Blue Bird Corp
For the period ended Mar 30, 2024. Filed May 8, 2024.
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A company's report for each of its first three quarters. The financial statements are not audited. It shows how the business has moved since the last annual report, and what management says changed.
Mar 30, 2024 · Filed May 8, 2024
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Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
- Nature of Business and Basis of Presentation
Nature of Business
Blue Bird Body Company ("BBBC"), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Blue Bird Corporation, was incorporated in 1958 and has manufactured, assembled and sold school buses to a variety of municipal, federal and commercial customers since 1927. The majority of BBBC’s sales are made to an independent dealer network, which in turn sells buses to ultimate end users. References in these notes to condensed consolidated financial statements to “Blue Bird,” the “Company,” “we,” “our,” or “us” relate to Blue Bird Corporation and its wholly-owned subsidiaries, unless the context specifically indicates otherwise. We are headquartered in Macon, Georgia.
Basis of Presentation
The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its wholly-owned subsidiaries. All significant inter-company transactions and accounts have been eliminated in consolidation.
The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”) for interim financial reporting and Article 10 of Regulation S-X. The Company’s fiscal year ends on the Saturday closest to September 30 with its quarters consisting of thirteen weeks in most years. The fiscal years ending September 28, 2024 ("fiscal 2024") and ended September 30, 2023 ("fiscal 2023") consist or consisted of 52 weeks. The second quarters of fiscal 2024 and fiscal 2023 both included 13 weeks. The six month periods in fiscal 2024 and 2023 both included 26 weeks.
In the opinion of management, all adjustments considered necessary for a fair presentation of financial results have been made. Such adjustments consist of only those of a normal recurring nature. Operating results for any interim period are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the entire year. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by U.S. GAAP for complete financial statements.
The Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet data as of September 30, 2023 was derived from the Company’s audited financial statements but does not include all disclosures required by U.S. GAAP. For additional information, including the Company’s significant accounting policies, refer to the consolidated financial statements and related footnotes as of and for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2023 as set forth in the Company's fiscal 2023 Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") on December 11, 2023.
Impacts of COVID-19 and Subsequent Supply Chain Constraints on our Business
As discussed in detail in the fiscal 2023 Form 10-K filed with the SEC on December 11, 2023, the novel coronavirus known as "COVID-19" materially affected demand for new buses and replacement/maintenance parts during the second half of our fiscal year that ended October 3, 2020 ("fiscal 2020") and first half of our fiscal year that ended October 2, 2021 ("fiscal 2021"), significantly impacting our business and operations. Although demand for school buses strengthened substantially during the second half of fiscal 2021, the Company, and automotive industry as a whole, began experiencing significant supply chain constraints around this same period of time. These supply chain disruptions had a significant adverse impact on our operations and results during the second half of fiscal 2021 and all of fiscal 2022 due to higher purchasing costs, including freight costs incurred to expedite receipt of critical components, increased manufacturing inefficiencies and our inability to complete the production of buses to fulfill sales orders.
Additionally, Russian military forces launched a large-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022, which further exacerbated global supply chain disruptions. While the Company has no assets or customers in either of these countries, this military conflict has significantly impacted our financial results, primarily in an indirect manner since the Company does not sell to customers located in, or source goods directly from, either country. Specifically, it contributed to increased a) costs charged by suppliers for the purchase of inventory that is at least partially dependent on resources originating from either of the countries and b) freight costs, both of which negatively impacted the gross profit recognized on sales during fiscal 2022, fiscal 2023 and continuing into fiscal 2024.
Towards the end of fiscal 2022 and continuing into fiscal 2023, there were slight improvements in the supply chain's ability to deliver the parts and components necessary to support our production operations, resulting in increased (i) manufacturing efficiencies and (ii) production of buses to fulfill sales orders during fiscal 2023. However, the higher costs charged by suppliers to procure inventory that continued into fiscal 2023 had a significant adverse impact on our operations and results. Specifically, such cost increases outpaced the increases in sales prices that we charged for the buses that were sold during the first quarter of fiscal 2023, many of which were included in the backlog of fixed price sales orders originating in fiscal 2021 and the early months of fiscal 2022 that carried forward into fiscal 2023. During the remainder of fiscal 2023, the buses that were sold were generally included in the backlog of fixed price sales orders originating more recently (i.e., the latter months of fiscal 2022 and in fiscal 2023), with the cumulative increases in sales prices we charged for those buses generally outpacing the higher costs we paid to procure inventory, resulting in gross profit during the quarters. While the gross margin on bus sales during the second quarter of fiscal 2023 lagged the historical gross margin reported prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, it returned to more normal historical levels during the latter half of fiscal 2023.
