Adient announces closing of previously announced transactions with joint venture partner Yanfeng to restructure existing joint venture relationships

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Aug 21, 2020, 07:00 ET

PLYMOUTH, Mich., Aug. 21, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Adient, a global leader in automotive seating, announced today it has closed the transactions contemplated by its previously announced definitive agreement with joint venture partner Yanfeng Automotive Trim Systems Co., Ltd. (Yanfeng) to make certain changes to their existing joint venture relationships that was entered into on January 31 and amended on June 24 this year.

At closing, Adient received cash proceeds of US$ 309 million related to the sale of Adient's 30 percent ownership stake in Yanfeng Global Automotive Interior Systems Co., Ltd. (YFAI) to Yanfeng and approximately US $20 million related to the sale of certain mechanisms business patents and other intellectual property to Adient Yanfeng Seating Mechanisms Co., Ltd. (AYM). In addition to the US $309 million paid at the closing for its 30 percent ownership stake in YFAI, Adient is entitled to receive an additional US $60 million for the sale of such stake, payable on a deferred basis. With respect to each YFAI fiscal year ending after the closing, starting with the year ending Dec. 31, 2020, Adient will be paid an earnout in an amount equal to 30 percent of YFAI's distributable earnings for such year until such time as the US $60 million deferred purchase price is fully paid. Also, Adient and Yanfeng extended the term of Yanfeng Adient Seating Co., Ltd.'s (YFAS) joint venture agreement to December 2038.

About Adient:

Adient is a global leader in automotive seating. With approximately 80,000 employees in 34 countries, Adient operates 220 manufacturing/assembly plants worldwide. We produce and deliver automotive seating for all major OEMs. From complete seating systems to individual components, our expertise spans every step of the automotive seat-making process. Our integrated, in-house skills allow us to take our products from research and design to engineering and manufacturing – and into more than 23 million vehicles every year. For more information on Adient, please visit adient.com

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements:

Adient has made statements in this document that are forward-looking and, therefore, are subject to risks and uncertainties. All statements in this document other than statements of historical fact are statements that are, or could be, deemed "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. In this document, statements regarding the outcome, benefits and synergies of the transactions described herein or Adient's future financial position, sales, costs, earnings, cash flows, other measures of results of operations, capital expenditures or debt levels and plans, objectives, outlook, targets, guidance or goals are forward-looking statements. Words such as "may," "will," "expect," "intend," "estimate," "anticipate," "believe," "should," "forecast," "project" or "plan" or terms of similar meaning are also generally intended to identify forward-looking statements. Adient cautions that these statements are subject to numerous important risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors, some of which are beyond Adient's control, that could cause Adient's actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, including, among others, risks related to: the continued financial and operational impacts of and uncertainties relating to the COVID-19 pandemic on Adient and its customers, suppliers, joint venture partners and other parties, the ability of Adient to close the sale of its fabrics business, including receipt of necessary regulatory approvals, the ability of Adient to effectively launch new business at forecasted and profitable levels, the ability of Adient to execute its turnaround plan, uncertainties in U.S. administrative policy regarding trade agreements, tariffs and other international trade relations, the impact of tax reform legislation through the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, the ability of Adient to meet debt service requirements, terms of financing, general economic and business conditions, the strength of the U.S. or other economies, automotive vehicle production levels, mix and schedules, energy and commodity prices, the availability of raw materials and component products, currency exchange rates, the cancellation of or changes to commercial arrangements, and the ability of Adient to identify, recruit and retain key leadership. A detailed discussion of risks related to Adient's business is included in the section entitled "Risk Factors" in Adient's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2019 filed with the SEC on November 22, 2019 and subsequent quarterly reports on Form 10-Q filed with the SEC, as well as within Adient's Current Report on Form 8-K filed on April 20, 2020, available at www.sec.gov. Potential investors and others should consider these factors in evaluating the forward-looking statements and should not place undue reliance on such statements. The forward-looking statements included in this document are made only as of the date of this document, unless otherwise specified, and, except as required by law, Adient assumes no obligation, and disclaims any obligation, to update such statements to reflect events or circumstances occurring after the date of this document.

ADNT-FN

SOURCE Adient