S-3ASR
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As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 10, 2017

Registration No. 333-

 

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

 

Form S-3

REGISTRATION STATEMENT

UNDER

THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

 

 

 

Lear Corporation

(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

Delaware   13-3386776

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

 

(IRS Employer

Identification No.)

 

21557 Telegraph Road

Southfield, Michigan 48033

(248) 447-1500

(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of Registrant’s principal executive offices)

 

 

 

Terrence B. Larkin

Executive Vice President, Business

Development, General Counsel

and Corporate Secretary

Lear Corporation

21557 Telegraph Road

Southfield, Michigan 48033

(248) 447-1500

(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)

 

 

 

With a copy to:

Bruce A. Toth, Esq.

Christina T. Roupas, Esq.

Winston & Strawn LLP

35 West Wacker Drive

Chicago, Illinois 60601

(312) 558-5600

 

 

 

Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: From time to time after the effective date of this Registration Statement.

 

If the only securities being registered on this form are being offered pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, check the following box.  ☐

 

If any of the securities being registered on this form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, other than securities offered only in connection with dividend or interest reinvestment plans, check the following box.  ☐


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If this form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.  ☐

 

If this form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.  ☐

 

If this Form is a registration statement pursuant to General Instruction I.D. or a post-effective amendment thereto that shall become effective upon filing with the Commission pursuant to Rule 462(e) under the Securities Act, check the following box.  ☒

 

If this Form is a post-effective amendment to a registration statement filed pursuant General Instruction I.D. filed to register additional securities or additional classes of securities pursuant to Rule 413(b) under the Securities Act. check the following box.  ☐

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer or a smaller reporting company. See definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):

 

Large accelerated filer      Accelerated filer  
Non-accelerated filer   ☐ (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)    Smaller reporting company  

 

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act.  ☐

 

 

 

CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

 

Title of Each Class of

Securities to be Registered(1)

 

Amount

to be
Registered(2)

  Proposed
Maximum
Offering Price
Per Unit(2)
 

Proposed
Maximum
Aggregate

Offering Price(2)

 

Amount of

  Registration Fee(3)  

Common Stock

  —     —     —     —  

Preferred Stock

  —     —     —     —  

Debt Securities

  —     —     —     —  

Warrants to purchase Debt Securities, Common Stock or Preferred Stock

  —     —     —     —  

Subscription Rights

  —     —     —     —  

Stock Purchase Contracts

  —     —     —     —  

Stock Purchase Units

  —     —     —     —  

Total

  —     —     —     —  

 

(1)   An indeterminate aggregate initial offering price or number of the securities of each identified class is being registered as may from time to time be offered at indeterminate prices or upon conversion, exchange or exercise of securities registered hereunder to the extent any such securities are, by their terms, convertible into, or exchangeable or exercisable for, such securities. Separate consideration may or may not be received for securities that are issuable on conversion, exchange or exercise of other securities or that are issued in units.
(2)   An indeterminate aggregate initial offering price or number of the securities of each identified class is being registered as may from time to time be offered at indeterminate prices. Separate consideration may or may not be received for securities that are issuable on conversion, exchange or exercise of other securities or that are issued in units or represented by depositary shares.
(3)   In accordance with Rules 456(b) and 457(r) under the Securities Act at 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), Lear Corporation is deferring payment of all of the registration fee.

 

 

 


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PROSPECTUS

 

LOGO

 

Common Stock

 

Preferred Stock

 

Debt Securities

 

Warrants

 

Subscription Rights

 

Stock Purchase Contracts

 

Stock Purchase Units

 

 

 

We may offer to sell any of the following securities from time to time:

 

   

common stock;

 

   

preferred stock;

 

   

debt securities;

 

   

warrants to purchase debt securities, common stock or preferred stock;

 

   

subscription rights; and

 

   

stock purchase contracts or stock purchase units.

 

This prospectus describes some of the general terms that may apply to these securities and the general manner in which they may be offered. The specific terms of any securities to be offered, and the specific manner in which they may be offered, will be described in a supplement to this prospectus or incorporated into this prospectus by reference. You should read this prospectus and any supplement carefully before you invest.

 

Our common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange and trades under the symbol “LEA.” Each prospectus supplement will indicate if the securities offered thereby will be listed or quoted on a securities exchange or quotation system.

 

 

 

Investing in our securities involves risks. You should carefully read and consider the risk factors included in our periodic reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, in any applicable prospectus supplement relating to a specific offering of securities and in any other documents we file with the Securities and Exchange Commission. See the section entitled “Risk Factors” on page 2 of this prospectus, in our other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission and in the applicable prospectus supplement.

 

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities, or determined if this prospectus or any prospectus supplement is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

 

 

 

When we issue new securities, we may offer them for sale to or through underwriters, dealers and agents or directly to purchasers. The applicable prospectus supplement for each offering of securities will describe in detail the plan of distribution for that offering, including any required information about the firms we use and the discounts or commissions we may pay them for their services. For general information about the distribution of securities offered, please see “Plan of Distribution” on page 20 of this prospectus.

 

 

 

The date of this prospectus is August 10, 2017.


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TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

     Page  

ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

     ii  

INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

     ii  

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

     iii  

LEAR CORPORATION

     1  

RISK FACTORS

     2  

CONSOLIDATED RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES

     2  

USE OF PROCEEDS

     2  

DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES

     2  

DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK

     2  

DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES

     6  

DESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS

     19  

DESCRIPTION OF SUBSCRIPTION RIGHTS

     19  

DESCRIPTION OF STOCK PURCHASE CONTRACTS AND STOCK PURCHASE UNITS

     19  

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

     20  

VALIDITY OF THE SECURITIES

     22  

EXPERTS

     22  

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

     23  

 

You should rely only on the information contained in or incorporated by reference into this prospectus or any prospectus supplement, and in other offering material, including free writing prospectuses, if any, or information contained in documents which you are referred to by this prospectus or any prospectus supplement, or in other offering material, if any. We have not authorized anyone to provide you with different information. We are not offering to sell any securities in any jurisdiction where such offer and sale are not permitted. The information contained in or incorporated by reference into this prospectus or any prospectus supplement, free writing prospectus or other offering material is accurate only as of the date of those documents or information, regardless of the time of delivery of the documents or information or the time of any sale of the securities. Neither the delivery of this prospectus or any applicable prospectus supplement nor any distribution of securities pursuant to such documents shall, under any circumstances, create any implication that there has been no change in the information set forth in this prospectus or any applicable prospectus supplement or in our affairs since the date of this prospectus or any applicable prospectus supplement.

 

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ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

 

This prospectus is part of an “automatic shelf” registration statement that we filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) as a “well-known seasoned issuer” as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. By using a shelf registration statement, we may sell at any time, and from time to time, an indeterminate amount of any combination of the securities described in this prospectus in one or more offerings.

 

This prospectus provides you with only a general description of the securities we may offer. It is not meant to be a complete description of any security. Each time we sell securities, we will provide a prospectus supplement that will contain specific information about the terms of that offering, including the specific amounts, prices and terms of the securities offered. We and any underwriter or agent that we may from time to time retain may also provide other information relating to an offering, which we refer to as “other offering material.” The prospectus supplement as well as the other offering material may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus or in the documents we have incorporated by reference into this prospectus. You should read this prospectus, any prospectus supplement, and any other offering material (including any free writing prospectus) prepared by or on behalf of us for a specific offering of securities, together with additional information described in the section entitled “Where You Can Find More Information” and any other offering material. Throughout this prospectus, where we indicate that information may be supplemented in an applicable prospectus supplement or supplements, that information may also be supplemented in other offering material. If there is any inconsistency between this prospectus and the information contained in a prospectus supplement, you should rely on the information in the prospectus supplement.

 

Unless we state otherwise or the context otherwise requires, references to “Lear,” the “Company,” “us,” “we” or “our” in this prospectus mean Lear Corporation and its consolidated subsidiaries. When we refer to “you” in this section, we mean all purchasers of the securities being offered by this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement, whether they are the holders or only indirect owners of those securities.

 

INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

 

The SEC allows us to “incorporate by reference” into this prospectus the information we file with them, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring to those documents. Any statement contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus shall be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this prospectus to the extent that a statement contained herein, or in any subsequently filed document which also is incorporated by reference herein, modifies or supersedes such earlier statement. Any such statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this prospectus. We incorporate by reference into this prospectus the following documents:

 

  (a)   Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016;

 

  (b)   Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended April 1, 2017 and July 1, 2017;

 

  (c)   Current Reports on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on February 13, 2017, May 22, 2017, June 1, 2017 and August 8, 2017;

 

  (d)   Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A filed with the SEC on March 31, 2017;

 

  (e)   The description of our common stock contained in our Registration Statement on Form 8-A filed on November 6, 2009, pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”); and

 

  (f)   All documents filed by us under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act before the termination of the offering of securities under this prospectus.

 

Nothing in this prospectus shall be deemed to incorporate information furnished but not filed with the SEC pursuant to Item 2.02 or Item 7.01 of Form 8-K.

 

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CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

 

Certain statements and information in this prospectus and the documents we incorporate by reference may constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Exchange Act. 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. All such forward-looking statements contained or incorporated in this prospectus which address operating performance, events or developments that we expect or anticipate 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 us. 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 we operate, 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 our customers and suppliers;

 

   

changes in actual industry vehicle production levels from our 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 we are a significant supplier;

 

   

disruptions in the relationships with our suppliers;

 

   

labor disputes involving us or our significant customers or suppliers or that otherwise affect us;

 

   

the outcome of customer negotiations and the impact of customer-imposed price reductions;

 

   

the impact and timing of program launch costs and our management of new program launches;

 

   

the costs, timing and success of restructuring actions;

 

   

increases in our warranty, product liability or recall costs;

 

   

risks associated with conducting business in foreign countries;

 

   

the impact of regulations on our foreign operations;

 

   

the operational and financial success of our joint ventures;

 

   

competitive conditions impacting us and our key customers and suppliers;

 

   

disruptions to our information technology systems, including those related to cybersecurity;

 

   

the cost and availability of raw materials, energy, commodities and product components and our ability to mitigate such costs;

 

   

the outcome of legal or regulatory proceedings to which we are 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 our ability to align our vendor payment terms with those of our customers;

 

   

limitations imposed by our existing indebtedness and our ability to access capital markets on commercially reasonable terms;

 

   

impairment charges initiated by adverse industry or market developments;

 

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our ability to execute our 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 us relating to intellectual property rights;

 

   

our ability to utilize our 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 Part I – Item 1A, “Risk Factors,” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016, and from time to time in our other SEC filings.

