GOSHEN, Ind.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Supreme Industries, Inc. (NYSE MKT: STS), a leading manufacturer of specialized commercial vehicles including truck bodies, trolleys, armored and specialty vehicles, today announced that it intends to divest its shuttle-bus business.
Supreme’s core business of manufacturing and selling customized truck bodies has recently undergone successful facilities and manufacturing upgrades resulting in enhanced operating efficiencies and margins for these products. Shuttle bus products currently represent less than 12% of the Company’s consolidated sales and had a materially adverse impact on consolidated earnings in 2013. The divestiture is intended to further expand profit margins on a consolidated basis.
“As a proportion of revenue mix, bus products have represented a declining percentage of our sales and shuttle buses, in particular, have failed to meet profitability objectives,” said President and Chief Executive Officer Mark Weber. “This action allows us to concentrate on markets where we can maximize future returns for shareholders and eliminate the substantial drag on earnings from the shuttle bus business.”
“We remain committed to the trolley business,” he added. “Furthermore, to avoid disruptions for our shuttle-bus customers, we plan to assist the future owners with a swift and orderly transition. This approach will optimize the value of the business and benefit all constituents including the new owners, customers and employees.”
Additional information will be provided when the Company releases its fourth-quarter and full-year 2013 financial results in February.
About Supreme Industries
Supreme Industries, Inc. (NYSE
MKT: STS), is a nationwide manufacturer of specialized truck bodies
produced to the specifications of its customers. Supreme also
manufactures armored vehicles and trolleys. The Company's transportation
equipment products are used by a wide variety of industrial, commercial
and law enforcement customers.
News releases and other information on the Company are available on the Internet at: http://www.supremeind.com or http://www.b2i.us/irpass.asp?BzID=1482&to=ea&s=0.
Other than historical facts contained herein, the matters set forth in this news release are “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act, as amended, and reflect the view of management with respect to future events. When used in this report, words such as “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “intend,” “plan” and similar expressions, as they relate to Supreme or its plans or operations, identify forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements are based on assumptions made by, and information currently available to, management. Although management believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, and it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from such expectations include, without limitation, an economic slowdown in the specialized vehicle industry, limitations on the availability of chassis on which Supreme’s product is dependent, availability of raw materials, raw material cost increases and severe interest rate increases. Furthermore, Supreme can provide no assurance that any raw material cost increases can be passed on to its customers through implementation of price increases for Supreme’s products. The forward-looking statements contained herein reflect the current view of management with respect to future events and are subject to those factors and other risks, uncertainties and assumptions relating to the operations, results of operations, cash flows and financial position of Supreme. Supreme assumes no obligation to update the forward-looking statements or to update the reasons actual results could differ from those contemplated by such forward-looking statements.
