TBC Corporation Completes Acquisition of National Tire & Battery From Sears
December 01 2003 - 9:08AM
PR Newswire (US)
TBC Corporation Completes Acquisition of National Tire &
Battery From Sears MEMPHIS, Tenn., Dec. 1 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ --
TBC Corporation , one of the nation's largest marketers of
automotive replacement tires, today announced that it has completed
its previously announced acquisition of National Tire & Battery
("NTB") from Sears, Roebuck and Co. . Through 225 retail tire and
automotive centers in 20 states, NTB currently generates annual
revenues in excess of $425 million. With the acquisition of NTB,
TBC increases its store count by approximately 25% to over 1,160
locations. NTB provides TBC entry into new markets including
Dallas, Houston, Austin, Chicago, Birmingham, Boston, Kansas City,
Philadelphia and Pittsburgh while strengthening the Company's
presence in markets such as Cleveland and Columbus, Ohio and the
Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. The acquired stores will be
integrated into TBC's Tire Kingdom company-operated retail store
network, which will now total over 585 locations. TBC also has over
570 franchised tire and automotive service centers under the "Big O
Tires" name. Larry Day, TBC President and CEO, stated, "In addition
to substantially increasing our store count and expanding our
national reach, this acquisition provides us with an excellent
opportunity to drive both private brand and major brand tire sales
and significantly increase purchasing economies. We welcome all of
our new associates to the TBC team and look forward to partnering
with Sears over the next six-to-eight months to ensure a smooth
transition of NTB's distribution and store support functions away
from Sears and into the Tire Kingdom network." The $225 million
all-cash transaction was financed through debt and sale/leaseback
agreements arranged by JP Morgan. TBC's existing credit facilities
were amended to allow for the acquisition as well as an additional
$65 million term loan. Of the acquired NTB locations, 89 were
properties owned by NTB. Through agreements with Realty Income
Corporation, substantially all of the previously owned locations
were sold and leased back, with resulting net proceeds to TBC of
approximately $134 million. The NTB acquisition is not anticipated
to have any material impact on 2003 results but is expected to be
accretive to earnings in 2004. TBC's management team is currently
finalizing 2004 business plans for its various operating units and
will issue a news release on December 15, 2003 regarding the
Company's financial outlook for 2004 and the anticipated
contribution from the acquired NTB stores. It will also host a
conference call on December 15, 2003 at 11:00 a.m. Eastern time /
10:00 a.m. Central time, which will be Webcast at TBC's Web site at
http://www.tbccorp.com/. The Webcast will be archived at TBC's Web
site until January 15, 2004. About TBC: TBC Corporation is one of
the nation's largest marketers of automotive replacement tires
through a multi-channel strategy. The Company's retail operations
include company-operated retail centers under the "Tire Kingdom",
"Merchant's Tire & Auto Centers" and "National Tire &
Battery" brands and franchised retail tire stores under the "Big O
Tires" brand. TBC markets on a wholesale basis to regional tire
chains and distributors serving independent tire dealers throughout
the United States and in Canada and Mexico. The Company's
proprietary brands of tires have a longstanding reputation for
quality, safety and value. TBC Corporation Safe Harbor Statement
This document contains "forward-looking statements," as that term
is defined under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of
1995, regarding expectations for future financial performance,
which involve uncertainty and risk. It is possible that the
Company's future financial performance may differ from expectations
due to a variety of factors including, but not limited to: changes
in economic and business conditions in the world; increased
competitive activity; consolidation within and among both
competitors, suppliers and customers; unexpected changes in the
replacement tire market; the Company's inability to attract as many
new franchisees or open as many distribution outlets as stated in
its goals; changes in the Company's ability to identify and acquire
additional companies in the replacement tire industry and
successfully integrate acquisitions and achieve anticipated
synergies or savings; fluctuations in tire prices charged by
manufacturers, including fluctuations due to changes in raw
material and energy prices, changes in interest and foreign
exchange rates; the cyclical nature of the automotive industry and
the loss of a major customer or program. It is not possible to
foresee or identify all such factors. Any forward- looking
statements in this release are based on certain assumptions and
analyses made by the Company in light of its experience and
perception of historical trends, current conditions, expected
future developments and other factors it believes are appropriate
in the circumstances. Prospective investors are cautioned that any
such statements are not a guarantee of future performance and
actual results or developments may differ materially from those
projected. The Company makes no commitment to update any
forward-looking statement included herein, or to disclose any
facts, events or circumstances that may affect the accuracy of any
forward-looking statement. Additional information on factors that
could potentially affect the Company or its financial results may
be found in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange
Commission. DATASOURCE: TBC Corporation CONTACT: Thomas W. Garvey,
Executive V.P. & Chief Financial Officer of TBC Corporation,
+1-901-363-8030; Investors, Betsy Brod or Jonathan Schaffer, both
of Brod Group, +1-212-750-5800, for TBC Corporation Web site:
http://www.tbccorp.com/
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