 

Any forward-looking statement included in or incorporated by reference in this prospectus speaks only as of the date on which such statement is made, and we do not assume any obligation to update, amend or clarify such statements to reflect events, new information or circumstances occurring after such date.

 

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LEAR CORPORATION

 

Lear Corporation is a leading Tier 1 supplier to the global automotive industry. We supply seating, electrical distribution systems and electronic modules, as well as related sub-systems, components and software, to all of the world’s major automotive manufacturers. We have 257 manufacturing, engineering and administrative locations in 38 countries and are continuing to grow our business in all automotive producing regions of the world, both organically and through complementary acquisitions. Our manufacturing footprint reflects more than 145 facilities in 22 low cost countries.

 

Our business is organized under two reporting segments: Seating and E-Systems (formerly Electrical). Each of these segments has a varied product range across a number of component categories:

 

   

Seating—Our seating segment consists of the design, development, engineering, just-in-time assembly and delivery of complete seat systems, as well as the design, development, engineering and manufacture of all major seat components, including seat covers and surface materials such as leather and fabric, seat structures and mechanisms, seat foam and headrests. Further, we have capabilities in active sensing and comfort for seats, utilizing electronically controlled sensor and adjustment systems and internally developed algorithms. Through a strategic investment, we also offer thermoelectric seat heating and cooling capabilities.

 

   

E-Systems—Our E-Systems segment consists of the design, development, engineering and manufacture of complete electrical distribution systems that route electrical signals and manage electrical power within the vehicle for traditional vehicle architectures, as well as high power and hybrid electric systems. Key components in the electrical distribution system include wiring harnesses, terminals and connectors and junction boxes, including components for high power and hybrid electric systems. We also design, develop, engineer and manufacture sophisticated electronic control modules that facilitate signal, data and power management within the vehicle, as well as associated software. We have added capabilities in wireless communication modules and cybersecurity that securely process various signals to, from and within the vehicle, as well as capabilities to provide roadside modules that communicate real-time traffic information to vehicles in the area.

 

We serve the worldwide automotive and light truck market in both our seating and E-Systems segments. We have automotive content on over 400 vehicle nameplates worldwide and serve all of the world’s major automotive manufacturers across our businesses and various component categories in both our seating and E-Systems segments. It is common to have both seating and electrical content on the same and multiple vehicle platforms with a single customer. In addition, our electrical components are often integrated into our complete seat systems. Our businesses benefit globally from leveraging common operating standards and disciplines, including world-class development and manufacturing processes, as well as common customer support and regional infrastructures. Our core capabilities are shared across component categories and include high-precision manufacturing and assembly with short lead times, management of complex supply chains, global engineering and program management skills, the agility to establish and/or move facilities quickly and a unique customer-focused culture. Our businesses utilize proprietary, industry-specific processes and standards, leverage common low-cost engineering centers and share centralized operating support functions, such as logistics, supply chain management, quality and health and safety, as well as all major administrative functions.

 

Our principal executive offices are located at 21557 Telegraph Road, Southfield, Michigan 48033. Our telephone number is (248) 447-1500. Our website address is www.lear.com. The information on or accessible through our website is not part of this prospectus and should not be relied upon in connection with making any investment decision with respect to the securities offered by this prospectus.

 

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RISK FACTORS

 

Investing in our securities involves risks. You should carefully consider the risk factors described in Part I – Item 1A, “Risk Factors,” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016, and our other reports filed from time to time with the SEC, which are incorporated by reference into this prospectus, as the same may be amended, supplemented or superseded from time to time by our filings under the Exchange Act, as well as any prospectus supplement relating to a specific security. Before making any investment decision, you should carefully consider these risks, as well as other information we include or incorporate by reference in this prospectus or in any applicable prospectus supplement. For more information, see the section entitled “Where You Can Find More Information” on page 23 of this prospectus. These risks could materially affect our business, results of operations or financial condition and affect the value of our securities. You could lose all or part of your investment. Additional risks and uncertainties not presently known to us or that we currently deem immaterial may also affect our business, results of operations or financial condition.

 

CONSOLIDATED RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES

 

The following table sets forth our ratio of earnings to fixed charges for the periods indicated:

 

      Year End  
   December 31,
2016
     December 31,
2015
     December 31,
2014
     December 31,
2013
     December 31,
2012
 

Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges(1)

     12.0x        9.4x        8.4x        6.8x        8.7x  

 

(1)   “Fixed charges” consist of interest on debt, amortization of deferred financing fees and that portion of rental expenses representative of interest. “Earnings” consist of consolidated income before provision (benefit) for income taxes and equity in the undistributed net income of affiliates and fixed charges.

 

USE OF PROCEEDS

 

Unless otherwise set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement, we intend to use the net proceeds of any offering of our securities for working capital and other general corporate purposes, including refinancing of debt. We will have significant discretion in the use of any net proceeds. The net proceeds from the sale of securities may be invested temporarily until they are used for their stated purpose. We may provide additional information on the use of the net proceeds from the sale of our securities in an applicable prospectus supplement or other offering materials related to the offered securities.

 

DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES

 

This prospectus contains summary descriptions of the capital stock, debt securities, warrants, subscription rights, stock purchase contracts and stock purchase units that we may offer and sell from time to time. These summary descriptions are not meant to be complete descriptions of any security. At the time of an offering and sale, this prospectus, together with the accompanying prospectus supplement, will contain the material terms of the securities being offered.

 

DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK

 

The following descriptions of our capital stock and of certain provisions of Delaware law do not purport to be complete and are subject to and qualified in their entirety by reference to our Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (the “Certificate”), our Amended and Restated Bylaws (the “Bylaws”) and the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “DGCL”). Copies of our Certificate and Bylaws have been filed with the SEC and are filed as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part.

 

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As used in this “Description of Capital Stock,” the terms “we,” “our” and “us” refer only to Lear Corporation, a Delaware corporation, and not, unless otherwise indicated, to any of our subsidiaries.

 

As of the date hereof, our authorized capital stock consists of 400,000,000 shares, of which 300,000,000 shares are common stock, par value $0.01 per share, and 100,000,000 shares are preferred stock, par value $0.01 per share. As of August 4, 2017, there were 72,563,291 shares of common stock issued and 68,006,342 shares of common stock outstanding and no shares of preferred stock issued and outstanding. All of our outstanding shares of common stock are fully paid and non-assessable.

 

Our common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “LEA.”

 

Common Stock

 

Voting Rights.     All shares of our common stock have identical rights and privileges. With limited exceptions, holders of common stock are entitled to one vote for each outstanding share of common stock held of record by each stockholder on all matters properly submitted for the vote of our stockholders.

 

Dividend Rights.     Subject to applicable law, any contractual restrictions and the rights of the holders of outstanding preferred stock, if any, holders of common stock are entitled to receive ratably such dividends and other distributions that our board of directors, in its discretion, declares from time to time.

 

Liquidation Rights.     Upon our dissolution, liquidation or winding up, subject to the rights of the holders of outstanding preferred stock, if any, holders of common stock are entitled to receive ratably our assets available for distribution to our stockholders in proportion to the number of shares of common stock held by each stockholder.

 

Conversion, Redemption and Preemptive Rights.     Holders of common stock have no conversion, redemption, sinking fund, preemptive, subscription or similar rights.

 

Registration Rights.     Holders of common stock have no registration rights.

 

Each prospectus supplement relating to a series of common stock may describe material U.S. federal income tax considerations applicable to the purchase, holding and disposition of such series of common stock.

 

Preferred Stock

 

Our Certificate authorizes our board of directors, without further stockholder action, to provide for the issuance of up to 100,000,000 shares of preferred stock, in one or more series, and to fix the designations, terms and relative rights and preferences, including the dividend rate, voting rights, conversion rights, redemption and sinking fund provisions and liquidation preferences of each of these series.

 

The particular terms of any series of preferred stock that we offer under this prospectus will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement relating to that series of preferred stock. Those terms may include:

 

   

the title and liquidation preference per share of the preferred stock and the number of shares offered;

 

   

the purchase price of the preferred stock;

 

   

the dividend rate (or method of calculation), the dates on which dividends will be payable, whether dividends shall be cumulative and, if so, the date from which dividends will begin to accumulate;

 

   

any redemption or sinking fund provisions of the preferred stock;

 

   

any conversion, redemption or exchange provisions of the preferred stock;

 

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the voting rights, if any, of the preferred stock; and

 

   

any additional dividend, liquidation, redemption, sinking fund and other rights, preferences, privileges, limitations and restrictions of the preferred stock.

 

You should refer to the certificate of designations establishing a particular series of preferred stock which will be filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware and the SEC in connection with any offering of preferred stock.

 

Each prospectus supplement relating to a series of preferred stock may describe material U.S. federal income tax considerations applicable to the purchase, holding and disposition of such series of preferred stock.

 

Provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws that May Have an Anti-Takeover Effect

 

Certain provisions in the Certificate and the Bylaws, as well as the DGCL, may have the effect of discouraging transactions that involve an actual or threatened change in control of Lear. In addition, provisions of the Certificate, the Bylaws and the DGCL may be deemed to have an anti-takeover effect and may delay, deter or prevent a tender offer or takeover attempt that a stockholder might consider to be in its best interests.

