Lear Signs Definitive Agreement to Acquire Grupo Antolin's Automotive Seating Business
SOUTHFIELD, Michigan, Feb. 6, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Lear Corporation (NYSE: LEA), a leading global supplier of automotive seating and electrical systems, today announced that it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Grupo Antolin's automotive seating business.
Grupo Antolin's seating business is headquartered in France with sales and operations concentrated in 5 countries in Europe. Grupo Antolin's seating business is comprised of just-in-time seat assembly, seat structures & mechanisms and seat trim, and is well positioned among the largest European automakers, including Peugeot Citroen, Daimler, Renault Nissan and Volkswagen. Grupo Antolin's seating business has an experienced management team, modern facilities and a reputation for lean manufacturing, superior quality and innovation, including high-functionality and light weight seat designs.
The transaction is valued at €286 million on a cash and debt free basis. Lear intends to fund the transaction with cash on hand. The closing of the transaction is expected to occur in the first half of 2017 subject to customary conditions, including regulatory approvals in Europe. Lear expects the transaction to be accretive to 2017 earnings per share upon closing.
"The acquisition of Grupo Antolin's seating business in Europe is another important step in strengthening our core seating business by further diversifying our global seating sales, expanding our seat component capabilities and accelerating profitable sales growth," said Matt Simoncini, Lear's President and CEO. "This transaction will further enhance Lear's position as a global leader in automotive seating and will create significant value for our shareholders."
Grupo Antolin's seating business has annual sales of approximately €300 million and includes 12 manufacturing facilities, 2 technological centers and 2,273 full-time and contract employees.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements regarding anticipated financial results and liquidity. The words "will," "may," "designed to," "outlook," "believes," "should," "anticipates," "plans," "expects," "intends," "estimates," "forecasts" and similar expressions identify certain of these forward-looking statements. The Company also may provide forward-looking statements in oral statements or other written materials released to the public. All such forward-looking statements contained or incorporated in this press release or in any other public statements which address operating performance, events or developments that the Company expects or anticipates may occur in the future, including, without limitation, statements related to business opportunities, awarded sales contracts, sales backlog and ongoing commercial arrangements, or statements expressing views about future operating results, are forward-looking statements. Actual results may differ materially from any or all forward-looking statements made by the Company. Important factors, risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from anticipated results include, but are not limited to, general economic conditions in the markets in which the Company operates, including changes in interest rates or currency exchange rates; currency controls and the ability to economically hedge currencies; the financial condition and restructuring actions of the Company's customers and suppliers; changes in actual industry vehicle production levels from the Company's current estimates; fluctuations in the production of vehicles or the loss of business with respect to, or the lack of commercial success of, a vehicle model for which the Company is a significant supplier; disruptions in the relationships with the Company's suppliers; labor disputes involving the Company or its significant customers or suppliers or that otherwise affect the Company; the outcome of customer negotiations and the impact of customer-imposed price reductions; the impact and timing of program launch costs and the Company's management of new program launches; the costs, timing and success of restructuring actions; increases in the Company's warranty, product liability or recall costs; risks associated with conducting business in foreign countries; the impact of regulations on the Company's foreign operations; the operational and financial success of the Company's joint ventures; competitive conditions impacting the Company and its key customers and suppliers; disruptions to the Company's information technology systems, including those related to cybersecurity; the cost and availability of raw materials, energy, commodities and product components and the Company's ability to mitigate such costs; the outcome of legal or regulatory proceedings to which the Company is or may become a party; the impact of pending legislation and regulations or changes in existing federal, state, local or foreign laws or regulations; unanticipated changes in cash flow, including the Company's ability to align its vendor payment terms with those of its customers; limitations imposed by the Company's existing indebtedness and the Company's ability to access capital markets on commercially reasonable terms; impairment charges initiated by adverse industry or market developments; the Company's ability to execute its strategic objectives; changes in discount rates and the actual return on pension assets; costs associated with compliance with environmental laws and regulations; developments or assertions by or against the Company relating to intellectual property rights; the Company's ability to utilize its net operating loss, capital loss and tax credit carryforwards; global sovereign fiscal matters and creditworthiness, including potential defaults and the related impacts on economic activity, including the possible effects on credit markets, currency values, monetary unions, international treaties and fiscal policies; the impact of potential changes in tax and trade policies in the United States and related actions by countries in which we do business; the anticipated changes in economic and other relationships between the United Kingdom and the European Union; and other risks described in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015, as supplemented and updated by the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended July 2, 2016, and its other Securities and Exchange Commission filings. Future operating results will be based on various factors, including actual industry production volumes, commodity prices and the Company's success in implementing its operating strategy.
Information in this press release relies on assumptions in the Company's sales backlog. The Company's sales backlog reflects anticipated net sales from formally awarded new programs less lost and discontinued programs. The calculation of the sales backlog does not reflect customer price reductions on existing or newly awarded programs. The sales backlog may be impacted by various assumptions embedded in the calculation, including vehicle production levels on new programs, foreign exchange rates and the timing of major program launches.
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.
About Lear Corporation
Lear Corporation (NYSE: LEA) was founded in Detroit in 1917 as American Metal Products. In 2017, the Company will celebrate its 100th year anniversary. Lear is one of the world's leading suppliers of automotive seating systems and electrical distribution systems (E-Systems). Lear serves every major automaker in the world, and Lear content can be found on more than 400 vehicle nameplates. Lear's world-class products are designed, engineered and manufactured by a diverse team of approximately 150,000 employees located in 37 countries. Lear currently ranks #154 on the Fortune 500. Lear's headquarters are in Southfield, Michigan. Further information about Lear is available at http://www.lear.com or follow us on Twitter @LearCorporation.
About Grupo Antolin's Seating Business
Grupo Antolin's seating business is well positioned among major European automakers, including Peugeot Citroen, Daimler, Renault Nissan and Volkswagen. The Company has annual sales of approximately €300 million; 12 manufacturing facilities (7 in Spain, 2 in France, 1 in the Czech Republic, 1 in Portugal and 1 in Morocco); 2 technological centers (in France and Spain) and 2,273 full-time and contract employees in 6 countries. Grupo Antolin's seating business headquarters is located in France.
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