Wolverine Worldwide Provides Update on Actions to Optimize Capital Structure

Rhea-AI Summary

Wolverine World Wide, Inc. (NYSE: WWW) has successfully raised $550 million through the issuance of 4.000% Senior Notes due 2029. The proceeds were utilized to redeem all outstanding 5.000% Senior Notes due 2026 and 6.375% Senior Notes due 2025, which will save the company approximately $9.5 million in annual interest expenses. CFO Mike Stornant highlighted that the firm's strong cash flow and positive future outlook enabled this advantageous refinancing. The company is now well-positioned to continue investing in its growing performance brands, including Merrell and Saucony.

Positive

• Raised $550 million through 4.000% Senior Notes due 2029.
• Annual interest savings of approximately $9.5 million from refinancing.
• Strong cash flow supports favorable refinancing terms.
• Enhanced liquidity and flexibility in capital structure.

Negative

• None.

ROCKFORD, Mich.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Wolverine World Wide, Inc. (NYSE: WWW) (the “Company”) today provided an update on actions it has taken to increase the liquidity and flexibility of its capital structure, primarily through the sale of $550 million of 4.000% Senior Notes due 2029 (the “Notes”), which closed today. The Company used the net proceeds from the sale of the Notes, together with borrowings under its amended senior credit facility, to redeem all of its outstanding 5.000% Senior Notes due 2026 and 6.375% Senior Notes due 2025 and to pay all related fees and expenses.

“The Company’s consistently strong cash flow over the last several years has resulted in a very healthy balance sheet,” said Mike Stornant, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. “This performance, coupled with our positive outlook for the future, has allowed us to access the high-yield credit market at an opportune time and achieve a very favorable outcome. The recent bond refinancing actions will deliver annual interest expense savings of approximately $9.5 million that will benefit us immediately. The new notes also provide longer tenor. We are well positioned to continue to invest in driving profitable growth, especially for our fast-growing performance brands, led by Merrell, Saucony, and Sweaty Betty.”

ABOUT WOLVERINE WORLDWIDE

Founded in 1883 on the belief in the possibility of opportunity, Wolverine World Wide, Inc. (NYSE:WWW) is one of the world’s leading marketers and licensors of branded casual, active lifestyle, work, outdoor sport, athletic, children's and uniform footwear and apparel. Through a diverse portfolio of highly recognized brands, our products are designed to empower, engage and inspire our consumers every step of the way. The company’s portfolio includes Sweaty Betty®, Merrell®, Saucony®, Sperry®, Hush Puppies®, Wolverine®, Keds®, Chaco®, Bates®, HYTEST®, and Stride Rite®. Wolverine Worldwide is also the global footwear licensee of the popular brands Cat® and Harley-Davidson®. Based in Rockford, Michigan, for more than 130 years, the company's products are carried by leading retailers in the U.S. and globally in approximately 170 countries and territories. For additional information, please visit our website, www.wolverineworldwide.com or visit us on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This press release contains forward-looking statements, including statements regarding the Company’s expected annual interest expense savings and future investment in driving profitable growth. In addition, words such as “estimates,” “anticipates,” “believes,” “forecasts,” “step,” “plans,” “predicts,” “focused,” “projects,” “outlook,” “is likely,” “expects,” “intends,” “should,” “will,” “confident,” variations of such words, and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve certain risks, uncertainties, and assumptions (“Risk Factors”) that are difficult to predict with regard to timing, extent, likelihood, and degree of occurrence. Risk Factors include, among others: the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Company’s business, operations, financial results and liquidity, including the duration and magnitude of such effects, which will depend on numerous evolving factors that the Company cannot currently accurately predict or assess, including: the duration and scope of the pandemic; the negative impact on global and regional markets, economies and economic activity, including the duration and magnitude of its impact on unemployment rates, consumer discretionary spending and levels of consumer confidence; actions governments, businesses and individuals take in response to the pandemic; the effects of the pandemic, including all of the foregoing, on the Company’s distributors, manufacturers, suppliers, joint venture partners, wholesale customers and other counterparties, and how quickly economies and demand for the Company’s products recover after the pandemic subsides; changes in general economic conditions, employment rates, business conditions, interest rates, tax policies and other factors affecting consumer spending in the markets and regions in which the Company’s products are sold; the inability for any reason to effectively compete in global footwear, apparel and consumer-direct markets; the inability to maintain positive brand images and anticipate, understand and respond to changing footwear and apparel trends and consumer preferences; the inability to effectively manage inventory levels; increases or changes in duties, tariffs, quotas or applicable assessments in countries of import and export; foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations; currency restrictions; supply chain or other capacity constraints, production disruptions, quality issues, price increases or other risks associated with foreign sourcing; the cost and availability of raw materials, inventories, services and labor for contract manufacturers; labor disruptions; changes in relationships with, including the loss of, significant wholesale customers; risks related to the significant investment in, and performance of, the Company’s consumer-direct operations; risks related to expansion into new markets and complementary product categories; the impact of seasonality and unpredictable weather conditions; changes in general economic conditions and/or the credit markets on the Company’s distributors, suppliers and retailers; increases in the Company’s effective tax rates; failure of licensees or distributors to meet planned annual sales goals or to make timely payments to the Company; the risks of doing business in developing countries, and politically or economically volatile areas; the ability to secure and protect owned intellectual property or use licensed intellectual property; the impact of regulation, regulatory and legal proceedings and legal compliance risks, including compliance with federal, state and local laws and regulations relating to the protection of the environment, environmental remediation and other related costs, and litigation or other legal proceedings relating to the protection of the environment or environmental effects on human health; the potential breach of the Company’s databases or other systems, or those of its vendors, which contain certain personal information, payment card data or proprietary information, due to cyberattack or other similar events; problems affecting the Company’s supply chain or distribution system, including service interruptions at shipping and receiving ports; strategic actions, including new initiatives and ventures, acquisitions and dispositions, and the Company’s success in integrating acquired businesses, and implementing new initiatives and ventures, including the Company’s acquisition of the Sweaty Betty brand; the risk of impairment to goodwill and other intangibles; changes in future pension funding requirements and pension expenses; and additional factors discussed in the Company’s reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and exhibits thereto. The foregoing Risk Factors, as well as other existing Risk Factors and new Risk Factors that emerge from time to time, may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements. Given these or other risks and uncertainties, investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements as a prediction of actual results. Furthermore, the Company undertakes no obligation to update, amend, or clarify forward-looking statements.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210826005643/en/

Michael D. Stornant

(616) 866-5728

Source: Wolverine World Wide, Inc.

FAQ

What is Wolverine World Wide's recent capital raise amount?

Wolverine World Wide raised $550 million through the sale of Senior Notes.

How much annual interest expense will Wolverine save after refinancing?

Wolverine will save approximately $9.5 million in annual interest expenses.

When are the notes issued by Wolverine due?

The 4.000% Senior Notes issued by Wolverine are due in 2029.

What will the proceeds from the Senior Notes be used for?

The proceeds will be used to redeem outstanding Senior Notes and pay related fees.

Which brands does Wolverine World Wide plan to invest in after refinancing?

Wolverine plans to invest in its fast-growing performance brands, including Merrell and Saucony.