 

Special Meetings of Stockholders.     Our board of directors may call a special meeting of stockholders at any time and for any purpose, but no stockholder or other person may call any such special meeting.

 

No Written Consent of Stockholders.     Any action taken by our stockholders must be effected at a duly held meeting of stockholders and may not be effected by the written consent of such stockholders.

 

Blank Check Preferred Stock.     The Certificate contains provisions that permit our board of directors to issue, without any further vote or action by the stockholders, up to 100,000,000 shares of preferred stock in one or more series and, with respect to each such series, to fix the number of shares constituting the series and the designation of the series, the voting powers, if any, of the shares of the series, and the preferences and relative, participating, optional and other special rights, if any, and any qualifications, limitations or restrictions, of the shares of such series. Such provisions could have the effect of discouraging others from making tender offers or takeover attempts.

 

Advance Notice of Stockholder Action at a Meeting.     Stockholders seeking to nominate directors or to bring business before a stockholder meeting must comply with certain timing requirements and submit certain information to us in advance of such meeting.

 

Business Combinations.     We are subject to the provisions of Section 203 of the DGCL. Subject to certain exceptions, Section 203 prohibits a publicly held Delaware corporation from engaging in a business combination with an interested stockholder for a period of three years after the person becomes an interested stockholder, unless the interested stockholder attained such status with the approval of the corporation’s board of directors or the business combination is approved in a prescribed manner. A business combination includes, among other things, a merger or consolidation involving the corporation and the interested stockholder and the sale of more than 10% of the corporation’s assets. In general, an interested stockholder is an entity or person beneficially owning 15% or more of the corporation’s outstanding voting stock and any entity or person affiliated with or controlling or controlled by such entity or person.

 

Limitation of Liability of Directors

 

The Certificate contains a provision eliminating the personal liability of our directors to us and our stockholders to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law. The Certificate also contains provisions generally providing for indemnification and advancement of expenses to our directors and officers to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law.

 

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Transfer Agent and Registrar

 

Computershare Trust Company, N.A. acts as transfer agent and registrar for our common stock.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES

 

General

 

As used in this prospectus, debt securities means the debentures, notes, bonds and other evidences of indebtedness that we may issue separately, upon exercise of a debt warrant, in connection with a stock purchase contract or as part of a stock purchase unit, from time to time. The debt securities offered by this prospectus will be issued under one of two separate indentures between us and U.S. Bank National Association, as Trustee. We have filed the forms of indenture as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part. The senior note indenture and the subordinated note indenture are sometimes referred to in this prospectus individually as an “indenture” and collectively as the “indentures.” We may also issue debt securities under a separate, new indenture. If that occurs, we will describe any differences in the terms of any indenture in the prospectus supplement.

 

The debt securities will be obligations of Lear and will be either senior or subordinated debt securities. We have summarized material selected provisions of the indentures and the debt securities below. This summary is not complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the indentures. References to section numbers in this prospectus, unless otherwise indicated are references to section numbers of the applicable indenture. For purposes of this summary, the terms “we,” “our” and “us” refer only to Lear Corporation and not to any of its subsidiaries. Section references included in this summary of our debt securities refer to specific sections of the indentures.

 

The indentures do not limit the aggregate principal amount of debt securities that we may issue and provide that we may issue debt securities from time to time in one or more series, in each case with the same or various maturities, at par or at a discount. The indentures also do not limit our ability to incur other debt. The indentures give us the ability to reopen a previous issue of a series of debt securities and issue additional debt securities of the same series. If specified in the prospectus supplement relating to a particular series of debt securities, one or more subsidiary guarantors will fully and unconditionally guarantee that series, as described in the applicable prospectus supplement.

 

We will describe the material terms of each series of debt securities we offer in a supplement to this prospectus. Each prospectus supplement relating to a series of debt securities may also describe material U.S. federal income tax considerations applicable to the purchase, holding and disposition of such series of debt securities. If any particular terms of the debt securities described in a prospectus supplement differ from any of the terms described in this prospectus, then the terms described in the applicable prospectus supplement will supersede the terms described in this prospectus. The terms of our debt securities will include those set forth in the indentures and those made a part of the indentures by the Trust Indenture Act of 1939. You should carefully read the summary below the applicable prospectus supplement and the provisions of the indentures that may be important to you before investing in our debt securities.

 

Ranking

 

The senior debt securities offered by this prospectus will:

 

   

be general obligations;

 

   

rank equally with all other unsubordinated indebtedness of Lear (except to the extent such other indebtedness is secured by collateral that does not also secure the senior debt securities offered by this prospectus); and

 

   

with respect to the assets and earnings of our subsidiaries, effectively rank below all of the liabilities of our subsidiaries (except to the extent that the senior debt securities are guaranteed by our subsidiaries).

 

The subordinated debt securities offered by this prospectus will:

 

   

be general obligations;

 

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rank subordinated and junior in right of payment, to the extent set forth in the subordinated note indenture to all senior debt of Lear; and

 

   

with respect to the assets and earnings of our subsidiaries, effectively rank below all of the liabilities of our subsidiaries (except to the extent that the subordinated debt securities are guaranteed by our subsidiaries).

 

A substantial portion of our assets are owned through our subsidiaries, many of which may have debt or other liabilities of their own that will be structurally senior to the debt securities. Therefore, unless the debt securities are guaranteed by our subsidiaries, our rights and the rights of our creditors, including holders of debt securities, to participate in the assets of any subsidiary upon any such subsidiary’s liquidation may be subject to the prior claims of the subsidiary’s other creditors.

 

Subject to the exceptions, and subject to compliance with the applicable requirements set forth in the indentures, we may discharge our obligations under the indentures with respect to our debt securities as described below under “— Defeasance.”

 

Terms

 

We will describe the specific material terms of the series of debt securities being offered in a supplement to this prospectus. These terms may include some or all of the following:

 

   

the title of the debt securities;

 

   

whether the debt securities will be senior or subordinated debt;

 

   

whether and the extent to which any subsidiary will provide a subsidiary guarantee of the debt securities or whether and to the extent the debt securities are entitled to the benefits of any other form of guarantee;

 

   

any limit on the total principal amount of the debt securities;

 

   

the date or dates on which the principal of the debt securities will be payable and whether the stated maturity date can be extended or the method used to determine or extend those dates;

 

   

any interest rate on the debt securities, any date from which interest will accrue, any interest payment dates and regular record dates for interest payments, or the method used to determine any of the foregoing, and the basis for calculating interest if other than a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months;

 

   

the place or places where payments on the debt securities will be payable, where the debt securities may be presented for registration of transfer, exchange or conversion, and where notices and demands to or upon us relating to the debt securities may be made, if other than the corporate trust office of the Trustee;

 

   

the right, if any, to extend the interest payment periods and the duration of any such deferral period;

 

   

the rate or rates of amortization of the debt securities, if any;

 

   

any provisions for redemption of the debt securities;

 

   

any provisions that would allow or obligate us to redeem or purchase the debt securities prior to their maturity pursuant to any sinking fund or analogous provision or at the option of the holder;

 

   

the purchase price for the debt securities and the denominations in which we will issue the debt securities, if other than a minimum denomination of $2,000 and integral multiple of $1,000;

 

   

any provisions that would determine payments on the debt securities by reference to an index or a formula or other method and the manner of determining the amount of such payments, any foreign currency, currencies or currency units in which the debt securities will be denominated and in which principal, any premium and any interest will or may be payable and the manner for determining the equivalent amount in U.S. dollars;

 

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any provisions for payments on the debt securities in one or more currencies or currency units other than those in which the debt securities are stated to be payable;

 

   

the portion of the principal amount of the debt securities that will be payable if the maturity of the debt securities is accelerated, if other than the entire principal amount;

 

   

any variation of the defeasance and covenant defeasance sections of the indentures and the manner in which our election to defease the debt securities will be evidenced, if other than by a board resolution;

 

   

whether we will issue the debt securities in the form of temporary or permanent global securities, the depositaries for the global securities, and provisions for exchanging or transferring the global securities;

 

   

whether the interest rate on the debt securities may be reset;

 

   

whether the stated maturity of the debt securities may be extended;

 

   

any deletion or addition to or change in the events of default for the debt securities and any change in the rights of the Trustee or the holders or the debt securities arising from an event of default including, among others, the right to declare the principal amount of the debt securities due and payable;

 

   

any addition to or change in the covenants in the indentures;

 

   

any additions or changes to the indentures necessary to issue the debt securities in bearer form, registrable or not registrable as to principal, and with or without interest coupons;

 

   

the appointment of any trustees, depositaries, authenticating or paying agents, transfer agents or registrars or other agents with respect to the debt securities;

 

   

the terms of any right to convert or exchange the debt securities into any other securities or property;

 

   

the terms and conditions, if any, pursuant to which the debt securities are secured;

 

   

any restriction or condition on the transferability of the debt securities;

 

   

the person to whom any interest on any debt security shall be payable, if other than the person in whose name the security is registered on the record date for such interest, and the extent to which, or the manner in which, any interest payable on a temporary global debt security will be paid if other than in the manner provided in the applicable indenture;

 

   

if the principal amount payable at the stated maturity of any debt will not be determinable as of any one or more dates prior to the stated maturity, the amount which shall be deemed to be the principal amount of such debt securities as of any such date for any purpose, including the principal amount thereof which shall be due and payable upon any maturity other than the stated maturity or which shall be deemed to be outstanding as of any date prior to the stated maturity (or, in any such case, the manner in which such amount deemed to be the principal shall be determined);

 

   

whether, under what circumstances and the currency in which we will pay any additional amount on the debt securities as contemplated in the applicable indenture in respect of any tax, assessment or governmental charge and, if so, whether we will have the option to redeem the debt securities rather than pay such additional amounts (and the terms of any such option);

 

   

in the case of subordinated debt securities, any subordination provisions and related definitions which may be applicable in addition to, or in lieu of, those contained in the subordinated note indenture;

 

   

the exchanges, if any, on which the debt securities may be listed; and

 

   

any other terms of the debt securities consistent with the indentures.

