sctoviza
UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO
SCHEDULE TO/A
TENDER OFFER STATEMENT
UNDER SECTION 14(d)(1) OR 13(e)(1)
OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
LEAR CORPORATION
(Name of Subject Company (issuer))
LEAR CORPORATION
(Names of Filing Persons (identifying status as offeror, issuer or other person))
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Zero-Coupon Convertible Senior Notes due 2022
(Title of Class of Securities)
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521865 AG 0
(CUSIP Number of Class of Securities) |
Daniel A. Ninivaggi
Senior Vice President, Secretary and General Counsel
Lear Corporation
21557 Telegraph Road
Southfield, Michigan 48034
(248) 447-1500
Copies to:
Bruce A. Toth, Esq.
Winston & Strawn LLP
35 West Wacker Drive
Chicago, Illinois 60601
(312) 558-5600
(Name, Address and Telephone Number of Person Authorized
to Receive Notices and Communications on Behalf of Filing Persons)
CALCULATION OF FILING FEE
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Transaction Valuation* |
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Amount of Filing Fee** |
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$304,000,000 |
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$32,528 |
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* |
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Calculated solely for purposes of determining the filing fee. This amount represents the
value of all outstanding Notes based on the purchase price of $475 per $1,000 principal amount
at maturity (640,000 Notes x $475). |
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** |
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The amount of the filing fee was calculated in accordance with Rule 0-11 of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and equals $107 for each $1,000,000 of the value of the
transaction. |
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Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the
filing with which the offsetting fee was previously paid. Identify the previous filing by
registration statement number, or the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing. |
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Amount Previously Paid:
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$32,528 |
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Filing party:
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Lear Corporation |
Form or Registration No.:
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SC TO-I
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Date Filed:
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May 16, 2006 |
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Check the box if the filing relates solely to preliminary communications made before the
commencement of a tender offer. |
Check the appropriate boxes below to designate any transactions to which the statement relates:
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Third-party tender offer subject to Rule 14d-1
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Issuer tender offer subject to Rule 13e-4. |
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Going-private transaction subject to Rule 13e-3.
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Amendment to Schedule 13D under Rule
13d-2. |
Check the following box if the filing is a final amendment reporting the results of the tender
offer: o
TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTORY STATEMENT
This Amendment No. 1 to Tender Offer Statement on Schedule TO (the Amendment) amends and
supplements the Tender Offer Statement on Schedule TO filed by Lear Corporation (the Company) on
May 16, 2006 (the Schedule TO), pursuant to Section 13(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
as amended. The Schedule TO relates to the Companys offer to purchase for cash any and all
outstanding Zero-Coupon Convertible Senior Notes due 2022 (the Notes), upon the terms and subject
to the conditions set forth in the Offer to Purchase and Consent Solicitation Statement dated May
16, 2006 (the Offer to Purchase) and in the related Consent and Letter of Transmittal, which were
filed with the Schedule TO as Exhibits (a)(1)(A) and (a)(1)(B), respectively. Capitalized terms
used but not defined in this Amendment shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Offer to
Purchase.
The first paragraph under the heading Introductory Statement in the Schedule TO is hereby
amended and restated in its entirety as follows:
This Tender Offer Statement on Schedule TO (Schedule TO) relates to an offer by Lear
Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the Company), to purchase for cash any and all of its
outstanding Zero-Coupon Convertible Senior Notes due 2022 (the Notes) at a purchase price
of $475 per $1,000 principal amount at maturity of Notes plus an amount equal to $0.08 per
$1,000 of principal amount at maturity of the Notes for each day, if any, after June 13, 2006
to, but excluding, the date on which the Notes are purchased.
Item 1. Summary Term Sheet.
Item 1 of Schedule TO, which incorporates by reference the
information contained in the Offer to Purchase under the captions Summary Term Sheet and Answers
to Questions You May Have is hereby amended and supplemented as follows:
(i) The first paragraph under the heading Summary Term Sheet in the Offer to Purchase is
amended and restated in its entirety as follows:
The following summary is provided solely for the convenience of the holders of Notes.
Holders are urged to read this Offer to Purchase in its entirety. Each of the capitalized
terms used in this Summary Term Sheet and not defined herein has the meaning set forth
elsewhere in this Offer to Purchase.
(ii) The paragraph next to the caption Purchase Price under the heading Summary Term Sheet
in the Offer to Purchase is amended and restated in its entirety as follows:
The consideration for each $1,000 principal amount at maturity of Notes tendered and
accepted for payment pursuant to the tender offer shall be $475 plus an amount equal to $0.08
per $1,000 of principal amount at maturity of the Notes for each day, if any, after June 13,
2006 to, but excluding, the date on which the Notes are purchased.
The $0.08 approximates the implied
daily accretion for each day after June 13, 2006 from the $475
proposed tender offer price to the accreted value at February 20, 2007, which is the date from and after which the
Company has the option to redeem all or a portion of the Notes for cash at their accreted
value.
