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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549



FORM 10-K

(Mark One)    

ý

 

ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the fiscal year ended March 31, 2009

Or

o

 

TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from                                  to                                 

Commission File Number: 0-20289



KEMET Corporation
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
  57-0923789
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)

2835 KEMET Way, Simpsonville, South Carolina
(Address of principal executive offices)

 

29681
(Zip Code)

Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (864) 963-6300

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act: None.

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: Common Stock, par value $0.01



         Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. Yes  o     No  ý

         Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act. Yes  o     No  ý

         Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes  ý     No  o

         Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§ 229.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). Yes  o     No  o

         Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrant's knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K.  ý

         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 the definitions of "large accelerated filer," "accelerated filer" and "smaller reporting company" in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act (Check one):

Large accelerated filer  o   Accelerated filer  ý

Non-accelerated filer  o
(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)

 

Smaller reporting company  o

         Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act). Yes  o     No  ý

         Aggregate market value of voting common stock held by non-affiliates of the registrant as of September 30, 2008, computed by reference to the closing sale price of the registrant's common stock was approximately $97,473,493

         Number of shares of each class of common stock outstanding as of June 26, 2009: common stock, $0.01 par value, 80,867,509.

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

         Portions of the definitive proxy statement to be delivered to shareholders in connection with the Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held July 30, 2009 are incorporated by reference in Part III and Part IV of this report.



PART I

ITEM 1.    BUSINESS

General

        KEMET Corporation is a leading manufacturer of tantalum capacitors, multilayer ceramic capacitors, film capacitors, electrolytic capacitors, paper capacitors, and solid aluminum capacitors. Capacitors are an essential component of electronic circuits and are used in a variety of electronic products including laptop and desktop computers, mobile phones, global positioning devices, base stations, routers and consumer electronics. Because of increasing electronic content in existing products, our capacitors are also used in products such as automobiles, military and commercial aircrafts, medical equipment, home appliances and a variety of other industrial applications. As used in this report, the terms "we", "us", "our", "KEMET" and the "Company" refer to KEMET Corporation and its predecessors, subsidiaries and affiliates, unless the context indicates otherwise. For the fiscal year ended March 31, 2009 ("fiscal year 2009"), KEMET generated net sales of $804.4 million, down 5.4% from $850.1 million in fiscal year 2008.

        Since our divestiture from Union Carbide Corporation ("UCC") in December 1990, KEMET's business strategy is to be the preferred capacitor supplier to the world's most successful electronics original equipment manufacturers, electronics manufacturing services providers, and electronics distributors. Our customers are global in nature and include leaders in both the design and manufacture of electronic devices and equipment. Our primary channel for reaching these customers is a direct, salaried sales force strategically located around the world.

Background of Company

        KEMET's operations began in 1919 as a business of UCC to manufacture component parts for vacuum tubes. In the 1950s, Bell Laboratories invented solid-state transistors along with tantalum capacitors and other passive components necessary for their operation. As vacuum tubes were gradually replaced by transistors, we changed our manufacturing focus from vacuum tube parts to tantalum capacitors. We entered the market for tantalum capacitors in 1958 as one of approximately 25 United States manufacturers. By 1966, we were the United States' market leader in tantalum capacitors. In 1969, we began production of ceramic capacitors as one of approximately 35 United States manufacturers, and opened our first manufacturing facility in Mexico. In 2003, we expanded operations into Asia, opening our first facility in Suzhou, China. In fiscal year 2007, we acquired the tantalum business unit of EPCOS AG. In fiscal year 2008, we acquired Evox Rifa Group Oyj ("Evox Rifa") and Arcotronics Italia S.p.A. ("Arcotronics") and, as a result, entered into the markets for film, electrolytic and paper capacitors. We are organized into three segments: the Tantalum Business Group ("Tantalum"), the Ceramic Business Group ("Ceramic") and the Film and Electrolytic Business Group ("Film and Electrolytic").

        KEMET is a Delaware corporation and was formed in 1990 by certain members of the Company's management at the time, Citicorp Venture Capital, Ltd., and other investors that acquired the outstanding common stock of KEMET Electronics Corporation from UCC. In 1992, we publicly issued shares of our common stock. Today, our stock trades on the OTC Bulletin Board under the symbol "KEME.OB".

Recent Developments

        In fiscal year 2009, the poor economic environment negatively affected our sales and had an adverse impact on our results of operations and liquidity. Our unfavorable results would have triggered a violation of our Senior Note debt covenants had we not negotiated temporary amendments to the covenants in order to remain in compliance. Prior to the expiration of these covenant amendments, the

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Senior Notes were paid off, resulting in total principal payments of $60.0 million in fiscal year 2009 to eliminate our Senior Notes. The primary reasons for our unrestricted cash balance decreasing from $81.4 million at March 31, 2008 to $39.2 million at March 31, 2009 were the Senior Notes being paid off (as noted above), cash restructuring and integration related costs, totaling approximately $30.1 million and capital expenditures of $30.5 million. These items were partially offset by $33.7 million of proceeds from the sale of assets related to the production and sale of wet tantalum capacitors and proceeds from a three-year term loan for $15.0 million with Vishay Intertechnology, Inc. ("Vishay").

        We took aggressive steps to offset the adverse impact of lower revenues and net losses on our liquidity. These included:

    Cost reduction plans which are expected to save approximately $52 million on an annualized basis;

    Where possible, a 10% wage reduction for all salaried employees effective January 1, 2009 (excluding those on a commission based salary) and temporary suspension of the match in our U.S. defined contribution plan, reducing it from 6% to 0%. These actions are expected to save approximately $12 million on an annualized basis;

    Delaying capital spending and aligning remaining capital spending with cash flow;

    Reducing past due accounts receivables through more robust collection efforts and implementing aggressive inventory reduction plans; and

    Selling assets related to the production and sale of wet tantalum capacitors for $33.7 million in the second quarter of fiscal year 2009 that allowed us to pay off the balance of the Senior Notes.

        In addition to the above actions, throughout fiscal year 2009, we continued to review strategic financing alternatives to improve liquidity and reduce overall leverage. In April 2009, we entered into amendments to our EUR 60 million credit facility ("Facility A") and our EUR 35 million credit facility ("Facility B") with UniCredit Corporate Banking S.p.A. ("UniCredit") which, among other things, modified the financial covenants under Facility A (Facility B does not contain any covenants, however it contains cross acceleration provisions linked to Facility A) and modified the scheduled amortization under Facility A and Facility B. These amendments to the UniCredit facilities became effective June 30, 2009 upon the consummation of the tender offer, discussed below. The following table shows the amortization schedule for the UniCredit Facilities under the original and amended terms (amounts in thousands):

 
  Annual Maturities of Long-Term Debt
Fiscal Years Ended March 31,
 
 
  2010(1)   2011   2012   2013   2014  

UniCredit Facility A

  $ 15,700   $ 16,802   $ 17,981   $ 19,243   $ 10,122  

UniCredit Facility A Amendment

    7,717     19,082     13,607     8,216     31,222  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

UniCredit Facility B

    2,662     5,323     38,593          

UniCredit Facility B Amendment

    2,662     5,323     13,308     13,308     11,977  

(1)
A principal payment of $7.7 million on Facility A was made on the scheduled due date of April 1, 2009.

        On May 5, 2009, we announced the execution of a credit facility with K Financing, LLC ("K Financing"), an affiliate of Platinum Equity Capital Partners II, L.P. (the "Platinum Credit Facility"). The Platinum Credit Facility consisted of a term loan of up to $52.5 million, line of credit loans that may be borrowed from time to time (but not reborrowed after being repaid) of up to $12.5 million and a working capital loan of up to $12.5 million.

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        Concurrently, on May 5, 2009, we commenced a tender offer for any and all of our outstanding $175 million 2.25% Convertible Senior Notes due 2026 (the "Notes"). The term loan discussed above can only be used to purchase the Notes and will be funded only to the extent required to purchase Notes accepted for purchase pursuant to the tender offer. Additionally, funds from the line of credit loans and working capital loan under the Platinum Credit Facility are available to us, for limited purposes, subject to the satisfaction or waiver of certain conditions, including the consummation of the tender offer on the terms described in the Offer to Purchase. Under the initial terms of the tender offer, holders of Notes who validly tendered, and did not validly withdraw, their Notes on or prior to the Expiration Date would receive $300 for each $1,000 principal amount of Notes purchased in the tender offer, plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but not including, the date of payment for the Notes accepted for payment. The tender offer and our obligation to purchase and pay for the Notes validly tendered and not validly withdrawn pursuant to the tender offer was initially conditioned upon (1) at least $166.3 million in aggregate principal amount of Notes (representing 95% of the outstanding Notes) being validly tendered and not validly withdrawn, and (2) the receipt by us of the proceeds from the term loan of up to $52.5 million from K Financing.

        On June 3, 2009, we announced the extension of the tender offer until an expiration date of June 12, 2009. All terms and conditions of the tender offer remained unchanged with this extension. On June 8, 2009, we announced an increase in the purchase price from $300 per $1,000 principal amount of the Notes to $400 per $1,000 principal amount of the Notes and extended the expiration date to June 19, 2009. In addition, we decreased the minimum tender condition from $166.3 million in aggregate principal amount of the Notes (representing 95% of the outstanding Notes) to $122.5 million in aggregate principal amount of the Notes (representing 70% of the outstanding Notes). We also entered into an Amended and Restated Credit Agreement with K Financing (as amended, the "Amended and Restated Platinum Credit Facility"), whereby, among other matters, the potential size of the term loan facility increased from $52.5 million to $60.3 million. The Amended and Restated Platinum Credit Facility would have required the use of up to $9.8 million of our internal cash on hand for purchases of Notes validly tendered and not validly withdrawn pursuant to the tender offer if more than $150.6 million aggregate principal amount of the Notes were validly tendered and not validly withdrawn and all funds under the term loan facility under the Amended and Restated Platinum Credit Facility were disbursed. As discussed below, the $150.6 million threshold was not met, and we did not disburse internal cash for the purchase of Notes.

        On June 22, 2009, we announced a reduction in the minimum tender condition pursuant to the tender offer from $122.5 million in aggregate principal amount of Notes (representing 70% of the outstanding Notes) to $87.5 million in aggregate principal amount of Notes (representing 50% of the outstanding Notes) and an extension of the expiration date to June 26, 2009. All remaining terms and conditions of the tender offer were unchanged with this extension. We also entered into a Revised Amended and Restated Credit Agreement with K Financing (the "Revised Amended and Restated Platinum Credit Facility"), whereby, among other matters, the minimum tender condition was reduced from $122.5 million in aggregate principal amount of Notes (representing 70% of the outstanding Notes) to $87.5 million in aggregate principal amount of Notes (representing 50% of the outstanding Notes).

        On June 26, 2009, $93.9 million in aggregate principal amount of the Notes were validly tendered (representing 53.7% of the outstanding Notes). As a result of the consummated tender offer, we used $37.6 million of the term loan under the now effective Revised Amended and Restated Platinum Credit Facility to extinguish the tendered Notes. We incurred approximately $9 million in fees and expense reimbursements related to the execution of this tender offer. We funded these costs with an equal amount of proceeds from a line of credit loan under the Revised Amended and Restated Platinum Credit Facility. No monies have been drawn on the working capital loan provision, under which we currently have a borrowing capacity of up to $7.5 million based on our book-to-bill ratio. The term loan

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facility will accrue interest at an annual rate of 9% for cash payment until the one-year anniversary of the consummation of the tender offer. At our option, after the one-year anniversary of the consummation of the tender offer, the term loan facility will accrue interest at an annual rate of 9% for cash payment, or cash and payment in-kind ("PIK") interest at the rate of 12% per annum, with the cash portion being 5% and the PIK portion being 7%. The working capital loan and the line of credit loans will accrue interest at a rate equal to the greater of (i) LIBOR plus 7%, or (ii) 10%, payable monthly in arrears. In the event more than $8.8 million in aggregate principal amount of the Notes remain outstanding as of March 1, 2011, then the maturity date of the term loan facility, the line of credit loans and the working capital loan is accelerated to March 1, 2011. If the aggregate principal amount of the Notes outstanding at March 1, 2011 is less than or equal to $8.8 million, the maturity date of the term loan facility will be November 15, 2012 and the maturity date for the line of credit loans and the working capital loan will be July 15, 2011. In addition, we will pay K Financing a success fee of $5.0 million, payable at the time of repayment in full of the term loan facility, whether at maturity or otherwise.

        The Revised Amended and Restated Platinum Credit Facility contains certain financial maintenance covenants, including requirements that we maintain a minimum consolidated EBITDA and fixed charge coverage ratio. See discussion below regarding our forecasted compliance with these financial covenants. In addition to the financial covenants, the Revised Amended and Restated Platinum Credit Facility also contains limitations on capital expenditures, the incurrence of indebtedness, the granting of liens, the sale of assets, sale and leaseback transactions, fundamental corporate changes, entering into investments, the payment of dividends, voluntary or optional payment and prepayment of indebtedness (including the Notes) and other limitations customary to secured credit facilities.

        Our obligations to K Financing arising under the Revised Amended and Restated Platinum Credit Facility are secured by substantially all of our assets located in the United States, Mexico, Indonesia and China (other than accounts receivable owing by account debtors located in the United States, Singapore and Hong Kong, which exclusively secure obligations to Vishay). As further described in the Offer to Purchase, in connection with entering into the Revised Amended and Restated Platinum Credit Facility, K Financing and UniCredit entered into a letter of understanding with respect to their respective guarantor and collateral pools, and our assets in Europe that are not pledged to either lender. The letter of understanding also sets forth each lender's agreement not to interfere with the other's exercise of remedies pertaining to their respective collateral pools.

        Concurrent with the consummation of the tender offer, we issued K Financing a warrant (the "Closing Warrant") to purchase up to 80,544,685 shares of our common stock, subject to certain adjustments, representing approximately 49.9% of our outstanding common stock on a post-Closing Warrant basis. The Closing Warrant will be exercisable at a maximum aggregate purchase price of $40.3 million, subject to certain adjustments, at any time prior to the tenth anniversary of its date of issuance. The Closing Warrant may be exercised in exchange for cash, by means of net settlement of a corresponding portion of amounts owed by us under the Revised Amended and Restated Platinum Credit Facility, by cashless exercise to the extent of appreciation in the value of our common stock above the exercise price of the Closing Warrant, or by combination of the preceding alternatives. The issuance of the Closing Warrant may be deemed an "ownership change" for purposes of Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"). If such an ownership change is deemed to occur, the amount of our taxable income that can be offset by our net operating loss carryovers in taxable years after the ownership change will be limited. We believe it is more likely than not that the issuance of the Closing Warrant will not be deemed an ownership change for purposes of Section 382 of the Code, although the matter is not free from doubt. In addition, the exercise of the Closing Warrant may give rise to an ownership change for purposes of Section 382 of the Code.

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        We also entered into an Investor Rights Agreement (the "Investor Rights Agreement") with K Financing. Pursuant to the terms of the Investor Rights Agreement, we have, subject to certain terms and conditions, granted K Financing Board observation rights which would permit K Financing to designate up to three individuals to observe Board meetings and receive information provided to the Board. In addition, the Investor Rights Agreement provides K Financing with certain preemptive rights. Subject to the terms and limitations described in the Investor Rights Agreement, in connection with any proposed issuance of securities, we would be required to offer to sell to K Financing a pro rata portion of such securities equal to the percentage determined by dividing the number of shares of common stock held by K Financing plus the number of shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of the Closing Warrant, by the total number of shares of common stock then outstanding on a fully diluted basis. The Investor Rights Agreement also provides K Financing with certain registration and information rights.

        We also entered into a Corporate Advisory Services Agreement with Platinum Equity Advisors, LLC ("Platinum Advisors") for a term of at least four years, pursuant to which we will pay an annual fee of $1.5 million to Platinum Advisors for certain advisory services.

        We believe that the consummation of the tender offer and execution of the Revised Amended and Restated Platinum Credit Facility and amendments to the UniCredit facilities will improve our liquidity situation. Given our cost reduction and working capital initiatives, our anticipated borrowing ability under the working capital loan provision of the Revised Amended and Restated Platinum Credit Facility, and the UniCredit Amendments, we estimate that our current operating plans will provide for sufficient cash to cover liquidity requirements. However, we currently anticipate that we will continue to experience severe pressure on our liquidity during fiscal year 2010. Furthermore, the generation of adequate liquidity will largely depend upon our ability to achieve sales growth over the next several quarters and our ability to execute our current operating plans and to manage costs. In light of current global economic conditions, and other risks and uncertainties, there can be no assurance that we will be successful in this regard. An unanticipated decrease in sales, sales that fall below our expectations, or other factors that would cause the actual outcome of our plans to differ from expectations could create a shortfall in cash available to fund our liquidity needs. We will continually monitor and adjust our business plan as necessary to respond to developments in our business, markets and the broader economy. In addition to the actions discussed above, we continue to review additional initiatives to improve liquidity in the short-term as well as to reduce our total overall leverage, including the sale of non-core assets.

        Based on our operating plans, we currently forecast that we will meet the financial covenants required by the Revised Amended and Restated Platinum Credit Facility and Facility A at each of the measurement dates during fiscal year 2010. However, in the case of the EBITDA covenant, our forecast shows that we will achieve the required level of profitability by a narrow margin. Our current forecast anticipates a steady recovery, over the next several quarters, of the principal markets and industries into which our products to sold. Our expectations in this regard are based on our consideration of various information sources including, among others, industry surveys and input from various key customers. Given the degree of uncertainty with respect to the near-term outlook for the global economy and the possible effects on our operations, there is significant uncertainty as to whether our forecasts will be achieved. Therefore, there can be no assurance that we will be able to meet the financial covenants required by the Revised Amended and Restated Platinum Credit Facility and Facility A. In the event of a covenant breach, we would seek a waiver or amendment, but such remedy would be out of our control and rest in the discretion of our lenders.

        Our accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared assuming that we will continue as a going concern. Specifically, our consolidated financial statements do not include any adjustments relating to the recoverability or classification of recorded assets, or the amounts or classification of liabilities that might be necessary in the event we are unable to continue as a going

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concern. The significant uncertainties surrounding our liquidity and capital resources and ability to meet financial covenants as discussed above, cast substantial doubt on our ability to continue as a going concern. The failure to successfully maintain sufficient cash, and/or the non-compliance with our financial covenants without a waiver or amendment granted by our lenders, would have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial position and liquidity.

The Capacitor Industry

        Because capacitors are a fundamental component of most electronic circuits, demand for capacitors tends to reflect the general demand for electronic products, which, though cyclical, has continued to grow. Growth in the electronics market and the resulting growth in demand for capacitors have been driven by:

    The development of new products and applications, such as smart phones, mobile personal computers, global positioning devices, alternative/renewable energy systems, hybrid transportation systems and electronic controls for engines and industrial machinery;

    The increase in the electronic content of existing products, such as home appliances, medical equipment, commercial and military aircraft and automobiles; and

    The enhanced functionality and complexity of electronic devices that use state-of-the-art microprocessors.

Capacitors

        Capacitors are electronic components consisting of conducting materials separated by a dielectric, or insulating material, which allows a capacitor to act as a filtering or an energy storage/delivery device. KEMET manufactures a full line of capacitors, including tantalum, multilayer ceramic, film, paper, and aluminum (both wet electrolytic and solid polymer). KEMET manufactures these types of capacitors in many different sizes and configurations. These configurations include surface-mount capacitors, which are attached directly to the circuit board without lead wires, leaded capacitors, which are attached to the circuit board using lead wires, and other attachment methods such as screw terminal and snap-in.

        The choice of capacitor dielectric is driven by the engineering specifications and the application of the component product into which the capacitor is incorporated. Product design engineers in the electronics industry typically select capacitors on the basis of capacitance levels, voltage requirements, size and cost. Tantalum and ceramic capacitors are commonly used in conjunction with integrated circuits, and the same circuit may, and frequently does, contain both ceramic and tantalum capacitors. Generally, ceramic capacitors are more cost-effective at lower capacitance values, tantalum capacitors are more cost-effective at higher capacitance values, and solid aluminum capacitors can be more effective in special applications. Film, paper and electrolytic capacitors can also be used to support integrated circuits; a significant area of usage is the field of power electronics to provide energy for applications such as motor start, power factor correction, pulse power, EMI filtering and safety.

        Management believes that sales of surface-mount capacitors, including multilayer ceramic, tantalum, film, paper, electrolytic and solid aluminum capacitors will continue to grow more rapidly than other types of capacitors in both the United States and worldwide markets, because technological breakthroughs in electronics are regularly expanding the number and type of applications for these products. Management also believes that sales of film, paper and electrolytic capacitors will continue to grow, driven by growth in industrial power applications, hybrid electric vehicles, automotive electronics, alternative energy generation, as well as other electronic application.

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Markets and Customers

        KEMET's products are sold to a variety of Original Equipment Manufacturers ("OEMs") in a broad range of industries including the computer, communications, automotive, military, consumer, industrial and aerospace industries. KEMET also sells products to Electronic Manufacturing Service ("EMS") providers, which also serve OEMs in these industries. Electronics distributors are an important channel of distribution in the electronics industry and represent the largest channel through which we sell our capacitors. TTI, Inc. accounted for over 10% of our net sales in fiscal years 2009 and 2008. In fiscal year 2007, TTI, Inc. and Arrow Electronics, Inc. each accounted for over 10% of our net sales. The loss of these customers would have a material adverse effect on our financial results. Our top 50 customers accounted for 71.6% of our net sales during fiscal year 2009.

        The following table presents an overview of the diverse industries that incorporate our capacitors into their products and the general nature of those products.

Industry
  Products
Automotive   Audio systems, tire pressure monitoring systems, power train electronics, instrumentation, airbag systems, anti-lock braking systems, electronic engine controls, air conditioning controls, and security systems

Business Equipment

 

Copiers, point-of-sale terminals, and fax machines

Communications

 

Cellular phones, telephones, switching equipment, relays, base stations, and wireless infrastructure

Computer-related

 

Personal computers, workstations, mainframes, computer peripheral equipment, power supplies, disk drives, printers, and local area networks

Industrial

 

Electronic controls, measurement equipment, instrumentation, solar and wind energy generation, and medical electronics

Consumer

 

DVD players, MP3 players, game consoles, LCD televisions, global positioning systems and digital still cameras

Military/Aerospace

 

Avionics, radar, guidance systems, and satellite communications

Alternative Energy

 

Wind generation systems, solar generation systems, geothermal generation systems, tidal generation systems and electric drive vehicles.

        KEMET produces a small percentage of capacitors under military specification standards sold for both military and commercial uses. We do not sell any capacitors directly to the United States government. Certain of our customers purchase capacitors for products in the military and aerospace industries.

        It is impracticable to report revenues from external customers for each of the above noted products primarily due to approximately 50% of our external sales being sold to electronics distributors.

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KEMET in the United States

        KEMET's corporate headquarters are located in Greenville, South Carolina. Individual functions are evolving to support global activities in Asia, Europe, and the Americas, either from Greenville, South Carolina or through locations in appropriate parts of the world.

        Commodity manufacturing in the United States has been substantially relocated to our lower-cost manufacturing facilities in Mexico and China. Production that remains in the United States will focus primarily on early-stage manufacturing of new products and other specialty products for which customers are predominantly located in North America.

        To accelerate the pace of innovations, the KEMET Innovation Center was created in July 2003. The primary objectives of the Innovation Center are to ensure the flow of new products and robust manufacturing processes that are expected to keep us at the forefront of our customers' product designs, while enabling these products to be transferred rapidly to the most appropriate KEMET manufacturing location in the world for low-cost, high-volume production. The main campus of the KEMET Innovation Center is located in Greenville, South Carolina.

KEMET in Mexico

        KEMET believes our Mexican operations are among the most cost efficient in the world, and they will continue to be our primary production facilities supporting North American and European customers for Tantalum and Ceramic. One of the strengths of KEMET Mexico is that it is truly a Mexican operation, including Mexican management and workers. These facilities will be responsible for maintaining KEMET's traditional excellence in quality, service, and delivery, while driving costs down. The facilities in Victoria and Matamoros will remain focused primarily on tantalum capacitors, while the facilities in Monterrey will continue to focus on ceramic capacitors.

KEMET in Asia Pacific

        In recent years, low production costs and proximity to large, growing markets have caused many of our key customers to relocate production facilities to Asia, particularly China. We have a well-established sales and logistics network in Asia to support our customers' Asian operations. Our initial China production facilities in Suzhou (near Shanghai) commenced shipments in calendar year 2003 ("Suzhou Plant 1"). We began shipping products from our second production facility in Suzhou in calendar year 2005 ("Suzhou Plant 2"). In an effort to optimize resources while meeting market needs, we will consolidate our Suzhou operations within Suzhou Plant 2 by moving the Ceramic finishing operation from Suzhou Plant 1 to Suzhou Plant 2 and the Tantalum operations to Suzhou Plant 2 or Matamoros, Mexico. In addition, all support functions currently in Suzhou Plant 1 will move to Suzhou Plant 2. We expect this consolidation project to be completed by July 2009. In connection with the Evox Rifa acquisition which was completed in April 2007, we added another Chinese operation in Nantong, China as well as a manufacturing operation in Batam, Indonesia. With the Arcotronics acquisition which was completed in October 2007, we have further expanded our presence in China with a manufacturing operation in Anting, China. These operations will continue to support the former Evox Rifa and Arcotronics customer bases in Asia with top quality film and electrolytic capacitors. In the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2008, construction began on a third manufacturing facility in Suzhou ("Suzhou Plant 3") to manufacture aluminum polymer products. Due to the current economic downturn, construction of this leased facility has been deferred. Manufacturing operations in China will continue to grow and KEMET anticipates that our production capacity in China may be equivalent to Mexico in the future. Like KEMET Mexico, the vision for KEMET China is to be a Chinese operation, with Chinese management and workers, to help achieve KEMET's objective of being a global company. These facilities will be responsible for maintaining our traditional excellence in quality, service, and delivery, while accelerating cost-reduction efforts and supporting efforts to grow our customer base in Asia.

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KEMET in Europe

        As previously mentioned, we acquired the tantalum business unit of EPCOS AG in April 2006, acquired Evox Rifa in April 2007, and acquired Arcotronics in October 2007. These acquisitions have provided us with manufacturing operations in Europe. We currently have one or more manufacturing locations in Bulgaria, Finland, Germany, Italy, Portugal, Sweden, and the United Kingdom. In addition, we have a research and development center in Farjestaden, Sweden. KEMET will maintain and enhance our strong European sales and customer service infrastructure, allowing KEMET to continue to meet the local preferences of European customers who remain an important focus for KEMET going forward.

Global Sales and Logistics

        In recent years, it has become more complex to do business in the electronics industry. Market-leading electronics manufacturers have spread their facilities globally. The growth of the electronics manufacturing services industry has resulted in a more challenging supply chain. New Asian electronics manufacturers are emerging rapidly. The most successful business models in the electronics industry are based on tightly integrated supply chain logistics to drive down costs. KEMET's direct sales force worldwide and a well-developed global logistics infrastructure distinguish it in the marketplace and will remain a hallmark of KEMET in meeting the needs of our global customers. North America and South America ("Americas") sales staff is organized into four areas supported by regional offices. The European sales staff is organized into five areas, also supported by regional offices. We also have independent sales representatives located in seven countries worldwide including: Brazil, Puerto Rico, South Korea, and the United States.

        KEMET markets and sells our products in our major markets primarily through a direct sales force. In addition, KEMET uses independent commissioned representatives. We believe our direct sales force creates a distinctive competence in the marketplace and has established strong relationships with our customers. With a global sales organization that is customer-focused, KEMET's direct sales personnel from around the world serve on KEMET Global Account Teams. These teams are committed to serving any customer location in the world with a dedicated KEMET representative. This approach requires a blend of accountability and responsibility for specific customer locations, guided by an overall account strategy for each customer.

        Electronics distributors are an important distribution channel in the electronics industry and accounted for 47.4%, 47.6%, and 53.8% of our net sales in fiscal years 2009, 2008 and 2007, respectively. In fiscal years 2009 and 2008, TTI, Inc. accounted for more than 10% of net sales. In fiscal year 2007, TTI, Inc. and Arrow Electronics, Inc. each accounted for more than 10% of net sales.

        A portion of our net sales is made to distributors under agreements allowing certain rights of return and price protection on unsold merchandise held by distributors. Our distributor policy includes inventory price protection and "ship-from-stock and debit" ("SFSD") programs common in the industry.

        The SFSD program provides a mechanism for the distributor to meet a competitive price after obtaining authorization from the local Company sales office. This program allows the distributor to ship its higher-priced inventory and debit us for the difference between KEMET's list price and the lower authorized price for that specific transaction. We establish reserves for the SFSD program based primarily on historical SFSD activity and the actual inventory levels of certain distributor customers.

Sales by Geography

        In fiscal year 2009, total net sales by region were as follows: Americas sales were 25%, Asia and Pacific Rim ("APAC") sales were 35%, and Europe, Middle East and Africa ("EMEA") sales were 40%. Although management believes that we are able to provide a level of delivery and service that is

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competitive with local suppliers, our capacitor market shares in Asian and European markets tend to be significantly lower than in the United States because certain international electronics manufacturers prefer to purchase components from local producers. As a result, a large percentage of our international sales are made to foreign operations of United States manufacturers.

Inventory and Backlog

        Although we manufacture and inventory standardized products, a portion of our products are produced to meet specific customer requirements. Cancellations by customers of orders already in production could have an impact on inventories; however, historically cancellations have not been significant.

        Our customers often encounter uncertain or changing demand for their products. They historically order products from us based on their forecast. If demand does not meet their forecasts, they may cancel or reschedule the shipments included in our backlog, in many instances without penalty. Additionally, many of our customers have started to require shorter lead times and "just in time" delivery. As a result of these factors, the twelve month order backlog is no longer a meaningful trend indicator for us.

Competition

        The market for capacitors is highly competitive. The capacitor industry is characterized by, among other factors, a long-term trend toward lower prices, low transportation costs, and few import barriers. Competitive factors that influence the market for our products include product quality, customer service, technical innovation, pricing, and timely delivery. We believe that we compete favorably on the basis of each of these factors.

        Our major global competitors include AVX Corporation, EPCOS AG, Matsushita Electric Industrial Company, Ltd. (Panasonic), Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd., NEC TOKIN Corporation, Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd., TDK Corporation, Taiyo Yuden Co., Ltd., WIMA GmbH & Co., KG and Vishay. These competitors, among others, cover the breadth of our capacitor offerings.

Raw Materials

        The most expensive raw materials used in the manufacture of our products are tantalum powder, palladium, and silver. These materials are considered commodities and are subject to price volatility.

        Tantalum is used in the manufacture of tantalum capacitors. Management believes tantalum has generally been available in sufficient quantities. Due to our recent financial performance, tantalum powder is no longer purchased under long-term contracts. Instead, we forecast our tantalum needs for the short term (up to two months) and make purchases based upon those forecasts. The average price of tantalum raw material at March 31, 2009 was approximately $194 per pound.

        Although palladium is presently found primarily in South Africa and Russia, we believe that there are a sufficient number of suppliers from which we can purchase our palladium requirements. We continue to take actions to minimize the impact of future palladium price increases on our profit margins. We have significantly reduced the palladium and silver requirements in the production of multilayer ceramic capacitors with a major shift in the production process using base metal electrodes, such as nickel. We have a contract for the purchase of palladium which is sufficient to meet our expected production requirements for fiscal year 2010.

        Silver and aluminum have generally been available in sufficient quantities, and we believe there are a sufficient number of suppliers from which we can purchase our requirements. In addition, while silver was previously primarily purchased on the spot and forward markets, due to our liquidity situation, we now manage silver inventory levels to maintain close to a zero balance.

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Patents and Trademarks

        At March 31, 2009, we held 75 United States and 20 foreign patents and 8 United States and 83 foreign trademarks. We believe that the success of our business is not materially dependent on the existence or duration of any patent, license, or trademark other than the trademarks "KEMET" and "KEMET Charged". Our engineering and research and development staffs have developed and continue to develop proprietary manufacturing processes and equipment designed to enhance our manufacturing facilities and reduce costs.

Research and Development

        Research and development expenses were $29.0 million, $35.7 million and $33.4 million for fiscal years 2009, 2008, and 2007, respectively. These amounts include expenditures for product development and the design and development of machinery and equipment for new processes and cost reduction efforts. Most of our products and manufacturing processes have been designed and developed by Company engineers. We continue to invest in new technology to improve product performance and production efficiencies.

Segment Reporting

        KEMET is organized into three distinct business groups: Tantalum, Ceramic and Film and Electrolytic. Each business group is responsible for the operations of certain manufacturing sites as well as all related research and development efforts. The sales and marketing functions are shared by each of the business groups and are allocated to the business groups based on the business groups' respective budgeted net sales (see Note 8, "Segment and Geographic Information" to our consolidated financial statements).

Environmental

        We are subject to various North American, European, and Asian federal, state, and local environmental laws and regulations relating to the protection of the environment, including those governing the handling and management of certain chemicals used and generated in manufacturing electronic components. Based on the annual costs incurred over the past several years, management does not believe that compliance with these laws and regulations will have a material adverse effect on our capital expenditures, earnings, or competitive position. We believe, however, that it is reasonably likely that the trend in environmental litigation, laws, and regulations will continue to be toward stricter standards. Such changes in the law and regulations may require us to make additional capital expenditures which, while not currently estimable with certainty, are not presently expected to have a material adverse effect on our financial condition.

        KEMET's Guiding Principles support a strong commitment to economic, environmental, and socially sustainable development. As a result of this commitment, KEMET has adopted the Electronic Industry Code of Conduct ("EICC"). The EICC is a comprehensive code of conduct that addresses all aspects of corporate responsibility including Labor, Health and Safety, the Environment, and Business Ethics. It outlines standards to ensure working conditions in the electronic industry supply chain are safe, that workers are treated with respect and dignity, and that manufacturing processes are environmentally friendly.

        Policies, programs, and procedures implemented throughout KEMET ensure compliance with legal and regulatory requirements, the content of the EICC, and customer contractual requirements related to social and environmental responsibility.

        KEMET is committed to these business ethics and labor, health, safety, and environmental standards and consider them vital in its quest to be "The Capacitance Company" of choice.

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Employees

        KEMET has 9,100 employees, of whom 500 are located in the United States, 4,000 are located in Mexico, 2,200 in Asia and 2,400 in Europe. We believe that our future success will depend in part on our ability to recruit, retain, and motivate qualified personnel at all levels of the Company. We have 3,200 hourly employees in Mexico who are represented by labor unions as required by Mexican law. In addition, we have 179 employees represented by labor unions in Portugal, 410 employees represented by labor unions in Italy and 224 employees represented by labor unions in Bulgaria. We have not experienced any major work stoppages and consider our relationships with our employees to be good. Our labor costs in Mexico, China, Indonesia, and various locations in Europe are denominated in the local currencies, and a significant depreciation or appreciation of the United States dollar against the local currencies would increase or decrease our labor costs.

Securities Exchange Act of 1934 Reports

        We maintain an Internet website at the following address: http://www.kemet.com. KEMET makes available on or through our Internet website certain reports and amendments to those reports that are filed or furnished to the SEC pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) in accordance with the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These include annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, and current reports on Form 8-K. This information is available on our website free of charge as soon as reasonably practicable after KEMET electronically files the information with, or furnishes it to, the SEC.

Code of Business Integrity and Ethics

        We maintain a Code of Business Integrity and Ethics (the "Code of Ethics"). Our website includes a copy of the Code of Ethics, and it can be downloaded free of charge at http://www.kemet.com. During fiscal year 2009, we established the position of Chief Compliance Officer, which, among other functions, provides corporate oversight of our compliance and ethics programs.

ITEM 1A.    RISK FACTORS.

        This report contains certain statements that are forward-looking within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict. Actual outcomes and results may differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, our forward-looking statements. Words such as "expects," "anticipates," "believes," "estimates" and other similar expressions or future or conditional verbs such as "will," "should," "would" and "could" are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. Readers of this report should not rely solely on the forward-looking statements and should consider all uncertainties and risks throughout this report. The statements are representative only as of the date they are made, and we undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statement.

        All forward-looking statements, by their nature, are subject to risks and uncertainties. Our actual future results may differ materially from those set forth in our forward-looking statements. We face risks that are inherent in the businesses and the market places in which we operate. While management believes these forward-looking statements are accurate and reasonable, uncertainties, risks and factors, including those described below, could cause actual results to differ materially from those reflected in the forward-looking statements.

        Factors that may cause the actual outcome and results to differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, these forward-looking statements include, but are not necessarily limited to the following: (i) generally adverse economic and industry conditions, including a decline in demand for our products; (ii) the ability to maintain sufficient liquidity to realize current operating plans; (iii) the effect of receiving a going concern statement in our auditor's report on our 2009 audited financial

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statements; (iv) adverse economic conditions could cause further reevaluation of the fair value of our reporting segments and the write down of long-lived assets; (v) the cost and availability of raw materials; (vi) changes in our competitive environment; (vii) economic, political, or regulatory changes in the countries in which we operate; (viii) the ability to successfully integrate the operations of acquired businesses; (ix) the ability to attract, train and retain effective employees and management; (x) the ability to develop innovative products to maintain customer relationships; (xi) the impact of environmental issues, laws, and regulations; (xii) our ability to finance and achieve the expected benefits of our manufacturing relocation plan or other restructuring plans; (xiii) volatility of financial and credit markets which would affect our access to capital; (xiv) increased difficulty or expense in accessing capital because of our delisting of our common stock from the New York Stock Exchange ("NYSE"); (xv) exposure to foreign exchange (gains) and losses; (xvi) need to reduce costs to offset downward price trends; (xvii) potential limitation on use of net operating losses to offset possible future taxable income; (xviii) dilution as a result of the issuance of a warrant to K Financing; and (xix) exercise of the warrant by K Financing may result in the existence of a controlling shareholder.

        Additional risks and uncertainties not presently known to us or that we currently deem immaterial also may impair our business operations and also could cause actual results to differ materially from those included, contemplated or implied by the forward-looking statements made in this report, and the reader should not consider the above list of factors to be a complete set of all potential risks or uncertainties.

         Generally adverse economic and industry conditions, including a decline in demand for our products, could reduce our profitability.

        Our products are used in the electronics industry, which is a highly cyclical industry. The demand for capacitors tends to reflect the demand for products in the electronics market. Customers' requirements for our capacitors fluctuate as a result of changes in general economic activity and other factors that affect the demand for their products. During periods of increasing demand for their products, they typically seek to increase their inventory of our products to avoid production bottlenecks. When demand for their products peaks and begins to decline, they may rapidly decrease orders for our products while they use up accumulated inventory. Business cycles vary somewhat in different geographical regions, such as Asia, and within customer industries. We are also vulnerable to general economic events beyond our control and our sales and profits may suffer in periods of weak demand.

         The continued economic downturn could impact our ability to realize current operating plans and could materially adversely affect our liquidity and our ability to continue to operate.

        Our liquidity and ability to realize our current operating plans will be dependent on an improving economic environment and our ability to provide financing for working capital.

        While our operating plans provide for cash generated from current operations to be sufficient to cover our operating requirements going forward, many factors, including reduced demand for our products, currency exchange rate fluctuations, increased raw material costs, and other adverse market conditions could cause a shortfall in net cash generated from operations. To provide financial flexibility, we may enter into negotiations to secure additional financing or sell non-core assets. However, there can be no assurances that we will be successful in either of these strategic initiatives.

        Our ability to realize current operating plans is also dependent upon meeting our payment obligations and complying with any applicable financial covenants under our debt agreements. If cash generated from operating, investing and financing activities is insufficient to pay for operating requirements and to cover payment obligations under debt instruments, planned operating and capital expenditures may need to be reduced, or the debt instruments may need to be amended or refinanced. There can be no assurances that we would be able to secure such amendments or refinancing on satisfactory terms. Also, adverse market conditions could cause us to be at risk of violating one or more financial covenants in our debt instruments. In such event, if we were unable to secure amendments to

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the debt instrument or a waiver of the covenant, we could be required to redeem the debt instrument or could default under the instrument, causing the balance of the debt to be accelerated. There can be no assurances that we could secure such an amendment or waiver, or could redeem the instrument or otherwise repay the debt on an accelerated basis.

         There is substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern.

        Our independent public accounting firm has issued an opinion on our consolidated financial statements that states that the consolidated financial statements were prepared assuming we will continue as a going concern. However, in its report dated June 30, 2009 regarding our consolidated financial statements, our independent public accounting firm expressed substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern as a result of the decline in net sales, profitability and liquidity during the year ended March 31, 2009, our expectation that we will achieve the required level of profitability under an "EBITDA" covenant by only a narrow margin and that, given the degree of uncertainty with respect to the near-term outlook for the global economy and the possible effects on the Company's operations, there is significant uncertainty as to whether the Company's forecasts will be achieved. Our plans concerning these matters are discussed in Note 2, "Debt, Liquidity and Capital Resources" to our consolidated financial statements.

         Adverse economic conditions could cause further reevaluation and the write down of long-lived assets.

        For the impairment of long-lived assets, we follow the guidance as prescribed in Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 144, " Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets " ("SFAS No. 144"). In accordance with SFAS No. 144, long-lived assets and intangible assets subject to amortization are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of a long-lived asset or group of assets may not be recoverable. In the event that the test shows that the carrying value of certain long-lived assets are impaired, we would be required to take an impairment charge to earnings under U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. However, such a charge would have no direct effect on our cash. Such a charge could cause us to be at risk for violating one or more financial covenants in our debt instruments. If we were unable to secure amendments to the debt instrument or a waiver of the covenant, we could be required to redeem the debt instrument or we could default under the instrument, causing the balance of the debt to be accelerated. There can be no assurances that we could secure such an amendment or waiver, or could redeem the instrument or otherwise repay the debt on an accelerated basis.

         An increase in the cost or decrease in availability of our principal raw materials could adversely affect profitability.

        The principal raw materials used in the manufacture of our products are tantalum powder, palladium and silver. These materials are considered commodities and are subject to price volatility. Due to our recent financial performance, we no longer purchase tantalum powder under long-term contracts. Instead, we forecast our tantalum needs for the short-term (up to two months) and make purchases based upon those forecasts. While the financial impact of these decisions are short-term in nature given that we are not currently party to any long-term supply agreements, they could impact our financial performance from period to period given that we do not hedge any of our raw material exposure and we may be unable to pass on to a significant number of our customers any fluctuations in our raw material costs. Additionally, any delays in obtaining raw materials for our products could hinder our ability to manufacture our products, negatively impacting our competitive position and our relationships with our customers.

        Presently, a limited number of suppliers process tantalum ore into capacitor-grade tantalum powder. We believe the tantalum our operations require is generally available in sufficient quantities to meet our requirements and that there are a sufficient number of tantalum processors relative to foreseeable demand. However, the limited number of tantalum powder suppliers could lead to

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increases in tantalum prices that we may not be able to pass on to our customers. The average price of tantalum raw material at March 31, 2009 was over $194 per pound.

        Palladium is presently found primarily in South Africa and Russia. Although the amount of palladium that we require has generally been available in sufficient quantities, the limited number of palladium suppliers could lead to significant price fluctuations. For instance, in fiscal year 2009 the price of palladium fluctuated between $475 and $164 per troy ounce. Price increases and our inability to pass such increases on to our customers could have an adverse effect on profitability.

        Silver has generally been available in sufficient quantities, and we believe there are a sufficient number of suppliers from which we can purchase our silver requirements. An increase in the price of silver that we are unable to pass on to our customers, however, could have an adverse affect on our profitability.

         We face intense competition.

        The capacitor business is highly competitive worldwide, with low transportation costs and few import barriers. Competition is based on factors such as product quality and reliability, availability, customer service, timely delivery and price. The industry has become increasingly consolidated and globalized in recent years, and our primary U.S. and non-U.S. competitors, some of which are larger than us, have significant financial resources. The greater financial resources of such competitors may enable them to commit larger amounts of capital in response to changing market conditions. Some competitors may also have the ability to use profits from other operations to subsidize losses sustained in their businesses with which we compete. Certain competitors may also develop product or service innovations that could put us at a disadvantage.

         We manufacture many capacitors in Europe, Mexico and Asia and future political or regulatory changes in any of these regions could adversely affect our profitability.

        Our international operations are subject to a number of special risks, in addition to the same risks as our domestic business. These risks include currency exchange rate fluctuations, differing protections of intellectual property, trade barriers, labor unrest, exchange controls, regional economic uncertainty, differing (and possibly more stringent) labor regulation, risk of governmental expropriation, domestic and foreign customs and tariffs, current and changing regulatory regimes, differences in the availability and terms of financing, political instability and potential increases in taxes. These factors could impact our production capability or adversely affect our results of operations or financial condition.

         We may not be able to successfully integrate acquisitions with our operations.

        Because the markets and industries in which we operate are highly competitive, and due to the inherent uncertainties associated with the integration of acquired companies, we may not be able to integrate acquisitions without encountering difficulties which may include the loss of key employees and customers, the disruption of the ongoing businesses and possible inconsistencies in standards, controls and procedures. In addition, we may not be able to achieve the expected cost synergies from our acquisitions and we may incur higher than anticipated integration (including restructuring costs) associated with them. Finally, our liquidity situation could delay or stop our restructuring plans related to the integration of the acquisitions until liquidity is adequate to resume these activities.

         Losing the services of our executive officers or our other highly qualified and experienced employees or our inability to continue to attract and retain additional qualified personnel could harm our business.

        Our success depends upon the continued contributions of our executive officers and certain other employees, many of whom have many years of experience with us and would be extremely difficult to replace. We must also attract and retain experienced and highly skilled engineering, sales and marketing and managerial personnel. Competition for qualified personnel is intense in our industry, and we may not be successful in hiring and retaining these people. If we lost the services of our executive officers or our other highly qualified and experienced employees or cannot attract and retain

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other qualified personnel, our business could suffer through less effective management due to loss of accumulated knowledge of our business or through less successful products due to a reduced ability to design, manufacture and market our products.

         We must continue to develop innovative products to maintain relationships with our customers and to offset potential price erosion in older products.

        While most of the fundamental technologies used in the passive components industry have been available for a long time, the market is nonetheless typified by rapid changes in product designs and technological advances allowing for better performance, smaller size and/or lower cost. New applications are frequently found for existing technologies, and new technologies occasionally replace existing technologies for some applications or open up new business opportunities in other areas of application. We believe that successful innovation is critical for maintaining profitability in the face of potential erosion of selling prices for existing products and to ensure the flow of new products and robust manufacturing processes that will keep us at the forefront of our customers' product designs. Non-customized commodity products are especially vulnerable to price pressure, but customized products have also experienced price pressure in recent years. Developing and marketing new products requires start-up costs that may not be recouped if these products or production techniques are not successful. There are numerous risks inherent in product development, including the risks that we will be unable to anticipate the direction of technological change or that we will be unable to develop and market new products and applications in a timely fashion to satisfy customer demands. If this occurs, we could lose customers and experience adverse effects on our results of operations.

         Environmental laws and regulations could limit our ability to operate as we are currently and could result in additional costs.

        We are subject to a variety of U.S. federal, state and local, as well as foreign, environmental laws and regulations relating, among other things, to wastewater discharge, air emissions, handling of hazardous materials, disposal of solid and hazardous wastes, and remediation of soil and groundwater contamination. We use a number of chemicals or similar substances, and generate wastes, that are considered hazardous. We require environmental permits to conduct many of our operations. Violations of environmental laws and regulations could result in substantial fines, penalties, and other sanctions. Changes in environmental laws or regulations (or in their enforcement) affecting or limiting, for example, our chemical uses, certain of our manufacturing processes, or our disposal practices, could restrict our ability to operate as we are currently operating or impose additional costs. In addition, we may experience releases of certain chemicals or discover existing contamination, which could cause us to incur material cleanup costs or other damages.

         We may not achieve the expected benefits of our manufacturing relocation plan and cost reduction plans we have made or may adopt in the future.

        We have experienced significant growth through acquisitions. In fiscal year 2009, we incurred manufacturing relocation costs to integrate these newly acquired businesses. In July 2008, we announced a rationalization plan designed to reduce costs in the corporate staff and manufacturing support functions. Approximately 640 employees were affected as a result of this action and the salaried workforce affected represented approximately 12% of our salaried workforce. We expect that the rationalization plan will reduce support costs by approximately $36.0 million on an annual basis. In December 2008, we announced a cost savings plan to eliminate approximately 1,500 manufacturing jobs. We expect that this plan will reduce costs by approximately $16.0 million on an annual basis. To the extent we are unsuccessful in realizing the goals of any or all of these initiatives, we will not be able to achieve our anticipated operating results. To the extent we embark on any additional restructuring or repositioning programs, such initiatives may not achieve expected benefits. The inability to achieve our forecasted operating results could have an adverse affect on our liquidity.

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         Volatility of financial and credit markets could affect our access to capital.

        The continued uncertainty in the global financial and credit markets could impact our ability to implement new financial arrangements or to modify our existing financial arrangements. While we have been successful in restructuring our financial indebtedness with UniCredit, there can be no assurance that future modifications, if needed, could be secured. An inability to obtain new financing or to further modify existing financing would put additional pressure on our ability to generate sufficient cash from operations to satisfy our liquidity requirements. Our ability to generate adequate liquidity will depend on our ability to execute the operating plans and to manage costs in light of developing economic conditions. An unanticipated decrease in sales, or other factors that would cause the actual outcome of our plans to differ from expectations, could create a shortfall in cash available to fund our liquidity needs. Being unable to access new capital or restructure existing debt, experiencing a shortfall in cash from operations to fund our liquidity needs and the failure to implement an initiative to offset the shortfall in cash, such as, for example, a sale of non-core assets, would likely have a material adverse effect on our business.

         We are currently listed on the OTC Bulletin Board which could have an adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.

        On December 31, 2008, we received notice from the NYSE that our common stock would be suspended from trading on the NYSE due to non-compliance with the continued listing standard related to average market capitalization. On January 9, 2009, our stock was suspended from trading on the NYSE and began trading on the Over-The-Counter market's Pink Sheets. On February 2, 2009, our stock began trading on the OTC Bulletin Board. Our listings on the Pink Sheets and OTC Bulletin Board comply with the covenants under our debt agreements. However, our listing on the OTC Bulletin Board could have an adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations by, among other things, limiting:

    the liquidity of our common stock;

    the market price of our common stock;

    the number of institutional and other investors that will consider investing in our common stock;

    the availability of information concerning the trading prices and volume of our common stock;

    the number of broker-dealers willing to execute trades in shares of our common stock; and

    our ability to obtain financing for the continuation of operations.

         Our inability to purchase forward exchange contracts exposes us to foreign exchange (gains) and losses.

        Given our international operations and sales, we are exposed to movements in foreign exchange rates. Of these, the most significant are currently the Euro and the Mexican peso. A portion of our sales to our customers and operating costs in Europe are denominated in Euro creating an exposure to foreign currency exchange rates. Also, a portion of our costs in our Mexican operations are denominated in Mexican pesos, creating an exposure to foreign currency exchange rates. Additionally, certain of our non-U.S. subsidiaries make sales denominated in U.S. dollars which expose them to foreign currency transaction gains and losses. Historically, in order to minimize our exposure, we periodically entered into forward foreign exchange contracts in which the future cash flows in the Euro or Mexican peso were hedged against the U.S. dollar. Due to our liquidity situation, we no longer have the capability to enter into forward exchange contracts and therefore are exposed to foreign currency gains and losses.

         We must consistently reduce the total costs of our products to combat the impact of downward price trends.

        Our industry is intensely competitive and prices for existing products tend to decrease steadily over their life cycle. There is substantial and continuing pressure from customers to reduce the total cost of

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using our parts. To remain competitive, we must achieve continuous cost reductions through process and product improvements.

        We must also be in a position to minimize our customers' shipping and inventory financing costs and to meet their other goals for rationalization of supply and production. Our growth and the profit margins of our products will suffer if our competitors are more successful in reducing the total cost to customers of their products than we are. We must also continue to introduce new products that offer performance advantages over our existing products and can thereby achieve premium prices, offsetting the price declines in our more mature products.

         Our use of net operating loss carryforwards could be limited by ownership changes.

        In addition to the general limitations on the carryback and carryforward of net operating losses under Section 172 of the Code, Section 382 of the Code imposes further limitations on the utilization of net operating losses by a corporation following various types of ownership changes which result in more than a 50 percentage point change in ownership of a corporation within a three year period. Therefore, the future utilization of our net operating losses may be subject to limitation for regular federal income tax purposes.

        The issuance of the Closing Warrant may be deemed an "ownership change" for purposes of Section 382 of the Code. If such an ownership change is deemed to occur, the amount of our taxable income that can be offset by our net operating loss carryovers in taxable years after the ownership change will be limited. We believe it is more likely than not that the issuance of the Closing Warrant will not be deemed an ownership change for purposes of Section 382 of the Code although the matter is not free from doubt. In addition, the exercise of the Closing Warrant may give rise to an ownership change for purposes of Section 382 of the Code.

        We cannot be certain that the limitations of Section 382 of the Code will not limit or deny in full our future utilization of available net operating losses, if any. Such limitation or denial could require us to pay substantial additional federal and state taxes and interest. Moreover, we cannot be certain that future ownership changes will not limit or deny in full our future utilization of all of the available net operating losses. If we cannot utilize available net operating losses, if any, we may be required to pay substantial additional federal and state taxes and interest. Such tax and interest liabilities may adversely affect our liquidity and financial position.

         Holders of our common stock are subject to the risk of dilution as a result of the issuance of a warrant to K Financing.

        As part of the consideration for entering into the Platinum Credit Facility, we granted K Financing a warrant to purchase up to 80,544,685 shares of our common stock at a maximum aggregate purchase price of $40.3 million, subject to certain adjustments, representing up to 49.9% of our outstanding common stock on a post-Closing warrant basis. The warrant is exercisable at any time prior to the tenth anniversary of the date of issuance. The exercise of the warrant could result in dilution to the holders of our common stock. In addition to the potential dilutive effective of a warrant, there is the potential that a large number of the shares may be traded in the public market at any time, which could place significant downward pressure on the trading price of our common stock. The issuance and sale of additional shares in the public market could also impair our ability to raise capital by selling equity securities.

         The exercise of the warrant by K Financing may result in the existence of a controlling shareholder, and consequently may limit the ability of other shareholders to influence the direction and decisions of the Company.

        As previously indicated, K Financing received a warrant to purchase up to 80,544,685 shares of our common stock at a maximum aggregate purchase price of $40.3 million. Upon exercise of the warrant, K Financing may own up to 49.9% of our outstanding common stock on a post-Closing warrant basis.

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In addition, we entered into an Investor Rights Agreement which provides K Financing with preemptive rights to purchase shares of our common stock which will enable K Financing to maintain its percentage ownership. Under the Investor Rights Agreement, in connection with any proposed issuance of securities, we would be required to offer to sell to K Financing a pro rata portion of such securities equal to the percentage determined by dividing the number of shares of common stock held by K Financing plus the number of shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of the warrant, by the total number of shares of common stock then outstanding on a fully diluted basis.

        As a result, K Financing may be able to control or significantly influence substantially all matters requiring approval by the shareholders, including the election of directors and the approval of any significant transactions. K Financing may also have interests that differ from those of other shareholders and may vote in a way with which other shareholders disagree or perceive as adverse to their interests. In addition, the concentration of voting power held by K Financing could have the effect of preventing, discouraging or deferring a change in control of the Company, which could depress the market price of our common stock.

