Financial Performance - Total net sales for the three months ended December 30, 2023, were 317.66million,a34.7235.73 million for the same period in 2022[106]. - Gross profit for the three months ended December 30, 2023, was 63.56million,comparedto7.46 million for the same period in 2022, indicating a significant improvement[113]. - Operating profit for the three months ended December 30, 2023, was 37.96million,aturnaroundfromanoperatinglossof9.38 million in the same period last year[113]. - Net income for the three months ended December 30, 2023, was 26.15million,comparedtoanetlossof11.29 million for the same period in 2022[113]. - Shipping and handling revenues increased to 4.7millionforthethreemonthsendedDecember30,2023,upfrom4.3 million in the same period of 2022[101]. Debt and Financing - Blue Bird executed a 250millionfive−yearcreditagreementwithBankofMontreal,includinga100 million term loan facility and a 150millionrevolvingcreditfacility[80][81].−AsofDecember30,2023,thecompanyhad98.5 million in term loan borrowings, down from 130.3millionasofSeptember30,2023[93].−Theweighted−averageannualeffectiveinterestratesfortermloanswere9.93.63 million, down from 4.20millioninthesameperiodof2022[113].OperationalChallenges−Supplychaindisruptionscontinuedintothefirstquarteroffiscal2024,impactingthenumberofschoolbusesproducedandsold,aswellasincreasingmanufacturingcosts[77].−ThecompanyfacedchallengesduetotheCOVID−19pandemicandRussia′sinvasionofUkraine,whichnegativelyimpactedoperationsandcashflows[76][78].RevenueExpectations−Thecompanyexpectstorecognizeapproximately7.1 million in revenue during fiscal 2024 from federal funds awarded for zero and low emission school buses under the U.S. Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act[99]. Inventory and Liabilities - Total inventories as of December 30, 2023, were 142.46million,anincreasefrom135.29 million as of September 30, 2023[124]. - Total accrued self-insurance liability as of December 30, 2023, was 6.40million,slightlyupfrom6.25 million as of September 30, 2023[100]. Taxation - The effective tax rate for the three months ended December 31, 2022, was 20.8%, aligning closely with the statutory federal income tax rate of 21%[104]. Pension and Accounting - The company reported a net periodic pension benefit expense of 36,000forthethreemonthsendedDecember30,2023,comparedto178,000 for the same period in 2022[79]. - The company plans to provide updated disclosures required by new accounting standards in the periods they become effective[123]. Market Position - The company is recognized as a leader in alternative powered school buses, including propane, gasoline, and all-electric options[75]. - The company has taken periodic pricing actions to ensure that sales prices for buses keep pace with increased costs of inventory procurement[77].