(iii) The sentence next to the caption The Proposed Amendments under the heading Summary
Term Sheet in the Offer to Purchase is amended and restated in its entirety as follows:
The covenants imposing limitations on the Companys ability to incur liens and enter into
sale and lease-back transactions, contained in Section 4.07 and Section 4.08, respectively,
of the indenture governing the Notes will be eliminated and certain other changes of a
technical or conforming nature will be made.
(iv) The text in the first bullet point next to the caption Certain Consequences to Holders
of Notes Not Tendering under the heading Summary Term Sheet in the Offer to Purchase is amended
and restated in its entirety as follows:
holders of Notes outstanding after consummation of the tender offer and effectiveness of the
Proposed Amendments will not be entitled to the benefit of covenants that impose limits on
the Companys ability to incur liens and enter into sale and lease-back transactions, as
presently contained in the indenture governing the Notes, which could negatively impact the
price at which the outstanding Notes may trade; and
2
(v) The first paragraph under the heading Answers to Questions You May Have in the Offer to
Purchase is amended and restated in its entirety as follows:
The following are answers to some of the questions that you, as a holder of the Notes, may
have. We urge you to read the remainder of this Offer to Purchase and the accompanying
Consent and Letter of Transmittal carefully. Additional important information is contained in
the remainder of this document and in the other documents delivered with this Offer to
Purchase.
(vi) The paragraph under the question Why is the Company offering to purchase your Notes? in
the Offer to Purchase is hereby deleted in its entirety and the following text is inserted in its
place:
We are offering to purchase your Notes in order to retire the debt associated with the
Notes. As part of the offer to purchase your Notes in the tender offer, we are also seeking
your consent to amend the indenture governing the Notes.
What will be the effect of the amendment to the indenture governing the Notes?
The proposed amendments to the indenture governing the Notes will eliminate the covenants
imposing limitations on the Companys ability to incur liens and enter into sale and
lease-back transactions, which could negatively impact the price at which the outstanding
Notes may trade.
(vii) The paragraph under the question What price will you receive for your Notes if you
tender them to us? in the Offer to Purchase is amended and restated in its entirety as follows:
We are offering to repurchase your Notes for cash at a repurchase price of $475 per $1,000
of the principal amount at maturity of the Notes. The Notes purchase price of $475 per $1,000
of principal amount at maturity is less than the accreted value of the Notes per $1,000 of
principal amount at maturity by $2.22 as of May 16, 2006. The consideration for each $1,000
principal amount at maturity of Notes tendered and accepted for payment pursuant to the
tender offer will also include an amount equal to $0.08 per $1,000 of principal amount at
maturity of the Notes for each day, if any, after June 13, 2006 to, but excluding, the date
on which the Notes are purchased. The $0.08 approximates the implied
daily accretion for each day after June 13, 2006 from the $475
proposed tender offer price to the accreted value at
February 20, 2007, which is the date from and after which the Company has the option to
redeem all or a portion of the Notes for cash at their accreted value.
(viii) The paragraph under the question Will the Company purchase Notes in the tender offer
even if it does not receive the Requisite Consents to the Proposed Amendments? in the Offer to
Purchase is amended and restated in its entirety as follows:
Receipt of the Requisite Consents is a condition of the tender offer. The Company, in its
sole discretion, may waive this condition and accept tenders even if it does not receive the
Requisite Consents. The Company, however, has no obligation to do so. In the event the
Company elects to waive this condition, the Company will extend the Expiration Date to the
extent required by applicable law.
(ix) The last paragraph under the question What happens to your Notes if you do not tender
your Notes? in the Offer to Purchase is amended and restated in its entirety as follows:
If the Proposed Amendments to the indenture governing the Notes are approved by a majority
in aggregate principal amount of the Notes outstanding, we will execute, and use our
reasonable best efforts to cause the trustee and any other relevant parties to execute, a
supplemental indenture giving effect to the Proposed Amendments. See The Proposed
Amendments. If you do not tender your Notes and the Proposed Amendments become operative,
your Notes will no longer be entitled to the benefit of covenants in the indenture that
impose limits on the Companys ability to incur liens and enter into sale and lease-back
transactions. The elimination of these covenants could negatively impact the price at which
the outstanding Notes may trade.
Item 4. Terms of the Transaction.
Item 4 of Schedule TO, which incorporates by reference the
information contained in the Offer to Purchase, is hereby amended and supplemented as follows:
3
(i) The phrase assets, liabilities or prospects of the Company appearing in items (3)(a) and
(3)(b) under the heading The Tender Offer and Consent SolicitationConditions to the Tender
Offer is hereby deleted, and the phrase assets or liabilities of the Company is inserted in its
place.
