Fear & Loading: Financial Moves at Vista Outdoor

by
posted on December 31, 2018
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **
vista.jpg

On Dec. 21, the Global Legal Chronicle reported Vista Outdoor—parent company of Federal Premium, CCI, Savage Arms, RCBS, Bushnell and many others in the firearm industry—recently secured a $40 million, second-lien term loan from Great American Capital Partners Finance. The news broke exactly a month after ABL (Asset-Based Lending) Adviser ran a story that detailed Vista entering, “…into new credit facilities consisting of a (a) $450,000,000 senior secured asset-based revolving credit facility, comprised of $20,000,000 in first-in, last-out (FILO) revolving credit commitments and $430,000,000 in non-FILO revolving credit commitments, (b) $109,343,000 senior secured asset-based term loan facility and (c) $40,000,000 junior secured term loan facility.” Maturity date of the latter agreement is Nov. 18, 2023.

The developments should have little or no effect on firearm enthusiasts. Vista Outdoor is publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange, which makes the news important to executives and investors in the financial sector. It does, however, indicate the experts aren’t letting the “new norm” reflected in NICS background checks dampen their long-term economic forecast for the gun industry.  

Zacks Investment research predicted earlier this month, for example, that Vista Outdoor will report $505.44 million in sales for the current quarter, down 13 percent from the same period in 2017. Only two days later, the Fairfield Current detailed Laurion Capital Management’s purchase of Vista stock worth $196,000 (10,953 shares). The story also detailed other financial funds buying or adding to their holdings in the company, with Bank of Montreal Can increasing its investment by 262.4 percent, ClariVest Asset Management put in another $224,000 during the second quarter and United Services Automobile Association bought in during the third quarter with a new stake valued at $234,000).

November’s NICS checks indicate gun sales were down nearly 10 percent compared to the same month in 2017, although the figures show some interesting trends that have attracted the attention of investors.

 

 

 

Latest

Taurus Expedition Rifleman Review 1
Taurus Expedition Rifleman Review 1

Rifleman Review: Taurus Expedition

Taurus entered the bolt-action rifle market with its Expedition, a Remington 700-pattern design that's built to be versatile and affordable.

New For 2025: Charter Arms Pathfinder II

Charter Arms updated one of the oldest models in its lineup with the new Pathfinder II, which features a lightweight 7075 aluminum frame, making it more well-balanced and easier to carry.

Review: Kimber 2K11

The 2011-style pistol was designed to address the capacity limitations of the single-stack M1911 platform, and Kimber's approach to the concept is its 2K11, a competition-ready offering with several notable features.

Favorite Firearms: A High-Flying Hi-Standard “A-D”

Manufactured in New Haven, Conn., in late 1940, this Hi-Standard pistol was shipped as a Model “A,” but a heavier Model “D” barrel was installed later to replace the original, light barrel, leading one American Rifleman reader to call it a Model “A-D.”

Ruger Helps Families In Need Through The Kids & Clays Foundation

In the effort to help tens of thousands of critically ill children and their families across the nation through local Ronald McDonald Houses, Ruger is among some of the industry’s foremost Platinum-level sponsors of The Kids & Clays Foundation.

Unlocking The Future: Smith & Wesson's "No Lock" Revolvers

The future is shaping up to be a good one for fans of Smith & Wesson revolvers. The iconic American company had released 14 new models thus far in 2025 at the time this was written mid-year. And, with one exception, they have all shared a common feature—no internal lock.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.