- Accelerates Wabash National’s organic growth in the approximately $2.0B final mile equipment segment
- Builds on Supreme’s 43-year heritage of truck body manufacturing and customer service, with Wabash National adding new technologies and innovation, manufacturing optimization and cost synergies
- Larger manufacturing footprint and diverse portfolio better serves customers of both companies
- Accretive in first full calendar year after close
- Delivers on Wabash National’s strategic plan to diversify the business
LAFAYETTE and GOSHEN, Ind. - Lafayette, Ind.-based Wabash National Corporation (NYSE: WNC), a diversified industrial manufacturer and North America’s leading producer of semi-trailers and liquid transportation systems, and Goshen, Ind.-based Supreme Industries, Inc. (NYSE MKT: STS), a leading manufacturer of truck bodies, announced that they have entered into a definitive agreement under which Wabash National would acquire all of the outstanding shares of Supreme in a cash tender offer for $21 per share, which represents an equity value of $364 million and an enterprise value of $342 million.
Founded in 1974, Supreme is the second largest U.S. manufacturer of truck bodies with 2016 sales of $299 million. The company primarily manufactures light- and medium-duty truck bodies at seven facilities throughout the United States.
“Wabash National has been closely monitoring the transportation landscape as the growth of e- commerce has continued to change the logistics model,” said Dick Giromini, Wabash National’s chief executive officer. “We formally entered the final mile space in 2015 with the launch of our dry and refrigerated truck bodies, and we have been aggressively growing our presence and product offering over the past two years. This acquisition supports these efforts and accelerates our objective to transform our business into a more diversified industrial manufacturer.”
The acquisition will combine Supreme’s extensive medium- and light-duty commercial vehicle portfolio, distribution network, and regional manufacturing locations with Wabash National’s advanced composite technologies, expertise in lean manufacturing and optimization, engineering and design proficiency and strong supplier relationships.
Supreme provides Wabash National with significant growth and diversification benefits, in line with the company’s long-term strategic plan, including reduced dependence on dry van trailer demand, reduced cyclicality and new segments for growth.
Wabash National intends to build upon Supreme’s industry leadership, distributed manufacturing and installed sales force capacity to accelerate its successful organic truck body growth initiative, while preserving Supreme’s heritage of excellence in serving customers.
“This is a great opportunity for both companies to combine our strengths to provide an enhanced customer experience within the growing final mile delivery space,” Giromini added. “With Supreme, not only can Wabash National accelerate organic growth with our innovative DuraPlate®, honeycomb panel and molded structural composite (MSC) truck bodies, we can also provide a broader conventional product offering to our existing customer base.”
Wabash National expects to deliver at least $20 million in annual run-rate cost synergies by 2021. The expected cost synergies are primarily driven by corporate and procurement expenditures, and operational improvement savings. In addition, over time, Wabash National expects to achieve significant incremental revenue opportunities that neither company could obtain on a standalone basis.
Supreme Industries’ Chief Executive Officer Mark Weber commented, “This is an exciting day for Supreme. Combining with Wabash will enhance our ability to innovate more quickly and create more value for customers. We found a cultural fit with Wabash National. Because of their commitment to safety, innovation and customer relationships, I’m confident joining the Wabash National family will benefit our employees, customers and distributors.”