Supply chain disruptions continued into the first half of fiscal 2024 as there were still occasional shortages of certain critical components as well as ongoing increases in raw materials costs, both of which impacted our business and operations by limiting the number of school buses that we could produce and sell as well as increasing the costs to manufacture buses. Nonetheless, the lessons learned, and resulting actions taken, by management over the past three fiscal years allowed the Company to better navigate these supply chain challenges and consistently produce buses to fulfill sales orders. Ongoing improvements in manufacturing operations, when coupled with periodic pricing actions taken by the Company to ensure that the increased sales prices charged for buses kept pace with increased costs to procure inventory to produce the buses, allowed the Company to report gross profit and gross margin during the first half of fiscal 2024 that were consistent with, or better than, historic levels experienced prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Use of Estimates and Assumptions
The preparation of financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions. At the date of the financial statements, these estimates and assumptions affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities, and during the reporting period, these estimates and assumptions affect the reported amounts of revenues and expenses. For example, significant management judgments are required in determining excess, obsolete, or unsalable inventory; the allowance for doubtful accounts; potential impairment of long-lived assets, goodwill and intangible assets; and the accounting for self-insurance reserves, warranty reserves, pension obligations, income taxes, environmental liabilities and contingencies. Future events, including the extent and duration of continued supply chain constraints and their related economic impacts, and their effects cannot be predicted with certainty, and, accordingly, the Company’s accounting estimates require the exercise of judgment. The accounting estimates used in the preparation of the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements may change as new events occur, as more experience is acquired, as additional information is obtained and as the Company’s operating environment changes. The Company evaluates and updates its assumptions and estimates on an ongoing basis and may employ outside experts to assist in the Company’s evaluations. Actual results could differ from the estimates that the Company has used.
- Summary of Significant Accounting Policies and Recently Issued Accounting Standards
The Company’s significant accounting policies are described in the Company’s fiscal 2023 Form 10-K, filed with the SEC on December 11, 2023. Our senior management has reviewed these significant accounting policies and related disclosures and determined that there were no significant changes in our critical accounting policies in the six months ended March 30, 2024.
Recently Issued Accounting Standards
ASU 2023-07 On November 27, 2023, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") 2023-07, Segment Reporting (Topic 280): Improvements to Reportable Segment Disclosures, which requires public entities to disclose information about their reportable segments’ significant expenses on an interim and annual basis. The ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2023, and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2024, with early adoption permitted.
ASU 2023-09 On December 14, 2023, the FASB issued ASU 2023-09, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Improvements to Income Tax Disclosures, which requires entities to disclose more detailed information in their reconciliation of their statutory tax rate to their effective tax rate. Public business entities ("PBEs") are required to provide this incremental detail in a numerical, tabular format. The ASU also requires entities to disclose more detailed information about income taxes paid, including by jurisdiction; pretax income (or loss) from continuing operations; and income tax expense (or benefit). The ASU is effective for PBEs in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2024, and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2025, with early adoption permitted.
The new ASUs will not impact amounts recorded in the financial statements but instead, will require more detailed disclosures in the footnotes to the financial statement. The Company plans to provide the updated disclosures required by the ASUs in the periods in which they are effective.
- Supplemental Financial Information
Inventories
The following table presents the components of inventories at the dates indicated:
| (in thousands of dollars) | March 30, 2024 | September 30, 2023 |
|---|---|---|
| Raw materials | $99,019 | $88,116 |
| Work in process | 36,982 | 45,875 |
| Finished goods | 9,400 | 1,295 |
| Total inventories | $145,401 | $135,286 |
Restricted Cash
The following table provides a reconciliation of cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash reported on the applicable Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets that sum to the total of such amounts reported on the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows:
| (in thousands of dollars) | March 30, 2024 | April 1, 2023 |
|---|---|---|
| Cash and cash equivalents | $93,096 | $17,773 |
| Restricted cash | — | 238 |
| Total cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash reported on the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows | $93,096 | $18,011 |
Amounts included in restricted cash represent those that were required by a contractual agreement with a financial institution to serve as collateral against outstanding balances pertaining to the Company's corporate credit card program.