(ii) The last paragraph under the heading The Tender Offer and Consent
SolicitationConditions to the Tender Offer in the Offer to Purchase is amended and restated in
its entirety as follows:
The Company, in its sole discretion, may accept tenders and waive the Requisite Consents
condition to the tender offer even if it does not receive the Requisite Consents. The
Company, however, has no obligation to do so. In the event the Company elects to waive this
condition, the Company will extend the Expiration Date to the extent required by applicable
law. The conditions to the tender offer described in subsections 3(a) through 3(d) above are
for the sole benefit of and may be asserted by the Company, in its reasonable discretion,
regardless of the circumstances giving rise to such conditions, or may be waived by the
Company, in whole or in part, at any time or from time to time on or prior to the Expiration
Date, in its reasonable discretion. The failure by the Company at any time to exercise any of
the foregoing rights shall not be deemed a waiver of any such right, and each such right
shall be deemed an ongoing right, which may be asserted at any time and from time to time on
or prior to the Expiration Date.
(iii) The penultimate sentence of the second paragraph under the heading The Tender Offer and
Consent SolicitationExpiration Date; Extension; Termination; Amendments in the Offer to Purchase
is hereby deleted in its entirety.
(iv) The last sentence under the heading The Proposed Amendments is hereby deleted in its
entirety.
(v) The third paragraph under the heading Significant Consequences to Non-Tendering Holders
in the Offer to Purchase is amended and restated in its entirety as follows:
Effect of the Proposed Amendments: If the Proposed
Amendments become operative, the Notes
that are not tendered and purchased pursuant to the tender offer will remain outstanding and
will be subject to the terms of the indenture pursuant to which such Notes were issued, as
modified by the Supplemental Indenture. As a result of the adoption of the Proposed
Amendments, holders of unpurchased Notes will no longer be entitled to the benefit of
covenants in the indenture that impose limits on the Companys ability to incur liens and
enter into sale and lease-back transactions. The Company currently has other indebtedness
outstanding with similar covenants restricting the incurrence of liens and the entering into
of sale and lease-back transactions. In the event the Company were to refinance this
indebtedness or amend the restrictions on liens in the indentures governing this other indebtedness,
the Company would be able to incur additional secured indebtedness,
which would be effectively senior to the Notes to the extent of the
value of the assets securing such indebtedness. In addition, in the event the Company were to refinance
this indebtedness or amend the restrictions on sale and lease-back
transactions in the indentures governing this other indebtedness, the
Company would be able to enter into sale and lease-back
transactions that could result in the divestiture of certain assets
that otherwise could be available to satisfy obligations to the holders of the Notes. Removing the limitations on
liens and sale lease-back transactions could also negatively impact the price at which the
outstanding Notes may trade.
Item 10. Financial Statements. Item 10 of Schedule TO is amended and restated in its
entirety as follows:
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(a)(1) |
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The audited consolidated financial statements of the Company in the Companys Annual
Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2005 is incorporated by
reference herein. |
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(a)(2) |
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The unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements of the Company in the
Companys Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended April 1, 2006 is
incorporated by reference herein. |
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(a)(3) |
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The Companys ratio of earnings to fixed charges for the fiscal years ended December
31, 2005 and 2004 and the fiscal quarters ended April 1, 2006 and April 2, 2005 are set
forth below in response to Item 10(c) and incorporated herein by reference. |
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(a)(4) |
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The Companys book value per share as of April 1, 2006 is set forth below in response
to Item 10(c) and incorporated herein by reference. |
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(b) |
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Not applicable. |
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(c) |
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The summary financial information for the Company required by Instruction 6 to
Item 10 of Schedule TO is set forth below. |
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(In millions, except share data and ratio of earnings to fixed charges) |
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Three Months Ended |
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Year Ended December 31, |
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April 1, |
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April 2, |
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2005 |
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2004 |
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2003 |
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2006 |
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2005 |
Consolidated Statements of Operations Data: |
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Net sales |
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$ |
17,089.2 |
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$ |
16,960.0 |
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$ |
15,746.7 |
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$ |
4,678.5 |
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$ |
4,286.0 |
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Income (loss) before cumulative effect of a
change in accounting principle |
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$ |
(1,381.5 |
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$ |
422.2 |
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$ |
380.5 |
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$ |
15.0 |
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$ |
15.6 |
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Net income (loss) |
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$ |
(1,381.5 |
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$ |
422.2 |
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$ |
380.5 |
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$ |
17.9 |
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$ |
15.6 |
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Net income per share: |
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Basic |
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$ |
(20.57 |
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$ |
6.18 |
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$ |
5.71 |
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$ |
0.27 |
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$ |
0.23 |
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Diluted |
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$ |
(20.57 |
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$ |
5.77 |
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$ |
5.31 |
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$ |
0.26 |
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$ |
0.23 |
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Ratio of earnings to fixed charges (1) |
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3.7 |
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3.4 |
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1.1 |
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(1) |
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Earnings for the year ended December 31, 2005 and the three months ended April
2, 2005, were insufficient to cover fixed charges by $1,123.3 million and $0.5 million,
respectively. Accordingly, such ratios are not presented. |
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(In millions, except share data) |
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December 31, |
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April 1, |
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April 2, |
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2005 |
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2004 |
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2003 |
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2006 |
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2005 |
Consolidated Balance Sheet Data: |
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Current assets |
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$ |
3,846.4 |
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$ |
4,372.0 |
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$ |
3,375.4 |
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$ |
4,079.8 |
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$ |
4,278.7 |
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Noncurrent assets |
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$ |
4,442.0 |
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$ |
5,572.4 |
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$ |
5,195.6 |
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$ |
4,401.5 |
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$ |
5,542.7 |
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Current liabilities |
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$ |
4,106.7 |
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$ |
4,647.9 |
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$ |
3,582.1 |
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$ |
4,269.9 |
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$ |
4,601.3 |
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Noncurrent liabilities |
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$ |
3,070.7 |
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$ |
2,566.4 |
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$ |
2,731.4 |
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$ |
3,076.8 |
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$ |
2,568.2 |
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Book value per share |
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$ |
16.54 |
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$ |
40.50 |
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$ |
33.12 |
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$ |
16.85 |
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$ |
39.53 |
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Item 11. Additional Information.
