Barnes & Noble Education ‘believes it can drive meaningful operating’ FCF

The company said, “Barnes & Noble Education is focused on driving material improvements in its profitability and further improving its already strong financial foundation. Management is working on simplifying its operations to better focus on its core physical and virtual bookstore businesses. Go-forward savings from recently completed and in-progress initiatives are now estimated at over $20 million. The Company recently completed a $40 million At-the-Market sales agreement with BTIG, LLC. The proceeds of this capital raise will reduce go-forward annual interest expense by nearly $4 million per year, reduce risk, accelerate our ability to win new customers, and enhance our strategic and balance sheet optionality. In the medium-term, management is seeking to reduce annual interest expenses to around $10 million or less. The Company’s budget goals continue to target a material improvement in fiscal year 2025 GAAP operating results and Adjusted EBITDA versus last year. Based on current estimates of capital expenditures and significantly reduced interest costs from last fiscal year, BNED believes it can drive meaningful operating free cash flow, which will be used to further de-lever its balance sheet.”