 

Any limit on the maximum total principal amount for any series of the debt securities may be increased by resolution of our board of directors. We may sell the debt securities, including original issue discount securities, at a substantial discount below their stated principal amount. If there are any special United States federal income

 

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tax considerations applicable to debt securities we sell at an original issue discount, we will describe them in the prospectus supplement. In addition, we will describe in the prospectus supplement any special United States federal income tax considerations and any other special considerations for any debt securities we sell which are denominated in a currency or currency unit other than U.S. dollars.

 

Form, Exchange and Transfer

 

We will issue the debt securities in registered form, without coupons. Unless we inform you otherwise in the prospectus supplement, we will only issue debt securities in denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 thereafter.

 

Holders generally will be able to exchange debt securities for other debt securities of the same series with the same total principal amount and the same terms but in different authorized denominations.

 

Holders may present debt securities for exchange or for registration of transfer at the office of the security registrar or at the office of any transfer agent we designate for that purpose. The security registrar or designated transfer agent will exchange or transfer the debt securities if it is satisfied with the documents of title and identity of the person making the request. We will not charge a service charge for any exchange or registration of transfer of debt securities. However, we and the security registrar may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge payable for the registration of transfer or exchange. Unless we inform you otherwise in the prospectus supplement, we will appoint the Trustee as security registrar. We will identify any transfer agent in addition to the security registrar in the prospectus supplement. At any time we may:

 

   

designate additional transfer agents;

 

   

rescind the designation of any transfer agent; or

 

   

approve a change in the office of any transfer agent.

 

However, we are required to maintain a transfer agent in each place of payment for the debt securities at all times. If we elect to redeem a series of debt securities, neither we nor the Trustee will be required:

 

   

to issue, register the transfer of or exchange any debt securities of that series during the period beginning at the opening of business 15 days before the day we mail the notice of redemption for the series and ending at the close of business on the day the notice is mailed; or

 

   

to register the transfer or exchange of any debt security of that series so selected for redemption, except for any portion not to be redeemed.

 

Payment and Paying Agents

 

Under the indentures, we will pay interest on the debt securities to the persons in whose names the debt securities are registered at the close of business on the regular record date for each interest payment. However, unless we inform you otherwise in the prospectus supplement, we will pay the interest payable on the debt securities at their stated maturity to the persons to whom we pay the principal amount of the debt securities. The initial payment of interest on any series of debt securities issued between a regular record date and the related interest payment date will be payable in the manner provided by the terms of the series, which we will describe in the prospectus supplement.

 

Unless we inform you otherwise in the prospectus supplement, we will pay principal, premium, if any, and interest on the debt securities at the offices of the paying agents we designate. However, except in the case of a global security, we may pay interest:

 

   

by check mailed to the address of the person entitled to the payment as it appears in the security register, or

 

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by wire transfer in immediately available funds to the place and account designated in writing at least fifteen days prior to the interest payment date by the person entitled to the payment as specified in the security register.

 

We will designate the Trustee as the sole paying agent for the debt securities unless we inform you otherwise in the prospectus supplement. If we initially designate any other paying agents for a series of debt securities, we will identify them in the prospectus supplement. At any time, we may designate additional paying agents or rescind the designation of any paying agents. However, we are required to maintain a paying agent in each place of payment for the debt securities at all times.

 

Any money deposited with the Trustee or any paying agent in trust for the payment of principal, premium, if any, or interest on the debt securities that remains unclaimed for one year after the date the payments became due, may be repaid to us upon our request. After we have been repaid, holders entitled to those payments may only look to us for payment as our unsecured general creditors. The Trustee and any paying agents will not be liable for those payments after we have been repaid.

 

Restrictive Covenants

 

We will describe any restrictive covenants for any series of debt securities in the prospectus supplement.

 

Consolidation, Merger and Sale of Assets

 

Under the indentures, we may not consolidate with or merge into, or convey, transfer or lease all or substantially all of our properties and assets to, any person as (as defined below), referred to as a “successor person” unless:

 

   

the successor person expressly assumes our obligations with respect to the debt securities and the indentures;

 

   

immediately after giving effect to the transaction, no event of default shall have occurred and be continuing and no event which, after notice or lapse of time or both, would become an event of default, shall have occurred and be continuing; and

 

   

we have delivered to the Trustee the certificates and opinions required under the respective indenture.

 

As used in the indentures, the term “person” means any individual, corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, unincorporated organization, government or agency or political subdivision thereof.

 

Events of Default

 

Unless we inform you otherwise in the prospectus supplement, each of the following will be an event of default under the applicable indenture with respect to any series of debt securities:

 

   

our failure to pay principal or premium, if any, on that series of debt securities when such principal or premium, if any, becomes due;

 

   

our failure to pay any interest on that series of debt securities for 30 days after such interest becomes due;

 

   

our failure to deposit any sinking fund payment for 30 days after such payment is due by the terms of that series of debt securities;

 

   

our failure to perform, or our breach, in any material respect, of any other covenant or warranty in the indenture with respect to that series of debt securities, other than a covenant or warranty included in such indenture solely for the benefit of another series of debt securities, for 90 days after either the Trustee has given us or holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series have given us and the Trustee written notice of such failure to perform or breach in the manner required by the indentures;

 

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specified events involving the bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization of us; and

 

   

any other event of default we may provide for that series of debt securities, provided, however, that no event described in the fourth bullet point above will be an event of default until an officer of the Trustee responsible for the administration of the indentures has actual knowledge of the event or until the Trustee receives written notice of the event at its corporate trust office.

 

An event of default under one series of debt securities does not necessarily constitute an event of default under any other series of debt securities. If an event of default for a series of debt securities occurs and is continuing, either the Trustee or the holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series may declare the principal amount of all the debt securities of that series due and immediately payable by a notice in writing to us (and to the Trustee if given by the holders); provided that, in the case of an event of default involving certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization, such acceleration is automatic; and provided further, that after such acceleration, but before a judgment or decree based on acceleration, the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series may, subject to certain conditions, rescind and annul such acceleration if all events of default, other than the nonpayment of accelerated principal have been cured or waived. Upon such acceleration, we will be obligated to pay the principal amount of that series of debt securities.

 

The right described in the preceding paragraph does not apply if an event of default occurs as described in the sixth bullet point above (i.e., other events of default), which is common to all series of our debt securities then outstanding. If such an event of default occurs and is continuing, either the Trustee or holders of at least 25% in principal amount of all series of the debt securities then outstanding, treated as one class, may declare the principal amount of all series of the debt securities then outstanding to be due and payable immediately by a notice in writing to us (and to the Trustee if given by the holders). Upon such declaration, we will be obligated to pay the principal amount of the debt securities.

 

If an event of default occurs and is continuing, the Trustee will generally have no obligation to exercise any of its rights or powers under the indentures at the request or direction of any of the holders, unless the holders offer indemnity to the Trustee reasonably satisfactory to it. The holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of any series will generally have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee or exercising any trust or power conferred on the Trustee for the debt securities of that series, provided that:

 

   

the direction is not in conflict with any law or the indentures;

 

   

the Trustee may take any other action it deems proper which is not inconsistent with the direction; and

 

   

the Trustee will generally have the right to decline to follow the direction if an officer of the Trustee determines, in good faith, that the proceeding would involve the Trustee in personal liability or would otherwise be contrary to applicable law.

 

A holder of a debt security of any series may only institute proceedings or pursue any other remedy under the indentures if:

 

   

the holder gives the Trustee written notice of a continuing event of default;

 

   

holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series make a written request to the Trustee to institute proceedings with respect to such event of default;

 

   

the holders offer indemnity to the Trustee reasonably satisfactory to it against any loss, liability or expense in complying with such request;

 

   

the Trustee fails to institute proceedings within 60 days after receipt of the notice, request and offer or indemnity; and

 

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during that 60-day period, the holders of a majority in principal amount of the debt securities of that series do not give the Trustee a direction inconsistent with the request.

 

However, these limitations do not apply to a suit by a holder of a debt security demanding payment of the principal, premium, if any, or interest on a debt security on or after the date the payment is due.

 

We will be required to furnish to the Trustee annually a statement by some of our officers regarding our performance or observance of any of the terms of the indentures and specifying all of our known defaults, if any.

 

Modification and Waiver

 

When authorized by a board resolution, we may enter into one or more supplemental indentures with the Trustee without the consent of the holders of the debt securities in order to:

 

   

provide for the assumption of our obligations to holders of debt securities in the case of a merger or consolidation or sale of substantially all of our assets;

 

   

add to our covenants for the benefit of the holders of any series of debt securities or to surrender any of our rights or powers;

 

   

add any additional events of default for any series of debt securities for the benefit of the holders of any series of debt securities;

 

   

add to, change or eliminate any provision of the indentures applying to one or more series of debt securities, provided that if such action adversely affects the interests of any holder of any series of debt securities in any material respect, such addition, change or elimination will become effective with respect to that series only when no such security of that series remains outstanding;

 

   

secure the debt securities;

 

   

establish the forms or terms of any series of debt securities;

 

   

provide for uncertificated securities in addition to certificated securities;

 

   

evidence and provide for successor Trustees and to add to or change any provisions of the indentures to the extent necessary to appoint a separate Trustee or Trustees for a specific series of debt securities;

 

   

correct any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency under the indentures;

 

   

add any person as a guarantor;

 

   

make other provisions with respect to matters or questions arising under the indentures, provided that such action does not adversely affect the interests of the holders of any series of debt securities in any material respect;

 

   

supplement any provisions of the indentures necessary to defease and discharge any series of debt securities, provided that such action does not adversely affect the interests of the holders of any series of debt securities in any material respect;

 

   

comply with the rules or regulations of any securities exchange or automated quotation system on which any debt securities are listed or traded; or

 

   

add to, change or eliminate any provisions of the indentures in accordance with any amendments to the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, provided that such action does not adversely affect the rights or interests of any holder of debt securities in any material respect.

