Archive for June 2008

Visteon announces results for tender offer and pricing of new issue

VAN BUREN TOWNSHIP, Mich., June 17, 2008 – Visteon Corporation (“Visteon”) (NYSE: VC) today announced the expiration of its previously announced tender offer (the “Tender Offer”) for up to $344,000,000 in aggregate principal amount of its 8.25 percent notes due August 2010 (“Old Notes”) and contemporaneous pricing of $206,386,000 in aggregate principal amount of new 12.25 percent senior notes due 2016 (“New Notes”). Visteon received tenders through the Automated Tender Offer Program (“ATOP”) from Eligible Holders (as defined below) of approximately 77.10 percent or $424,029,000 (“ATOP Tenders”) of the $550,000,000 of the aggregate principal amount of its 8.25 percent Senior Notes due 2010 (the “Old Notes”) as of 11:59 p.m., New York City time, on Monday, June 16, 2008 (“Expiration Date”). The Tender Offer was made upon the terms and subject to conditions set forth in the offer to purchase and the related letter of transmittal, each dated May 19, 2008. Pursuant to the terms and conditions set forth therein, in addition to tendering through ATOP, each Eligible Holder was required to send a validly completed and executed letter of transmittal to the Depositary.

The New Notes are senior unsecured obligations of Visteon Corporation and will be guaranteed by certain of its U.S. subsidiaries. The New Notes mature on Dec. 31, 2016, and will bear interest at a rate per annum equal to 12.25 percent. The New Notes include a put option pursuant to which a holder can require Visteon to repurchase all or a portion of such holder’s New Notes on Dec. 31, 2013 at 100 percent of the principal amount thereof plus accrued and unpaid interest to such date. All or a portion of the New Notes can be redeemed by Visteon (a) prior to Dec. 31, 2013, at par plus a make-whole premium and (b) on or after Dec. 31, 2013, at specified redemption prices, plus in each case accrued and unpaid interest, including, if applicable, liquidated damages on the principal amount of New Notes being redeemed. The notes were issued at a price of 91.621 to yield 14.50 percent.

The New Notes have not been and will not be registered under the Securities Act or any state securities laws. Therefore, the New Notes may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act and any applicable state securities laws.

Visteon has satisfied all of the conditions to the Tender Offer and has accepted for purchase Old Notes on a pro rata basis with a pro ration factor of approximately 81.14 percent. Visteon has made the corresponding reductions to the amount of New Notes required to be purchased by each Eligible Holder in accordance with the terms of the offer to purchase. The settlement date for both the Tender Offer and the offering of the New Notes is expected to be Wednesday, June 18, 2008. 

As noted previously, each Eligible Holder who tendered Old Notes in the Tender Offer was required, as a condition to such Eligible Holder’s participation in the Tender Offer, to purchase a principal amount of Visteon’s New Notes equal to 60 percent of the aggregate principal amount of Old Notes purchased from such Eligible Holder pursuant to the Tender Offer. The Tender Offer and offering of New Notes were made only to holders of the Old Notes that are qualified institutional buyers and institutional accredited investors inside the United States, and to certain non-U.S. investors located outside the United States (”Eligible Holders”).

The total consideration for each $1,000 principal amount of Old Notes validly tendered and not validly withdrawn prior to Early Tender Deadline is $978.30 (”Total Consideration”), which includes an early tender payment of $40 per $1,000 principal amount of Old Notes tendered. Only Eligible Holders who validly tendered and did not validly withdraw Old Notes and committed to purchase the applicable amount of New Notes on or prior to Early Tender Deadline are eligible to receive the Total Consideration for such Notes purchased in the Tender Offer. Eligible Holders who validly tendered their Old Notes and committed to purchase the applicable amount of New Notes after the Early Tender Date and on or prior to the Expiration Date will be eligible to receive an amount, paid in cash, equal to the Total Consideration less the $40 Early Tender Payment per $1,000 principal amount of Old Notes tendered.

This press release does not constitute an offer to purchase any securities or a solicitation of an offer to sell any securities. The tender offer and the offering of New Notes were made only pursuant to an offer to purchase, an offering memorandum and related letter of transmittal and only to such persons and in such jurisdictions as was permitted under applicable law

Volkswagen Opens New Dealership in San Jose, CA

HERNDON, VA — Volkswagen of America, Inc. announced the grand opening of the Capitol Volkswagen Dealership in San Jose, California. Perfectly aligned with the demographics in the San Jose market, Capitol Volkswagen is set to become a key dealer for Volkswagen. To help celebrate the grand opening, Volkswagen Group of America’s President/CEO Stefan Jacoby, COO Mark Barnes, San Jose Mayor Chuck Reed, City Council Members, Members of the Chamber of Commerce and local business luminaries will be in attendance.

“We are extremely proud to celebrate the grand opening of the Capitol Volkswagen Dealership in San Jose,” said Mark Barnes, COO, Volkswagen of America, Inc. “Recognized for providing exceptional customer service in the Bay Area, Del Grande Dealer Group has demonstrated their continued commitment toward customer service over the past 30 years. The Del Grande Dealer Group’s newest acquisition is a premier Volkswagen dealership that is sure to make a significant impact on the San Jose marketplace.”