Item 11(b) of Schedule TO, which incorporates by reference
the information contained in the Offer to Purchase and Consent and Letter of Transmittal, is hereby
amended and supplemented as follows:
(i) The third and fourth paragraphs under the heading Available Information and Incorporation
of Documents by Reference in the Offer to Purchase are amended and restated in their entirety as
follows:
The following reports and other documents shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference in
and made a part of this Offer to Purchase, other than any portions of the respective filings
that are furnished (pursuant to Item 2.02 or Item 7.01 of Current Reports on Form 8-K or
other applicable SEC rules) rather than filed:
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Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005; |
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Definitive Proxy Statement for our 2006 Annual Meeting of Stockholders as filed with the
SEC on March 27, 2006; |
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Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended April 1, 2006; and |
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Current Reports on Form 8-K and 8-K/A, as filed with the SEC on January 11,
2006, January 12, 2006, January 25, 2006, February 24, 2006, March 8, 2006, March 24,
2006, March 29, 2006, April 11, 2006, April 25, 2006, April 26, 2006, May 15, 2006
and May 25, 2006. |
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Until the Expiration Date, the Company will amend this Offer to Purchase to incorporate by
reference any future filings containing information that is a material change from the
information contained or incorporated by reference herein. The Company will make available
free of charge, upon request, copies of any document incorporated by reference in this Offer
to Purchase, other than exhibits to those documents that are not specifically incorporated by
reference into those documents, by writing or telephoning Lear Corporation, 21557 Telegraph
Road, Southfield, Michigan 48034, Attention: Investor Relations, telephone (248) 447-1500.
(ii) The sixth paragraph under the heading Available Information and Incorporation of
Documents by Reference in the Offer to Purchase is hereby deleted in its entirety.
(iii) The first two sentences under the heading Cautionary Statement Regarding
Forward-Looking Statements are hereby amended and restated as follows:
This Offer to Purchase, including the documents incorporated by reference, contains
statements which constitute forward-looking statements. The words will, may, designed
to, outlook, believes, should, anticipates, plans, expects, intends,
estimates and similar expressions identify these forward-looking statements.
Item 12. Exhibits.
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Exhibit |
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No. |
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Description |
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(a)(6)
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Press Release issued by Lear Corporation on June 1, 2006.
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6
SIGNATURE
After due inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and belief, I certify that the information
set forth in this statement is true, complete and correct.
Date: June 1, 2006
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LEAR CORPORATION, |
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a Delaware corporation |
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By:
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/s/ Shari L. Burgess |
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Name:
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Shari L. Burgess
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Its:
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Vice President and Treasurer |
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7
exv99wxayx6y
Exhibit (a)(6)
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
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Investor Relations: |
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Mel Stephens |
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(248) 447-1624 |
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Media: |
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Andrea Puchalsky |
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(248) 447-1651 |
Lear Announces Amendment Relating to Tender Offer for
Zero-Coupon Convertible Notes due 2022
Southfield,
Mich., June 1, 2006 Lear Corporation [NYSE: LEA] announced today that it
has filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission an amendment to Lears Tender Offer Statement
on Schedule TO relating to Lears cash tender offer for any and all of its outstanding Zero-Coupon
Convertible Senior Notes due 2022. The amendment contains important information that holders of
the convertible notes should consider in deciding whether to tender their notes, including, among
other things, summary financial information of Lear. The summary financial information summarizes
the financial statements of Lear included in prior filings of Lear under the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934, as amended, and is annexed to this press release.
The tender offer will expire at midnight (Eastern time) on June 13, 2006, unless the offer is
extended.
