GBX Amends GIMSA Agreement; Reports Progress on $1B Liquidity Target

Written by Andrew Corselli
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“Greenbrier is successfully executing the dual priorities of protecting the safety and health of employees and preserving the economic well-being of our enterprise in this challenging environment,” said William A. Furman, GBX Chairman and CEO.

The Greenbrier Companies (GBX) has amended its 50/50 joint venture agreement with Grupo Industrial Monclova, S.A. De C.V. (GIMSA), its manufacturing partner at Greenbrier GIMSA facilities in Monclova, Mexico. This and other measures aim to help GBX achieve its goal of $1 billion in total liquidity.

“The new agreement with our joint venture partner is beneficial to both parties and ensures Greenbrier GIMSA continues as a North American leader in freight railcar manufacturing,” GBX noted in a press release. “Under the new agreement, both partners will receive additional revenue and dividends for a 12-month period, based on Greenbrier GIMSA revenue beginning March 1, 2020 and ending Feb. 28, 2021. Greenbrier estimates these changes to be accretive to its earnings by approximately $0.40 per share, with $0.25 per share coming in its fiscal 2020 second half.”

In its fiscal second-quarter earnings release, GBX stated that it had initiated a range of proactive responses to address conditions in the rail equipment industry and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in order to, among other things, increase the company’s financial liquidity, comprised of cash and borrowing availability, from $620 million to $1 billion. As part of this effort, GBX improved financial liquidity during the first two months of the fiscal third quarter by generating $170 million in cash flow.

GBX’s stronger financial liquidity has also been achieved through a combination of expanded borrowing capacity and spending reductions. GBX has reduced capital expenditures by $45 million in the second half of fiscal 2020 and is targeting another $40 million reduction in fiscal 2021. Annualized reductions in selling and administrative expense of more than $30 million are expected. GBX’s business units are targeting $65 million in annual overhead reductions. GBX has broadened its domestic borrowing base while also working to increase borrowing capabilities in Europe and Mexico. GBX currently has credit lines globally of $700 million, of which $382 million is drawn down and is liquid. Finally, a deferral of employer payroll taxes as permitted under the CARES Act will generate at least $9 million until the deferment period culminates at the end of calendar 2020. The combination of the increase in financial liquidity and spending reductions as outlined above total approximately $1 billion compared to Feb. 29, 2020 liquidity of $620 million, positioning GBX to successfully navigate the current crisis and emerge stronger.

“Greenbrier is successfully executing the dual priorities of protecting the safety and health of employees and preserving the economic well-being of our enterprise in this challenging environment,” said William A. Furman, GBX Chairman and CEO. “We continue to improve our financial liquidity, including the temporary restructuring of a key partnership at our railcar manufacturing joint venture in Mexico in a manner beneficial to both partners. Greenbrier has increased borrowing capacity and liquidity by almost $200 million since the end of its second quarter on Feb. 29, 2020. We continue to reduce operating expenses and capital outflows, while reducing selling and administrative and other non-essential expenses. Operations continue under national and local government ‘Essential Business’ designations at all Greenbrier global locations in North America, Europe and South America.”

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