Product Warranties
The following table reflects activity in accrued warranty cost (current and long-term portions combined) for the periods presented:
| Three Months Ended | Six Months Ended | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| (in thousands of dollars) | March 30, 2024 | April 1, 2023 | March 30, 2024 | April 1, 2023 |
| Balance at beginning of period | $15,283 | $15,580 | $15,434 | $15,970 |
| Add current period accruals | 2,512 | 2,432 | 4,853 | 4,465 |
| Current period reductions of accrual | (2,319) | (2,458) | (4,811) | (4,881) |
| Balance at end of period | $15,476 | $15,554 | $15,476 | $15,554 |
Extended Warranties
The following table reflects activity in deferred warranty income (current and long-term portions combined), for the sale of extended warranties oftwo tofive years, for the periods presented:
| Three Months Ended | Six Months Ended | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| (in thousands of dollars) | March 30, 2024 | April 1, 2023 | March 30, 2024 | April 1, 2023 |
| Balance at beginning of period | $24,118 | $19,290 | $23,123 | $18,795 |
| Add current period deferred income | 3,562 | 2,756 | 6,560 | 5,092 |
| Current period recognition of income | (2,117) | (1,965) | (4,120) | (3,806) |
| Balance at end of period | $25,563 | $20,081 | $25,563 | $20,081 |
The outstanding balance of deferred warranty income in the table above is considered a "contract liability," and represents a performance obligation of the Company that we satisfy over the term of the arrangement but for which we have been paid in full at the time the warranty was sold. We expect to recognize $4.5 million of the outstanding contract liability during the remainder of fiscal 2024, $7.8 million in fiscal 2025, and the remaining balance thereafter.
Self-Insurance
The following table reflects our total accrued self-insurance liability, comprised of workers' compensation and health insurance related claims, at the dates indicated:
| (in thousands of dollars) | March 30, 2024 | September 30, 2023 |
|---|---|---|
| Current portion | $5,247 | $4,475 |
| Long-term portion | 2,348 | 1,771 |
| Total accrued self-insurance | $7,595 | $6,246 |
The current and long-term portions of the accrued self-insurance liability are reflected in accrued expenses and other liabilities, respectively, on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets.
Shipping and Handling Revenues
Shipping and handling revenues were $5.0 million and $4.2 million for the three months ended March 30, 2024 and April 1, 2023, respectively, and $9.7 million and $8.5 million for the six months ended March 30, 2024 and April 1, 2023, respectively. The related cost of goods sold was $4.4 million and $3.9 million for the three months ended March 30, 2024 and April 1, 2023, respectively, and $8.7 million and $7.7 million for the six months ended March 30, 2024 and April 1, 2023, respectively.
Pension Expense
Components of net periodic pension benefit expense were as follows for the periods presented:
| Three Months Ended | Six Months Ended | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| (in thousands of dollars) | March 30, 2024 | April 1, 2023 | March 30, 2024 | April 1, 2023 |
| Interest cost | $1,484 | $1,509 | $2,968 | $3,018 |
| Expected return on plan assets | (1,620) | (1,630) | (3,240) | (3,260) |
| Amortization of prior loss | 172 | 299 | 344 | 598 |
| Net periodic pension benefit expense | $36 | $178 | $72 | $356 |
| Amortization of prior loss, recognized in other comprehensive income | (172) | (299) | (344) | (598) |
| Total recognized in net periodic pension benefit expense and other comprehensive income | $(136) | $(121) | $(272) | $(242) |
- Debt
On November 17, 2023 (the “Closing Date”), BBBC, as Borrower, executed a $250.0 million five-year credit agreement with Bank of Montreal, acting as administrative agent and an issuing bank; several joint lead arranger partners and issuing banks, including Bank of America; and a syndicate of other lenders (the "Credit Agreement").
