Published:
Lear Seeks to Amend Credit Facility in Light of Adverse Industry Conditions
SOUTHFIELD, Mich., Jan. 6 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Lear Corporation
(NYSE: LEA), a leading global supplier of automotive seating systems,
electrical distribution systems and electronics products, today announced that
it is seeking an amendment and waiver under its primary credit facility in
light of current and longer-term industry conditions.
Lear has initiated discussions with co-agents under its primary credit
facility and has engaged Goldman Sachs to assist in the proposed bank
amendment. The Company will seek to complete the amendment and waiver prior
to finalizing its 2008 financial statements.
At the end of the third quarter, Lear had more than $500 million in cash
and cash equivalents. During the fourth quarter, the Company fully borrowed
amounts available under its revolving credit facility in order to protect
against disruptions in the capital markets and to further bolster its
liquidity position. As of December 31, 2008, the Company had approximately
$1.6 billion in cash and cash equivalents providing more than ample resources
to satisfy ordinary course business obligations.
"Our liquidity position is strong," commented Bob Rossiter, Lear chairman,
CEO and president. "However, given the very challenging external environment,
we are pro-actively addressing our capital structure to maintain our financial
flexibility."
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 we operate, including changes in interest rates or
currency exchange rates, the financial condition of our customers or
suppliers, changes in actual industry vehicle production levels from our
current estimates, fluctuations in the production of vehicles for which we are
a supplier, the loss of business with respect to, or the lack of commercial
success of, a vehicle model for which we are a significant supplier, including
further declines in sales of full-size pickup trucks and large sport utility
vehicles, disruptions in the relationships with our suppliers, labor disputes
involving us or our significant customers or suppliers or that otherwise
affect us, our ability to achieve cost reductions that offset or exceed
customer-mandated selling price reductions, the outcome of customer
negotiations, the impact and timing of program launch costs, the costs, timing
and success of restructuring actions, increases in our warranty or product
liability costs, risks associated with conducting business in foreign
countries, competitive conditions impacting our key customers and suppliers,
the cost and availability of raw materials and energy, our ability to mitigate
increases in raw material, energy and commodity costs, the outcome of legal or
regulatory proceedings to which we are or may become a party, unanticipated
changes in cash flow, including our ability to align our vendor payment terms
with those of our customers, our ability to access capital markets on
commercially reasonable terms, the results of our periodic impairment analysis
of goodwill and long-lived assets and other risks described from time to time
in our Securities and Exchange Commission filings. In addition, no assurances
can be given that the Company will be able to successfully complete the
proposed credit facility amendment and waiver referred to in this press
release on commercially reasonable terms, or at all. Future operating results
will be based on various factors, including actual industry production volumes
and the Company's success in implementing its operating strategy.
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 is one of the world's leading suppliers of automotive
seating systems, electrical distribution systems and electronics products.
The Company's world-class products are designed, engineered and manufactured
by a diverse team of 91,000 employees at 215 facilities in 35 countries.
Lear's headquarters are inSouthfield, 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.
SOURCE Lear Corporation
Copyright © 2009, PRNewswire
Copyright © 2009, NewsBlaze,
Daily News
Tags: ,AUT,MI-Lear-amend-credit