This press release is for informational purposes only and is not an offer to purchase, nor a
solicitation of an offer to sell, any securities. The offer is made only by means of Lears Offer
to Purchase dated May 16, 2006, as amended, and the related Consent and Letter of Transmittal which
have been sent to the holders of the convertible notes and filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission as part of Lears Tender Offer Statement on Schedule TO. The Tender Offer Statement,
and amendments thereto, are available for no charge at the Securities and Exchange Commissions web
site at www.sec.gov. Holders of the convertible notes are encouraged to carefully review the
offering documents which contain information material to their decision on whether or not to tender
notes in the offer.
Additional information concerning the terms of the tender offer and consent solicitation and
copies of the Offer to Purchase, the Consent and Letter of Transmittal, the Tender Offer Statement
on Schedule TO and amendments thereto and related documents, which describe the tender offer and
consent solicitation in greater detail, may be obtained from the information agent, Global
Bondholder Services Corporation. The dealer manager and solicitation agent for the tender offer
and consent solicitation is Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated.
Lear Corporation is one of the worlds largest suppliers of automotive interior systems and
components. Lear provides complete seat systems, electronic products and electrical distribution
systems and other interior products. With annual net sales of $17.1 billion, Lear ranks #127 among
the Fortune 500. Lears world-class products are designed, engineered and manufactured by a
diverse team of 115,000 employees at 282 locations in 34 countries. Lears headquarters are in
Southfield, Michigan, and Lear is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol [LEA].
Further information about Lear is available on the Internet at http://www.lear.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private
Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Actual results may differ materially from anticipated
results as a result of certain risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to: general
economic conditions in the markets in which the Company operates, including changes in interest
rates; fluctuations in the production of vehicles for which the Company is a supplier; labor
disputes involving the Company or its significant customers or suppliers or that otherwise affect
the Company; the Companys ability to achieve cost reductions that offset or exceed
customer-mandated selling price reductions; the outcome of customer productivity negotiations; the
impact and timing of program launch costs; the costs and timing of facility closures, business
realignment or similar actions; increases in the Companys warranty or product liability costs;
risks associated with conducting business in foreign countries; competitive conditions impacting
the Companys key customers and suppliers; raw material costs and availability; the Companys
ability to mitigate the significant impact of recent increases in raw material, energy and
commodity costs; the outcome of legal or regulatory proceedings to which the Company is or may
become a party; unanticipated changes in cash flow, including the Companys ability to align its
vendor payment terms with those of the Companys customers; the finalization of the Companys
restructuring strategy; the outcome of various strategic alternatives being evaluated with respect
to the Companys interior segment; and other risks described from time to time in the Companys
Securities and Exchange Commission filings. In addition, the Companys previously disclosed
agreement in principle to contribute substantially all of its European Interiors business to a
joint venture with WL Ross & Co. LLC is subject to the negotiation and execution of a definitive
agreement and other conditions. No assurances can be given that the proposed transaction will be
completed on the terms contemplated or at all.
The forward-looking statements in this press release are made as of the date hereof, and the
Company does not assume any obligation to update, amend or clarify them to reflect events, new
information or circumstances occurring after the date hereof.
|
|
|
LEAR CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION |
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|
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|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(In millions, except share data and ratio of earnings to fixed charges) |
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|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Three Months Ended |
|
|
Year Ended December 31, |
|
April 1, |
|
April 2, |
|
|
2005 |
|
2004 |
|
2003 |
|
2006 |
|
2005 |
Consolidated Statements of Operations Data: |
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|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net sales |
|
$ |
17,089.2 |
|
|
$ |
16,960.0 |
|
|
$ |
15,746.7 |
|
|
$ |
4,678.5 |
|
|
$ |
4,286.0 |
|
Income (loss) before cumulative effect of a
change in accounting principle |
|
$ |
(1,381.5 |
) |
|
$ |
422.2 |
|
|
$ |
380.5 |
|
|
$ |
15.0 |
|
|
$ |
15.6 |
|
Net income (loss) |
|
$ |
(1,381.5 |
) |
|
$ |
422.2 |
|
|
$ |
380.5 |
|
|
$ |
17.9 |
|
|
$ |
15.6 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net income per share: |
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|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Basic |
|
$ |
(20.57 |
) |
|
$ |
6.18 |
|
|
$ |
5.71 |
|
|
$ |
0.27 |
|
|
$ |
0.23 |
|
Diluted |
|
$ |
(20.57 |
) |
|
$ |
5.77 |
|
|
$ |
5.31 |
|
|
$ |
0.26 |
|
|
$ |
0.23 |
|
Ratio of earnings to fixed charges (1) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
3.7 |
|
|
|
3.4 |
|
|
|
1.1 |
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|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1) |
|
Earnings for the year ended December 31, 2005 and the three months ended April
2, 2005, were insufficient to cover fixed charges by $1,123.3 million and $0.5 million,
