2014 11-K
Table of Contents

 
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
 
FORM 11-K
 
ý
ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2014
or
 
¨
TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the transition period from             to            
Commission File No. 001-11411
 
A.
Full title of the plan and the address of the plan, if different from that of the issuer named below:
POLARIS 401(k) RETIREMENT SAVINGS PLAN
 
B.
Name of issuer of the securities held pursuant to the plan and the address of its principal executive office:
POLARIS INDUSTRIES INC.
2100 Highway 55
Medina, Minnesota 55340
 

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Polaris 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan
Financial Statements and Supplemental Schedule
Years Ended December 31, 2014 and 2013
Contents
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm


Polaris Industries Inc. Retirement Committee
Polaris 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan
We have audited the accompanying statements of net assets available for benefits of the Polaris 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan as of December 31, 2014 and 2013, and the related statements of changes in net assets available for benefits for the years then ended December 31, 2014. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Plan’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. We were not engaged to perform an audit of the Plan’s internal control over financial reporting. Our audits included consideration of internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Plan’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion. An audit also includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, and evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the net assets available for benefits of the Polaris 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan at December 31, 2014 and 2013, and the changes in its net assets available for benefits for the years then ended, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.
The accompanying supplemental Schedule of Assets (Held at End of Year) as of December 31, 2014, has been subjected to audit procedures performed in conjunction with the audit of Polaris 401(k) Plan’s financial statements. The information in the supplemental schedule is the responsibility of the Plan’s management. Our audit procedures included determining whether the information reconciles to the financial statements or the underlying accounting and other records, as applicable and performing procedures to test the completeness and accuracy of the information presented in the supplemental schedule. In forming our opinion on the information, we evaluated whether such information, including its form and content, is presented in conformity with the Department of Labor’s Rules and Regulations for Reporting and Disclosure under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974. In our opinion, the information is fairly stated, in all material respects, in relation to the financial statements as a whole.
/s/ Ernst & Young LLP
Minneapolis, Minnesota
June 19, 2015

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POLARIS 401(k) RETIREMENT SAVINGS PLAN
STATEMENTS OF NET ASSETS AVAILABLE FOR BENEFITS
 
 
 
December 31, 2014
 
December 31, 2013
Assets
 
 
 
 
Investments, at fair value
 
$
440,783,465

 
$
395,179,516

Notes receivable from participants
 
10,131,549

 
9,498,316

Accrued income receivable
 
2,849

 
30

Net assets reflecting all investments at fair value
 
450,917,863

 
404,677,862

Adjustment from fair value to contract value for interest in common collective trust relating to fully benefit-responsive investment contracts
 
(557,266
)
 
(345,365
)
Net assets available for benefits
 
$
450,360,597

 
$
404,332,497

See accompanying notes.

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POLARIS 401(k) RETIREMENT SAVINGS PLAN
STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS AVAILABLE FOR BENEFITS
 
 
 
For the Year Ended December 31,
 
 
2014
 
2013
Net assets available for benefits, beginning of year
 
$
404,332,497

 
$
312,317,000

Contributions:
 
 
 
 
Employer
 
12,488,763

 
10,585,323

Employee
 
18,396,310

 
15,597,873

Rollover
 
4,693,843

 
1,916,928

Total contributions
 
35,578,916

 
28,100,124

Transfers in from ESOP (Note 8)
 
16,524,711

 
10,072,783

Investment gain:
 
 
 
 
Interest and dividend income
 
3,695,138

 
9,100,413

Net realized and unrealized gain in fair value of investments:
 
 
 
 
Polaris Industries Inc. common stock
 
1,562,862

 
13,370,176

Common collective trust funds
 
15,244,815

 
11,609,995

Mutual funds
 
5,095,958

 
41,994,983

Total investment gain
 
25,598,773

 
76,075,567

Distributions to participants
 
(31,593,355
)
 
(22,146,092
)
Administrative expenses
 
(80,945
)
 
(86,885
)
Net increase
 
46,028,100

 
92,015,497

Net assets available for benefits, end of year
 
$
450,360,597

 
$
404,332,497

See accompanying notes.

