BlueLinx Announces Closing of Sale-Leaseback Transaction

Rhea-AI Summary

BlueLinx Holdings (NYSE: BXC) has successfully completed a sale-leaseback transaction involving its Denver distribution facility, generating $10.6 million in net cash proceeds. This transaction, finalized on August 14, 2020, allowed BlueLinx to repay part of its term loan, reducing its balance to approximately $57.8 million. The company will no longer be subject to the total net leverage ratio covenant of the loan, provided the balance stays below $45 million. Management indicates ongoing efforts to monetize real estate assets as part of a broader deleveraging strategy.

Positive

• Generated $10.6 million in net cash from sale-leaseback for debt repayment.
• Reduced term loan balance to approximately $57.8 million.
• Eliminated total net leverage ratio covenant under the term loan facility.

Negative

• None.

MARIETTA, Ga., Aug. 17, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- BlueLinx Holdings Inc. (NYSE: BXC), a leading distributor of building and industrial products in the United States, today announced that it has completed a sale-leaseback transaction for its owned distribution facility in Denver, Colorado, for net cash proceeds of $10.6 million. The transaction closed on August 14, 2020, and as a part of the transaction, the Company entered into a lease agreement for the property with multiple renewal options, demonstrating its long-term commitment to this local market.

Net proceeds from the sale-leaseback transaction were used to repay indebtedness under the Company’s term loan. Following this repayment, the balance of the Company’s term loan was approximately $57.8 million. As previously announced, the Company will no longer be subject to the term loan facility’s total net leverage ratio covenant as long as the principal balance level under the facility is less than $45 million.

Management Commentary

Mitch Lewis, President and Chief Executive Officer, stated, “I am very pleased to announce the closing of this latest sale-leaseback transaction, which generated meaningful net cash proceeds for debt repayment. We remain in active and ongoing discussions on other opportunities to monetize our owned real estate portfolio as we continue to aggressively pursue our deleveraging strategy.”

About BlueLinx Holdings Inc.

BlueLinx (NYSE: BXC) is a leading wholesale distributor of building and industrial products in the United States with over 50,000 branded and private-label SKUs, and a broad distribution footprint servicing 40 states. BlueLinx has a differentiated distribution platform, value-driven business model and extensive cache of products across the building products industry. Headquartered in Marietta, Georgia, BlueLinx has approximately 2,000 associates and distributes its comprehensive range of structural and specialty products to approximately 15,000 national, regional, and local dealers, as well as specialty distributors, national home centers, industrial, and manufactured housing customers. BlueLinx encourages investors to visit its website, www.BlueLinxCo.com, which is updated regularly with financial and other important information about BlueLinx.

Contacts

Kelly C. Janzen, SVP, CFO & Treasurer
BlueLinx Holdings Inc.
(770) 953-7000

Mary Moll, Investor Relations
(866) 671-5138
investor@bluelinxco.com

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements include, without limitation, any statement that predicts, forecasts, indicates or implies future results, performance, liquidity levels or achievements, and may contain the words “believe,” “anticipate,” “expect,” “estimate,” “intend,” “project,” “plan,” “will be,” “will likely continue,” “will likely result” or words or phrases of similar meaning. The forward-looking statements in this press release include statements about discussions regarding opportunities to monetize our owned real estate portfolio.

Forward-looking statements in this press release are based on estimates and assumptions made by our management that, although believed by us to be reasonable, are inherently uncertain. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that may cause our business, strategy, or actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include those listed under the heading “Risk Factors” in Item 1A of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 28, 2019, and those discussed in our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and in our periodic reports filed with the SEC from time to time. We operate in a changing environment in which new risks can emerge from time to time. It is not possible for management to predict all of these risks, nor can it assess the extent to which any factor, or a combination of factors, may cause our business, strategy, or actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements. Factors that may cause these differences include, among other things: the COVID-19 pandemic and other contagious illness outbreaks and their potential effects on our industry, suppliers and supply chain, and customers, and our business, results of operations, cash flows, financial condition, and future prospects; our ability to integrate and realize anticipated synergies from acquisitions; loss of material customers, suppliers, or product lines in connection with acquisitions; operational disruption in connection with the integration of acquisitions; our indebtedness and its related limitations; sufficiency of cash flows and capital resources; our ability to monetize real estate assets; fluctuations in commodity prices; adverse housing market conditions; disintermediation by customers and suppliers; changes in prices, supply and/or demand for our products; inventory management; competitive industry pressures; industry consolidation; product shortages; loss of and dependence on key suppliers and manufacturers; import taxes and costs, including new or increased tariffs, anti-dumping duties, countervailing duties, or similar duties; our ability to successfully implement our strategic initiatives; fluctuations in operating results; sale-leaseback transactions and their effects; real estate leases; changes in interest rates; exposure to product liability claims; our ability to complete offerings under our shelf registration statement on favorable terms, or at all; changes in our product mix; petroleum prices; information technology security and business interruption risks; litigation and legal proceedings; natural disasters and unexpected events; activities of activist stockholders; labor and union matters; limits on net operating loss carryovers; pension plan assumptions and liabilities; risks related to our internal controls; retention of associates and key personnel; federal, state, local and other regulations, including environmental laws and regulations; and changes in accounting principles. Given these risks and uncertainties, we caution you not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. We expressly disclaim any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

FAQ

What was the cash generated from BlueLinx's sale-leaseback transaction?

BlueLinx generated $10.6 million in net cash from the sale-leaseback transaction.

When did BlueLinx complete the sale-leaseback transaction?

BlueLinx completed the sale-leaseback transaction on August 14, 2020.

What is the current balance of BlueLinx's term loan after the sale-leaseback?

After the transaction, the balance of BlueLinx's term loan is approximately $57.8 million.

What are the implications of the sale-leaseback for BlueLinx's debt covenants?

BlueLinx will no longer be subject to the total net leverage ratio covenant as long as the term loan balance remains below $45 million.