The credit facilities provided for under the Credit Agreement consist of a term loan facility in an aggregate initial principal amount of $100.0 million (the “Term Loan Facility”) and a revolving credit facility with aggregate commitments of $150.0 million. The revolving credit facility includes a $25.0 million letter of credit sub-facility and $5.0 million swingline sub-facility (the “Revolving Credit Facility,” and together with the Term Loan Facility, each a “Credit Facility” and collectively, the “Credit Facilities”).
A minimum of $100.0 million of additional term loans and/or revolving credit commitments may be incurred under the Credit Agreement, subject to certain limitations as set forth in the Credit Agreement, and which additional loans and/or commitments would require further commitments from existing lenders or from new lenders.
Borrower has the right to prepay the loans outstanding under the Credit Facilities without premium or penalty (subject to customary breakage costs, if applicable). Additionally, proceeds from asset sales, condemnation, casualty insurance and/or debt issuances (in certain circumstances) are required to be used to prepay borrowings outstanding under the Credit Facilities. Borrowings under the Term Loan Facility, which were made on the Closing Date, may not be reborrowed once they are repaid while borrowings under the Revolving Credit Facility may be repaid and reborrowed from time to time at our election.
The Term Loan Facility is subject to amortization of principal, payable in equal quarterly installments on the last day of each fiscal quarter, which commenced on March 30, 2024, with 5.0% of the $100.0 million aggregate principal amount of all initial term loans outstanding at the Closing Date payable each year prior to the maturity date of the Term Loan Facility. The remaining initial aggregate principal amount outstanding under the Term Loan Facility, as well as any outstanding borrowings under the Revolving Credit Facility, will be payable on the November 17, 2028 maturity date of the Credit Agreement.
The Credit Facilities are guaranteed by all of the Company’s wholly-owned domestic restricted subsidiaries (subject to customary exceptions) and are secured by a security agreement which pledges a lien on virtually all of the assets of Borrower, the Company and the Company’s other wholly-owned domestic restricted subsidiaries, other than any owned or leased real property and subject to customary exceptions.
The $100.0 million of Term Loan Facility proceeds and $36.2 million of Revolving Credit Facility proceeds that were borrowed on the Closing Date were used to pay (i) the $131.8 million of term loan indebtedness outstanding under the previous credit agreement ("Amended Credit Agreement"), (ii) interest and commitment fees accrued under the Amended Credit Agreement through the Closing Date and (iii) transaction costs associated with the consummation of the Credit Agreement.
Under the terms of the Credit Agreement, Borrower, the Company and the Company’s other wholly-owned domestic restricted subsidiaries are subject to customary affirmative and negative covenants and events of default for facilities of this type (with customary grace periods, as applicable, and lender remedies).
Borrowings under the Credit Facilities bear interest, at our option, at (i) base rate ("ABR") or (ii) the Secured Overnight Financing Rate as administered by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York ("SOFR") plus 0.10%, plus an applicable margin depending on the Total Net Leverage Ratio ("TNLR," which is defined in the Credit Agreement as the ratio of consolidated net debt to consolidated EBITDA on a trailing four quarter basis) of the Company as follows:
| Level | TNLR | ABR Loans | SOFR Loans |
|---|---|---|---|
| I | Less than 1.00x | 0.75% | 1.75% |
| II | Greater than or equal to 1.00x and less than 1.50x | 1.50% | 2.50% |
| III | Greater than or equal to 1.50x and less than 2.25x | 2.00% | 3.00% |
| IV | Greater than or equal to 2.25x | 2.25% | 3.25% |
Pricing on the Closing Date was set at Level III until receipt of the financial information and related compliance certificate for the first fiscal quarter that ended after the Closing Date, with pricing as of March 30, 2024 set at Level I.
Borrower is also required to pay lenders an unused commitment fee of between 0.25% and 0.45% per annum on the undrawn commitments under the Revolving Credit Facility, depending on the TNLR, quarterly in arrears.
The Credit Agreement also includes a requirement that the Company comply with the following financial covenants on the last day of each fiscal quarter through maturity: (i) a pro forma TNLR of not greater than 3.00:1.00 and (ii) a pro forma fixed charge coverage ratio (as defined in the Credit Agreement) of not less than 1.20:1.00. The Company was in compliance with such covenants as of March 30, 2024.