ITEM 1B.    UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS.

        None.

20


ITEM 2.    PROPERTIES.

        KEMET is headquartered in Greenville, South Carolina and has a total of 23 manufacturing plants located in the United States, Mexico, Europe and Asia. Our existing manufacturing and assembly facilities have approximately 3 million square feet of floor space and are highly automated with proprietary manufacturing processes and equipment.

        The Mexican facilities operate under the Maquiladora Program. In general, a company that operates under this program is afforded certain duty and tax preferences and incentives on products brought into the United States. Our manufacturing standards, including compliance with worker safety laws and regulations are essentially identical in the United States, Mexico, Europe and Asia. Our Mexican, European and Asian operations, like our United States operations, have won numerous quality, environmental and safety awards.

        We have developed just-in-time manufacturing and sourcing systems. These systems enable us to meet customer requirements for faster deliveries while minimizing the need to carry significant inventory levels. We continue to emphasize flexibility in all of our manufacturing operations to improve product delivery response times.

        Management believes that substantially all of our property and equipment is in good condition, and that overall, it has sufficient capacity to meet our current and projected manufacturing and distribution needs.

        The following table provides certain information regarding our principal facilities:

Location
  Square Footage (in thousands)   Type of Interest   Description of Use

Greenville, South Carolina

    372   Owned   Headquarters, Innovation Center and Manufacturing

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tantalum Business Group

             

Matamoros, Mexico(1)

    280   Owned   Manufacturing

Suzhou, China(2)

    358   Leased   Manufacturing

Ciudad Victoria, Mexico

    259   Owned   Manufacturing

Evora, Portugal

    233   Owned   Manufacturing

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ceramic Business Group

             

Monterrey, Mexico(2)

    532   Owned   Manufacturing

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Film and Electrolytic Business Group

             

Sasso Marconi, Italy(3)

    215   Owned   Manufacturing

Granna, Sweden

    132   Owned   Manufacturing

Suomussalmi, Finland

    121   Leased   Manufacturing

Batam, Indonesia

    86   Owned   Manufacturing

Kyustendil, Bulgaria

    82   Owned   Manufacturing

Landsberg, Germany

    81   Leased   Manufacturing

Weymouth, United Kingdom

    78   Leased   Manufacturing

Vergato, Italy(3)

    78   Owned   Manufacturing

Monghidoro, Italy(3)

    71   Owned   Manufacturing

Anting, China

    38   Owned   Manufacturing

Nantong, China

    30   Leased   Manufacturing

Farjestaden, Sweden

    28   Leased   Manufacturing

Northampton, England

    8   Leased   Manufacturing

(1)
Includes three manufacturing facilities.

21


(2)
Includes two manufacturing facilities.

(3)
Pledged as collateral under Facility A.

        In the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2008, construction began on Suzhou Plant 3 to manufacture aluminum polymer products. Due to the current economic downturn, construction of this leased facility has been deferred. In an effort to optimize resources while meeting market needs, we will consolidate our Suzhou operations within Suzhou Plant 2 by moving the Ceramic finishing operation from Suzhou Plant 1 to Suzhou Plant 2, and the Tantalum operations to Suzhou Plant 2 or Matamoros, Mexico. In addition, all support functions currently in Suzhou Plant 1 will move to Suzhou Plant 2. We expect the consolidation project to be completed by July 2009.

ITEM 3.    LEGAL PROCEEDINGS.

        We have periodically incurred liability under federal and state laws with respect to sites used for off-site management or disposal of Company-derived wastes. We believe that any potential liability with respect to pending proceedings arising out of such laws is not material to our financial position or results of operations. In March 2009, we made a de minimis payment to withdraw from further participation as a potentially responsible party ("PRP") in proceedings concerning the Seaboard Chemical Site in Jamestown, North Carolina and do not expect any further liability arising out of such proceedings. In addition, we have re-evaluated our potential liability as a PRP at a hazardous waste disposal site in York County, South Carolina and determined that such potential liability is not material.

        We or our subsidiaries are at any one time parties to a number of lawsuits arising out of their respective operations, including workers' compensation or work place safety cases, some of which involve claims of substantial damages. Although there can be no assurance, based upon information known to us, we do not believe that any liability which might result from an adverse determination of such lawsuits would have a material adverse effect on our financial condition or results of operations.

ITEM 4.    SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS.

        No matter was submitted to a vote of security holders of the Company during the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2009.

22



PART II

ITEM 5.    MARKET FOR THE REGISTRANT'S COMMON EQUITY AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES.

        In February 2009, our stock began trading on the OTC Bulletin Board. Our trading symbol on the OTC Bulletin Board is "KEME.OB". Prior thereto, our common stock traded on the New York Stock Exchange ("NYSE"), however, on December 31, 2008, we received notice from the NYSE that our common stock would be suspended from trading on the NYSE because we were out of compliance with the continued listing standard related to average market capitalization. On January 9, 2009, our stock was suspended from trading on the NYSE and our stock traded on the Over-The-Counter market's Pink Sheets until we began trading on the OTC Bulletin Board.

        Our listing on the Pink Sheets and OTC Bulletin Board comply with the covenants under our debt agreements as described in Note 2, "Debt, Liquidity and Capital Resources" to our consolidated financial statements. We had 13,575 stockholders on May 14, 2009, of which 238 were stockholders of record. The following table represents the high and low sale prices of our common stock for the periods indicated:

 
  Fiscal Year 2009   Fiscal Year 2008  
Quarter
  High   Low   High   Low  

First

  $ 4.63   $ 3.23   $ 9.00   $ 7.05  

Second

    3.29     0.97     7.79     6.46  

Third

    1.50     0.24     7.85     5.86  

Fourth

    0.46     0.08     6.70     3.96  

        We have not declared or paid any cash dividends on our common stock since our initial public offering in October 1992. We do not anticipate paying dividends in the foreseeable future. Any future determination to pay dividends will be at the discretion of our Board and will depend upon, among other factors, the capital requirements, operating results, and our financial condition. The Revised Amended and Restated Platinum Credit Facility also restricts our ability to pay dividends. See "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Liquidity and Capital Resources."

        In fiscal year 2008, we reactivated our share buyback program and repurchased 3.7 million shares of our common stock. In fiscal year 2009, we indefinitely suspended the share buyback program and did not repurchase any shares of our common stock.

23


PERFORMANCE GRAPH

        The following graph compares our cumulative total stockholder return for the past five fiscal years, beginning on April 1, 2004, with the Russell MicroCap Index, New York Stock Exchange Market Index and a peer group (the "Peer Group") comprised of certain companies which manufacture capacitors and with which we generally compete. The Peer Group is comprised of AVX Corporation, Thomas & Betts Corp. and Vishay Intertechnology, Inc. Due to the significant decrease in our market capitalization and the fact that we are now traded on the OTC Bulletin Board, we no longer feel that the NYSE is a relevant measure of performance. We have added the Russell MicroCap Index to the graph below. In the future, the NYSE data points will be excluded from this graph.

COMPARISON OF 5 YEAR CUMULATIVE TOTAL RETURN*
Among KEMET Corporation, The NYSE Composite Index,
The Russell MicroCap Index, and a Peer Group

GRAPHIC


        *
        $100 invested on March 31, 2004 in stock or index, including reinvestment of dividends.
 
  March 31,  
 
  2004   2005   2006   2007   2008   2009  

KEMET Corporation

    100.00     54.04     66.04     53.35     28.17     1.71  

NYSE Composite

    100.00     110.95     130.30     149.78     145.51     84.79  

Russell MicroCap

    100.00     99.21     125.46     129.29     103.22     60.18  

Peer Group

    100.00     80.78     113.33     105.35     79.13     49.01  

24


Equity Compensation Plan Disclosure

        The following table summarizes equity compensation plans approved by security holders and equity compensation plans that were not approved by security holders as of March 31, 2009:

 
  (a)   (b)   (c)  
Plan category
  Number of
securities to
be issued
upon exercise
of outstanding
options, warrants,
and rights
  Weighted-average
exercise price
of outstanding
options, warrants,
and rights
  Number of securities
remaining available for
future issuance under
equity compensation
plans (excluding
securities reflected
in column(a))
 

Equity compensation plans approved by stockholders

    4,717,827   $ 7.64     3,239,226  

Equity compensation plans not approved by stockholders

             
                 

    4,717,827   $ 7.64     3,239,226  
                 

25


ITEM 6.    SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA.

        The following table summarizes our selected historical consolidated financial information for each of the last five years. The selected financial information under the captions "Income Statement Data," "Per Share Data," "Balance Sheet Data," and "Other Data" shown below has been derived from our audited consolidated financial statements. This table should be read in conjunction with other consolidated financial information of KEMET, including "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" and the consolidated financial statements, included elsewhere herein. The data set forth below may not be indicative of KEMET's future financial condition or results of operations (see Item 1A, "Risk Factors") (amounts in thousands except per share amounts):

 
  Fiscal Years Ended March 31,  
 
  2009(1)(4)(5)   2008(1)(4)(5)   2007(1)(2)(3)   2006(1)   2005(1)  

Income Statement Data:

                               

Net sales

  $ 804,385   $ 850,120   $ 658,714   $ 490,106   $ 425,338  

Operating income (loss)

    (271,112 )   (8,881 )   7,078     (10,196 )   (174,842 )

Interest income

    (618 )   (6,061 )   (6,283 )   (5,640 )   (6,295 )

Interest expense

    21,459     14,074     7,174     6,628     6,511  

Net income (loss)

    (276,879 )   (17,593 )   6,897     375     (174,094 )

Per Share Data:

                               

Net income (loss) per share—basic and diluted

  $ (3.44 ) $ (0.21 ) $ 0.08   $   $ (2.01 )

Balance Sheet Data:

                               

Total assets

  $ 714,801   $ 1,251,900   $ 943,526   $ 748,318   $ 758,097  

Working capital

    195,142     239,059     339,096     269,339     184,579  

Long-term debt(3)(4)(5)(6)

    307,111     304,294     238,744     80,000     100,000  

Other non-current obligations

    57,316     80,130     19,587     44,139     48,951  

Stockholders' equity

    214,330     542,792     535,758     512,703     515,203  

Other Data:

                               

Cash flow provided by (used in) operating activities

  $ 5,725   $ (20,563 ) $ 21,933   $ 40,423   $ (12,752 )

Capital expenditures

    30,541     43,605     28,670     22,846     39,581  

Research and development

    28,956     35,699     33,385     25,976     26,639  

(1)
Includes special charges of $242.9 million, $34.1 million, $27.8 million, $17.3 million, and $122.9 million for the fiscal years ended March 31, 2009, 2008, 2007, 2006 and 2005, respectively, which are described in Item 7 under Results of Operations.

(2)
In fiscal year 2007, the Company acquired the EPCOS tantalum business unit. See Note 16 to the consolidated financial statements.

(3)
In fiscal year 2007, the Company issued $175.0 million in Convertible Senior Notes. See Note 2 to the consolidated financial statements.

(4)
In fiscal year 2008, the Company acquired Evox Rifa on April 24, 2007 and Arcotronics on October 12, 2007. See Note 16 to the consolidated financial statements.

(5)
In fiscal year 2008, the Company entered into two Senior Facility Agreements with UniCredit whereby it borrowed a total of EUR 96.8 million. See Note 2 to the consolidated financial statements.

(6)
In fiscal year 2009, the Company paid the outstanding balance on its Senior Notes and refinanced Facility A with UniCredit totaling EUR 60.0 million ($79.8 million). On April 3, 2009, the Company extended Facilty B with UniCredit totaling EUR 35.0 million ($46.6 million). The scheduled amortization of our Facility A was amended effective June 30, 2009. See Note 2 to the consolidated financial statements.

26


ITEM 7.    MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS.

        The following discussion and analysis provides information that we believe is useful in understanding our operating results, cash flows, and financial condition for the three fiscal years ended March 31, 2009. The discussion should be read in conjunction with, and is qualified in its entirety by reference to, the consolidated financial statements and related notes appearing elsewhere in this report which have been prepared assuming that we will continue as a going concern. As discussed in Note 2, "Debt, Liquidity and Capital Resources" to our consolidated financial statements, the decline in net sales, profitability and liquidity during the year ended March 31, 2009, our expectation that we will achieve the required level of profitability under an "EBITDA" covenant by only a narrow margin and that, given the degree of uncertainty with respect to the near-term outlook for the global economy and the possible effects on the Company's operations, there is significant uncertainty as to whether the Company's forecasts will be achieved. Management's plans concerning these matters are discussed in Note 17, "Subsequent Events" to our consolidated financial statements. The consolidated financial statements do not include any adjustments that might result from the outcome of this uncertainty. Except for the historical information contained herein, the discussions in this document contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and involve risks and uncertainties. Our actual future results could differ materially from those discussed here. Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include, but are not limited to, those discussed under the Item 1A, "Risk Factors" and, from time to time, in our other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Business Overview

        KEMET is a leading manufacturer of the majority of capacitors types, including tantalum, multilayer ceramic, solid aluminum, plastic film, paper and electrolytic capacitors. Capacitors are electronic components that store, filter and regulate electrical energy and current flow and are one of the essential passive components used in circuit boards. Virtually all electronic applications and products contain capacitors, including communication systems, data processing equipment, personal computers, cellular phones, automotive electronic systems, military and aerospace systems, and consumer electronics.

        KEMET's business strategy is to generate revenues by being the preferred capacitor supplier to the world's most successful electronics original equipment manufacturers, electronics manufacturing service providers, and electronics distributors. We reach our customers through a direct sales force, as well as a limited number of manufacturing representatives, that call on customer locations around the world.

        KEMET manufactures capacitors in Bulgaria, China, Finland, Germany, Indonesia, Italy, Mexico, Portugal, Sweden, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Substantially all of the manufacturing previously located in the United States has been relocated to our lower-cost manufacturing facilities in Mexico and China. Production that remains in the U.S. focuses primarily on early-stage manufacturing of new products and other specialty products for which customers are predominantly located in North America.

        The market for all of our capacitors is highly competitive. The capacitor industry is characterized by, among other factors, a long-term trend toward lower prices for capacitors, low transportation costs, and fewer import barriers. Competitive factors that influence the market for our products include product quality, customer service, technical innovation, pricing and timely delivery. It is our belief that we compete favorably on the basis of each of these factors.

        KEMET is organized into three distinct business groups: Tantalum, Ceramic and Film and Electrolytic. Each business group is responsible for the operations of certain manufacturing sites as well as all related research and development efforts. The sales and marketing functions are shared by each of the business groups and are allocated to the business groups. In addition, all corporate costs are

27



allocated to the business groups. See Note 8, "Segment and Geographic Information" to our consolidated financial statements.

        We believe our Mexican operations are among the most cost efficient in the world, and they continue to be our primary production facilities supporting North America and, to a large extent, European customers. We also believe that our China manufacturing facilities enjoy low production costs and proximity to large and growing markets, which have caused some of our key customers to relocate production facilities to Asia, particularly China. As a result, one of our strategies is to continue to shift production to low-cost locations which provide us the best opportunity to be a low-cost producer of capacitors.

        The global economic downturn adversely affected sales throughout the year leading to lower sales in Tantalum and Ceramic, and weaker than expected sales in Film and Electrolytic. Additionally, the downturn worsened over the course of fiscal year 2009 and led to sequentially decreasing sales in each quarter, particularly in the fourth quarter. In fiscal year 2009, the poor economic environment negatively affected our sales and had an adverse impact on our results of operations and liquidity. We took aggressive steps to offset the adverse impact of lower revenues and net losses on our liquidity and announced three restructuring initiatives to reduce costs to be more in line with lower sales volumes. During the first quarter of fiscal year 2009, we recognized charges of $4.9 million primarily for reductions in workforce in Film and Electrolytic. In the second quarter of fiscal year 2009, we recognized charges of $16.1 million related to the rationalization of corporate staff and manufacturing support functions in the United States, Europe, Mexico, and Asia. Approximately 640 employees were affected by this action. During the third quarter of fiscal year 2009, we recognized charges of $3.5 million related primarily to the reduction of approximately 1,500 manufacturing positions representing approximately 14% of our workforce. During the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2009, we incurred expenses of $0.9 million primarily related to the closing of sales offices. Throughout fiscal year 2009, we incurred expenses of $5.5 million related to our manufacturing relocation plan. These initiatives are expected to save $52 million on an annualized basis.

        Additionally, where possible, we instituted a 10% wage reduction for all salaried employees effective January 1, 2009 (excluding those on a commission based salary) and a temporary suspension of our U.S. defined contribution plan match, reducing it from 6% to 0%. These actions are expected to save approximately $12 million on an annualized basis.

        We perform an annual test of impairment of our goodwill in the first quarter of each fiscal year and in any other quarter in which events occur that would cause us to reevaluate the value of our assets. As a result of the first quarter review, we recorded a $152.6 million impairment charge which reduced both goodwill and long-lived assets by $88.6 million and $63.9 million, respectively. The goodwill impairment and long-lived asset charge to earnings reduced the results under U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. However, both are non-cash in nature. The impairment was charged to Ceramic and Film and Electrolytic in the amounts of $76.4 million and $76.2 million, respectively.

        A factor that determines whether or not goodwill is impaired is the market value of our common stock. After our first fiscal quarter earnings release on July 30, 2008, the market price of our common stock declined significantly below the level that we used in performing our annual impairment review as of June 30, 2008. Because the stock price did not recover in the second quarter of fiscal year 2009, we tested goodwill for impairment again as of September 30, 2008. In addition to our goodwill impairment testing, we also tested our long-lived asset groups for impairment. These goodwill impairment tests resulted in a second quarter goodwill impairment charge of $85.7 million to write off all of the remaining goodwill of Film and Electrolytic and Tantalum. No long-lived asset impairment was identified as a result of the second quarter long-lived asset impairment testing.

        The goodwill impairment evaluation utilized both the market approach and the income approach to determine our fair value and the fair value of our reporting units. The market approach included our market capitalization and the market capitalization of our peer group companies.

28


        On September 15, 2008, we sold assets related to the production and sale of wet tantalum capacitors to a subsidiary of Vishay. We received $33.7 million in cash proceeds, net of amounts held in escrow, from the sale of these assets. At the same time, we entered into a three-year term loan for $15.0 million with Vishay. The sale resulted in a pre-tax gain of $28.3 million, which is net of related fees and amounts held in escrow. Proceeds of $1.5 million are held in escrow to secure our obligations under the sales agreement, and we will record any release of escrow funds as additional gain when and to the extent the funds are received. Annual revenues generated from these assets were approximately $16.0 million.

        On September 19, 2008, we prepaid our obligations under the Senior Notes which carried a fixed interest rate of 6.66% with interest payable semi-annually and with a final maturity date of May 4, 2010. The prepayment included the outstanding principal balance of $40.0 million, accrued interest of $1.0 million, a make-whole amount of $2.0 million, and a prepayment fee of $0.2 million. The make-whole amount and prepayment fee are shown as "Loss on early retirement of debt" in the Consolidated Statements of Operations. We had been, and were at the time of the prepayment, in compliance with all the financial covenants under the Senior Notes.

        On October 21, 2008, we closed on Facility A, with UniCredit. Under the terms of Facility A agreed to at that time, we agreed to repay the principal amount in nine semi-annual installments during the four and one-half year term with the first payment due in April 2009. The credit facility is priced at EURIBOR plus 1.7%, and is secured with real property in Italy, certain accounts receivable in Europe, and a pledge of the shares of Arcotronics Italia S.p.A. and Arcotronics Industries S.r.l., two of KEMET's subsidiaries in Italy. Facility A was subsequently amended as described below.

        We are subject to covenants under Facility A which, among other things, restrict our ability to make capital expenditures above certain thresholds and require us to meet financial tests related principally to our fixed charge coverage ratio and profitability. The first measurement date for these financial tests was to be June 30, 2009, and afterwards, every three months, on a trailing twelve month basis (see amendment discussion below).

        Additionally, the occurrence of events that significantly compromise our financial, economic, asset or operating situation and significantly compromise our ability to ensure prompt and regular repayment of Facility A allow UniCredit to accelerate repayment of Facility A. We deem the foregoing provision of Facility A to be a subjective acceleration clause and we have assessed the likelihood of whether or not it will be exercised. While we do not presently expect UniCredit to exercise its rights under this clause within the next twelve months, there can be no assurance that UniCredit will not exercise their rights.

        Proceeds from Facility A in the amount of EUR 50.0 million were used to pay off an existing short-term credit facility with UniCredit with a scheduled maturity date of December 2008. Additional proceeds from Facility A in the amount of EUR 10.0 million were applied to reduce the outstanding principal of the EUR 46.8 million short-term credit facility with UniCredit with a scheduled maturity date of April 2009 ("Facility B"). In addition, we made a cash payment out of our existing cash balance to UniCredit of EUR 1.8 million which was applied to further reduce the outstanding principal of Facility B. The outstanding balance on Facility B after these payments was EUR 35.0 million.

        On April 3, 2009, we entered into an agreement with UniCredit to extend and restructure Facility B with UniCredit. Under the terms agreed to at that time, Facility B remained unsecured and bears interest at a rate of six-month EURIBOR plus 2.5%. We agreed to repay the principal amount in three installments of EUR 2.0 million each on January 1, 2010, July 1, 2010 and January 1, 2011, and a fourth and final principal payment in the amount of EUR 29.0 million on July 1, 2011. As a result of this restructuring, we classified EUR 33.0 million ($43.9 million) as long-term debt as of March 31, 2009. Facility B was subsequently amended as described below.

29


        Throughout fiscal year 2009, we continued to review strategic financing alternatives to improve liquidity and reduce overall leverage. In April 2009, we entered into amendments to Facility A and Facility B with UniCredit which, among other things, modified the financial covenants under Facility A (Facility B does not contain any covenants, however it contains cross acceleration provisions linked to Facility A) and modified the scheduled amortization under Facility A and Facility B. These amendments to the UniCredit facilities became effective June 30, 2009 upon the consummation of the tender offer discussed below. See discussion below regarding our forecasted compliance with the financial covenants required by UniCredit. The following table shows the amortization schedule for the UniCredit Facilities under the original and amended terms (amounts in thousands):

 
  Annual Maturities of Long-Term Debt
Fiscal Years Ended March 31,
 
 
  2010(1)   2011   2012   2013   2014  

UniCredit Facility A

  $ 15,700   $ 16,802   $ 17,981   $ 19,243   $ 10,122  

UniCredit Facility A Amendment

    7,717     19,082     13,607     8,216     31,222  

UniCredit Facility B

   
2,662
   
5,323
   
38,593
   
   
 

UniCredit Facility B Amendment

    2,662     5,323     13,308     13,308     11,977  

(1)
A principal payment of $7.7 million on Facility A was made on the scheduled due date of April 1, 2009.

        On May 5, 2009, we announced the execution of the Platinum Credit Facility with K Financing. The Platinum Credit Facility consisted of a term loan of up to $52.5 million, line of credit loans that may be borrowed from time to time (but not reborrowed after being repaid) of up to $12.5 million and a working capital loan of up to $12.5 million.

        Concurrently, on May 5, 2009, we commenced a tender offer for the Notes. The term loan discussed above can only be used to purchase the Notes and will only be funded to the extent required to purchase Notes accepted for purchase pursuant to the tender offer. Additionally, funds from the line of credit loans and working capital loan under the Platinum Credit Facility are available to us, for limited purposes, subject to the satisfaction or waiver of certain conditions, including the consummation of the tender offer on the terms described in the Offer to Purchase. Under the initial terms of the tender offer, holders of Notes who validly tendered, and did not validly withdraw, their Notes on or prior to the Expiration Date would receive $300 for each $1,000 principal amount of Notes purchased in the tender offer, plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but not including, the date of payment for the Notes accepted for payment. The tender offer and our obligation to purchase and pay for the Notes validly tendered and not validly withdrawn pursuant to the tender offer was initially conditioned upon (1) at least $166.3 million in aggregate principal amount of Notes (representing 95% of the outstanding Notes) being validly tendered and not validly withdrawn, and (2) the receipt by us of the proceeds from a term loan of up to $52.5 million from K Financing.

        On June 3, 2009, we announced the extension of the tender offer until an expiration date of June 12, 2009. All terms and conditions of the tender offer remained unchanged with this extension. On June 8, 2009, we announced an increase in the purchase price from $300 per $1,000 principal amount of the Notes to $400 per $1,000 principal amount of the Notes and extended the expiration date to June 19, 2009. In addition, we decreased the minimum tender condition from $166.3 million in aggregate principal amount of the Notes (representing 95% of the outstanding Notes) to $122.5 million in aggregate principal amount of the Notes (representing 70% of the outstanding Notes). We also entered into the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement with K Financing, whereby, among other matters, the potential size of the term loan facility increased from $52.5 million to $60.3 million. The Amended and Restated Platinum Credit Facility would have required the use of up to $9.8 million of our internal cash on hand for purchases of Notes validly tendered and not validly withdrawn pursuant

30



to the tender offer if more than $150.6 million aggregate principal amount of the Notes were validly tendered and not validly withdrawn and all funds under the term loan facility under the Amended and Restated Platinum Credit Facility were disbursed. As discussed below, the $150.6 million threshold was not met and we did not disburse internal cash for the purchase of the Notes.

        On June 22, 2009, we announced a reduction in the minimum tender condition pursuant to the tender offer from $122.5 million in aggregate principal amount of Notes (representing 70% of the outstanding Notes) to $87.5 million in aggregate principal amount of Notes (representing 50% of the outstanding Notes) and an extension of the expiration date to June 26, 2009. All remaining terms and conditions of the tender offer were unchanged with this extension. We also entered into a Revised Amended and Restated Credit Agreement with K Financing (the "Revised Amended and Restated Platinum Credit Facility"), whereby, among other matters, the minimum tender condition was reduced from $122.5 million in aggregate principal amount of Notes (representing 70% of the outstanding Notes) to $87.5 million in aggregate principal amount of Notes (representing 50% of the outstanding Notes).

        On June 26, 2009, $93.9 million in aggregate principal amount of the Notes were validly tendered (representing 53.7% of the outstanding Notes). As a result of the consummated tender offer, we used $37.6 million from the term loan under the Revised Amended and Restated Platinum Credit Facility to extinguish the tendered Notes. We incurred approximately $9 million in fees and expense reimbursements related to the execution of this tender offer. We funded these costs with an equal amount of proceeds from a line of credit loan under the Revised Amended and Restated Platinum Credit Facility. No monies have been drawn on the working capital loan provision, under which we currently have a borrowing capacity of $7.5 million based on our book-to-bill ratio. The term loan facility will accrue interest at an annual rate of 9% for cash payment until the one-year anniversary of the consummation of the tender offer. At our option, after the one-year anniversary of the consummation of the tender offer, the term loan facility will accrue interest at an annual rate of 9% for cash payment, or cash and PIK interest at the rate of 12% per annum, with the cash portion being 5% and the PIK portion being 7%. The working capital loans and the line of credit loans will accrue interest at a rate equal to the greater of (i) LIBOR plus 7%, or (ii) 10%, payable monthly in arrears. In the event more than $8.8 million in aggregate principal amount of the Notes remain outstanding as of March 1, 2011, then the maturity date of the term loan facility, the line of credit loans and the working capital loan is accelerated to March 1, 2011. If the aggregate principal amount of the Notes outstanding at March 1, 2011 is less than or equal to $8.8 million the maturity date of the term loan facility will be November 15, 2012 and the maturity date for the line of credit loans and the working capital loan will be July 15, 2011. In addition, we will pay K Financing a success fee of $5.0 million, payable at the time of repayment in full of the term loan facility, whether at maturity or otherwise.

        The Revised Amended and Restated Platinum Credit Facility contains certain financial maintenance covenants, including requirements that we maintain a minimum consolidated EBITDA and fixed charge coverage ratio. See discussion below regarding our forecasted compliance with these financial covenants. In addition to the financial covenants, the Revised Amended and Restated Platinum Credit Facility also contains limitations on capital expenditures, the incurrence of indebtedness, the granting of liens, the sale of assets, sale and leaseback transactions, fundamental corporate changes, entering into investments, the payment of dividends, voluntary or optional payment and prepayment of indebtedness (including the Notes) and other limitations customary to secured credit facilities.

        Our obligations to K Financing arising under the Revised Amended and Restated Platinum Credit Facility are secured by substantially all of our assets located in the United States, Mexico, Indonesia and China (other than accounts receivable owing by account debtors located in the United States, Singapore and Hong Kong, which exclusively secure obligations to Vishay). As further described in the Offer to Purchase, in connection with entering into the Revised Amended and Restated Platinum

31



Credit Facility, K Financing and UniCredit entered into a letter of understanding with respect to their respective guarantor and collateral pools, and our assets in Europe that are not pledged to either lender. The letter of understanding also sets forth each lender's agreement not to interfere with the other's exercise of remedies pertaining to their respective collateral pools.

        Concurrent with the consummation of the tender offer, we issued K Financing the Closing Warrant to purchase up to 80,544,685 shares of our common stock, subject to certain adjustments, representing approximately 49.9% of our outstanding common stock on a post-Closing Warrant basis. The Closing Warrant will be exercisable at a maximum aggregate purchase price of $40.3 million, subject to certain adjustments, at any time prior to the tenth anniversary of its date of issuance. The Closing Warrant may be exercised in exchange for cash, by means of net settlement of a corresponding portion of amounts owed by us under the Revised Amended and Restated Platinum Credit Facility, by cashless exercise to the extent of appreciation in the value of our common stock above the exercise price of the Closing Warrant, or by combination of the preceding alternatives. The issuance of the Closing Warrant may be deemed an "ownership change" for purposes of Section 382 of the Code. If such an ownership change is deemed to occur, the amount of our taxable income that can be offset by our net operating loss carryovers in taxable years after the ownership change will be limited. We believe it is more likely than not that the issuance of the Closing Warrant will not be deemed an ownership change for purposes of Section 382 of the Code although the matter is not free from doubt. In addition, the exercise of the Closing Warrant may give rise to an ownership change for purposes of Section 382 of the Code.

        We also entered into the Investor Rights Agreement with K Financing. Pursuant to the terms of the Investor Rights Agreement, we have, subject to certain terms and conditions, granted K Financing Board observation rights which would permit K Financing to designate up to three individuals to observe Board meetings and receive information provided to the Board. In addition, the Investor Rights Agreement provides K Financing with certain preemptive rights. Subject to the terms and limitations described in the Investor Rights Agreement, in connection with any proposed issuance of securities, we would be required to offer to sell to K Financing a pro rata portion of such securities equal to the percentage determined by dividing the number of shares of common stock held by K Financing plus the number of shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of the Closing Warrant, by the total number of shares of common stock then outstanding on a fully diluted basis. The Investor Rights Agreement also provides K Financing with certain registration and information rights.

        We also entered into a Corporate Advisory Services Agreement with Platinum Advisors for a term of at least four years, pursuant to which we will pay an annual fee of $1.5 million to Platinum Advisors for certain advisory services.

        We believe that the consummation of the tender offer and execution of the Revised Amended and Restated Platinum Credit Facility and amendments to the UniCredit facilities will improve our liquidity situation. Given our cost reduction and working capital initiatives, our anticipated borrowing ability under the working capital loan provision of the Revised Amended and Restated Platinum Credit Facility, and the UniCredit Amendments, we estimate that our current operating plans will provide for sufficient cash to cover liquidity requirements. However, we currently anticipate that we will continue to experience severe pressure on our liquidity during fiscal year 2010. Furthermore, the generation of adequate liquidity will largely depend upon our ability to achieve sales growth over the next several quarters and our ability to execute our current operating plans and to manage costs. In light of current global economic conditions, and other risks and uncertainties, there can be no assurance that we will be successful in this regard. An unanticipated decrease in sales, sales that fall below our expectations, or other factors that would cause the actual outcome of our plans to differ from expectations could create a shortfall in cash available to fund our liquidity needs. We will continually monitor and adjust our business plan as necessary to respond to developments in our business, markets and the broader economy. In addition to the actions discussed above, we continue to review additional initiatives to

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improve liquidity in the short-term as well as to reduce our total overall leverage, including the sale of non-core assets.

        Based on our operating plans, we currently forecast that we will meet the financial covenants required by the Revised Amended and Restated Platinum Credit Facility and Facility A at each of the measurement dates during fiscal year 2010. However, in the case of the EBITDA covenant, our forecast shows that we will achieve the required level of profitability by a narrow margin. Our current forecast anticipates a steady recovery, over the next several quarters, of the principal markets and industries into which our products to sold. Our expectations in this regard are based on our consideration of various information sources including, among others, industry surveys and input from various key customers. Given the degree of uncertainty with respect to the near-term outlook for the global economy and the possible effects on our operations, there is significant uncertainty as to whether our forecasts will be achieved. Therefore, there can be no assurance that we will be able to meet the financial covenants required by the Revised Amended and Restated Platinum Credit Facility and Facility A. In the event of a covenant breach, we would seek a waiver or amendment, but such remedy would be out of our control and rest in the discretion of our lenders.

        Our accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared assuming that we will continue as a going concern. Specifically, our consolidated financial statements do not include any adjustments relating to the recoverability or classification of recorded assets, or the amounts or classification of liabilities that might be necessary in the event we are unable to continue as a going concern. The significant uncertainties surrounding our liquidity and capital resources and ability to meet financial covenants as discussed above, cast substantial doubt on our ability to continue as a going concern. The failure to successfully maintain sufficient cash, and/or the non-compliance with our financial covenants without a waiver or amendment granted by our lenders, would have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial position and liquidity.

Acquisitions

    Arcotronics Italia S.p.A.

        On October 12, 2007, pursuant to the terms of a Stock Purchase Agreement between KEMET Electronics Corporation, our wholly owned subsidiary, and Blue Skye (Lux) S.a r.l. ("Blue Skye"), we acquired 100% of Arcotronics Italia S.p.A. ("Arcotronics") from Blue Skye. The acquisition included manufacturing facilities in Sasso Marconi, Monghidoro, and Vergato, Italy; Landsberg, Germany; Towcester, United Kingdom; Kyustendil, Bulgaria; and Anting-Shanghai, China, and is included in Film and Electrolytic.

        We paid EUR 17.5 million ($24.8 million) for 100% of the outstanding share capital of Arcotronics, assumed net financial debt of EUR 98.0 million ($138.9 million) and certain other long-term liabilities of Arcotronics totaling EUR 35.1 million ($49.8 million).

        In connection with the acquisition, we entered into a Senior Facility Agreement with UniCredit whereby UniCredit agreed to lend to us up to EUR 47.0 million ($66.8 million). We used a portion of this facility to repay a portion of the outstanding indebtedness of Arcotronics, with the balance available for general corporate purposes. A portion of this debt has subsequently been paid down and the Senior Facility Agreement was amended on April 3, 2009 and June 26, 2009.

    Evox Rifa Group Oyj

        On April 24, 2007, pursuant to the terms of a Combination Agreement between KEMET Electronics Corporation and Evox Rifa Group Oyj ("Evox Rifa"), we purchased 92.7% of Evox Rifa pursuant to a tender offer completed on April 12, 2007. Evox Rifa had 178.2 million shares outstanding at the time of the commencement of the tender offer. KEMET purchased 165.2 million shares at a

33


price of EUR 0.12 per share or EUR 19.8 million ($27.0 million). KEMET announced at the time that it intended to acquire the remaining outstanding shares pursuant to a squeeze-out process. Following the settlement of the completion trades relating to the tender offer, Evox Rifa became a subsidiary of KEMET. In September 2007, we completed the squeeze-out process and purchased the remaining outstanding shares of Evox Rifa for EUR 1.8 million ($2.4 million). This additional amount is considered part of the purchase price of the acquisition. This acquisition is also included in Film and Electrolytic.

        In addition, pursuant to the tender offer, KEMET offered to acquire all of the outstanding loan notes under the convertible capital loan issued by Evox Rifa for consideration corresponding to the aggregate of the nominal amount per loan note of EUR 100 plus accrued interest up to and including the closing date of the tender offer. The outstanding amount of the loan notes and accrued interest at the time of the commencement of the tender offer was EUR 5.9 million ($8.1 million). Holders of 95.7% of the convertible capital loan notes issued by Evox Rifa tendered their loan notes pursuant to the tender offer and consequently, KEMET redeemed these notes as of April 24, 2007. In addition to the payment made for the shares and loan notes, KEMET assumed EUR 19.5 million ($26.6 million) in outstanding indebtedness of Evox Rifa.

    Tantalum business unit of EPCOS AG

        On April 13, 2006 we completed the purchase of the tantalum business unit of EPCOS for a purchase price of EUR 80.9 million ($98.4 million). The acquisition included all of the issued share capital of EPCOS-Pecas e Componentes Electronicos S.A. and certain other assets of the tantalum business unit of EPCOS, primarily in Germany. Of the EUR 80.9 million, KEMET paid EUR 68.3 million ($82.7 million) in cash and assumed certain liabilities and working capital adjustments of EUR 12.6 million. The acquisition did not include EPCOS' tantalum capacitor manufacturing facility in Heidenheim, Germany. As a result, KEMET and EPCOS entered into a manufacturing and supply agreement under which EPCOS continued to manufacture products exclusively for KEMET at the Heidenheim facility to ensure a continued supply of products to customers during the transition period. In connection with the acquisition, we paid $4.4 million in legal and professional fees which were capitalized as part of the purchase price. On September 29, 2006, we agreed upon the final purchase amount related to the transaction and received a favorable credit of EUR 3.0 million ($3.8 million). This amount reduced our goodwill recorded in the transaction.

        On September 30, 2006, the transition period ended and KEMET purchased certain of the Heidenheim, Germany manufacturing assets and the research and development assets for EUR 8.2 million ($10.4 million). We also purchased inventories at the Heidenheim plant for EUR 1.2 million ($1.6 million). In addition, we assumed a pension liability of EUR 1.1 million ($1.3 million) for the Heidenheim employees. Finally, we incurred additional legal and audit fees relating to the acquisition of $0.5 million. The net additional purchase price was EUR 8.8 million ($11.1 million).

        Taking into account both the April 13, 2006 closing adjustment and the transition agreement on September 30, 2006, we purchased the tantalum business unit of EPCOS for a total purchase price of EUR 86.7 million ($105.8 million). The final cash settlement was made in October 2006.

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

        Other than operating lease commitments, we are not a party to any material off-balance sheet financing arrangements that have, or are reasonably likely to have, a current or future material effect on our financial condition, revenues, expenses, results of operations, liquidity, capital expenditures or capital resources.

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Critical Accounting Policies

        Our significant accounting policies are summarized in Note 1, "Organization and Significant Accounting Policies" to the consolidated financial statements. The following identifies a number of policies which require significant judgments and estimates, or are otherwise deemed critical to our financial statements.

        Our estimates and assumptions are based on historical data and other assumptions that KEMET believes are reasonable. These estimates and assumptions affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements. In addition, they affect the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period.

        Our judgments are based on management's assessment as to the effect certain estimates, assumptions, or future trends or events may have on the financial condition and results of operations reported in the consolidated financial statements. Readers should understand that actual future results could differ from these estimates, assumptions, and judgments.

        KEMET's management believes the following critical accounting policies contain the most significant judgments and estimates used in the preparation of the consolidated financial statements:

    ASSET IMPAIRMENT—GOODWILL AND LONG-LIVED ASSETS.   We apply the provisions of SFAS No. 142, "Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets". Under SFAS No. 142, goodwill, which represents the excess of purchase price over fair value of net assets acquired, and intangible assets with indefinite useful lives are no longer amortized but are tested for impairment at least on an annual basis in accordance with the provisions of SFAS No. 142. We perform our impairment test during the first quarter of each fiscal year and when otherwise warranted.

      We are organized into three distinct business groups: Tantalum, Ceramic and Film and Electrolytic. We evaluate our goodwill on a reporting unit basis consistent with the provisions of SFAS No. 142. This requires us to estimate the fair value of the reporting units based on the future net cash flows expected to be generated. The impairment test involves a comparison of the fair value of each reporting unit as defined under SFAS No. 142, with the corresponding carrying amounts. If the reporting unit's carrying amount exceeds its fair value, then an indication exists that the reporting unit's goodwill may be impaired. The impairment to be recognized is measured by the amount by which the carrying value of the reporting unit's goodwill being measured exceeds its implied fair value. The implied fair value of goodwill is the excess of the fair value of the reporting unit over the sum of the amounts assigned to identified net assets. As a result, the implied fair value of goodwill is generally the residual amount that results from subtracting the value of net assets including all tangible assets and identified intangible assets from the fair value of the reporting unit's fair value. We determined the fair value of our reporting units using an income-based, discounted cash flow ("DCF") analysis, and market-based approaches (Guideline Publicly Traded Company Method and Guideline Transaction Method) which examine transactions in the marketplace involving the sale of the stocks of similar publicly owned companies, or the sale of entire companies engaged in operations similar to KEMET. In addition to the above described reporting unit valuation techniques, our goodwill impairment assessment also considers our aggregate fair value based upon the value of our outstanding shares of common stock.

      For the impairment or disposal of long-lived assets, KEMET follows the guidance as prescribed in Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 144, " Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets " ("SFAS No. 144"). In accordance with SFAS No. 144, long-lived assets and intangible assets subject to amortization are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of a long-lived asset or group of assets may not be recoverable. A long-lived asset classified as held for sale is initially measured

35



      and reported at the lower of its carrying amount or fair value less cost to sell. Long-lived assets to be disposed of other than by sale are classified as held and used until the long-lived asset is disposed of.

      Tests for the recoverability of a long-lived asset to be held and used are performed by comparing the carrying amount of the long-lived asset to the sum of the estimated future undiscounted cash flows expected to be generated by the asset. In estimating the future undiscounted cash flows, we use future projections of cash flows directly associated with, and which are expected to arise as a direct result of, the use and eventual disposition of the assets. These assumptions include, among other estimates, periods of operation and projections of sales and cost of sales. Changes in any of these estimates could have a material effect on the estimated future undiscounted cash flows expected to be generated by the asset. If it is determined that the book value of a long-lived asset is not recoverable, an impairment loss would be calculated equal to the excess of the carrying amount of the long-lived asset over its fair value. The fair value is calculated as the discounted cash flows of the underlying assets.

      We perform our goodwill impairment tests during the first quarter of each fiscal year and when otherwise warranted. In the first quarter of fiscal year 2009, we recorded a goodwill impairment charge of $88.6 million based on the annual impairment test. Also occurring in the first quarter of fiscal year 2009, and in part as a result of the goodwill impairment testing, we tested the long-lived assets of Ceramic for impairment. As a result of this testing, Ceramic recorded a $5.3 million impairment charge to write off all of its other intangible assets and recorded a $58.6 million impairment charge to write down long-lived assets. We tested goodwill for impairment again as of September 30, 2008. In addition to our goodwill impairment testing, we also tested our long-lived asset groups for impairment. These impairment tests resulted in a second quarter goodwill impairment charge of $85.7 million to write off all of the remaining goodwill of Film and Electrolytic and Tantalum. KEMET also completed long-lived asset impairment tests in the third and fourth quarters of fiscal year 2009 and concluded that no further impairment existed. The goodwill impairment and long-lived asset charge to earnings reduced the results under U.S. generally accepted accounting principles; however, both were non-cash in nature.

      The goodwill and long-lived asset impairment reviews are highly subjective and involve the use of significant estimates and assumptions in order to calculate the impairment charges. Estimates of business enterprise fair value use discounted cash flow and other fair value appraisal models and involve making assumptions for future sales trends, market conditions, growth rates, cost reduction initiatives and cash flows for the next several years. Future changes in assumptions may negatively impact future valuations. In future tests for recoverability, adverse changes in undiscounted cash flow assumptions could result in an impairment of certain long-lived assets that would require a non-cash charge to the Consolidated Statements of Operations and may have a material effect on our financial condition and operating results

    REVENUE RECOGNITION.   We recognize revenue only when all of the following criteria are met: (1) persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists, (2) delivery has occurred or services have been rendered, (3) the price to the buyer is fixed or determinable, and (4) collectibility is reasonably assured.

      A portion of sales consists of products designed to meet customer specific requirements. These products typically have stricter tolerances making them useful to the specific customer requesting the product and to customers with similar or less stringent requirements. Products with customer specific requirements are tested and approved by the customer before we mass produce and ship the products. We recognize revenue at shipment as the sales terms for products produced with

36


      customer specific requirements do not contain a final customer acceptance provision or other provisions that are unique and would otherwise allow the customer different acceptance rights.

      A portion of sales is made to distributors under agreements allowing certain rights of return and price protection on unsold merchandise held by distributors. Our distributor policy includes inventory price protection and "ship-from-stock and debit" ("SFSD") programs common in the industry. The price protection policy protects the value of the distributors' inventory in the event we reduce our published selling price to distributors. This program allows the distributor to debit us for the difference between KEMET's list price and the lower authorized price for specific parts. We establish price protection reserves on specific parts residing in distributors' inventories in the period that the price protection is formally authorized by management.

      The SFSD program provides a mechanism for the distributor to meet a competitive price after obtaining authorization from the local Company sales office. This program allows the distributor to ship its higher-priced inventory and debit us for the difference between KEMET's list price and the lower authorized price for that specific transaction. We established reserves for our SFSD program based primarily on historical SFSD activity and certain distributors' actual inventory levels comprising approximately 90% of the total global distributor inventory related to customers which participate in the SFSD program.

      The establishment of these reserves is recognized as a component of the line item "Net sales" on the Consolidated Statements of Operations, while the associated reserves are included in the line item "Accounts receivable" on the Consolidated Balance Sheets.

    PENSION AND POST-RETIREMENT BENEFITS.   KEMET's management, with the assistance of actuarial firms, performs actuarial valuations of the fair values of our pension and post-retirement plans' benefit obligations. Management makes certain assumptions that have a significant effect on the calculated fair value of the obligations such as the:

    weighted-average discount rate—used to arrive at the net present value of the obligation;

    salary increases—used to calculate the impact future pay increases will have on post-retirement obligations; and

    medical cost inflation—used to calculate the impact future medical costs will have on post-retirement obligations.

      Management understands that these assumptions directly impact the actuarial valuation of the obligations recorded on the Consolidated Balance Sheets and the income or expense that flows through the Consolidated Statements of Operations.

      Management bases our assumptions on either historical or market data that it considers reasonable. Variations in these assumptions could have a significant effect on the amounts reported in Consolidated Balance Sheets and the Consolidated Statements of Operations.

    INCOME TAXES.   Income taxes are accounted for under the asset and liability method, as prescribed by Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 109, " Accounting for Income Taxes " ("SFAS No. 109"). Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases and operating loss and tax credit carryforwards. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates. Valuation allowances are recognized to reduce deferred tax assets to the amount that is more likely than not to be realized.

      Management believes that it is more likely than not that a portion of its deferred tax assets in various jurisdictions will not be realized, based on the scheduled reversal of deferred tax

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      liabilities, the recent history of cumulative losses, and the insufficient evidence of projected future taxable income to overcome the loss history. Management has provided a valuation allowance related to any benefits from income taxes resulting from the application of a statutory tax rate to the deferred tax assets. We continue to have net deferred tax assets (future tax benefits) in several jurisdictions which we expect to realize assuming, based on certain estimates and assumptions, sufficient taxable income can be generated to utilize these deferred tax benefits. If these estimates and related assumptions change in the future, we may be required to reduce the value of the deferred tax assets resulting in additional tax expense.

      In June 2006, the Financial Accounting Standard Board ("FASB") issued Interpretation No. 48, " Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes " ("FIN No. 48") which clarifies the accounting for uncertainty in income taxes recognized in the financial statements in accordance with FASB Statement No. 109, "Accounting for Income Taxes." FIN No. 48 provides guidance on the financial statement recognition and measurement of tax position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. FIN No. 48 requires that we recognize in our financial statements, the impact of a tax position, if that position is "more likely than not" of being sustained on audit, based on the technical merits of the position. We adopted the provisions of FIN No. 48 effective April 1, 2007. Any accruals for estimated interest and penalties would be recorded as a component of income tax expense.

    INVENTORIES.   Inventories are valued at the lower of cost or market, with cost determined under the first-in, first-out method and market based upon net realizable value. The valuation of inventories requires management to make estimates. We also must assess the prices at which it believes the finished goods inventory can be sold compared to its cost. A sharp decrease in demand could adversely impact earnings as the reserve estimates could increase.

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Results of Operations

        Historically, revenues and earnings may or may not be representative of future operating results due to various economic and other factors. The following table sets forth the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations for the periods indicated (amounts in thousands):

 
  Fiscal Years Ended March 31,  
 
  2009   2008   2007  

Net sales

  $ 804,385   $ 850,120   $ 658,714  

Operating costs and expenses:

                   
 

Cost of sales

    736,286     695,397     517,443  
 

Selling, general and administrative expenses

    93,770     99,048     89,450  
 

Research and development

    28,956     35,699     33,385  
 

Restructuring charges

    30,874     25,341     12,572  
 

Goodwill Impairment

    174,327          
 

Write down of long-lived assets

    67,624     4,218      
 

Net gain on sales and disposals of assets

    (25,505 )   (702 )   (1,214 )
 

Curtailment gains on benefit plans

    (30,835 )        
               
   

Operating income (loss)

    (271,112 )   (8,881 )   7,078  

Other (income) expense, net

    8,969     3,601     (382 )
               
   

Income (loss) before income taxes

    (280,081 )   (12,482 )   7,460  

Income tax expense (benefit)

    (3,202 )   5,111     563  
               
   

Net income (loss)

  $ (276,879 ) $ (17,593 ) $ 6,897  
               

Comparison of Fiscal Year 2009 to Fiscal Year 2008

Overview:

Net sales:

        Net sales for fiscal year 2009 were $804.4 million, which represented a 5.4% decrease from fiscal year 2008 net sales of $850.1 million. Film and Electrolytic sales increased $60.6 million while Tantalum and Ceramic sales decreased by $56.6 million and $49.7 million, respectively. The Arcotronics business was acquired near the beginning of the third quarter of fiscal year 2008. Accordingly, the increase in Film and Electrolytic sales occurred because fiscal year 2009 contained a full year of Arcotronics' sales while fiscal year 2008 contained slightly less than two quarters of Arcotronics' sales. The global economic downturn adversely affected sales throughout the year leading to lower sales in Tantalum and Ceramic, and weaker than expected sales in Film and Electrolytic. Additionally, the downturn worsened over the course of fiscal year 2009 and led to sequentially decreasing sales in each quarter, particularly in the fourth quarter. This decrease in sales is attributable to distributors reducing their inventories in order to allow them to operate in line with forecasted customer demand, and to lower demand from our electronic manufacturing services and original equipment manufacturing customers.

        By region, 25% of net sales for the year ended March 31, 2009 were to customers in North America and South America ("Americas"), 35% were to customers in Asia and Pacific Rim ("APAC"), and 40% were to customers in Europe, Middle East and Africa ("EMEA"). For the year ended March 31, 2008, 28% of net sales were to customers in the Americas, 36% were to customers in APAC, and 36% were to customers in EMEA.

        By channel, 47.4% of net sales for the year ended March 31, 2009, were to distribution customers, 19.4% were to electronic manufacturing services customers, and 33.2% were to original equipment manufacturing customers. For the year ended March 31, 2008, 47.6% of net sales were to distribution

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customers, 17.5% were to electronic manufacturing services customers, and 34.9% were to original equipment manufacturing customers.

Gross Margin:

        Gross margin for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2009 decreased from 18.2% of net sales in the prior year to 8.5% of net sales. Several factors contributed to the decrease in gross margin percentage in fiscal year 2009. In the first half of the year, we experienced higher manufacturing costs related to inflation in the utility, freight and distribution areas as well as increased costs in conjunction with the relocation and start up of equipment in China. Additionally, we recorded a $7.5 million lower of cost or market charge to adjust Ceramic Hi-CV inventory to its net realizable value. Price decreases in Hi-CV products in Asia caused the net realizable value of the inventory to fall below its carrying value. In the last half of the year, particularly the fourth quarter, gross margin as a percent to sales was down because of the unfavorable absorption impact of lower sales on manufacturing fixed costs. While improved manufacturing performance and the benefits of our cost savings plans led to lower manufacturing costs, these reductions were not enough to offset the impact of lower volume. Lower volume had a particularly unfavorable gross margin impact in Film and Electrolytic, where the pace of our restructuring and cost reduction efforts have slowed considerably because of our liquidity situation.

Selling, general and administrative expenses:

        SG&A expenses were $93.8 million, or 11.7% of net sales for fiscal year 2009 compared to $99.0 million, or 11.7% of net sales for fiscal year 2008. The decrease was primarily due to cost reductions resulting from our rationalization plan announced in the second quarter of fiscal year 2009; we began to see savings from the plan in the second half of fiscal year 2009. Partially offsetting these savings were $2.3 million in additional bad debt expense, an additional $2.8 million in pension charges and $1.0 million in higher incentive accruals compared to fiscal year 2008. In addition, integration expenses were up $0.9 million in fiscal year 2009 compared to fiscal year 2008 and were primarily associated with integrating our Evox Rifa and Arcotronics acquisitions.

Research and development:

        Research and development expenses were $29.0 million, or 3.6% of net sales for fiscal year 2009, compared to $35.7 million, or 4.2% of net sales for fiscal year 2008. The acquisition of the Arcotronics business added $1.9 million in R&D expenses in fiscal year 2009 while the savings from the rationalization plan more than offset this increase.

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Special charges:

        Pre-tax special charges for fiscal year 2009, were $242.9 million as compared to $34.1 million for the prior fiscal year. The following table reflects the pre-tax charges in each fiscal year (amounts in thousands):

 
  Fiscal Years Ended March 31,  
 
  2009   2008   Change  

Manufacturing relocation costs

  $ 5,451   $ 8,157   $ (2,706 )

Personnel reduction cost

    25,423     17,184     8,239  
               

Restructuring charges

    30,874     25,341     5,533  

Goodwill impairment

    174,327         174,327  

Write down of long lived assets

    67,624     4,218     63,406  

(Gain) loss on sales and disposals of assets

    (27,157 )   (702 )   (26,455 )

Net benefit plan adjustments

    (27,987 )       (27,987 )

Non-recurring interest amortization charges

    1,291         1,291  

Loss on early retirement of debt

    2,212         2,212  

Inventory adjustments

    16,463         16,463  

Acquisitions integration costs

    5,254     4,339     915  

Other non-cash acquisition expense

        900     (900 )
               

  $ 242,901   $ 34,096   $ 208,805  
               

Fiscal Year 2009 Special Charges

        We report a measure entitled Special Charges. These charges are considered items outside of normal operations, and it is the intent of KEMET to provide more information to explain the operating results. Since some of the items are not considered restructuring charges as defined by U.S. generally accepted accounting principles, we have provided the breakout of U.S. generally accepted accounting principles restructuring and impairment charges and those other charges and adjustments separately.

         Restructuring charges— Restructuring charges incurred during fiscal year 2009 totaled $30.9 million. We announced three initiatives to reduce fixed costs to be more in line with lower sales volumes. During the first quarter of fiscal year 2009, we recognized charges of $4.9 million primarily for reductions in workforce in Film and Electrolytic. In the second quarter of fiscal year 2009, we recognized charges of $16.1 million related to the rationalization of corporate staff and manufacturing support functions in the United States, Europe, Mexico, and Asia. Approximately 640 employees were affected by this action. During the third quarter of fiscal year 2009, we recognized charges of $3.5 million related primarily to the reduction of approximately 1,500 manufacturing positions representing approximately 14% of our workforce. During the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2009, we incurred expenses of $0.9 million primarily related to the closing of sales offices. We incurred expenses of $5.5 million related to our manufacturing relocation plan.

