Arctic Cat sold to former company executive, investment group

THIEF RIVER FALLS, Minn. (KVRR-KFGO) – A former Arctic Cat executive and an investment group have purchased Arctic Cat in Thief River Falls.

Brad Darling is the new CEO and President of the company, which manufactures snowmobiles, ATVs and side-by-sides. Darling was with Arctic Cat for 17 years. He left the company in 2016 when he assumed the role of CEO and President of Argo. Argo is considered the worldwide leader for amphibious Xtreme Terrain Vehicles.

In a statement, darling said the transaction wipes away any uncertainty and he’s looking ahead with great excitement.

The parent company of Arctic Cat, Textron, announced last December that it was laying off employees and ending production on May 8 in Thief River Falls and St. Cloud. It said “changing business needs require us to reduce our workforce at the location (Thief River Falls) permanently.”

Arctic Cat was first established in 1967.