October 30, 2007 -- Rhino Outdoor International, Inc., which operates outdoor activity based businesses, including wholly owned subsidiary Rhino Off-Road Industries, Inc., announced today that it has executed an Exclusive Distributorship, Manufacturing and Supply Agreement for the USA and Canada with Arizona Emergency Products, Inc., an Arizona corporation, and Rapid Response Vehicles, L.L.C., which are both owned by Michael Chamberlain. AEP/ RRV and Rhino have entered into the agreement to manufacture a unique version of its 131 inch wheel base Rapid Response RTV specifically and exclusively for AEP/RRV. The RR/RTV is designed to meet the unique challenges of AEP’s customers in the first response, search and Rescue Theater of operations.
The agreement calls for RRV to purchase a minimum of 10 RR/RTVs from Rhino during the initial 12 month term and each subsequent one-year term the minimum number of units’ doubles to reach 160 RR/RTVs by 2012. The basic minimum value of this agreement will be approximately $9 Million over the initial term and successive renewal term. The agreement provides for AEP and RRV to expand their territory on a first rights basis to foreign countries where governmental RRV sales may be available.
The “Rapid Response” Rough Terrain Vehicle is based on the Rhino Off-Road Industries RTV platform used to create the innovative, off-road vehicle the company has been delivering to off-road enthusiasts over the past two years. The companies are a great fit with AEP converting the base vehicle into a search and rescue, emergency response tool to be utilized by police, fire and other government organizations.
Stock RRVs will be delivered to AEP’s factory in Arizona where they will be outfitted with custom accessories to support first response activities in off-highway terrains that are currently inaccessible to most other vehicles. AEP is responsible for distribution of the upfit vehicles to all government agencies, police, fire and first response organizations in the US and Canada. Design features for the 4-seat, 131 inch version allow for additional passengers and equipment, expanded battery capacity to support communications, lighting and video capture equipment while creating space for emergency equipment accessories such as winches, tool boxes, medical equipment and poly-tanks for fire retardants. The design team is particularly proud of the anti-fatigue features designed into this vehicle. Testing of the first prototype was completed this month with the RR/RTV scoring high marks with AEP and some of their customers.
“The Rhino Off-Road RTV is unlike any other vehicle now in use by the emergency response industry,” stated Mike Chamberlain, owner of Arizona Emergency Products. “It’s designed to go anywhere – and when outfitted to meet the needs of firefighters, police, border patrol, and others – it will allow for rapid response access and patrol of areas previously inaccessible by vehicles with comparable capacity for equipment and passengers.” AEP has field-tested the Rhino Off-Road RTV with law enforcement agencies in the rugged, desert terrain in southern Arizona over the last eight weeks and has received strong endorsements.
“We have capitalized on the design investment of the Rhino Off-Road RTV that cut its teeth in the recreational and competitive off-road environment,” stated Howard Pearl, CEO & President of ROI. “We created the RTV to go just about anywhere. With the engineering changes required by AEP to the RTV we have mutually created a vehicle that can have a significant impact on the response capabilities of many police and fire organizations. The vehicle is also suited for trail and perimeter patrol in atypical, off-highway environments. We are proud to have been chosen to design and provide a product to AEP and their important market.”
Source: Business Wire