        Acquisition integration costs —As a result of our recent acquisitions, we incurred costs to integrate Film and Electrolytic into KEMET. We incurred $5.3 million of costs during fiscal year 2009 related to the integration which are included in the line item "Selling, general and administrative expenses" on the Consolidated Statements of Operations.

        Goodwill impairment and Write down of long-lived assets —In the first quarter of fiscal year 2009, we tested goodwill for impairment and recorded an $88.6 million impairment charge. Also occurring in the first quarter of fiscal year 2009, we tested the long-lived assets of Ceramic for impairment. As a result

41



of this testing, Ceramic recorded a $5.3 million impairment charge to write off all of its other intangible assets and recorded a $58.6 million impairment charge to write down long-lived assets.

        Because our stock price did not recover in the second quarter of fiscal year 2009, we tested goodwill for impairment again as of September 30, 2008. This impairment test resulted in a second quarter goodwill impairment charge of $85.7 million to write off all of the remaining goodwill of Film and Electrolytic and Tantalum.

        During the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2009, due to circumstances that were previously considered unlikely, we reclassified one of the manufacturing facilities which was classified as held for sale during fiscal year 2008 (in accordance with SFAS No. 144) as held and used. These assets no longer meet the criteria to be classified as held for sale under SFAS No. 144. We recognized an impairment charge of $2.5 million which primarily relates to this facility as the carrying amount of the facility is not recoverable based on an independent appraisal dated February 28, 2009. In addition, a research and development facility located in Heidenheim, Germany was closed and an impairment charge of $1.2 million was recognized due to the abandonment of long-lived assets.

        (Gain) loss on sales and disposals of assets —During fiscal year 2009, we recognized a gain of $25.5 million. The majority of this gain stems from the sale of assets related to the production and sale of wet tantalum capacitors to a subsidiary of Vishay. We received $33.7 million in cash proceeds, net of amounts held in escrow. Concurrently, we entered into a three-year term loan for $15.0 million with Vishay.

        Net benefit plan adjustments —We recognized $28.0 million in net benefit plan adjustments. This adjustment primarily relates to the amendment to our post-retirement welfare plan to eliminate all obligations for non-UCC grandfathered retirees.

        Non-recurring interest amortization charges —During fiscal year 2009, we recognized a charge of $1.3 million related to the write-off of unamortized debt costs.

        Loss on early retirement of debt —In September 2008, we prepaid our obligations under the Senior Notes, incurring charges of $2.0 million related to a make-whole adjustment and a $0.2 million prepayment fee.

        Inventory Adjustments —During fiscal year 2009, we recognized a charge of $16.5 million related to larger than typical inventory write-downs and manufacturing variances.

Fiscal Year 2008 Special Charges

        Restructuring Charges —During fiscal year 2008, we recognized $8.2 million in costs relating to the manufacturing relocation plan. The plan included moving manufacturing operations to lower cost facilities in Mexico and China. During fiscal year 2008, we recognized a charge of $17.2 million for a reduction in workforce primarily in Europe and Mexico.

        Acquisition integration costs —As part of our acquisitions, we incurred costs to integrate Film and Electrolytic into KEMET. We incurred $4.3 million of costs during fiscal year 2008 related to the integration which are included in the line item "Selling, general and administrative expenses" on the Consolidated Statements of Operations.

        Write down long-lived assets —Tantalum recognized a $1.2 million charge to reduce the carrying value of an idle facility located in Mauldin, South Carolina, a $0.9 million impairment charge relating to a manufacturing facility in Heidenheim, Germany and an impairment charge of $2.1 million relating to the Evora, Portugal plant.

42


Operating (loss):

        The operating loss for the fiscal year 2009 was $271.1 million compared to operating loss of $8.9 million in the prior fiscal year. We incurred non-cash charges of $242.0 million for goodwill impairment and the write down of long-lived assets in fiscal year 2009 compared to $4.2 million in fiscal year 2008. Lower volume led to a gross margin decrease of $86.6 million in fiscal year 2009 as compared to fiscal year 2008. Additionally, operating expenses were $12.0 million lower than in fiscal year 2008 and restructuring charges were $5.5 million higher than fiscal year 2008. These unfavorable items were partially offset by gains on the sale of assets $25.5 million in fiscal year 2009 compared to $0.7 million in fiscal year 2008 and curtailment gains on benefit plans of $30.8 million in fiscal year 2009.

Other (income) expense, net:

        Other (income) expense, net was $9.0 million in fiscal year 2009 compared to $3.6 million in fiscal year 2008, an increase of $5.4 million. The increase in expense resulted from a $5.4 million decrease in interest income, a $7.4 million increase in interest expense and a loss on early retirement of debt of $2.2 million compared to fiscal year 2008. These increases in expense were partially offset by a $9.7 million increase in other income which primarily relates to foreign exchange gains.

Income taxes:

        The effective tax rate for fiscal year 2009 was (1.1)%, resulting in a tax benefit of $3.2 million. This compares to an effective tax rate of 40.9% for fiscal year 2008 that resulted in a tax expense of $5.1 million. The net income tax benefit is primarily comprised from operations in certain foreign jurisdictions, totaling a $3.6 million tax benefit. In addition, there is a $0.2 million income tax benefit from the recognition of Texas credits, and a $0.6 million tax expense relating to FIN No. 48 adjustments. No tax benefit is recognized for the U.S. tax loss for fiscal year 2009 due to the establishment of a valuation allowance. Future fluctuations in the valuation allowance are expected to result in a tax rate below the 30% to 36% historical average.

43


Segment Review:

        The following table sets forth the operating income (loss) for each of our business segments for the fiscal years 2009 and 2008 respectively. The table also sets forth each of the segments' net sales as a percent to total net sales, the net income (loss) components as a percent to total net sales, and the percentage increase or decrease of such components over the prior year (amounts in thousands, except percentages):

 
  For the Fiscal Years Ended  
 
  March 31, 2009   March 31, 2008  
 
  Amount   % to Total Sales   Amount   % to Total Sales  

Net sales

                         
 

Tantalum

  $ 366,675     45.6 % $ 423,320     49.8 %
 

Ceramic

    175,916     21.9 %   225,610     26.5 %
 

Film and Electrolytic

    261,794     32.5 %   201,190     23.7 %
                   
   

Total

  $ 804,385     100.0 % $ 850,120     100.0 %
                   

Gross margin

                         
 

Tantalum

  $ 52,867     6.6 % $ 80,281     9.4 %
 

Ceramic

    9,976     1.2 %   41,448     4.9 %
 

Film and Electrolytic

    5,256     0.7 %   32,994     3.9 %
                       
   

Total

    68,099     8.5 %   154,723     18.2 %

SG&A expenses

                         
 

Tantalum

    37,220     4.6 %   41,367     4.9 %
 

Ceramic

    21,905     2.7 %   27,037     3.2 %
 

Film and Electrolytic

    34,645     4.3 %   30,644     3.6 %
                       
   

Total

    93,770     11.7 %   99,048     11.7 %

R&D expenses

                         
 

Tantalum

    13,999     1.7 %   17,844     2.1 %
 

Ceramic

    8,291     1.0 %   14,033     1.7 %
 

Film and Electrolytic

    6,666     0.8 %   3,822     0.4 %
                       
   

Total

    28,956     3.6 %   35,699     4.2 %

Restructuring charges

                         
 

Tantalum

    11,388     1.4 %   19,046     2.2 %
 

Ceramic

    7,143     0.9 %   5,125     0.6 %
 

Film and Electrolytic

    12,343     1.5 %   1,170     0.1 %
                       
   

Total

    30,874     3.8 %   25,341     3.0 %

Goodwill impairment charges

                         
 

Tantalum

    24,378     3.0 %       0.0 %
 

Ceramic

    12,418     1.5 %       0.0 %
 

Film and Electrolytic

    137,531     17.1 %       0.0 %
                       
   

Total

    174,327     21.7 %       0.0 %

Write down of long-lived assets

                         
 

Tantalum

    1,855     0.2 %   4,218     0.5 %
 

Ceramic

    65,769     8.2 %       0.0 %
 

Film and Electrolytic

        0.0 %       0.0 %
                       
   

Total

    67,624     8.4 %   4,218     0.5 %

(Gain) loss on sales and disposals of assets

                         
 

Tantalum

    (26,435 )   -3.3 %   (442 )   -0.1 %
 

Ceramic

    1,123     0.1 %   (260 )   0.0 %
 

Film and Electrolytic

    (193 )   0.0 %       0.0 %
                       
   

Total

    (25,505 )   -3.2 %   (702 )   -0.1 %

Curtailment gain on benefit plans

                         
 

Tantalum

    (22,856 )   -2.8 %       0.0 %
 

Ceramic

    (7,979 )   -1.0 %       0.0 %
 

Film and Electrolytic

        0.0 %       0.0 %
                       
   

Total

    (30,835 )   -3.8 %       0.0 %

Operating (loss) income

                         
 

Tantalum

    13,318     1.7 %   (1,752 )   -0.2 %
 

Ceramic

    (98,694 )   -12.3 %   (4,487 )   -0.5 %
 

Film and Electrolytic

    (185,736 )   -23.1 %   (2,642 )   -0.3 %
                       
   

Total

    (271,112 )   -33.7 %   (8,881 )   -1.0 %

Other expense, net

   
8,969
   
1.1

%
 
3,601
   
0.4

%
                       

(Loss) income before income taxes

    (280,081 )   -34.8 %   (12,482 )   -1.5 %

Income tax expense (benefit)

    (3,202 )   -0.4 %   5,111     0.6 %
                       

Net (loss) income

  $ (276,879 )   -34.4 % $ (17,593 )   -2.1 %
                       

44


Tantalum

        Net sales —Net sales decreased 13.4% during fiscal year 2009, as compared to fiscal year 2008. Unit sales volume for fiscal year 2009 decreased 15.8% as compared to fiscal year 2008. Unit sales volume and revenue were negatively affected by the global economic downturn that adversely impacted all regions as well as the weak automotive market in the United States and Europe. Average selling prices increased 2.8% for fiscal year 2009 as compared to fiscal year 2008 due to a favorable product mix shift, as specialty product shipments represented a larger share of Tantalum revenue.

        Gross Margin —Gross margin as a percent of Tantalum sales decreased to 14.4% during fiscal year 2009 as compared to 19.0% in fiscal year 2008. The primary contributor to the lower gross margin was lower volume driven by the global economic downturn affecting all regions. Operational cost reductions were implemented, however the reductions were not enough to offset the revenue decline. Additionally, margins were adversely affected by increases in manufacturing costs related to inflation in the utility and freight distribution areas.

        Operating income (loss) —Operating income for fiscal year 2009 was $13.3 million as compared to an operating loss of $1.8 million for fiscal year 2008. Operating income was favorably impacted $26.4 million by the gain on the sale of assets, curtailment gains on benefit plans of $22.9 million, and reductions in restructuring costs of $7.7 million. Offsets to the gains were a non-cash $24.4 million goodwill impairment charge, and lower revenue impacted by the global economic downturn, which led to lower gross margin. The lower revenue impact was partially offset by reduced operating expenses of $8.0 million primarily as a result of our rationalization plan initiated on July 31, 2008.

Ceramic

        Net sales —Net sales decreased by 22.0% during fiscal year 2009, as compared to fiscal year 2008. The decrease is primarily attributed to lower volumes, partially offset by higher average selling prices. Volumes decreased 28.8% during fiscal year 2009, as compared to fiscal year 2008 due primarily to the global economic downturn as well as softening in the Hi-CV market in Asia and weak automotive markets in the United States and Europe. Average selling prices increased in fiscal year 2009 by 9.5% due primarily to product and region mix improvements over last year, partially offset by price decreases in Hi-CV products in Asia.

        Gross Margin —Gross margin as a percent of Ceramic sales decreased to 5.7% during fiscal year 2009 as compared to 18.4% during fiscal year 2008. The primary contributor to the lower gross margin was lower volume driven by the global economic downturn affecting all regions. Also, a significant contributor to the lower gross margin was a $7.5 million lower-of-cost-or-market charge to adjust Hi-CV inventory to its net realizable value. Price decreases in Hi-CV products in Asia caused the net realizable value of the inventory to fall below its carrying value. Also adversely affecting gross margins in fiscal year 2009 were increases in manufacturing costs related to inflation in the utility and freight distribution areas.

        Operating income (loss) —Operating loss increased from a loss of $4.5 million during fiscal year 2008 to an operating loss of $98.7 million during fiscal year 2009. The operating loss increase of $94.2 million was attributable to charges of $78.2 million for goodwill impairment and the write down of long-lived assets, a decrease of $31.5 million related to gross margin and a $2.0 million increase in restructuring charges. These unfavorable items were partially offset by lower operating expenses of $10.9 million which primarily resulted from the initiation of our rationalization plan on July 31, 2008.

45


Film and Electrolytic

        Film and Electrolytic was created with the acquisition of Evox Rifa in April 2007 and Arcotronics in October 2007. Accordingly, the financial results for the twelve months of fiscal year 2008 include approximately eleven months of Evox Rifa activity and approximately six months of Arcotronics activity.

        Net sales —Net sales increased by $60.6 million in fiscal year 2009, as compared to fiscal year 2008. The Arcotronics business, which was acquired at the beginning of the third quarter of fiscal year 2008, accounted for $61.6 million of the $60.6 million increase. Film and Electrolytic experienced declining sales in the third and fourth quarters of fiscal year 2009 due to the global economic downturn.

        Gross Margin —Gross margin decreased $27.7 million from $33.0 million in fiscal year 2008 to $5.3 million in fiscal year 2009. Declining revenue was the primary cause of the drop in gross margin. Despite the cost cutting initiatives executed through head count reductions and temporary layoffs in Italy, expenses were not reduced enough to offset the revenue decline in third and fourth quarters of fiscal year 2009.

        Operating income (loss) —Operating loss for fiscal year 2009 was $185.7 million which was primarily due to a non-cash goodwill impairment charge of $137.5 million. Additionally, lower gross margin, restructuring charges of $12.3 million related to reduction-in-force activity and moving production to lower cost regions of the world, and integration costs of $5.2 million also contributed to the operating loss.

Comparison of Fiscal Year 2008 to Fiscal Year 2007

Overview:

Net sales:

        Net sales for fiscal year 2008 were $850.1 million, which represented a 29.1% increase from fiscal year 2007 net sales of $658.7 million. The acquisition of Evox Rifa and Arcotronics resulted in an increase in net sales of 30.5% in fiscal year 2008. Sales revenue for the core business decreased 1.4% due to decreases in average selling prices ("ASPs) from additions to industry capacity and changes in end market demand.

Cost of sales:

        Cost of sales for fiscal year 2008, was $695.4 million as compared to $517.4 million for fiscal year 2007, a 34.4% increase. The increase in cost of sales was primarily due to the purchase of Evox Rifa and Arcotronics. Cost of sales for the core business increased 2.0%. In addition, manufacturing throughput increased in fiscal year 2008 as added capacity and higher volumes allowed us to offset the average selling price erosion.

Selling, general and administrative expenses:

        SG&A expenses were $99.0 million for fiscal year 2008 compared to $89.5 million for fiscal year 2007. The increase was primarily associated with the Evox Rifa and Arcotronics acquisitions. Integration related expenses incurred in fiscal year 2008 related to the acquisitions were $4.3 million compared to $16.2 million in fiscal year 2007 which related to the EPCOS tantalum business unit acquisition integration activities.

Research and development:

        Research and development expenses were $35.7 million for fiscal year 2008, compared to $33.4 million for fiscal year 2007. These costs reflect our commitment to the development and

46



introduction of ultralow ESR tantalums, tantalum face-down products, and aerospace and medical products. Ceramic improved its current product offerings by developing flex migration for crack elimination, and also developing a floating electrode design while expanding Hi-CV offerings. These advancements extended our leading position in certain capacitor technologies.

Special charges:

        Pre-tax special charges for fiscal year 2008, were $34.1 million as compared to $27.8 million for the prior fiscal year. The following table reflects the pre-tax charges in each fiscal year (amounts in thousands):

 
  Fiscal Years Ended March 31,  
 
  2008   2007   Change  

Manufacturing relocation costs

  $ 8,157   $ 9,531   $ (1,374 )

Personnel reduction cost

    17,184     2,846     14,338  

Loss on sale of property

        195     (195 )
               

Restructuring charges

    25,341     12,572     12,769  

Write down long lived assets

    4,218         4,218  

(Gain) loss on sales and disposals of assets

    (702 )   (1,214 )   512  

Acquisitions integration costs

    4,339     16,238     (11,899 )

Write-off related to an acquisition

    900     160     740  
               

  $ 34,096   $ 27,756   $ 6,340  
               

Fiscal Year 2008 Special Charges

        Restructuring charges —During fiscal year 2008, we recognized $8.2 million in costs relating to the manufacturing relocation plan. The Plan included moving manufacturing operations to lower cost facilities in Mexico and China. During fiscal year 2008, we recognized a charge of $17.2 million for a reduction in workforce primarily in Europe and Mexico. All costs were expensed as incurred.

        Acquisition integration costs —As part of our acquisitions, we incurred costs to integrate Film and Electrolytic into KEMET. We incurred $4.3 million of costs during fiscal year 2008 related to the integration which are included in the line item "Selling, general and administrative expenses" on the Consolidated Statements of Operations.

        Write down long-lived assets —Tantalum recognized a $1.2 million charge to reduce the carrying value of an idle facility located in Mauldin, South Carolina, a $0.9 million impairment charge relating to a manufacturing facility in Heidenheim, Germany and an impairment charge of $2.1 million relating to the Evora, Portugal plant.

Fiscal Year 2007 Special Charges

        Restructuring charges —During fiscal year 2007, we recognized $9.7 million in costs relating to the manufacturing relocation plan. As of March 31, 2007, we recorded cumulative charges of $50.5 million in connection with the plan. During fiscal year 2007, we recognized a charge of $2.8 million for a reduction in force primarily in Europe and Mexico. All costs were expensed as incurred.

        Loss on sales and disposals of assets —During fiscal year 2007, we sold our interest in the joint venture we held with ABM Resources NL ("ABM") and recognized a gain of $1.4 million. In addition, we completed the sale of our Shelby, North Carolina facility for which we recognized a $0.2 million loss on the sale.

47


        EPCOS integration —KEMET completed the acquisition of the tantalum business unit of EPCOS on April 13, 2006. During fiscal year 2007, we recorded charges of $16.2 million related to the integration which are included in the line item "Selling, general and administrative expenses" on the Consolidated Statements of Operations.

    Operating income (loss):

        The operating loss for the fiscal year 2008 was $8.9 million compared to operating income of $7.1 million in the prior year. The decrease in operating income from the prior year was principally from an increase in restructuring and asset impairment charges.

    Other (income) expense, net:

        Other (income) expense, net increased in fiscal year 2008 compared to fiscal year 2007 due to a $6.9 million increase in interest expense compared to fiscal year 2007 due to increased debt related to acquisitions.

    Income taxes:

        The effective tax rate for fiscal year 2008 was 40.9%, resulting in tax expense of $5.1 million. This compares to an effective tax rate of 7.5% for fiscal year 2007 that resulted in a tax expense of $0.6 million. Besides income tax from normal business operations in certain non-U.S. jurisdictions, the net income tax expense is primarily comprised of a $2.0 million income tax benefit from the recognition of credits due to a change in Texas tax law, a $1.1 million income tax benefit from U.S. competent authority relief on a transfer pricing adjustment, a $0.8 million tax benefit from the settlement of foreign tax issues, a $2.2 million tax expense related to tax law changes in Mexico and Germany, and a $3.0 million tax expense related to fixed asset write offs in Germany. No tax benefit was recognized for the U.S. tax loss for fiscal year 2008 due to the establishment of a valuation allowance during fiscal year 2004.

    Segment Review:

        The following chart highlights the net sales and operating income (loss) by segment for the fiscal years shown (amounts in thousands):

 
  Fiscal Years Ended March 31,  
 
  2008   2007  

Net Sales:

             
 

Tantalum

  $ 423,320   $ 424,203  
 

Ceramic

    225,610     234,511  
 

Film and Electrolytic

    201,190      
           

  $ 850,120   $ 658,714  
           

Operating income (loss):

             
 

Tantalum

  $ (1,752 ) $ 2,674  
 

Ceramic

    (4,487 )   4,404  
 

Film and Electrolytic

    (2,642 )    
           

  $ (8,881 ) $ 7,078  
           

48


        Restructuring and impairment charges included in the Operating income (loss) are as follows (amounts in thousands):

 
  Fiscal Years Ended March 31,  
 
  2008   2007  

Restructuring charges:

             
 

Tantalum

  $ 19,046   $ 7,013  
 

Ceramic

    5,125     5,559  
 

Film and Electrolytic

    1,170      
           

  $ 25,341   $ 12,572  
           

Impairment charges:

             
 

Tantalum

  $ 4,218   $  
 

Ceramic

         
 

Film and Electrolytic

         
           

  $ 4,218   $  
           

Tantalum

        Net sales —Net sales decreased by 0.2% during fiscal year 2008 as compared to fiscal year 2007. The decrease resulted from a 4.0% erosion in ASP partially offset by an increase in sales volumes of 3.8% during fiscal year 2008 as compared to fiscal year 2007. Volume sales increased to 4.7 billion pieces compared to 4.5 billion pieces in fiscal year 2007.

        Operating income (loss) —Operating income (loss) decreased from a profit of $2.7 million in fiscal year 2007 to a loss of $1.8 million in fiscal year 2008. Operating income was negatively impacted by the restructuring costs of $27.8 million in fiscal year 2008.

Ceramic

        Net sales —Net sales decreased by 3.8% during fiscal year 2008, as compared to fiscal year 2007. The decrease is attributed to ASP erosion as volume increased by 4.9% to 38.3 billion pieces in fiscal year 2008 as compared to 36.5 billion pieces in fiscal year 2007. ASPs decreased 6.8% during fiscal year 2008, as compared to fiscal year 2007 due to softening in the Hi-CV market in Asia.

        Operating income (loss) —Operating income decreased from the profit reported in fiscal year 2007 of $4.4 million to an operating loss of $(4.5) million in fiscal year 2008. The decline in the operating results is attributed to lower revenues and margins in the Hi-CV market for fiscal year 2008 and additional restructuring charges of $1.8 million related to the January 2008 reduction in force.

Film and Electrolytic

        This business segment was created with the acquisition of Evox Rifa in April 2007, and in October 2007 the Arcotronics acquisition completed the formation of this business group. For fiscal year 2008, Film and Electrolytic had net sales of $201.2 million and an operating loss of $2.6 million.

Quarterly Results of Operations

        The following table sets forth certain quarterly information for fiscal years 2009 and 2008. This information, in the opinion of our management, reflects all adjustments (consisting only of normal recurring adjustments) necessary to present fairly this information when read in conjunction with the

49



consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included elsewhere herein (amounts in thousands except per share amounts):

 
  Fiscal Year 2009 Quarters Ended    
 
 
  30-Jun   30-Sep   31-Dec   31-Mar   Total  

Net sales(1)

  $ 242,844   $ 234,819   $ 190,679   $ 136,043   $ 804,385  

Operating loss(2)

    (180,631 )   (79,478 )   (8,191 )   (2,812 )   (271,112 )

Net income (loss)

    (187,292 )   (82,986 )   (11,065 )   4,464     (276,879 )

Net income (loss) per share
(basic and diluted)

  $ (2.33 ) $ (1.03 ) $ (0.14 ) $ 0.06   $ (3.44 )

 

 
  Fiscal Year 2008 Quarters Ended    
 
 
  30-Jun   30-Sep   31-Dec   31-Mar   Total  

Net sales

  $ 183,119   $ 197,129   $ 228,694   $ 241,178   $ 850,120  

Operating income (loss)(2)

    6,154     3,362     (1,595 )   (16,802 )   (8,881 )

Net income (loss)

    7,032     4,010     (8,150 )   (20,485 )   (17,593 )

Net income (loss) per share
(basic and diluted)

  $ 0.08   $ 0.05   $ (0.10 ) $ (0.24 ) $ (0.21 )

(1)
The global economic downturn worsened over the course of fiscal year 2009 and led to sequentially decreasing sales in each quarter, particularly in the fourth quarter. This decrease in sales is attributable to distributors reducing their inventories in order to allow them to operate in line with forecasted customer demand and lower demand from our electronic manufacturing services and orginal equipment manufacturing customers.

(2)
Operating income (loss) as a percentage of net sales fluctuates from quarter to quarter due to a number of factors, including net sales fluctuations, restructuring and impairment charges, product mix, the timing and expense of moving product lines to lower-cost locations, and the relative mix of sales among distributors, original equipment manufacturers, electronic manufacturing service providers and non-recurring charges including goodwill impairment, the write-down of long lived assets, the net gain on sales and disposals of assets and curtailment gains on benefit plans.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

        Our liquidity needs arise from working capital requirements, acquisitions, capital expenditures, principal and interest payments on debt, and costs associated with the implementation of our restructuring plan. Historically, these cash needs have been met by cash flows from operations, borrowings under credit agreements and existing cash balances.

        In fiscal year 2009, the poor economic environment negatively affected our sales and had an adverse impact on our results of operations and liquidity. Our unfavorable results would have triggered a violation of our Senior Note debt covenants had we not negotiated temporary amendments to the covenants in order to remain in compliance. Prior to the expiration of these covenant amendments, the Senior Notes were paid off, resulting in total principal payments of $60.0 million in fiscal year 2009 to eliminate our Senior Notes. The primary reasons for our unrestricted cash balance decreasing from $81.4 million at March 31, 2008 to $39.2 million at March 31, 2009 were the Senior Notes being paid off (as noted above), cash restructuring and integration related costs, totaling approximately $30.1 million and capital expenditures of $30.5 million. These items were partially offset by $33.7 million of proceeds from the sale of assets related to the production and sale of wet tantalum capacitors and proceeds from a three-year term loan for $15.0 million with Vishay.

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        We took aggressive steps to offset the adverse impact of lower revenues and net losses on our liquidity. These included:

    Cost reduction plans which are expected to save approximately $52 million on an annualized basis;

    Where possible, a 10% wage reduction for all salaried employees effective January 1, 2009 (excluding those on a commission based salary) and temporary suspension of the match in our U.S. defined contribution plan match, reducing it from 6% to 0%. These actions are expected to save approximately $12 million on an annualized basis;

    Delaying capital spending and aligning remaining capital spending with cash flow;

    Reducing past due accounts receivables through more robust collection efforts and implementing aggressive inventory reduction plans; and

    Selling assets related to the production and sale of wet tantalum capacitors for $33.7 million in the second quarter of fiscal year 2009 that allowed us to pay off the balance of the Senior Notes.

        In addition to the above actions, throughout 2009, we continued to review strategic financing alternatives to improve liquidity and reduce overall leverage. In April, we entered into amendments to Facility A and Facility B with UniCredit which, among other things, modified the financial covenants under Facility A (Facility B does not contain any covenants, however it contains cross acceleration provisions linked to Facility A) and modified the scheduled amortization under Facility A and Facility B. These amendments to the UniCredit facilities became effective June 30, 2009 upon the consummation of the tender offer, discussed below. The following table shows the amortization schedule for the UniCredit Facilities under the original and amended terms (amounts in thousands):

 
  Annual Maturities of Long-Term Debt
Fiscal Years Ended March 31,
 
 
  2010(1)   2011   2012   2013   2014  

UniCredit Facility A

  $ 15,700   $ 16,802   $ 17,981   $ 19,243   $ 10,122  

UniCredit Facility A Amendment

    7,717     19,082     13,607     8,216     31,222  

UniCredit Facility B

   
2,662
   
5,323
   
38,593
   
   
 

UniCredit Facility B Amendment

    2,662     5,323     13,308     13,308     11,977  

(1)
A principal payment of $7.7 million on Facility A was made on the scheduled due date of April 1, 2009.

        On May 5, 2009, we announced the execution of the Platinum Credit Facility with K Financing. The Platinum Credit Facility consisted of a term loan of up to $52.5 million, line of credit loans that may be borrowed from time to time (but not reborrowed after being repaid) of up to $12.5 million and a working capital loan of up to $12.5 million.

        Concurrently, on May 5, 2009, we commenced a tender offer for the Notes. The term loan discussed above can only be used to purchase the Notes and will only be funded to the extent required to purchase Notes accepted for purchase pursuant to the tender offer. Additionally, funds from the line of credit loans and working capital loan under the Platinum Credit Facility are available to us, for limited purposes, subject to the satisfaction or waiver of certain conditions, including the consummation of the tender offer on the terms described in the Offer to Purchase. Under the initial terms of the tender offer, holders of Notes who validly tendered, and did not validly withdraw, their Notes on or prior to the Expiration Date would receive $300 for each $1,000 principal amount of Notes purchased in the tender offer, plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but not including, the date of payment for the Notes accepted for payment. The tender offer and our obligation to purchase and pay for the Notes validly tendered and not validly withdrawn pursuant to the tender offer was initially conditioned upon

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(1) at least $166.3 million in aggregate principal amount of Notes (representing 95% of the outstanding Notes) being validly tendered and not validly withdrawn, and (2) the receipt by us of the proceeds from the term loan of up to $52.5 million from K Financing.

        On June 3, 2009, we announced the extension of the tender offer until the expiration date of June 12, 2009. All terms and conditions of the tender offer remained unchanged with this extension. On June 8, 2009, we announced an increase in the purchase price from $300 per $1,000 principal amount of the Notes to $400 per $1,000 principal amount of the Notes and extended the expiration date to June 19, 2009. In addition, we decreased the minimum tender condition from $166.3 million in aggregate principal amount of the Notes (representing 95% of the outstanding Notes) to $122.5 million in aggregate principal amount of the Notes (representing 70% of the outstanding Notes). We also entered into the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement with K Financing, whereby, among other matters, the potential size of the term loan facility increased from $52.5 million to $60.3 million. The Amended and Restated Platinum Credit Facility would have required the use of up to $9.8 million of our internal cash on hand for purchases of Notes validly tendered and not validly withdrawn pursuant to the tender offer if more than $150.6 million aggregate principal amount of the Notes were validly tendered and not validly withdrawn and all funds under the term loan facility under the Amended and Restated Platinum Credit Facility have been disbursed. As discussed below, the $150.6 million threshold was not met, and we did not disburse internal cash for the purchase of the Notes.

        On June 22, 2009, we announced a reduction in the minimum tender condition pursuant to the tender offer from $122.5 million in aggregate principal amount of Notes (representing 70% of the outstanding Notes) to $87.5 million in aggregate principal amount of Notes (representing 50% of the outstanding Notes) and an extension of the expiration date to June 26, 2009. All remaining terms and conditions of the tender offer were unchanged with this extension. We also entered into a Revised Amended and Restated Credit Agreement with K Financing, whereby, among other matters, the minimum tender condition was reduced from $122.5 million in aggregate principal amount of Notes (representing 70% of the outstanding Notes) to $87.5 million in aggregate principal amount of Notes (representing 50% of the outstanding Notes).

        On June 26, 2009, $93.9 million in aggregate principal amount of the Notes were validly tendered (representing 53.7% of the outstanding Notes). As a result of the consummated tender offer, we used $37.6 million of the term loan under the Revised Amended and Restated Platinum Credit Facility to extinguish the tendered Notes. We incurred approximately $9 million in fees and expense reimbursements related to the execution of this tender offer. We funded these costs with an equal amount of proceeds from a line of credit loan under the Revised Amended and Restated Platinum Credit Facility. No monies have been drawn on the working capital loan provision, under which we currently have $7.5 million borrowing capacity based on our book-to-bill ratio. The term loan facility will accrue interest at an annual rate of 9% for cash payment until the one-year anniversary of the consummation of the tender offer. At our option, after the one-year anniversary of the consummation of the tender offer, the term loan facility will accrue interest at an annual rate of 9% for cash payment, or cash and PIK interest at the rate of 12% per annum, with the cash portion being 5% and the PIK portion being 7%. The working capital loans and the line of credit loans will accrue interest at a rate equal to the greater of (i) LIBOR plus 7%, or (ii) 10%, payable monthly in arrears. In the event more than $8.8 million in aggregate principal amount of the Notes remain outstanding as of March 1, 2011, then the maturity date of the term loan facility, the line of credit loans and the working capital loan is accelerated to March 1, 2011. If the aggregate principal amount of the Notes outstanding at March 1, 2011 is less than or equal to $8.8 million the maturity date of the term loan facility will be November 15, 2012 and the maturity date for the line of credit loans and the working capital loan will be July 15, 2011. In addition, we will pay K Financing a success fee of $5.0 million, payable at the time of repayment in full of the term loan facility, whether at maturity or otherwise.

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        The Revised Amended and Restated Platinum Credit Facility contains certain financial maintenance covenants, including requirements that we maintain a minimum consolidated EBITDA and fixed charge coverage ratio. See discussion below regarding our forecasted compliance with these financial covenants. In addition to the financial covenants, the Revised Amended and Restated Platinum Credit Facility also contains limitations on capital expenditures, the incurrence of indebtedness, the granting of liens, the sale of assets, sale and leaseback transactions, fundamental corporate changes, entering into investments, the payment of dividends, voluntary or optional payment and prepayment of indebtedness (including the Notes) and other limitations customary to secured credit facilities.

        Our obligations to K Financing arising under the Revised Amended and Restated Platinum Credit Facility are secured by substantially all of our assets located in the United States, Mexico, Indonesia and China (other than accounts receivable owing by account debtors located in the United States, Singapore and Hong Kong, which exclusively secure obligations to Vishay). As further described in the Offer to Purchase, in connection with entering into the Revised Amended and Restated Platinum Credit Facility, K Financing and UniCredit entered into a letter of understanding with respect to their respective guarantor and collateral pools, and our assets in Europe that are not pledged to either lender. The letter of understanding also sets forth each lender's agreement not to interfere with the other's exercise of remedies pertaining to their respective collateral pools.

        Concurrent with the consummation of the tender offer, we issued K Financing the Closing Warrant to purchase up to 80,544,685 shares of our common stock, subject to certain adjustments, representing approximately 49.9% of our outstanding common stock on a post-Closing Warrant basis. The Closing Warrant will be exercisable at a maximum aggregate purchase price of $40.3 million, subject to certain adjustments, at any time prior to the tenth anniversary of its date of issuance. The Closing Warrant may be exercised in exchange for cash, by means of net settlement of a corresponding portion of amounts owed by us under the Revised Amended and Restated Platinum Credit Facility, by cashless exercise to the extent of appreciation in the value of our common stock above the exercise price of the Closing Warrant, or by combination of the preceding alternatives. The issuance of the Closing Warrant may be deemed an "ownership change" for purposes of Section 382 of the Code. If such an ownership change is deemed to occur, the amount of our taxable income that can be offset by our net operating loss carryovers in taxable years after the ownership change will be limited. We believe it is more likely than not that the issuance of the Closing Warrant will not be deemed an ownership change for purposes of Section 382 of the Code although the matter is not free from doubt. In addition, the exercise of the Closing Warrant may give rise to an ownership change for purposes of Section 382 of the Code.

        We also entered into the Investor Rights Agreement with K Financing. Pursuant to the terms of the Investor Rights Agreement, we have, subject to certain terms and conditions, granted K Financing Board observation rights which would permit K Financing to designate up to three individuals to observe Board meetings and receive information provided to the Board. In addition, the Investor Rights Agreement provides K Financing with certain preemptive rights. Subject to the terms and limitations described in the Investor Rights Agreement, in connection with any proposed issuance of securities, we would be required to offer to sell to K Financing a pro rata portion of such securities equal to the percentage determined by dividing the number of shares of common stock held by K Financing plus the number of shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of the Closing Warrant, by the total number of shares of common stock then outstanding on a fully diluted basis. The Investor Rights Agreement also provides K Financing with certain registration and information rights.

        We also entered into a Corporate Advisory Services Agreement with Platinum Advisors for a term of at least four years, pursuant to which we will pay an annual fee of $1.5 million to Platinum Advisors for certain advisory services.

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        We believe that the consummation of the tender offer and execution of the Revised Amended and Restated Platinum Credit Facility and amendments to the UniCredit facilities will improve our liquidity situation. Given our cost reduction and working capital initiatives, our anticipated borrowing ability under the working capital loan provision of the Revised Amended and Restated Platinum Credit Facility, and the UniCredit Amendments, we estimate that our current operating plans will provide for sufficient cash to cover liquidity requirements. However, we currently anticipate that we will continue to experience severe pressure on our liquidity during fiscal year 2010. Furthermore, the generation of adequate liquidity will largely depend upon our ability to achieve sales growth over the next several quarters and our ability to execute our current operating plans and to manage costs. In light of current global economic conditions, and other risks and uncertainties, there can be no assurance that we will be successful in this regard. An unanticipated decrease in sales, sales that fall below our expectations, or other factors that would cause the actual outcome of our plans to differ from expectations could create a shortfall in cash available to fund our liquidity needs. We will continually monitor and adjust our business plan as necessary to respond to developments in our business, markets and the broader economy. In addition to the actions discussed above, we continue to review additional initiatives to improve liquidity in the short-term as well as to reduce our total overall leverage, including the sale of non-core assets.

        Based on our operating plans, we currently forecast that we will meet the financial covenants required by the Revised Amended and Restated Platinum Credit Facility and Facility A at each of the measurement dates during fiscal year 2010. However, in the case of the EBITDA covenant, our forecast shows that we will achieve the required level of profitability by a narrow margin. Our current forecast anticipates a steady recovery, over the next several quarters, of the principal markets and industries into which our products to sold. Our expectations in this regard are based on our consideration of various information sources including, among others, industry surveys and input from various key customers. Given the degree of uncertainty with respect to the near-term outlook for the global economy and the possible effects on our operations, there is significant uncertainty as to whether our forecasts will be achieved. Therefore, there can be no assurance that we will be able to meet the financial covenants required by the Revised Amended and Restated Platinum Credit Facility and Facility A. In the event of a covenant breach, we would seek a waiver or amendment, but such remedy would be out of our control and rest in the discretion of our lenders.

        Our accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared assuming that we will continue as a going concern. Specifically, our consolidated financial statements do not include any adjustments relating to the recoverability or classification of recorded assets, or the amounts or classification of liabilities that might be necessary in the event we are unable to continue as a going concern. The significant uncertainties surrounding our liquidity and capital resources and ability to meet financial covenants as discussed above, cast substantial doubt on our ability to continue as a going concern. The failure to successfully maintain sufficient cash, and/or the non-compliance with our financial covenants without a waiver or amendment granted by our lenders, would have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial position and liquidity.

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        Our cash and cash equivalents decreased by $42.2 million for the year ended March 31, 2009, decreased by $124.3 million for the year ended March 31, 2008 and increased by $41.9 million for the year-ended March 31, 2007 as follows (amounts in thousands):

 
  Fiscal Years Ended March 31,  
 
  2009   2008   2007  

Cash provided by (used in) operating activities

  $ 5,725   $ (20,563 ) $ 21,933  

Cash provided by (used in) investing activities

    7,229     (59,453 )   (110,842 )

Cash (used in) provided by financing activities

    (53,495 )   (46,253 )   131,317  

Effects of foreign currency fluctuations on cash

    (1,638 )   1,963     (497 )
               
 

Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents

  $ (42,179 ) $ (124,306 ) $ 41,911  
               

Fiscal Year 2009 compared to Fiscal Year 2008

    Operations:

        Cash flows from operations improved by $26.3 million in fiscal year 2009 as compared to fiscal year 2008 despite significant declines in net sales and a significant operating loss. In fiscal year 2009, cash provided by operations of $5.7 million resulted from the aggressive management of our working capital through more robust collection efforts and initiatives to reduce inventory levels. These initiatives led to an accounts receivable decrease of $44.8 million and an inventory decrease of $71.3 million. This was partially offset by an accounts payable decrease of $67.4 million. Additionally, large non-cash items effected net income in fiscal year 2009 but did not affect cash provided by operations. These items included curtailment gains on benefit plans of $30.8 million, and a change in deferred income taxes of $8.1 million. In addition, operating results were favorably impacted by a gain on sales and disposals of assets of $25.5 million. These were adjusted positively for non-cash charges related to goodwill impairment and the write down of long-lived assets of $242.0 million and non-cash depreciation and amortization of $57.3 million. Cash used in operations of $20.6 million in fiscal year 2008 was largely the result of building working capital at Arcotronics which was acquired in the third quarter of fiscal year 2008.

    Investing:

        Cash provided by investing activities was $7.2 million in fiscal year 2009 compared to cash used in investing activities of $59.5 million in fiscal year 2008. Capital expenditures were $30.5 million in fiscal year 2009, down from capital expenditures of $43.6 million in fiscal year 2008 due to sales remaining relatively level with fiscal year 2008 and restrictions management put on capital expenditures in an effort to improve cash flow. Proceeds from the sale and disposal of assets generated $34.9 million in fiscal year 2009 while proceeds from the sale of long-term investments generated $46.1 million in cash during the same period last year. Acquisitions of $69.9 million in the prior year period related to the purchase of Evox Rifa and Arcotronics businesses which now make up Film and Electrolytic.

    Financing:

        Cash used in financing activities was $53.5 million in fiscal year 2009 as compared to $46.3 million in fiscal year 2008.

        Our payments of debt related primarily to the Senior Notes. In the first quarter of fiscal year 2009, we paid $20.0 million of the outstanding principal balance on our Senior Notes in accordance with the Senior Note agreement. On September 19, 2008, we prepaid our remaining obligations under the Senior Notes, including the outstanding principal balance of $40.0 million, a make-whole amount of

55



$2.0 million and a prepayment fee of $0.2 million. The make-whole amount and prepayment fee are shown on the line item "Loss on early retirement of debt" on the Consolidated Statements of Operations.

        Our proceeds from the issuance of debt relates primarily to a loan from Vishay. As part of the sale of the wet tantalum capacitor assets to Vishay, we entered into a three-year term loan agreement. The loan was for $15 million and carries an interest rate of LIBOR plus 4% which is payable monthly. The entire principal amount of $15 million matures on September 15, 2011 and can be prepaid without penalty. The loan is secured by certain accounts receivable of KEMET.

        On September 29, 2008, we entered into Facility A with UniCredit, a financial institution headquartered in Italy and part of the Milan-based UniCredit Group. Under the terms of Facility A, we agreed to pay the principal amount in nine semi-annual installments during the four and one-half year term with the first payment due in April 2009. The credit facility is priced at EURIBOR plus 1.7%, and is secured with real property located in Italy, certain accounts receivable in Europe, and a pledge of the shares of Arcotronics Italia S.p.A. and Arcotronics Industries S.r.l., two of KEMET's subsidiaries in Italy. Facility A was subsequently amended as described below.

        Proceeds from Facility A in the amount of EUR 50.0 million were used to pay off an existing UniCredit facility. Additional proceeds from Facility A in the amount of EUR 10.0 million were applied to reduce the outstanding principal of Facility B. In addition, we made a cash payment out of our existing cash balance to UniCredit of EUR 1.8 million which was applied to further reduce the outstanding principal of the Facility B. The outstanding balance on the Facility B after these payments was EUR 35.0 million.

        On April 3, 2009, we entered into an agreement with UniCredit to extend and restructure Facility B with UniCredit. Facility B remained unsecured and bears interest at a rate of six-month EURIBOR plus 2.5 percent. Under the terms agreed to at the time, we agreed to repay the principal amount in three installments of EUR 2.0 million each on January 1, 2010, July 1, 2010 and January 1, 2011, and a fourth and final principal payment in the amount of EUR 29.0 million on July 1, 2011. As a result of this restructuring, we classified EUR 33.0 million ($43.9 million) as long-term debt as of March 31, 2009.

        Effective June 30, 2009, Facility A and Facility B were amended to, among other things, change the scheduled amortization. As a result, approximately $8 million of principal payment originally scheduled for October 2009 has been extended and spread over periods subsequent to fiscal year 2010. This amount has been classified as long-term debt in our March 31, 2009 consolidated balance sheet.

Fiscal Year 2008

    Operations:

        Cash used in operations was $20.6 million in fiscal year 2008. Cash used in operating activities included a decrease in accrued expenses of $42.3 million, an accounts payable decrease of $15.5 million, the fiscal year 2008 net loss of $17.6 million and an increase in inventories of $8.2 million. These uses were adjusted positively for non-cash expenses of depreciation, amortization and impairment charges for $57.7 million.

    Investing:

        Cash used in investing activities was $59.4 million in fiscal year 2008. We used cash of $69.9 million to acquire Evox Rifa and Arcotronics in fiscal year 2008. We also used cash for capital expenditures of $43.6 million in fiscal year 2008. These uses were partially offset by proceeds of $46.1 million from the maturity of short-term investments.

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    Financing:

        Cash used in financing activities was $46.3 million in fiscal year 2008. Cash used in financing activities included a $20 million principal payment on the Senior Notes and an $18.2 million open-market repurchase of our common stock.

Other areas:

        The Board of Directors has previously authorized a share buyback program to purchase up to 11.3 million shares of our common stock on the open market. On February 1, 2008, we announced that it was reactivating our share buyback program. Under the reactivation terms of the approval by our Board, we were authorized to repurchase up to 5.9 million shares of our common stock. Through March 31, 2008, we repurchased 3.7 million shares for $18.2 million. At March 31, 2009, we held 7.7 million shares of treasury stock at a cost of $59.4 million.

        In December 2007, in connection with the refinancing of certain third party indebtedness obtained as part of the acquisition of Arcotronics, we entered into a credit facility with UniCredit. This facility had a final maturity date of December 31, 2008, with the full principal balance payable at maturity. However, this facility was paid off in October 2008 with proceeds from Facility A.

        In October 2007, in connection with the completion of the acquisition, we entered into Facility B with UniCredit for EUR 47.0 million ($66.8 million) at a floating rate equal to the three month EURIBOR plus 1.2%. Facility B had a final maturity date of April 9, 2009, with the full principal balance payable at maturity.

Commitments

        At March 31, 2009, we had contractual obligations in the form of non-cancelable operating leases and debt, including interest payments (see Note 2, "Debt, Liquidity and Capital Resources" to our consolidated financial statements), European social security, pension benefits, and other post-retirement benefits as follows (amounts in thousands):

 
   
  Payments due by period  
Contractual obligations
  Total   Less than
1 year
  1-3 years   3-5 years   More than
5 years
 

Debt obligations(1)(2)

  $ 239,152   $ 18,011   $ 72,874   $ 67,186   $ 81,081  

Interest obligations(2)

    94,907     9,917     16,386     18,729     49,875  

European social security

    19,342     5,931     11,862     1,549      

Pension benefits(3)

    15,771     2,321     2,292     2,674     8,484  

Operating lease obligations

    13,882     4,590     5,395     2,803     1,094  

Other post-retirement benefits(3)

    1,418     161     320     306     631  
                       

  $ 384,472   $ 40,931   $ 109,129   $ 93,247   $ 141,165  
                       

(1)
Holders of the Notes have the right to require us to repurchase for cash all or a portion of their Notes on November 15, 2011, 2016 and 2021 at a repurchase price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Notes to be repurchased plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, in each case, up to but not including, the date of repurchase.

(2)
Reflects the amended terms upon the consummation of the tender offer.

(3)
Reflects the expected benefit payments through 2019.

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Recent Accounting Pronouncements

        In April 2009, the FASB approved FSP No. 107-1 and APB 28-1, " Interim Disclosures about Fair Value of Financial Instruments " ("FSP No. 107-1 and APB 28-1"), which increases the frequency of fair value disclosures to a quarterly instead of an annual basis. FSP No. 107-1 and APB 28-1 is effective for interim and annual periods ending after June 15, 2009 or the first quarter of fiscal year 2010 for us. We do not expect the adoption of this accounting guideline to impact our results of operations or financial position.

        In April 2009, the FASB approved FSP No. 157-4, " Determining Fair Value When the Volume and Level of Activity for the Asset or Liability Have Significantly Decreased and Identifying Transactions That Are Not Orderly " ("FSP No. 157-4"), which provides guidelines for a broad interpretation of when to apply market-based fair value measurements. The FSP reaffirms management's need to use judgment to determine when a market that was once active has become inactive and in determining fair values in markets that are no longer active. FSP No. 157-4 is effective for interim and annual periods ending after June 15, 2009 or the first quarter of fiscal year 2010 for us. We are currently unable to quantify the effect, if any, that the adoption of FSP No. 157-4 will have on our results of operations or financial position.

        On December 30, 2008, the FASB issued FSP No. FAS 132(R)-1, " Employers' Disclosures about Post-retirement Benefit Plan Assets ". This FSP requires additional disclosures about plan assets for sponsors of defined benefit pension and post-retirement plans including expanded information regarding investment strategies, major categories of plan assets, and concentrations of risk within plan assets. Additionally, this FSP requires disclosures similar to those required under SFAS No. 157 with respect to the fair value of plan assets such as the inputs and valuation techniques used to measure fair value and information with respect to classification of plan assets in terms of the hierarchy of the source of information used to determine their value. The disclosures under this FSP are required for annual periods ending after December 15, 2009, or fiscal year 2010. We are currently evaluating the requirements of these additional disclosures.

        On May 9, 2008, the FASB issued FASB Staff Position No. APB 14-1, " Accounting for Convertible Debt Instruments That May Be Settled in Cash upon Conversion (Including Partial Cash Settlement )." FSP No. APB 14-1 requires issuers of convertible debt that may be settled wholly or partly in cash when converted to account for the debt and equity components separately. FSP No. APB 14-1 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2008, or fiscal year 2010, and must be applied retrospectively to all periods presented. This standard is expected to have an impact on our consolidated financial statements; however, we have not yet determined the amount of the impact.

        In April 2008, the FASB issued FSP FAS 142-3, " Determination of the Useful Life of Intangible Assets ", ("FSP FAS 142-3"). FSP FAS 142-3 amends the list of factors an entity should consider in developing renewal or extension assumptions when determining the useful life of recognized intangible assets under FASB No. 142, " Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets ", ("FAS 142"). FSP FAS 142-3 applies to (i) intangible assets that are acquired individually or with a group of other assets and (ii) intangible assets acquired in both business combinations and asset acquisitions. FSP FAS 142-3 removes the requirement in FAS 142 for an entity to consider whether an intangible asset can be renewed without substantial cost or material modifications to the existing terms and conditions. FSP FAS 142-3 replaces the previous useful-live assessment criteria with a requirement that an entity consider its own experience in renewing similar arrangements. FSP FAS 142-3 is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2008 and must be applied prospectively only to intangible assets acquired after the FSP's effective date. We will adhere to FSP FAS 142-3 for intangible assets acquired beginning with the first quarter of fiscal year 2010.

        In March 2008, the FASB issued SFAS No. 161, " Disclosures about Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities—an amendment of FASB Statement No. 133 ." SFAS No. 161 requires enhanced

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disclosures about how and why an entity uses derivative instruments, how derivative instruments and related hedged items are accounted for and their effect on an entity's financial position, financial performance, and cash flows. SFAS No. 161 was effective for us in the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2009. The adoption of SFAS No. 161 did not have a material impact on our consolidated financial statement disclosures.

        In December 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 141(R), " Business Combinations ." SFAS No. 141(R) establishes principles and requirements for how the acquirer in a business combination recognizes and measures in its financial statements the identifiable assets acquired, the liabilities assumed and any noncontrolling interest in the acquiree at the acquisition date fair value. It further requires that acquisition related costs be recognized separately from the acquisition and expensed as incurred; that restructuring costs generally be expensed in periods subsequent to the acquisition date; and that changes in accounting for deferred tax asset valuation allowances and acquired income tax uncertainties after the measurement period be recognized as a component of provision for taxes. SFAS No. 141(R) determines what information to disclose to enable users of the financial statements to evaluate the nature and financial effects of the business combination. SFAS No. 141(R) applies prospectively to business combinations for which the acquisition date is on or after the beginning of the first annual reporting period beginning on or after December 15, 2008 or fiscal year 2010. Early adoption is prohibited.

        In February 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 159, " The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities ." SFAS No. 159 permits companies to choose to measure certain financial instruments and certain other items at fair value. The standard requires that unrealized gains and losses on items for which the fair value option were elected to be reported in earnings. SFAS No. 159 was effective for us beginning in the first quarter of fiscal year 2009. We did not elect the fair value option under SFAS No. 159 for any financial assets and liabilities as of April 1, 2008.

        In September 2006, the FASB issued SFAS No. 157, " Fair Value Measurements ," which defines fair value, provides guidance for measuring fair value and requires additional disclosures. This statement does not require any new fair value measurements, but rather applies to all other accounting pronouncements that require or permit fair value measurements. The FASB believes that the new standard will make the measurement of fair value more consistent and comparable and improve disclosures about those measures. The effective date of the provisions of SFAS No. 157 for non-financial assets and liabilities, except for items recognized at fair value on a recurring basis, was deferred by FASB Staff Position ("FSP") No. 157-2. SFAS No. 157 for non-financial assets and liabilities is now effective for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2008. We are currently evaluating the impact of the provisions for non-financial assets and liabilities. The adoption of SFAS No. 157 for financial assets and liabilities did not have a material impact on our financial position or results of operations.

Effect of Inflation

        Inflation generally affects us by increasing the cost of labor, equipment, and raw materials. We do not believe that inflation has had any material effect on our business over the past three fiscal years except for the following discussion in Commodity Price Risk.

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ITEM 7A.    QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURE ABOUT MARKET RISK.

Interest Rate Risk

        We are exposed to interest rate risk through our borrowing activities, which are described in Note 2, "Debt, Liquidity and Capital Resources" to the consolidated financial statements. The UniCredit debt has a variable interest rate and a 1% change in the interest rate would yield a $1.3 million change in interest expense.

Foreign Currency Exchange Rate Risk

        Given our international operations and sales, we are exposed to movements in foreign exchange rates. Of these, the most significant are currently the Euro and the Mexican peso. A portion of our sales to our customers and operating costs in Europe are denominated in Euro creating an exposure to foreign currency exchange rates. Also, a portion of our costs in our Mexican operations are denominated in Mexican pesos, creating an exposure to foreign currency exchange rates. Additionally, certain of our non-U.S. subsidiaries make sales denominated in U.S. dollars which expose them to foreign currency transaction gains and losses. Historically, in order to minimize our exposure, we periodically entered into forward foreign exchange contracts in which the future cash flows were hedged against the U.S. dollar. Due to our liquidity situation, we no longer have the capability to enter into forward exchange contracts and therefore are exposed to foreign currency (gains) and losses. We do not use derivative financial instruments if there is no underlying business transaction supporting or related to the derivative financial instrument.

Commodity Price Risk

        We purchase various precious metals used in the manufacture of capacitors and is therefore exposed to certain commodity price risks. These precious metals consist primarily of palladium and tantalum.

        Palladium is a precious metal used in the manufacture of multilayer ceramic capacitors and is mined primarily in Russia and South Africa. We are aggressively pursuing ways to reduce palladium usage in ceramic capacitors in order to minimize the price risk.

        Tantalum powder is a metal used in the manufacture of tantalum capacitors. Management believes tantalum has generally been available in sufficient quantities. However, the limited number of tantalum material suppliers has in the past led to higher prices during periods of increased demand. Although limited, additional suppliers have emerged in the market. This fact, along with our effort to broaden the number of qualified suppliers, should minimize our commodity price risk exposure.

ITEM 8.    FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA.

        The response to this item is submitted as a separate section of this Form 10-K. See Item 15.

ITEM 9.    CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE

        None.