The Company incurred approximately $3.1 million in lender fees and other issuance costs relating to the Credit Agreement. Of such total, approximately $1.9 million and $0.8 million was capitalized within other assets and long-term debt (as a contra-balance), respectively, on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets and will be amortized as an adjustment to interest expense on a straight-line basis and utilizing the effective interest method, respectively, until maturity of the Credit Agreement. The remaining approximate $0.4 million was recorded to loss on debt refinancing or modification on the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations.
In conjunction with executing the Credit Agreement, previously capitalized lender fees and other issuance costs relating to the Amended Credit Agreement and incurred in prior periods totaling $1.1 million were also expensed to loss on debt refinancing or modification on the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations.
Term loan borrowings consisted of the following at the dates indicated:
| (in thousands of dollars) | March 30, 2024 | September 30, 2023 |
|---|---|---|
| Term loan borrowings, net of deferred financing costs of $1,428 and $1,456, respectively | $97,322 | $130,344 |
| Less: current portion of long-term debt | 5,000 | 19,800 |
| Long-term debt, net of current portion | $92,322 | $110,544 |
Term loan borrowings are recognized on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets at the unpaid principal balance, and are not subject to fair value measurement; however, given the variable rates on the loans, the Company estimates that the unpaid principal balance approximates fair value. If measured at fair value in the financial statements, the term loans would be classified as Level 2 in the fair value hierarchy. At March 30, 2024 and September 30, 2023, $98.8 million and $131.8 million, respectively, were outstanding on the term loans.
At March 30, 2024 and September 30, 2023, the stated interest rates on the term loans were 7.2% and 10.0%, respectively. At March 30, 2024 and September 30, 2023, the weighted-average annual effective interest rates for the term loans were 8.2% and 10.9%, respectively, which include amortization of the deferred financing costs.
At March 30, 2024, $6.7 million of letters of credit were outstanding, which reduces the availability on the revolving line of credit. There were no borrowings outstanding on the Revolving Credit Facility; therefore, the Company would have been able to borrow $143.3 million on the revolving line of credit.
Interest expense on all indebtedness was $2.8 million and $5.2 million for the three months ended March 30, 2024 and April 1, 2023, respectively, and $6.4 million and $9.4 million for the six months ended March 30, 2024 and April 1, 2023, respectively.
The schedule of remaining principal payments through maturity for the term loans is as follows:
| (in thousands of dollars) | |
|---|---|
| Fiscal Year | Principal Payments |
| 2024 | $2,500 |
| 2025 | 5,000 |
| 2026 | 5,000 |
| 2027 | 5,000 |
| 2028 | 5,000 |
| Thereafter | 76,250 |
| Total remaining principal payments | $98,750 |
- Income Taxes
Income tax provisions for interim periods are based on estimated annual income tax rates, adjusted to reflect the effects of any significant infrequent or unusual items that are required to be discretely recognized within the current interim period. The effective tax rates in the periods presented are largely based upon the annual forecasted pre-tax earnings mix and allocation of certain expenses in various taxing jurisdictions where the Company conducts its business, primarily in the United States of America ("U.S."). In periods where our pre-tax income approximates or is equal to break-even, the effective tax rates for quarter-to-date and full-year periods may not be meaningful due to discrete period items.
Three Months
The effective tax rate for the three months ended March 30, 2024 was 25.5% and differed from the statutory federal income tax rate of 21%. The increase was primarily due to the impacts from state taxes and certain permanent items on the federal rate, which were partially offset by the impacts from federal and state tax credits (net of valuation allowances) and discrete period items during the quarter.
The effective tax rate for the three months ended April 1, 2023 was 20.1%, which aligned with the statutory federal income tax rate of 21% and is comprised of normal tax rate items, including impacts from state taxes and federal and state tax credits (net of valuation allowances), with discrete period items having a nominal impact on the effective rate during the quarter.
Six Months
The effective tax rate for the six months ended March 30, 2024 was 25.7% and differed from the statutory federal income tax rate of 21%. The increase was primarily due to the impacts from state taxes and certain permanent items on the federal rate, which were partially offset by the impacts from federal and state tax credits (net of valuation allowances) and discrete period items during the period.
The effective tax rate for the six months ended April 1, 2023 was 21.4%, which aligned with the statutory federal income tax rate of 21% and is comprised of normal tax rate items, including impacts from state taxes and federal and state tax credits (net of valuation allowances), with discrete period items having a nominal impact on the effective rate during the period.
