YRC Worldwide Receives $700 Million Federal Loan Package
Less-than-truckload carrier YRC Worldwide Inc. received a $700 million federal loan in exchange for a nearly 30% share of the company.
The U.S. Department of Treasury announced July 1 that it had reached an agreement with YRC on June 30 to receive a 29.6% equity stake in the company in connection with the loan under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.
Treasury said it decided on the loan based on a certification by the Secretary of Defense that YRC is critical to maintaining national security.
“We are pleased for Treasury to make this loan pursuant to the CARES Act,” Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said. “This loan will enable a critical vendor to the Department of Defense to maintain significant employment while providing appropriate compensation to taxpayers.”
The $700 million is broken down into two $350 million loans that mature Sept. 30, 2024. The interest rate is 3.5%.
Overland Park, Kan.-based YRC said the loan will provide a shot in the arm to its long-term recovery plan.
“We would like to thank Congress for passing the CARES Act and the U.S. Department of the Treasury for providing this vital funding, which recognizes the essential role YRCW plays in the nation’s supply chain,” CEO Darren Hawkins said in a statement. “Through our work with over 200,000 customers, including being a leading transportation provider for the Departments of Defense, Energy, Homeland Security, and Customs and Border Protection, YRCW’s freight professionals have developed a deep understanding of, and expertise in, the importance of a secure and reliable supply chain.”
In April, Hawkins was appointed to the President Donald Trump’s Great American Economic Revival task force.
Half of the $700 million is designated to be spent by YRC to repay recently deferred health, welfare and pension plans, which support its 24,000 employees who belong to the International Brotherhood of Teamsters. This also will include paying money to the Central States Pension fund, of which YRC is the largest contributor.
The other $350 million will be used by the company to upgrade its aging tractor-trailer fleet.
According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, YRC has 7,522 tractors and 9,100 drivers.
Treasury said the agreement for the loan “will also include certain provisions to maintain employment levels and limit executive compensation, dividends and share repurchases.”
The company said its less-than-truckload volume dropped 5.3% in January, 2.4% in February, 11.3% in March and 23.9% in April. The declines resulted from plunging economic activity created by states ordering people to shelter in place to slow the spread of COVID-19.
In a Securities and Exchange Commission filing earlier this year, YRC said it was implementing cost-cutting measures, including reduction of capital expenditures, temporary deferrals of operating lease payments, union health and welfare payments, and contributions to its nonunion and multi-employer pension plans.
Hawkins said the fresh infusion of money will be a big boost to the company’s revival.
“Our 30,000 employees have continued to serve hundreds of quarantined communities across the country during the pandemic, and this financial assistance will enable us to bridge this pandemic-related crisis and continue to provide essential shipping services for the nation’s supply chain,” he said. “The funding will also enable us to continue successfully implementing our multiyear strategic plan to transform our five powerful brands to operate as one company, one network to better serve our customers and the nation’s supply chain as economic recovery takes hold.”
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YRC Worldwide is the holding company for regional LTL carriers Holland, New Penn, Reddaway and YRC Freight, along with logistics company HNRY Logistics.
In the first quarter, YRC said its net income was $4.3 million, or 12 cents per diluted share, compared with a loss of $49.1 million, or negative $1.48 per diluted share, in the same period a year earlier. Revenue fell 2.5% to $1.15 billion from $1.18 billion.
YRC has unveiled various restructuring plans over the past 10 years, obtaining significant concessions from the Teamsters when it came to salaries, in exchange for more say in how the company operates, including equity shares in the company and two seats on the board of directors. The company also has shed various divisions to raise cash and have more liquidity.
These efforts included divesting non-LTL offerings.
In 2009, YRC unloaded its dedicated unit, and
in 2010, the company sold a stake in its logistics operations to a private equity company.
In 2011, the carrier sold its truckload operations, Glen Moore, to now-defunct Celadon, and
in 2012, YRC sold its stake in Chinese TL and LTL operator Shanghai Jiayu Logistics to its joint venture partner.
YRC had $879.9 million of outstanding debt at the end of the first quarter, a decrease of $4.6 million from the same period a year earlier.
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