ITEM 9A.    CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES.

(a)   Disclosure Controls and Procedures

        As of March 31, 2009, an evaluation of the effectiveness of the Company's disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act")) was performed under the supervision and with the

60



participation of the Company's management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer. Based on that evaluation, the Company's Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have concluded that the Company's disclosure controls and procedures are effective to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company in its reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the Securities and Exchange Commission rules and forms, and that information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports the Company files or submits under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to the Company's management, including its Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

(b)   Remediation of Prior Year Material Weakness

        As previously reported in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2008, management determined that, as of March 31, 2008, the Company's disclosure controls and procedures were not effective due to the existence of a material weakness. The material weakness was the result of ineffective policies and procedures related to both the accounting for acquisitions in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles ("U.S. GAAP") and in the preparation of financial reporting information from foreign subsidiaries in accordance with U.S. GAAP. Specifically, the Company did not have adequate policies to ensure an appropriate level of involvement of personnel with sufficient expertise in both U.S. GAAP and operations and accounting at foreign subsidiaries to provide for the preparation of consolidated financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP. As a result, neither KEMET's initial accounting for the acquisition of Arcotronics nor the reporting of the results of Arcotronics operations in KEMET's preliminary consolidated financial statements were in accordance with U.S. GAAP. The Company initiated a number of changes in its internal controls to remediate this material weakness. As of March 31, 2009, the following measures to remediate the control deficiency have been implemented:

    The Company hired the former chief financial officer of Arcotronics to manage the accounting group at Arcotronics.

    In June 2008, the Company contracted with a third-party service provider for the position of a full-time equivalent U.S. GAAP accounting professional who joined the Arcotronics accounting group. This professional has experience performing Italian GAAP to U.S. GAAP reconciliations.

    The Company engaged an international accounting firm to review U.S. GAAP adjustments on a quarterly basis.

        Based on the implementation of the additional internal controls discussed above and the subsequent testing of those internal controls for a sufficient period of time, management has concluded that the material weakness has been remediated and that the Company's disclosures and procedures and internal control over financial reporting are now effective.

        Disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) are the Company's controls and other procedures that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports that are filed or submitted under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized, and reported within the time periods specified in the Securities and Exchange Commission's rules and forms. Disclosure controls and procedures include, without limitation, controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company in reports that are filed or submitted under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

        The Company has evaluated the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures as of March 31, 2009. Based on that evaluation the Chief Executive Officer

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and the Chief Financial Officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures are effective in recording, processing, summarizing, and timely reporting information required to be disclosed in our reports to the Securities and Exchange Commission.

(c)   Internal Control over Financial Reporting

        The Company's management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) promulgated under the Exchange Act). Internal control over financial reporting is a process, designed by, or under the supervision of, an entity's principal executive and principal financial officers, and effected by an entity's board of directors, management and other personnel, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of consolidated financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. Internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and the dispositions of the assets of the entity; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the entity are being made only in accordance with authorizations of the management and directors of the entity; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the entity's assets that could have a material effect on its consolidated financial statements.

        Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

        Under the supervision and with the participation of the Company's management, including the Company's Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, the Company's management conducted an assessment of the effectiveness of its internal control over financial reporting based on the criteria set forth in the Internal Control—Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO).

        Based on that assessment, as of March 31, 2009, the Company's management concluded that its internal control over financial reporting was effective.

        Independent registered public accounting firms have audited the Company's consolidated financial statements included in this annual report and have issued attestation reports on the Company's internal control over financial reporting.

(d)   Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting

        There was no change in the Company's internal control over financial reporting during the fiscal quarter ended March 31, 2009, that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company's internal control over financial reporting.

ITEM 9B.    OTHER INFORMATION.

        None.

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PART III

ITEM 10.    DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS, AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE.

 
Name
  Age   Position   Years with Company(1)  
  Per-Olof Lööf     58   Chief Executive Officer and Director     4  
  William M. Lowe, Jr.      56   Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer     *  
  Robert R. Argüelles     42   Senior Vice President, Operational Excellence and Quality     *  
  Conrado Hinojosa     44   Senior Vice President, Tantalum Business Group     10  
  Marc Kotelon     45   Senior Vice President Sales—Global Sales     15  
  Charles C. Meeks, Jr.      48   Senior Vice President, Ceramic Business Group     25  
  Kirk D. Shockley     50   Vice President, Film and Electrolytic Business Group     26  
  Susan B. Barkal     46   Vice President, Corporate Quality and Chief Compliance Officer     9  
  Daniel E. LaMorte     63   Vice President and Chief Information Officer     5  
  Dr. Phillip M. Lessner     50   Vice President and Chief Technology Officer     13  
  Larry C. McAdams     57   Vice President, Human Resources     25  
  Dr. Daniel F. Persico     53   Vice President, Strategic Marketing and Business Development     8  
  Frank G. Brandenberg     63   Chairman of the Board of Directors     5  
  Dr. Wilfried Backes     66   Director     1  
  Gurminder S. Bedi     61   Director     3  
  Joseph V. Borruso     69   Director     1  
  E. Erwin Maddrey, II     68   Director     17  
  Robert G. Paul     67   Director     3  
  Joseph D. Swann     67   Director     5  
  R. James Assaf     49   Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary     1  
  Michael W. Boone     58   Vice President and Treasurer     22  
  David S. Knox     45   Vice President and Corporate Controller     1  

(1)
Includes service with Union Carbide Corporation.

*
Less than one year.

Directors and Executive Officers

        Per-Olof Lööf, Chief Executive Officer and Director, was named such in April 2005. Mr. Lööf was previously the Managing Partner of QuanStar Unit LLC, a management consulting firm. Prior to this, he served as Chief Executive Officer of Sensormatic Electronics Corporation and in various management roles with Andersen Consulting, Digital Equipment Corporation, AT&T and NCR. Mr. Lööf serves as a board member of Global Options Inc., and Devcon International Corporation. He received a "civilekonom examen" degree in economics and business administration from the Stockholm School of Economics.

        William M. Lowe, Jr., Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, was named such in July 2008. Mr. Lowe was previously the Vice President, Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer of Unifi, Inc., a producer and processor of textured synthetic yarns from January 2004 to October 2007. Prior to holding that position, he was Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer for Metaldyne, an automotive components manufacturer. He also held various financial management positions with ArvinMeritor, Inc., a premier global supplier of integrated automotive components. He received his B.S. degree in business administration with a major in accounting from Tri-State University and is a Certified Public Accountant.

        Robert R. Argüelles, Senior Vice President, Operational Excellence and Quality, joined KEMET as such in September 2008. Mr. Argüelles previously served as Vice President and Plant Manager with Continental Automotive Systems, which followed his role as a top research and development executive in Continental's North American Chassis & Safety division. Prior to Continental Automotive, Mr. Argüelles worked at Valeo Electronics/ITT Automotive where he was the Product Line Director for Valeo's North American Sensors and Electronics product lines. Mr. Argüelles began his career

63



serving in technical roles at Electronic Data Systems in the Delco Chassis Division. He received a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering, Dynamics and Controls, from Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia.

        Conrado Hinojosa, Senior Vice President, Tantalum Business Group, was named such in October 2007. He joined KEMET in 1999 in the position of Plant Manager of the Monterrey 3 plant in Mexico. Mr. Hinojosa later served as the Operations Director for the Tantalum Division in Matamoros, Mexico and was later named Vice President, Tantalum Business Group in June 2005. Prior to joining KEMET, Mr. Hinojosa held numerous manufacturing positions with IBM de Mexico and had previous experience with Kodak. Mr. Hinojosa received a Masters of Business Administration degree from Instituto Technologico de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey and a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from Universidad Autonoma de Guadalajara.

        Marc Kotelon, Senior Vice President—Global Sales, was named such in August 2008. He joined KEMET in 1994 and has held various positions of increased responsibility in the sales area prior to the appointment to his current position. Mr. Kotelon received a Bachelor of Science degree in Electronics from Ecole Centrale d'Electronique/Paris.

        Charles C. Meeks, Jr., Senior Vice President, Ceramic Business Group, was named such in October 2007. He joined UCC/KEMET in 1983 in the position of Process Engineer, and has held various positions of increased responsibility including the positions of Plant Manager and Director of Operations, Ceramic Business Group. He was named Vice President, Ceramic Business Group in June 2005. Mr. Meeks received a Masters of Business Administration degree and a Bachelor of Science degree in Ceramic Engineering from Clemson University.

        Kirk D. Shockley, Vice President, Film and Electrolytic Business Group, was named such in April 2007. He joined UCC/KEMET in 1981 as a Production Supervisor in the Carbon Products Division. He transferred to the Electronics Division in 1984, and has held several positions of increased responsibility in the manufacturing area including the positions of AO Cap (aluminum capacitor) Project Manager and Director of Operations and General Manager for the Company's operations in the People's Republic of China prior to the appointment to his current position. Mr. Shockley received a Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Management from Purdue University.

        Susan B. Barkal, Vice President of Quality and Chief Compliance Officer, was named such in December 2008. Ms. Barkal joined KEMET in November 1999, and has served as Quality Manager for Tantalum Business Group, Technical Product Manager for all Tantalum product lines and Director of Tantalum Product Management. Ms. Barkal holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical Engineering from Clarkson University and a Master of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from California Polytechnic University.

        Daniel E. LaMorte, Vice President and Chief Information Officer, joined KEMET as such in May 2004. Prior to joining KEMET, Mr. LaMorte held numerous Information Technology positions with Keycorp, Elf Acquitaine, Fisher Scientific and U.S. Steel Corp. Mr. LaMorte had previously served as Vice President of Worldwide Marketing and Sales for Chemcut, a manufacturer of capital equipment and chemicals in the electronics industry. Prior to Keycorp, Mr. LaMorte served as Chief Information Officer at Submit Order, an E-commerce start-up in Columbus, Ohio. Mr. LaMorte holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Pittsburgh and a Master of Business Administration from Fairleigh Dickinson University.

        Dr. Philip M. Lessner, Vice President, Chief Technology Officer and Chief Scientist, joined KEMET in 1996 as a Technical Associate in the Tantalum Technology Group. He has held several positions of increased responsibility in the Technology and Product Management areas including Senior Technical Associate, Director Tantalum Technology, Director Technical Marketing Services, and Vice President Tantalum Technology prior to his appointment to his current position. Mr. Lessner received a

64



PhD in Chemical Engineering from the University of California, Berkeley and a Bachelor of Engineering in Chemical Engineering from Cooper Union.

        Larry C. McAdams, Vice President, Human Resources, joined UCC/KEMET in 1983. He previously served as the site Human Resources Manager at the Columbus, GA; Shelby, NC; and Fountain Inn, SC, plants. Since 1991, he has been assigned to the corporate HR staff, where he was appointed a Director in 1999, Senior Director in 2002, and Vice President in 2003. Mr. McAdams received a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Clemson University and attended the University of South Carolina School of Law.

        Dr. Daniel F. Persico, Vice President, Strategic Marketing and Business Development, joined KEMET in November 1997, and served as Director of Tantalum Technology, Vice President of Tantalum Technology, and Vice President of Organic Process Technology. Prior to his return to KEMET in December 2006, he held the position of the Executive Vice President and Chief Technology Officer of H.W. Sands Corporation, a manufacturer and distributor of specialty chemicals. Dr. Persico holds a Ph.D. in Chemistry from the University of Texas and a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry from Boston College.

        Frank G. Brandenberg, Chairman and Director, was named such in October 2003. Before his retirement in 2003, Mr. Brandenberg was a Corporate Vice President and Sector President of Northrop Grumman Corporation. Prior to joining Northrop, he previously spent 28 years at Unisys where his last position was Corporate Vice President and President, Client/Server Systems, and then later served as the President and Chief Executive Officer of EA Industries, Inc. He received a Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Engineering and a Master of Science degree in Operations Research from Wayne State University and completed the Program for Management Development at the Harvard Business School.

        Dr. Wilfried Backes, Director, was named such in March 2008. Dr. Backes served as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer with EPCOS AG, a major public electronics company headquartered in Germany, from 2002 through his retirement in 2006. Dr. Backes previously served as Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer of Osram Sylvania, Inc. from 1992 to 2002. Prior to that time, Dr. Backes held various senior management positions with Siemens AG including the position of President and Chief Executive Officer of Siemens Components, Inc. from 1989 to 1992. He received Diplom-Volkswirt and Dr.rer.pol. degrees from Rheinische-Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität in Bonn, Germany.

        Gurminder S. Bedi, Director, was named such in May 2006. Mr. Bedi served as Vice President of Ford Motor Company from October 1998 through his retirement in December 2001. Mr. Bedi served in a variety of other managerial positions at Ford Motor Company for more than thirty years. He currently serves on the board of directors of Compuware Corporation and Actuant Corporation. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from George Washington University and a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Detroit.

        Joseph V. Borruso, Director, was named such in March 2008. Mr. Borruso is currently the President of AOEM Consultants, LLC. He served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Hella North America, a manufacturer of automotive lighting and electronics from 1999 through his retirement in 2005. Prior thereto, Mr. Borruso served in various senior management positions, most recently as Executive Vice President of Sales for the Bosch Automotive Group N.A. from 1983 to 1999.

        E. Erwin Maddrey, II, Director, was named such in May 1992. Mr. Maddrey is President of Maddrey and Associates. Mr. Maddrey was President, Chief Executive Officer, and a Director of Delta Woodside Industries, Inc., a textile manufacturer, from 1984 through June 2000. Prior thereto, Mr. Maddrey served as President, Chief Operating Officer, and Director of Riegel Textile Corporation.

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Mr. Maddrey also serves on the board of directors for Blue Cross/Blue Shield of South Carolina and Delta Apparel Company.

        Robert G. Paul, Director, was named such in July 2006. Mr. Paul is the retired President of the Base Station Subsystems Unit of Andrew Corporation, a global designer, manufacturer, and supplier of communications equipment, services, and systems. From 1991 through July 2003, he was President and Chief Executive Officer of Allen Telecom Inc. which was acquired by Andrew Corporation during 2003. Mr. Paul joined Allen Telecom in 1970 where he built a career holding various positions of increasing responsibility including Chief Financial Officer. Mr. Paul also serves on the board of directors and audit committees for Rogers Corporation and Comtech Telecommunications Corp. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a Master of Business Administration degree from Stanford University.

        Joseph D. Swann, Director, was named such in October 2003. Mr. Swann is the retired President of Rockwell Automation Power Systems and a former Senior Vice President of Rockwell Automation. Mr. Swann also serves as non-executive Chairman of Integrated Power Services, LLC, a private company. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Ceramic Engineering from Clemson University and a Master of Business Administration degree from Case Western Reserve University.

Other Key Employees

        R. James Assaf, Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary, was named such in July 2008. Mr. Assaf joined KEMET as Vice President, General Counsel in March 2008. Prior to joining KEMET, Mr. Assaf served as General Manager for InkSure Inc., a start-up seller of product authentication solutions. He had also previously held several positions with Sensormatic Electronics Corporation, including Associate General Counsel and Director of Business Development, Mergers & Acquisitions. Prior to Sensormatic, Mr. Assaf served as an Associate Attorney with the international law firm Squire Sanders & Dempsey. Mr. Assaf received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Kenyon College and his Juris Doctor degree from Case Western Reserve University School of Law.

        Michael W. Boone, Vice President and Treasurer, was named such in July 2008. Mr. Boone joined KEMET in June 1987 as Manager of Credit and Cash Management and has previously held the positions of Senior Director of Finance and Corporate Secretary before his appointment to his current position. Mr. Boone holds a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Banking and Finance from the University of Georgia.

        David S. Knox, Vice President and Corporate Controller, joined KEMET as such in February 2008. From November 1999 through February 2008 Mr. Knox held various financial positions at Unifi, Inc. and was the Corporate Controller from August 2002 through February 2008. Mr. Knox received a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and is a Certified Public Accountant.

Audit Committee

        KEMET has an Audit Committee made up of the following independent, non-management directors: E. Erwin Maddrey, II (Chairman of Audit Committee), Wilfried Backes, and Robert G. Paul. Mr. Maddrey is KEMET's "Audit Committee Financial Expert"; however, both Dr. Backes and Mr. Paul have prior financial statement experience. Messrs. Maddrey and Paul have served on audit committees with other companies. The Charter for KEMET's Audit Committee (the "Charter") can be found in the Company's definitive proxy statement for its annual stockholders' meeting to be held on July 30, 2009, which is incorporated herein by reference. The Charter can also be downloaded, free of charge, from KEMET's website at http://www.kemet.com.

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Other Information

        Other information required by Item 10 is incorporated by reference from the Company's definitive proxy statement for its annual stockholders meeting to be held on July 30, 2009.

ITEM 11.    EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION.

        The information required by Item 11 is incorporated by reference from the Company's definitive proxy statement for its annual stockholders' meeting to be held on July 30, 2009. The information specified in Item 402(k) and (1) of Regulation S-K and set forth in the Company's definitive proxy statement for its annual stockholders' meeting to be held on July 30, 2009, is incorporated herein by reference.

ITEM 12.    SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS.

        The information required by Item 12 is incorporated by reference from the Company's definitive proxy statement for its annual stockholders' meeting to be held on July 30, 2009, and from "Equity Compensation Plan Disclosure" in Item 5 hereof.

ITEM 13.    CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE.

        The information required by Item 13 is incorporated by reference from the Company's definitive proxy statement for its annual stockholders' meeting to be held on July 30, 2009.

ITEM 14.    PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES.

        Information regarding the fees and services of KEMET's principal accountants is incorporated by reference to the material under the heading "Appointment of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm" in the Company's definitive proxy statement for its annual stockholders' meeting to be held on July 30, 2009.

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PART IV

ITEM 15.    EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES.

(a)
(1)    Financial Statements

        The following financial statements are filed as a part of this report:

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

  74

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

  76

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

  78

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

  79

Consolidated Financial Statements:

   
 

Consolidated Balance Sheets as of March 31, 2009 and 2008

  81
 

Consolidated Statements of Operations for the years ended March 31, 2009, 2008, and 2007

  82
 

Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders' Equity and Comprehensive Income (Loss) for the years ended March 31, 2009, 2008, and 2007

  83
 

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended March 31, 2009, 2008, and 2007

  84
 

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

  85
(a)
(2)    Financial Statement Schedules

        Financial statement schedules are omitted because they are not applicable or because the required information is included in the consolidated financial statements or notes thereto.

(a)
(3)    List of Exhibits

        The following exhibits are filed herewith or are incorporated by reference to exhibits previously filed with the Commission.

  2.1   Asset and Share Purchase Agreement dated December 12, 2005, between EPCOS AG, KEMET Electronics GmbH, KEMET Electronics S.A., and KEMET Corporation (the "Company" or KEMET Corporation) (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.2 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K/A dated April 20, 2006).
  2.2   Amendment Agreement dated April 13, 2006, to the Asset and Share Purchase Agreement dated December 12, 2005 between EPCOS AG, KEMET Electronics GmbH, KEMET Electronics S.A., and the Company (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.7 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K/A dated April 20, 2006).
  2.3   Asset Purchase Agreement dated December 12, 2005, as amended on April 13, 2006, between EPCOS AG, KEMET Electronics (Suzhou) Co., Ltd., and the Company (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.3 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K/A dated April 20, 2006).
  2.4   Restated Heidenheim Manufacturing and Supply Agreement dated April 13, 2006, between EPCOS AG, EPCOS Portugal, the Company, and KEMET Electronics Corporation (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.4 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K/A dated April 20, 2006).
  2.5   Substitution Agreement (Asset and Share Purchase Agreement) dated April 13, 2006, between EPCOS AG, KEMET Electronics GmbH, KEMET Electronics S.A., the Company, and KEMET Electronics Corporation (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.5 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K/A dated April 20, 2006).

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  2.6   Substitution Agreement (Asset Purchase Agreement) dated April 13, 2006, between EPCOS AG, KEMET Electronics (Suzhou) Co., Ltd., KEMET Electronics Corporation, and
and the Company (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.6 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K/A dated April 20, 2006).
  2.7   Sale and Purchase Agreement dated August 10, 2007 between Blue Skye (Lux) S.a r.l. and KEMET Electronics Corporation (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.2 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K dated August 16, 2007).
  3.1   Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company, as amended to date (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended December 31, 1992).
  3.2   Amended and Restated By-laws of KEMET Corporation (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K dated June 3, 2008).
  4.1   Certificate representing shares of Common Stock of the Company (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Company's Registration Statement on Form S-1 [Reg. No. 33-48056]).
  4.2   Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of November 1, 2006, by and among the Company, Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC, and Deutsche Bank Securities Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to the Company's Registration Statement on Form S-3 [Reg. No. 333-140943] filed on February 28, 2007).
  4.3   Indenture, dated as of November 1, 2006, by and among the Company and Wilmington Trust Company, as Trustee (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.3 to the Company's Registration Statement on Form S-3 [Reg. No. 333-140943] filed on February 28, 2007).
  4.4   Form of 2.25% Convertible Senior Note due 2026 (included in Exhibit 4.3).
10.1   Registration Agreement, dated as of December 21, 1990, by and among the Company and each of the investors and executives listed on the schedule of investors and executives attached thereto (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to the Company's Registration Statement on Form S-1 [Reg. No. 33-48056]).
10.2   Form of Amendment No. 1 to Registration Agreement, dated as of April 28, 1994 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3.1 to the Company's Registration Statement on Form S-1 [Reg. No. 33-61898] ).
10.3   Services Agreement, dated as of December 21, 1990, as amended as of March 30, 1992, by and between the Company and KEMET Electronics Corporation (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 to the Company's Registration Statement on Form S-1 [Reg. No. 33-48056]).
10.4   Form of Grant of Nonqualified Stock Option, dated April 6, 1992, by and between the Company and each of the executives listed on the schedule attached thereto (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.12.1 to the Company's Registration Statement on Form S-1 [Reg. No. 33-48056]).
10.5   Form of KEMET Electronics Corporation Distributor Agreement (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.16 to the Company's Registration Statement on Form S-1 [Reg. No. 33-48056]).
10.6   Form of KEMET Electronics Corporation Standard Order Acknowledgment, Quotation, and Volume Purchase Agreement (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.17 to the Company's Registration Statement on Form S-1 [Reg. No. 33-48056]).
10.7   Form of KEMET Electronics Corporation Product Warranty (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.18 to the Company's Registration Statement on Form S-1 [Reg. No. 33-48056]).

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10.8   Amendment No. 1 to Stock Purchase and Sale Agreement, dated as of December 21, 1990. The Company agrees to furnish supplementally to the Commission a copy of any omitted schedule or exhibit to the Agreement upon Request by the Commission (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.20.1 to the Company's Registration Statement on Form S-1 [Reg. No. 33-48056]).
10.9   Form of Deferred Compensation Plan for Key Managers effective as of January 1, 1995 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.30 to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended March 31, 1995).
10.10   Form of Collateral Assignment and Split Dollar Insurance (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.31 to the Company's Annual Report of Form 10-K for the year ended March 31, 1995).
10.11   1995 Executive Stock Option Plan by and between the Company and each of the executives listed on the schedule attached thereto (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.33 to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended March 31, 1996).
10.12   Executive Bonus Plan by and between the Company and each of the executives listed on the schedule attached thereto (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.34 to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended March 31, 1996).
10.13   Amendment No. 2 to Services Agreement by and between the Company and KEMET Electronics Corporation (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4.1 to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended March 31, 1996).
10.14   Amendment No. 3 to Services Agreement dated as of January 1, 1996, by and between the Company and KEMET Electronics Corporation (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4.2 to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended March 31, 1996).
10.15   Amendment No. 4 to Services Agreement dated as of March 1, 1996, by and between the Company and KEMET Electronics Corporation (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4.3 to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended March 31, 1996).
10.16   1992 Key Employee Stock Option Plan
10.17   Amendment No. 1 to KEMET Corporation 1992 Key Employee Stock Option Plan effective October 23, 2000 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended December 31, 2000).
10.18   2004 Long-Term Equity Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.3 to the Company's Registration Statement on Form S-8 [Reg. No. 333-123308]).
10.19   Purchase Agreement, dated as of November 1, 2006, by and among the Company, Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC, and Deutsche Bank Securities Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 1.01 to the Company's Registration Statement on Form S-3 [Reg. No. 333-140943] filed on February 28, 2007).
10.20   Amendment to the Compensation Plan of the Chief Executive Officer and other executive officers effective May 3, 2006 (incorporated by reference to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K dated May 9, 2006).
10.21   Amendment to the Compensation Plan of the Chief Executive Officer and other executive officers effective July 19, 2006 (incorporated by reference to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K dated July 25, 2006).
10.22   Amendment to the Compensation Plan of Chief Executive Officer and other executive officers effective March 28, 2007 (incorporated by reference to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K dated April 3, 2007).

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10.23   Amendment to the Compensation Plan of the Chief Executive Officer and other executive officers effective May 8, 2007 (incorporated by reference to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K dated May 14, 2007).
10.24   Amendment to the Compensation Plan of the Chief Executive Officer and other executive officers effective May 16, 2007 (incorporated by reference to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K dated May 23, 2007).
10.25   Amendment to the Compensation Plan of the Chief Executive Officer and other executive officers dated May 5, 2008 (incorporated by reference to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K dated May 5, 2008).
10.26   Confidential Separation Agreement between David E. Gable and KEMET Corporation, dated as of June 1, 2008 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.1 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K dated June 13, 2008).
10.27   Loan Agreement by Certified Private Agreement dated September 29, 2008 between UniCredit Corporate Banking S.p.A. and KEMET Corporation (English translation) (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.1 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K dated October 21, 2008).
10.28   Mortgage Deed dated September 29, 2008 between UniCredit Corporate Banking S.p.A. and Arcotronics Industries S.r.l. (English translation) (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.2 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K dated October 21, 2008).
10.29   Addendum dated April 3, 2009, to Mortgage Deed dated September 29, 2008 between UniCredit Corporate Banking S.p.A. and Arcotronics Industries S.r.l. (English translation).
10.30   Deed of Pledge of Stocks dated October 21, 2008 among UniCredit Corporate Banking S.p.A., KEMET Electronics Corporation and Arcotronics Italia S.p.A. (English translation) (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.3 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K dated October 21, 2008).
10.31   Deed of Pledge of Shares dated October 21, 2008 among UniCredit Corporate Banking S.p.A., Arcotronics Italia S.p.A. and Arcotronics Industries S.r.l. (English translation) (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.4 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K dated October 21, 2008).
10.32   Deed of Assignment of Credit for Guaranty Purposes dated October 21, 2008 among UniCredit Corporate Banking S.p.A., KEMET Corporation, KEMET Electronics Corporation, Arcotronics Italia S.p.A., Arcotronics Industries S.r.l., Arcotronics Hightech S.r.l. and Arcotronics Technologies S.r.l. (English translation) (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.5 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K dated October 21, 2008).
10.33   Letter of Extension Agreement dated April 3, 2009 to Credit Line Granted by UniCredit Corporate Banking S.p.A. to KEMET Corporation dated October, 2007.
10.34   Loan Agreement, dated as of September 15, 2008 between KEMET Electronics Corporation and Vishay Intertechnology, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.6 to the Company's Quarterly Report Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2008).
10.35   Pledge and Security Agreement, dated as of September 15, 2008 made by KEMET Electronics Corporation in favor of Vishay Intertechnology, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.7 to the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2008).
10.36   Asset Purchase Agreement, dated as of September 15, 2008, by and between KEMET Electronics Corporation and Siliconix Technology C.V. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.8 to the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2008).

71


10.37   Summary of Non-Employee Director Compensation (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended December 31, 2008).
10.38   Form of Indemnification Agreement (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K dated April 22, 2009).
10.39   Credit Agreement, dated as of May 5, 2009, by and among the Company, K Financing, LLC and the other guarantor parties thereto (incorporated by reference to Exhibit (b)(1) filed with the Company's Schedule TO, filed on May 5, 2009).
10.40   Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of June 7, 2009, by and among the Company, K Financing, LLC and the other parties thereto (incorporated by reference to Exhibit (b)(1) filed with the Company's Amendment No. 3 to Schedule TO, filed with the SEC on June 8, 2009).
10.41   Form of Closing Warrant (incorporated by reference to Exhibit (d)(8) filed with the Company's Amendment No. 3 to Schedule TO, filed with the SEC on June 8, 2009).
10.42   Form of Termination Warrant (incorporated by reference to Exhibit (d)(9) filed with the Company's Amendment No. 3 to Schedule TO, filed with the SEC on June 8, 2009).
10.43   Form of Investor Rights Agreement (incorporated by reference to Exhibit (d)(10) filed with the Company's Schedule TO, filed with the SEC on May 5, 2009).
10.44   Form of Corporate Advisory Services Agreement by and between the Company and Platinum Equity Advisors, LLC (incorporated by reference to Exhibit (d)(11) to the Company's Schedule TO, filed May 5, 2009).
10.45   Change in Control Severance Compensation Agreement dated July 28, 2008, between the Company and Per-Olof Lööf.
10.46   Change in Control Severance Compensation Agreement dated July 28, 2008, between the Company and William M. Lowe, Jr.
10.47   Change in Control Severance Compensation Agreement dated September 8, 2008, between the Company and Robert Argüelles.
10.48   Change in Control Severance Compensation Agreement dated July 28, 2008, between the Company and Conrado Hinojosa.
10.49   Change in Control Severance Compensation Agreement dated July 28, 2008, between the Company and Marc Kotelon.
10.50   Change in Control Severance Compensation Agreement dated July 28, 2008, between the Company and Charles C. Meeks, Jr.
10.51   Change in Control Severance Compensation Agreement dated July 28, 2008, between the Company and Kirk D. Shockley.
10.52   Change in Control Severance Compensation Agreement dated July 28, 2008, between the Company and Daniel E. LaMorte.
10.53   Change in Control Severance Compensation Agreement dated July 28, 2008, between the Company and Dr. Philip M. Lessner.
10.54   Change in Control Severance Compensation Agreement dated July 28, 2008, between the Company and Larry C. McAdams.
10.55   Change in Control Severance Compensation Agreement dated July 28, 2008, between the Company and Daniel F. Persico.
10.56   Second Amended and Restated KEMET Corporation Deferred Compensation Plan.

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10.57   Employment Agreement dated July 30, 2007 between the Company and Per-Olof Lööf (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.1 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K dated July 30, 2007).
10.58   Amendment Agreement to the Credit Line Agreement entered into on October 3, 2007 by and between UniCredit Corporate Banking S.p.A. and the Company, dated April 30, 2009 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit (d)(12) filed with the Company's Schedule TO, filed with the SEC on June 15, 2009).
10.59   Amendment to the Credit Line Agreement entered into on October 3, 2007 as amended on April 30, 2009 and May 25, 2009, by and between UniCredit Corporate Banking S.p.A. and the Company, dated May 25, 2009 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit (d)(13) filed with the Company's Schedule TO, filed with the SEC on June 15, 2009).
10.60   Amendment to the Loan Agreement entered into on April 30, 2009, by and between UniCredit Corporate Banking S.p.A. and the Company, dated June 1, 2009 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit (d)(14) filed with the Company's Schedule TO, filed with the SEC on June 15, 2009).
10.61   Commitment Letter to the Company by UniCredit Corporate Banking S.p.A., dated April 30, 2009 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit (d)(15) filed with the Company's Schedule TO, filed with the SEC on June 15, 2009).
10.62   Amendment to the Loan Agreement by Certified Private Agreement entered into September 29, 2008 by and between UniCredit Corporate Banking S.p.A. and the Company, dated April 30, 2009 (English translation) (incorporated by reference to Exhibit (d)(16) filed with the Company's Schedule TO, filed with the SEC on June 15, 2009).
10.63   Amendment to the Loan Agreement by Certified Private Agreement entered into September 29, 2008 as amended on April 30, 2009 by and between UniCredit Corporate Banking S.p.A. and the Company, dated June 1, 2009 (English translation) (incorporated by reference to Exhibit (d)(17) filed with the Company's Schedule TO, filed with the SEC on June 15, 2009).
10.64   Amendment No. 1 to Amended and Restated Credit Agreement entered into on June 7, 2009, by and among the Company, K Financing, LLC and the other parties thereto, dated June 21, 2009 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit (b)(2) filed with the Company's Amendment No. 5 to Schedule TO, filed with the SEC on June 22, 2009).
14.1   KEMET Corporation's Code of Business Integrity and Ethics (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.19 to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended March 31, 2007).
21.1   Subsidiaries of KEMET Corporation
23.1   Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
23.2   Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
31.1   Certification of the Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to Section 302
31.2   Certification of the Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to Section 302
32.1   Certification of the Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to Section 906
32.2   Certification of the Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to Section 906

73



Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

The Board of Directors
KEMET Corporation:

        We have audited KEMET Corporation's internal control over financial reporting as of March 31, 2009, based on criteria established in Internal Control—Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). KEMET Corporation's management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, included in Item 9A, ("Controls and Procedures"), of the Annual report on Form 10-K. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company's internal control over financial reporting based on our audit. We did not audit the internal control over financial reporting of Arcotronics Italia S.p.A and subsidiaries (Arcotronics Group), a wholly-owned subsidiary, whose consolidated financial statements reflect total assets and total net sales constituting 20 percent and 19 percent, respectively, of the related consolidated financial statement amounts as of and for the year ended March 31, 2009. Arcotronics Group's internal control over financial reporting was audited by other auditors whose report has been furnished to us, and our opinion, insofar as it relates to Arcotronics Group's internal control over financial reporting, is based solely on the report of the other auditors.

        We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audit included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, and testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk. Our audit also included performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit and the report of the other auditors provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

        A company's internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company's internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company's assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.

        Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

        In our opinion, based on our audit and the report of the other auditors, KEMET Corporation maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of March 31, 2009, based on criteria established in Internal Control—Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission.

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        We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the consolidated balance sheets of KEMET Corporation and subsidiaries as of March 31, 2009 and 2008, and the related consolidated statements of operations, stockholders' equity and comprehensive income (loss), and cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended March 31, 2009, and our report dated June 30, 2009 expresses an unqualified opinion on those consolidated financial statements and includes; (a) an explanatory paragraph expressing substantial doubt about the Company's ability to continue as a going concern; and (b) explanatory paragraphs relating to the adoption of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards ("SFAS") No. 123(R) Share-Based Payment , SFAS No. 158 Employers' Accounting for Defined Benefit Pension and Other Post- retirement Plans , and Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") Interpretation No. 48 Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes—an interpretation of FASB Statement No. 109 .

/s/ KPMG LLP

KPMG LLP
   

Greenville, South Carolina
June 30, 2009

 

 

75



Independent Auditors' Report

The Board of Directors
KEMET Corporation:

        We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of KEMET Corporation and subsidiaries as of March 31, 2009 and 2008, and the related consolidated statements of operations, stockholders' equity and comprehensive income (loss), and cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended March 31, 2009. These consolidated financial statements are the responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these consolidated financial statements based on our audits. We did not audit the consolidated financial statements of Arcotronics Italia S.p.A and subsidiaries (Arcotronics Group), a wholly-owned subsidiary, which statements reflect total assets constituting approximately 20 percent and 28 percent, and total net sales constituting approximately 19 percent and 10 percent in 2009 and 2008, respectively, of the related consolidated totals. Those statements were audited by other auditors whose report has been furnished to us, and our opinion, insofar as it relates to the amounts included for Arcotronics Group, is based solely on the report of the other auditors.

        We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits and the report of the other auditors provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

        In our opinion, based on our audits and the report of the other auditors, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of KEMET Corporation and subsidiaries as of March 31, 2009 and 2008, and the results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended March 31, 2009 in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.

        As discussed in Notes 1 and 11 to the consolidated financial statements, effective April 1, 2006, the Company adopted the fair value method of accounting for stock-based compensation as required by Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123(R), Share-Based Payment .

        As discussed in Note 9 to the consolidated financial statements, the Company adopted the recognition and disclosure provisions of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 158, Employers' Accounting for Defined Benefit Pension and Other Post-retirement Plans , as of March 31, 2007.

        As discussed in Note 10 to the consolidated financial statements, the Company adopted the provisions of FASB Interpretation No. 48, Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes—an interpretation of FASB Statement No. 109 , as of April 1, 2007.

        The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared assuming that the Company will continue as a going concern. As discussed in Note 2 to the consolidated financial statements, the Company has experienced a decline in net sales, profitability and liquidity during the year ended March 31, 2009. As further disclosed in Note 2, the Company currently forecasts that it will meet the financial covenants required by its debt agreements with lenders at each of the measurement dates during fiscal year 2010. Given the degree of uncertainty with respect to the near-term outlook for the global economy and the possible effects on the Company's operations, there is significant uncertainty as to whether the Company's forecasts will be achieved. Furthermore, the Company currently anticipates that it will continue to experience severe pressure on its liquidity during fiscal year 2010. These matters raise substantial doubt about the Company's ability to continue as a going concern. Management's plans in regard to these matters are also described in Note 2 to the consolidated

76



financial statements. The consolidated financial statements do not include any adjustments that might result from the outcome of this uncertainty.

        We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), KEMET Corporation's internal control over financial reporting as of March 31, 2009, based on criteria established in Internal Control—Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO), and our report dated June 30, 2009 expresses an unqualified opinion on the effectiveness of the Company's internal control over financial reporting. We did not audit the internal control over financial reporting of Arcotronics Group, whose consolidated financial statements reflect total assets and net sales constituting 20 percent and 19 percent, respectively, of the related consolidated financial statement amounts as of and for the year ended March 31, 2009. Arcotronics Group's internal control over financial reporting was audited by other auditors whose report has been furnished to us, and our opinion, insofar as it relates to Arcotronics Group's internal control over financial reporting, is based solely on the report of the other auditors.

/s/ KPMG LLP

KPMG LLP
   

Greenville, South Carolina
June 30, 2009

 

 

77



REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

To the Board of Directors and Stockholder of
ARCOTRONICS ITALIA S.p.A.
Sasso Marconi, Italy

        We have audited the consolidated balance sheets of Arcotronics Italia S.p.A. and subsidiaries (the "Company") (a wholly-owned subsidiary of KEMET Electronics Corporation, the "Parent Company") as of March 31, 2009 and 2008, and the related consolidated statements of operations, stockholders' equity (deficit), and cash flows for the year ended March 31, 2009 and the period from October 12, 2007 (acquisition date) to March 31, 2008 (all expressed in euros and not separately presented herein). These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits.

        We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

        In our opinion, such consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Arcotronics Italia S.p.A. and subsidiaries as of March 31, 2009 and 2008, and the results of their operations and their cash flows for the year ended March 31, 2009 and the period from October 12, 2007 (acquisition date) to March 31, 2008, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

        The consolidated financial statements for the year ended March 31, 2009, have been prepared assuming that the Company will continue as a going concern. As discussed in Note 3 to the consolidated financial statements, the Company's recurring losses from operations, stockholders' deficit, and inability to generate sufficient cash flow to meet its obligations and sustain its operations, including restructuring plans, raise substantial doubt about its ability to continue as a going concern. Management's plans concerning these matters are also discussed in Note 3 to the consolidated financial statements. The consolidated financial statements do not include any adjustments that might result from the outcome of this uncertainty.

        We have also audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the Company's internal control over financial reporting as of March 31, 2009, based on the criteria established in Internal Control—Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission and our report dated June 29, 2009 expressed an unqualified opinion on the Company's internal control over financial reporting.

DELOITTE & TOUCHE S.p.A.    

/s/ DELOITTE & TOUCHE S.P.A.

Bologna, Italy
June 29, 2009

 

 

78



REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

To the Board of Directors and Stockholder of
ARCOTRONICS ITALIA S.p.A.
Sasso Marconi, Italy

        We have audited the internal control over financial reporting of Arcotronics Italia S.p.A. and subsidiaries (the "Company") (a wholly owned subsidiary of KEMET Electronics Corporation, the "Parent Company") as of March 31, 2009, based on criteria established in Internal Control—Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission. The Company's management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, included in the accompanying Management's Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting (not presented separately herein). Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company's internal control over financial reporting based on our audit.

        We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audit included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk, and performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.

        A company's internal control over financial reporting is a process designed by, or under the supervision of, the company's principal executive and principal financial officers, or persons performing similar functions, and effected by the company's board of directors, management, and other personnel to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company's internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company's assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.

        Because of the inherent limitations of internal control over financial reporting, including the possibility of collusion or improper management override of controls, material misstatements due to error or fraud may not be prevented or detected on a timely basis. Also, projections of any evaluation of the effectiveness of the internal control over financial reporting to future periods are subject to the risk that the controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

        In our opinion, the Company maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of March 31, 2009, based on the criteria established in Internal Control—Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission.

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        We have also audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the consolidated financial statements as of and for the year ended March 31, 2009 of the Company and our report dated June 29, 2009 expressed an unqualified opinion on those financial statements and includes an explanatory paragraph expressing substantial doubt about the Company's ability to continue as a going concern.

DELOITTE & TOUCHE S.p.A.    

/s/ DELOITTE & TOUCHE S.P.A.

Bologna, Italy
June 29, 2009

 

 

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KEMET CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

Consolidated Balance Sheets

(Amounts in thousands except per share data)

 
  March 31,  
 
  2009   2008  

ASSETS

             

Current assets:

             
 

Cash and cash equivalents

  $ 39,204   $ 81,383  
 

Accounts receivable, net

    120,139     197,258  
 

Inventories

    154,981     243,714  
 

Other current assets

    11,245     15,692  
 

Deferred income taxes

    151     4,017  
           
   

Total current assets

    325,720     542,064  
           

Property, plant and equipment, net

    357,977     479,396  

Goodwill

        182,273  

Intangible assets, net

    24,094     35,786  

Other assets

    7,010     12,381  
           
   

Total assets

  $ 714,801   $ 1,251,900  
           

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY

             

Current liabilities:

             
 

Current portion of long-term debt

  $ 25,994   $ 108,387  
 

Accounts payable

    52,332     131,468  
 

Accrued expenses

    51,125     59,626  
 

Income taxes payable

    1,127     3,524  
           
   

Total current liabilities

    130,578     303,005  
           

Long-term debt

    307,111     304,294  

Other non-current obligations

    57,316     80,130  

Deferred income taxes

    5,466     21,679  

Commitments and contingencies

             

Stockholders' equity:

             
 

Common stock, par value $0.01, authorized 300,000, shares issued 88,525 and 88,240 shares at March 31, 2009 and 2008, respectively

    885     882  
 

Additional paid-in capital

    322,905     323,359  
 

Retained earnings (deficit)

    (62,699 )   214,180  
 

Accumulated other comprehensive income

    12,663     65,565  
 

Treasury stock, at cost (7,714 and 7,950 shares at March 31, 2009 and 2008, respectively)

    (59,424 )   (61,194 )
           
   

Total stockholders' equity

    214,330     542,792  
           

Total liabilities and stockholders' equity

  $ 714,801   $ 1,251,900  
           

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

81



KEMET CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

Consolidated Statements of Operations

(Amounts in thousands except per share data)

 
  Fiscal Years Ended March 31,  
 
  2009   2008   2007  

Net sales

  $ 804,385   $ 850,120   $ 658,714  

Operating costs and expenses:

                   
 

Cost of sales

    736,286     695,397     517,443  
 

Selling, general and administrative expenses

    93,770     99,048     89,450  
 

Research and development

    28,956     35,699     33,385  
 

Restructuring charges

    30,874     25,341     12,572  
 

Goodwill impairment

    174,327          
 

Write down of long-lived assets

    67,624     4,218      
 

Net gain on sales and disposals of assets

    (25,505 )   (702 )   (1,214 )
 

Curtailment gains on benefit plans

    (30,835 )        
               
   

Total operating costs and expenses

    1,075,497     859,001     651,636  
               
     

Operating income (loss)

    (271,112 )   (8,881 )   7,078  

Other (income) expense:

                   
 

Interest income

    (618 )   (6,061 )   (6,283 )
 

Interest expense

    21,459     14,074     7,174  
 

Other (income) expense, net

    (14,084 )   (4,412 )   (1,273 )
 

Loss on early retirement of debt

    2,212          
               
   

Income (loss) before income taxes

    (280,081 )   (12,482 )   7,460  

Income tax expense (benefit)

    (3,202 )   5,111     563  
               
     

Net income (loss)

  $ (276,879 ) $ (17,593 ) $ 6,897  
               

Net income (loss) per share:

                   
 

Basic and diluted

  $ (3.44 ) $ (0.21 ) $ 0.08  

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

82



KEMET CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders' Equity and Comprehensive Income (Loss)

(Amounts in thousands)

 
  Shares
Outstanding
  Common
Stock
  Additional
Paid-In
Capital
  Retained
Earnings
(Deficit)
  Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
Income (Loss)
  Treasury
Stock
  Total
Stock-
holders'
Equity
 

Balance at March 31, 2006

    86,879   $ 881   $ 315,500   $ 221,221   $ (2,343 ) $ (22,556 ) $ 512,703  

Comprehensive income (loss):

                                           
 

Net income (loss)

                6,897             6,897  
 

Unrealized gain on foreign exchange contracts, net

                    854         854  
 

Unrealized securities loss, net

                    (627 )       (627 )
 

Foreign currency translation gain

                    7,271         7,271  
 

Mark to market U.S. treasuries

                    1,870         1,870  
                                       

Total comprehensive income (loss)

                      6,897     9,368           16,265  

Effect of SFAS No. 158

                    23,393         23,393  

Exercise of stock options

    138         (1,718 )           2,515     797  

Stock-based compensation expense

            6,811                 6,811  

Vesting of restricted stock

    27                     269     269  

Purchases of stock by employee savings plan

    52     1     466                 467  

Treasury stock repurchase

    (3,344 )                   (24,947 )   (24,947 )
                               

Balance at March 31, 2007

    83,752     882     321,059     228,118     30,418     (44,719 )   535,758  

Comprehensive income (loss):

                                           
 

Net income (loss)

                (17,593 )           (17,593 )
 

Unrealized gain (loss) on foreign exchange contracts, net

                    (91 )       (91 )
 

Changes in pension net prior service credit and actuarial gains, net

                    154         154  
 

Changes in retiree plan net prior service credit and actuarial gains, net

                    (1,213 )       (1,213 )
 

Foreign currency translation gain

                    35,205         35,205  
 

Mark to market U.S. treasuries

                    1,092         1,092  
                                       

Total comprehensive income (loss)

                      (17,593 )   35,147           17,554  

Adjustment to adopt FIN No. 48

                3,655             3,655  

Exercise of stock options

    22         (91 )           222     131  

Stock-based compensation expense

            3,340                 3,340  

Vesting of restricted stock

    150         (1,524 )           1,524      

Purchases of stock by employee savings plan

    85         575                 575  

Treasury stock repurchase

    (3,719 )                   (18,221 )   (18,221 )
                               

Balance at March 31, 2008

    80,290     882     323,359     214,180     65,565     (61,194 )   542,792  

Comprehensive income (loss):

                                           
 

Net income (loss)

                (276,879 )           (276,879 )
 

Unrealized gain (loss) on foreign exchange contracts, net

                    (763 )       (763 )
 

Changes in pension net prior service credit and actuarial gains, net

                    (2,677 )       (2,677 )
 

Changes in retiree plan net prior service credit and actuarial gains, net

                    (19,209 )       (19,209 )
 

Foreign currency translation

                    (30,253 )       (30,253 )
                                       

Total comprehensive income (loss)

                      (276,879 )   (52,902 )         (329,781 )

Stock-based compensation expense

            1,070                 1,070  

Vesting of restricted stock

    236         (1,770 )           1,770      

Purchases of stock by employee savings plan

    285     3     246                 249  
                               

Balance at March 31, 2009

    80,811   $ 885   $ 322,905   $ (62,699 ) $ 12,663   $ (59,424 ) $ 214,330  
                               

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

83



KEMET CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

(Amounts in thousands)

 
  Fiscal Years Ended March 31,  
 
  2009   2008   2007  

Sources (uses) of cash and cash equivalents

                   
 

Operating activities:

                   
   

Net income (loss)

  $ (276,879 ) $ (17,593 ) $ 6,897  
   

Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by

                   
     

(used in) operating activities:

                   
     

Depreciation and amortization

    57,290     53,522     40,854  
     

Goodwill impairment

    174,327          
     

Write down of long-lived assets

    67,624     4,218      
     

(Gains) losses on sales and disposals of assets

    (25,505 )   (702 )   (1,214 )
     

Curtailment gains on benefit plans

    (30,835 )        
     

Stock-based compensation expense

    1,070     3,340     6,811  
     

Deferred income taxes

    (8,146 )   2,342     (1,299 )
 

Changes in assets and liabilities:

                   
     

Accounts receivable

    44,777     1,810     (23,291 )
     

Inventories

    71,308     (8,214 )   (11,816 )
     

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

    4,055     3,217     2,568  
     

Accounts payable

    (67,356 )   (15,499 )   11,876  
     

Accrued expenses and income taxes

    (490 )   (42,329 )   (3,261 )
     

Deferred income taxes payable

    (2,906 )   (5,751 )   5,407  
     

Other non-current obligations

    (2,609 )   1,122     (10,695 )
     

Other

        (46 )   (904 )
               
       

Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities

    5,725     (20,563 )   21,933  
               
 

Investing activities:

                   
   

Capital expenditures

    (30,541 )   (43,605 )   (28,670 )
   

Proceeds from sale of equipment and building

    34,870     3,018     1,444  
   

Acquisitions, net of cash received

    (1,000 )   (69,896 )   (105,453 )
   

Change in restricted cash

    3,900     (37 )   (6,513 )
   

Proceeds from sale of fuel cell business

        5,759      
   

Proceeds from maturity of short-term investments

        46,076      
   

Proceeds from sale of investments

            26,432  
   

Proceeds from sale of investment in affiliate

            1,679  
   

Other

        (768 )   239  
               
       

Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities

    7,229     (59,453 )   (110,842 )
               
 

Financing activities:

                   
   

Proceeds from sale of common stock to employee savings plan

    249     575     467  
   

Proceeds from issuance of debt

    23,317     142,014     175,000  
   

Payment on debt

    (75,487 )   (170,150 )   (20,000 )
   

Debt issuance costs

    (1,574 )   (602 )    
   

Purchases of treasury stock

        (18,221 )   (24,947 )
   

Proceeds from exercise of stock options

        131     797  
               
       

Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities

    (53,495 )   (46,253 )   131,317  
               
         

Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents

    (40,541 )   (126,269 )   42,408  
 

Effect of foreign currency fluctuations on cash

    (1,638 )   1,963     (497 )
 

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of fiscal year

    81,383     205,689     163,778  
               
 

Cash and cash equivalents at end of fiscal year

  $ 39,204   $ 81,383   $ 205,689  
               

Supplemental Cash Flow Statement Information:

                   
 

Interest paid, net of capitalized interest

  $ 21,255   $ 9,330   $ 5,994  
 

Income taxes paid

    5,199     6,198     922  

See accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements.

84



KEMET CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

Note 1: Organization and Significant Accounting Policies

Nature of Business and Organization

        KEMET Corporation which together with its subsidiaries is referred to herein as "KEMET" or the "Company" is a leading manufacturer of tantalum capacitors, multilayer ceramic capacitors, film capacitors, electrolytic capacitors, paper capacitors and solid aluminum capacitors. The Company is headquartered in Greenville, South Carolina, and has manufacturing plants and distribution centers located in the United States, Mexico, Europe and Asia. Additionally, the Company has wholly-owned foreign subsidiaries which primarily provide sales support for KEMET's products in foreign markets.

        Using the criteria set forth in Statement of Financial Accounting Standards ("SFAS") No. 131, " Disclosures about Segments of an Enterprise and Related Information ," KEMET is organized into three distinct business groups: the Tantalum Business Group ("Tantalum"), the Ceramic Business Group ("Ceramic") and the Film and Electrolytic Business Group ("Film and Electrolytic"). Each business group is responsible for the operations of certain manufacturing sites as well as all related research and development efforts. The sales and marketing functions are shared by each of the business groups and are allocated to the business groups based on the business groups' respective budgeted net sales (see Note 8, "Segment and Geographic Information").

Basis of Presentation

        Certain amounts for fiscal years 2008 and 2007 have been reclassified to conform with the fiscal year 2009 presentation.

Principles of Consolidation

        The accompanying consolidated financial statements of the Company include the accounts of its wholly-owned subsidiaries. Intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. During fiscal year 2008, the Company acquired Evox Rifa Group Oyj and Arcotronics Italia S.p.A. effective April 24, 2007 and October 12, 2007, respectively.

Cash Equivalents

        Cash equivalents of $11.3 million and $22.1 million at March 31, 2009 and 2008, respectively, consist of money market accounts with an initial term of less than three months. For purposes of the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows, the Company considers all highly liquid debt instruments with original maturities of three months or less to be cash equivalents.

Restricted Cash

        During April 2006 and in conjunction with a contractual provision in a commercial agreement, KEMET put in place a performance bond in the amount of EUR 2.5 million through a European bank. An interest-bearing deposit was placed with a European bank for EUR 2.8 million. The deposit is in KEMET's name and KEMET receives all interest earned by this deposit. However, the deposit is pledged to the European bank, and the bank can use the money should a valid claim be made against the bond. The bond was terminated in January 2009 and the restricted cash in support of the bond was released.

        A guarantee was issued by a European bank on behalf of the Company in August 2006 in conjunction with the establishment of a Valued-Added Tax ("VAT") registration in The Netherlands.

85



KEMET CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

Note 1: Organization and Significant Accounting Policies (Continued)


The bank guarantee is in the amount of EUR 1.5 million ($2.0 million). An interest-bearing deposit was placed with a European bank for EUR 1.7 million ($2.3 million). The deposit is in KEMET's name and KEMET receives all interest earned by this deposit. However, the deposit is pledged to the European bank, and the bank can use the money should a valid claim be made. The bank guarantee has no expiration date.

Derivative Financial Instruments

        The Company has used certain derivative financial instruments to reduce exposures to volatility of foreign currencies.

        The Company accounts for derivatives and hedging activities in accordance with SFAS No. 133 " Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities ," as amended. SFAS No. 133 establishes accounting and reporting standards for derivative instruments, including certain derivative instruments embedded in other contracts and hedging activities. It requires the recognition of all derivative instruments as either assets or liabilities in the Consolidated Balance Sheets and measurement of those instruments at fair value. The accounting treatment of changes in fair value is dependent upon whether or not a derivative instrument is designated as a hedge and, if so, the type of hedge. For derivative financial instruments not designated as a hedge, changes in fair value are recognized in income (loss). For derivatives designated as cash flow hedges, to the extent effective, changes in fair value are recognized in the line item "Accumulated other comprehensive income" ("AOCI") on the Consolidated Balance Sheets until the hedged item is recognized in income (loss). Ineffectiveness is recognized immediately in income (loss). For derivatives designated as fair value hedges, changes in fair value are recognized in income (loss). In the past, the Company has entered into forward contracts to buy Mexican pesos for periods and amounts consistent with the related underlying cash flow exposures. These contracts were designated as hedges at inception and monitored for effectiveness on a routine basis. Due to the Company's liquidity situation, the Company no longer has the capability to enter into forward contracts and as such as of March 31, 2009, the Company did not have any outstanding forward contracts. At March 31, 2008, the Company had outstanding forward exchange contracts that matured within nine months to purchase Mexican pesos with notional amounts of $33.9 million. The fair value of these contracts totaled $0.8 million at March 31, 2008, and they were recorded in the line item "Accrued expenses" on the Consolidated Balance Sheet. The impact of the changes in fair values of these contracts resulted in AOCI, net of taxes, of $0 and $0.8 million for the fiscal years ended March 31, 2009 and March 31, 2008, respectively.