 

When authorized by a board resolution, we may enter into one or more supplemental indentures with the Trustee in order to add to, change or eliminate provisions of the indentures or to modify the rights of the holders of one or more series of debt securities under such indentures if we obtain the consent of the holders of a

 

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majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of all series affected by such supplemental indenture, treated as one class. However, without the consent of the holders of each outstanding debt security affected by the supplemental indenture, we may not enter into a supplemental indenture that:

 

   

except with respect to the reset of the interest rate or extension of maturity pursuant to the terms of a particular series, changes the stated maturity of the principal of, or any installment of principal of or interest on, any debt security, or reduces the principal amount of, or any premium or rate of interest on, any debt security;

 

   

reduces the amount of principal of an original issue discount security or any other debt security payable upon acceleration of the maturity thereof;

 

   

changes the place or currency of payment of principal, premium, if any, or interest;

 

   

impairs the right to institute suit for the enforcement of any payment on or after such payment becomes due for any security;

 

   

except as provided in the applicable indenture, releases any applicable guarantees;

 

   

reduces the percentage in principal amount of outstanding debt securities of any series, the consent of whose holders is required for modification of the indentures, for waiver of compliance with certain provisions of the indentures or for waiver of certain defaults of the indentures;

 

   

makes certain modifications to the provisions for modification of the indentures and for certain waivers, except to increase the principal amount of debt securities necessary to consent to any such change or to provide that certain other provisions of the indentures cannot be modified or waived without the consent of the holders of each outstanding debt security affected by such change;

 

   

makes any change that adversely affects in any material respect the right to convert or exchange any convertible or exchangeable debt security or decreases the conversion or exchange rate or increases the conversion price of such debt security, unless such decrease or increase is permitted by the terms of such debt securities; or

 

   

changes the terms and conditions pursuant to which any series of debt securities are secured in a manner adverse to the holders of such debt securities in any material respect.

 

In addition, the subordinated note indenture may not be amended without the consent of each holder of subordinated debt securities affected thereby to modify the subordination of the subordinated debt securities issued under that indenture in a manner adverse to the holders of the subordinated debt securities in any material respect.

 

Holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of any series may waive past defaults or noncompliance with restrictive provisions of the indentures. However, the consent of holders of each outstanding debt security of a series is required to:

 

   

waive any default in the payment of principal, premium, if any, or interest; or

 

   

waive any covenants and provisions of an indenture that may not be amended without the consent of the holder of each outstanding debt security of the series affected.

 

In order to determine whether the holders of the requisite principal amount of the outstanding debt securities have taken an action under an indenture as of a specified date:

 

   

the principal amount of an “original issue discount security” that will be deemed to be outstanding will be the amount of the principal that would be due and payable as of that date upon acceleration of the maturity to that date;

 

   

if, as of that date, the principal amount payable at the stated maturity of a debt security is not determinable, for example, because it is based on an index, the principal amount of the debt security

 

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deemed to be outstanding as of that date will be an amount determined in the manner prescribed for the debt security;

 

   

the principal amount of a debt security denominated in one or more foreign currencies or currency units that will be deemed to be outstanding will be the U.S. dollar equivalent, determined as of that date in the manner prescribed for the debt security, of the principal amount of the debt security or, in the case of a debt security described in the two preceding bullet points, of the amount described above; and

 

   

debt securities owned by us or any other obligor upon the debt securities or any of our or their affiliates will be disregarded and deemed not to be outstanding.

 

An “original issue discount security” means a debt security issued under the indentures which provides for an amount less than the principal amount thereof to be due and payable upon a declaration of acceleration of maturity. Some debt securities, including those for the payment or redemption of which money has been deposited or set aside in trust for the holders, and those which have been legally defeased under the indentures, will not be deemed to be outstanding.

 

We will generally be entitled to set any day as a record date for determining the holders of outstanding debt securities of any series entitled to give or take any direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action under an indenture. In limited circumstances, the Trustee will be entitled to set a record date for action by holders of outstanding debt securities. If a record date is set for any action to be taken by holders of a particular series, the action may be taken only by persons who are holders of outstanding debt securities of that series on the record date. To be effective, the action must be taken by holders of the requisite principal amount of debt securities within a specified period following the record date. For any particular record date, this period will be 180 days or such shorter period as we may specify, or the Trustee may specify, if it sets the record date. This period may be shortened or lengthened by not more than 180 days.

 

Conversion and Exchange Rights

 

The debt securities of any series may be convertible into or exchangeable for other securities of Lear or another issuer or property or cash on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement.

 

Defeasance

 

When we use the term defeasance, we mean discharge from some or all of our obligations under either indenture. Unless we inform you otherwise in the prospectus supplement, if we deposit with the Trustee funds or government securities sufficient to make payments on the debt securities of a series on the dates those payments are due and payable and comply with all other conditions to defeasance set forth in the indentures, then, at our option, either of the following will occur:

 

   

we will be discharged from our obligations with respect to the debt securities of that series (“legal defeasance”); or

 

   

we will no longer have any obligation to comply with the restrictive covenants under the indentures, and the related events of default will no longer apply to us, but some of our other obligations under the indentures and the debt securities of that series, including the obligation to make payments on those debt securities, will survive (a “covenant defeasance”).

 

If we legally defease a series of debt securities, the holders of the debt securities of the series affected will not be entitled to the benefits of the indentures, except for:

 

   

the rights of holders of that series of debt securities to receive, solely from a trust fund, payments in respect of such debt securities when payments are due;

 

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our obligation to register the transfer or exchange of debt securities;

 

   

our obligation to replace mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen debt securities; and

 

   

our obligation to maintain paying agencies and hold moneys for payment in trust.

 

We may legally defease a series of debt securities notwithstanding any prior exercise of our option of covenant defeasance in respect of such series.

 

In addition, the subordinated note indenture provides that if we choose to have the legal defeasance provision applied to the subordinated debt securities, the subordination provisions of the subordinated note indenture will become ineffective. The subordinated note indenture also provides that if we choose to have covenant defeasance apply to any series of debt securities issued pursuant to the subordinated note indenture we need not comply with the provisions relating to subordination.

 

If we exercise either our legal defeasance or covenant defeasance option, any applicable subsidiary guarantee will terminate.

 

Unless we inform you otherwise in the prospectus supplement, we will be required to deliver to the Trustee an opinion of counsel that the deposit and related defeasance would not cause the holders of the debt securities to recognize gain or loss for federal income tax purposes and that the holders would be subject to federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if the deposit and related defeasance had not occurred. If we elect legal defeasance, that opinion of counsel must be based upon a ruling from the United States Internal Revenue Service or a change in law to that effect.

 

Satisfaction and Discharge

 

We may discharge our obligations under the indentures while securities remain outstanding if (1) all outstanding debt securities issued under the indentures have become due and payable, (2) all outstanding debt securities issued under the indentures will become due and payable at their stated maturity within one year of the date of deposit, or (3) all outstanding debt securities issued under the indentures are scheduled for redemption in one year, and in each case, we have deposited with the Trustee an amount sufficient to pay and discharge all outstanding debt securities issued under the indentures on the date of their scheduled maturity or the scheduled date of the redemption and paid all other amounts payable under the indentures. The subordinated note indenture provides that if we choose to discharge our obligations with respect to the subordinated debt securities, the subordination provisions of the subordinated note indenture will become ineffective.

 

Global Notes, Delivery and Form

 

Unless otherwise specified in a prospectus supplement, the debt securities will be issued in the form of one or more fully registered Global Notes (as defined below) that will be deposited with, or on behalf of, The Depository Trust Company, New York, New York (the “Depository”) and registered in the name of the Depository’s nominee. Global Notes are not exchangeable for definitive note certificates except in the specific circumstances described below. For purposes of this prospectus, “Global Note” refers to the Global Note or Global Notes representing an entire issue of debt securities.

 

Except as set forth below, a Global Note may be transferred by the Depository, in whole and not in part, only to a nominee of the Depository or by a nominee of the Depository to the Depository or another nominee of the Depository.

 

The Depository has advised us as follows:

 

   

The Depository is:

 

   

a limited purpose trust company organized under the laws of the State of New York;

 

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a “banking organization” within the meaning of the New York banking law;

 

   

a member of the Federal Reserve System;

 

   

a “clearing corporation” within the meaning of the New York Uniform Commercial Code; and

 

   

a “clearing agency” registered pursuant to the provisions of Section 17A of the Exchange Act.

 

   

The Depository was created to hold securities of its participants and to facilitate the clearance and settlement of securities transactions among its participants through electronic book entry changes in accounts of its participants, eliminating the need for physical movements of securities certificates.

 

   

The Depository participants include securities brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies, clearing corporations and others, some of whom own the Depository.

 

   

Access to the Depository book-entry system is also available to others that clear through or maintain a custodial relationship with a participant, either directly or indirectly.

 

   

When we issue a Global Note in connection with the sale thereof to an underwriter or underwriters, the Depository will immediately credit the accounts of participants designated by such underwriter or underwriters with the principal amount of the debt securities purchased by such underwriter or underwriters.

 

   

Ownership of beneficial interests in a Global Note and the transfers of ownership will be evidenced only through records maintained by the Depository (with respect to participants), by the participants (with respect to indirect participants and certain beneficial owners) and by the indirect participants (with respect to all other beneficial owners). The laws of some states require that certain purchasers of securities take physical delivery in a definitive form of securities they purchase. These laws may limit your ability to transfer beneficial interests in a Global Note.

 

So long as a nominee of the Depository is the registered owner of a Global Note, such nominee for all purposes will be considered the sole owner or holder of such debt securities under the indentures. Except as provided below, you will not be entitled to have debt securities registered in your name, will not receive or be entitled to receive physical delivery of debt securities in definitive form, and will not be considered the owner or holder thereof under the indentures.