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POLARIS 401(k) RETIREMENT SAVINGS PLAN
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

1. Description of the Plan
The following description of the Polaris 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan (the Plan) provides only general information. Participants should refer to the plan agreement for a more complete description of the Plan’s provisions.
General. The Plan is a defined contribution plan covering substantially all employees of the Plan’s sponsor, Polaris Industries Inc. (the Company), and the Company’s U.S. subsidiaries. It is subject to the provisions of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (ERISA).
Participant Loans. Participants may apply for loans from the Plan up to a maximum equal to the lesser of 50% of their vested account balances or $50,000. Loans must be paid back within five years; however, this period may be extended to fifteen years if the loan is used for the acquisition of a primary residence. The interest rate charged on loans outstanding ranged from 4.25% to 10.25% as of December 31, 2014.
Plan Operations. Certain administrative costs totaling $205,025 and $17,924, for the plan years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively, were paid by the Company. Administrative costs paid by the Company include trustee/asset custodian fees, record-keeping fees, and investment management fees. Other costs have been fully paid by the Plan.
Plan Administration. The Plan’s trustee is Fidelity Management Trust Company (the Trustee). The Plan is administered by an executive committee appointed by the Board of Directors of the Company.
Contributions/Participant Accounts. Participants may elect to make contributions in increments of 1% to 50% of the participant’s compensation, as defined in the Plan, up to the annual contribution limit established by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) of $17,500 for 2014 and $17,500 for 2013. Participants age 50 or older may elect to make up to a $5,500 catch-up contribution in excess of the IRS limits stated above. Employees who have not made a retirement savings election shall be automatically enrolled to participate in the Plan at the automatic enrollment percentage (currently 5%).
The Company will make a fully vested matching contribution to each participant’s account in the Plan of 100% of each dollar of 401(k) contributions up to 5% of covered compensation. This contribution is intended to satisfy a safe harbor contribution formula permitted by IRS regulations. By making the safe harbor matching contribution, the Plan will automatically satisfy the nondiscrimination requirements that otherwise would apply to 401(k) contributions made to the Plan.
Plan earnings, as defined, are allocated pro rata based on participants’ account balances.
Vesting. Participants are immediately vested in their pretax and employer contributions, including actual investment earnings thereon.
Distributions to Participants. Employee account balances are distributable upon retirement, disability, death, termination from the Company, or hardship. Upon the occurrence of one of these events, a participant (or the participant’s beneficiary in the case of death) may receive his or her account balance as a lump-sum payment as available per plan provisions.
Terminated participants with account balances of $1,000 or less will receive a lump-sum cash payment as soon as administratively practicable upon the participant’s employment termination.

2. Significant Accounting Policies and Procedures
Plan Amendment and Termination. The Company has the right to amend or terminate the Plan, subject to the provisions of ERISA. In the event of the Plan’s termination, all assets of the Plan will be distributed to participants in accordance with plan provisions.
Basis of Accounting. The accompanying financial statements have been prepared on the accrual basis of accounting.
Investment Valuation and Income Recognition. Investments of the Plan are stated at fair value. See Note 3 for further discussion and disclosures related to fair value measurements.
Under the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) guidance of reporting of fully benefit-responsive investment contracts held by certain investment companies, subject to the AICPA investment company guide and defined contribution health and welfare and pension plans, investment contracts held by a defined contribution plan are required to be reported at fair value. However, contract value is the relevant measurement attributed for that portion of the net assets available for benefits of a defined contribution plan attributable to fully benefit-responsive investment contracts because contract value is the amount participants would receive if they were to initiate permitted transactions under the terms of the Plan. The Plan invests in investment contracts through the Wells Fargo Stable Value Fund common collective trust. As required, the statements of net

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assets available for benefits present the fair value of the investment in the common collective trusts, as well as the adjustment from fair value to contract value for fully benefit-responsive investment contracts. The fair value of the Plan’s interest in the Wells Fargo Stable Value Fund is based on the underlying investments of the fund. The contract value of the Wells Fargo Stable Value Fund represents contributions plus earnings, less participant withdrawals and administrative expenses.
Purchases and sales of securities are reflected on a trade-date basis. Interest income is recognized when earned. Dividend income is recorded on the ex-dividend date.
Notes Receivable From Participants. Notes receivable from participants represent participant loans that are recorded at their unpaid principal balance plus any accrued but unpaid interest. Interest income on notes receivable from participants is recorded when it is earned. Related fees are recorded as administrative expenses and are expensed when they are incurred. No allowance for credit losses has been recorded as of December 31, 2014, or 2013. If a participant ceases to make loan repayments and the plan administrator deems the participant loan to be a distribution, the participant loan balance is reduced and a benefit payment is recorded.
Use of Estimates. The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
New Accounting Pronouncement. In May 2015, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update 2015-07, Disclosures for Investments in Certain Entities that Calculate Net Asset Value Per Share (or its Equivalent), (ASU 2015-07). ASU 2015-07 removes the requirement to categorize within the fair value hierarchy investments for which fair values are estimated using the net asset value practical expedient provided by Accounting Standards Codification 820, Fair Value Measurement. Disclosures about investments in certain entities that calculate net asset value per share are limited under ASU 2015-07 to those investments for which the entity has elected to estimate the fair value using the net asset value practical expedient. ASU 2015-07 is effective for entities (other than public business entities) for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2016, with retrospective application to all periods presented. Early application is permitted, however Management has elected to defer adoption of ASU 2015-07 as it further evaluates the impact of this pronouncement to the financial statements.