- Guarantees, Commitments and Contingencies
Litigation
At March 30, 2024, the Company had a number of product liability and other cases pending. Management believes that, considering the Company’s insurance coverage and its intention to vigorously defend its positions, the ultimate resolution of these matters will not have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial statements.
Environmental
The Company is subject to a variety of environmental regulations relating to the use, storage, discharge and disposal of hazardous materials used in its manufacturing processes. Failure by the Company to comply with present and future regulations could subject it to future liabilities. In addition, such regulations could require the Company to acquire costly equipment or to incur other significant expenses to comply with environmental regulations. The Company is currently not involved in any material environmental proceedings and therefore, management believes that the resolution of pending environmental matters will not have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial statements.
- Segment Information
We manage our business intwo operating segments: (i) the Bus segment, which includes the manufacturing and assembly of buses to be sold to a variety of customers across the U.S., Canada and in certain limited international markets; and (ii) the Parts segment, which consists primarily of the purchase of parts from third parties to be sold to dealers within the Company’s network and certain large fleet customers. Management evaluates the segments based primarily upon revenues and gross profit, which are reflected in the tables below for the periods presented:
| Net sales | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Three Months Ended | Six Months Ended | |||
| (in thousands of dollars) | March 30, 2024 | April 1, 2023 | March 30, 2024 | April 1, 2023 |
| Bus (1) | $317,959 | $273,472 | $611,396 | $486,721 |
| Parts (1) | 27,956 | 26,342 | 52,179 | 48,825 |
| Segment net sales | $345,915 | $299,814 | $663,575 | $535,546 |
(1) Parts segment revenue includes $2.7 million and $1.3 million for the three months ended March 30, 2024 and April 1, 2023, respectively, and $4.3 million and $2.4 million for the six months ended March 30, 2024 and April 1, 2023, respectively, related to inter-segment sales of parts that was eliminated by the Bus segment upon consolidation.
| Gross profit (loss) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Three Months Ended | Six Months Ended | |||
| (in thousands of dollars) | March 30, 2024 | April 1, 2023 | March 30, 2024 | April 1, 2023 |
| Bus | $49,589 | $23,099 | $100,883 | $19,368 |
| Parts | 14,050 | 12,550 | 26,314 | 23,738 |
| Segment gross profit | $63,639 | $35,649 | $127,197 | $43,106 |
The following table is a reconciliation of segment gross profit to consolidated income (loss) before income taxes for the periods presented:
| Three Months Ended | Six Months Ended | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| (in thousands of dollars) | March 30, 2024 | April 1, 2023 | March 30, 2024 | April 1, 2023 |
| Segment gross profit | $63,639 | $35,649 | $127,197 | $43,106 |
| Adjustments: | ||||
| Selling, general and administrative expenses | (27,571) | (23,205) | (53,173) | (40,037) |
| Interest expense | (2,812) | (5,192) | (6,443) | (9,388) |
| Interest income | 1,054 | 12 | 2,142 | 12 |
| Other expense, net | (1,968) | (342) | (3,189) | (578) |
| Loss on debt refinancing or modification | — | — | (1,558) | (537) |
| Income (loss) before income taxes | $32,342 | $6,922 | $64,976 | $(7,422) |
Sales are attributable to geographic areas based on customer location and were as follows for the periods presented:
| Three Months Ended | Six Months Ended | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| (in thousands of dollars) | March 30, 2024 | April 1, 2023 | March 30, 2024 | April 1, 2023 |
| U.S. | $316,583 | $264,281 | $619,115 | $468,822 |
| Canada | 29,058 | 32,234 | 44,177 | 62,755 |
| Rest of world | 274 | 3,299 | 283 | 3,969 |
| Total net sales | $345,915 | $299,814 | $663,575 | $535,546 |
- Revenue
The following table disaggregates revenue by product category for the periods presented:
| Three Months Ended | Six Months Ended | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| (in thousands of dollars) | March 30, 2024 | April 1, 2023 | March 30, 2024 | April 1, 2023 |
| Diesel buses | $123,444 | $89,795 | $208,442 | $161,289 |
| Alternative power buses (1) | 180,162 | 171,269 | 375,491 | 303,215 |
| Other (2) | 14,991 | 13,040 | 28,688 | 23,495 |
| Parts | 27,318 | 25,710 | 50,954 | 47,547 |
| Net sales | $345,915 | $299,814 | $663,575 | $535,546 |
(1) Includes buses sold with any power source other than diesel (e.g., gasoline, propane, compressed natural gas ("CNG") or electric).