Inventories

        Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or market. The carrying value of inventory is reviewed and adjusted based on slow moving and obsolete items, historical shipments, customer forecasts and backlog and technology developments. Inventory costs include material, labor and manufacturing overhead and are determined by the "first-in, first-out" ("FIFO") method. The Company has consigned inventory at certain customer locations totaling $5.6 million at March 31, 2009 and 2008.

Property and Equipment

        Property and equipment are carried at cost. Depreciation is calculated principally using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the respective assets. Leasehold improvements

86



KEMET CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

Note 1: Organization and Significant Accounting Policies (Continued)


are amortized using the straight-line method over the shorter of the estimated useful lives of the assets or the terms of the respective leases. Maintenance costs are expensed; expenditures for renewals and improvements are generally capitalized. Upon sale or retirement of property and equipment, the related cost and accumulated depreciation are removed and any gain or loss is recognized. A long-lived asset classified as held for sale is initially measured and reported at the lower of its carrying amount or fair value less cost to sell. Long-lived assets to be disposed of other than by sale are classified as held and used until the long-lived asset is disposed of.

        The Company applies the provisions of SFAS No. 144, " Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets ". SFAS No. 144 requires entities to test long-lived assets, excluding goodwill and other intangible assets that are not amortized, for recoverability whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the entity may not be able to recover the carrying value of such assets. An impairment loss would be recognized for an asset that is assessed as being impaired. Reviews are regularly performed to determine whether facts and circumstances exist which indicate that the carrying amount of assets may not be recoverable. The Company assesses the recoverability of its assets by comparing the projected undiscounted net cash flows associated with the related asset or group of assets over their remaining lives against their respective carrying amounts. If it is determined that the book value of a long-lived asset is not recoverable, an impairment loss would be calculated equal to the excess of the carrying amount of the long-lived asset over its fair value. The fair value is calculated as the discounted cash flows of the underlying assets. The Company has to make certain assumptions as to the future cash flows to be generated by the underlying assets. Those assumptions include the amount of volume increases, average selling price decreases, anticipated cost reductions, and the estimated remaining useful life of the equipment. Future changes in assumptions may negatively impact future valuations. Fair market value is based on the undiscounted cash flows that the assets will generate over their remaining useful lives or other valuation techniques. In future tests for recoverability, adverse changes in undiscounted cash flow assumptions could result in an impairment of certain long-lived assets that would require a non-cash charge to the Consolidated Statements of Operations and may have a material effect on the Company's financial condition and operating results. The Company recorded $62.3 million and $4.2 million in impairment charges for the fiscal years 2009 and 2008, respectively (see Note 3, "Impairment Charges"). No such impairment charges were incurred during fiscal year 2007.

Goodwill

        The Company applies the provisions of SFAS No. 142, " Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets ". Under SFAS No. 142, goodwill, which represents the excess of purchase price over fair value of net assets acquired, and intangible assets with indefinite useful lives are no longer amortized but are tested for impairment at least on an annual basis in accordance with the provisions of SFAS No. 142. The Company performs its impairment test during the first quarter of each fiscal year and when otherwise warranted.

        The Company is organized into three distinct business groups: Tantalum, Ceramic and Film and Electrolytic. The Company evaluates its goodwill on a reporting unit basis consistent with the provisions of SFAS No. 142. This requires the Company to estimate the fair value of the reporting units based on the future net cash flows expected to be generated. The impairment test involves a comparison of the fair value of each reporting unit as defined under SFAS No. 142, with the corresponding carrying amounts. If the reporting unit's carrying amount exceeds its fair value, then an indication exists that the

87



KEMET CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

Note 1: Organization and Significant Accounting Policies (Continued)


reporting unit's goodwill may be impaired. The impairment to be recognized is measured by the amount by which the carrying value of the reporting unit's goodwill being measured exceeds its implied fair value. The implied fair value of goodwill is the excess of the fair value of the reporting unit over the sum of the amounts assigned to identified net assets. As a result, the implied fair value of goodwill is generally the residual amount that results from subtracting the value of net assets including all tangible assets and identified intangible assets from the fair value of the reporting unit's fair value. The Company determined the fair value of its reporting units using an income-based, discounted cash flow ("DCF") analysis, and market-based approaches (Guideline Publicly Traded Company Method and Guideline Transaction Method) which examine transactions in the marketplace involving the sale of the stocks of similar publicly owned companies, or the sale of entire companies engaged in operations similar to KEMET. In addition to the above described reporting unit valuation techniques, the Company's goodwill impairment assessment also considers the Company's aggregate fair value based upon the value of the Company's outstanding shares of common stock.

        The goodwill impairment reviews are highly subjective and involve the use of significant estimates and assumptions in order to calculate the impairment charges. Estimates of business enterprise fair value use discounted cash flow and other fair value appraisal models and involve making assumptions for future sales trends, market conditions, growth rates, cost reduction initiatives and cash flows for the next several years. Future changes in assumptions may negatively impact future valuations.

        See Note 3, "Impairment Charges" for a further discussion of the annual goodwill and other identifiable intangible assets impairment tests.

Other Assets

        Other assets consist principally of the funding related to a deferred compensation plan in the U.S. and debt issuance costs.

Deferred Income Taxes

        Income taxes are accounted for under the asset and liability method. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax basis and operating loss and tax credit carryforwards. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the fiscal years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date. A valuation allowance is recorded to reduce the carrying amounts of deferred tax assets unless it is more likely than not that such assets will be realized.

Stock-based Compensation

        In the first quarter of fiscal year 2007, the Company implemented SFAS No. 123(R), " Share-Based Payment ." This standard requires companies to measure all employee stock-based compensation awards using a fair value method and record such expense in its financial statements. In addition, the adoption of SFAS No. 123(R) requires additional accounting and disclosure related to the income tax and cash flow effects resulting from share-based payment arrangements.

88



KEMET CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

Note 1: Organization and Significant Accounting Policies (Continued)

Concentrations of Credit and Other Risks

        The Company sells to customers globally. Credit evaluations of its customers' financial condition are performed periodically, and the Company generally does not require collateral from its customers. TTI, Inc. accounted for over 10% of the Company's net sales in fiscal years 2009 and 2008. In fiscal year 2007, TTI, Inc. and Arrow Electronics, Inc. each accounted for over 10% of the Company's net sales. There were no customers' accounts receivable balances exceeding 10% of gross accounts receivable at March 31, 2009 or at March 31, 2008.

        The Company, as well as the industry, utilizes electronics distributors for a large percentage of its sales. Electronics distributors are an effective means to distribute the products to the end-users. For the fiscal years ended March 31, 2009, 2008, and 2007, net sales to electronics distributors accounted for 47.4%, 47.6%, and 53.8.%, respectively, of the Company's total net sales.

Foreign Subsidiaries

        Financial statements of certain of the Company's foreign subsidiaries are prepared using the U.S. dollar as their functional currency. Translation of these foreign operations, as well as gains and losses from non-U.S. dollar foreign currency transactions, such as those resulting from the settlement of foreign receivables or payables, are reported in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.

        Translation of other foreign operations to U.S. dollars occurs using the current exchange rate for balance sheet accounts and an average exchange rate for results of operations. Such translation gains or losses are recognized as a component of equity in AOCI.

Comprehensive Income (Loss)

        Comprehensive income (loss) consists of net income (losses), currency forward contract gains (losses), currency translation gains (losses), unrealized investment gains (losses) from available-for-sale securities, defined benefit plan adjustments including those adjustments which result from changes in net prior service credit and actuarial gains (losses), and is presented in the Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders' Equity and Comprehensive Income (Loss).

89



KEMET CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

Note 1: Organization and Significant Accounting Policies (Continued)

        The following summary sets forth the components of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) contained in the stockholders' equity section of the Consolidated Balance Sheets (amounts in thousands):

 
  Currency
Forward
Contract
Gains
(Losses)
  Foreign
Currency
Translation
Gains
(Losses)
  Net
Unrealized
Investment
Gains
(Losses)
  Defined Benefit
Post-retirement
Plan
Adjustments(1)
  Defined
Benefit
Pension
Plans
  Net
Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
Income (Loss)
 

Balance at March 31, 2006

  $   $ (8 ) $ (2,335 ) $   $   $ (2,343 )

2007 Activity(2)

    854     7,271     1,243     23,393           32,761  
                           

Balance at March 31, 2007

    854     7,263     (1,092 )   23,393         30,418  

2008 Activity(2)

    (91 )   35,205     1,092     (1,213 )   154     35,147  
                           

Balance at March 31, 2008

    763     42,468         22,180     154     65,565  

2009 Activity(2)

    (763 )   (30,253 )       (19,209 )   (2,677 )   (52,902 )
                           

Balance at March 31, 2009

  $   $ 12,215   $   $ 2,971   $ (2,523 ) $ 12,663  
                           

(1)
Reflects the adoption of SFAS No. 158, " Employers' Accounting for Defined Benefit Pension and Other Post-retirement Benefits " on March 31, 2007.

(2)
Due primarily to established valuation allowances, there was no significant deferred tax effect associated with AOCI movement.

Revenue Recognition

        The Company recognizes revenue only when all of the following criteria are met: (1) persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists, (2) delivery has occurred or services have been rendered, (3) the seller's price to the buyer is fixed or determinable, and (4) collectibility is reasonably assured.

        A portion of sales is related to products designed to meet customer specific requirements. These products typically have stricter tolerances making them useful to the specific customer requesting the product and to customers with similar or less stringent requirements. Products with customer specific requirements are tested and approved by the customer before the Company mass produces and ships the product. The Company recognizes revenue at shipment as the sales terms for products produced with customer specific requirements do not contain a final customer acceptance provision or other provisions that are unique and would otherwise allow the customer different acceptance rights.

        A portion of sales is made to distributors under agreements allowing certain rights of return and price protection on unsold merchandise held by distributors. The Company's distributor policy includes inventory price protection and "ship-from-stock and debit" ("SFSD") programs common in the industry.

        The SFSD program provides a mechanism for the distributor to meet a competitive price after obtaining authorization from the local Company sales office. This program allows the distributor to ship its higher-priced inventory and debit the Company for the difference between KEMET's list price and the lower authorized price for that specific transaction. The Company establishes reserves for its SFSD program based primarily on historical SFSD activity and on the actual inventory levels of certain distributor customers. The actual inventory levels at these distributors comprise approximately 90% of the total global distributor inventory related to customers who participate in the SFSD Program.

90



KEMET CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

Note 1: Organization and Significant Accounting Policies (Continued)

        Domestic distributors have the right to return to KEMET a certain portion of the purchased inventory, which, in general, will not exceed 5% of their rolling three-month purchases. Foreign distributors have the right to return to KEMET a certain portion of the purchased inventory, which, in general, will not exceed 5% of their rolling three month purchases. KEMET estimates future returns based on historical patterns of the distributors and records an allowance on the Consolidated Balance Sheets.

        The establishment of sales allowances is recognized as a component of the line item "Net sales" on the Consolidated Statements of Operations, while the associated reserves are included in the line item "Accounts receivable, net" on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. A summary of sales allowances is as follows (amounts in thousands):

 
  Fiscal Years Ended March 31,  
 
  2009   2008   2007  

Ship-from-stock and debit

  $ 8,551   $ 9,439     10,385  

Returns

    1,405     1,843     1,490  

Price protection

    164         9  

Other

    1,826     803     111  
               

  $ 11,946   $ 12,085   $ 11,995  
               

        The Company provides a limited warranty to its customers that the products meet certain specifications. The warranty period is generally limited to one year, and the Company's liability under the warranty is generally limited to a replacement of the product or refund of the purchase price of the product. Warranty costs were less than 1% of net sales for the fiscal years ended March 31, 2009, 2008, and 2007. The Company recognizes warranty costs when losses are both probable and reasonably estimable.

Factoring of Receivables

        Arcotronics factors a portion of its accounts receivables through factoring transactions. As of March 31, 2009 and 2008 all factoring transactions were with recourse to the seller. These transactions do not meet the derecognition requirements of SFAS No. 140, Accounting for Transfers and Servicing of Financial Assets and Extinguishments of Liabilities . Consequently, as of March 31, 2009 and 2008, respectively, EUR 1.7 million ($2.3 million) and EUR 5.4 million ($8.5 million) of receivables sold through factoring transactions are recorded on the Consolidated Balance Sheets in the line item "Accounts receivable, net." A corresponding liability, amounting to EUR 1.1 million ($1.4 million) and EUR 2.2 million ($3.5 million) as of March 31, 2009 and 2008, respectively related to the advance cash received from the factoring agent, is recorded in the line item "Current portion of long-term debt" on the Consolidated Balance Sheets.

Shipping and Handling Costs

        The Company's shipping and handling costs are reflected in the line item "Cost of sales" on the Consolidated Statements of Operations. Shipping and handling costs were $26.6 million, $19.5 million, and $9.2 million in the fiscal years ended March 31, 2009, 2008, and 2007, respectively.

91



KEMET CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

Note 1: Organization and Significant Accounting Policies (Continued)

Exit Costs

        The Company applies the provisions of SFAS No. 146, " Accounting for Costs Associated with Exit or Disposal Activities ". SFAS No. 146 addresses financial accounting for costs associated with exit or disposal activities and requires that a liability for a cost associated with an exit or disposal activity be recognized when the liability, as defined in FASB Concepts Statement No. 6, " Elements of Financial Statements," is incurred. The Company also applies the provisions of SFAS No. 112, " Employer's Accounting for Postemployment Benefits", as applicable. SFAS No. 112 addresses financial accounting for postemployment benefits provided to former or inactive employees, including their beneficiaries and covered dependents, after employment but before retirement.

Income (Loss) per Share

        The Company calculates income (loss) per share in accordance with SFAS No. 128, " Earnings per Share ." Basic income (loss) per share is computed using the weighted-average number of shares outstanding. Diluted income (loss) per share is computed using the weighted-average number of shares outstanding adjusted for the incremental shares attributed to outstanding options to purchase common stock and for any put options issued by the Company, if such effects are dilutive.

Environmental Cost

        The Company recognizes liabilities for environmental remediation when it is probable that a liability has been incurred and can be reasonably estimated. The Company determines its liability on a site-by-site basis, and it is not discounted or reduced for anticipated recoveries from insurance carriers. In the event of anticipated insurance recoveries, such amounts would be presented on a gross basis in other current or non-current assets, as appropriate. Expenditures that extend the life of the related property or mitigate or prevent future environmental contamination are capitalized.

Use of Estimates

        The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make a number of estimates and assumptions. These estimates and assumptions affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements. In addition, they affect the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Significant items subject to such estimates and assumptions include impairment of property and equipment, intangibles and goodwill; valuation allowances for accounts receivables, price protection and customers' returns, and deferred income taxes; environmental liabilities; valuation of derivative instruments and assets and obligations related to employee benefits. Actual results could differ from these estimates and assumptions.

Impact of Recently Issued Accounting Standards

        In April 2009, the FASB approved FSP No. 107-1 and APB 28-1, " Interim Disclosures about Fair Value of Financial Instruments " ("FSP No. 107-1 and APB 28-1"), which increases the frequency of fair value disclosures to a quarterly instead of an annual basis. FSP No. 107-1 and APB 28-1 is effective for interim and annual periods ending after June 15, 2009 or the first quarter of fiscal year 2010 for the

92



KEMET CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

Note 1: Organization and Significant Accounting Policies (Continued)


Company. The Company does not expect the adoption of this accounting guideline to impact the Company's results of operations or financial position.

        In April 2009, the FASB approved FSP No. 157-4, " Determining Fair Value When the Volume and Level of Activity for the Asset or Liability Have Significantly Decreased and Identifying Transactions That Are Not Orderly " ("FSP No. 157-4"), which provides guidelines for a broad interpretation of when to apply market-based fair value measurements. The FSP reaffirms management's need to use judgment to determine when a market that was once active has become inactive and in determining fair values in markets that are no longer active. FSP No. 157-4 is effective for interim and annual periods ending after June 15, 2009 or the first quarter of fiscal year 2010 for the Company. The Company is currently unable to quantify the effect, if any, that the adoption of FSP No. 157-4 will have on the Company's results of operations or financial position.

        On December 30, 2008, the FASB issued FSP No. FAS 132(R)-1, " Employers' Disclosures about Post-retirement Benefit Plan Assets ". This FSP requires additional disclosures about plan assets for sponsors of defined benefit pension and post-retirement plans including expanded information regarding investment strategies, major categories of plan assets, and concentrations of risk within plan assets. Additionally, this FSP requires disclosures similar to those required under SFAS No. 157 with respect to the fair value of plan assets such as the inputs and valuation techniques used to measure fair value and information with respect to classification of plan assets in terms of the hierarchy of the source of information used to determine their value. The disclosures under this FSP are required for annual periods ending after December 15, 2009, or fiscal year 2010 for the Company. The Company is currently evaluating the requirements of these additional disclosures.

        On May 9, 2008, the FASB issued FASB Staff Position No. APB 14-1, " Accounting for Convertible Debt Instruments That May Be Settled in Cash upon Conversion (Including Partial Cash Settlement )." FSP No. APB 14-1 requires issuers of convertible debt that may be settled wholly or partly in cash when converted to account for the debt and equity components separately. FSP No. APB 14-1 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2008, or fiscal year 2010 for the Company, and must be applied retrospectively to all periods presented. This standard is expected to have an impact on the Company's consolidated financial statements; however, the Company has not yet determined the amount of the impact.

        In April 2008, the FASB issued FSP FAS 142-3, " Determination of the Useful Life of Intangible Assets ", ("FSP FAS 142-3"). FSP FAS 142-3 amends the list of factors an entity should consider in developing renewal or extension assumptions when determining the useful life of recognized intangible assets under FASB No. 142, Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets, ("FAS 142"). FSP FAS 142-3 applies to (i) intangible assets that are acquired individually or with a group of other assets and (ii) intangible assets acquired in both business combinations and asset acquisitions. FSP FAS 142-3 removes the requirement in FAS 142 for an entity to consider whether an intangible asset can be renewed without substantial cost or material modifications to the existing terms and conditions. FSP FAS 142-3 replaces the previous useful-live assessment criteria with a requirement that an entity consider its own experience in renewing similar arrangements. FSP FAS 142-3 is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2008 and must be applied prospectively only to intangible assets acquired after the FSP's effective date. The Company will adhere to FSP FAS 142-3 for intangible assets acquired beginning with the first quarter of fiscal year 2010.

93



KEMET CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

Note 1: Organization and Significant Accounting Policies (Continued)

        In March 2008, the FASB issued SFAS No. 161, " Disclosures about Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities—an amendment of FASB Statement No. 133 ." SFAS No. 161 requires enhanced disclosures about how and why an entity uses derivative instruments, how derivative instruments and related hedged items are accounted for and their effect on an entity's financial position, financial performance, and cash flows. SFAS No. 161 was effective for the Company in the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2009. The adoption of SFAS No. 161 did not have a material impact on the Company's consolidated financial statement disclosures.

        In December 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 141(R), " Business Combinations ." SFAS No. 141(R) establishes principles and requirements for how the acquirer in a business combination recognizes and measures in its financial statements the identifiable assets acquired, the liabilities assumed and any noncontrolling interest in the acquiree at the acquisition date fair value. It further requires that acquisition related costs be recognized separately from the acquisition and expensed as incurred; that restructuring costs generally be expensed in periods subsequent to the acquisition date; and that changes in accounting for deferred tax asset valuation allowances and acquired income tax uncertainties after the measurement period be recognized as a component of the provision for taxes. SFAS No. 141(R) determines what information to disclose to enable users of the financial statements to evaluate the nature and financial effects of the business combination. SFAS No. 141(R) applies prospectively to business combinations for which the acquisition date is on or after the beginning of the first annual reporting period beginning on or after December 15, 2008 or fiscal year 2010. Early adoption is prohibited.

        In February 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 159, " The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities ." SFAS No. 159 permits companies to choose to measure certain financial instruments and certain other items at fair value. The standard requires that unrealized gains and losses on items for which the fair value option were elected to be reported in earnings. SFAS No. 159 was effective for the Company beginning in the first quarter of fiscal year 2009. The Company did not elect the fair value option under SFAS No. 159 for any financial assets and liabilities as of April 1, 2008.

        In September 2006, the FASB issued SFAS No. 157, " Fair Value Measurements ," which defines fair value, provides guidance for measuring fair value and requires additional disclosures. This statement does not require any new fair value measurements, but rather applies to all other accounting pronouncements that require or permit fair value measurements. The FASB believes that the new standard will make the measurement of fair value more consistent and comparable and improve disclosures about those measures. The effective date of the provisions of SFAS No. 157 for non-financial assets and liabilities, except for items recognized at fair value on a recurring basis, was deferred by FASB Staff Position ("FSP") No. 157-2. SFAS No. 157 for non-financial assets and liabilities is now effective for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2008. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of the provisions for non-financial assets and liabilities. The adoption of SFAS No. 157 for financial assets and liabilities did not have a material impact on the Company's financial position or results of operations.

Note 2: Debt, Liquidity and Capital Resources

        The consolidated financial statements have been prepared assuming that the Company will continue as a going concern. Specifically, the consolidated financial statements do not include any adjustments relating to the recoverability or classification of recorded assets, or the amounts or

94



KEMET CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

Note 2: Debt, Liquidity and Capital Resources (Continued)


classification of liabilities that might be necessary in the event the Company is unable to continue as a going concern. The significant uncertainties surrounding the Company's liquidity and capital resources and ability to meet financial covenants as discussed below, cast substantial doubt on the Company's ability to continue as a going concern. The failure to successfully maintain sufficient cash, and/or the non-compliance with the Company's financial covenants without a waiver or amendment granted by the Company's lenders, would have a material adverse effect on the Company's business, results of operations, financial position and liquidity.

        The current economic environment continues to negatively affect sales which, in turn, has had an adverse impact on the Company's liquidity. During the fiscal year ended March 31, 2009, we experienced a decline in net sales, profitability and liquidity. Subsequent to March 31, 2009 the Company executed the Revised Amended and Restated Credit Agreement (the "Revised Amended and Restated Platinum Credit Facility") with K Financing, LLC ("K Financing"), an affiliate of Platinum Equity Capital Partners II, L.P. ("Platinum Equity"). See Note 17, "Subsequent Events" for further discussion on the Revised Amended and Restated Platinum Credit Facility. Given the Company's cost reduction and working capital initiatives, the Company's anticipated borrowing ability under the working capital loan provision of the Revised Amended and Restated Platinum Credit Facility, and the UniCredit Amendments discussed below and in Note 17, the Company estimates that the Company's current operating plans will provide for sufficient cash to cover liquidity requirements. However, the Company currently anticipates that the Company will continue to experience severe pressure on the Company's liquidity during fiscal year 2010. Furthermore, the generation of adequate liquidity will largely depend upon the Company's ability to achieve sales growth over the next several quarters and the Company's ability to execute the Company's current operating plans and to manage costs. In light of current global economic conditions and other risks and uncertainties, there can be no assurance that the Company will be successful in this regard. An unanticipated decrease in sales, sales that fall below the Company's expectations, or other factors that would cause the actual outcome of the Company's plans to differ from expectations could create a shortfall in cash available to fund the Company's liquidity needs. The Company will continually monitor and adjust the Company's business plan as necessary to respond to developments in the Company's business, markets and the broader economy. In addition to the actions discussed below, the Company continues to review additional initiatives to improve liquidity in the short-term as well as to reduce the Company's total overall leverage, including the sale of non-core assets.

        Based on the Company's operating plans, the Company currently forecast that the Company will meet the financial covenants required by the Revised Amended and Restated Platinum Credit Facility and Facility A at each of the measurement dates during fiscal year 2010. However, in the case of the EBITDA covenant, the Company's forecast shows that the Company will achieve the required level of profitability by a narrow margin. The Company's current forecast anticipates a steady recovery, over the next several quarters, of the principal markets and industries into which the Company's products are sold. The Company's expectations in this regard are based on the Company's consideration of various information sources including, among others, industry surveys and input from various key customers. Given the degree of uncertainty with respect to the near-term outlook for the global economy and the possible effects on the Company's operations, there is significant uncertainty as to whether the Company's forecasts will be achieved. Therefore, there can be no assurance that the Company will be able to meet the financial covenants required by the Revised Amended and Restated Platinum Credit Facility and Facility A. In the event of a covenant breach, the Company would seek a waiver or

95



KEMET CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

Note 2: Debt, Liquidity and Capital Resources (Continued)


amendment, but such remedy would be out of the Company's control and rest in the discretion of the Company's lenders.

        The Company's liquidity needs arise from working capital requirements, acquisitions, capital expenditures, principal and interest payments on debt, and costs associated with the implementation of the restructuring plan. Historically, these cash needs have been met by cash flows from operations, borrowings under credit agreements and existing cash balances.

        In fiscal year 2009, the poor economic environment negatively affected sales and had an adverse impact on the Company's results of operations and liquidity. The Company's unfavorable results would have triggered a violation of its Senior Note debt covenants had the Company not negotiated temporary amendments to the covenants in order to remain in compliance. Prior to the expiration of these covenant amendments, the Senior Notes were paid off, resulting in total principal payments of $60.0 million in fiscal year 2009 to eliminate the Company's Senior Notes. The primary reasons for the unrestricted cash balance decreasing from $81.4 million at March 31, 2008 to $39.2 million at March 31, 2009 were the Senior Notes being paid off (as noted above), cash restructuring and integration related costs, totaling approximately $30.1 million and capital expenditures of $30.5 million. These items were partially offset by $33.7 million of proceeds from the sale of assets related to the production and sale of wet tantalum capacitors and proceeds from a three-year term loan for $15.0 million with Vishay Intertechnology, Inc ("Vishay").

        The Company took aggressive steps to offset the adverse impact of lower revenues and net losses in liquidity. These included:

        In addition to the above actions, the Company continued throughout fiscal year 2009 to review strategic financing alternatives to improve liquidity and reduce overall leverage. See Note 17, "Subsequent Events", for discussion of the initiatives implemented to address the Company's liquidity.

96



KEMET CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

Note 2: Debt, Liquidity and Capital Resources (Continued)

        A summary of debt is as follows (amounts in thousands):

 
  Fiscal Years Ended
March 31,
 
 
  2009   2008  

Convertible Debt

  $ 175,000   $ 175,000  

UniCredit Facility A

    79,848     79,060  

UniCredit Facility B

    46,578     74,300  

Senior Notes

        60,000  

Vishay

    15,000      

Other

    16,679     24,321  
           
 

Total debt

    333,105     412,681  

Current maturities

    (25,994 )   (108,387 )
           
 

Total long-term debt

  $ 307,111   $ 304,294  
           

Convertible Debt

        In November 2006, the Company sold and issued $160.0 million in Convertible Senior Notes to qualified institutional buyers pursuant to Rule 144A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Notes"). The Notes are unsecured obligations and rank equally with the Company's existing and future unsubordinated and unsecured obligations and are junior to any of the Company's future secured obligations to the extent of the value of the collateral securing such obligations. In connection with the issuance and sale of the Notes, the Company entered into an indenture (the "Indenture") dated as of November 1, 2006 with Wilmington Trust Company, as trustee.

        In connection with the above referenced transaction, the Company also granted the initial purchasers a 30-day option to purchase up to $15.0 million aggregate principal amount of additional Notes. The Initial Purchasers exercised this option on November 9, 2006, thereby resulting in the sale of an additional $15.0 million aggregate principal amount of the Notes on November 13, 2006, resulting in a total of $175.0 million aggregate principal amount of Notes outstanding.

        The Notes bear interest at a rate of 2.25% per annum, payable in cash semi-annually in arrears on each May 15 and November 15 beginning May 15, 2007. The Notes are convertible into (i) cash in an amount equal to the lesser of the principal amount of the Notes and the conversion value of the Notes on the conversion date and (ii) cash or shares of the Company's common stock ("Common Stock") or a combination of cash and shares of the Common Stock, at the Company's option, to the extent the conversion value at that time exceeds the principal amount of the Notes, at any time prior to the close of business on the business day immediately preceding the maturity date of the Notes, unless the Company has redeemed or purchased the Notes, subject to certain conditions. The initial conversion rate was 103.0928 shares of Common Stock per $1,000 principal amount of the Notes, which represents an initial conversion price of approximately $9.70 per share, subject to adjustments.

97



KEMET CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

Note 2: Debt, Liquidity and Capital Resources (Continued)

        The holder may surrender the holder's Notes for conversion if any of the following conditions is satisfied:

        The Company received net proceeds from the sale of the Notes of approximately $170.2 million, after deducting discounts and offering expenses of approximately $4.8 million. Net proceeds from the sale were used to repurchase 3.3 million shares of Common Stock at a cost of approximately $24.9 million (concurrent with the initial closing of the Notes offering). Debt issuance costs related to the Notes were $2.5 million and have been recorded in the line item "Other assets" on the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets. Debt issuance costs are being amortized over a period of five years.

        The terms of the Notes are governed by the Indenture. The Notes mature on November 15, 2026 unless earlier redeemed, repurchased or converted. The Company may redeem the Notes for cash, either in whole or in part, anytime after November 20, 2011 at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed plus accrued and unpaid interest, including additional interest, if any, up to but not including the date of redemption. In addition, holders of the Notes will have the right to require the Company to repurchase for cash all or a portion of their Notes on November 15, 2011, 2016 and 2021, at a repurchase price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Notes to be repurchased plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, in each case, up to but not including, the date of repurchase.

        The Notes are convertible into Common Stock at a rate equal to 103.0928 shares per $1,000 principal amount of the Notes (equal to an initial conversion price of approximately $9.70 per share), subject to adjustment as described in the Indenture. Upon conversion, the Company will deliver for each $1,000 principal amount of Notes, an amount consisting of cash equal to the lesser of $1,000 and the conversion value (as defined in the Indenture) and, to the extent that the conversion value exceeds $1,000, at the Company's election, cash or shares of Common Stock with respect to the remainder. Pursuant to EITF 00-19, " Accounting for Derivative Financial Instruments Indexed to, and Potentially settled in, a Company's own stock ", the contingent conversion feature was not required to be bifurcated and accounted for separately under the provisions of SFAS No. 133 " Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities' '.

        If the Company undergoes a "fundamental change", holders of the Notes will have the right, subject to certain conditions, to require the Company to repurchase for cash all or a portion of their Notes at a repurchase price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Notes to be repurchased plus accrued and unpaid interest, including contingent interest and additional amounts, if any. One

98



KEMET CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

Note 2: Debt, Liquidity and Capital Resources (Continued)


occurrence creating a "fundamental change" is the Company's common stock ceasing to be listed on the New York Stock Exchange ("NYSE") or another national securities exchange in the United States, without then being quoted on an established automated over-the-counter trading market in the United States The transfer of the trading of the Company's stock from the NYSE to the OTC Bulletin Board did not constitute a "fundamental change." An additional occurrence creating a "fundamental change" would be any failure to repay UniCredit Corporate Banking S.p.A. ("UniCredit") amounts when due. Because the Company does not currently have the ability to repay the Notes, the occurrence of a "fundamental change" and the decision by holders of the Notes to require immediate payment of the Company's outstanding indebtedness would have a material adverse effect on the Company's business, results of operations, financial position and liquidity.

        The Company will pay a make-whole premium on the Notes converted in connection with any fundamental change that occurs prior to November 20, 2011. The amount of the make-whole premium, if any, will be based on the Company's stock price and the effective date of the fundamental change. The maximum make-whole premium, expressed as a number of additional shares of the Common Stock to be received per $1,000 principal amount of the Notes, would be 30.95 upon the conversion of Notes in connection with the occurrence of a fundamental change prior to November 1, 2006, November 15 of each of 2007, 2008, 2009 or 2010, respectively, or November 20, 2011 if the stock price at that date is $7.46 per share of Common Stock. The Indenture contains a detailed description of how the make-whole premium will be determined and a table showing the make-whole premium that would apply at various stock prices and fundamental change effective dates. No make-whole premium will be paid if the price of the Common Stock on the effective date of the fundamental change is less than $7.46. Any make-whole premium will be payable in shares of Common Stock (or the consideration into which the Company's Common Stock has been exchanged in the fundamental change) on the conversion date for the Notes converted in connection with the fundamental change.

        The estimated fair value of the Notes, based on quoted market prices as of March 31, 2009 and March 31, 2008, was approximately $25 million and $126 million, respectively. The Company had interest payable related to the Notes included in the line item "Accrued expenses" on its Consolidated Balance Sheets of $1.5 million at both March 31, 2009 and March 31, 2008.

        On May 5, 2009, the Company commenced a tender offer for any and all of the outstanding Notes. On June 26, 2009, $93.9 million in aggregate principal amount of the Notes were validly tendered (representing 53.7% of the outstanding Notes). The Company financed the tender offer with a term loan pursuant to the Revised Amended and Restated Platinum Credit Facility with K Financing. See Note 17, "Subsequent Events" for a further discussion on the tender offer and related developments.

UniCredit

        In December 2007, in connection with the refinancing of certain third party indebtedness acquired as part of the acquisition of Arcotronics, the Company entered into a credit facility with UniCredit whereby UniCredit agreed to lend to the Company EUR 50 million ($72.0 million). The Company used the proceeds from this borrowing, together with cash on hand and the drawdown of EUR 1.0 million ($1.4 million) under a separate credit facility with UniCredit, to refinance third party indebtedness of Arcotronics.

        In October 2008, the Company entered into a new medium-term credit facility in the principal amount of EUR 60 million ($79.8 million) ("Facility A") with UniCredit. Facility A is effective for a

99



KEMET CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

Note 2: Debt, Liquidity and Capital Resources (Continued)


four and one-half year term with the first payment due April 1, 2009, and terminates on April 1, 2013. Proceeds from Facility A in the amount of EUR 50 million ($66.5 million) were used to pay off the above mentioned separate credit facility with UniCredit with a scheduled maturity date of December 2008. Additional proceeds from Facility A in the amount of EUR 10.0 million ($13.3 million) were applied to reduce the outstanding principal of Facility B with UniCredit with a scheduled maturity date of April 2009. Material terms and conditions of Facility A are as follows (Facility A was subsequently amended as described below. See also Note 17, "Subsequent Events"):

(i)   Maturity:   April 1, 2013

(ii)

 

Interest Rate:

 

Floating at six-month EURIBOR plus 1.7%

(iii)

 

Amortization:

 

Nine semi-annual installments due each April and October

(iv)

 

Structure:

 

Secured with Italian real property, certain European accounts receivable and shares of two of the Company's Italian subsidiaries

        The Company is subject to covenants under Facility A which, among other things, restrict its ability to make capital expenditures above certain thresholds and require it to meet financial tests related principally to fixed charge coverage ratio and profitability. The first measurement date for these financial tests was to be June 30, 2009. Thereafter, the measurement date will occur every three months, on a trailing twelve month basis.

        The occurrence of events that significantly compromise the Company's financial, economic, asset or operating situation and significantly compromise the Company's ability to ensure prompt and regular repayment of Facility A allow UniCredit to accelerate repayment of Facility A. The Company deems the foregoing provision of Facility A to be a subjective acceleration clause and has assessed the likelihood of whether or not it will be exercised. While the Company does not presently expect UniCredit to exercise its rights under this clause within the next twelve months, there can be no assurance that UniCredit will not exercise their rights. There are also provisions under Facility A which require the Company's continued listing on a stock exchange or regulated stock market existing in the U.S. The Company's listing on the OTC Bulletin Board complies with the covenants under Facility A.

        Material terms and conditions of Facility B are as follows (see discussion of subsequent amendments to Facility B below and in Note 17, "Subsequent Events"):

(i)   Maturity:   April 9, 2009

(ii)

 

Interest Rate:

 

Floating at three month EURIBOR plus 1.2%

(iii)

 

Amortization:

 

Bullet payment at maturity

(iv)

 

Structure:

 

Unsecured

100



KEMET CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

Note 2: Debt, Liquidity and Capital Resources (Continued)

        Subsequent to March 31, 2009, the Company entered into an agreement to extend and restructure Facility B. Facility B remained unsecured, and does not contain any covenants, however it contains cross acceleration provisions linked to Facility A, and bears interest at a rate of six-month EURIBOR plus 2.5 percent. Like Facility A, Facility B includes a subjective acceleration clause. Under the amendment to Facility B, and prior to the additional subsequent amendment noted below, the principal amount was due in three installments of EUR 2.0 million each on January 1, 2010, July 1, 2010 and January 1, 2011, and a fourth and final principal payment in the amount of EUR 29.0 million on July 1, 2011. As a result of this restructuring, the Company has included EUR 33.0 million ($43.9 million) of Facility B as long-term debt as of March 31, 2009.

        In April 2009, the Company entered into additional amendments to Facility A and Facility B with UniCredit which, among other things, modified the financial covenants under Facility A (Facility B does not contain any covenants, however it contains cross acceleration provisions linked to Facility A) and modified the scheduled amortization under Facility A and Facility B. These amendments to the UniCredit facilities became effective June 26, 2009 upon the consummation of the tender offer. As a result of these amendments, the Company has included approximately $8 million of principal payments originally scheduled for October 2009 as long-term debt as of March 31, 2009. See Note 17, "Subsequent Events" for further discussion of these amendments.

Senior Notes

        In May 1998, the Company sold $100 million of its Senior Notes pursuant to the terms of a Note Purchase Agreement dated May 1, 1998, between the Company and eleven purchasers of the Senior Notes. The Senior Notes had a final maturity date of May 4, 2010, and began amortizing on May 4, 2006. The Senior Notes carried interest at a fixed rate of 6.66%, with interest payable semiannually beginning November 4, 1998. A principal payment of $20 million was made in May 2008 and in September 2008 the Company prepaid its obligations under the Senior Notes, including the outstanding principal balance of $40.0 million, accrued interest of $1.0 million, a make-whole amount of $2.0 million, and a prepayment fee of $0.2 million. The make-whole amount and prepayment fee are shown on the line item "Loss on early retirement of debt" on the Consolidated Statements of Operations.

        The Company had interest payable related to the Senior Notes, included in the line item "Accrued expenses", on its Consolidated Balance Sheets of $0 million and $1.6 million at March 31, 2009 and 2008, respectively.

Other

        In the second quarter of fiscal year 2009, the Company sold assets related to the production and sale of wet tantalum capacitors to a subsidiary of Vishay. The Company received $33.7 million in cash proceeds, net of amounts held in escrow, from the sale of these assets. At the same time, the Company entered into a three-year term loan agreement for $15.0 million and a security agreement with Vishay. The loan carries an interest rate of LIBOR plus 4% which is payable monthly. The entire principal amount of $15.0 million matures on September 15, 2011 and can be prepaid without penalty. Pursuant to the security agreement, the loan is secured by certain accounts receivable of the Company.

101



KEMET CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

Note 2: Debt, Liquidity and Capital Resources (Continued)

        The following table highlights the Company's annual maturities of Long-term debt (amounts in thousands):

 
  Annual Maturities of long-term debt
Fiscal Years Ended March 31,
 
 
  2010   2011(1)   2012   2013   2014   Thereafter  

Convertible Debt

  $   $   $   $   $   $ 175,000  

UniCredit Facility A(2)

    7,717     19,083     13,608     8,217     31,223      

Vishay

            15,000              

UniCredit Facility B(2)

    2,662     5,323     13,308     13,308     11,977      

Other

    7,632     4,603     1,949     1,226     1,235     34  
                           

  $ 18,011   $ 29,009   $ 43,865   $ 22,751   $ 44,435   $ 175,034  
                           

(1)
Holders of the Notes have the right to require the Company to repurchase for cash all or a portion of their Notes on November 15, 2011, 2016 and 2021 at a repurchase price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Notes to be repurchased plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, in each case, up to but not including, the date of repurchase.

(2)
Reflects the amended terms upon the consummation of the tender offer. See Note 17, "Subsequent Events".

Note 3: Impairment Charges

        During the fiscal years 2009 and 2008, the Company incurred impairment charges totaling $242.0 million and $4.2 million, respectively.

        The Company's goodwill is tested for impairment at least on an annual basis. The impairment test involves a comparison of the fair value of its reporting units as defined under SFAS No. 142, with carrying amounts. If the reporting unit's aggregate carrying amount exceeds its fair value, then an indication exists that the reporting unit's goodwill may be impaired. The impairment to be recognized is measured by the amount by which the carrying value of the reporting unit's goodwill being measured exceeds its implied fair value, up to the total amount of its assets. The Company determines the fair value of a reporting unit using an income-based approach, discounted cash flow analysis, and market based approaches (Guideline Publicly Traded Company Method and Guideline Transaction Method).

        For purposes of the goodwill impairment test, the Company has identified the following three reporting units: Tantalum, Ceramic and Film and Electrolytic. Goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets, are tested annually for impairment during the first quarter of each fiscal year and upon the occurrence of certain events or substantive changes in circumstances. In connection with the performance of its 2009 annual impairment analyses, the Company recorded asset impairments of $88.6 million. This impairment is a result of the Company revising its earnings forecast used in the Company's SFAS No. 142 analysis due to reduced earnings and cash flows caused by macro-economic factors, excess capacity issues in the industry and delays in integrating recently acquired businesses. The asset impairments recorded reduced the carrying values of goodwill in Film and Electrolytic and Ceramic by $76.2 million and $12.4 million, respectively.

102



KEMET CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

Note 3: Impairment Charges (Continued)

        One of the factors that determine whether or not goodwill is impaired is the market value of the Company's common stock. During the second quarter, the Company's stock price declined significantly below the level the Company considered in performing its annual impairment review as of June 30, 2008. As such, the Company tested goodwill for impairment again as of September 30, 2008. This impairment test resulted in a second quarter goodwill impairment charge of $85.7 million to write off all of the remaining goodwill of Film and Electrolytic, and Tantalum. These impairment charges are aggregated and reported in the line item "Goodwill impairment" on the Consolidated Statements of Operations.

        For the impairment or disposal of long-lived assets, the Company follows the guidance as prescribed in SFAS No. 144. Long-lived assets and intangible assets subject to amortization are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of a long-lived asset or group of assets may not be recoverable. Based in part upon the first quarter impairment of goodwill, the Company determined that there was an indication that the carrying amount of certain long-lived asset groups might not be recoverable and tested the long-lived assets of Ceramic for impairment.

        Tests for the recoverability of a long-lived asset to be held and used are performed by comparing the carrying amount of the long-lived asset to the sum of the estimated future net undiscounted cash flows expected to be generated by the asset. In estimating the future undiscounted cash flows, the Company uses future projections of cash flows directly associated with, and which are expected to arise as a direct result of, the use and eventual disposition of the assets. These assumptions include, among other estimates, periods of operation and projections of sales and cost of sales. Changes in any of these estimates could have a material effect on the estimated future undiscounted cash flows expected to be generated by the asset. It was determined that the book value of the long-lived assets of Ceramic was not fully recoverable, and an impairment charge of $58.6 million was calculated, equal to the excess of the carrying amount of the long-lived assets over their fair value. The fair value was established on the basis of fair value in exchange. Fair value in exchange is defined as the price at which the property would change hands between a willing buyer and a willing selling, neither being under any compulsion to buy or sell and both having reasonable knowledge of relevant facts. In addition, Ceramic recorded a $5.3 million impairment charge to write off all of its other intangible assets. These impairment charges are reported in the line item "Write down of long-lived assets" on the Consolidated Statements of Operations.

        KEMET also completed long-lived asset impairment tests in the second, third and fourth quarters of fiscal year 2009 and concluded that no further impairment existed.

        Also during the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2009, the Company reclassified one of the manufacturing facilities which was classified as held for sale during fiscal year 2008 to held and used. These assets no longer meet the criteria to be classified as held for sale under SFAS No. 144. The carrying value of this facility was reclassified into property, plant and equipment for all periods presented in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. This reclassification did not have an impact on the Company's Consolidated Statements of Operations, however, at March 31, 2009, the Company recognized an impairment of $2.5 million which primarily relates to this facility as the carrying amount of the facility is considered not fully recoverable based on an independent appraisal dated February 28, 2009. In addition, a research and development facility located in Heidenheim, Germany was closed and $1.2 million was recognized as an impairment due to the abandonment of long-lived assets.

103



KEMET CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

Note 3: Impairment Charges (Continued)

        During the third quarter of fiscal year 2008, Tantalum recognized a $1.2 million charge to reduce the carrying value of an idle facility located in Mauldin, South Carolina, which was classified as held for sale as of March 31, 2008. The write-down was based on an offer to purchase which ultimately did not result in a sale of the property. Also, in the third fiscal quarter, the Company recorded a $0.9 million impairment charge relating to a manufacturing facility in Heidenheim, Germany, which was included in the manufacturing relocation plan. During the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2008, Tantalum determined that certain equipment in the Evora, Portugal plant would be scrapped; and as a result, an impairment charge of $2.1 million was recorded to reduce the carrying value to the estimated scrap value. These impairment charges are recorded in the line item "Write down of long-lived assets" on the Consolidated Statements of Operations.

Note 4: Restructuring

        Since the end of fiscal year 2002, the Company has initiated several restructuring programs (the "Plan") in order to reduce costs, to remove excess capacity, and to make the Company more competitive on a world-wide basis. Since the goals of each of these restructuring programs fall into one of the rationales listed above, the Company has elected to disclose the impacts on an annual basis rather than by each restructuring program.

        A summary of the expenses aggregated on the Consolidated Statements of Operations line item "Restructuring charges" in the fiscal years ended March 31, 2009, 2008, and 2007, is as follows (amounts in thousands):

 
  Fiscal Years Ended March 31,  
 
  2009   2008   2007  

Manufacturing relocation costs

  $ 5,451   $ 8,157   $ 9,726  

Personnel reduction costs

    25,423     17,184     2,846  
               

Restructuring charges

  $ 30,874   $ 25,341   $ 12,572  
               

Fiscal Year Ended March 31, 2009

        Restructuring charges incurred during fiscal year 2009 totaled $30.9 million. The Company announced three initiatives to reduce fixed costs to be more in line with lower sales volumes. During the first quarter of fiscal year 2009, the Company recognized charges of $4.9 million primarily for reductions in workforce in Film and Electrolytic. In the second quarter of fiscal year 2009, the Company recognized charges of $16.1 million related to the rationalization of corporate staff and manufacturing support functions in the United States, Europe, Mexico, and Asia. Approximately 640 employees were affected by this action. During the third quarter of fiscal year 2009, the Company recognized charges of $3.5 million related primarily to the reduction of approximately 1,500 manufacturing positions representing approximately 14% of the Company's workforce. During the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2009, the Company incurred expenses of $0.9 million primarily related to the closing of sales offices. The Company also incurred expenses of $5.5 million related to the Company's manufacturing relocation plan.

104



KEMET CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

Note 4: Restructuring (Continued)

Fiscal Year Ended March 31, 2008

        Restructuring charges incurred during fiscal year 2008 totaled $25.3 million. These charges were primarily incurred as part of the Plan announced in July 2003 that included moving manufacturing operations from the United States to lower cost facilities in Mexico and China, which are substantially complete. There were global reductions in the Company's workforce throughout the year. The Company recognized expenditures of $8.2 million relating to the manufacturing relocation plan.

Fiscal Year Ended March 31, 2007

        Restructuring charges incurred during fiscal year 2007 totaled $12.6 million. These charges were primarily incurred as part of the Plan announced in July 2003 that included moving manufacturing operations from the United States to lower cost facilities in Mexico and China, which are substantially complete. As a result of reductions in workforce in Europe, $1.5 million was recognized. The Company recognized expenditures of $9.7 million relating to the manufacturing relocation plan.

        A reconciliation of the beginning and ending liability balances for restructuring charges included in the line items "Accrued expenses" and"Other non-current obligations" on the Consolidated Balance Sheets were as follows (amounts in thousands):

 
  Personnel
Reductions
  Manufacturing
Relocations
 

Balance at March 31, 2006

  $ 2,129   $  

Costs charged to expense

    2,846     9,726  

Costs paid or settled

    (4,034 )   (9,726 )
           

Balance at March 31, 2007

    941      

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Costs charged to expense

    17,184     8,157  

Costs paid or settled

    (16,290 )   (8,157 )
           

Balance at March 31, 2008

    1,835      

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Costs charged to expense

    25,423     5,451  

Costs paid or settled

    (19,365 )   (5,451 )
           

Balance at March 31, 2009

  $ 7,893   $  
           

Note 5: Goodwill and Intangible Assets

        The Company applies the provisions of SFAS No. 142. Under SFAS No. 142, goodwill, which represents the excess of purchase price over fair value of net assets acquired, and intangible assets with indefinite useful lives are no longer amortized but are tested for impairment at least on an annual basis. During fiscal year 2009, the Company recognized an impairment of $174.3 million, reducing goodwill balance to zero. Additionally, in accordance with SFAS No. 144, the Company recognized an impairment of $5.3 million related to intangible assets in Ceramic. See Note 3, "Impairment Charges" for a further discussion on the annual goodwill and other identifiable intangible assets impairment tests.

105



KEMET CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

Note 5: Goodwill and Intangible Assets (Continued)

        The changes in the carrying amount of goodwill for the years ended March 31, 2009 and 2008 are as follows (amounts in thousands):

 
  Fiscal Years Ended
March 31,
 
 
  2009   2008  

Balance at the beginning of fiscal year

  $ 182,273   $ 36,552  

Acquisitions

        130,838  

Impairment charges

    (174,327 )    

Adjustment related to prior year opening balance sheet deferred tax calculation

    (2,902 )    

Effect of foreign currency fluctuations

    (5,044 )   14,883  
           

Balance at the end of fiscal year

  $   $ 182,273  
           

        The following table summarizes each segment's goodwill (amounts in thousands):

 
  Fiscal Years Ended
March 31,
 
 
  2009   2008  

Tantalum

  $   $ 23,653  

Ceramic

        12,418  

Film and Electrolytic

        146,202  
           

  $   $ 182,273  
           

        In fiscal year 2008, the Company acquired Arcotronics Italia S.p.A. ("Arcotronics"), for a purchase price of $24.8 million and $8.5 million for acquisition related costs. The acquisition included manufacturing operations as well as certain research and development, marketing, and sales functions in various locations, primarily within Europe. Arcotronics is managed and reported under Film and Electrolytic. Goodwill and amortized intangibles related to the acquisition of Arcotronics amounted to $129.0 million and $11.2 million, respectively, at March 31, 2008. As previously noted, goodwill related to this acquisition was written off during fiscal year 2009.

        In fiscal year 2008, the Company acquired Evox Rifa Group Oyj ("Evox Rifa") for a purchase price of $40.8 million, including $2.8 million for acquisition related costs. The acquisition included manufacturing operations as well as certain research and development, marketing, and sales functions in various locations, primarily within Europe. Evox Rifa is managed and reported under Film and Electrolytic. Goodwill and amortized intangibles related to the acquisition of Evox Rifa amounted to $17.9 million and $11.4 million, respectively, at March 31, 2008. As previously noted, goodwill related to this acquisition was written off during fiscal year 2009.

        In fiscal year 2007, the Company acquired the tantalum business unit of EPCOS for a purchase price of $105.8 million. The acquisition included a tantalum capacitor manufacturing operation in Evora, Portugal as well as certain research and development, marketing, and sales functions in various locations, primarily within Europe. EPCOS is managed and reported under Tantalum. With this purchase, the Company recorded $6.1 million of goodwill. Also, the Company recorded approximately $0.4 million of trademarks, $1.6 million of patents and $0.8 million for a noncompete agreement. As previously noted, goodwill related to this acquisition was written off during fiscal year 2009. The noncompete agreement is amortized using the straight line method over five years.

106



KEMET CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

Note 5: Goodwill and Intangible Assets (Continued)

        The following table highlights the Company's goodwill and other intangible assets (amounts in thousands):

 
  March 31, 2009   March 31, 2008  
 
  Carrying
Amount
  Accumulated
Amortization
  Carrying
Amount
  Accumulated
Amortization
 
 

Goodwill

  $         $ 182,273        
 

Trademarks

    7,617           7,617        
                       
   

Unamortized intangibles

    7,617           189,890        

Amortized Intangibles (3-20 years)

    21,447     4,970     40,653     12,484  
                   

  $ 29,064   $ 4,970   $ 230,543   $ 12,484  
                   

        Estimated amortization of intangible assets for the next five fiscal years and thereafter is $2.4 million, $2.0 million, $1.4 million, $1.4 million, $0.7 million and $8.6 million.

Note 6: Asset Sales

        Tantalum completed two sales of fixed assets during fiscal year 2009. In the second quarter of fiscal year 2009, the Company sold assets related to the production and sale of wet tantalum capacitors to a subsidiary of Vishay. Cash proceeds of $33.7 million were received, net of amounts held in escrow, from the sale of these assets. At the same time, the Company entered into a three-year term loan for $15.0 million with Vishay. See Note 2, "Debt, Liquidity and Capital Resources" for more information on the term loan. The sale resulted in a pre-tax gain of $28.3 million, which is net of related fees and amounts held in escrow. Proceeds of $1.5 million are held in escrow to secure the Company's obligations under the sales agreement and the Company is entitled to receive these funds in March 2010, unless both parties agree to disburse the funds at an earlier date or unless the buyer is entitled to a portion of the funds under the terms of the escrow agreement. The Company will record any release of escrow funds as additional gain when the funds are received. Annual revenues generated from these assets were approximately $16.0 million.

        Also during the second quarter of fiscal year 2009, the Company sold a property which was classified as held for sale as of March 31, 2008. Proceeds from this sale were $1.2 million which approximated the carrying value.

        In the ordinary course of business, the Company incurs losses due to the obsolescence and disposal of fixed assets. The net losses incurred in the ordinary course of business totaled $2.8 million and $0.7 million in fiscal years 2009 and 2008, respectively.

Note 7: Commitments

        (a) The Company has agreements with distributors and certain other customers that, under certain conditions, allow for returns of overstocked inventory, provide protection against price reductions initiated by the Company and grants other sales allowances. Allowances for these commitments are included in the Consolidated Balance Sheets as reductions in trade accounts receivable. See Note 1, "Organization and Significant Accounting Policies". The Company adjusts sales based on historical experience. Charges against sales in fiscal years 2009, 2008 and 2007 were $58.0 million, $67.6 million

107



KEMET CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

Note 7: Commitments (Continued)


and $74.2 million, respectively. Actual applications against the allowances in fiscal years 2009, 2008 and 2007 were $58.9 million, $68.1 million and $79.0 million, respectively.

        (b) On December 10, 2002, the Company announced that it agreed to an extension of the term of its tantalum supply agreement with Cabot Corporation ("Cabot"). The extended agreement relates to both tantalum powder and tantalum wire products and calls for reduced prices, higher volumes, and a term that ended in fiscal year 2007. As the prices of tantalum powder and tantalum wire products decreased, the Company recorded purchase commitment losses as well as inventory losses (if the inventory was on hand). As of March 31, 2006, the Company purchased the entire inventory that was committed to be purchased under the original agreement. The Company assumed a supply agreement with Cabot resulting from the acquisition of the EPCOS tantalum business unit on April 13, 2006. This contract extended through September 2008. The Company recorded an unfavorable contract provision on the opening balance sheet. The Company had a liability balance of $2.2 million as of April 1, 2007 and paid or settled the entire balance during fiscal year 2008.

        (c) The Company's leases are primarily for distribution facilities or sales offices that expire principally between 2009 and 2018. A number of leases require that the Company pay certain executory costs (taxes, insurance, and maintenance) and contain certain renewal and purchase options. Annual rental expenses for operating leases were included in results of operations and were $4.1 million, $4.2 million and $4.4 million in fiscal years 2009, 2008, and 2007, respectively.