respectively. Accordingly, such ratios are not presented. |
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|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(In millions, except share data) |
|
|
December 31, |
|
April 1, |
|
April 2, |
|
|
2005 |
|
2004 |
|
2003 |
|
2006 |
|
2005 |
Consolidated Balance Sheet Data: |
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|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Current assets |
|
$ |
3,846.4 |
|
|
$ |
4,372.0 |
|
|
$ |
3,375.4 |
|
|
$ |
4,079.8 |
|
|
$ |
4,278.7 |
|
Noncurrent assets |
|
$ |
4,442.0 |
|
|
$ |
5,572.4 |
|
|
$ |
5,195.6 |
|
|
$ |
4,401.5 |
|
|
$ |
5,542.7 |
|
Current liabilities |
|
$ |
4,106.7 |
|
|
$ |
4,647.9 |
|
|
$ |
3,582.1 |
|
|
$ |
4,269.9 |
|
|
$ |
4,601.3 |
|
Noncurrent liabilities |
|
$ |
3,070.7 |
|
|
$ |
2,566.4 |
|
|
$ |
2,731.4 |
|
|
$ |
3,076.8 |
|
|
$ |
2,568.2 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Book value per share |
|
$ |
16.54 |
|
|
$ |
40.50 |
|
|
$ |
33.12 |
|
|
$ |
16.85 |
|
|
$ |
39.53 |
|
corresp
June 1, 2006
VIA FEDERAL EXPRESS
Securities and Exchange Commission
Division of Corporation Finance
Office of Mergers & Acquisitions
100 F Street, N.E.
Washington, DC 20549-3628
Attn: Ms. Celeste M. Murphy
|
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|
Re:
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|
Lear Corporation |
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|
Amendment No. 1 to Schedule TO-I |
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|
File No. 005-43537 |
Dear Ms. Murphy:
We are in receipt of your comment letter dated May 24, 2006 regarding the above-referenced
Schedule TO-I filed by Lear Corporation (the Company) on May 16, 2006, File No. 005-43537 (the
Schedule TO). We have addressed your May 24, 2006 letter by reproducing each comment below and
providing the Companys responses immediately following. Simultaneously with the delivery of this
letter, the Company has filed the above referenced amendment to the Schedule TO with changes
responsive to your comment letter (the Amendment).
Schedule TO
Item 10. Financial Statements
1. |
|
We note the offer condition that you will not be required to accept notes for purchase if
the Company is unable to use funds from its cash collateral account to pay for the tendered
Notes because a default or even of default exists under the New Credit Agreement or would
result from such use of funds... We consider this to be a financing condition under
Instruction 2 to Item 10 of Schedule TO. Accordingly, please provide the financial statements
required by such item. |
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|
Response: In response to the Staffs comment, the Company amended Item 10 of the
Schedule TO to incorporate by reference the financial statements contained in its Annual
Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2005 and its Quarterly Report on
Form 10-Q for the
|
Ms. Celeste M. Murphy
June 1, 2006
Page 2
quarter ended April 1, 2006. The Company has also amended Item 10 of the Schedule TO to (1)
include the ratio of earnings to fixed charges for such periods, (2) disclose the Companys
book value per share as of April 1, 2006 and (3) disclose the summary financial information
of the Company and its subsidiaries required by Instruction 6 of Item 10 of Schedule TO. In
order to timely disseminate the summary financial information, the Company issued a press
release today, June 1, 2006, disclosing that it had amended the Schedule TO to, among other
things, provide the summary financial information. The press release attached the summary
financial information as an annex. A copy of the press release was filed as Exhibit 12(a)(6)
to the Amendment.
Summary Term Sheet, page 1
2. |
|
Please revise your characterization of the information in the summary as not intended to be
complete. The summary term sheet must describe the most material terms of the proposed
transaction. The summary term sheet must provide security holders with sufficient information
to understand the essential features and significance of the proposed transaction. Please see
Item 1 of Schedule TO and Item 1000 of Regulation M-A. Such summary may not be characterized
as incomplete. Accordingly, you should revise your disclosure on page 5, in the first
paragraph to Answers to Questions you may have. |
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|
|
Response: The Company revised the first paragraph of the sections entitled Summary
Term Sheet and Answers to Questions You May Have in response to the Staffs comment. |
|
3. |
|
Please eliminate the phrase from the first paragraph that the summary is qualified in its
entirety by reference to the full text and more specified details contained elsewhere in this
Offer to Purchase. The information you provide in the prospectus must be materially complete
and the qualification suggests that the offer summary may not be materially complete. Note
that this language is also inappropriately used other places, such as in the summary of the
proposed amendments on page 18 and 19, and the discussion of the available information and
incorporation of documents by reference on page 28. Please revise accordingly. |
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|
Response: The Company revised the first paragraph of the section entitled Summary
Term Sheet in response to the Staffs comment. The Company also deleted similar language
appearing in other sections of the Offer to Purchase. |
|
4. |
|
Tell us, with a view toward disclosure, whether or not you have any plans, proposals or
arrangements, written or otherwise, to engage in any activity, agreement, or other action,
that would be allowed under the indenture, once the proposed amendments are effected that are
not currently allowed. If so, tell us how that will affect the remaining non-tendered notes
value and rights of the non-tendering note holders. |
|
|
|
Response: The Company advises the Staff supplementally that it does not currently
have any plans to engage in any activity,
agreement, or other action that would be allowed under the indenture once the proposed
amendments are effected that are not currently allowed.