3. Fair Value Measurement
Accounting Standards Codification (ASC 820) defines fair value as the exchange price that would be received for an asset or paid to transfer a liability (an exit price) in the principal or most advantageous market for the asset or liability in an orderly transaction between market participants on the measurement date. ASC 820 also establishes a fair value hierarchy, which requires classification based on observable and unobservable inputs when measuring fair value. The three levels of inputs that may be used to measure fair value are as follows:
Level 1 - Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets that are accessible to the reporting entity at the measurement date for identical assets or liabilities.
Level 2 - Observable inputs other than Level 1 prices, such as quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities, quoted prices in markets that are not active, or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data for substantially the full term of the assets or liabilities.
Level 3 - Unobservable inputs that are supported by little or no market activity and that are significant to the fair value of the assets or liabilities.
The level in the fair value hierarchy within which the fair value measurement is classified is determined based on the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measure in its entirety.
The following is a description of the valuation techniques and inputs used for significant classes of assets measured at fair value:
Common stock - Valued at the closing price reported on the active market on which the individual securities are traded.
Mutual funds - Valued at the net asset value of shares held by the Plan at year-end based on publicly traded values for the funds.
Common collective trust funds - Valued at net asset value based on the fair value of the underlying assets in the fund as reported by the issuer of the fund.
The methods described above may produce a fair value calculation that may not be indicative of net realizable value or reflective of future fair values. Furthermore, while the Plan believes its valuation methods are appropriate and consistent with other market participants, the use of different methodologies or assumptions to determine the fair value of certain financial instruments could result in a different fair value measurement at the reporting date.


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Assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis are summarized below: 
 
 
Fair Value Measurement as of December 31, 2014
 
 
Total
 
Level 1
 
Level 2
 
Level 3
Assets
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Money market fund and cash
 
$
3,203,869

 
$
3,203,869

 
$

 
$

Company stock
 
29,937,504

 
29,937,504

 

 

Common collective trust funds:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Life cycle funds(a)
 
205,113,336

 

 
205,113,336

 

Stable value fund(b)
 
41,774,109

 

 
41,774,109

 

Mutual funds:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Domestic equities
 
107,514,597

 
107,514,597

 

 

International equities
 
25,124,758

 
25,124,758

 

 

Fixed income funds
 
20,119,473

 
20,119,473

 

 

Self-directed brokerage accounts
 
7,995,819

 
7,995,819

 
 
 
 
Total
 
$
440,783,465

 
$
193,896,020


$
246,887,445

 
$

 
 
Fair Value Measurement as of December 31, 2013
 
 
Total
 
Level 1
 
Level 2
 
Level 3
Assets
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Money market fund and cash
 
$
3,822,845

 
$
3,822,845

 
$

 
$

Company stock
 
30,347,590

 
30,347,590

 

 

Common collective trust funds:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Life cycle funds(a)
 
88,194,548

 

 
88,194,548

 

Stable value fund(b)
 
42,375,380

 

 
42,375,380

 

Mutual funds:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Domestic equities
 
184,915,763

 
184,915,763

 

 

International equities
 
27,459,772

 
27,459,772

 

 

Fixed income funds
 
18,063,618

 
18,063,618

 

 

Total
 
$
395,179,516

 
$
264,609,588

 
$
130,569,928

 
$

(a)
This category includes investments in highly diversified funds designed to remain appropriate for investors in terms of risk throughout a variety of life circumstances. These common collective trust funds share the common goal of first growing and then later preserving principal and contain a variety of asset classes, including value, growth, blend, international, and fixed income, as well as life cycle investment options. There are currently no redemption restrictions on these investments. The fair values of the investments in this category have been estimated using the net asset value per share based on the fair value of the underlying assets in the funds as reported by the issuer of the funds.
(b)
This category includes a common collective trust fund that is designed to deliver safety and stability by preserving principal and accumulating earnings. This fund is primarily invested in synthetic investment contracts/constant duration contracts and cash investments. Participant-directed redemptions have no restrictions; however, the Plan is required to provide a one-year redemption notice to liquidate its entire share in the fund. The fair value of this fund has been estimated based on the fair value of the underlying assets in the fund as reported by the issuer of the fund. The fair value differs from the contract value. As previously discussed in Note 2, contract value is the relevant measurement attributable to fully benefit-responsive investment contracts because contract value is the amount participants would receive if they were to initiate permitted transactions under the terms of the Plan.
 
