DOW JONES NEWSWIRES 
 

Struggling railroad-supply company Greenbrier Cos. (GBX) will get a $75 million term loan from distressed-asset investor WL Ross & Co. and has reduced by nearly two-thirds its North American revolving credit line, terms on which have been dramatically eased.

Earlier this year, Greenbrier halved its dividend and announced cost-cutting measures to help improve liquidity. But railcar demand has continued to soften, and the company has been looking to conserve cash amid an industry downturn that is projected to last into next year. Its credit ratings have suffered amid worries that weakening demand might hinder its ability to meet its financial covenants.

Greenbrier has also been diversifying into less cyclical businesses, including refurbishment and parts, leasing and services, and marine manufacturing. More than half of the company's revenue in its latest fiscal year came from outside railcar production.

Greenbrier said Thursday it would use the three-year loan from WL Ross to pay down debt and use for future growth. If Greenbrier and WL Ross agree, the loan could increase to $150 million.

In connection with the loan, Greenbrier has issued warrants to WL Ross to purchase 3.4 million shares, which would be a 17% stake, with a $6 strike price. That is a 25% discount to Wednesday's closing price. Despite nearly tripling in the last three months, the stock is still off 65% in the last year.

In addition, WL Ross will also buy at least $1.5 million in stock; Greenbrier's market value is about $137 million.

WL Ross is controlled by billionaire investor Wilbur Ross, who last month made a foray into U.S. banking by picking up a large piece of BankUnited Financial Corp. (BKUNA). WL Ross is an affiliate of money-management giant Invesco Ltd. (IVZ).

Meanwhile, Greenbrier cut back the size of its revolving- credit facility to $100 million from $290 million and amended some of its financial covenants to be "significantly more accommodative." The company said it has nothing drawn on the revolving facility, and doesn't expect to draw on it until it sees an upturn in the economy and market demand.

The company said the next maturity of any "significant" debt is in May 2013.

-By Kerry E. Grace, Dow Jones Newswires; 201-938-5089; kerry.grace@dowjones.com