(2) Includes shipping and handling revenue, extended warranty income, surcharges and chassis and bus shell sales.
- Earnings (Loss) Per Share
The following table presents the earnings (loss) per share computation for the periods presented:
| Three Months Ended | Six Months Ended | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| (in thousands except for share data) | March 30, 2024 | April 1, 2023 | March 30, 2024 | April 1, 2023 |
| Numerator: | ||||
| Net income (loss) | $26,023 | $7,130 | $52,173 | $(4,164) |
| Denominator: | ||||
| Weighted-average common shares outstanding | 32,240,458 | 32,033,709 | 32,205,657 | 32,029,999 |
| Weighted-average dilutive securities, restricted stock | 390,498 | 270,156 | 283,078 | — |
| Weighted-average dilutive securities, stock options | 183,538 | 18,298 | 153,044 | — |
| Weighted-average dilutive securities, warrants (Note 12) | 260,098 | — | 186,560 | — |
| Weighted-average shares and dilutive potential common shares (1) | 33,074,592 | 32,322,163 | 32,828,339 | 32,029,999 |
| Earnings (loss) per share: | ||||
| Basic earnings (loss) per share | $0.81 | $0.22 | $1.62 | $(0.13) |
| Diluted earnings (loss) per share | $0.79 | $0.22 | $1.59 | $(0.13) |
(1) Potentially dilutive securities representing approximately zero and 0.4 million shares of common stock were excluded from the computation of diluted earnings per share for the three months ending March 30, 2024 and April 1, 2023, respectively, and potentially dilutive securities representing approximately zero and 0.7 million shares of common stock were excluded from the computation of diluted earnings per share for the six months ending March 30, 2024 and April 1, 2023, respectively, as their effect would have been antidilutive.
- Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss
The following table provides information on changes in accumulated other comprehensive loss ("AOCL") for the periods presented:
| Three Months Ended | Six Months Ended | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| (in thousands of dollars) | Defined Benefit Pension Plan | Total AOCL | Defined Benefit Pension Plan | Total AOCL |
| Beginning Balance | $(31,753) | $(31,753) | $(31,884) | $(31,884) |
| Amounts reclassified and included in earnings | 172 | 172 | 344 | 344 |
| Total before taxes | 172 | 172 | 344 | 344 |
| Income taxes | (41) | (41) | (82) | (82) |
| Ending Balance March 30, 2024 | $(31,622) | $(31,622) | $(31,622) | $(31,622) |
| Beginning Balance | $(41,703) | $(41,703) | $(41,930) | $(41,930) |
| Amounts reclassified and included in earnings | 299 | 299 | 598 | 598 |
| Total before taxes | 299 | 299 | 598 | 598 |
| Income taxes | (72) | (72) | (144) | (144) |
| Ending Balance April 1, 2023 | $(41,476) | $(41,476) | $(41,476) | $(41,476) |
- Stockholder Transaction Costs
On December 14, 2023, the Company entered into an underwriting agreement with BofA Securities, Inc. and Barclays Capital Inc., as representatives of the several underwriters and American Securities LLC ("Selling Stockholder"), pursuant to which the Selling Stockholder agreed to sell 2,500,000 shares of common stock at a purchase price of $25.10 per share (“December Offering”).
On February 15, 2024, the Company entered into an underwriting agreement with Barclays Capital Inc., as representative of the several underwriters and the Selling Stockholder, pursuant to which the Selling Shareholder agreed to sell 4,042,650 shares of common stock at a purchase price of $32.90 per share ("February Offering," and collectively with the December Offering, “Offerings”).
The December Offering was conducted pursuant to a prospectus supplement, dated December 14, 2023, and the February Offering was conducted pursuant to a prospectus supplement, dated February 15, 2024, both to the prospectus dated December 22, 2021 included in the Company’s registration statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-261858) that was initially filed with the SEC on December 23, 2021.