4. Investments
The investment options of the Plan at December 31, 2014, consists of deposits with one fund managed by the Trustee, 21 externally managed funds, the Company’s common stock fund, and a self-directed brokerage option, compared with deposits with 13 funds managed by the Trustee, 16 externally managed funds, and the Company's common stock fund as of December 31, 2013. Participants elect to have their account balances invested in one or more of the funds and may change the fund investment mix daily via a voice response system or the Internet.


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The following presents investments that represent 5% or more of the Plan’s net assets available for benefits at December 31:
 
 
2014
 
2013
Vanguard Institutional Index Fund
 
$
84,377,855

 
$
75,109,205

Neuberger Berman Genesis Fund
 
*

 
54,331,061

Wells Fargo Stable Return Fund:
 
 
 
 
Contract value
 
41,216,843

 
42,030,015

Fair value
 
41,774,109

 
42,375,380

Vanguard Target 2030
 
33,901,840

 
*

Vanguard Target 2035
 
33,431,451

 
*

Vanguard Target 2025
 
33,233,244

 
*

Vanguard Target 2020
 
31,116,819

 
*

Vanguard Target 2040
 
30,893,517

 
*

Polaris Industries Inc. common stock
 
29,937,504

 
30,347,590

American Funds EuroPacific Growth Fund
 
*

 
22,675,596

*Denotes less than 5% of Plan net assets available for benefits
5. Tax Status
The Plan has received a determination letter from the IRS dated December 15, 2011, stating that the Plan is qualified under Section 401(a) of the Internal Revenue Code (the Code), and therefore, the related trust is exempt from taxation. The Plan has issued amendments that have not been contemplated by this determination letter. Once qualified, the Plan is required to operate in conformity with the Code to maintain its qualification. The plan administrator believes the Plan is being operated in compliance with the applicable requirements of the Code and, therefore, believes that the Plan, as amended, is qualified and the related trust is tax-exempt.
Accounting principles generally accepted in the United States require plan management to evaluate uncertain tax positions taken by the Plan. The financial statement effects of a tax position are recognized when the position is more likely than not, based on the technical merits, to be sustained upon examination by the IRS. The plan administrator has analyzed the tax positions taken by the Plan and has concluded that as of December 31, 2014, there are no uncertain positions taken or expected to be taken. The Plan has recognized no interest or penalties related to uncertain tax positions. The Plan is subject to routine audits by taxing jurisdictions; however, there are currently no audits for any tax periods in progress. The plan administrator believes it is no longer subject to income tax examinations for years prior to 2011.

6. Party-in-Interest Transactions
The Plan holds units of mutual funds managed by Fidelity, the trustee of the Plan. The Plan also invests in the common stock of the Company. These transactions qualify as party-in-interest transactions; however, they are exempt from the prohibited transaction rules under ERISA. The fair value of the Company’s common stock was $29,937,504 and $30,347,590, at December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively. During 2014, the Plan received $391,575 in common stock dividends from the Company.

7. Risks and Uncertainties
The Plan invests in various investment securities. Investment securities are exposed to various risks, such as interest rate, market volatility, and credit risks. Due to the level of risk associated with certain investment securities, it is at least reasonably possible that changes in the values of investment securities will occur in the near term and that such changes could materially affect the participants’ account balances and amounts reported in the statements of net assets available for benefits.

8. Transfers in From ESOP
The Polaris Industries Inc. Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) allows participants to diversify part of their ESOP account via transfer into the Plan, if they have at least ten years of service and meet certain minimum age requirements. Those funds that are transferred into the Plan follow the same withdrawal provisions of the Plan. The total amount transferred into the Plan from the ESOP for the years ended December 31, 2014, and 2013, was $16,524,711 and $10,072,783, respectively.