 

Each person owning a beneficial interest in a Global Note must rely on the procedures of the Depository and, if that person is not a participant, on the procedures of the participant through which that person owns its interest, to exercise any rights of a holder under the indentures. We understand that under existing industry practices, if we request any action of holders or if an owner of a beneficial interest in any Global Note desires to give or take any action which a holder is entitled to give or take under the indentures, the Depository would authorize the participants holding the relevant beneficial interests to give or take that action, and the participants would authorize beneficial owners owning through these participants to give or take that action or would otherwise act upon the instructions of beneficial owners owning through them.

 

Redemption notices shall be sent to the Depository. If less than all of the debt securities within an issue are being redeemed, the Depository’s practice is to determine by lot the amount of the interest of each participant in such issue to be redeemed.

 

We will make payment of principal of, and interest on, debt securities represented by a Global Note to the Depository or its nominee, as the case may be, as the registered owner and holder of the Global Note representing those debt securities. The Depository has advised us that upon receipt of any payment of principal of, or interest on, a Global Note, the Depository will immediately credit accounts of participants with payments in amounts proportionate to their respective beneficial interests in the principal amount of that Global Note, as shown in the records of the Depository. Standing instructions and customary practices will govern payments by participants to owners of beneficial interests in a Global Note held through those participants, as is now the case with securities

 

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held for the accounts of customers in bearer form or registered in “street name.” Those payments will be the sole responsibility of those participants, subject to any statutory or regulatory requirements that may be in effect from time to time.

 

Neither we, the Trustee nor any of our respective agents will be responsible for any aspect of the records of the Depository, any nominee or any participant relating to, or payments made on account of, beneficial interests in a Global Note or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any of the records of the Depository, any nominee or any participant relating to those beneficial interests.

 

As described above, we will issue debt securities in definitive form in exchange for a Global Note only in the following situations:

 

   

if the Depository is at any time unwilling or unable to continue as depositary, defaults in the performance of its duties as depositary, ceases to be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act, and, in each case, a successor depositary is not appointed by us within 90 days after notice thereof, or

 

   

if, subject to the rules of the Depository, we choose to issue definitive debt securities.

 

In either instance, an owner of a beneficial interest in a Global Note will be entitled to have debt securities equal in principal amount to such beneficial interest registered in its name and will be entitled to physical delivery of debt securities in definitive form. Debt securities in definitive form will be issued in initial denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 thereafter and will be issued in registered form only, without coupons. We will maintain one or more offices or agencies where debt securities may be presented for payment and may be transferred or exchanged. You will not be charged a fee for any transfer or exchange of such debt securities, but we may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge payable in connection therewith.

 

Subordination

 

Any subordinated debt securities issued under the subordinated note indenture will be subordinate and junior in right of payment to all Senior Debt (as defined below) of Lear whether existing at the date of the subordinated note indenture or subsequently incurred. Upon any payment or distribution of assets of Lear to creditors upon any:

 

   

liquidation;

 

   

dissolution;

 

   

winding-up;

 

   

receivership;

 

   

reorganization;

 

   

assignment for the benefit of creditors;

 

   

marshaling of assets; or

 

   

bankruptcy, insolvency or similar proceedings of Lear,

 

the holders of Senior Debt will first be entitled to receive payment in full of the principal of and premium, if any, and interest on such Senior Debt before the holders of the subordinated debt securities will be entitled to receive or retain any payment with respect of the principal of and any premium or interest on the subordinated debt securities.

 

Upon the acceleration of the maturity of any subordinated debt securities, the holders of all Senior Debt outstanding at the time of such acceleration will first be entitled to receive payment in full of all amounts due

 

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thereon, including any amounts due upon acceleration, before the holders of subordinated debt securities will be entitled to receive or retain any payment in respect of the principal (including redemption payments), or premium, if any, or interest on the subordinated debt securities.

 

No payments on account of principal (including redemption payments), or premium, if any, or interest, in respect of the subordinated debt securities may be made if:

 

   

there has occurred and is continuing a default in any payment with respect to Senior Debt; or

 

   

there has occurred and is continuing a default with respect to any Senior Debt resulting in the acceleration of the maturity thereof.

 

“Debt” means, with respect to any person:

 

   

all indebtedness of such person for borrowed money;

 

   

all obligations of such person evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or other similar instruments, including obligations incurred in connection with the acquisition of property, assets or businesses;

 

   

all obligations of such person with respect to letters of credit, bankers’ acceptances or similar facilities issued for the account of such person;

 

   

all obligations of such person to pay the deferred purchase price of property or services, but excluding accounts payable or any other indebtedness or monetary obligations to trade creditors arising in the ordinary course of business in connection with the acquisition of goods or services;

 

   

all capital lease obligations of such person;

 

   

all Debt of others secured by a lien on any asset by such person;

 

   

all Debt and dividends of others guaranteed by such person to the extent such Debt and dividends are guaranteed by such person; and

 

   

all obligations for claims in respect of derivative products.

 

“Senior Debt” means the principal of, and premium, if any, and interest on Debt of Lear, whether created, incurred or assumed on, before or after the date of the subordinated note indenture, unless the instrument creating or evidencing the Debt provides that such Debt is subordinated to or pari passu, with the subordinated debt securities.

 

Notices

 

Holders will receive notices by mail at their addresses as they appear in the security register.

 

Title

 

We, the Trustees and any agent of us or a Trustee may treat the person in whose name a debt security is registered on the applicable record date as the owner of the debt security for all purposes, whether or not it is overdue.

 

Governing Law

 

New York law governs the indentures and the debt securities.

 

Regarding the Trustee

 

We and our affiliates maintain various commercial and investment banking relationships with U.S. Bank National Associations and its affiliates in their ordinary course of business. An affiliate of U.S. Bank National Association is a lender under our revolving credit facility.

 

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If an event of default occurs under the indentures and is continuing, the Trustee will be required to use the degree of care and skill of a prudent person in the conduct of that person’s own affairs. The Trustee will become obligated to exercise any of its powers under the indentures at the request of any of the holders of any debt securities issued under the indentures only after those holders have offered the Trustee indemnity reasonably satisfactory to it.

 

If the Trustee becomes one of our creditors, its rights to obtain payment of claims in specified circumstances, or to realize for its own account on certain property received in respect of any such claim as security or otherwise will be limited under the terms of the indentures. The Trustee may engage in certain other transactions; however, if the Trustee acquires any conflicting interest (within the meaning specified under the Trust Indenture Act), it will be required to eliminate the conflict or resign.

 

DESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS

 

We may issue warrants for the purchase of debt securities or shares of preferred stock or common stock.

 

The warrants will be issued under warrant agreements to be entered into between us and a bank or trust company, as warrant agent. The terms and conditions of the warrants will be described in the specific warrant agreement and the applicable prospectus supplement relating to such warrants. Each applicable prospectus supplement relating to such warrants may also describe material U.S. federal income tax considerations applicable to the purchase, holding and disposition of such warrants. A form of warrant agreement, including the form of certificate representing the warrants, which contain provisions to be included in the specific warrant agreements that will be entered into with respect to particular offerings of warrants, will be filed as an exhibit or incorporated by reference into the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part. A holder or prospective purchaser of our warrants should refer to the provisions of the applicable warrant agreement (and prospectus supplement for more information.

 

DESCRIPTION OF SUBSCRIPTION RIGHTS

 

We may issue subscription rights to purchase debt securities, preferred stock, common stock or other securities. These subscription rights may be issued independently or together with any other security offered hereby and may or may not be transferable by the stockholder receiving the subscription rights in such offering. In connection with any offering of subscription rights, we may enter into a standby arrangement with one or more underwriters or other purchasers pursuant to which the underwriters or other purchasers may be required to purchase any securities remaining unsubscribed after such offering.

 

The applicable prospectus supplement will describe the specific terms of any offering of subscription rights for which this prospectus is being delivered. Each applicable prospectus supplement may also describe material U.S. federal income tax considerations applicable to the purchase, holding and disposition of such subscription rights. A holder or prospective holder of subscription rights should refer to the applicable prospectus supplement for more specific information.

 

DESCRIPTION OF STOCK PURCHASE CONTRACTS AND STOCK PURCHASE UNITS

 

We may issue stock purchase contracts, representing contracts obligating holders to purchase from us, and requiring us to sell to the holders, a specified number of shares of common stock at a future date or dates.

 

The price per share of common stock may be fixed at the time the stock purchase contracts are issued or may be determined by reference to a specific formula set forth in the stock purchase contracts. The stock purchase contracts may be issued separately or as a part of units, or stock purchase units, consisting of a stock

 

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purchase contract and either (x) senior debt securities, senior subordinated debt securities, subordinated debt securities or junior subordinated debt securities, or (y) debt obligations of third parties, including U.S. Treasury securities, in each case, securing the holder’s obligations to purchase our common stock under the stock purchase contracts. The stock purchase contracts may require us to make periodic payments to the holders of the stock purchase contracts or vice versa, and such payments may be unsecured or prefunded on some basis. The stock purchase contracts may require holders to secure their obligations thereunder in a specified manner and in certain circumstances we may deliver newly issued prepaid stock purchase contracts, or prepaid securities, upon release to a holder of any collateral securing such holder’s obligations under the original stock purchase contract. The applicable prospectus supplement will describe the terms of any stock purchase contracts or stock purchase units and, if applicable, prepaid securities. Each applicable prospectus supplement may also describe material U.S. federal income tax considerations applicable to the purchase, holding and disposition of any stock purchase contracts or stock purchase units and, if applicable, prepaid securities.

 

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

 

We may sell common stock, preferred stock, debt securities, warrants, subscription rights, stock purchase contracts and/or stock purchase units in one or more of the following ways from time to time:

 

   

to or through underwriters or dealers;

 

   

by itself directly;

 

   

through agents;

 

   

through a combination of any of these methods of sale; or

 

   

through any other methods described in a prospectus supplement.