|
Ms. Celeste M. Murphy
June 1, 2006
Page 3
As
part of the Amendment, the Company
included disclosure in the Offer to Purchase as to how the proposed
amendments could affect the remaining non-tendered notes value and rights of the non-tendering note holders.
The Proposed Amendments, page 1
5. |
|
Please identify and summarize the proposed amendments and the sections of the indenture the
amendments affect so that the nature of such amendments is prominently discussed in the
summary. |
|
|
|
Response: The Company revised the sentence next to the caption The Proposed
Amendments under the heading Summary Term Sheet in response to the Staffs comment. |
|
Certain Consequences to Holders of Notes Not Tendering, page 2 |
6. |
|
Summarize the benefits of specified covenants presently contained in the indenture governing
the notes and the consequence to non-tendering note holders of the effectiveness of the
planned proposal to amend the indenture to delete the provisions and accompanying benefits in
terms of rights and value. |
|
|
|
Response: The Company revised the first bullet point next to the caption Certain
Consequences to Holders of Notes Not Tendering in the Offer to Purchase in response to the
Staffs comment. |
Answers to Questions You May Have, page 5
Why is the Company Offering to purchase your Notes?
7. |
|
Please state that you will delete the sections from the indenture that place a limitation on
liens and a limitation on sale and lease-back transactions, and the consequences to
non-tendering holders of such action in terms of rights and value. |
|
|
|
Response: In response to the Staffs comment, the Company revised the paragraph
under the question Why is the Company offering to purchase your Notes? in the Offer to
Purchase and added another question and answer paragraph relating to the proposed
amendments. |
Will the Company purchase the Notes in the tender offer even if it does not receive the
Requisite Consents to the Proposed Amendments? Page 6
8. |
|
Please provide us with your legal analysis as to how you are able to reserve the right to
accept tenders even if you do not receive the Requisite Consents. In your analysis, tell us
the circumstances under which you intend to proceed with your offer under these circumstances. |
Ms. Celeste M. Murphy
June 1, 2006
Page 4
Response: The Company advises the Staff supplementally that the Company is able to
reserve the right to accept tenders even if it does not receive the Requisite Consents
because the Requisite Consents condition may be waived by the Company, as disclosed in the
Offer to Purchase. Receipt of the Requisite Consents, however, may
not be waived as a condition to the amendment of the indenture governing the Notes. In response to the Staffs comment, the Company
revised its disclosure in the Offer to Purchase to clarify that if it
waives the Requisite Consents condition and accepts tendered Notes, the Company will extend the expiration date
to the extent required by applicable law. The Company has not determined whether or not
it will waive the receipt of the Requisite Consents condition and accept tendered
Notes for payment in the event that less than a majority in aggregate principal amount at
maturity of the Notes tender their Notes and provide consents prior to the Expiration Date.
What happens to your Notes if you do not tender your Notes? Page 6
9. |
|
Summarize the effects of the proposed amendments to the indenture governing the Notes and the
consequences, in term of rights and value, to the Notes that remain outstanding. |
|
|
|
Response: The Company revised the last paragraph under the question What happens
to your Notes if you do not tender your Notes? in the Offer to Purchase in response to the
Staffs comment. |
Conditions of the Offer, page 9
10. |
|
Two offer conditions include the trigger of changes in your prospects, which is vague.
Please revise to specify or generally describe the prospects to which you refer so that
security holders will have the ability to objectively determine whether the condition has been
triggered. |
|
|
|
Response: The Company revised the disclosure to eliminate the references to
prospects. |
11. |
|
In our view, you may condition a tender offer on any number of conditions, as long as they
are described with reasonable specificity, capable of some measure of objective verification,
and outside of your control. In the last paragraph in this section, the phrase regardless of
the circumstances (including any action or inaction by the Company) giving rise to such
conditions states that you may assert an offer condition even when the condition is
triggered by your own action or inaction. Please revise in accordance with our position. |
|
|
|
Response: The Company amended the last paragraph under the heading The Tender
Offer and Consent SolicitationConditions to the Tender Offer in the Offer to Purchase in
response to the Staffs comment. |
12. |
|
We note your statement on page 16, regarding the condition, that [a]ny determination by the
Company concerning the events described in this section shall be final and binding upon all
persons. Please revise this sentence to more precisely define its scope. It appears that
your interpretation of the terms of the tender offer may not necessarily be final and binding
on all persons. For example, while you may assert an offer condition when it is triggered,
|
Ms. Celeste M. Murphy
June 1, 2006
Page 5
when parties contest asserted conditions, the judgments of courts of law are generally
considered final and binding in such matters.
