656

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Property, plant and equipment, net

 

19,716

 

 

18,478

 

Goodwill

 

4,543

 

 

4,543

 

Other assets

 

556

 

 

531

 

 

 


 


 


 


 


 

Total assets

$


147,800


 


$


123,208


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

     Accounts payable

$

31,659

 

$

20,746

 

     Accrued warranty

 

4,719

 

 

4,503

 

     Accrued compensation and related taxes

 

4,589

 

 

4,241

 

     Accrued vacation

 

1,401

 

 

1,189

 

     Deposits from customers

 

11,823

 

 

13,640

 

     Other current liabilities and accrued expenses

 

5,389

 

 

4,608

 

     Current portion of long-term debt

 


54


 


 


53


 

          Total current liabilities

 

59,634

 

 

48,980

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Long-term debt, less current portion

 

1,290

 

 

1,317

 

Deferred income tax liabilities

 

309

 

 

309

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shareholders' equity:

 

 

 

 

 

 

     Preferred stock

 

-

 

 

-

 

     Common stock

 

133

 

 

126

 

     Additional paid in capital

 

42,941

 

 

37,040

 

     Retained earnings

 

43,493

 

 

35,448

 

     Accumulated other comprehensive loss

 


-


 


 


(12


)


          Total shareholders' equity

 

86,567

 

 

72,602

 

 

 


 


 


 


 


 

Total liabilities and shareholders' equity

$


147,800


 


$


123,208


 

Spartan Motors Exhibit 99.2 to Form 8-K - 07/27/06

EXHIBIT 99.2


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Spartan Motors Added to New NASDAQ Global Select Market

CHARLOTTE, Michigan, July 27, 2006 - Spartan Motors, Inc. (NASDAQ: SPAR) has been added to the new NASDAQ Global Select Market, which features the highest initial listing standards of any exchange in the world based on financial and liquidity requirements.

"With our inclusion in the new NASDAQ Global Select Market, Spartan is joining a prestigious group of industry leaders," said John Sztykiel, president and CEO of Spartan Motors. "We are intensely focused on accountability and driving shareholder value, and we support NASDAQ's efforts to create this new listing tier to recognize companies like Spartan Motors for superior financial performance and adherence to rigorous corporate governance standards."

On July 3, 2006, NASDAQ reclassified its listed companies under three tiers: NASDAQ Global Select Market, NASDAQ Global Market and NASDAQ Capital Market. Consisting of approximately the top third of NASDAQ listings, NASDAQ Global Select Market companies meet the most stringent initial financial listing standards ever set by a stock market. According to NASDAQ.com, "inclusion in the NASDAQ Global Select Market is a mark of achievement and stature for qualified companies."

About Spartan Motors
Spartan Motors, Inc. (www.spartanmotors.com) designs, engineers and manufactures custom chassis and vehicles for the recreational vehicle, fire truck, ambulance, emergency-rescue and specialty vehicle markets. The Company's brand names - SpartanTM, Crimson FireTM, Crimson Fire AerialsTM, and Road RescueTM - are known for quality, value, service and being the first to market with innovative products. The Company employs approximately 900 at facilities in Michigan, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, and South Dakota. Spartan reported sales of $343.0 million in 2005 and is focused on becoming the premier manufacturer of specialty vehicles and chassis in North America.

This release contains forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, statements concerning our business, future plans and objectives and the performance of our products. These forward-looking statements involve certain risks and uncertainties that ultimately may not prove to be accurate. Actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Technical complications may arise that could prevent the prompt implementation of the plans outlined above. The company cautions that these forward-looking statements are further qualified by other factors including, but not limited to, those set forth in the company's Annual Report on Form 10-K filing and other filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (available at http://www.sec.gov). Government contracts and subcontracts typically involve long payment and purchase cycles, competitive bidding, qualification requirements, delays or changes in funding, extensive specification deve lopment and changes, price negotiations and milestone requirements. An announced award of a governmental contract is not equivalent to a finalized executed contract and does not assure that orders will be issued and filled. Government agencies also often retain some portion of fees payable upon completion of a project and collection of contract fees may be delayed for long periods, which can negatively impact both prime contractors and subcontractors. The company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any statements in this release, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

