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Investment in NEC TOKIN
9 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2015
Equity Method Investments and Joint Ventures [Abstract]  
Investment in NEC TOKIN
Investment in NEC TOKIN
 
On March 12, 2012, KEC, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, entered into a Stock Purchase Agreement (the "Stock Purchase Agreement") with NEC TOKIN Corporation ("NEC TOKIN"), a manufacturer of tantalum capacitors, electro-magnetic, electro-mechanical and access devices, to acquire 51% of the common stock of NEC TOKIN (which represented a 34% economic interest, as calculated based on the number of common shares held by KEC, directly and indirectly, in proportion to the aggregate number of outstanding common and convertible preferred shares of NEC TOKIN as of such date) (the "Initial Purchase") from NEC Corporation ("NEC") of Japan. The transaction closed on February 1, 2013, at which time KEC paid a purchase price of $50.0 million for new shares of common stock of NEC TOKIN (the “Initial Closing”). The Company accounts for its investment in NEC TOKIN using the equity method for a non-consolidated variable interest entity since KEC does not have the power to direct significant activities of NEC TOKIN. The Company believes that the NEC TOKIN convertible preferred stock represents in-substance common stock of NEC TOKIN and, as a result, its method of calculating KEC’s economic basis in NEC TOKIN is the appropriate basis on which to recognize its share of the earnings or loss of NEC TOKIN.
 
In connection with KEC’s execution of the Stock Purchase Agreement, KEC entered into a Stockholders’ Agreement (the “Stockholders’ Agreement”) with NEC TOKIN and NEC, which provides for restrictions on transfers of NEC TOKIN’s capital stock, certain tag-along and first refusal rights on transfer, restrictions on NEC’s ability to convert the preferred stock of NEC TOKIN held by it, certain management services to be provided to NEC TOKIN by KEC (or an affiliate of KEC) and certain board representation rights. KEC holds four of seven NEC TOKIN director positions. However, NEC has significant board rights.
 
Concurrent with execution of the Stock Purchase Agreement and the Stockholders’ Agreement, KEC entered into an Option Agreement (the “Option Agreement”) with NEC, which was amended on August 29, 2014, whereby KEC had the right to purchase additional shares of NEC TOKIN common stock from NEC TOKIN for a purchase price of $50.0 million resulting in an economic interest of approximately 49% while maintaining ownership of 51% of NEC TOKIN’s common stock (the “First Call Option”) by providing notice of the First Call Option between the Initial Closing and April 30, 2015. Upon providing such First Call Option notice, but not before April 1, 2015, KEC could also have exercised a second option to purchase all outstanding capital stock of NEC TOKIN from its stockholders, primarily NEC, for a purchase price based on the greater of six times LTM EBITDA (as defined in the Option Agreement) less the previous payments and certain other adjustments, or the outstanding amount of NEC TOKIN’s debt obligation to NEC (the “Second Call Option”) by providing notice of the Second Call Option by May 31, 2018. The First and Second Call Options expired on April 30, 2015 without being exercised.

From April 1, 2015 through May 31, 2018, NEC may require KEC to purchase all outstanding capital stock of NEC TOKIN from its stockholders, primarily NEC (the "Put Option"), provided that KEC's payment of the Put Option price is permitted under the 10.5% Senior Notes and Loan and Security Agreement. However, in the event that KEC issues new debt securities principally to refinance its outstanding 10.5% senior notes due 2018 and its currently outstanding credit agreement, including amounts to pay related fees and expenses and to use for general corporate purposes (“Refinancing Notes”), prior to NEC’s delivery of its notification of exercise of the Put Option, then the earliest date NEC may exercise the Put Option is automatically extended to the day immediately following the final scheduled maturity date of such Refinancing Notes, or in the event such Refinancing Notes are redeemed in full prior to such final scheduled maturity date, then on the day immediately following the date of such full redemption, but in any event beginning no later than November 1, 2019. If not previously exercised, the Put Option will expire on October 31, 2023.

