Johnson Outdoors held its 2005 Annual Meeting of Shareholders at the historic Golden Rondelle Theater, celebrating the Company's 35th anniversary.

At the meeting, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Helen Johnson-Leipold said, “We are a young company, with a rich heritage of continuous innovation and growth.”

Ms. Johnson-Leipold also discussed the Company's future growth opportunities: “The future of our company rests in our ability to continue to cultivate and leverage this unique culture of innovation. This will enable us to expand our markets, expand our great brand equities and expand our technology horizon. Innovation is the key to our future growth.”

In Ms. Johnson-Leipold's prepared remarks, she stated:
We have grown seventy fold in the past three decades.

Today, we are #1 in canoes and kayaks, #1 in fishing marine electronics, #1 in luxury family tents, #2 – and trying hard to be #1 in underwater diving equipment. Being first is important to realizing our vision of owning the
outdoor adventure.

Our Company was:

  • First in plastic boats
  • First in underwater breathing regulators
  • First in electric fishing motors
  • First in free standing tents
  • First in wireless remote steering technology
  • First in wireless fishfinders
  • First in easy to use dive computers
  • And our most recent first – clean, quiet and easy-to-use
    “flip-the-switch-and-go” electric boats.

    But for all those successes, five years ago, we found
    ourselves at a cross roads.

    We had great, winning brands competing in growing
    markets. But, competition was getting tougher, and our operations
    were at capacity. We lacked the modern processes and systems
    we needed to support growth. And, we were in an innovation-lull.

    We had a choice – stay where we were and concede the
    market leadership. Or, invest for future growth and stay on top.

    We chose the latter.

    The last five years has been a period of transformation at
    Johnson Outdoors. We have streamlined, simplified and
    improved our efficiency. We have vision and direction, and
    focused and disciplined management of our brand portfolio,
    making targeted, strategic acquisitions and divestitures to
    enhance our future opportunities. We have grown our capacity, our capability, our expertise and we’ve returned to the core of who we are – an innovation leader…

    So far this year Watercraft margins have jumped a full 6
    points, and paddle boat sales among our top retailers are up by double digits. The Old Town Dirigo is the year’s hottest recreational kayak – we’ve tripled capacity at Old Town just to try and keep up with the demand. And, our boats and new paddle gear have won best new product recognitions by all major paddling publications…

    At the Annual Meeting of Stockholders, approximately 88% of the shares entitled to vote were represented at the meeting either in person or by proxy. Preliminary voting results appear below:

    • Shareholders elected all six directors named in the proxy,
      with each director receiving at least 4.6 million or 79% of
      the total votes cast. Terry E. London, John M. Fahey, Jr.,
      Helen P. Johnson-Leipold, Thomas F. Pyle, Jr., Gregory E.
      Lawton, and W. Lee McCollum were all elected to serve for the
      ensuing year.

    • Shareholders approved Company-sponsored proposals to amend the
      2000 Long-Term Stock Incentive Plan (at least 13.6 million or
      86% voted in favor); to amend the 1987 Employees' Stock
      Purchase Plan (at least 14.3 million or 90% voted in favor);
      and to amend the Worldwide Key Executives' Discretionary Bonus
      Plan (at least 14 million or 88% voted 14. in favor).

    • Shareholders defeated the shareholder proposal seeking the
      consideration of cumulative voting of Class A common stock. At
      least 14.5 million or 91% of the votes cast were against this
      proposal.