Response: The Company amended the last paragraph under the heading The Tender
Offer and Consent SolicitationConditions to the Tender Offer in the Offer to Purchase in
response to the Staffs comment.
13. |
|
Please confirm to us, in a supplemental response, that if you pay an amount equal to $0.08
per $1,000 principal amount at maturity of the Notes for each day after June 13, 2006, the
current expiration date, to and including any expiration date under any extension, you will
extend your offer in accordance with Rule 13e-4(3)(ii), including, but not limited to allowing
for ten business days remaining in the offer. |
|
|
|
Response: In response to the Staffs comment, the Company revised its disclosure
in the Offer to Purchase in order to clarify that the amount of $0.08 per $1,000 principal
amount at maturity of the Notes approximates the implied daily accretion on
the Notes to, but excluding, the date of purchase, which the Company
believes is not a change in
price requiring the Company to extend the offer in accordance with Rule 13e-4(3)(ii). |
Effects of the Proposed Amendments, page 20
14. |
|
Please expand your discussion to disclose the actions by the company that could be materially
adverse to the holders. Further, detail the potential negative impact of these actions
including, but not limited to, on the trading price of the notes. |
|
|
|
Response: The Company amended the third paragraph under the heading Significant
Consequences to Non-Tendering Holders in the Offer to Purchase in response to the Staffs
comment. |
Available Information and Incorporation of Documents by Reference, page 27
15. |
|
We note your statement that you incorporate by reference [a]ny future filings which the
company makes with the SEC . . . before the expiration date. Schedule TO does not permit
forward incorporation. Accordingly, please amend your disclosure to state that you will
amend the Schedule TO to specifically reference the periodic reports you wish to incorporate,
as they are filed. |
|
|
|
Response: The Company amended the third and fourth paragraphs under the heading
Available Information and Incorporation of Documents by Reference in the Offer to Purchase
in response to the Staffs comment. |
Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements, page 28
16. |
|
The safe harbor for forward-looking statements in the Private Securities Litigation Reform
Act of 1995 does not by its terms apply to statements made in connection with a tender offer.
See Section 27A(b)(2)(C) of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E(b)(2)(C) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Therefore, your reference to the defined term forward-
|
Ms. Celeste M. Murphy
June 1, 2006
Page 6
looking statements within the meaning of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act is
inappropriate. Please delete the reference.
Response: The Company amended the first sentence under the heading Cautionary
Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements in response to the Staffs comment.
Closing Comment
In connection with responding to our comments, please provide, in writing, a statement from
the Company acknowledging that:
|
|
|
the Company is responsible for the adequacy and accuracy of the disclosure in the
filings; |
|
|
|
|
staff comments or changes to disclosure in response to staff comments in the filings
reviewed by the staff do not foreclose the Commission from taking any action with
respect to the filing; and |
|
|
|
|
the Company may not assert staff comments as a defense in any proceeding initiated
by the Commission or any other person under the federal securities laws of the United
States. |
Response: In response to the Staffs comment, the Company has filed a supplemental
letter via EDGAR as correspondence with the required acknowledgements.
* * *
If you should have any questions or comments about any of the items responded to in this
letter or in the Companys Amendment No. 1 to Schedule TO, please call me at (312) 558-5723.
|
|
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|
|
Sincerely, |
|
|
|
|
|
/s/ Bruce A. Toth |
|
|
Bruce A. Toth |
cover
[LEAR LETTERHEAD]
June 1, 2006
Securities and Exchange Commission
Division of Corporation Finance
Office of Mergers & Acquisitions
100 F Street, N.E.
Washington, DC 20549-3628
Attn: Ms. Celeste M. Murphy
|
|
|
Re:
|
|
Lear Corporation |
|
|
Amendment No. 1 to Schedule TO-I |
|
|
File No. 005-43537 |
In connection with responding to comments from the Securities and Exchange Commission (the
Commission), Lear Corporation (the Company) acknowledges that:
|
|
the Company is responsible for the adequacy and accuracy of the disclosure in the filings; |
|
|
|
staff comments or changes to disclosure in response to staff comments in the filings reviewed by
the staff do not foreclose the Commission from taking any action with respect to the filing; and |
|
|
|
the Company may not assert staff comments as a defense in any proceeding initiated by the
Commission or any other person under the federal securities laws of the United States. |
Yours truly,
LEAR CORPORATION
|
|
|
|
|
By:
|
|
/s/ Shari L. Burgess |
|
|
Name:
|
|
Shari L. Burgess
|
|
|
Its:
|
|
Vice President and Treasurer |
|
|