Wabash National Corporation Enhances Indirect Distribution Channel with Retail Segment Realignment and Consolidation

LAFAYETTE, Ind., June 22, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Wabash National Corporation WNC, a diversified industrial manufacturer and North America's leading producer of semi-trailers and liquid transportation systems, announced today it is realigning its Retail segment under Commercial Trailer Products and Diversified Products, in conjunction with transitioning a company-owned retail store to an independent dealer.

Dick Giromini, president and chief executive officer, explained, "We have made great strides in our ongoing efforts to transform Wabash National into a diversified industrial manufacturer to reduce cyclicality, improve profitability and drive higher growth. The decision to strategically realign and consolidate our retail locations and transition a company-owned store to an independent dealer will further these efforts and allow us to expand upon an already impressive network of independent dealers."

Wabash National Trailer Centers in Ohio, Pennsylvania, Florida, Colorado and Texas will become part of the Commercial Trailer Products segment, while the Brenner Tank Services locations in Wisconsin, Illinois, Arkansas, Kentucky, Louisiana and Texas will join the Diversified Products segment.

"We believe this change in segment structure provides enhanced alignment between our business segments and their channel partners while supporting our strategic objective to grow the areas of our business that offer the most attractive margins and returns on invested capital," added Mr. Giromini.

Mark Weber, group president of Diversified Products, commented, "This move will enable our tank trailer business to provide full service and aftermarket support to its Beall®, Brenner®, Bulk and Walker customers.  The tank parts and service business model complements our existing businesses as well as delivers attractive margins in a capital-efficient manner."

In addition to realigning the Retail segment, Wabash National has finalized an agreement with Portland-based TEC Equipment, Inc. to provide sales, parts and service for Wabash National®, Transcraft® and Benson® brand trailers in Arizona, New Mexico and portions of Idaho. During July 2016, the Wabash National Trailer Center in Phoenix, Arizona, will be transitioned to an independent dealer facility operated by TEC Equipment.

"This latest agreement with TEC Equipment is one more step in executing our strategic growth plan to further enhance the indirect distribution channel as we expand access and service in the western United States," explained Brent Yeagy, group president of Commercial Trailer Products.

Mr. Yeagy continued, "This agreement was a natural follow-up to the successful transition of three former branch locations in Oregon and California to TEC Equipment in 2014. TEC Equipment has proven to be a best-in-class dealer that provides excellent service to our mutual customers and a business partner that represents the Wabash brand very well."

"We have demonstrated over the past several years that we are committed to optimizing business results," Mr. Giromini added. "We continually focus our efforts to grow margins, strengthen the balance sheet and create shareholder value."

As a result of the realignment, the former Retail segment will no longer be reported as a separate business segment in Wabash National's financial statements. Wabash National will begin reporting the realigned segments effective with its second quarter 2016 Form 10-Q filed with the Securities Exchange Commission. For additional information on Wabash National's reporting segments as they will be presented, see the table following this release for unaudited operating results for the three- and twelve-month periods ending December 31, 2015 and 2014, as well as the three-month period ending March 31, 2016. 

About Wabash National Corporation
Headquartered in Lafayette, Indiana, Wabash National Corporation WNC is a diversified industrial manufacturer and North America's leading producer of semi-trailers and liquid transportation systems. Established in 1985, the company manufactures a diverse range of products including: dry freight and refrigerated trailers, platform trailers, bulk tank trailers, dry and refrigerated truck bodies, truck-mounted tanks, intermodal equipment, aircraft refueling equipment, structural composite panels and products, trailer aerodynamic solutions, and specialty food grade and pharmaceutical equipment. Its innovative products are sold under the following brand names: Wabash National®, Beall®, Benson®, Brenner® Tank, Bulk Tank International, DuraPlate®, Extract Technology®, Garsite, Progress Tank, Transcraft®, Walker Engineered Products, and Walker Transport. Visit www.wabashnational.com to learn more.

Safe Harbor Statement
This press release contains certain forward-looking statements as defined by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements convey the Company's current expectations or forecasts of future events. All statements contained in this press release other than statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements include, among other things, statements about ongoing efforts to transform Wabash National into a diversified industrial manufacturer to reduce cyclicality, improve profitability and drive higher growth, statements regarding the effect of the segment realignment to enable our tank trailer business to provide full service and aftermarket support to its Beall®, Brenner®, Bulk and Walker customers and our other statements about our growth and diversification strategies.  These and the Company's other forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those implied by the forward-looking statements. Without limitation, these risks and uncertainties include the uncertain economic conditions including the possibility that customer demand may not meet our expectations, increased competition, reliance on certain customers and corporate partnerships, risks of customer pick-up delays, shortages and costs of raw materials, risks in implementing and sustaining improvements in the Company's manufacturing capacity and cost containment, dependence on industry trends and timing and costs of indebtedness.  Readers should review and consider the various disclosures made by the Company in this press release and in the Company's reports to its stockholders and periodic reports on Forms 10-K and 10-Q.