        During fiscal year 2005, the Company subleased to a third party a 60,000 square foot facility and then leased back 5,000 square feet of this facility. Annual rental income from the sublease is included in the Consolidated Statements of Operations and was $0.2 million for fiscal years 2009, 2008 and 2007. The sublease rental expense was $0.1 million in fiscal years 2009, 2008, and 2007.

        Future minimum lease payments over the next five fiscal years and thereafter under non-cancelable operating leases at March 31, 2009, are as follows (amounts in thousands):

 
  Fiscal Years Ended March 31,  
 
  2010   2011   2012   2013   2014   Thereafter   Total  

Minimum lease payments

  $ 4,828   $ 3,238   $ 2,633   $ 2,020   $ 1,286   $ 1,367   $ 15,372  

Sublease rental income

    (238 )   (238 )   (238 )   (251 )   (252 )   (273 )   (1,490 )
                               

Net minimum lease payments

  $ 4,590   $ 3,000   $ 2,395   $ 1,769   $ 1,034   $ 1,094   $ 13,882  
                               

Note 8: Segment and Geographic Information

        The Company is organized into three distinct business groups: Tantalum, Ceramic, and Film and Electrolytic based primarily on products lines. Each business group is responsible for the operations of certain manufacturing sites as well as all related research and development efforts. The sales and marketing functions are shared by each of the business groups and are allocated to the business groups based on the business groups' respective budgeted net sales.

Tantalum

        Tantalum operates in eight manufacturing sites in the United States, Mexico, China, and Portugal. This business group produces tantalum and aluminum polymer capacitors. This business group also

108



KEMET CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

Note 8: Segment and Geographic Information (Continued)


maintains a product innovation center in the United States. Tantalum products are sold in all regions of the world.

Ceramic

        Ceramic operates in two manufacturing locations in Mexico. This business group produces ceramic capacitors. In addition, this business group also has a product innovation center in the United States. Ceramic products are sold in all regions of the world.

Film and Electrolytic

        Film and Electrolytic operates in thirteen manufacturing sites in Europe and Asia. This business group produces film, paper, and electrolytic capacitors. In addition, this business group also has a product innovation center in Sweden. Film and Electrolytic products are sold in all regions in the world.

        The following tables summarize information about each segment's net sales, operating income (loss), depreciation and amortization and total assets (amounts in thousands):

 
  Fiscal Years Ended March 31,  
 
  2009   2008   2007  

Net sales:

                   
 

Tantalum

  $ 366,675   $ 423,320   $ 424,203  
 

Ceramic

    175,916     225,610     234,511  
 

Film and Electrolytic. 

    261,794     201,190      
               

  $ 804,385   $ 850,120   $ 658,714  
               

Operating (loss) income(1)(2)(3):

                   
 

Tantalum

  $ 13,318   $ (1,752 ) $ 2,674  
 

Ceramic

    (98,694 )   (4,487 )   4,404  
 

Film and Electrolytic

    (185,736 )   (2,642 )    
               

  $ (271,112 ) $ (8,881 ) $ 7,078  
               

Depreciation and amortization expenses:

                   
 

Tantalum

  $ 31,411   $ 31,005   $ 26,294  
 

Ceramic

    10,625     13,654     13,766  
 

Film and Electrolytic

    13,666     6,139      
               

  $ 55,702   $ 50,798   $ 40,060  
               

109



KEMET CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

Note 8: Segment and Geographic Information (Continued)


 
  March 31,  
 
  2009   2008  

Total assets:

             
 

Tantalum

  $ 357,515   $ 496,256  
 

Ceramic

    155,768     282,405  
 

Film and Electrolytic. 

    201,518     473,239  
           

  $ 714,801   $ 1,251,900  
           
 
  Fiscal Years Ended March 31,  
 
  2009   2008   2007  

Total restructuring:

                   
 

Tantalum

  $ 11,388   $ 19,046   $ 7,013  
 

Ceramic

    7,143     5,125     5,559  
 

Film and Electrolytic. 

    12,343     1,170      
               

  $ 30,874   $ 25,341   $ 12,572  
               
 
  Fiscal Years Ended March 31,  
 
  2009   2008   2007  

Impairment charges and write downs:

                   
 

Tantalum

  $ 26,233   $ 4,218   $  
 

Ceramic

    78,187          
 

Film and Electrolytic

    137,531          
               

  $ 241,951   $ 4,218   $  
               
 
  Fiscal Years Ended March 31,  
 
  2009   2008   2007  

(Gain) loss on sale of assets:

                   
 

Tantalum

  $ (26,435 ) $ (442 ) $ (1,373 )
 

Ceramic

    1,123     (260 )   159  
 

Film and Electrolytic

    (193 )        
               

  $ (25,505 ) $ (702 ) $ (1,214 )
               

110



KEMET CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

Note 8: Segment and Geographic Information (Continued)

        The following highlights net sales by geographic location (amounts in thousands):

 
  Fiscal Years Ended March 31,(1)  
 
  2009   2008   2007  

United States

  $ 184,496   $ 212,021   $ 195,213  

Europe(2)(3)

    161,636     194,804     102,618  

Hong Kong

    111,460     109,604      

Germany

    105,288     81,689     61,837  

China

    86,140     74,426     178,116  

Asia Pacific(2)(3)

    43,775     83,258     57,602  

Singapore

    40,649     40,567     42,937  

Italy

    36,977     14,982      

United Kingdom

    20,809     16,074      

Other countries(2)

    13,155     22,695     20,391  
               

  $ 804,385   $ 850,120   $ 658,714  
               

        The following geographic information includes long-lived assets, including assets held for sale, based on physical location (amounts in thousands):

 
  March 31,  
 
  2009   2008  

Mexico

  $ 82,066   $ 126,849  

Italy

    80,564     64,503  

Portugal

    78,458     106,265  

United States

    63,551     97,318  

China

    44,593     49,231  

Indonesia

    12,850     13,355  

Finland

    9,326     18,582  

Other

    10,663     39,079  
           

  $ 382,071   $ 515,182  
           

111



KEMET CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

Note 9: Pension and Other Post-retirement Benefit Plans

        Effective March 31, 2007, the Company implemented the requirements of SFAS No. 158, " Employers' Accounting for Defined Benefit Pension and Other Post-retirement Plans ". Under SFAS No. 158, the funded status of each pension and other post-retirement benefit plan is required to be reported as an asset (for overfunded plans) or a liability (for underfunded plans), replacing the accrued or prepaid asset recorded and reversing any amounts previously recorded with respect to any additional minimum pension liability.

        The Company sponsors defined benefit pension plans which include eight in Europe, one in Singapore and two in Mexico. The Company funds the pension liabilities in accordance with laws and regulations applicable to those plans. Prior to the acquisition of Evox Rifa and Arcotronics in fiscal year 2008, the Company had immaterial European defined benefit pension plans which were not disclosed.

        The Company has two post-retirement benefit plans: health care and life insurance benefits for certain retired United States employees who reach retirement age while working for the Company. The health care plan is contributory, with participants' contributions adjusted annually. The life insurance plan is non-contributory.

        Effective March 1, 2009, the Company amended its post-retirement health care and life insurance benefit plans to eliminate all obligations for non- Union Carbide Corporation grandfathered retirees. As a result of this amendment, the Company recognized a curtailment gain of $30.6 million.

112



KEMET CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

Note 9: Pension and Other Post-retirement Benefit Plans (Continued)

        A summary of the changes in benefit obligations and plan assets is as follows (amounts in thousands):

 
  Pension   Other Benefits  
 
  2009   2008   2009   2008  

Change in Benefit Obligation

                         

Benefit obligation at beginning of the year

  $ 28,973   $ 8,469   $ 15,602   $ 16,608  

Service cost

    663     616     89     117  

Interest cost

    1,441     940     638     933  

Plan participants' contributions

    60     67     1,402     1,716  

Actuarial (gain) loss

    1,487     (1,807 )   (935 )   (1,291 )

Foreign currency exchange rate change

    (5,985 )   2,356          

Gross benefits paid

    (1,197 )   (1,107 )   (3,075 )   (2,602 )

Plan amendments and other

    4,779     69     (12,167 )   121  

Business acquisitions

        20,210          

Curtailments

    (229 )   (840 )        
                   

Benefit obligation at end of year

  $ 29,992   $ 28,973   $ 1,554   $ 15,602  
                   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Change in Plan Assets

                         

Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year

  $ 14,367   $ 5,344   $   $  

Actual return on plan assets

    (966 )   (471 )        

Foreign currency exchange rate changes

    (2,697 )   914          

Employer contributions

    1,163     816     1,673     886  

Plan participants' contributions

    60     67     1,402     1,716  

Gross benefits paid

    (1,197 )   (1,107 )   (3,075 )   (2,602 )

Business acquisitions

        8,804          
                   

Fair value of plan assets at end of year

  $ 10,730   $ 14,367   $   $  
                   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Funded status at end of year

                         

Fair value of plan assets

  $ 10,730   $ 14,367   $   $  

Benefit obligations

    (29,992 )   (28,973 )   (1,554 )   (15,602 )
                   

Amount recognized at end of year

  $ (19,262 ) $ (14,606 ) $ (1,554 ) $ (15,602 )
                   

        The Company expects to contribute $2.1 million to the pension plans in fiscal year 2010, which includes benefit payments to be made for unfunded plans.

        The Company expects to make no contributions to fund the post-retirement health care and life insurance benefit plans in fiscal year 2010 as the Company's policy is to pay benefits as costs are incurred.

113



KEMET CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

Note 9: Pension and Other Post-retirement Benefit Plans (Continued)

        Amounts recognized in the Consolidated Balance Sheets consist of the following (amounts in thousands):

 
  Pension   Other Benefits  
 
  2009   2008   2009   2008  

Noncurrent asset

  $ 65   $ 418   $   $  

Current liability

    (1,439 )   (237 )   (157 )   (1,542 )

Noncurrent liability

    (17,888 )   (14,787 )   (1,397 )   (14,060 )
                   

Amount recognized, end of year

  $ (19,262 ) $ (14,606 ) $ (1,554 ) $ (15,602 )
                   

        Amounts recognized in Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax, consist of the following (amounts in thousands):

 
  Pension   Other Benefits  
 
  2009   2008   2009   2008  

Net actuarial loss (gain)

  $ 2,347   $ (416 ) $ (2,971 ) $ (2,254 )

Prior service cost (credit)

    176     262         (19,926 )
                   

Accumulated other comprehensive income

  $ 2,523   $ (154 ) $ (2,971 ) $ (22,180 )
                   

        Components of benefit costs consist of the following (amounts in thousands):

 
  Pension   Other Benefits  
 
  2009   2008   2009   2008   2007  

Net service cost

  $ 662   $ 616   $ 89   $ 117   $ 379  

Interest cost

    1,441     941     638     933     1,540  

Expected return on plan assets

    (676 )   (482 )            

Amortization:

                               
 

Actuarial (gain) loss

    (3 )       (218 )   (7 )    
 

Prior service (credit) cost

    24     20     (1,459 )   (2,376 )   (1,728 )

Curtailment (gain) loss

    (201 )   (806 )   (30,634 )        
                       

Net periodic benefit cost (credit)

  $ 1,247   $ 289   $ (31,584 ) $ (1,333 ) $ 191  
                       

        The estimated amounts that will be amortized from accumulated other comprehensive income into net periodic benefit costs in fiscal year 2010 are actuarial gains of $(178,000), and prior service costs of $20,000.

114



KEMET CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

Note 9: Pension and Other Post-retirement Benefit Plans (Continued)

        The asset allocation for the Company's European pension plans at March 31, 2009 and the target allocation for 2009, by asset category, are as follows:

Asset Category
  Target
Allocation
  Plan Assets at
March 31, 2009
 

Insurance

    60.0 %   60.1 %

Domestic bonds(1)

    15.0     18.2  

Domestic equity(1)

    15.0     12.1  

Foreign equity(2)

    10.0     9.6  
           

    100.0 %   100.0 %
           

        The Company's investment strategy for its defined benefit pension plans is to maximize long-term rate of return on plan assets within an acceptable level of risk in order to minimize the cost of providing pension benefits. The investment policy establishes a target allocation range for each asset class and the fund is managed within those ranges. The plans use a number of investment approaches including insurance products, equity and fixed income funds in which the underlying securities are marketable in order to achieve this target allocation. Certain plans invest solely in insurance products.

        The expected rate of return was determined by modeling the expected long-term rates of return for broad categories of investments held by the plan against a number of various potential economic scenarios.

        Other changes in plan assets and benefit obligations recognized in Other comprehensive income (loss) are as follows (amounts in thousands):

 
  Pension   Other Benefits  
 
  2009   2008   2009   2008   2007  

Curtailment effects

  $   $   $ 30,311   $   $  

Current year actuarial (gain) loss

    3,129     (854 )   (935 )   (1,291 )    

Foreign currency exchange rate changes

    (402 )                        

Amortization of actuarial gain

    3         218     7      

Current year prior service (credit) cost

    (29 )   34     (12,167 )   121      

Amortization of prior service credit (cost)

    (24 )   (20 )   1,782     2,376      
                       

Total recognized in other comprehensive income

    2,677     (840 )   19,209     1,213      
                       

Total recognized in net periodic benefit cost and other comprehensive income (loss)

  $ 3,924   $ (551 ) $ (12,375 ) $ (120 ) $ 191  
                       

        In fiscal year 2009, the Company amended its post-retirement plan to eliminate all obligations for non-UCC grandfathered retirees.

115



KEMET CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

Note 9: Pension and Other Post-retirement Benefit Plans (Continued)

        In fiscal year 2007, the Company made certain changes in the post-retirement benefit plan. Effective March 31, 2007:

        Each of these changes has been factored into the following benefit payments schedule for the next ten fiscal years. The Company expects to have benefit payments in the future as follows (amounts in thousands):

 
  Expected benefit payments  
 
  2010   2011   2012   2013   2014   2015-2019  

Pension benefits

  $ 2,321   $ 1,110   $ 1,182   $ 1,239   $ 1,435   $ 8,484  

Other benefits

    161     161     159     156     150     631  
                           

  $ 2,482   $ 1,271   $ 1,341   $ 1,395   $ 1,585   $ 9,115  
                           

        The following weighted-average assumptions were used to determine the projected benefit obligation at the measurement date and the net periodic cost for the pension and post-retirement plan (amounts in thousands):

 
  Pension   Other Benefits  
 
  2009   2008   2009   2008   2007  

Projected benefit obligation:

                               
 

Discount rate

    5.5 %   5.6 %   5.9 %   6.0 %   6.1 %
 

Rate of compensation increase

    2.8 %   2.3 %            

Net periodic benefit cost:

                               
 

Discount rate

    5.6 %   5.1 %   6.0 %   6.1 %   6.1 %
 

Rate of compensation increase

    2.3 %   3.2 %           4.0 %
 

Expected return on plan assets

    5.5 %   5.6 %            

Health care cost trend on covered charges

            8.5 %   8.5 %   9.0 %

                decreasing     decreasing     decreasing  

                to ultimate     to ultimate     to ultimate  

                trend of 5 %   trend of 5 %   trend of 5 %

                in 2015     in 2015     in 2015  

Sensitivity of retiree welfare results

                               
 

Effect of a one percentage point increase in assumed health care cost trend:

                               
   

—On total service and interest costs components

              $ 32   $ 49   $ 87  
   

—On post-retirement benefits obligation

                42     566     546  
 

Effect of a one percentage point decrease in assumed health care cost trend:

                               
   

—On total service and interest costs components

                (28 )   (43 )   (76 )
   

—On post-retirement benefits obligation

                (38 )   (510 )   (498 )

        The measurement date used to determine pension and post-retirement benefits is March 31.

116



KEMET CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

Note 9: Pension and Other Post-retirement Benefit Plans (Continued)

        The Company evaluated input from its third-party actuary to determine the appropriate discount rate. The determination of the discount rate is based on various factors such as the rate on bonds, term of the expected payouts, and long-term inflation factors.

        The Company also sponsors a deferred compensation plan for highly compensated employees. The plan is non-qualified and allows certain employees to contribute to the plan. Losses net of the Company matches related to the deferred compensation plan were $0.7 million in fiscal year 2009, $0.3 million in fiscal year 2008, and $0.7 million in fiscal year 2007. Total benefits accrued under this plan were $1.2 million at March 31, 2009 and $2.3 million at March 31, 2008.

        In addition, the Company has a defined contribution plan (the "Savings Plan") in which all United States employees who meet certain eligibility requirements may participate. A participant may direct the Company to contribute amounts, based on a percentage of the participant's compensation, to the Savings Plan through the execution of salary reduction agreements. In addition, the participants may elect to make after-tax contributions. Until January 1, 2009, the Company matched contributions to the Savings Plan up to 6% of the employee's salary. Effective January 1, 2009, the Company temporarily suspended its matching contributions, reducing it from 6% to 0%. The Company made matching contributions of $1.6 million, $2.4 million, and $2.2 million in fiscal years 2009, 2008, and 2007, respectively. As part of the Savings Plan, employees were previously able to elect to purchase the Company's stock. Effective January 1, 2009, the option to elect purchases of KEMET stock was eliminated. For fiscal years 2009, 2008 and 2007, the Savings Plan purchased 284,765; 85,394; and 52,053 shares, respectively.

Note 10: Income Taxes

        The components of income (loss) before income taxes consist of (amounts in thousands):

 
  Fiscal Years Ended March 31,  
 
  2009   2008   2007  

Domestic (U.S.)

  $ (132,334 ) $ (33,233 ) $ (15,912 )

Foreign (Outside U.S.)

    (147,747 )   20,751     23,372  
               

  $ (280,081 ) $ (12,482 ) $ 7,460  
               

117



KEMET CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

Note 10: Income Taxes (Continued)

        The provision for income tax expense (benefit) is as follows (amounts in thousands):

 
  Fiscal Years Ended March 31,  
 
  2009   2008   2007  

Current:

                   
 

Federal

  $ 274   $ (961 ) $  
 

State and local

    96     45     (102 )
 

Foreign

    4,574     3,685     1,964  
               

    4,944     2,769     1,862  
               

Deferred:

                   
 

State and local

    (227 )   (1,996 )    
 

Foreign

    (7,919 )   4,338     (1,299 )
               

    (8,146 )   2,342     (1,299 )
               

Provision (benefit) for income taxes

  $ (3,202 ) $ 5,111   $ 563  
               

        A reconciliation of the statutory federal income tax rate to the effective income tax rate is as follows:

 
  Fiscal Years Ended March 31,  
 
  2009   2008   2007  

Statutory federal income tax rate

    (35.0 )%   (35.0 )%   35.0 %

State income taxes, net of federal taxes

    (0.4 )   (5.9 )   30.9  

Effect of foreign operations

    2.9     (20.2 )   (42.1 )

Change in tax exposure reserves

    0.1     (6.5 )   (16.3 )

Tax credits

    (3.4 )   (61.9 )   (31.5 )

Permanent items

    25.1     19.1     64.6  

Change in valuation allowance

    10.1     161.6     (45.0 )

Benefit from amended federal returns

        (8.5 )    

Other

    (0.5 )   (1.8 )   11.9  
               

Effective income tax rate

    (1.1 )%   40.9 %   7.5 %
               

118



KEMET CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

Note 10: Income Taxes (Continued)

        The components of deferred tax assets and liabilities are as follows (amounts in thousands):

 
  March 31,  
 
  2009   2008  

Deferred tax assets:

             
 

Net operating loss carryforwards

  $ 168,086   $ 158,842  
 

Tax credits

    25,507     20,137  
 

Medical benefits

    6,440     18,581  
 

Sales allowances and inventory reserves

    9,979     14,239  
 

Stock options

    3,316     3,119  
 

Other

    8,118     5,090  
           
   

Gross deferred tax assets

    221,446     220,008  
           
 

Less valuation allowance

    (205,613 )   (190,433 )
           
   

Net deferred tax assets

    15,833     29,575  
           

Deferred tax liabilities:

             
 

Depreciation and differences in basis

    (14,592 )   (39,641 )
 

Amortization of intangibles

    (2,831 )   (3,090 )
 

Non-amortized intangibles

    (2,569 )   (2,535 )
 

Other

    (1,156 )   (1,971 )
           
   

Gross deferred tax liabilities

    (21,148 )   (47,237 )
           

Net deferred tax asset (liability)

  $ (5,315 ) $ (17,662 )
           

        The change in net deferred income tax asset (liability) for the current year is presented below (amounts in thousands):

 
  Fiscal Year
2009
 

Balance at March 31, 2008

  $ (17,662 )

Deferred income taxes related to continuing operations

    8,146  

Goodwill reclass

    2,902  

Foreign Currency Translation

    1,299  
       

Balance at March 31, 2009

  $ (5,315 )
       

        As of March 31, 2009 and 2008, the Company's gross deferred tax assets are reduced by a valuation allowance of $205.6 million and $190.4 million, respectively, due to negative evidence indicating that a valuation allowance is required under SFAS No. 109. The valuation allowance increased $15.2 million during fiscal year 2009, principally due to the valuation allowance reducing the additional net operating loss carryforwards generated during fiscal year 2009.

        In assessing the realizability of deferred tax assets, management considers whether it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. The ultimate realization of deferred tax assets is dependent upon the generation of future taxable income during the periods in which those temporary differences become deductible. Management considers the scheduled reversal of deferred tax liabilities, projected future taxable income, and tax planning strategies in

119



KEMET CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

Note 10: Income Taxes (Continued)


making this assessment. Based upon the level of historical taxable income and projections for future taxable income over the periods in which the deferred tax assets are deductible, management believes it is more likely than not that the Company will realize the benefits of these deductible differences, net of the existing valuation allowances as of March 31, 2009. The amount of deferred tax assets considered realizable; however, could be reduced in the near term if estimates of future taxable income during the carryforward period are reduced.

        The net deferred income tax asset (liability) is reflected in the accompanying fiscal years 2009 and 2008 Consolidated Balance Sheets as a $0.2 million and $4.0 million current asset and a $5.5 million and $21.7 million non-current liability, respectively.

        As of March 31, 2009, the Company has U.S. net operating loss carryforwards for federal and state income tax purposes of $329.0 million and $329.0 million, respectively. These net operating losses are available to offset future federal and state taxable income, if any, through 2029. Foreign subsidiaries in Switzerland, Portugal, Australia, within Evox Rifa, and within Arcotronics had net operating losses and capital loss carryforwards totaling $150.7 million. There is a greater likelihood of not realizing the future tax benefits of these deferred tax assets; and accordingly, the Company has recorded valuation allowances related to the net deferred tax assets in these jurisdictions.

        Utilization of the Company's net operating loss carryforwards may be subject to substantial annual limitation due to the ownership change limitations provided by the Internal Revenue Code and similar state provisions. Such an annual limitation could result in the expiration of the net operating loss and tax credit carryforwards before utilization. See Note 17, "Subsequent Events", for discussion of specific factors which could adversely impact the Company's ability to utilize its net operating loss carryforwards.

        At March 31, 2009, $0.5 million of the $168.1 million deferred tax asset for net operating losses represented losses generated by stock option deductions in excess of book expense. The valuation allowance related to the $0.5 million deferred tax asset generated by stock option deductions would be credited to equity when recognized.

        Deferred tax expense (benefit) of $0 was attributed to other comprehensive income (loss) for the fiscal years ended March 31, 2009, 2008 and 2007.

        At March 31, 2009, unremitted earnings of the subsidiaries outside the United States were deemed to be permanently invested. The Company has $45.1 million of unremitted foreign earnings. No current plans are expected for repatriation and no deferred tax liability was recognized with regard to such earnings. It is not practicable to estimate the income tax liability that might be incurred if such earnings were remitted to the United States.

        In June 2006, the FASB issued Interpretation No. 48, " Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes " ("FIN No. 48") which clarifies the accounting for uncertainty in income taxes recognized in the financial statements in accordance with FASB Statement No. 109, " Accounting for Income Taxes ." FIN No. 48 provides guidance on the financial statement recognition and measurement of tax position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. FIN No. 48 requires that the Company recognize in its financial statements, the impact of a tax position, if that position is "more likely than not" of being sustained on audit, based on the technical merits of the position.

        The Company adopted the provisions of FIN No. 48 on April 1, 2007. As a result of the implementation of FIN No. 48, the Company recognized a decrease of $4.2 million in the liability for

120



KEMET CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

Note 10: Income Taxes (Continued)


unrecognized tax benefits, which was accounted for as a $3.7 million increase to the April 1, 2007 balance of retained earnings and a $0.5 million reduction of goodwill. As of the date of adoption, the Company had $5.7 million of unrecognized tax benefits, of which $2.7 million, if recognized, would favorably affect the Company's effective tax rate.

        Evox Rifa adopted the provisions of FIN No. 48 on April 24, 2007, the date of acquisition. As a result of the implementation of FIN No. 48, the Company recorded $0.6 million for unrecognized tax benefits, which was accounted for as a reduction in the deferred tax asset and deferred tax valuation allowance. None of the $0.6 million of unrecognized tax benefits would affect the Company's effective tax rate, if recognized.

        Arcotronics adopted the provisions of FIN No. 48 on October 12, 2007, the date of acquisition. As a result of the implementation of FIN No. 48, there was no material impact on the Company's consolidated financial statements and no material change in the total amounts of unrecognized tax benefits from the adoption date to March 31, 2009.

        At March 31, 2009, the Company had $5.0 million of unrecognized tax benefits. A reconciliation of the beginning and ending amounts of gross unrecognized tax benefits (excluding interest and penalties) is as follows (amounts in thousands):

 
  Fiscal Year Ended
March 31,
 
 
  2009   2008  

Balance at March 31, 2008

  $ 4,995   $ 5,683  

Additions for tax positions of the current year

    283     251  

Additions for tax positions of prior years

    430     1,413  

Reductions for tax positions of prior years

    (536 )   (46 )

Settlements

    (162 )   (2,306 )
           

Balance at March 31, 2009

  $ 5,010   $ 4,995  
           

        At March 31, 2009, $0.7 million of the $5.0 million of unrecognized tax benefits would affect the Company's effective tax rate, if recognized. The Company does not expect that the balances with respect to its uncertain tax positions will significantly increase or decrease during fiscal year 2010.

        The Company files income tax returns in the U.S. and multiple foreign jurisdictions, including various state and local jurisdictions. With few exceptions, the Company is no longer subject to U.S. federal, state and local tax examinations for years before fiscal year 2005 and is no longer subject to foreign income tax examinations by tax authorities for years before fiscal year 2003.

        The Company recognizes potential accrued interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits within its global operations in income tax expense. In conjunction with the adoption of FIN No. 48, the Company continued this practice and had $0.3 million and $0.1 million of accrued interest and penalties at March 31, 2009 and March 31, 2008, respectively, which is included as a component of income tax expense. During fiscal year 2009, the Company recognized approximately $0.1 million in potential interest associated with uncertain tax positions. To the extent interest and penalties are not assessed with respect to uncertain tax positions, amounts accrued will be reduced and reflected as a reduction of the overall income tax provision.

121



KEMET CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

Note 11: Stock-Based Compensation

        The Company's stock-based compensation plans are broad-based, long-term retention programs intended to attract and retain talented employees and align stockholder and employee interests. On April 1, 2006, the Company adopted SFAS No. 123(R), which requires the measurement and recognition of compensation expense, based on estimated fair values, for all share-based awards made to employees and directors, including stock options and restricted stock.

        The major components of share-based compensation expense are as follows (amounts in thousands):

 
  Fiscal Years Ended March 31,  
 
  2009   2008   2007  

Employee stock options

  $ 1,158   $ 1,622   $ 2,077  

Performance vesting stock options

        940     681  

Restricted stock

    238     452     2,821  

Long term incentive plan

    (326 )   326     1,232  
               

  $ 1,070   $ 3,340   $ 6,811  
               

        For fiscal years 2009, 2008 and 2007, compensation expense associated with all share-based compensation plans was recorded in the line item "Selling, general and administrative expense" on the Consolidated Statements of Operations.

Employee Stock Options

        At March 31, 2009, the Company had three option plans that reserved shares of common stock for issuance to executives and key employees: the 1992 Key Employee Stock Option Plan, the 1995 Executive Stock Plan, and the 2004 Long-Term Equity Incentive Plan. All of these plans were approved by the Company's shareholders. These plans authorized the grant of up to 8.1 million shares of the Company's common stock. The Company has no plans to purchase additional shares in conjunction with its employee stock option program in the near future. Options issued under these plans vest in one or two years and expire ten years from the grant date.

122



KEMET CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

Note 11: Stock-Based Compensation (Continued)

        Employee stock option activity is as follows (amounts in thousands, except exercise price, fair value and contractual life):

 
  Fiscal Years Ended March 31,  
 
  2009   2008   2007  
 
  Options   Weighted-
Average
Exercise
Price
  Options   Weighted-
Average
Exercise
Price
  Options   Weighted-
Average
Exercise
Price
 

Outstanding at beginning of period

    4,844   $ 10.59     4,519   $ 10.84     4,549   $ 11.15  

Granted

    652     1.07     464     7.63     440     7.60  

Exercised

            (22 )   5.96     (88 )   6.95  

Forfeited

    (455 )   9.65     (72 )   7.53     (115 )   6.93  

Expired

    (1,514 )   10.69     (45 )   11.38     (267 )   13.67  
                                 

Outstanding at end of period

    3,527     8.26     4,844     10.59     4,519     10.84  
                                 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Exercisable at March 31

    2,464   $ 10.25     3,974   $ 11.24     3,036   $ 12.64  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted average fair value of options granted during the year

        $ 0.47         $ 3.45         $ 3.85  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Remaining weighted average contractual life of options exercisable (years)

          4.9           5.0           5.0  

        The total estimated fair value of shares vested during fiscal years 2009, 2008 and 2007 was $1.3 million, $3.4 million and $0.1 million, respectively.

        The following table sets forth the exercise prices, the number of options outstanding and exercisable and the remaining contractual lives of the Company's stock options as of March 31, 2009 (amounts in thousands except exercise price and contractual life):

Options Outstanding   Options Exercisable  
Range of
Exercise
Prices
  Number
Outstanding
at 3/31/09
  Weighted-Average
Remaining
Contractual Life (years)
  Weighted-Average
Exercise
Price ($)
  Number
Exercisable
at 3/31/09
  Weighted-Average
Exercise
Price ($)
 
$0.64 to $2.77     646     9.5     1.07          
$2.78 to $7.25     682     6.4     6.97     666     7.02  
$7.26 to $7.72     684     8.2     7.57     283     7.35  
$7.73 to $11.50     582     5.0     8.44     582     8.44  
$11.51 to $14.50     616     3.3     13.33     616     13.33  
$14.51 to $17.50     317     2.2     16.96     317     16.96  
                             
      3,527     6.2     8.26     2,464     10.25  
                             

        As of March 31, 2009, there was no intrinsic value related to options outstanding or exercisable. Total unrecognized compensation cost, net of estimated forfeitures, related to non-vested options was $0.6 million as of March 31, 2009. This cost is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 1.1 years. At March 31, 2009 and 2008, respectively, the weighted average exercise price of stock options expected to vest was $3.64 and $7.61.

123



KEMET CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

Note 11: Stock-Based Compensation (Continued)

        The Company measures the fair value of each employee stock option grant at the date of grant using a Black-Scholes option pricing model. This model requires the input of assumptions regarding a number of complex and subjective variables that will usually have a significant impact on the fair value estimate. The following table summarizes the weighted average assumptions used in the Black-Scholes valuation model to value stock option grants:

 
  Fiscal Years Ended March 31,  
 
  2009   2008   2007  

Assumptions:

                   
 

Dividend yield

             
 

Expected volatility

    58.8 %   40.5 %   43.5 %
 

Risk-free interest rate

    3.5 %   3.6 %   4.0 %
 

Expected option lives in years

    3.5     6.0     6.0  

        The dividend yield is based on a set dividend rate of 0.0% as the Company has not paid and does not anticipate paying dividends. The expected volatility is based on a 3.5-year historical volatility of the Company's stock. The risk-free rate is based on the U.S. Treasury yield with a maturity commensurate with the expected term, which was 3.5 years, 6 years and 6 years for the fiscal years ended March 31, 2009, 2008 and 2007, respectively. The expected term is based on the Company's historical option term which considers the weighted-average vesting, contractual term and two-year cliff vesting. In addition, stock-based compensation expense is calculated based on the number of awards that are ultimately expected to vest, and therefore has been reduced for estimated forfeitures. The Company's estimate of expected forfeitures is based on the Company's historical annual forfeiture rate of 1.5%. The estimated forfeiture rate, which is evaluated each balance sheet date throughout the life of the award, provides a time-based adjustment of forfeited shares. The estimated forfeiture rate is reassessed at each balance sheet date and may change based on new facts and circumstances.

Performance Vesting Stock Options

        During fiscal year 2006, the Company issued 500,000 performance awards with a weighted-average exercise price of $8.05 to the Chief Executive Officer which will entitle him to receive shares of common stock if and when the stock price maintains certain thresholds. These awards are open ended until they vest and will have a ten-year life after vesting or will expire on the third year following retirement, whichever comes first. At March 31, 2009, none of these awards have vested as the stock price did not reach the first vesting threshold.

        The weighted-average grant-date fair value of these awards was $5.64 per share. The Company recognized compensation expense of $2.8 million related to these stock options in fiscal year 2007.

124



KEMET CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

Note 11: Stock-Based Compensation (Continued)

        The Company measured the fair value of each performance stock award at the date of grant using the Monte Carlo option pricing model with the following assumptions:

 
  Fiscal Year
Ended
March 31, 2007
 

Assumptions:

       
 

Dividend yield

     
 

Expected volatility

    49.2 %
 

Risk-free interest rate

    4.5 %
 

Expected option lives in years

    6.0  

Restricted Stock and Long-Term Incentive Plans ("LTIP")

        Restricted stock activity for fiscal year 2009 is as follows (amounts in thousands except fair value):

 
  Shares   Weighted-average
Fair Value
on Grant
 

Non-vested restricted stock at March 31, 2008

    13   $ 6.83  

Granted

    241     3.33  

Vested

    (236 )   4.82  
             

Non-vested restricted stock at March 31, 2009

    18   $ 0.51  
             

Restricted Stock

        The Company grants shares of restricted stock to members of the Board of Directors and the Chief Executive Officer. Restricted stock granted to the Board of Directors vests in one year while restricted stock granted to the Chief Executive Officer vests immediately. The contractual term on restricted stock is indefinite. As of March 31, 2009, unrecognized compensation costs related to the unvested restricted stock share based compensation arrangements granted was $9,000. The costs are estimated to be recognized over a period of one year.

2007/2008 LTIP

        In fiscal year 2007, the Board of Directors approved a long-term incentive plan ("2007/2008 LTIP") which entitled the holders to receive restricted shares of common stock in May 2008 if certain performance measures were met as compared to a peer group index and if the Company met a prescribed two year earnings per share target for the combined fiscal years ending in March 2007 and 2008. Effective May 15, 2008, the measurement date, management determined that the earnings per share target was achieved and as such 180,000 shares were owed to plan participants.

        The Company measured the fair value of each peer company performance stock award at the date of grant using the Monte Carlo option pricing model with the following assumptions:

 
  Fiscal Year
Ended
March 31, 2007
 

Assumptions:

       
 

Dividend yield

     
 

Expected volatility

    38.0 %
 

Risk-free interest rate

    4.8 %
 

Expected option lives in years

    1.5  

125



KEMET CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

Note 11: Stock-Based Compensation (Continued)

2008/2009 LTIP

        In fiscal year 2008, the Board of Directors approved a long-term incentive plan ("2008/2009 LTIP") which entitled the participants to receive up to 134,153 shares of common stock of the Company in May 2009 if certain performance measures were met as compared to the S&P 600 Smallcap Index and up to 249,140 shares if the Company met a prescribed two year earnings per share target. During the first quarter of fiscal year 2009, all of the participants in the 2008/2009 LTIP entered into cancellation agreements; and accordingly, the 2008/2009 LTIP was cancelled.

        The Company measured the fair value of each peer company performance stock award at the date of grant using the Monte Carlo option pricing model with the following assumptions:

 
  Fiscal Year Ended March 31, 2008  

Assumptions:

       
 

Dividend yield

     
 

Expected volatility

    38.0 %
 

Risk-free interest rate

    4.8 %
 

Expected option lives in years

    1.5  

2009/2010 LTIP

        During the first quarter of fiscal year 2009, the Board of Directors approved a new long-term incentive plan ("2009/2010 LTIP") based upon the achievement of an earnings per share target for the combined fiscal years ending in March 2009 and 2010. These awards vest on the measurement date of May 15, 2010.

        The 2009/2010 LTIP entitles the participants to receive up to 685,799 shares of KEMET common stock if the target financial metric is realized. Each fiscal quarter the Company assessed the likelihood of meeting the target financial metric and concluded in each quarter that the target would not be achieved. Accordingly, no compensation expense was recorded during fiscal year 2009. The compensation costs, if any, associated with the 2009/2010 LTIP will be expensed quarterly over the next four quarters ending March 31, 2010. The Company will continue to monitor the likelihood of whether the target financial metric will be realized and will adjust compensation expense to match expectations.

        All options plans provide that options to purchase shares be supported by the Company's authorized but unissued common stock or treasury stock. All restricted stock and performance awards are also supported by the Company's authorized but unissued common stock or treasury stock. The prices of the options granted pursuant to these plans are not less than 100% of the value of the shares on the date of the grant.

        In the Operating activities section of the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows, stock-based compensation expense was treated as an adjustment to net income (loss) for the fiscal years 2009, 2008 and 2007.

126



KEMET CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

Note 12:    Supplemental Balance Sheets and Statements of Operations Detail (amounts in thousands)

 
   
  March 31,  
 
   
  2009   2008  

Accounts receivable:

                 
 

Trade

      $ 128,778   $ 199,653  
 

Other

        7,307     14,240  
               

        136,085     213,893  
               

Less:

                 
 

Allowance for doubtful accounts

        4,000     4,550  
 

Allowance for price protection, customer returns and other

        11,946     12,085  
               

      $ 120,139   $ 197,258  
               

Inventories:

                 
 

Raw materials and supplies

      $ 59,687   $ 98,652  
 

Work in process

        48,105     85,138  
 

Finished goods

        47,189     59,924  
               

      $ 154,981   $ 243,714  
               
 
  Useful life    
   
 

Property plant and equipment:

                 
 

Land and land improvements

  20 years   $ 14,515   $ 24,260  
 

Buildings

  20-40 years     135,007     151,615  
 

Machinery and equipment

  10 years     763,047     868,696  
 

Furniture and fixtures

  4-10 years     45,370     63,401  
 

Construction in progress

      23,010     44,997  
               
 

Total property and equipment

        980,949     1,152,969  
 

Accumulated depreciation

        (622,972 )   (673,573 )
               

      $ 357,977   $ 479,396  
               

Accrued expenses:

                 
 

Salaries, wages, and related employee costs

      $ 18,505   $ 28,517  
 

Vacation

        10,455     7,282  
 

Restructuring (Note 4)

        5,643     1,835  
 

Interest

        4,254     4,051  
 

Property taxes

        1,079     1,062  
 

Current portion of pension/postretiree medical

        1,596     1,542  
 

Other

        9,593     15,337  
               

      $ 51,125   $ 59,626  
               

Other non-current obligations:

                 
 

Employee separation liability

      $ 21,140   $ 28,422  
 

European social security accrual

        12,018     19,521  
 

Pension plans (Note 9)

        17,888     14,787  
 

Non-current restructuring (Note 4)

        2,250      
 

Accrued post-retirement benefit plan liability (Note 9)

        1,397     14,060  
 

Deferred compensation (Note 9)

        1,192     2,336  
 

Long-term lease

        567     337  
 

Non-current FIN No. 48 accrual

        347     453  
 

Other

        517     214  
               

      $ 57,316   $ 80,130  
               

127



KEMET CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

Note 12:    Supplemental Balance Sheets and Statements of Operations Detail (amounts in thousands) (Continued)

 
  Fiscal Years Ended March 31,  
 
  2009   2008   2007  

Other (income) expense, net:

                   
 

Foreign exchange transaction gain

  $ (14,079 ) $ (5,316 ) $ (2,610 )
 

Loss on sale of securities

        341     964  
 

Other (income) expense, net

    (5 )   563     373  
               

  $ (14,084 ) $ (4,412 ) $ (1,273 )
               

Note 13:    Legal Proceedings

        The Company has periodically incurred liability under federal and state laws with respect to sites used for off-site management or disposal of Company-derived wastes. The Company believes that any potential liability with respect to pending proceedings arising out of such laws is not material to the Company's financial position or results of operations. In March 2009, the Company made a de minimis payment to withdraw from further participation as a potentially responsible party ("PRP") in proceedings concerning the Seaboard Chemical Site in Jamestown, North Carolina and does not expect any further liability arising out of such proceedings. In addition, the Company has re-evaluated its potential liability as a PRP at a hazardous waste disposal site in York County, South Carolina and determined that such potential liability is not material.

        The Company or its subsidiaries are at any one time parties to a number of lawsuits arising out of their respective operations, including workers' compensation or work place safety cases, some of which involve claims of substantial damages. Although there can be no assurance, based upon information known to the Company, the Company does not believe that any liability which might result from an adverse determination of such lawsuits would have a material adverse effect on the Company's financial condition or results of operations.

Note 14:    Income (Loss) Per Share

        Basic earnings per share calculation is based on the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding. Diluted earnings per share calculation is based on the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding adjusted by the number of additional shares that would have been outstanding had the potentially dilutive common shares been issued. Potentially dilutive shares of common stock include stock options.

128



KEMET CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

Note 14:    Income (Loss) Per Share (Continued)

        The following table presents the basic and diluted weighted-average number of shares of common stock. (amounts in thousands, except per share data):

 
  Fiscal Years Ended March 31,  
 
  2009   2008   2007  

Net income (loss)

  $ (276,879 ) $ (17,593 ) $ 6,897  

Weighted-average common shares outstanding

    80,572     83,400     85,647  

Effect of potentially dilutive securities:

                   
 

Stock options

            148  
               

Weighted-average shares outstanding (diluted)

    80,572     83,400     85,795  
               

Basic and diluted income (loss) per share

  $ (3.44 ) $ (0.21 ) $ 0.08  

        The fiscal year 2009 and 2008 dilutive stock options were zero and 183,000, respectively.

Note 15:    Common Stock

        The Board of Directors has previously authorized a share buyback program to purchase up to 11.3 million shares of its common stock on the open market. On February 1, 2008, the Company announced that it was reactivating its share buyback program. Under the terms of the approval by its Board, the Company is authorized to repurchase up to 5.9 million shares of its common stock. Through March 31, 2008, the Company purchased 3.7 million shares for $18.2 million and no additional shares were repurchased during fiscal year 2009. At March 31, 2009, the Company held 7.7 million shares of treasury stock at a cost of $59.4 million.

Note 16:    Acquisitions

Fiscal Year 2008 Acquisitions

Evox Rifa Group Oyj

        On April 24, 2007, pursuant to the terms of a Combination Agreement between KEMET Electronics Corporation, a wholly-owned subsidiary of KEMET Corporation, and Evox Rifa Group Oyj ("Evox Rifa"), the Company purchased 92.7% of Evox Rifa pursuant to a tender offer which commenced on March 12, 2007, and was completed on April 12, 2007. Evox Rifa had 178.2 million shares outstanding at the time of the commencement of the tender offer. The Company purchased 165.2 million shares at a price of EUR 0.12 per share or EUR 19.8 million ($27.0 million). The Company announced at the time that it intended to acquire the remaining outstanding shares pursuant to a squeeze-out process. Following the settlement of the completion trades relating to the tender offer, Evox Rifa became a subsidiary of the Company. In September 2007, the Company completed the squeeze-out process and accordingly, purchased the remaining outstanding shares of Evox Rifa for EUR 1.8 million ($2.4 million). This additional amount is considered part of the purchase price of the acquisition.

        In addition, pursuant to the tender offer, the Company offered to acquire all of the outstanding loan notes under the convertible capital loan issued by Evox Rifa for a consideration corresponding to the aggregate of the nominal amount per loan note of EUR 100 plus accrued interest up to and including the closing date of the tender offer. The outstanding amount of the loan notes and accrued

129



KEMET CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

Note 16:    Acquisitions (Continued)

interest at the time of the commencement of the tender offer totaled EUR 5.9 million ($8.1 million). Holders of 95.7% of the convertible capital loan notes issued by Evox Rifa tendered their loan notes pursuant to the tender offer; and consequently, the Company redeemed these notes as of April 24, 2007. In addition to the payment made for the shares and loan notes, the Company assumed EUR 19.5 million ($26.6 million) in outstanding indebtedness of Evox Rifa.

        The Company acquired Evox Rifa to expand its product offerings and technology base and to strengthen its business in the European marketplace.

        The acquisition of Evox Rifa, included in operating results from the acquisition date, was accounted for using the purchase method in accordance with SFAS No. 141, " Business Combinations ;" and accordingly, the purchase price was allocated to the assets purchased and liabilities assumed based upon their respective fair values at the date of the acquisition. The fair value, at the date of acquisition, of the net assets acquired and the liabilities assumed were $105.2 million and $64.4 million, respectively. The excess of the purchase price over the fair value of the net assets acquired, at the acquisition date, of $15.3 million was recorded as goodwill. Goodwill is not deductible for tax purposes. The fair value of intangible assets, other than goodwill, was $10.0 million and based, in part, on a valuation using an income approach and estimates and assumptions provided by management.

        The total purchase price for Evox Rifa was $40.8 million and is comprised of (amounts in millions):

Common stock purchases

  $ 29.9  

Acquisition of convertible debt

    8.1  

Acquisition related costs

    2.8  
       

  $ 40.8  
       

        The purchase price was determined through arms-length negotiations between representatives of the Company and Evox Rifa.

        The following table presents the final allocations of the aggregate purchase price based on the assets and liabilities estimated fair values (amounts in millions):

 
  Fair Value  

Cash

  $ 1.7  

Accounts receivable

    23.7  

Inventories

    24.1  

Other current assets

    1.8  

Property, plant and equipment

    28.6  

Intangible assets

    10.0  

Goodwill

    15.3  

Current liabilities

    (46.5 )

Other long-term obligations

    (17.9 )
       

Total net assets acquired

  $ 40.8  
       

130



KEMET CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

Note 16:    Acquisitions (Continued)

        The assigned fair value of $10.0 million relating to intangible assets includes values of $6.4 million for customer relationships, $3.1 million for technology, and $0.5 million for favorable lease-hold agreements. In fiscal year 2009, all of the goodwill related to Evox Rifa was impaired. See Note 3, "Impairment Charges".

Arcotronics Italia S.p.A.

        On October 12, 2007, pursuant to the terms of a Stock Purchase Agreement between KEMET Electronics Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of KEMET Corporation, and Blue Skye (Lux) S.à r.l. ("Blue Skye"), the Company purchased 100% of Arcotronics Italia S.p.A. ("Arcotronics") from Blue Skye. The acquisition includes manufacturing facilities in Sasso Marconi, Monghidoro, and Vergato, Italy; Landsberg, Germany; Towcester, United Kingdom; Kyustendil, Bulgaria; and Anting-Shanghai, China.

        The Company paid EUR 17.5 million ($24.8 million) for 100% of the outstanding share capital of Arcotronics, assumed net financial debt of EUR 98.0 million ($138.9 million), and certain other long-term liabilities of the company totaling EUR 35.1 million ($49.8 million).

        The Company acquired Arcotronics to expand its newly acquired Film and Electrolytic business segment on a global scale. The Company was specifically attracted to Arcotronics' product offerings and technology base.

        The acquisition of Arcotronics, included in operating results from the acquisition date, was accounted for using the purchase method of accounting: and accordingly, the purchase price was allocated to the assets purchased and liabilities assumed based upon their fair values at the date of the acquisition. The fair value of the net assets acquired and the liabilities assumed were $212.4 million and $294.9 million, respectively. The allocation of the purchase price was based upon their respective fair values at the date of acquisition. The excess of the purchase price over the fair values of the net assets acquired of $115.7 million was recorded as goodwill. Goodwill is not deductible for income tax purposes. The fair value of intangible assets, other than goodwill, was $10.8 million and based, in part, on a valuation using an income approach and estimates and assumptions provided by management.

        In connection with the acquisition, the Company entered into credit facilities with UniCredit whereby UniCredit agreed to lend to the Company up to EUR 47.0 million ($66.8 million). The Company used a portion of this facility to repay a portion of the outstanding indebtedness of Arcotronics, with the balance available for general corporate purposes.

        The total purchase price for Arcotronics was $33.3 million which includes (amounts in millions):

Common stock purchases

  $ 24.8  

Acquisition related costs

    8.5  
       

Total purchase price

  $ 33.3  
       

        The purchase price was determined through arms-length negotiations between representatives of the Company and Blue Skye.

131



KEMET CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

Note 16:    Acquisitions (Continued)

        The following table presents the final allocations of the aggregate purchase price based on the assets and liabilities estimated fair values (amounts in millions):

 
  Fair Value  

Cash

  $ 2.6  

Accounts receivable

    62.2  

Inventories

    42.4  

Assets held for sale

    5.7  

Other current assets

    3.1  

Property, plant and equipment

    84.2  

Other long term assets

    1.6  

Intangible assets

    10.8  

Goodwill

    115.7  

Current liabilities

    (106.3 )

Short and long term debt

    (138.9 )

Other long-term obligations

    (49.8 )
       

Total net assets acquired

  $ 33.3  
       

        In fiscal year 2009, all of the goodwill related to Arcotronics was impaired. See Note 3, "Impairment Charges".

        The following table presents the amounts assigned to intangible assets (amounts in millions except useful life data):

 
  Fair
Value
  Useful
Life (years)
 

Customer relationships

  $ 7.3     16  

Trademarks

    2.8     3  

Technology and other

    0.7     5  
             

  $ 10.8        
             

        Subsequent to the acquisition, on November 28, 2007, the Company entered into a Quota Purchase Agreement (the "Agreement") with Morphic Business Development AB ("Morphic"), whereby the Company sold to Morphic its 80% corporate capital share in Arcotronics Fuel Cells S.r.l. In conjunction with the Agreement, Morphic paid consideration for the purchase of the aforementioned shares the amount of EUR 4.0 million ($5.7 million). No gain or loss was recorded as a result of this sale.

Unaudited Pro Forma Financial Information

        The unaudited financial information in the table below summarizes the combined results of operations of the Company, Arcotronics and Evox Rifa, on a proforma basis, as though the companies had been combined as of the beginning of each of the periods presented. The pro forma financial information is presented for informational purposes only and is not indicative of the results of

132



KEMET CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

Note 16:    Acquisitions (Continued)


operations that would have been achieved if the acquisitions had taken place at the beginning of each of the periods presented (amounts in millions, except per share amounts):

 
  Fiscal Years Ended
March 31,
 
 
  2008   2007  

Net sales

  $ 949.9   $ 962.8  

Net income (loss)

    (25.4 )   (1.4 )

Net income (loss) per share:

             

Basic and diluted

  $ (0.30 ) $ (0.02 )

        The above amounts for the fiscal years ended March 31, 2008 and 2007 reflect adjustments for depreciation of the revalued properties, amortization of the intangibles acquired, a reduction in interest income for the cash used to purchase the business, a reduction in the interest expense on the convertible notes that the Company purchased, and related tax effects for the aforementioned adjustments. The unaudited pro forma financial information for fiscal year 2008 combines the historical results of the Company and six months of pro forma results for Arcotronics. The unaudited pro forma financial information for fiscal year 2007 combines the historical results of the Company and the pro forma results of Arcotronics and Evox Rifa. The pro forma amounts do not include anticipated synergies from the acquisition.

Note 17: Subsequent Events

        In fiscal year 2009, the poor economic environment negatively affected sales and had an adverse impact on the Company's results of operations and liquidity. The Company's unfavorable results would have triggered a violation of its Senior Note debt covenants had the Company not negotiated temporary amendments to the covenants in order to remain in compliance. Prior to the expiration of these covenant amendments, the Senior Notes were paid off, resulting in total principal payments of $60.0 million in fiscal year 2009 to eliminate the Company's Senior Notes. The primary reasons for unrestricted cash balance decreasing from $81.4 million at March 31, 2008 to $39.2 million at March 31, 2009 were the Senior Notes being paid off (as noted above), cash restructuring and integration related costs, totaling approximately $30.1 million and capital expenditures of $30.5 million. These items were partially offset by $33.7 million of proceeds from the sale of assets related to the production and sale of wet tantalum capacitors and proceeds from a three-year term loan for $15.0 million with Vishay.

        The Company took aggressive steps to offset the adverse impact of lower revenues and net losses on liquidity. These included:

    Cost reduction plans which are expected to save approximately $52 million on an annualized basis;

    Where possible, a 10% wage reduction for all salaried employees effective January 1, 2009 (excluding those on a commission based salary) and temporary suspension of the U.S. defined contribution plan match, reducing it from 6% to 0%. These actions are expected to save approximately $12 million on an annualized basis;

    Delaying capital spending and aligning remaining capital spending with cash flow;

133



KEMET CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

Note 17: Subsequent Events (Continued)

    Reducing past due accounts receivables through more robust collection efforts and implementing aggressive inventory reduction plans; and

    Selling assets related to the production and sale of wet tantalum capacitors for $33.7 million in the second quarter of fiscal year 2009 that allowed the Company to pay off the balance of the Senior Notes.

        In addition to the above actions, throughout 2009, the Company continued to review strategic financing alternatives to improve liquidity and reduce overall leverage.

        On April 3, 2009, the Company entered into an agreement with UniCredit to extend and restructure Facility B with UniCredit. Facility B remained unsecured and bears interest at a rate of six-month EURIBOR plus 2.5%. Under this agreement, prior to consideration of the further amendment discussed below, the Company would repay the principal amount in three installments of EUR 2.0 million each on January 1, 2010, July 1, 2010 and January 1, 2011, and a fourth and final principal payment in the amount of EUR 29.0 million on July 1, 2011. As a result of this restructuring, the Company included EUR 33.0 million ($43.9 million) as long- term debt as of March 31, 2009.

        Also in April, the Company entered into amendments to Facility A and Facility B with UniCredit which, among other things, modified the financial covenants under Facility A (Facility B does not contain any covenants, however it contains cross acceleration provisions linked to Facility A) and modified the scheduled amortization under Facility A and Facility B. These amendments to the UniCredit facilities became effective on June 30, 2009 upon consummation of the tender offer, discussed below. As a result of these amendments, the Company has included approximately $8 million of principal payments originally scheduled for October 2009 as long-term debt as of March 31, 2009. The following table shows the amortization schedule for the UniCredit Facilities under the original and amended (as of June 30, 2009) terms (amounts in thousands):

 
  Annual Maturities of Long-Term Debt
Fiscal Years Ended March 31,
 
 
  2010(1)   2011   2012   2013   2014  

UniCredit Facility A

  $ 15,700   $ 16,802   $ 17,981   $ 19,243   $ 10,122  

UniCredit Facility A Amendment

    7,717     19,082     13,607     8,216     31,222  

UniCredit Facility B

   
2,662
   
5,323
   
38,593
   
   
 

UniCredit Facility B Amendment

    2,662     5,323     13,308     13,308     11,977  

(1)
A principal payment of $7.7 million on Facility A was made on the scheduled due date of April 1, 2009.