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9. Differences Between Financial Statements and Form 5500
The following is a reconciliation of net assets available for benefits per the financial statements to the Form 5500:
 
 
December 31, 2014
 
December 31, 2013
Net assets available for benefits per the financial statements
 
$
450,360,597

 
$
404,332,497

Adjustment from contract value to fair value for interest in common collective trust relating to fully benefit-responsive investment contracts
 
557,266

 
345,365

Net assets available for benefits per the Form 5500
 
$
450,917,863

 
$
404,677,862

The following is a reconciliation of total additions per the financial statements to total income per the Form 5500:
 
December 31, 2014
Total additions per the financial statements
$
61,177,689

Add adjustment from fair value to contract value for interest in common collective trust relating to fully benefit-responsive investment contracts at December 31, 2014
557,266

Subtract adjustment from fair value to contract value for interest in common collective trust relating to fully benefit-responsive investment contracts at December 31, 2013
(345,365)

Total income per the Form 5500
$
61,389,590


10. Subsequent Events
Management evaluated events for the Plan through June 19, 2015, the date the financial statements were available to be issued.

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Supplemental Schedule
Polaris 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan
EIN: 41-1857431 Plan Number: 001
Schedule H, Line 4i – Schedule of Assets
(Held at End of Year)
December 31, 2014
 
 
 
Description
Investment Type
Current Value
Vanguard Institutional Index Fund
Mutual fund
$
84,377,855

Wells Fargo Stable Value Fund
Common collective trust fund (CCT fund)
41,774,109

Vanguard Target 2030
CCT Lifecycle
33,901,840

Vanguard Target 2035
CCT Lifecycle
33,431,451

Vanguard Target 2025
CCT Lifecycle
33,233,244

Vanguard Target 2020
CCT Lifecycle
31,116,819

Vanguard Target 2040
CCT Lifecycle
30,893,517

Polaris Industries Inc. common stock*
Common stock
29,937,504

American Funds EuroPacific Growth Fund
Mutual fund
21,890,989

PIMCO Total Return Fund
Fixed Income
15,374,572

Vanguard Target 2045
CCT Lifecycle
13,933,700

Vanguard Mid Cap Index Fund
Mutual fund
12,704,000

Vanguard Small Cap Index Fund
Mutual fund
10,432,742

Vanguard Target 2050
CCT Lifecycle
9,843,891

Vanguard Target 2015
CCT Lifecycle
9,755,434

Fidelity Self-Directed Brokerage Accounts*
Self-directed brokerage account
7,995,819

Vanguard Target 2055
CCT Lifecycle
4,646,470

Vanguard Total Bond Market Index Fund
Fixed Income
3,635,976

Columbia Acorn International Fund
Mutual fund
3,233,769

Fidelity US Treasury Money Market*
Mutual fund
2,295,522

Vanguard Target 2010
CCT Lifecycle
1,923,821

Vanguard Target Income
CCT Lifecycle
1,910,389

PIMCO Foreign Bond (Unhedged) Fund
Fixed Income
1,108,925

Vanguard Target 2060
CCT Lifecycle
522,760

Interest-bearing cash
Cash
908,347

 
 
440,783,465

Participant loans, with interest rates ranging from 4.25% to 10.25%, maturing through January 2029*
 
10,131,549

Total investments
 
$
450,915,014

 
* Indicates party in interest.

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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the trustees (or other persons who administer the employee benefit plan) have duly caused this annual report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
 
 
 
 
 
Date: June 19, 2015
  
POLARIS 401(k) RETIREMENT SAVINGS PLAN
 
 
 
 
  
 
  
By the Members of the 401(k) Retirement
 
  
 
  
Committee as Plan Administrator
 
 
 
 
  
 
  
/s/ STACY L. BOGART
 
 
 
 
  
 
  
Stacy L. Bogart
 
 
 
 
  
 
  
/s/ JAMES P. WILLIAMS
 
 
 
 
  
 
  
James P. Williams
 
 
 
 
  
 
  
/s/ BETH A. PAULSON
 
 
 
 
  
 
  
Beth A. Paulson
 
 
 
 
  
 
  
/s/ MICHAEL W. MALONE
 
 
 
 
  
 
  
Michael W. Malone
 
 
 
 
  
 
  
/s/ SEAN P. BAGAN
 
 
 
 
  
 
  
Sean P. Bagan

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POLARIS 401(k) RETIREMENT SAVINGS PLAN
EXHIBIT INDEX
Exhibit Number
  
Document
Method of Filing
 
 
 
 
23
  
Consent of Ernst & Young LLP
Filed herewith electronically



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