The purchase price for the Put Option will be based on the greater of six times LTM EBITDA less previous payments and certain other adjustments, or the outstanding amount of NEC TOKIN’s debt obligation to NEC as of the date the Put Option is exercised. The purchase price for the Put Option is reduced by the amount of NEC TOKIN’s debt obligation to NEC which KEC will assume. The determination of the purchase price could be modified in the event there is a disagreement between NEC and KEC under the Stockholders’ Agreement.

The Company has marked these options to fair value and in the quarter and nine month periods ended December 31, 2015 recognized a $0.7 million gain and a $26.3 million loss, respectively, which was included on the line item “Change in value of the NEC TOKIN options” in the Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations. The line item "Other non-current obligations" on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets includes $20.6 million as of December 31, 2015 and the line item “Other assets” on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets includes $5.7 million as of March 31, 2015, related to the respective fair value of the options. The option's valuation changed to a liability position during the nine month period ended December 31, 2015 due to the expiration of the First and Second Call Options on April 30, 2015 without being exercised.

KEC's total investment in NEC TOKIN including the net call derivative described above on February 1, 2013, the closing date of the acquisition, was $54.5 million which includes $50 million cash consideration plus approximately $4.5 million in transaction expenses (fees for legal, accounting, due diligence, investment banking and various other services necessary to complete the transactions). The Company has made an allocation of the aggregate purchase price, which was based upon estimates that the Company believes are reasonable.
 
Summarized financial information for NEC TOKIN follows (amounts in thousands):
 
December 31,
2015
 
March 31,
2015
Current assets
$
227,489

 
$
223,495

Non-current assets
255,509

 
273,785

Current liabilities
153,103

 
143,523

Non-current liabilities
296,759

 
296,873


 
Quarters Ended December 31,
 
Nine Month Periods Ended December 31,
 
2015
 
2014
 
2015
 
2014
Sales
$
111,594

 
$
119,841

 
$
343,686

 
$
371,926

Gross profit
24,610

 
26,162

 
74,333

 
79,227

Net income (loss) (1)
(17,867
)
 
5,628

 
(10,606
)
 
4,928



______________________________________________________________________________
(1) The significant changes between the periods were due to the additional accrual of anti-trust litigation loss recorded during the quarter ended December 31, 2015 see discussion below.


A reconciliation between NEC TOKIN's net income (loss) and KEC's equity investment income (loss) follows (amounts in thousands):
 
Quarters Ended December 31,
 
Nine Month Periods Ended December 31,
 
2015
 
2014
 
2015
 
2014
NEC TOKIN net income (loss)
$
(17,867
)
 
$
5,628

 
(10,606
)
 
4,928

KEC's economic interest %
34
%
 
34
%
 
34
%
 
34
%
Equity income (loss) from NEC TOKIN before adjustments
(6,075
)
 
1,914

 
(3,606
)
 
1,676

 


 


 
 
 
 
Adjustments:


 


 
 
 
 
Amortization and depreciation
(494
)
 
(547
)
 
(1,118
)
 
(1,752
)
Inventory profit elimination
64

 

 
(34
)
 

Equity income (loss) from NEC TOKIN
$
(6,505
)
 
$
1,367

 
$
(4,758
)
 
$
(76
)
    
A reconciliation between NEC TOKIN's net assets and KEC's investment in NEC TOKIN balance follows (amounts in thousands):
 
December 31,
2015
 
March 31,
2015
Investment in NEC TOKIN
$
35,795

 
$
45,016

Purchase price accounting basis adjustments:
 
 
 
Property, plant and equipment (1)
3,210

 
3,334

Technology (1)
(9,802
)
 
(10,889
)
Long-term debt (1)
(2,056
)
 
(2,707
)
Goodwill
(7,050
)
 
(7,082
)
Indemnity asset for legal investigation
(8,500
)
 
(8,500
)
Inventory profit elimination (2)
242

 
208

Other
(572
)
 
(39
)
KEC's 34% economic interest in NEC TOKIN's net assets
$
11,267

 
$
19,341


(1) Amortized over the estimated lives .
(2) Adjusted each period for any activity.