        On May 5, 2009, the Company announced the execution of a credit facility with K Financing, an affiliate of Platinum Equity Capital Partners II, L.P. (the "Platinum Credit Facility"). The Platinum Credit Facility consisted of a term loan of up to $52.5 million, line of credit loans that may be borrowed from time to time (but not reborrowed after being repaid) of up to $12.5 million and a working capital loan of up to $12.5 million.

        Concurrently, on May 5, 2009, the Company commenced a tender offer for any and all of the Notes. The term loan discussed above can only be used to purchase the Notes and will only be funded only to the extent required to purchase Notes accepted for purchase pursuant to the tender offer.

134



KEMET CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

Note 17: Subsequent Events (Continued)


Additionally, funds from the line of credit loans and working capital loan under the Platinum Credit Facility are available to the Company, for limited purposes, subject to the satisfaction or waiver of certain conditions, including the consummation of the tender offer on the terms described in the Offer to Purchase. Under the initial terms of the tender offer, holders of Notes who validly tendered, and did not validly withdraw, their Notes on or prior to the Expiration Date would receive $300 for each $1,000 principal amount of Notes purchased in the tender offer, plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but not including, the date of payment for the Notes accepted for payment. The tender offer and KEMET's obligation to purchase and pay for the Notes validly tendered and not validly withdrawn pursuant to the tender offer was initially conditioned upon (1) at least $166.3 million in aggregate principal amount of Notes (representing 95% of the outstanding Notes) being validly tendered and not validly withdrawn, and (2) the receipt by KEMET of the proceeds from the term loan of up to $52.5 million from K Financing.

        On June 3, 2009, the Company announced the extension of the tender offer until the expiration date of June 12, 2009. All terms and conditions of the tender offer remained unchanged with this extension. On June 8, 2009, the Company announced an increase in the purchase price from $300 per $1,000 principal amount of the Notes to $400 per $1,000 principal amount of the Notes and extended the expiration date to June 19, 2009. In addition, the Company decreased the minimum tender condition from $166.3 million in aggregate principal amount of the Notes (representing 95% of the outstanding Notes) to $122.5 million in aggregate principal amount of the Notes (representing 70% of the outstanding Notes). The Company also entered into the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement with K Financing (as amended, the "Amended and Restated Platinum Credit Facility"), whereby, among other matters, the potential size of the term loan facility increased from $52.5 million to $60.3 million. The Amended and Restated Platinum Credit Facility also required the use of up to $9.8 million of KEMET's internal cash on hand for purchases of Notes validly tendered and not validly withdrawn pursuant to the tender offer if more than $150.6 million aggregate principal amount of the Notes were validly tendered and not validly withdrawn and all funds under the term loan facility under the Amended and Restated Platinum Credit Facility were disbursed. As noted below, the $150.6 million threshold was not met and the Company did not disburse internal cash for the purchase of Notes.

        On June 22, 2009, the Company announced a reduction in the minimum tender condition pursuant to the tender offer from $122.5 million in aggregate principal amount of Notes (representing 70% of the outstanding Notes) to $87.5 million in aggregate principal amount of Notes (representing 50% of the outstanding Notes) and an extension of the expiration date to June 26, 2009. All remaining terms and conditions of the tender offer were unchanged with this extension. The Company also entered into a Revised Amended and Restated Credit Agreement with K Financing (the "Revised Amended and Restated Platinum Credit Facility"), whereby, among other matters, the minimum tender condition was reduced from $122.5 million in aggregate principal amount of Notes (representing 70% of the outstanding Notes) to $87.5 million in aggregate principal amount of Notes (representing 50% of the outstanding Notes).

        On June 26, 2009, $93.9 million in aggregate principal amount of the Notes were validly tendered (representing 53.7% of the outstanding Notes). As a result of the consummated tender offer, the Company used $37.6 million of the term loan under the Revised Amended and Restated Platinum Credit Facility to extinguish the tendered Notes. The Company incurred approximately $9 million in fees and expense reimbursements related to the execution of this tender offer. The Company funded these costs with an equal amount of proceeds from a line of credit loan under the Revised Amended

135



KEMET CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

Note 17: Subsequent Events (Continued)


and Restated Platinum Credit Facility. No monies have been drawn on the working capital loan provision, under which the Company currently has a borrowing capacity of $7.5 million based on the Company's book-to-bill ratio. The term loan facility will accrue interest at an annual rate of 9% for cash payment until the one-year anniversary of the consummation of the tender offer. At the Company's option, after the one-year anniversary of the consummation of the tender offer, the term loan facility will accrue interest at an annual rate of 9% for cash payment, or cash and payment in-kind ("PIK") interest at the rate of 12% per annum, with the cash portion being 5% and the PIK portion being 7%. The working capital loans and the line of credit loans will accrue interest at a rate equal to the greater of (i) LIBOR plus 7%, or (ii) 10%, payable monthly in arrears. In the event more than $8.8 million in aggregate principal amount of the Notes remain outstanding as of March 1, 2011, then the maturity date of the term loan facility, the line of credit loans and the working capital loans is accelerated to March 1, 2011. If the aggregate principal amount of the Notes outstanding at March 1, 2011 is less than or equal to $8.8 million the maturity date of the term loan facility will be November 15, 2012 and the maturity date for the line of credit loans and the working capital loan will be July 15, 2011. In addition, the Company will pay K Financing a success fee of $5.0 million, payable at the time of repayment in full of the term loan facility, whether at maturity or otherwise.

        The Revised Amended and Restated Platinum Credit Facility contains certain financial maintenance covenants, including requirements that the Company maintains a minimum consolidated EBITDA and fixed charge coverage ratio. See discussion below regarding the Company's forecasted compliance with these financial covenants. In addition to the financial covenants, the Revised Amended and Restated Platinum Credit Facility also contains limitations on capital expenditures, the incurrence of indebtedness, the granting of liens, the sale of assets, sale and leaseback transactions, fundamental corporate changes, entering into investments, the payment of dividends, voluntary or optional payment and prepayment of indebtedness (including the Notes) and other limitations customary to secured credit facilities.

        The Company's obligations to K Financing arising under the Revised Amended and Restated Platinum Credit Facility are secured by substantially all of the Company's assets located in the United States, Mexico, Indonesia and China (other than accounts receivable owing by account debtors located in the United States, Singapore and Hong Kong, which exclusively secure obligations to Vishay). As further described in the Offer to Purchase, in connection with entering into the Revised Amended and Restated Platinum Credit Facility, K Financing and UniCredit entered into a letter of understanding with respect to their respective guarantor and collateral pools, and the Company's assets in Europe that are not pledged to either lender. The letter of understanding also sets forth each lender's agreement not to interfere with the other's exercise of remedies pertaining to their respective collateral pools.

        Concurrent with the consummation of the tender offer, the Company issued K Financing a warrant (the "Closing Warrant") to purchase up to 80,544,685 shares of its common stock, subject to certain adjustments, representing approximately 49.9% of the Company's outstanding common stock on a post-Closing Warrant basis. The Closing Warrant will be exercisable at a purchase price of $0.50 per share, subject to certain adjustments, at any time prior to the tenth anniversary of its date of issuance. The Closing Warrant may be exercised in exchange for cash, by means of net settlement of a corresponding portion of amounts owed by us under the Revised Amended and Restated Platinum Credit Facility, by cashless exercise to the extent of appreciation in the value of the Company's common stock above the exercise price of the Closing Warrant, or by combination of the preceding alternatives. The issuance of the Closing Warrant may be deemed an "ownership change" for purposes

136



KEMET CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

Note 17: Subsequent Events (Continued)


of Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"). If such an ownership change is deemed to occur, the amount of the Company's taxable income that can be offset by the Company's net operating loss carryovers in taxable years after the ownership change will be limited. The Company believes it is more likely than not that the issuance of the Closing Warrant will not be deemed an ownership change for purposes of Section 382 of the Code although the matter is not free from doubt. In addition, the exercise of the Closing Warrant may give rise to an ownership change for purposes of Section 382 of the Code.

        The Company also entered into an Investor Rights Agreement (the "Investor Rights Agreement") with K Financing. Pursuant to the terms of the Investor Rights Agreement, the Company has, subject to certain terms and conditions, granted K Financing Board observation rights which would permit K Financing to designate up to three individuals to observe Board meetings and receive information provided to the Board. In addition, the Investor Rights Agreement provides K Financing with certain preemptive rights. Subject to the terms and limitations described in the Investor Rights Agreement, in connection with any proposed issuance of securities, the Company would be required to offer to sell to K Financing a pro rata portion of such securities equal to the percentage determined by dividing the number of shares of common stock held by K Financing plus the number of shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of the Closing Warrant, by the total number of shares of common stock then outstanding on a fully diluted basis. The Investor Rights Agreement also provides K Financing with certain registration and information rights.

        The Company also entered into a Corporate Advisory Services Agreement with Platinum Equity Advisors, LLC ("Platinum Advisors") for a term of at least four years, pursuant to which the Company will pay an annual fee of $1.5 million to Platinum Advisors for certain advisory services.

        The Company believes that consummation of the tender offer and execution of the Revised Amended and Restated Platinum Credit Facility and amendments to the UniCredit facilities will improve the Company's liquidity situation. Given the Company's cost reduction and working capital initiatives, the Company's anticipated borrowing ability under the working capital loan provision of the Revised Amended and Restated Platinum Credit Facility, and the UniCredit Amendments, the Company estimates that the Company's current operating plans will provide sufficient cash to cover liquidity requirements. However, the Company currently anticipates that it will continue to experience severe pressure on the Company's liquidity during fiscal year 2010. Furthermore, the generation of adequate liquidity will largely depend upon the Company's ability to achieve sales growth over the next several quarters and ability to execute current operating plans and to manage costs. In light of current global economic conditions and other risks and uncertainties, there can be no assurance that the Company will be successful in this regard. An unanticipated decrease in sales, sales that fall below the Company's expectation, or other factors that would cause the actual outcome of the Company's plans to differ from expectations and could create a shortfall in cash available to fund the Company's liquidity needs. The Company will continually monitor and adjust the Company's business plan as necessary to respond to developments in the Company's business, markets and the broader economy. In addition to the actions discussed above, the Company continues to review additional initiatives to improve liquidity in the short-term as well as to reduce the Company's total overall leverage including the sale of non-core assets.

        Based on the Company's operating plans, the Company currently forecasts that it will meet the financial covenants required by the Revised Amended and Restated Platinum Credit Facility and

137



KEMET CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

Note 17: Subsequent Events (Continued)


Facility A at each of the measurement dates during fiscal year 2010. However, in the case of the EBITDA covenant, the forecast shows that the Company will only achieve the required level of profitability by a narrow margin. The Company's current forecast anticipates a steady recovery, over the next several quarters, of the principal markets and industries into which the Company's products are sold. The Company's expectations in this regard are based on consideration of various information sources including, among others, industry surveys and input from various key customers. Given the degree of uncertainty with respect to the near-term outlook for the global economy and the possible effects on the Company's operations, there is significant uncertainty as to whether the Company's forecasts will be achieved. Therefore, there can be no assurance that the Company will be able to meet the financial covenants required by the Revised Amended and Restated Platinum Credit Facility and Facility A. In the event of a covenant breach, the Company would seek a waiver or amendment, but such remedy would be out of the Company's control and rest in the discretion of the Company's lenders.

        These consolidated financial statements have been prepared assuming that the Company will continue as a going concern. Specifically, the consolidated financial statements do not include any adjustments relating to the recoverability or classification of recorded assets, or the amounts or classification of liabilities that might be necessary in the event the Company is unable to continue as a going concern. The significant uncertainties surrounding the Company's liquidity and capital resources and ability to meet financial covenants as discussed below, cast substantial doubt on the Company's ability to continue as a going concern. The failure to successfully maintain sufficient cash, and/or the non-compliance with financial covenants without a waiver or amendment granted by the Company's lenders, would have a material adverse effect on the Company's business, results of operations, financial position and liquidity.

138



SIGNATURES

        Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

    KEMET CORPORATION
(Registrant)

Date: June 30, 2009

 

/s/ WILLIAM M. LOWE, JR.

William M. Lowe, Jr.
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

        Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

Date: June 30, 2009   /s/ PER-OLOF LOOF

Per-Olof Loof
Chief Executive Officer and Director
(Principal Executive Officer)

Date: June 30, 2009

 

/s/ WILLIAM M. LOWE, JR.

William M. Lowe, Jr.
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
(Principal Accounting and Financial Officer)

Date: June 30, 2009

 

/s/ FRANK G. BRANDENBERG

Frank G. Brandenberg
Chairman and Director

Date: June 30, 2009

 

/s/ DR. WILFRIED BACKES

Dr. Wilfried Backes
Director

Date: June 30, 2009

 

/s/ GURMINDER S. BEDI

Gurminder S. Bedi
Director

Date: June 30, 2009

 

/s/ JOSEPH V. BORRUSO

Joseph V. Borruso
Director

Date: June 30, 2009

 

/s/ E. ERWIN MADDREY, II

E. Erwin Maddrey, II
Director

Date:

 

  

Robert G. Paul
Director

Date: June 30, 2009

 

/s/ JOSEPH D. SWANN

Joseph D. Swann
Director

139




QuickLinks

PART I
PART II
PART III
PART IV
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
Independent Auditors' Report
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
Consolidated Balance Sheets
Consolidated Statements of Operations
Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders' Equity and Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
SIGNATURES

Exhibit 10.16

 

KEMET CORPORATION

 

1992 KEY EMPLOYEE STOCK OPTION PLAN

 

ARTICLE 1

 

Identification of the Plan

 

1.1     Title .     The plan described herein shall be know as the KEMET Corporation (Delaware) 1992 Key Employee Stock Option Plan (the “ Plan ”).

 

1.2    Purpose .     The purpose of this Plan is (i) to compensate Key Employees of KEMET Corporation (Delaware) (the “ Company ”) and its Subsidiaries for services rendered by such persons after the date of adoption of this Plan to the Company or any Subsidiary; (ii) to provide Key Employees of the Company and its Subsidiaries with significant additional incentive to promote the financial success of the Company; and (iii) to provide an incentive which may be used to induce able persons to enter into or remain in the employment of the Company or any Subsidiary.

 

1.3     Effective Date .     The Plan shall become effective on March 31, 1992, (the “ Effective Date ”).  The Plan, however, is subject to approval by the stockholders of the Company.  If stockholder approval is not granted within twelve (12) months from the date of its adoption by the Board, the Plan shall thereupon terminate.  Grants of Options may be made prior to stockholder approval, but any such Options granted shall not be exercisable prior to stockholder approval and shall terminate if stockholder approval is not given.

 

1.4     Defined Terms .     Certain capitalized terms used herein have the meanings as set forth in Section 10.1 of the Plan.

 

ARTICLE 2

 

Administration of the Plan

 

2.1     Committee’s Powers .     This Plan shall be administered by a committee (the “ Committee ”) composed of persons appointed by the Board of Directors of the Company in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.2.  The Committee shall have full power and authority to prescribe, amend and rescind rules and procedures governing administration of this Plan.  The Committee shall have full power and authority (i) to interpret the terms of this Plan, the terms of the Options and the rules and procedures established by the Committee and (ii) to determine the meaning of or requirements imposed by or rights of any person under this Plan, any Option or any rule or procedure established by the Committee.  Each action of the Committee which is within the scope of the authority delegated to the Committee by this Plan or by the Board shall be binding on all persons.

 



 

2.2     Committee Membership .     The Committee shall be composed of two or more members of the Board, each of who is a “disinterested person,” as defined in Securities and Exchange Commission Rule 16b-3, as amended, or any successor rules or government pronouncements.  The Board shall have the power to determine the number of members which the Committee shall have and to change the number of membership positions on the Committee from time to time.  The Board shall appoint all members of the Committee.  The Board may from time to time appoint members to the Committee in substitution for, or in addition to, members previously appointed and may fill vacancies, however caused, on the Committee.  Any member of the Committee may be removed from the Committee by the Board at any time with or without cause.  If at any time no special committee has been constituted by the Board especially for the purposes of this Plan, then the entire Board shall have all powers and rights delegated to the “Committee” under this Plan.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 2.2, the Committee shall not grant an Option to a Section 16 Holder unless the Committee is constituted so as to comply with Securities and Exchange Commission Rule 16b-3, as amended, or any successor rules or government pronouncements.

 

2.3     Committee Procedures.   The Committee shall hold its meetings at such times and places as it may determine.  The Committee may make such rules and regulations for the conduct of its business as it shall deem advisable.  Unless the Board or the Committee expressly decides to the contrary, a majority of the members of the Committee shall constitute a quorum and any action taken by a majority of the Committee members in attendance at a meeting at which a quorum of Committee members are present shall be deemed an act of the Committee.

 

2.4     Indemnification .  No member of the Committee shall be liable, in the absence of bad faith, for any act or omission with respect to his or her service on the Committee under this Plan.  Service on the Committee shall constitute service as a director of the Company so that the members of the Committee shall be entitled to indemnification and reimbursements as directors of the Company for any action or any failure to act in connection with service on the committee to the full extent provided for at any time in the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation and By-Laws, or in any insurance policy or other agreement intended for the benefit of the Company’s directors.

 

ARTICLE 3

 

Employees Eligible to Receive Options

 

A person shall be eligible to be granted an Option only if on the proposed Granting Date for such Option such person is a full-time, salaried employee of the Company or any Subsidiary, excluding non-management directors of the Company.  A person eligible to be granted an Option is herein called a “ Key Employee .”

 

2



 

ARTICLE 4

 

Grant of Options

 

4.1     Power to Grant Options .    The Committee shall have the right and the power to grant at any time to any Key Employee an option entitling such person to purchase Common Stock from the Company in such quantity, at such price, on such terms and subject to such conditions consistent with the provisions of this Plan as may be established by the Committee on or prior to the Granting Date for such option.  Each option to purchase Common Stock which shall be granted by the Committee pursuant to the provisions of this Plan is herein called an “ Option .”

 

4.2     Granting Date .     An Option shall be deemed to have been granted under this Plan on the date (the “ Granting Date ”) which the Committee designates as the Granting date at the time it approves such Option, provided that the Committee may not designate a Granting Date with respect to any Option which is earlier than the date on which the granting of such Option is approved by the Committee.

 

4.3     Option Terms Which the Committee May Determine .     The Committee shall have the power to determine the Key Employees to whom Options are granted, the number of Shares subject to each Option, the number of Options awarded to each Key Employee and the time at which each Option is granted.  Except as otherwise expressly provided in this Plan, the Committee shall also have the power to determine at the time of the grant of each Option, all terms and conditions governing the rights and obligations of the holder with respect to such Option, including but not limited to: (a) the purchase price per Share of the method by which the purchase price per Share will be determined; (b) the length of the period during which the Option may be exercised and any limitations on the number of Shares purchasable with the Option at any given time during such period; (c) the times at which the Option may be exercised; (d) any conditions precedent to be satisfied before the Option may be exercised; (e) any restrictions on resale of any shares purchased upon exercise of the Option; and (f) whether the Option will constitute an Incentive Stock Option.

 

4.4     Option Agreement .     No person shall have any rights under any Option unless and until the Company and the person to whom such Option is granted have executed and delivered an agreement expressly granting the Option to such person and containing provisions setting forth the terms of the Option (an “ Option Agreement ”).

 

ARTICLE 5

 

Option Terms

 

5.1     Plan Provisions Control Option Terms .     The terms of this Plan shall govern all the Options.  In the event any provision of any Option Agreement conflicts with any term in this Plan as constituted on the Granting Date of such Option, the term in this Plan as constituted on the Granting Date of the Option shall control.  Except as provided in Article 8, the terms of any

 

3



 

Option may not be changed after the Granting Date of such Option without the express approval of the Option Holder.

 

5.2     Price Limitation .     Subject to Article 8, the price at which each Share may be purchased upon the exercise of any Option may not be less than the Per Share Market Value on the Granting Date for an Option; provided that if an Incentive Stock Option is granted to a person who owns, on the Granting Date of such Incentive Stock Option, stock possessing more than ten percent of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company (or of any parent or Subsidiary of the Company in existence on the Granting Date of such Option), the price at which each Share may be purchased upon exercise of such Incentive Stock Option may not be less than 110% of the Per Share Market Value on the Granting Date for such Option.

 

5.3     Term Limitation .     No Incentive Stock Option may be granted under this Plan which is exercisable more than ten years after its Granting Date.  This Section 5.3 shall not be deemed to limit the term which the Committee may specify for any Options granted under the Plan which are not intended to be Incentive Stock Options.

 

5.4     Transfer Limitations .     No Incentive Stock Option or other option granted to any Section 16 Holder shall be transferable other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution or exercisable during the lifetime of the person to whom the Option is initially granted by anyone other than the initial grantee.  Notwithstanding the terms of the Option Agreement, if any Option (other than an Incentive Stock Option) is issued to a Holder who is not a Section 16 Holder on the Granting Date and such Holder becomes a Section 16 Holder before such Holder has fully exercised such Option, then such Option shall not be transferable other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution or exercisable during the lifetime of the initial grantee by any one other than the initial grantee.  Subject to the preceding sentence, Options (other than Incentive Stock Options) which are not granted to Section 16 Holders may be transferred to any members of the initial grantee’s immediate family or to any inter vivos trust solely for the benefit of any members of the initial grantee’s immediate family or as a result of the death of the initial grantee, testate or intestate.  Nothing in the preceding three sentences shall be construed as making an Option transferable if the Option Agreement provides otherwise.  It shall be a condition precedent to any transfer of any Option that the transferee executes and delivers an agreement acknowledging such Option has been acquired for investment and not for distribution and is and shall remain subject to this Plan and the Option Agreement.  The “ Holder ” of any Option shall mean (i) the initial grantee of such Option or (ii) the person or trust, if any, to whom the Option is transferred by any Holder who is not a Section 16 Holder.

 

5.5     $100,000 Per Year Limit on Incentive Stock Options .     No Key Employee may be granted Incentive Stock Options if the value of the Shares subject to those options which first become exercisable in any given calendar year (and the value of the Shares subject to any other Incentive Stock Options issued to the Key Employee under the Plan or any other plan of the Company or its Subsidiaries which first become exercisable in such year) exceed $100,000.  For this purpose, the value of Shares shall be determined on the Granting Date.  Any Incentive Stock Options issued in excess of the $100,000 limit shall be treated as Options that are not Incentive Stock Options.  Incentive Stock Options shall be taken into account in the order in which they were granted.

 

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5.6     No Right to Employment Conferred .     Nothing in this Plan or (in the absence of an express provision to the contrary) in any Option Agreement (i) confers any right or obligation on any person to continue in the employ of the Company or any Subsidiary or (ii) affects or shall affect in any way any person’s right or the right of the Company or any Subsidiary to terminate such person’s employment with the Company or any Subsidiary at any time, for any reason, with or without cause.

 

ATRICLE 6

 

Option Exercise

 

6.1     Normal Option Term .     Except as otherwise expressly provided in Sections 6.3, 6.5 or 6.7 or in the Option Agreement, the right to exercise any Option shall terminate at the earlier of the following dates: (i) the Termination Date of the initial grantee of the Option or (ii) the Expiration Date of the Option.

 

6.2     Exercise Time .     No Option granted to a Section 16 Holder shall become exercisable within six months of the applicable Granting Date, except in the case of the death or disability of the Holder.  Notwithstanding the terms of the Option Agreement, if any Option is issued to a Holder who is not a Section 16 Holder on the Granting Date and such Holder becomes a Section 16 Holder before such Holder exercises such Option, then such Option shall not become exercisable within six months of the applicable Granting Date, except in the case of the death of disability of the Holder.  Subject to the preceding two sentences, each Option shall become exercisable at the time provided in the Option Agreement, provided that the Committee in its sole discretion shall have the right (but shall not in any case be obligated) to permit the exercise of such Option prior to such time.

 

6.3      Extension of Exercise Time .     The Committee in its sole discretion shall have the right (but shall not in any case be obligated) to permit any Option to be exercised after the Termination Date of the Holder of such Option.  Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, but subject to Section 6.7, the Committee shall not have the right to permit the exercise of any Option after its Expiration Date.

 

6.4     Exercise Procedures .     Each Option shall be exercised by written notice to the Company.  Any Holder of any Option shall be required, as a condition to such Holder’s right to purchase securities with such Option, to supply the Committee at such person’s expense with such evidence, representations, agreements or assurances (including, but not limited to, opinions of counsel satisfactory to the Committee) as the Committee may deem necessary or desirable in order to establish to the satisfaction of the Committee the right of such person to exercise such Option and of the propriety of the sale of securities by reason of such exercise under the Securities Act and any other laws or requirements of any governmental authority specified by the Committee.  The Company shall not be obligated to sell any Shares subject to such Option until all evidence, representations, agreements and assurances required by the Committee have been supplied.  An Option Holder shall not have any rights as a stockholder with respect to Shares issuable under any Option until and unless such Shares are sold and delivered to such Option

 

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Holder.  The purchase price of Shares purchased upon the exercise of an Option shall be paid in full in cash or by check by the Option Holder at the time of the delivery of such Shares, provided that the Committee may (but need not) permit payment to be made by (i) delivery to the Company of outstanding Shares, (ii) retention by the Company of Shares which would otherwise be transferred to the Option Holder upon exercise of the Option or (iii) any combination of cash, check, the Holder’s delivery of outstanding Shares and retention by the Company of Shares which would otherwise be transferred to the Option Holder upon exercise of the Option, and provided further that no portion of the purchase price of Shares purchased on the exercise of an Incentive Stock Option may be paid by retention of Shares by the Company.  In the event an Incentive Stock Option is granted, the Committee may (but need not) permit payment to be made by (i) cash or check or (ii) delivery to the Company of outstanding Shares.  In the event any Common Stock is delivered to or retained by the Company to satisfy all or any part of the purchase price, the part of the purchase price deemed to have been satisfied by such Common Stock shall be equal to the product derived by multiplying (i) the Per Share Market Value as of the date of exercise by (ii) the number of Shares delivered to or retained by the Company.  The number of Shares delivered to or retained by the Company in satisfaction of the purchase price shall not be a number which when multiplied by the Per Share Market as of the date of exercise would result in a product greater than the purchase price.  No fractional Shares shall be delivered to or retained by the Company in satisfaction of the purchase price.  To the extent such fractional share would result, the Option Holder shall make up such difference in cash.  Any part of the purchase price paid in cash or by check upon the exercise of any Option shall be added to the general funds of the Company and may be used for any proper corporate purpose.  Notwithstanding Article 7, unless the Board shall otherwise determine, for each Share delivered to or retained by the Company as payment of all or part of the purchase price upon the exercise of any Option, the aggregate number of Shares subject to this Plan shall be increased by one Share.

 

6.5           Death, Permanent Disability, Retirement or Termination Without Cause of Option Holder .

 

(a)            Except as otherwise expressly provided in the Option Agreement, if the Holder of an Option dies while such Option Holder is still employed by the Company or any Subsidiary, then the right to exercise all unexpired installments of such Option shall be accelerated and shall accrue as of the date of death.  Except as otherwise provided in the Option Agreement and subject to Section 6.7, if the Holder of an Option dies and such Option is exercisable at the date of death (for any reason including acceleration pursuant to the preceding sentence), then the Holder’s estate or the person or persons to whom the Holder’s rights under the Option shall pass by reason of the Holder’s death shall have the right to exercise the Option for 90 days after the date of death, and the Option shall expire at the end of such 90 day period.

 

(b)           Except as otherwise provided in the Option Agreement, if the Holders of an Option suffers a Permanent Disability while such Holder is still employed by the Company or any Subsidiary, then the right to exercise all unexpired installments of such Option shall be accelerated and shall accrue as of the later of the date of such Permanent Disability or the date of discovery of such Permanent Disability (the “ Permanent Disability Date ”).  Except as otherwise provided in the Option Agreement and subject to Section 6.7, if the Holder of an Option suffers a

 

6



 

Permanent Disability and such Option is exercisable at the Permanent Disability Date (for any reason including acceleration pursuant to the preceding sentence), then such Holder shall have the right to exercise such Option for 90 days after the Permanent Disability Date, and the Option shall expire at the end of such 90 day period.

 

(c)           Except as otherwise provided in the Option Agreement, and subject to Section 7, if the Holder of an Option is terminated without Cause and such Option is currently exercisable at the time of such termination, then such Holder shall have the right to exercise such Option for 30 days after the date of such termination, and the Option shall expire at the end of such 30 day period.

 

6.6           Taxes .     The Company or any Subsidiary shall be entitled, if the Committee deems it necessary or desirable, to withhold from an Option Holder’s salary or other compensation (or to secure payment from the Option Holder in lieu of withholding) all or any portion of any withholding or other tax due from the Company or any Subsidiary with respect to any Shares deliverable under such Holder’s Option or the Committee may (but need not) permit payment of such withholding by the Company’s retention of Shares which would otherwise be transferred to the Option Holder upon exercise of the Option.  In the event any Common Stock is retained by the Company to satisfy all or any part of the withholding, the part of the withholding deemed to have been satisfied by such Common Stock shall be equal to the product derived by multiplying the Per Share Market Value as of the date of exercise by the number of Shares retained by the Company.  The number of Shares retained by the Company in satisfaction of withholding shall not be a number which when multiplied by the Per Share Market Value as of the date of exercise would result in a product greater than the withholding amount.  No fractional Shares shall be retained by the Company in satisfaction of withholding.  Notwithstanding Article 7, unless the Board shall otherwise determine, for each Share retained by the Company in satisfaction of all or any part of the withholding amount, the aggregate number of Shares subject to this Plan shall be increased by one Share.  The Company may defer delivery under a Holder’s Option until indemnified to its satisfaction with respect to such withholding or other taxes.

 

6.7           Securities Law Compliance .     Each Option shall be subject to the condition that such Option may not be exercised if and to the extent the Committee determines that the sale of securities upon exercise of the Option may violate the Securities Act or any other law or requirement of any governmental authority.  The Company shall not be deemed by any reason of the granting of any Option to have any obligation to register the Shares subject to such Option under the Securities Act or to maintain in effect any registration of such Shares which may be made at any time under the Securities Act.  An Option shall not be exercisable if the Committee or the Board determines there is non-public information material to the decision of the Holder to exercise such Option which the Company cannot for any reason communicate to such Holder.  Notwithstanding Sections 6.1, 6.3 and 6.5 and the terms of the Option Agreement, if (i) any Holder makes a bona fide request to exercise any Option which complies with Section 6.4, (ii) the Committee or the Board determines such Option cannot be exercised for period of time pursuant to this Section 6.7 and (iii) such Option expires during such period, then the term of such Option shall be extended until the end of such period; provided, however, that the term of an Incentive Stock Option cannot be extended beyond ten years after its Granting Date.

 

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ARTICLE 7

 

Shares Subject to the Plan

 

Except as provided in Sections 6.4 and 6.6 and Article 8, an aggregate of 55,000 Shares of Common Stock shall be subject to this Plan.  Except as provided in Sections 6.4 and 6.6 and Article 8, the Options shall be limited so that the sum of the following shall not as of any given time exceed 55,000 Shares: (i) all Shares subject to Options outstanding under this Plan at the given time and (ii) all Shares which shall have been sold by the Company by reason of the exercise at or prior to the given time of any of the Options. The Common Stock issued under the Plan may be either authorized and unissued shares, shares reacquired and held in the treasury of the Corporation, or both, all as from time to time determined by the Board.  In the event any Option shall expire or be terminated before it is fully exercised, then all Shares formerly subject to such Option as to which such Option was not exercised shall be available for any Option subsequently granted in accordance with the provisions of this Plan.

 

ARTICLE 8

 

Adjustments to Reflect Organic Changes

 

The Board shall appropriately and proportionately adjust the number and kind of Shares subject to outstanding Options, the price for which Shares may be purchased upon the exercised of outstanding Options, and the number and kind of Shares available for Options subsequently granted under this Plan to reflect any stock dividend, stock split, combination or exchange of shares, merger, consolidation or other change in the capitalization of the Company which the Board determines to be similar, in its substantive effect upon this Plan or the Options, to any of the changes expressly indicated in this sentence.  The Board may (but shall not be required to) make any appropriate adjustment to the number and kind of Shares subject to outstanding Options, the price for which Shares may be purchased upon the exercise of outstanding Options, and the number and kind of Shares available for Options subsequently granted under this Plan to reflect any spin-off, spin-out or other distribution of assets to stockholders or any acquisition of the Company’s stock or assets or other change which the Board determines to be similar, in its substantive effect upon this Plan or the Options, to any of the changes expressly indicated in this sentence.  The Committee shall have the power to determine the amount of the adjustment to be made in each case described in the preceding two sentences, but no adjustment approved by the Committee shall be effective until and unless it is approved by the Board.  In the event of any reorganization, reclassification, consolidation, merger or sale of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets which is effected in such a way that holders of Common Stock are entitled to received (either directly or upon subsequent liquidation) stock, securities or assets with respect to or in exchange for Common Stock, the Board may (but shall not be required to) substitute the per share amount of such stock, securities or assets for Shares upon any subsequent exercise of any Option.  If any fractional Share becomes subject to any Option as a result of any change made under this Article 8, then (i) such Option may not be exercised with respect to such fractional Share until and unless such Option is exercised as to all other Shares subject to such Option and (ii) if such Option is exercised with

 

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respect to such fractional Share, the Company shall have the right to deliver to the Holder in lieu of such fractional Share cash in an amount equal to the product derived by multiplying the fraction representing the portion of a full Share represented by such fractional Share times the Per Share Market Value on the exercise date of the Option with respect to such fractional Share established as prescribed in this Plan.

 

ARTICLE 9

 

Amendment and Termination of the Plan

 

9.1           Amendment .     Except as provided in the following two sentences, the Board shall have complete power and authority to amend this Plan at any time and no approval by the Company’s stockholders or by any other person, committee or other entity of any kind shall be required to make any amendment approved by the Board effective.  The Board shall not, without the affirmative approval of the Company’s stockholders, amend the Plan in any manner which would cause any outstanding Incentive Stock Options to no longer qualify as Incentive Stock Options.  If any Section 16 Holder holds any Option, the Board shall not, without the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the securities of the Company present, or represented, and entitled to vote at a meeting duly held in accordance with applicable law, make any amendment to this Plan which materially (i) increases the benefits accruing to participants under the Plan, (ii) increases the number of shares of Common Stock which may be issued under the Plan or (iii) modifies the requirements as to eligibility for participation in the Plan.  No termination or amendment of this Plan may, without the consent of the Holder of any Option prior to terminations or the adoption of such amendment, materially and adversely affect the rights of such Holder under such Option.

 

9.2           Termination .     The Board shall have the right and the power to terminate this Plan at any time, provided that no Incentive Stock Options may be granted after the tenth anniversary of the adoption of this Plan.  No Option shall be granted under this Plan after the termination of this Plan, but the termination of this Plan shall not have any other effect.  Any Option outstanding at the time of the termination of this Plan may be exercised after termination of this Plan at any time prior to the Expiration Date of such Option to the same extent such Option would have been exercisable had this Plan not terminated.

 

ARTICLE 10

 

Interpretation of the Plan

 

10.1         Definitions .     Each term defined in this Section 10.1 has the meaning indicated in this Section 10.1 whenever such term is used in this Plan:

 

Board of Directors ” and “ Board ” both mean the Board of Directors of the Company as constituted at the time the term is applied.

 

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Cause ” means (i) the willful refusal to follow directions given by the Board, (ii) commission of any act involving moral turpitude or any act which brings or could bring the Company into disrepute or materially damages its relations with its customers, suppliers, licensors or financing sources, (iii) the violation of any statutory or common law duty of loyalty to the Company or (iv) a good faith determination by a majority of the Board that continued employment is not in the best interest of the Company.

 

Common Stock ” means the issued or issuable Class A Common Stock, par value $.01 per share, of the Company.

 

Code ” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

 

Committee ” has the meaning such term is given in Section 2.1 of this Plan.

 

“Company” as applied as of any given time shall mean KEMET Corporation (Delaware), a Delaware corporation, except that if prior to the given time any corporation or other entity has acquired all or a substantial part of the assets of the Company (as herein defined) and has agreed to assume the obligations of the Company under this Plan, or is the survivor in a merger or consolidation to which the Company was a party, such corporation or other entity shall be deemed to be the Company at the given time.

 

Expiration Date ” as applied to any Option means the date specified in the Option Agreement between the Company and the holder as the expiration date of such Option.  If no expiration date is specified in the Option Agreement relating to any Option, then the Expiration Date of such Option shall be the day prior to the seventh anniversary of the Granting Date of such Option.  Notwithstanding the preceding sentences, if the person to whom any Incentive Stock Option is granted owns, on the Granting Date of such Option, stock possessing more than ten percent of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company (or of any parent or Subsidiary of the company in existence on the Granting Date of such Option), and if no expiration date is specified in the Option Agreement relating to such Option, then the Expiration Date of such Option shall be the day prior to the fifth anniversary of the Granting Date of such Option.

 

Granting Date ” has the meaning such term is given in Section 4.2 of this Plan.

 

Holder ” has the meaning such term is given in Section 5.4 of this Plan.

 

Incentive Stock Option ” means an incentive stock option, as defined in Code Section 422, which is granted pursuant to this Plan.

 

“Key Employee ” has the meaning such term is given in Article 3 of this Plan.

 

Option ” has the meaning such term is given in Section 4.1 of this Plan.

 

Option Agreement ” has the meaning such term is given in Section 4.4 of this Plan.

 

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Permanent Disability ” shall mean a physical or mental disability suffered by an initial grantee of an Option which the Committee determines in its sole discretion will permanently prevent such initial grantee from working for the Company in the same or a substantially similar position as such initial grantee occupied prior to suffering such disability.

 

Permanent Disability Date ” has the meaning such term is given in Section 6.5 of this Plan.

 

Per Share Market Value ” on any given date shall be the fair market value of one Share on the given date determined in such manner as shall be prescribed in good faith by the Committee.

 

Plan ” has the meaning such term is given in Section 1.1 of this Plan.

 

Section 16 Holder ” refers to any person who, with respect to the Company, is subject to Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, at any time or any law or statute which succeeds Section 16.

 

Securities Act ” at any given time shall consist of: (i) the Securities Act of 1933 as constituted at the given time; (ii) any other law or laws promulgated prior to the given time by the United States Government which are in effect at the given time and which regulate or govern any matters at any time regulated or governed by the Securities Act of 1933; (iii) all regulations, rules, registration forms and other governmental pronouncements issued under the laws specified in clauses (i) and (ii) of this sentence which are in effect at the given time; and (iv) all interpretations by any governmental agency or authority of the things specified in clause (i), (ii) or (iii) of this sentence which are in effect at the given time.  Whenever any provision of this Plan requires that any action be taken in compliance with any provision of the Securities Act, such provision shall be deemed to require compliance with the Securities Act as constituted at the time such action takes place.

 

Share ” means a share of Common Stock.

 

Subsidiary ” means any corporation in which the Company owns, directly or indirectly, 50% or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of securities of such corporation.

 

Termination Date ” as applied to the initial grantee of any Option means, except as otherwise provided in the Option Agreement, the first date on which such initial grantee is not employed by either the Company or any Subsidiary for any reason (including, but not limited to, voluntary termination or termination for Cause) other than death, Permanent Disability, or termination without Cause.  The Committee may specify in the original terms of an Option (or if not so specified, shall determine) whether an authorized leave of absence or absence on military or government service or absence for any other reason shall constitute a termination of employment with the Company or any Subsidiary for the purposes of this Plan.

 

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10.2         Headings .    Section headings used in the Plan are for convenience only, do not constitute a part of this Plan and shall not be deemed to limit, characterize or affect in any way any provisions of this Plan.  All provisions in this Plan shall be construed as if no headings had been used in this Plan.

 

10.3         Severability .

 

(a)           General .     Whenever possible, each provision in this Plan and in every Option at any time granted under this Plan shall be interpreted in such manner as to be effective and valid under applicable law, but if any provision of this Plan or any Option at any time granted under this Plan is held to be prohibited by or invalid under applicable law, then (i) such provision shall be deemed amended to accomplish the objectives of the provision as originally written to the fullest extent permitted by law and (ii) all other provisions of this Plan and every Option at any time granted under this Plan shall remain in full force and effect.

 

(b)           Incentive Stock Option .  Whenever possible, each provision in this Plan and in every Option at any time granted under this Plan which is evidenced by an Option Agreement which expressly states such Option is intended to constitute an Incentive Stock Option under Code Section 422 (an “ intended ISO ”) shall be interpreted in such manner as to entitle such intended ISO to the tax treatment afforded by the Code to Options which do constitute Incentive Stock Options under Code Section 422, but if any provision of this Plan or any intended ISO at any time granted under this Plan is held to be contrary to the requirements necessary to entitle such intended ISO to the tax treatment afforded by the Code to Options which do constitute Incentive Stock Options under Code Section 422, then (i) such provision shall be deemed to have contained from the outset such language as shall be necessary to entitle such intended ISO to the tax treatment afforded by the Code to Options which do constitute Incentive Stock Options under Code Section 422, and (ii) all other provisions of this Plan and such intended ISO shall remain in full force and effect.  If any Option Agreement covering an intended ISO granted under this Plan does not explicitly include any terms required to entitle such intended ISO to the tax treatment afforded by the Code to Options which do constitute Incentive Stock Options under Code Section 422, then all such terms shall be deemed implicit in the intention to afford such treatment to such Option and such Option shall be deemed to have been granted subject to all such terms.

 

10.4         No Strict Construction .     No rule of strict construction shall be applied against the Company, the Committee or any other person in the interpretation of any of the terms of this Plan, any Option or any rule or procedure established by the Committee.

 

10.5         Choice of Law .     This Plan and all documents contemplated hereby, and all remedies in connection therewith and all questions or transactions relating thereto, shall be construed in accordance with and governed by the laws of the State of Delaware.

 

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Exhibit 10.29

 

[ TRANSLATION FOR WORKING
PURPOSES ONLY
]

 

Addendum to the Loan
Agreement

 

Between

 

UniCredit Corporate Banking S.p.A.

As Lending Party

 

and

 

Kemet Corporation

As Beneficiary

 

relating to the

 

Kemet Loan Agreement

 



 

CERTIFIED PRIVATE AGREEMENT

 

BETWEEN:

 

(1)                                 UNICREDIT CORPORATE BANKING S.P.A. , with registered and administrative offices in Verona (Italy), at Via Garibaldi no. 1, fully paid-up share capital: Euro 6,604,173,696.00 (six billion six hundred and four million one hundred seventy-three thousand six hundred ninety-six/00) , tax code, VAT number and number of registration in the Verona Companies Register: 03656170960, ABI code 3226.8, enrolled in the Register of Banks and a member of the UniCredit Bank Group, which is enrolled in the Register of Bank Groups under no. 3135 (hereinafter also referred to as “ UniCredit ”, “ Lending Party ”, or “Agent Bank” ), represented by Mr. Daniele Di Anselmo , born in Terni on 11 th  June 1964, and Mr. Claudio Chiosi, born in Bologna, on March 15, 1966, Italian citizens, in their respective capacity as Manager in charge of the Bologna Joint Management and Quadro Direttivo , authorized to act for the purposes of this agreement by virtue of the powers granted to him through a power of attorney granted by Mr. Mario Fertonani, born in Mantua on 3 rd  September 1933 and domiciled for the purposes of his office in the place specified above, in his capacity as Chairman of the Board of Directors of the aforesaid Bank, authenticated and sealed by Notary Public Marco Cicogna of Verona on 2 nd  January 2003 (directory no. 87071/6486), registered in the Italian Inland Revenue Office of Verona 1, on 7 th  January 2003 under no. 37, a certified copy of which is attached as annex “ A ” to my previous notarial deed dated 6 th  June 2003 — directory no. 95083/21990 -, registered in Bologna 3 on 19 th  June 2003 under no. 2894/1T;

AND

 

(2)                                 KEMET CORPORATION , with registered office in Simpsonville , 2835 Kemet Way, South Carolina, USA, Federal Tax Identification no. 57-0923789 (hereinafter referred to as “ Beneficiary ” or “ Kemet ”), represented by Mr. Marco Uberti, born in Bologna, on June 8, 1953, domiciled for the purposes of his office at the company’s registered office, authorised to act for the purposes of this agreement by virtue of the powers granted to him through the special power of attorney certified on April 3, 2009, together with the translation into Italian language of the part of the text drafted in English language whose original is attached hereto as annex “ A ”,

 

                                              (UniCredit and Kemet are hereinafter collectively referred to also as “ Parties ”).

 

WHEREAS

 

(A)                             On 29 th  September 2008, the Beneficiary and UniCredit executed a loan agreement by certified private agreement, with the parties’ signatures being authenticated by Notary Public Carlo Vico (directory no. 110199/29958), registered in Bologna on 7 th  October 2008 under No. 11054, Series 1T (hereinafter referred to as the “ Loan Agreement ”) for a maximum aggregate amount equal to Euro 60,000,000.00 (sixty million/00) (hereinafter referred to as the “ Loan ”);

 

(B)                               On 21 st  October 2008, as a guarantee of the proper and timely fulfilment of the Beneficiary’s obligations arising from the Loan Agreement, UniCredit, the companies controlled by the Beneficiary, namely Kemet Electronics Corporation, Arcotronics Italia S.p.A., Arcotronics Industries S.r.l., Arcotronics Hightech S.r.l., Arcotronics Technologies S.r.l. (hereinafter collectively referred to as the “ Assignors ”), and the Beneficiary entered into a deed of credit assignment by way of security, with the parties’ signatures being authenticated by Notary Public Carlo Vico (directory no. 110453/30091), registered in Bologna on 23 rd  October 2008 under no. 11789 Series 1T (hereinafter referred to as the “ Deed of Credit Assignment ”);

 

(C)                               Pursuant to the Deed of Credit Assignment, the Assignors undertook to assign all the existing and future European credits, if actually assignable, and the Beneficiary undertook to cause such

 

2



 

credits to be assigned (hereinafter referred to as the “ Credit Assignment ” and the “ Credits ”, respectively), claimed by the Assignors vis-à-vis their European debtors (hereinafter referred to as the “ Debtors ”) and, to the extent that such credits were not assignable, to channel said Credits, including future credits, to ad hoc bank accounts opened at UniCredit (hereinafter referred to as the “ Channelling ”);

 

(D)                              The Parties (with Kemet acting both on its own account and on behalf of the Assignors) have agreed to take the following actions, by mutual consent, pursuant to articles 4 and 2.5 of the Deed of Credit Assignment, as soon as practicable from the date of execution of this deed and, in any case, by, and no later than, 9 th  April 2009: (i) serving notice of the Credit Assignment, with reference to the assignable Credits specifically identified pursuant to art. 7.1(H) of the Deed of Credit Assignment, or (ii) requesting the relevant Debtors to channel the flows relating to the non-assignable Credits to the bank accounts identified as per the notice of assignment/channelling, to be drafted in accordance with a text separately agreed upon by the Parties, and issuing new invoices relating to the Credits, specifying the aforesaid Credit Assignment/Channelling.

 

Now, therefore, the Parties hereby agree as follows:

 

1.                                     Interpretation

 

1.1                                For the purposes of this agreement, all capitalised terms that are not otherwise defined in other sections of this agreement shall have the meanings ascribed to them in the Loan Agreement.

 

1.2                                The recitals and the annexes form an integral and substantial part of this agreement, shall be deemed as valid and effective covenants, and shall therefore be fully binding upon the Parties, their successors and/or assignees.

 

1.3                                The indexes of articles and the headings of annexes to this Agreement have been included for convenience only, and shall not be taken into consideration for the purpose of interpreting the relevant articles and annexes.

 

2.                                     Additions to the Loan Agreement

 

2.1                                The Parties hereby agree that, effective from the date hereof, and without either novating any of the obligations arising from the Loan Agreement or amending the terms and conditions of the Loan Agreement, unless expressly supplemented pursuant to this agreement, the Loan Agreement shall be supplemented as follows:

 

(A)                               At the end of paragraph (A)(5), point 1 (“ Documents and corporate compliance and other delivery obligations ), of Annex 14 (“ Obligations ”) to the Loan Agreement, the following paragraph “ (A)(6) ” shall be added:

 

“(i) by 9 th  April 2009, evidence, reasonably satisfactory to the Agent Bank:

 

(a) that notices of the Credit Assignment have been served upon the European Debtors, with reference to the Credits actually assignable; or

 

(b) that notice of the Channelling of the flows relating to the non-assignable Credits has  been given,

 

pursuant to the Credit Assignment referred to under clause 15.4 of the Loan Agreement.

 

3



 

To this end, the Agent Bank hereby declares that either (i) the receipt of the posting of the notice of Credit Assignment/Channelling or (ii) the delivery by Kemet (acting both on its own account and on behalf of the other Assignors) of the notice of Credit Assignment/Channelling, duly signed by either Kemet or the relevant Assignors, shall be evidence of the service of notice of the Credit Assignment or of the Channelling, as the case may be;

 

(ii) on a monthly basis, starting from 9 th  April 2009:

 

(a) copies of the invoices issued by the Assignors to the Assigned Debtors attesting the relevant indication of the credit assignment/channelling to the applicable bank accounts with reference to the credits referred to under paragraph (i) (a) and (b) above as well as under the following paragraph (b); and

 

(b) evidence that notices of the Credit Assignment have been served upon the European Debtors, with reference to future credits arising from any new agreement, to the extent that such credits are actually assignable, or that notice of the channelling of the flows relating to the non-assignable future Credits arising from any new agreement has been given,

 

pursuant to the Credit Assignment referred to under clause 15.4 of the Loan Agreement”.

 

3.                                     Effectiveness

 

3.1                                To the extent required, the Parties hereby acknowledge that failure to fulfil the obligations provided for by Art. 2.1(A) above as well as of the commitment undertaken under recital (D) above shall amount to a Significant Event pursuant to the Loan Agreement.

 

3.2                                This addendum shall be considered a Financial Document pursuant to the Loan Agreement.

 

4.                                     Miscellaneous

 

4.1                                With regard to any matters which are not expressly regulated in this agreement, the Parties hereby expressly declare that the provisions of the Loan Agreement shall apply mutatis mutandis .

 

4.2                                Except for that which is expressly provided for hereunder, no other and further amendments and/or additions to the Loan Agreement and/or to the Financial Documents have been agreed upon by the Parties.

 

4.3                                This addendum, as per the express will of the Parties, shall not produce and shall not be construed and/or applied so as to produce any novative effects on the Loan Agreement and/or on the Financial Documents.

 

4.4                                The Representations and Warranties contained in art. 13 (REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES) of the Loan Agreement shall be deemed repeated by the Beneficiary (with reference to the facts and circumstances contained therein) on the date of execution of this agreement.

 

4.5                                This addendum shall be subject to registration, without the relevant registration tax being applied, as the Loan Agreement is subject to the substitute tax, pursuant to articles 15 et seq. of Presidential Decree no. 601 of 29 th  September 1973.

 

4



 

4.6                                The Beneficiary hereby represents that it shall bear all costs and expenses, including notarial expenses relating to, or otherwise connected with, the execution of this addendum.

 

4.7                                The Parties hereby agree that each party shall bear any attorney’s fees relating to the services provided by its own legal advisors in relation to the preparation, negotiation, and execution of this addendum, it being also understood that the execution of this addendum shall not result in the Beneficiary being required to pay the Waiver Fee provided for by the Loan Agreement

 

Bologna, 3 rd  April 2009

 

 

The Lending Party:

The Beneficiary:

 

 

 

 

UniCredit Corporate Banking S.p.A.

KEMET Corporation

 

 

 

 

/s/ DANIELE DI ANSELMO

 

/s/ MARCO UBERTI

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ CLAUDIO CHIOSI

 

 

 

SIGNATURES’ CERTIFICATION

 

Directory N. 111725

 

File N. 30817

 

 

 

In Bologna, Via Santo Stefano n. 42.

 

 

 

The undersigned Carlo Vico, Public Notary domiciled in Bologna, admitted to the Notarial Bar of Bologna, hereby certifies that at 10:25 a.m. the following persons have executed the above agreement and the intercalary sheets in the margin before the undersigned, such agreement shall be kept by the undersigned:

 

·                   DANIELE DI ANSELMO, born in Terni (TR), on 11 June 1964;

 

·                   CHIOSI CLAUDIO, born in Bologna, on 15 March 1966,

 

Both domiciled for their office in Verona (VR), Via Garibaldi n. 1, in their capacity as Manager, the first, and Quadro Direttivo , the second, of “UNICREDIT CORPORATE BANKING S.P.A.” with registered office in Verona (VR), Via Garibaldi n. 1, and therefore authorised to execute this agreement;

 

·                   MARCO UBERTI, born in Bologna, on 8 June 1953,domicilied for his office in Simpsonville, 2835, Kemet Way, South Carolina, United States of America, in his capacity as attorney of “KEMET CORPORATION”, with registered office in Simpsonville, 2835, Kemet Way, South Carolina, United States of America, and therefore authorised to execute this agreement.

 

The undersigned Notary hereby declares to have previously ascertained their personal identity and capacity.

 

Bologna, 31 (thirty-first) March 2009 (two thousand and nine).

 

/s/ CARLO VICO

 

 

5




Exhibit 10.33

 

 

Kemet Corporation

2835 Kemet Way

Simpsonville, South Carolina 29681

United States of America

 

Bologna, 3 April 2009

 

Dear Sirs,

 

We have today received your letter dated 3 April 2009, which we have reproduced in its entirety and have signed same by way of our unconditional and irrevocable acceptance thereof.

 

* * *

 

UniCredit Corporate Banking S.p.A.

Filiale di Casalecchio di Reno (BO)

Via Guglielmo Marconi n. 34/2

Casalecchio di Reno (BO)

 

Bologna, 3 April 2009

 

Dear Sirs,

 

Re:                                                                             Extension of the credit line granted by UniCredit Corporate Banking S.p.A. to Kemet Corporation on 3 October 2007 (hereinafter also “Letter of Extension”)

 

Further to our discussions, please find herein below our proposal for the execution of the Letter of Extension of the Credit Line Agreement (as defined below).

 

WHEREAS

 

(A)                              with agreement dated 3 October 2007 (the “ Credit Line Agreement ”), made in Casalecchio di Reno (BO) between UniCredit Corporate Banking S.p.A. (also known as UniCredit Banca d’Impresa S.p.A.) ( UniCredit ”) and Kemet Corporation ( Kemet ”), UniCredit granted to Kemet a credit line (register code no. 35017902 — account no. 30090427) for a total amount of Euro 47,000,000.00= (the “ Credit Line ”);

 

(B)                              according to the Credit line Agreement, the Credit Line is valid until the date of 18 (eighteen) months minus one day from the date of funding by UniCredit and therefore until 9 April 2009;

 

(C)                             as of today, the outstanding sums due by Kemet to UniCredit under the Credit Line amounts to Euro 35,000,000.00=;

 

(D)                             with agreement dated 29 September 2008, having the signatures authenticated by Notary Carlo Vico in Bologna, rep. no. 110199/29958, registered in Bologna on 7 October 2008 (with no. 11054 - serie 1T), between UniCredit and Kemet, as amended from time to time (the “ Senior Facility Agreement ”), UniCredit granted to Kemet a facility for a total amount of Euro 60,000,000.00=;

 

(E)                              UniCredit and Kemet intend, inter alia , to extend the expiration of the Credit Line under the terms set forth below, without any novation effect ( effetto novativo ).

 

UniCredit and Kemet are hereinafter referred to, collectively, as the “ Parties ”, or, individually, the “ Party ”.