Making a special appearance at the opening, Stefan Jacoby will arrive in the Volkswagen Tiguan HyMotion concept vehicle. One of only two hydrogen powered Tiguans in the world, event guests will have the rare opportunity to view the HyMotion prototype. Embodying Volkswagen’s commitment toward research, innovation and sustainability, the Tiguan HyMotion is the brand’s first compact sports utility vehicle powered by a zero emissions electric motor generated by a hydrogen fuel cell.

In addition to the Tiguan HyMotion concept, Volkswagen will mark the dealership’s opening with dinner, drinks and live entertainment for all attendees to enjoy. Located at 911 Capitol Expressway Auto Mall, the new Del Grande Dealer Group’s Capitol Volkswagen VIP grand opening will be held June 11. A grand opening for the public will follow from June 12 through June 15, offering an array of great deals on the entire line-up of Volkswagen models. In addition, Capitol Volkswagen will be giving away a $25 gas card with a test drive while supplies last.

Visteon discusses alternative refrigerant options at SAE symposium

VAN BUREN TOWNSHIP, Mich., June 9, 2008 – Visteon Corporation (NYSE: VC), an industry leader in alternative refrigerants, has been chosen to present its expertise at the 2008 SAE Automotive Alternate Refrigerant Systems Symposium, June 9-12 in Scottsdale, Ariz.

As emissions from man-made greenhouse gasses (GHG) and their effect on the environment are a continued concern, the mobile air conditioning industry is investigating methods to reduce GHG emissions. The ninth SAE 2008 Alternate Refrigerant Systems Symposium is a forum at which companies like Visteon will to delve deeper into the issue.

Visteon is committed to developing safe and reliable climate control system and component solutions for the global automotive market. Visteon is committed to investigating the impact of new potential refrigerant alternatives and developing solutions for performance optimization. For example, at the 2006 conference, Visteon demonstrated two drivable vehicles – one using an R744-based air conditioning system and the other using Fluid H. Visteon’s most recent generation R744 system consumes less incremental fuel for A/C operation compared to conventional state-of-the-art R-134a systems.

As part of Visteon’s continuing alternative refrigerant systems development, Dr. John Meyer, a Visteon climate control technical fellow, will present a discussion on system enhancements for the use of HFO-R1234yf. The presentation is on Tuesday, June 10.

Dr. Meyer will discuss the refrigerant properties of R1234yf and resulting technologies and strategies to optimize system performance. R1234yf is being put forward as a possible near drop-in replacement for R-134a, the predominate refrigerant used in today’s mobile air conditioning systems. Dr. Meyer will present enhancement options that allow the R1234yf system performance to match that of R134a.  R1234yf has a global warming potential (GWP) rating of four, compared to a GWP of 1300 for R-134a, allowing it to meet the European legislation with the GWP limit of 150 (affects new vehicle types brought into the market as of 2011).

“As a global automotive supplier, Visteon has in-depth climate systems expertise and broad development capabilities enabling the company to supply components and system solutions for either R744 or R1234yf,” explains Joy Greenway, vice president of Visteon climate controls. “It’s a privilege to share our expertise at industry forums as important as this.”

Visteon Corporation is a leading global automotive supplier that designs, engineers and manufactures innovative climate, interior, electronic and lighting products for vehicle manufacturers, and also provides a range of products and services to aftermarket customers. With corporate offices in Van Buren Township, Mich. (U.S.); Shanghai, China; and Kerpen, Germany; the company has facilities in 26 countries and employs approximately 40,000 people.

Solar energy makes Volvo dealers climate-neutral

Volvo Trucks

Volvo Trucks has inaugurated its first climate-neutral dealership facility. The inauguration took place in Verona, Italy. With the help of solar cells on the building’s roof, more energy will be produced than is needed to heat up the offices and workshops.

“When we decided to build an entirely new facility, we wanted to make sure we integrated pro-environmental technologies from the ground up,” says Marco Lazzoni, Managing Director of Volvo Trucks’ operations in Italy. “And what is cleaner than solar energy?” 

Green electricity
Solar energy produced at the Volvo Truck Center in Verona will be supplied to the local power grid, thus generating an income from the electricity that the dealership facility itself does not need. In return, the dealership will only purchase green electricity from solar, wind-power or hydro-power sources. Heating of the premises will take place using fossil methane gas. However, the surplus electricity that the solar panels generate more than compensates for the carbon dioxide emissions caused by burning the methane gas.

Climate-neutral operation
“Here at Volvo Trucks we work intensively to ensure that ever-increasing proportions of our operations are climate-neutral. With the new facility, we’re carrying our dedication to the climate out to the dealership level,” says Lars Mårtensson, environment affairs manager at Volvo Trucks.

Volvo Trucks’ aim is that more dealers should follow Verona’s example. It is not likely that all will follow the path of solar cells, but there are alternative ways to proceed.

“Energy efficiency and a larger proportion of energy from alternative sources are the foundation of our work. The exact measures that are most suitable for implementation are determined by local conditions.”

        
Over the past few years, Volvo Trucks has implemented a range of measures that help reduce the environmental imprint of its operations and products. For instance, the company’s largest production facility in Ghent in Belgium became the world’s first climate-neutral vehicle factory in 2007. That same year, Volvo Trucks demonstrated 7 trucks each running on a different renewable fuel. This past spring the world’s first heavy-duty hybrid refuse trucks were handed over to customers for field testing.

“These activities show that even a player in heavy industry can reduce climate impact to a major extent – from both its products and its facilities. What is more, we have several additional factories that will also soon become climate-neutral,” says Lars Mårtensson.