###

CONTACT:

John Sztykiel, CEO, or Jim Knapp, CFO
Spartan Motors, Inc.
(517) 543-6400

Ryan McGrath or Jeff Lambert
Lambert, Edwards & Associates, Inc.
(616) 233-0500 / rmcgrath@lambert-edwards.com

Spartan Motors Exhibit 99.3 to Form 8-K - 07/27/06

EXHIBIT 99.3


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE


Spartan Motors Updates "Digital Roadshow" For Investors

CHARLOTTE, Michigan, July 27, 2006 - Spartan Motors, Inc. (NASDAQ: SPAR) launched a new version of its "Digital Roadshow" this week, updating and adding content to give investors the most up-to-date information about the company's growth story.

Spartan teamed with PDB Connect (www.pdbconnect.com) to update its life-like computerized video investor presentation, which is similar to the one the Company uses when meeting analysts and portfolio managers in person.

To launch the Digital Roadshow, please visit www.spartanmotors.com on the web and look for the "Click here to view Spartan Motors Virtual Road Show" link near the top of the page. Spartan's Digital Roadshow is also featured on BetterInvesting's website at http://www.betterinvesting.org/stocks/resources

"With a click of a mouse, our Digital Roadshow allows the individual investor to see the same content we present to institutional investors and analysts," said John Sztykiel, president and CEO of Spartan Motors. "We encourage all of Spartan's stakeholders to take a look at the 'Digital Roadshow' and learn more about our growth story."

The Digital Roadshow utilizes video of CEO John Sztykiel and CFO Jim Knapp to tell the Spartan story while allowing users to interact and "click through" to different sections of the presentation. The Digital Roadshow is approximately 40 minutes and covers all content of the Company's standard analyst presentation, including company background, products, markets and financial information.

About Spartan Motors
Spartan Motors, Inc. (www.spartanmotors.com) designs, engineers and manufactures custom chassis and vehicles for the recreational vehicle, fire truck, ambulance, emergency-rescue and specialty vehicle markets. The Company's brand names - SpartanTM, Crimson FireTM, Crimson Fire AerialsTM, and Road RescueTM - are known for quality, value, service and being the first to market with innovative products. The Company employs approximately 900 at facilities in Michigan, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, and South Dakota. Spartan reported sales of $343.0 million in 2005 and is focused on becoming the premier manufacturer of specialty vehicles and chassis in North America.


CONTACT:

John Sztykiel, CEO, or Jim Knapp, CFO
Spartan Motors, Inc.
(517) 543-6400

Ryan McGrath or Jeff Lambert
Lambert, Edwards & Associates, Inc.
(616) 233-0500 / rmcgrath@lambert-edwards.com


-more


Spartan Motors / Page 2 of 2


This release contains forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, statements concerning our business, future plans and objectives and the performance of our products. These forward-looking statements involve certain risks and uncertainties that ultimately may not prove to be accurate. Actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Technical complications may arise that could prevent the prompt implementation of the plans outlined above. The company cautions that these forward-looking statements are further qualified by other factors including, but not limited to, those set forth in the company's Annual Report on Form 10-K filing and other filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (available at http://www.sec.gov). Government contracts and subcontracts typically involve long payment and purchase cycles, competitive bidding, qualification requirements, delays or changes in funding, extensive specification deve lopment and changes, price negotiations and milestone requirements. An announced award of a governmental contract is not equivalent to a finalized executed contract and does not assure that orders will be issued and filled. Government agencies also often retain some portion of fees payable upon completion of a project and collection of contract fees may be delayed for long periods, which can negatively impact both prime contractors and subcontractors. The company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any statements in this release, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

###