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Lear Completes Transformational Refinancing; No Significant Debt Maturities Until 2018
March 29, 2010
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By aftermarketNews staff
SOUTHFIELD, Mich. -- Lear Corp. says it has successfully completed its previously announced underwritten public offering of $350 million in aggregate principal amount of 7.875 percent senior unsecured notes due 2018 and $350 million in aggregate principal amount of 8.125 percent senior unsecured notes due 2020. Citigroup Global Markets Inc., J.P. Morgan Securities Inc., Barclays Capital Inc. and UBS Securities LLC acted as joint book-running managers of the offering.

Lear used the net proceeds from this offering, together with its current cash and cash equivalents, to repay, in full, all amounts outstanding under the term loans provided under its first lien credit facility and its second lien credit facility. The principal amounts outstanding under the term loans provided under the first lien credit facility and the second lien credit facility were $375 million and $550 million, respectively.

"I am extremely pleased with the work and smooth execution of this deal by the Lear team and our investment banking partners. This refinancing is transformational for our Company. Benefits of the refinancing include further strengthening of our balance sheet by reducing Lear's debt by $225 million, lowering our overall interest costs and extending our only significant debt maturities to 2018 and 2020. Further, this transaction provides Lear with substantial flexibility to invest in our global business and execute on our strategic objectives going forward," said Bob Rossiter, Lear's chairman, CEO and president.