 

The prospectus supplements relating to an offering of securities will set forth the terms of such offering, including:

 

   

the name or names of any underwriters, dealers or agents;

 

   

the purchase price of the offered securities and the proceeds to us from the sale;

 

   

any underwriting discounts and commissions or agency fees and other items constituting underwriters’ or agents’ compensation; and

 

   

any initial public offering price, any discounts or concessions allowed or reallowed or paid to dealers and any securities exchanges on which such offered securities may be listed.

 

Any initial public offering prices, discounts or concessions allowed or reallowed or paid to dealers may be changed from time to time.

 

If underwriters are used in the sale, the underwriters will acquire the offered securities for their own account and may resell them from time to time in one or more transactions, including negotiated transactions, at a fixed public offering price or at varying prices determined at the time of sale. The offered securities may be offered either to the public through underwriting syndicates represented by one or more managing underwriters or by one or more underwriters without a syndicate. Unless otherwise set forth in a prospectus supplement, the obligations of the underwriters to purchase any series of securities will be subject to certain conditions precedent and the underwriters will be obligated to purchase all of such series of securities if any are purchased.

 

In connection with underwritten offerings of the offered securities and in accordance with applicable law and industry practice, underwriters may over-allot or effect transactions that stabilize, maintain or otherwise affect the market price of the offered securities at levels above those that might otherwise prevail in the open

 

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market, including by entering stabilizing bids, effecting syndicate covering transactions or imposing penalty bids, each of which is described below:

 

   

A stabilizing bid means the placing of any bid, or the effecting of any purchase, for the purpose of pegging, fixing or maintaining the price of a security.

 

   

A syndicate covering transaction means the placing of any bid on behalf of the underwriting syndicate or the effecting of any purchase to reduce a short position created in connection with the offering.

 

   

A penalty bid means an arrangement that permits the managing underwriter to reclaim a selling concession from a syndicate member in connection with the offering when offered securities originally sold by the syndicate member are purchased in syndicate covering transactions.

 

In compliance with the guidelines of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, or FINRA, the aggregate maximum discount, commission, agency fees, or other items constituting underwriting compensation to be received by any FINRA member or independent broker-dealer will not exceed 8% of any offering pursuant to this prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement; however, we anticipate that the maximum commission or discount to be received in any particular offering of securities will be significantly less than this amount.

 

If 5% or more of the net proceeds of any offering of securities made under this prospectus will be received by FINRA members participating in the offering or affiliates or associated persons of such FINRA members, the offering will be conducted in accordance with FINRA Rule 5121.

 

These transactions may be effected on the New York Stock Exchange, in the over-the-counter market, or otherwise. Underwriters are not required to engage in any of these activities, or to continue such activities if commenced.

 

If a dealer is used in the sale, we will sell such offered securities to the dealer, as principal. The dealer may then resell the offered securities to the public at varying prices to be determined by that dealer at the time for resale. The names of the dealers and the terms of the transaction will be set forth in the prospectus supplement relating to that transaction.

 

Offered securities may be sold directly by us to one or more institutional purchasers, or through agents designated by us from time to time, at a fixed price or prices, which may be changed, or at varying prices determined at the time of sale. Any agent involved in the offer or sale of the offered securities in respect of which this prospectus is delivered will be named, and any commissions payable by us to such agent will be set forth in the prospectus supplement relating to that offering, unless otherwise indicated in such prospectus supplement, any such agent will be acting on a best efforts basis for the period of its appointment.

 

Underwriters, dealers and agents may be entitled under agreements entered into with us to indemnification by us against certain civil liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, or to contribution with respect to payments that the underwriters, dealers or agents may be required to make in respect thereof. Underwriters, dealers and agents may be customers of, engage in transactions with, or perform services for us and our affiliates in the ordinary course of business.

 

Under the securities laws of some states, the securities offered by this prospectus may be sold in those states only through registered or licensed brokers or dealers.

 

Any person participating in the distribution of common stock registered under the registration statement that includes this prospectus will be subject to applicable provisions of the Exchange Act, and applicable SEC rules and regulations, including, among others, Regulation M, which may limit the timing of purchases and sales of any of our common stock by any such person. Furthermore, Regulation M may restrict the ability of any person engaged in the distribution of our common stock to engage in market-making activities with respect to our common stock. These restrictions may affect the marketability of our common stock and the ability of any person or entity to engage in market-making activities with respect to our common stock.

 

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Other than our common stock, which is listed on the New York Stock Exchange, each of the securities issued hereunder will be a new issue of securities, will have no prior trading market, and may or may not be listed on a national securities exchange. Any common stock sold pursuant to a prospectus supplement will be listed on the New York Stock Exchange, subject to official notice of issuance. Any underwriters to whom we sell securities for public offering and sale may make a market in the securities, but such underwriters will not be obligated to do so and may discontinue any market making at any time without notice. We cannot assure you that there will be a market for the offered securities.

 

VALIDITY OF THE SECURITIES

 

The validity of the securities being offered hereby will be passed upon for us by Winston & Strawn LLP.

 

EXPERTS

 

The consolidated financial statements of Lear Corporation appearing in Lear Corporation’s Annual Report (Form 10-K) for the year ended December 31, 2016 (including the schedule appearing therein) and the effectiveness of Lear Corporation’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2016, have been audited by Ernst & Young LLP, independent registered public accounting firm, as set forth in their reports thereon, included therein, and incorporated herein by reference. Such consolidated financial statements are incorporated herein by reference in reliance upon such reports given on the authority of such firm as experts in accounting and auditing.

 

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WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

 

We file annual, quarterly, current reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. You may read and copy any document we file at the SEC’s public reference room at 100 F Street NE, Washington, D.C. 20549. Please call the SEC at l-800-SEC-0330 for further information on the public reference room. Our SEC filings, including the registration statement and the exhibits and schedules thereto are also available to the public from the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov. You can also access our SEC filings through our website at www.lear.com. Except as expressly set forth below, we are not incorporating by reference the contents of the SEC website or our website into this prospectus.

 

The SEC allows us to incorporate by reference the information we file with the SEC, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to those documents. The information that we incorporate by reference is considered to be part of this prospectus.

 

Information that we file later with the SEC will automatically update and supersede this information. This means that you must look at all of the SEC filings that we incorporate by reference to determine if any of the statements in this prospectus or in any documents previously incorporated by reference have been modified or superseded. See “Incorporation by Reference.”

 

Nothing in this prospectus shall be deemed to incorporate information furnished but not filed with the SEC pursuant to Item 2.02 or Item 7.01 of Form 8-K.

 

You may request a copy of these filings and any exhibit incorporated by reference in these filings at no cost, by writing or telephoning us at the following address or number:

 

Lear Corporation

21557 Telegraph Road

Southfield, Michigan 48033

(248) 447-1500

Attention: Secretary

 

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PART II

 

INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS

 

ITEM 14. OTHER EXPENSES OF ISSUANCE AND DISTRIBUTION

 

The following is an estimate, subject to future contingencies, of the expenses to be incurred by Lear in connection with the issuance and distribution of the securities being registered:

 

     Amount
to be paid
 

Registration fee*

   $               

Legal fees and expenses**

  

Trustee fees and expenses**

  

Accounting fees and expenses**

  

Printing fees**

  

Rating agency fees**

  

Miscellaneous**

  

Total

   $               

 

*   Deferred in accordance with Rule 456(b) and 457(r) of the Securities Act.
**   Estimated expenses are not currently known.

 

ITEM 15. INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS

 

Section 102 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “DGCL”) allows a corporation to eliminate the personal liability of directors of a corporation to the corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for a breach of fiduciary duty as a director, except where the director breached his duty of loyalty, failed to act in good faith, engaged in intentional misconduct or knowingly violated a law, authorized the payment of a dividend or approved a stock repurchase in violation of Delaware corporate law or obtained an improper personal benefit.

 

Our certificate of incorporation includes a provision that eliminates the personal liability of our directors to us and our stockholders for monetary damages for any breach of fiduciary duty as a director, except to the extent prohibited by the DGCL.

 

Section 145 of the DGCL provides that a corporation has the power to indemnify a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation and certain other persons serving at the request of the corporation in related capacities against amounts paid and expenses incurred in connection with an action or proceeding to which he is or is threatened to be made a party by reason of such position, if such person shall have acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, and, in any criminal proceeding, if such person had no reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful; provided that, in the case of actions brought by or in the right of the corporation, no indemnification shall be made with respect to any matter as to which such person shall have been adjudged to be liable to the corporation unless and only to the extent that the adjudicating court determines that such indemnification is proper under the circumstances.

 

Our certificate of incorporation provides that we will indemnify any person who was, is or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (other than an action by us or in our right), by reason of the fact that such person is, was or had agreed to become a director or officer of us or is or was serving or had agreed to serve at our request as a director, officer, partner, employee or trustee of, or in another similar capacity with, another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, including any employee benefit plan, or by reason of any action alleged to have been taken or omitted in such capacity, against all expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by or on

 

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behalf of such person in connection therewith, provided that such person acted in good faith and in a manner which he or she reasonably believed to be in, or not opposed to, our best interests, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe his or her conduct was unlawful.

 

Our certificate of incorporation also provides that we will indemnify any person who was or is made or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action or suit by us or in our right, by reason of the fact that such person is, was or had agreed to become a director or officer of us or is or was serving or had agreed to serve at our request as a director, officer, partner, employee or trustee of, or in another similar capacity with, another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, including any employee benefit plan, or by reason of any action alleged to have been taken or omitted in such capacity, against all expenses (including attorneys’ fees) and, to the extent permitted by law, amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by or on behalf of such person in connection therewith, provided that such person acted in good faith and in a manner which he or she reasonably believed to be in, or not opposed to, our best interests, except that no indemnification shall be made in respect of any claim, issue or matter as to which such person has been adjudged to be liable to us, unless, and only to the extent, that the Court of Chancery of Delaware determines upon application that, despite the adjudication of such liability but in view of all the circumstances of the case, such person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses (including attorneys’ fees) the Court of Chancery of Delaware deems proper.