The December Offering closed on December 19, 2023 and the February Offering closed on February 21, 2024. Although the Company did not sell any shares or receive any proceeds from the Offerings, it was required to pay certain expenses in connection with the Offerings that totaled approximately $1.9 million and $3.2 million for the three and six month periods ended March 30, 2024, with $0.7 million of similar expense recorded during both the three and six month periods ended April 1, 2023. The $1.9 million and $3.2 million of expense is included within other expense, net on the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations for the three and six month periods ended March 30, 2024, respectively, while the $0.7 million of expense is included within selling, general and administrative expenses on the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations for the three and six month periods ended April 1, 2023, but was subsequently reclassified to other expense, net, during the third quarter of fiscal 2023.
- Joint Ventures
Micro Bird Holdings, Inc.
In December 2023, Micro Bird Holdings, Inc., our unconsolidated Canadian joint venture, paid dividends to all common stockholders, with the Company's proportionate share totaling $3.0 million, gross of required withholding taxes. The dividend was recorded as a reduction in the balance of equity investment in affiliate on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets and is presented as a cash inflow in the operating section of the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows.
Clean Bus Solutions, LLC
On December 7, 2023, the Company, through its wholly owned subsidiary, BBBC, and GC Mobility Investments I, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Generate Capital, PBC (“Generate Capital”), a sustainable investment company focusing on clean energy, transportation, water, waste, agriculture, smart cities and industrial decarbonization, executed a definitive agreement (“Joint Venture Agreement”) establishing a joint venture, Clean Bus Solutions, LLC, to provide a fleet-as-a-service ("FaaS") offering using electric school buses manufactured and sold by the Company (“Joint Venture”). The service will be offered to qualified customers of the Company. Through the Joint Venture, the Company will provide its end customers with turnkey electrification solutions, including a wide product range consisting of, among others, electric school buses, financing of electric buses and supporting charging infrastructure, project planning and management, and fleet optimization.
The Company and Generate Capital will initially have an equal common ownership interest in the Joint Venture, and will initially jointly share management responsibility and control, with each party having certain customary consent and approval rights and control triggers. The parties have each agreed to contribute up to $10.0 million to the Joint Venture, as agreed from time to time, for common interests to fund administrative expenses, and up to an additional $100.0 million of capital in the form of preferred interests to fund the purchase, delivery, installation, operation and maintenance of FaaS projects, inclusive of Blue Bird electric school buses and associated charging infrastructure. Of this amount, the Company has committed to provide up to $20.0 million and Generate Capital has committed to provide up to $80.0 million, with the Company’s aggregate commitment in any one year not to exceed $10.0 million without its consent.
In accordance with the terms of the Joint Venture Agreement, the Company will promote the Joint Venture as the Company’s preferred FaaS offering for electric school buses and has agreed to not participate as a joint venture partner in any other similar FaaS offering for electric school buses, except as anoriginal equipment manufacturer of buses. The Company’s obligations do not prevent or limit any activities of its dealers.
The Joint Venture has a perpetual duration subject to the right of either party to terminate early upon the occurrence of certain events of default or the failure to achieve certain milestones set forth in the terms of the Joint Venture Agreement.
In connection with the execution of the Joint Venture Agreement, the Company granted Generate Capital warrants to purchase an aggregate of 1,000,000 shares of Company common stock at an exercise price of $25.00 per share during a five-year exercise period (“Warrants”). Two-thirds of the Warrants were immediately exercisable while the remaining Warrants will become exercisable upon Generate Capital satisfying certain funding conditions. The exercise price and the number of shares issuable upon exercise of the Warrants are subject to adjustment in the event of a recapitalization, stock dividend or similar event.
The Company recorded the $7.4 million fair value of the Warrants upon issuance as permanent equity within additional paid-in capital on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets and is not required to subsequently record changes in fair value as long as the Warrants continue to be classified within stockholders' equity. Additionally, since the Warrants were provided in exchange for an investment in the Joint Venture, the Company recorded the cost of its investment based on the fair value of the Warrants upon issuance, which increased the balance of equity investment in affiliate on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets by a corresponding $7.4 million. No other activity was recorded relating to the Joint Venture during the three and six month periods ended March 30, 2024.
The text of this filing, as the company filed it with the SEC, without its images or exhibits. This is not investment advice.