Sears Holdings Corporation announced that it delivered meaningful improvement in operating performance for the fourth quarter of 2016, and outlined important actions to drive profitability. These include steps to enhance the Company's liquidity and financial flexibility, as well as a strategic restructuring program intended to streamline operations, further improve operating performance and target cost reductions of at least $1.0 billion on an annualized basis.
On February 10, 2017, the Company entered into an agreement to amend its existing asset-based credit facility. The amendment provides a $140 million increase to available borrowing capacity under its revolver as compared to availability reported at the end of the third quarter of 2016. Sears Holdings concluded the fourth quarter of 2016 with no borrowings and $464 million of letters of credit outstanding, against its asset-based credit facility. The amendment provides immediate additional liquidity and financial flexibility to the Company.
Edward S. Lampert, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Sears Holdings, said, "We significantly improved our operating performance and made progress toward profitability in the fourth quarter of 2016. In the first several weeks of 2017, we undertook a series of transactions to optimize our capital structure and unlock value across our wide range of assets. We also reached an agreement to amend our asset-based credit facility which further enhances our liquidity and financial flexibility. Furthermore, we intend to use net proceeds from our announced Craftsman and real estate transactions, as well as from improvements in the operating performance of the Company, to meaningfully reduce our outstanding obligations and their associated expenses.
"To build on our positive momentum, today we are initiating a fundamental restructuring of our operations that targets at least $1.0 billion in cost savings on annualized basis, as well as improves our operating performance. To capture these savings, we plan to reduce our corporate overhead, more closely integrate our Sears and Kmart operations and improve our merchandising, supply chain and inventory management.
"We believe the actions outlined today will reduce our overall cash funding requirements and ensure that Sears Holdings becomes a more agile and competitive retailer with a clear path toward profitability. In addition, we believe these actions will enable us to focus our investments to drive our strategic transformation and the evolution of our Shop Your Way ecosystem through value enhancing partnerships, compelling offerings and a seamless online and in-store shopping experience for our members," Mr. Lampert concluded.
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