 

Our certificate of incorporation also provides that we shall pay the expenses incurred by a director or officer in defending any such proceeding in advance of its final disposition, subject to such person providing us with certain undertakings.

 

The indemnification provisions contained in our certificate of incorporation are not exclusive of any other rights to which a person may be entitled by law, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise.

 

We maintain directors and officers liability insurance providing coverage to our directors and officers, as authorized by our certificate of incorporation.

 

ITEM 16. EXHIBITS

 

The following Exhibits are filed as part of this Registration Statement:

 

    1.1      Form of Underwriting Agreement (to be filed by amendment or as an exhibit to a document to be incorporated by reference herein in connection with an offering of securities).
    3.1      Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Lear Corporation (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to Lear’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated November 9, 2009).
    3.2      Amended and Restated By-Laws of Lear Corporation (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to Lear’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated November 9, 2009).
    4.1      Description of Common Stock (incorporated by reference to Lear’s Registration Statement on Form 8-A dated November 6, 2009).
    4.2      Form of Senior Indenture between Lear Corporation and U.S. Bank National Association, as Trustee.
    4.3      Form of Subordinated Indenture between Lear Corporation and U.S. Bank National Association, as Trustee.
    4.4      Indenture, dated March 26, 2010, among the Company, the Subsidiary Guarantors party thereto and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as Trustee (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to Lear’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated March 23, 2010).

 

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    4.5      Third Supplemental Indenture, dated as of January 17, 2013, by and among Lear Corporation, the Subsidiary Guarantors party thereto and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as Trustee (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to Lear’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated January 14, 2013).
    4.6      Fourth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of March 14, 2014, by and among Lear Corporation, the Subsidiary Guarantors party thereto and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as Trustee (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to Lear’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated March 11, 2014).
    4.7      Fifth Supplemental Indenture, dated November 21, 2014, by and among the Company, the Subsidiary Guarantors party thereto and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as Trustee (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to Lear’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated November 21, 2014).
    4.8      Sixth Supplemental Indenture, dated June 25, 2015, by and among the Company, the Subsidiary Guarantors party thereto and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as Trustee (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to Lear’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 27, 2015).
    5.1      Opinion of Winston & Strawn LLP.
  12.1      Computation of ratio of earnings to fixed charges (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 12.1 to Lear’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016).
  23.1      Consent of Ernst & Young LLP.
  23.2      Consent of Winston & Strawn LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1).
  24.1      Powers of Attorney (included on the signature pages hereto).
  25.1      Form T-1, Statement of Eligibility of U.S. Bank National Association, as Trustee for the form of Senior Indenture.
  25.2      Form T-1, Statement of Eligibility of U.S. Bank National Association, as Trustee for the form of Subordinated Indenture.

 

ITEM 17. UNDERTAKINGS

 

  (a)   The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes:

 

(1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:

 

(i) to include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933;

 

(ii) to reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the SEC pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than a 20 percent change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective registration statement;

 

(iii) to include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in the registration statement;

 

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provided, however, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i), (a)(1)(ii) and (a)(1)(iii) of this section do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in periodic reports filed with or furnished to the SEC by the Registrant pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference in the registration statement, or is contained in a form of prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) that is part of the registration statement.

 

(2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

 

(3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.

 

(4) That, for the purpose of determining liability under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser:

 

(A) Each prospectus filed by the registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3) shall be deemed to be part of the registration statement as of the date the filed prospectus was deemed part of and included in the registration statement; and

 

(B) Each prospectus required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2), (b)(5), or (b)(7) as part of a registration statement in reliance on Rule 430B relating to an offering made pursuant to Rule 415(a)(1)(i), (vii) or (x) for the purpose of providing the information required by Section 10(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of the earlier of the date such form of prospectus is first used after effectiveness or the date of the first contract of sale of securities in the offering described in the prospectus. As provided in Rule 430B, for liability purposes of the issuer and any person that is at that date an underwriter, such date shall be deemed to be a new effective date of the registration statement relating to the securities in the registration statement to which that prospectus relates, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. Provided, however, that no statement made in a registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement or made in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into the registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such effective date, supersede or modify any statement that was made in the registration statement or prospectus that was part of the registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such effective date.

 

(5) That for the purpose of determining liability of the registrant under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser in the initial distribution of the securities, the undersigned registrant undertakes that in a primary offering of securities of the undersigned registrant pursuant to this registration statement, regardless of the underwriting method used to sell the securities to the purchaser, if the securities are offered or sold to such purchaser by means of any of the following communications, the undersigned registrant will be a seller to the purchaser and will be considered to offer or sell such securities to such purchaser:

 

(i) Any preliminary prospectus or prospectus of the undersigned registrant relating to the offering required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424;

 

(ii) Any free writing prospectus relating to the offering prepared by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant or used or referred to by the undersigned registrant;

 

(iii) The portion of any other free writing prospectus relating to the offering containing material information about the undersigned registrant or its securities provided by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant; and

 

(iv) Any other communication that is an offer in the offering made by the undersigned registrant to the purchaser.

 

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  (b)   The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the Registrant’s annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan’s annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) that is incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

 

  (c)   Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the SEC such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the Registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

 

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SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Southfield, State of Michigan, on August 10, 2017.

 

Lear Corporation

/s/ Matthew J. Simoncini

By: Matthew J. Simoncini

Its: President and Chief Executive Officer and a Director

 

POWERS OF ATTORNEY

 

KNOWN ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that the individuals whose signature appears below hereby constitute and appoint Jeffrey H. Vanneste and Terrence B. Larkin, and each of them severally, as his or her true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents with full power of substitution and resubstitution for him or her and in his or her name, place, and stead in any and all capacities to sign any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments and amendments filed pursuant to 462(b) under the Securities Act of 1933) to this Registration Statement, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, full power and authority to do or perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in connection therewith, as fully to all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents or any of them, or of his substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do to cause to be done by virtue hereof.

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration Statement has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

 

/s/ Matthew J. Simoncini

  

August 10, 2017

  President and Chief Executive Officer and a Director (Principal Executive Officer)

Matthew J. Simoncini

    

/s/ Jeffrey H. Vanneste

  

August 10, 2017

  Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial Officer)

Jeffrey H. Vanneste

    

/s/ Amy A. Doyle

  

August 10, 2017

  Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer (Principal Accounting Officer)

Amy A. Doyle

    

/s/ Richard H. Bott

  

August 10, 2017

  Director

Richard H. Bott

    

/s/ Thomas P. Capo

  

August 10, 2017

  Director

Thomas P. Capo

    

/s/ Jonathan F. Foster

  

August 10, 2017

  Director

Jonathan F. Foster

    

/s/ Dr. Mary Lou Jepsen

  

August 10, 2017

  Director

Dr. Mary Lou Jepsen

    

 

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/s/ Kathleen A. Ligocki

  

August 10, 2017

  Director

Kathleen A. Ligocki

    

/s/ Conrad L. Mallett, Jr.

  

August 10, 2017

  Director

Conrad L. Mallett, Jr.

    

/s/ Donald L. Runkle

  

August 10, 2017

  Director

Donald L. Runkle

    

/s/ Gregory C. Smith

  

August 10, 2017

  Director

Gregory C. Smith

    

/s/ Henry D.G. Wallace

  

August 10, 2017

  Non-Executive Chairman of the Board of Directors and a Director

Henry D.G. Wallace

    

 

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EXHIBIT INDEX

 

    1.1      Form of Underwriting Agreement (to be filed by amendment or as an exhibit to a document to be incorporated by reference herein in connection with an offering of securities).
    3.1      Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Lear Corporation (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to Lear’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated November 9, 2009).
    3.2      Amended and Restated By-Laws of Lear Corporation (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to Lear’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated November 9, 2009).
    4.1      Description of Common Stock (incorporated by reference to Lear’s Registration Statement on Form 8-A dated November 6, 2009).
    4.2      Form of Senior Indenture between Lear Corporation and U.S. Bank National Association, as Trustee.
    4.3      Form of Subordinated Indenture between Lear Corporation and U.S. Bank National Association, as Trustee.
    4.4      Indenture, dated March 26, 2010, among the Company, the Subsidiary Guarantors party thereto and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as Trustee (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to Lear’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated March 23, 2010).
    4.5      Third Supplemental Indenture, dated as of January 17, 2013, by and among Lear Corporation, the Subsidiary Guarantors party thereto and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as Trustee (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to Lear’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated January 14, 2013).
    4.6      Fourth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of March 14, 2014, by and among Lear Corporation, the Subsidiary Guarantors party thereto and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as Trustee (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to Lear’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated March 11, 2014).
    4.7      Fifth Supplemental Indenture, dated November 21, 2014, by and among the Company, the Subsidiary Guarantors party thereto and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as Trustee (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to Lear’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated November 21, 2014).
    4.8      Sixth Supplemental Indenture, dated June 25, 2015, by and among the Company, the Subsidiary Guarantors party thereto and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as Trustee (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to Lear’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 27, 2015).
    5.1      Opinion of Winston & Strawn LLP.
  12.1      Computation of ratio of earnings to fixed charges (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 12.1 to Lear’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016).
  23.1      Consent of Ernst & Young LLP.
  23.2      Consent of Winston & Strawn LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1).
  24.1      Powers of Attorney (included on the signature pages hereto).
  25.1      Form T-1, Statement of Eligibility of U.S. Bank National Association, as Trustee for the form of Senior Indenture.
  25.2      Form T-1, Statement of Eligibility of U.S. Bank National Association, as Trustee for the form of Subordinated Indenture.

 

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