As of December 31, 2015, KEC’s maximum loss exposure as a result of its investments in NEC TOKIN is limited to the aggregate of the carrying value of the investment and any accounts receivable balance due from NEC TOKIN. 
 
Summarized transactions between KEC and NEC TOKIN are as follows (amounts in thousands):
 
Quarters Ended December 31,
 
Nine Month Periods Ended December 31,
 
2015
 
2014
 
2015
 
2014
KEC's sales to NEC TOKIN
$
5,020

 
$
3,736

 
$
14,350

 
$
9,624

NEC TOKIN's sales to KEMET
1,157

 
1,077

 
4,747

 
2,194


 
December 31,
2015
 
March 31,
2015
Accounts receivable
$
3,591

 
$
3,344

Accounts payable
408

 
765

Management service agreement receivable (1)
609

 
572


(1) In accordance with the Stockholders’ Agreement, KEC entered into a management services agreement with NEC TOKIN to provide services for which KEC is being reimbursed.

Beginning in March 2014, NEC TOKIN and certain of its subsidiaries received inquiries, requests for information and other communications from government authorities in China, the United States, the European Commission, Japan, South Korea Taiwan, Singapore and Brazil concerning alleged anti-competitive activities within the capacitor industry.  The investigations are continuing at various stages. In addition, beginning in July 2014, NEC TOKIN and its subsidiary, NEC TOKIN America, Inc., have been named, along with more than 20 other capacitor manufacturers and subsidiaries, as defendants in purported antitrust class action suits by direct and indirect purchasers in the United States and Canada. As of March 31, 2015, NEC TOKIN recorded an accrual for approximately $30.0 million based on its estimation of losses likely to result from certain of the investigations. Pursuant to the Stock Purchase Agreement, NEC is required to indemnify NEC TOKIN and/or KEC for any breaches by NEC TOKIN or NEC of certain representations, warranties and covenants in the Stock Purchase Agreement.  NEC’s aggregate liability for indemnification claims is limited to $25.0 million. Accordingly, KEMET, under equity method accounting, has established an indemnity asset in the amount of $8.5 million (based upon our 34% economic interest in NEC TOKIN). However, pursuant to the Stock Purchase Agreement, claims arising out of fraud or criminal conduct are not limited by the $25.0 million indemnification cap, and for such claims the claimant retains all remedies available in equity or at law. 

On September 2, 2015, the United States Department of Justice announced a plea agreement with NEC TOKIN in which NEC TOKIN agreed to plead guilty to a one-count felony charge of unreasonable restraint of interstate and foreign trade and commerce in violation of Section 1 of the Sherman Act, and to pay a criminal fine of $13.8 million. The plea agreement was approved by the United States District Court, Northern District of California, on January 21, 2016. The fine is payable over five years in six installments of $2.3 million each, plus accrued interest, with the first payment due within 30 days of the court approval.

On December 9, 2015, the Taiwan Fair Trade Commission (“TFTC”) publicly announced that NEC TOKIN would be fined NT$1,218.2 million for violations of the Taiwan Fair Trade Act. Subsequently, the TFTC has indicated the fine will be reduced to NT$609.1 million (approximately U.S. $18.6 million). Under Taiwan law, validity of fine amounts can be contested via an administrative litigation process.

As of December 31, 2015, NEC TOKIN estimated a range of total losses and determined $49.5 million is the best estimate of losses which may result from the ongoing investigations. However, the actual outcome of these investigations could differ from what has been accrued. In addition, NEC TOKIN cannot estimate total losses which may result from the civil litigation. During the quarter ended December 31, 2015, NEC TOKIN increased the estimated accrual to $49.5 million. Included in the line item "Equity income (loss) from NEC TOKIN" on the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations is KEMET's share of this legal accrual based upon its 34% economic interest in NEC TOKIN.