Armstrong announces WAVE refinancing

Flooring and ceiling products manufacturer Armstrong World Industries announced this morning the completion of a refinancing and a special dividend payment  by WAVE, its 50% joint venture with Worthington Industries.

Under the deal, WAVE executed a $225 million three-year revolving credit agreement and a $50 million ten-year private placement bond. Proceeds of the transaction were used to repay WAVE's previous credit agreement, as well as to pay $50 million special dividends to each of WAVE's parent companies, Armstrong and Worthington.

"This is a good development for all parties involved," said Armstrong CEO Tom Mangas. "WAVE was able to refinance at a time of historically low interest rates and lock in its capital structure at a modest level of leverage, and the parent companies were able to realize the benefit of WAVE's continued success in the form of the special dividend." 

Primarily as a result of the special WAVE dividend, Armstrong is revising its free cash flow guidance range for 2011 to an estimate of $150 million to $175 million, up from its previous guidance range estimate of $80 million to $120 million.