 

UniCredit Corporate Banking S.p.A.

Sede Legale e Direzione Generale: Verona, Via Garibaldi 1 – Capitale Sociale € 6.604.173.696.00 –

Iscrizione al Registro delle Imprese di Verona – Codice Fiscale e P. IVA nº 03656170960 – Cod. ABI

03226.8 – Banca iscritta all’Albo delle Banche e appartenente al Gruppo Bancario UniCredito Italiano

iscritto all’Albo dei Gruppi Bancari inº 3135.1 – Aderente al Fondo Interbancario di Tutela dei Depositi.

 



 

Now therefore, the Parties hereby acknowledge and agree as follows:

 

1.                                      Recitals and Definitions

 

1.1                               The recitals form an integral and substantial part of this Letter of Extension.

 

1.2                               In this Letter of Extension:

 

Extension Date ” means the date on which the conditions precedent listed under Clause 4 ( Conditions Precedent ) are satisfied.

 

2.                                      Extension of the Credit Line

 

With effect from the Extension Date:

 

(A)                               the validity of the Credit Line is extended until 1 July 2011 (the “ Final Expiration Date ”);

 

(B)                               the interest rate to be paid by Kemet to UniCredit on the amounts disbursed and still outstanding of the Credit Line shall be equal to Euribor 6 (six) months plus a margin of 250 basis points. Kemet shall pay accrued interests on the last day of each interest period. The first interest period will commence on the Extension Date and will end on 1 January 2010 and each of the subsequent interest periods shall have a term of 6 (six) months;

 

(C)                              the principal outstanding amount of the Credit Line shall be repaid according to the following amortization schedule:

 

Date

 

Amount to be repaid

 

1/01/2010

 

Euro 2,000,000.00=

 

01/07/2010

 

Euro 2,000.000.00=

 

01/01/2011

 

Euro 2,000,000.00=

 

Final Expiration Date (01/07/2011)

 

Euro 29,000,000.00=

 

 

3.                                      Further Undertakings

 

3.1                               Kemet hereby acknowledges and agrees that, in case the indebtedness of Kemet pursuant to the Senior Facility Agreement is declared to be, or otherwise becomes, due and payable prior to its specified maturity as a result of an Event of Default (“Evento Rilevante” as defined in the Senior Facility Agreement), UniCredit, in addition and without prejudice to any of its rights and remedies pursuant to the Credit Line Agreement, shall be entitled to accelerate the Credit Line Agreement, withdraw from the Credit Line Agreement or declare the Credit Agreement terminated pursuant to the applicable provisions of the Italian Civil Code.

 

3.2                               Kemet hereby irrevocably waives to request UniCredit, or any companies of the Group of UniCredit, the availability of any factoring credit line.

 

4.                                      Conditions Precedent

 

The provisions of Clause 2 ( Extension of the Credit Line ) shall be binding and effective only if UniCredit has received, in form and substance satisfactory to UniCredit:

 

(A)                               a legal opinion of a primary law firm operating in the United States of America, as legal advisor to Kemet, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to UniCredit, as to due incorporation of Kemet and its capacity, power and authority to enter into this Letter of Extension;

 

(B)                               evidence satisfactory to UniCredit:

 

(1)                     with reference to the Receivables (“ Crediti ” as defined in the Senior Facility Agreement) capable of being assigned, of the notification of the Assignment of Receivables (“ Cessioni dei Crediti ”, as defined in the Senior Facility Agreement) to the European Debtors (“ Debitori Europei ”, as defined in the Senior Facility Agreement); or

 

UniCredit Corporate Banking S.p.A.

Sede Legale e Direzione Generale: Verona, Via Garibaldi 1 – Capitale Sociale € 6.604.173.696.00 –

Iscrizione al Registro delle Imprese di Verona – Codice Fiscale e P. IVA nº 03656170960 – Cod. ABI

03226.8 – Banca iscritta all’Albo delle Banche e appartenente al Gruppo Bancario UniCredito Italiano

iscritto all’Albo dei Gruppi Bancari inº 3135.1 – Aderente al Fondo Interbancario di Tutela dei Depositi.

 



 

(2)                     of the communication of the channelling of the cash flows relating the Receivables (“ Crediti ” as defined in the Senior Facility Agreement) not capable of being assigned;

 

pursuant to the Assignment of Receivables (“ Cessione di Crediti ” as defined in the Senior Facility Agreement).

 

To this end UniCredit hereby declares that (i) the receipt of sending of the letter of notification of the assignment / of the channelling communication or (ii) the delivery by Kemet (also on behalf of the other Assignors - “Società Cedenti”, as defined in the Senior Facility Agreement) of the notice of assignement / channelling communication duly signed by Kemet or by the relevant Assignors (“Società Cedenti”, as defined in the Senior Facility Agreement) shall constitute evidence of the notification of the Assignment of Receivables (“ Cessione di Crediti ” as defined in the Senior Facility Agreement) or of the channelling as the case may be;

 

(C)                              stipulation by Kemet of the amendment agreement to the Senior Facility Agreement with separate deed agreed by the Parties and satisfactory to UniCredit;

 

as soon as all the above documents, in form and substance satisfactory to UniCredit, are delivered to UniCredit, the latter shall promptly notify Kemet that such conditions precedent indicated above are satisfied.

 

5.                                      No Novation and Miscellanea

 

5.1                               The amendments made by means of this Letter of Extension to the Credit Line Agreement are deemed to be incorporated in the Credit Line Agreement.

 

5.2                               The provisions of the Credit Line Agreement not amended by means of this Letter of Extension shall remain in full force and effect as originally agreed.

 

5.3                               The Parties hereby expressly acknowledge and agree that the amendments made to the Credit Line Agreement by means of this Letter of Extension constitute ancillary ( accessorie ) and not substantial ( sostanziali ) amendments, and shall not novate any of the provisions of the Credit Line Agreement.

 

5.4                               The Parties hereby acknowledge and agree that each of the provisions of this Letter of Extension has been specifically negotiated.

 

6.                                      Costs and Expenses

 

Kemet shall pay all costs and expenses (including legal fees and any taxes or other duties) in connection with this Letter of Extension, provided however that each Party shall pay the legal fees related to their own advisors for the negotiation, execution and conclusion of this Letter of Extension.

 

7.                                      Applicable Law and Jurisdiction

 

7.1                               This Letter of Extension is governed by Italian law and shall be interpreted in accordance with Italian law.

 

7.2                               Any dispute arising with respect to the validity and/or effectiveness and/or the performance of this Letter of Extension shall be submitted to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Courts of Verona, without prejudice to the mandatory provisions set out in the Italian Civil Procedural Code.

 

7.3                               Clause 7.2 is for the benefit of UniCredit only. As a result, UniCredit shall not be prevented from taking proceedings relating to any dispute arising with respect to the validity and/or effectiveness and/or the performance of this Letter of Extension in any other courts with jurisdiction. To the extent allowed by law, UniCredit may take concurrent proceedings in any number of jurisdictions.

 

If you agree to the above, please kindly return the same text of this Letter of Extension reproduced in your letterhead and dated, initialled on each page and duly signed by you in sign of your confirmation and unconditional and irrevocable acceptance.

 

Best regards,

Kemet Corporation

 

 

/s/ Michael W. Boone

 

Name: Michael W. Boone

 

Title: Vice President and Treasurer

 

 

UniCredit Corporate Banking S.p.A.

Sede Legale e Direzione Generale: Verona, Via Garibaldi 1 – Capitale Sociale € 6.604.173.696.00 –

Iscrizione al Registro delle Imprese di Verona – Codice Fiscale e P. IVA nº 03656170960 – Cod. ABI

03226.8 – Banca iscritta all’Albo delle Banche e appartenente al Gruppo Bancario UniCredito Italiano

iscritto all’Albo dei Gruppi Bancari inº 3135.1 – Aderente al Fondo Interbancario di Tutela dei Depositi.

 



 

As requested, by signing this letter we accept all the terms and conditions of the letter indicated above

 

* * *

 

UniCredit Corporate Banking S.p.A.

 

 

/s/ DANIELE DI ANSELMO

 

Name: DANIELE DI ANSELMO

 

Title: DIRIGENTE RESPONSIBLE

 

CONDIREZIONE BOLOGNA

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ CLAUDIO CHIOSI

 

QUADRO DIRETTIVO RESP. FIL CASALECCHIO

 

 

UniCredit Corporate Banking S.p.A.

Sede Legale e Direzione Generale: Verona, Via Garibaldi 1 – Capitale Sociale € 6.604.173.696.00 –

Iscrizione al Registro delle Imprese di Verona – Codice Fiscale e P. IVA nº 03656170960 – Cod. ABI

03226.8 – Banca iscritta all’Albo delle Banche e appartenente al Gruppo Bancario UniCredito Italiano

iscritto all’Albo dei Gruppi Bancari inº 3135.1 – Aderente al Fondo Interbancario di Tutela dei Depositi.

 




Exhibit 10.45

 

July 28, 2008

 

Per Loof

1091 Hillsboro Mile

Hillsboro Beach,  FL  33062

 

Re:  Change in Control Severance Compensation Agreement

 

Dear Mr. Loof:

 

The board of directors (the “Board”) of KEMET Corporation (the “Company”) has determined that it is in the best interests of the Company and its shareholders to assure the continued dedication to the Company of senior management personnel, notwithstanding any possibility, threat or occurrence of a Change in Control of the Company (as defined below).  Accordingly, in order to encourage your continued attention and dedication to your assigned duties regardless of any such possibility, threat or occurrence, the Board has authorized the Company to enter into this “Change in Control Severance Compensation Agreement” (the “Agreement”) in order to provide you with certain compensation and other benefits in the event that your employment with the Company is terminated as a result of a Change in Control of the Company.

 

The terms and conditions of this Agreement are as follows:

 

1.        Term of the Agreement .  (A)  The Term of this Agreement shall commence on the date first set forth above and shall end on July 27, 2011; provided, that if a Change in Control of the Company shall have occurred prior to July 27, 2011, the Term of this Agreement shall end on the date that is the two year anniversary of the Change in Control.  In addition, the Term of this Agreement shall automatically end upon the occurrence of any of the following:

 

(i)       Your death or receipt of a Notice of Termination due to Disability;

 

(ii)      Your attainment of your Retirement Date; or

 

(iii)     A determination by the Board that you are no longer eligible to receive the benefits set forth in this Agreement and your receipt of notice of any such determination; provided , that such a determination shall have no effect if made after a Change in Control of the Company or as a result of negotiations occurring in connection with a Change in Control of the Company.

 

(B)     In the event of a Change in Control of the Company, subject to Paragraph 1(A), the Term of this Agreement shall be automatically extended to the earlier of:  (i) the date that is two (2) years from the date such Change in Control of the Company occurred; or (ii) the occurrence of an event described in Paragraph 1(A)(i) or 1(A)(ii) above.

 



 

2.        Change in Control of the Company .  For purposes of this Agreement, a “Change in Control of the Company” shall mean any of the following events:

 

(A)     The acquisition by any individual, entity or group (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or 14(d)(2) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)) (a “Person”) of beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act) of twenty-five percent (25%) or more of either (i) the then outstanding shares of common stock of the Company (the “Outstanding Company Common Stock”), or (ii) the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities of the Company entitled to vote generally in the election of directors (the “Outstanding Company Voting Securities”); provided , however, that for purposes of this subparagraph (A), the following acquisitions shall not constitute a Change in Control of the Company:  (1) any acquisition directly from the Company; (2) any acquisition by the Company; (3) any acquisition by any employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or maintained by the Company or any corporation controlled by the Company; or (4) any acquisition by any corporation pursuant to a transaction which complies with clauses (1), (2) and (3) of subparagraph (C) below;

 

(B)     Individuals who, as of the date hereof, constitute the Board (the “Incumbent Board”) cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the Board; provided , however, that any individual becoming a director subsequent to the date hereof whose election, or nomination for election by the Company’s shareholders, was approved by a vote of at least a majority of the directors then comprising the Incumbent Board shall be considered as though such individual were a member of the Incumbent Board, but excluding for this purpose any such individual whose initial assumption of office occurs as a result of an actual or threatened election contest with respect to the election or removal of directors or other actual or threatened solicitation of proxies or consents by or on behalf of a Person other than the Board;

 

(C)     Consummation of a reorganization, merger or consolidation or sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company (a “Business Combination”), in each case, unless, following such Business Combination, (1) all or substantially all of the individuals and entities who were the beneficial owners, respectively, of the Outstanding Company Common Stock and Outstanding Company Voting Securities immediately prior to such Business Combination beneficially own, directly or indirectly, more than fifty percent (50%) of, respectively, the then outstanding shares of common stock and the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, as the case may be, of the corporation resulting from such Business Combination (including, without limitation, a corporation which as a result of such transaction owns the Company or all or substantially all of the Company’s assets either directly or through one or more subsidiaries) in substantially the same proportions as their ownership, immediately prior to such Business Combination of the Outstanding Company Common Stock and Outstanding Company Voting Securities, as the case may be, (2) no Person (excluding any corporation resulting from such Business Combination or any employee benefit plan (or related trust) of the Company or such corporation resulting from such Business Combination) beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, twenty-five percent (25%) or more of, respectively, the then outstanding shares of common stock of the corporation resulting from such Business Combination or the

 

2



 

combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities of such corporation except to the extent that such ownership existed prior to the Business Combination, and (3) at least a majority of the members of the board of directors of the corporation resulting from such Business Combination were members of the Board at the time of the execution of the initial agreement, or of the action of the Board, providing for such Business Combination;

 

(D)     Approval by the shareholders of the Company of a complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company.

 

3.        Termination of Employment Following Change in Control of the Company .

 

(A)     Termination .  If a Change in Control of the Company occurs, you shall be entitled, upon the subsequent termination of your employment with the Company (“Termination”), to the benefits described in Paragraph 4 below, unless such Termination is:  (i) by you other than for Good Reason; (ii) by the Company for Cause or because of your Disability; or (iii) because of your death or attainment of your Retirement Date.  Any Termination (except a Termination resulting from your death) shall be made by written Notice of Termination from the party initiating such Termination to the other party to this Agreement.

 

(B)     Notice of Termination .  A Notice of Termination shall mean a written document stating the specific provision in this Agreement upon which a Termination is based and otherwise setting forth the facts and circumstances which provide the basis for a Termination.

 

(C)     Date of Termination .  The Date of Termination shall mean:  (i) if the Termination occurs as a result of Disability, thirty (30) days after a Notice of Termination is given; (ii) if the Termination occurs for Good Reason, the date specified in the Notice of Termination; and (iii) if the Termination occurs for any other reason, the date on which the Notice of Termination is given.

 

(D)     Good Reason .  A Termination for Good Reason shall mean a Termination as a result of:

 

(i)       The assignment to you, without your express written consent, of any duties inconsistent with your position, duties, responsibilities and status with the Company immediately prior to a Change in Control of the Company, or a change in your titles or offices (if any) in effect immediately prior to a Change in Control of the Company, or any removal of you from, or any failure to reelect you to, any of such positions, except in connection with your Termination for Cause, death, Disability, or as a result of your attainment of your Retirement Date.

 

(ii)      A reduction by the Company in your base salary as in effect on the date hereof, or as the same may be increased from time to time thereafter;

 

(iii)     The failure of the Company to continue in effect any compensation, welfare or benefit plan in which you are participating at the time of a Change in Control of the Company, without substituting therefor plans providing you with substantially similar benefits at

 

3



 

substantially the same cost to you; or the taking of any action by the Company which would adversely affect your participation in or materially reduce your benefits or increase the cost to you under any of such plans or deprive you of any material fringe benefit enjoyed by you at the time of the Change in Control of the Company;

 

(iv)     Any purported Termination for Cause or Disability without grounds therefor; or

 

(v)      The relocation of your primary work location to a location that is more than 20 miles from your primary work location immediately prior to the Change in Control of the Company.

 

(E)      Cause .  A Termination for Cause shall mean (i) a Termination as a result of the willful and continued failure by you for a significant period of time substantially to perform your duties with the Company (other than any such failure resulting from your Disability), after a demand for substantial performance is delivered to you in writing by the Board or its designate which specifically identifies the manner in which the Board or its designate believes that you have not substantially performed your duties, or (ii) the willful engaging by you in gross misconduct materially and demonstrably injurious to the Company.  No act, or failure to act, on your part shall be considered “willful” unless done, or omitted to be done, by you, not in good faith and without reasonable belief that your action or omission was in the best interest of the Company.  The burden for establishing the validity of any termination for Cause shall rest upon the Company.  No Termination shall be deemed to be for Cause unless and until there shall have been delivered to you a copy of a resolution duly adopted by the affirmative vote of not less than three-quarters of the entire membership of the Board called and held for such purpose (after reasonable notice is provided to you and you are given an opportunity, together with counsel, to be heard before the Board), finding that, in the good faith opinion of the Board, you are guilty of the conduct described in subclauses (i) or (ii) above, and specifying the particulars thereof in detail.

 

(F)      Disability .  A Disability shall mean that, as a result of your incapacity due to physical or mental illness, you shall have been unable to perform your duties with the Company for a period of six (6) months, and have no prospect of returning to employment with the Company within an additional six (6) months; provided , that the Company shall have made a reasonable accommodation of any such incapacity pursuant to, and shall otherwise have complied in all respects with, the provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.

 

(G)     Retirement Date .  Your “Retirement Date” shall mean the date on which you attain age 70-1/2, or the date you have informed the Company of your intentions to retire after you attain the age of fifty-five (55), but before the attainment of age 70-1/2.

 

4.        Benefits .  (A)  In the event of your Termination for any reason except those set forth in Paragraphs 3(A)(i), 3(A)(ii) and 3(A)(iii) above, the Company shall pay to you the following amounts in a lump sum payment on the Date of Termination:

 

4



 

(i)       An amount that is thirty-six (36) times the sum of (x) your monthly base salary at the rate in effect at the time a Notice of Termination is given and (y) the monthly amount of your annual target incentive bonus, determined by dividing the annual target incentive bonus by 12 for the year in which the Change of Control occurs.

 

(ii)      The Company shall maintain in full force and effect, for a period of thirty-six (36) months following your Date of Termination, all life insurance and medical insurance plans and programs (the “Company Programs”) in which you are entitled to participate immediately prior to the Date of Termination, provided that your continued participation is possible under the terms and provisions of such Company Programs.  In the event that your participation in any Company Program is not permitted under the terms and provisions thereof, the Company will use its reasonable best efforts to provide you with, or arrange coverage for you which is substantially similar to (including comparable terms), the coverage that you would have received under the applicable Company Program.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company’s obligations under this Paragraph 4(A)(ii) shall terminate with respect to any Company Program on the date that you first become eligible, after your Date of Termination, for the same type of coverage under another employer’s plan.

 

(iii)     The Company shall pay all reasonable legal fees and expenses incurred by you as a result of your Termination (including all such reasonable fees and expenses, if any, incurred in contesting or disputing your Termination or in seeking to obtain or enforce any rights or benefits provided by this Agreement).

 

(iv)     The Company shall pay the costs of reasonable outplacement services until you are employed on a full-time basis, provided that payment by the Company of such costs shall not exceed $15,000.

 

(B)     Accelerated Vesting under 2004 Long Term Incentive Compensation Plan .  For any performance awards made after the date hereof under the Company’s 2004 Long Term Incentive Compensation Plan, in the event of a Change in Control of the Company, the vesting of such awards shall be accelerated to the next whole year following the date of the Change in Control, and shall be payable in an amount equal to the greater of (x) the actual performance of the Company through the date of the Change in Control compared to the Plan target, up to the maximum amount payable under the Plan and (y) the target amount payable under the Plan for such period.

 

(C)    No Mitigation Required .  You shall not be required to mitigate the amount of any payment provided for in this Paragraph 4 by seeking other employment or otherwise, nor shall the amount of any payment provided for in this Paragraph 4 be reduced by any compensation earned by you as a result of employment by another employer after the Date of Termination, or otherwise, except as specifically provided in Paragraph 4(A)(ii).

 

(D)     Section 409A Delay .  Notwithstanding the above and unless exempt under Proposed Treasury Regulation §1.409A-1(b)(9), if you are a “specified employee” within the meaning of Code §416(i) and Proposed Treasury Regulation §1.409A-1(i), no payments may be

 

5



 

made under this Agreement before the date that is six months after the Termination (or, if earlier, the date of death of the specified employee).  In such case, all payments to which you are entitled during the first six months shall be accumulated and paid on the first date of the seventh month following Termination.

 

(E)      Section 280G  Payments .  If it is determined that any payments hereunder, either separately or in conjunction with any other payments, benefits and entitlements received by you hereunder, would constitute an “excess parachute payment” within the meaning of Section 280G of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), and thereby be subject to the excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Code (the “Excise Tax”), then in such event, the Company shall be obligated to pay to you promptly following such determination and upon notice thereof a “gross-up” payment in an amount equal to the amount of such Excise Tax, plus all federal and state income or other taxes with respect to the payment of the amount of such Excise Tax, including all such taxes (including any additional Excise Tax) with respect to any such gross-up payment.

 

5.        Miscellaneous .

 

(A)     Limitation of Effect .  This Agreement shall have no effect on any termination of your employment prior to a Change in Control of the Company, or upon any termination of your employment at any time as a result of your Disability, attainment of your Retirement Date, or death; and upon the occurrence of any such events, you shall receive only those benefits to which you would have been otherwise entitled prior to a Change in Control of the Company.

 

(B)     Successors .  (i)  The Company will require any successor (whether direct or indirect, by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) to all or substantially all of the business and/or assets of the Company, to assume and agree to perform this Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent that the Company would be required to perform this Agreement if no such succession had taken place.  Failure of the Company to obtain such assumption or agreement prior to the effectiveness of any such succession shall be a breach of this Agreement.

 

(ii)      This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by your personal or legal representatives, executors, administrators, successors, heirs, distributees, devisees and legatees.  If you should die while any amounts would still be payable to you hereunder if you had continued to live, all such amounts, unless otherwise provided herein, shall be paid in accordance with the terms of this Agreement to your devisee, legatee or other designee or, if there be no such designee, to your estate.

 

(C)     Notice .  Notices provided for in the Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given when delivered in person or mailed by United States registered mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, to the respective addresses set forth on the first page of this Agreement, or to such other address as either party may have furnished to the other in writing, except that notices of change of address shall be effective only upon receipt

 

6



 

by the other party.  All notices to the Company shall be directed to the attention of Larry McAdams, Vice President of Human Resources.

 

(D)     Modifications .  No provision of this Agreement may be modified, waived or discharged unless such modification, waiver, or discharge is agreed to in writing and is signed by you and the Company.  No waiver by either party hereto at any time of any breach by the other party hereto of, or compliance with, any condition or provision of this Agreement to be performed by such other party shall be deemed a waiver of similar or dissimilar provisions or conditions at the same or at any prior or subsequent time.

 

(E)      Interpretation .  The validity, interpretation, construction and performance of this Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of South Carolina.  The invalidity or unenforceability of any provisions of this Agreement shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision of this Agreement, which shall remain in full force and effect.

 

If you agree that the foregoing correctly sets forth the agreement between us, please sign the enclosed copy of this Agreement in the space indicated below and return it to the Company.

 

 

Very truly yours,

 

KEMET Corporation

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ LARRY C. MCADAMS

 

Name:

Larry McAdams

 

Title:

Vice President, Human Resources

 

Agreed to as of the day and year first written above:

 

 

EMPLOYEE

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ PER LOOF

 

Per Loof

 

 

Dated as of
July 28, 2008

 

7




Exhibit 10.46

 

July 28, 2008

 

William M. Lowe, Jr.

224 South Laurens Street, Unit 413

Greenville,  SC  29601

 

Re:  Change in Control Severance Compensation Agreement

 

Dear Mr. Lowe:

 

The board of directors (the “Board”) of KEMET Corporation (the “Company”) has determined that it is in the best interests of the Company and its shareholders to assure the continued dedication to the Company of senior management personnel, notwithstanding any possibility, threat or occurrence of a Change in Control of the Company (as defined below).  Accordingly, in order to encourage your continued attention and dedication to your assigned duties regardless of any such possibility, threat or occurrence, the Board has authorized the Company to enter into this “Change in Control Severance Compensation Agreement” (the “Agreement”) in order to provide you with certain compensation and other benefits in the event that your employment with the Company is terminated as a result of a Change in Control of the Company.

 

The terms and conditions of this Agreement are as follows:

 

1.        Term of the Agreement .  (A)  The Term of this Agreement shall commence on the date first set forth above and shall end on July 27, 2011; provided, that if a Change in Control of the Company shall have occurred prior to July 27, 2011, the Term of this Agreement shall end on the date that is the two year anniversary of the Change in Control.  In addition, the Term of this Agreement shall automatically end upon the occurrence of any of the following:

 

(i)       Your death or receipt of a Notice of Termination due to Disability;

 

(ii)      Your attainment of your Retirement Date; or

 

(iii)     A determination by the Board that you are no longer eligible to receive the benefits set forth in this Agreement and your receipt of notice of any such determination; provided , that such a determination shall have no effect if made after a Change in Control of the Company or as a result of negotiations occurring in connection with a Change in Control of the Company.

 

(B)     In the event of a Change in Control of the Company, subject to Paragraph 1(A), the Term of this Agreement shall be automatically extended to the earlier of:  (i) the date that is two (2) years from the date such Change in Control of the Company occurred; or (ii) the occurrence of an event described in Paragraph 1(A)(i) or 1(A)(ii) above.

 



 

2.        Change in Control of the Company .  For purposes of this Agreement, a “Change in Control of the Company” shall mean any of the following events:

 

(A)     The acquisition by any individual, entity or group (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or 14(d)(2) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)) (a “Person”) of beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act) of twenty-five percent (25%) or more of either (i) the then outstanding shares of common stock of the Company (the “Outstanding Company Common Stock”), or (ii) the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities of the Company entitled to vote generally in the election of directors (the “Outstanding Company Voting Securities”); provided , however, that for purposes of this subparagraph (A), the following acquisitions shall not constitute a Change in Control of the Company:  (1) any acquisition directly from the Company; (2) any acquisition by the Company; (3) any acquisition by any employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or maintained by the Company or any corporation controlled by the Company; or (4) any acquisition by any corporation pursuant to a transaction which complies with clauses (1), (2) and (3) of subparagraph (C) below;

 

(B)     Individuals who, as of the date hereof, constitute the Board (the “Incumbent Board”) cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the Board; provided , however, that any individual becoming a director subsequent to the date hereof whose election, or nomination for election by the Company’s shareholders, was approved by a vote of at least a majority of the directors then comprising the Incumbent Board shall be considered as though such individual were a member of the Incumbent Board, but excluding for this purpose any such individual whose initial assumption of office occurs as a result of an actual or threatened election contest with respect to the election or removal of directors or other actual or threatened solicitation of proxies or consents by or on behalf of a Person other than the Board;

 

(C)     Consummation of a reorganization, merger or consolidation or sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company (a “Business Combination”), in each case, unless, following such Business Combination, (1) all or substantially all of the individuals and entities who were the beneficial owners, respectively, of the Outstanding Company Common Stock and Outstanding Company Voting Securities immediately prior to such Business Combination beneficially own, directly or indirectly, more than fifty percent (50%) of, respectively, the then outstanding shares of common stock and the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, as the case may be, of the corporation resulting from such Business Combination (including, without limitation, a corporation which as a result of such transaction owns the Company or all or substantially all of the Company’s assets either directly or through one or more subsidiaries) in substantially the same proportions as their ownership, immediately prior to such Business Combination of the Outstanding Company Common Stock and Outstanding Company Voting Securities, as the case may be, (2) no Person (excluding any corporation resulting from such Business Combination or any employee benefit plan (or related trust) of the Company or such corporation resulting from such Business Combination) beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, twenty-five percent (25%) or more of, respectively, the then outstanding shares of common stock of the corporation resulting from such Business Combination or the

 

2



 

combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities of such corporation except to the extent that such ownership existed prior to the Business Combination, and (3) at least a majority of the members of the board of directors of the corporation resulting from such Business Combination were members of the Board at the time of the execution of the initial agreement, or of the action of the Board, providing for such Business Combination;

 

(D)     Approval by the shareholders of the Company of a complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company.

 

3.        Termination of Employment Following Change in Control of the Company .

 

(A)     Termination .  If a Change in Control of the Company occurs, you shall be entitled, upon the subsequent termination of your employment with the Company (“Termination”), to the benefits described in Paragraph 4 below, unless such Termination is:  (i) by you other than for Good Reason; (ii) by the Company for Cause or because of your Disability; or (iii) because of your death or attainment of your Retirement Date.  Any Termination (except a Termination resulting from your death) shall be made by written Notice of Termination from the party initiating such Termination to the other party to this Agreement.

 

(B)     Notice of Termination .  A Notice of Termination shall mean a written document stating the specific provision in this Agreement upon which a Termination is based and otherwise setting forth the facts and circumstances which provide the basis for a Termination.

 

(C)     Date of Termination .  The Date of Termination shall mean:  (i) if the Termination occurs as a result of Disability, thirty (30) days after a Notice of Termination is given; (ii) if the Termination occurs for Good Reason, the date specified in the Notice of Termination; and (iii) if the Termination occurs for any other reason, the date on which the Notice of Termination is given.

 

(D)     Good Reason .  A Termination for Good Reason shall mean a Termination as a result of:

 

(i)       The assignment to you, without your express written consent, of any duties inconsistent with your position, duties, responsibilities and status with the Company immediately prior to a Change in Control of the Company, or a change in your titles or offices (if any) in effect immediately prior to a Change in Control of the Company, or any removal of you from, or any failure to reelect you to, any of such positions, except in connection with your Termination for Cause, death, Disability, or as a result of your attainment of your Retirement Date.

 

(ii)      A reduction by the Company in your base salary as in effect on the date hereof, or as the same may be increased from time to time thereafter;

 

(iii)     The failure of the Company to continue in effect any compensation, welfare or benefit plan in which you are participating at the time of a Change in Control of the Company, without substituting therefor plans providing you with substantially similar benefits at

 

3



 

substantially the same cost to you; or the taking of any action by the Company which would adversely affect your participation in or materially reduce your benefits or increase the cost to you under any of such plans or deprive you of any material fringe benefit enjoyed by you at the time of the Change in Control of the Company;

 

(iv)     Any purported Termination for Cause or Disability without grounds therefor; or

 

(v)      The relocation of your primary work location to a location that is more than 20 miles from your primary work location immediately prior to the Change in Control of the Company.

 

(E)      Cause .  A Termination for Cause shall mean (i) a Termination as a result of the willful and continued failure by you for a significant period of time substantially to perform your duties with the Company (other than any such failure resulting from your Disability), after a demand for substantial performance is delivered to you in writing by the Board or its designate which specifically identifies the manner in which the Board or its designate believes that you have not substantially performed your duties, or (ii) the willful engaging by you in gross misconduct materially and demonstrably injurious to the Company.  No act, or failure to act, on your part shall be considered “willful” unless done, or omitted to be done, by you, not in good faith and without reasonable belief that your action or omission was in the best interest of the Company.  The burden for establishing the validity of any termination for Cause shall rest upon the Company.  No Termination shall be deemed to be for Cause unless and until there shall have been delivered to you a copy of a resolution duly adopted by the affirmative vote of not less than three-quarters of the entire membership of the Board called and held for such purpose (after reasonable notice is provided to you and you are given an opportunity, together with counsel, to be heard before the Board), finding that, in the good faith opinion of the Board, you are guilty of the conduct described in subclauses (i) or (ii) above, and specifying the particulars thereof in detail.

 

(F)      Disability .  A Disability shall mean that, as a result of your incapacity due to physical or mental illness, you shall have been unable to perform your duties with the Company for a period of six (6) months, and have no prospect of returning to employment with the Company within an additional six (6) months; provided , that the Company shall have made a reasonable accommodation of any such incapacity pursuant to, and shall otherwise have complied in all respects with, the provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.

 

(G)     Retirement Date .  Your “Retirement Date” shall mean the date on which you attain age 70-1/2, or the date you have informed the Company of your intentions to retire after you attain the age of fifty-five (55), but before the attainment of age 70-1/2.

 

4.        Benefits .  (A)  In the event of your Termination for any reason except those set forth in Paragraphs 3(A)(i), 3(A)(ii) and 3(A)(iii) above, the Company shall pay to you the following amounts in a lump sum payment on the Date of Termination:

 

4



 

(i)       An amount that is thirty-six (36) times the sum of (x) your monthly base salary at the rate in effect at the time a Notice of Termination is given and (y) the monthly amount of your annual target incentive bonus, determined by dividing the annual target incentive bonus by 12 for the year in which the Change of Control occurs.

 

(ii)      The Company shall maintain in full force and effect, for a period of thirty-six (36) months following your Date of Termination, all life insurance and medical insurance plans and programs (the “Company Programs”) in which you are entitled to participate immediately prior to the Date of Termination, provided that your continued participation is possible under the terms and provisions of such Company Programs.  In the event that your participation in any Company Program is not permitted under the terms and provisions thereof, the Company will use its reasonable best efforts to provide you with, or arrange coverage for you which is substantially similar to (including comparable terms), the coverage that you would have received under the applicable Company Program.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company’s obligations under this Paragraph 4(A)(ii) shall terminate with respect to any Company Program on the date that you first become eligible, after your Date of Termination, for the same type of coverage under another employer’s plan.

 

(iii)     The Company shall pay all reasonable legal fees and expenses incurred by you as a result of your Termination (including all such reasonable fees and expenses, if any, incurred in contesting or disputing your Termination or in seeking to obtain or enforce any rights or benefits provided by this Agreement).

 

(iv)     The Company shall pay the costs of reasonable outplacement services until you are employed on a full-time basis, provided that payment by the Company of such costs shall not exceed $15,000.

 

(B)     Accelerated Vesting under 2004 Long Term Incentive Compensation Plan .  For any performance awards made after the date hereof under the Company’s 2004 Long Term Incentive Compensation Plan, in the event of a Change in Control of the Company, the vesting of such awards shall be accelerated to the next whole year following the date of the Change in Control, and shall be payable in an amount equal to the greater of (x) the actual performance of the Company through the date of the Change in Control compared to the Plan target, up to the maximum amount payable under the Plan and (y) the target amount payable under the Plan for such period.

 

(C)    No Mitigation Required .  You shall not be required to mitigate the amount of any payment provided for in this Paragraph 4 by seeking other employment or otherwise, nor shall the amount of any payment provided for in this Paragraph 4 be reduced by any compensation earned by you as a result of employment by another employer after the Date of Termination, or otherwise, except as specifically provided in Paragraph 4(A)(ii).

 

(D)     Section 409A Delay .  Notwithstanding the above and unless exempt under Proposed Treasury Regulation §1.409A-1(b)(9), if you are a “specified employee” within the meaning of Code §416(i) and Proposed Treasury Regulation §1.409A-1(i), no payments may be

 

5



 

made under this Agreement before the date that is six months after the Termination (or, if earlier, the date of death of the specified employee).  In such case, all payments to which you are entitled during the first six months shall be accumulated and paid on the first date of the seventh month following Termination.

 

(E)      Section 280G  Payments .  If it is determined that any payments hereunder, either separately or in conjunction with any other payments, benefits and entitlements received by you hereunder, would constitute an “excess parachute payment” within the meaning of Section 280G of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), and thereby be subject to the excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Code (the “Excise Tax”), then in such event, the Company shall be obligated to pay to you promptly following such determination and upon notice thereof a “gross-up” payment in an amount equal to the amount of such Excise Tax, plus all federal and state income or other taxes with respect to the payment of the amount of such Excise Tax, including all such taxes (including any additional Excise Tax) with respect to any such gross-up payment.

 

5.        Miscellaneous .

 

(A)     Limitation of Effect .  This Agreement shall have no effect on any termination of your employment prior to a Change in Control of the Company, or upon any termination of your employment at any time as a result of your Disability, attainment of your Retirement Date, or death; and upon the occurrence of any such events, you shall receive only those benefits to which you would have been otherwise entitled prior to a Change in Control of the Company.

 

(B)     Successors .  (i)  The Company will require any successor (whether direct or indirect, by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) to all or substantially all of the business and/or assets of the Company, to assume and agree to perform this Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent that the Company would be required to perform this Agreement if no such succession had taken place.  Failure of the Company to obtain such assumption or agreement prior to the effectiveness of any such succession shall be a breach of this Agreement.

 

(ii)      This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by your personal or legal representatives, executors, administrators, successors, heirs, distributees, devisees and legatees.  If you should die while any amounts would still be payable to you hereunder if you had continued to live, all such amounts, unless otherwise provided herein, shall be paid in accordance with the terms of this Agreement to your devisee, legatee or other designee or, if there be no such designee, to your estate.

 

(C)     Notice .  Notices provided for in the Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given when delivered in person or mailed by United States registered mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, to the respective addresses set forth on the first page of this Agreement, or to such other address as either party may have furnished to the other in writing, except that notices of change of address shall be effective only upon receipt

 

6



 

by the other party.  All notices to the Company shall be directed to the attention of Larry McAdams, Vice President of Human Resources.

 

(D)     Modifications .  No provision of this Agreement may be modified, waived or discharged unless such modification, waiver, or discharge is agreed to in writing and is signed by you and the Company.  No waiver by either party hereto at any time of any breach by the other party hereto of, or compliance with, any condition or provision of this Agreement to be performed by such other party shall be deemed a waiver of similar or dissimilar provisions or conditions at the same or at any prior or subsequent time.

 

(E)      Interpretation .  The validity, interpretation, construction and performance of this Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of South Carolina.  The invalidity or unenforceability of any provisions of this Agreement shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision of this Agreement, which shall remain in full force and effect.

 

If you agree that the foregoing correctly sets forth the agreement between us, please sign the enclosed copy of this Agreement in the space indicated below and return it to the Company.

 

 

Very truly yours,

 

KEMET Corporation

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ LARRY C. MCADAMS

 

Name:

Larry McAdams

 

Title:

Vice President, Human Resources

 

 

Agreed to as of the day and year first written above:

 

 

EMPLOYEE

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ WILLIAM M. LOWE, JR.

 

William M. Lowe, Jr.

 

Dated as of
July 28, 2008

 

7




Exhibit 10.47

 

September 8, 2008

 

Robert Arguelles

144 Miller Point Drive

Taylorsville, NC 28681

 

Re:  Change in Control Severance Compensation Agreement

 

Dear Mr. Arguelles:

 

The board of directors (the “Board”) of KEMET Corporation (the “Company”) has determined that it is in the best interests of the Company and its shareholders to assure the continued dedication to the Company of senior management personnel, notwithstanding any possibility, threat or occurrence of a Change in Control of the Company (as defined below).  Accordingly, in order to encourage your continued attention and dedication to your assigned duties regardless of any such possibility, threat or occurrence, the Board has authorized the Company to enter into this “Change in Control Severance Compensation Agreement” (the “Agreement”) in order to provide you with certain compensation and other benefits in the event that your employment with the Company is terminated as a result of a Change in Control of the Company.

 

The terms and conditions of this Agreement are as follows:

 

1.        Term of the Agreement .  (A)  The Term of this Agreement shall commence on the date first set forth above and shall end on July 27, 2011; provided, that if a Change in Control of the Company shall have occurred prior to July 27, 2011, the Term of this Agreement shall end on the date that is the two year anniversary of the Change in Control.  In addition, the Term of this Agreement shall automatically end upon the occurrence of any of the following:

 

(i)       Your death or receipt of a Notice of Termination due to Disability;

 

(ii)      Your attainment of your Retirement Date; or

 

(iii)     A determination by the Board that you are no longer eligible to receive the benefits set forth in this Agreement and your receipt of notice of any such determination; provided , that such a determination shall have no effect if made after a Change in Control of the Company or as a result of negotiations occurring in connection with a Change in Control of the Company.

 

(B)     In the event of a Change in Control of the Company, subject to Paragraph 1(A), the Term of this Agreement shall be automatically extended to the earlier of:  (i) the date that is two (2) years from the date such Change in Control of the Company occurred; or (ii) the occurrence of an event described in Paragraph 1(A)(i) or 1(A)(ii) above.

 



 

2.        Change in Control of the Company .  For purposes of this Agreement, a “Change in Control of the Company” shall mean any of the following events:

 

(A)     The acquisition by any individual, entity or group (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or 14(d)(2) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)) (a “Person”) of beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act) of twenty-five percent (25%) or more of either (i) the then outstanding shares of common stock of the Company (the “Outstanding Company Common Stock”), or (ii) the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities of the Company entitled to vote generally in the election of directors (the “Outstanding Company Voting Securities”); provided , however, that for purposes of this subparagraph (A), the following acquisitions shall not constitute a Change in Control of the Company:  (1) any acquisition directly from the Company; (2) any acquisition by the Company; (3) any acquisition by any employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or maintained by the Company or any corporation controlled by the Company; or (4) any acquisition by any corporation pursuant to a transaction which complies with clauses (1), (2) and (3) of subparagraph (C) below;

 

(B)     Individuals who, as of the date hereof, constitute the Board (the “Incumbent Board”) cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the Board; provided , however, that any individual becoming a director subsequent to the date hereof whose election, or nomination for election by the Company’s shareholders, was approved by a vote of at least a majority of the directors then comprising the Incumbent Board shall be considered as though such individual were a member of the Incumbent Board, but excluding for this purpose any such individual whose initial assumption of office occurs as a result of an actual or threatened election contest with respect to the election or removal of directors or other actual or threatened solicitation of proxies or consents by or on behalf of a Person other than the Board;

 

(C)     Consummation of a reorganization, merger or consolidation or sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company (a “Business Combination”), in each case, unless, following such Business Combination, (1) all or substantially all of the individuals and entities who were the beneficial owners, respectively, of the Outstanding Company Common Stock and Outstanding Company Voting Securities immediately prior to such Business Combination beneficially own, directly or indirectly, more than fifty percent (50%) of, respectively, the then outstanding shares of common stock and the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, as the case may be, of the corporation resulting from such Business Combination (including, without limitation, a corporation which as a result of such transaction owns the Company or all or substantially all of the Company’s assets either directly or through one or more subsidiaries) in substantially the same proportions as their ownership, immediately prior to such Business Combination of the Outstanding Company Common Stock and Outstanding Company Voting Securities, as the case may be, (2) no Person (excluding any corporation resulting from such Business Combination or any employee benefit plan (or related trust) of the Company or such corporation resulting from such Business Combination) beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, twenty-five percent (25%) or more of, respectively, the then outstanding shares of common stock of the corporation resulting from such Business Combination or the

 

2



 

combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities of such corporation except to the extent that such ownership existed prior to the Business Combination, and (3) at least a majority of the members of the board of directors of the corporation resulting from such Business Combination were members of the Board at the time of the execution of the initial agreement, or of the action of the Board, providing for such Business Combination;

 

(D)     Approval by the shareholders of the Company of a complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company.

 

3.        Termination of Employment Following Change in Control of the Company .

 

(A)     Termination .  If a Change in Control of the Company occurs, you shall be entitled, upon the subsequent termination of your employment with the Company (“Termination”), to the benefits described in Paragraph 4 below, unless such Termination is:  (i) by you other than for Good Reason; (ii) by the Company for Cause or because of your Disability; or (iii) because of your death or attainment of your Retirement Date.  Any Termination (except a Termination resulting from your death) shall be made by written Notice of Termination from the party initiating such Termination to the other party to this Agreement.

 

(B)     Notice of Termination .  A Notice of Termination shall mean a written document stating the specific provision in this Agreement upon which a Termination is based and otherwise setting forth the facts and circumstances which provide the basis for a Termination.

 

(C)     Date of Termination .  The Date of Termination shall mean:  (i) if the Termination occurs as a result of Disability, thirty (30) days after a Notice of Termination is given; (ii) if the Termination occurs for Good Reason, the date specified in the Notice of Termination; and (iii) if the Termination occurs for any other reason, the date on which the Notice of Termination is given.

 

(D)     Good Reason .  A Termination for Good Reason shall mean a Termination as a result of:

 

(i)       The assignment to you, without your express written consent, of any duties inconsistent with your position, duties, responsibilities and status with the Company immediately prior to a Change in Control of the Company, or a change in your titles or offices (if any) in effect immediately prior to a Change in Control of the Company, or any removal of you from, or any failure to reelect you to, any of such positions, except in connection with your Termination for Cause, death, Disability, or as a result of your attainment of your Retirement Date.

 

(ii)      A reduction by the Company in your base salary as in effect on the date hereof, or as the same may be increased from time to time thereafter;

 

(iii)     The failure of the Company to continue in effect any compensation, welfare or benefit plan in which you are participating at the time of a Change in Control of the Company, without substituting therefor plans providing you with substantially similar benefits at

 

3



 

substantially the same cost to you; or the taking of any action by the Company which would adversely affect your participation in or materially reduce your benefits or increase the cost to you under any of such plans or deprive you of any material fringe benefit enjoyed by you at the time of the Change in Control of the Company;

 

(iv)     Any purported Termination for Cause or Disability without grounds therefor; or

 

(v)      The relocation of your primary work location to a location that is more than 20 miles from your primary work location immediately prior to the Change in Control of the Company.

 

(E)      Cause .  A Termination for Cause shall mean (i) a Termination as a result of the willful and continued failure by you for a significant period of time substantially to perform your duties with the Company (other than any such failure resulting from your Disability), after a demand for substantial performance is delivered to you in writing by the Board or its designate which specifically identifies the manner in which the Board or its designate believes that you have not substantially performed your duties, or (ii) the willful engaging by you in gross misconduct materially and demonstrably injurious to the Company.  No act, or failure to act, on your part shall be considered “willful” unless done, or omitted to be done, by you, not in good faith and without reasonable belief that your action or omission was in the best interest of the Company.  The burden for establishing the validity of any termination for Cause shall rest upon the Company.  No Termination shall be deemed to be for Cause unless and until there shall have been delivered to you a copy of a resolution duly adopted by the affirmative vote of not less than three-quarters of the entire membership of the Board called and held for such purpose (after reasonable notice is provided to you and you are given an opportunity, together with counsel, to be heard before the Board), finding that, in the good faith opinion of the Board, you are guilty of the conduct described in subclauses (i) or (ii) above, and specifying the particulars thereof in detail.

 

(F)      Disability .  A Disability shall mean that, as a result of your incapacity due to physical or mental illness, you shall have been unable to perform your duties with the Company for a period of six (6) months, and have no prospect of returning to employment with the Company within an additional six (6) months; provided , that the Company shall have made a reasonable accommodation of any such incapacity pursuant to, and shall otherwise have complied in all respects with, the provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.

 

(G)     Retirement Date .  Your “Retirement Date” shall mean the date on which you attain age 70-1/2, or the date you have informed the Company of your intentions to retire after you attain the age of fifty-five (55), but before the attainment of age 70-1/2.

 

4.        Benefits .  (A)  In the event of your Termination for any reason except those set forth in Paragraphs 3(A)(i), 3(A)(ii) and 3(A)(iii) above, the Company shall pay to you the following amounts in a lump sum payment on the Date of Termination:

 

4



 

(i)       An amount that is twenty-four (24) times the sum of (x) your monthly base salary at the rate in effect at the time a Notice of Termination is given and (y) the monthly amount of your annual target incentive bonus, determined by dividing the annual target incentive bonus by 12 for the year in which the Change of Control occurs.

 

(ii)      The Company shall maintain in full force and effect, for a period of twenty-four (24) months following your Date of Termination, all life insurance and medical insurance plans and programs (the “Company Programs”) in which you are entitled to participate immediately prior to the Date of Termination, provided that your continued participation is possible under the terms and provisions of such Company Programs.  In the event that your participation in any Company Program is not permitted under the terms and provisions thereof, the Company will use its reasonable best efforts to provide you with, or arrange coverage for you which is substantially similar to (including comparable terms), the coverage that you would have received under the applicable Company Program.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company’s obligations under this Paragraph 4(A)(ii) shall terminate with respect to any Company Program on the date that you first become eligible, after your Date of Termination, for the same type of coverage under another employer’s plan.

 

(iii)     The Company shall pay all reasonable legal fees and expenses incurred by you as a result of your Termination (including all such reasonable fees and expenses, if any, incurred in contesting or disputing your Termination or in seeking to obtain or enforce any rights or benefits provided by this Agreement).

 

(iv)     The Company shall pay the costs of reasonable outplacement services until you are employed on a full-time basis, provided that payment by the Company of such costs shall not exceed $15,000.

 

(B)     Accelerated Vesting under 2004 Long Term Incentive Compensation Plan .  For any performance awards made after the date hereof under the Company’s 2004 Long Term Incentive Compensation Plan, in the event of a Change in Control of the Company, the vesting of such awards shall be accelerated to the next whole year following the date of the Change in Control, and shall be payable in an amount equal to the greater of (x) the actual performance of the Company through the date of the Change in Control compared to the Plan target, up to the maximum amount payable under the Plan and (y) the target amount payable under the Plan for such period.

 

(C)    No Mitigation Required .  You shall not be required to mitigate the amount of any payment provided for in this Paragraph 4 by seeking other employment or otherwise, nor shall the amount of any payment provided for in this Paragraph 4 be reduced by any compensation earned by you as a result of employment by another employer after the Date of Termination, or otherwise, except as specifically provided in Paragraph 4(A)(ii).

 

(D)     Section 409A Delay .  Notwithstanding the above and unless exempt under Proposed Treasury Regulation §1.409A-1(b)(9), if you are a “specified employee” within the meaning of Code §416(i) and Proposed Treasury Regulation §1.409A-1(i), no payments may be

 

5



 

made under this Agreement before the date that is six months after the Termination (or, if earlier, the date of death of the specified employee).  In such case, all payments to which you are entitled during the first six months shall be accumulated and paid on the first date of the seventh month following Termination.

 

(E)      Section 280G  Payments .  If it is determined that any payments hereunder, either separately or in conjunction with any other payments, benefits and entitlements received by you hereunder, would constitute an “excess parachute payment” within the meaning of Section 280G of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), and thereby be subject to the excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Code (the “Excise Tax”), then in such event, the Company shall be obligated to pay to you promptly following such determination and upon notice thereof a “gross-up” payment in an amount equal to the amount of such Excise Tax, plus all federal and state income or other taxes with respect to the payment of the amount of such Excise Tax, including all such taxes (including any additional Excise Tax) with respect to any such gross-up payment.

 

5.        Miscellaneous .

 

(A)     Limitation of Effect .  This Agreement shall have no effect on any termination of your employment prior to a Change in Control of the Company, or upon any termination of your employment at any time as a result of your Disability, attainment of your Retirement Date, or death; and upon the occurrence of any such events, you shall receive only those benefits to which you would have been otherwise entitled prior to a Change in Control of the Company.

 

(B)     Successors .  (i)  The Company will require any successor (whether direct or indirect, by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) to all or substantially all of the business and/or assets of the Company, to assume and agree to perform this Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent that the Company would be required to perform this Agreement if no such succession had taken place.  Failure of the Company to obtain such assumption or agreement prior to the effectiveness of any such succession shall be a breach of this Agreement.

 

(ii)      This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by your personal or legal representatives, executors, administrators, successors, heirs, distributees, devisees and legatees.  If you should die while any amounts would still be payable to you hereunder if you had continued to live, all such amounts, unless otherwise provided herein, shall be paid in accordance with the terms of this Agreement to your devisee, legatee or other designee or, if there be no such designee, to your estate.

 

(C)     Notice .  Notices provided for in the Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given when delivered in person or mailed by United States registered mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, to the respective addresses set forth on the first page of this Agreement, or to such other address as either party may have furnished to the other in writing, except that notices of change of address shall be effective only upon receipt

 

6



 

by the other party.  All notices to the Company shall be directed to the attention of Larry McAdams, Vice President of Human Resources.

 

(D)     Modifications .  No provision of this Agreement may be modified, waived or discharged unless such modification, waiver, or discharge is agreed to in writing and is signed by you and the Company.  No waiver by either party hereto at any time of any breach by the other party hereto of, or compliance with, any condition or provision of this Agreement to be performed by such other party shall be deemed a waiver of similar or dissimilar provisions or conditions at the same or at any prior or subsequent time.

 

(E)      Interpretation .  The validity, interpretation, construction and performance of this Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of South Carolina.  The invalidity or unenforceability of any provisions of this Agreement shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision of this Agreement, which shall remain in full force and effect.

 

If you agree that the foregoing correctly sets forth the agreement between us, please sign the enclosed copy of this Agreement in the space indicated below and return it to the Company.

 

 

Very truly yours,

 

KEMET Corporation

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ LARRY C. MCADAMS

 

Name:

Larry C. McAdams

 

Title:

Vice President, Human Resources

 

 

Agreed to as of the day and year first written above:

 

 

EMPLOYEE

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ ROBERT ARGUELLES

 

Robert Arguelles

 

 

Dated as of
September 8, 2008

 

7




Exhibit 10.48

 

July 28, 2008

 

Conrado Hinojosa

5435 Lamplight Pass

Brownsville,  TX  78526

 

Re:  Change in Control Severance Compensation Agreement

 

Dear Mr. Hinojosa:

 

The board of directors (the “Board”) of KEMET Corporation (the “Company”) has determined that it is in the best interests of the Company and its shareholders to assure the continued dedication to the Company of senior management personnel, notwithstanding any possibility, threat or occurrence of a Change in Control of the Company (as defined below).  Accordingly, in order to encourage your continued attention and dedication to your assigned duties regardless of any such possibility, threat or occurrence, the Board has authorized the Company to enter into this “Change in Control Severance Compensation Agreement” (the “Agreement”) in order to provide you with certain compensation and other benefits in the event that your employment with the Company is terminated as a result of a Change in Control of the Company.

 

The terms and conditions of this Agreement are as follows:

 

1.        Term of the Agreement .  (A)  The Term of this Agreement shall commence on the date first set forth above and shall end on July 27, 2011; provided, that if a Change in Control of the Company shall have occurred prior to July 27, 2011, the Term of this Agreement shall end on the date that is the two year anniversary of the Change in Control.  In addition, the Term of this Agreement shall automatically end upon the occurrence of any of the following:

 

(i)       Your death or receipt of a Notice of Termination due to Disability;

 

(ii)      Your attainment of your Retirement Date; or

 

(iii)     A determination by the Board that you are no longer eligible to receive the benefits set forth in this Agreement and your receipt of notice of any such determination; provided , that such a determination shall have no effect if made after a Change in Control of the Company or as a result of negotiations occurring in connection with a Change in Control of the Company.

 

(B)     In the event of a Change in Control of the Company, subject to Paragraph 1(A), the Term of this Agreement shall be automatically extended to the earlier of:  (i) the date that is two (2) years from the date such Change in Control of the Company occurred; or (ii) the occurrence of an event described in Paragraph 1(A)(i) or 1(A)(ii) above.

 



 

2.        Change in Control of the Company .  For purposes of this Agreement, a “Change in Control of the Company” shall mean any of the following events:

 

(A)     The acquisition by any individual, entity or group (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or 14(d)(2) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)) (a “Person”) of beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act) of twenty-five percent (25%) or more of either (i) the then outstanding shares of common stock of the Company (the “Outstanding Company Common Stock”), or (ii) the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities of the Company entitled to vote generally in the election of directors (the “Outstanding Company Voting Securities”); provided , however, that for purposes of this subparagraph (A), the following acquisitions shall not constitute a Change in Control of the Company:  (1) any acquisition directly from the Company; (2) any acquisition by the Company; (3) any acquisition by any employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or maintained by the Company or any corporation controlled by the Company; or (4) any acquisition by any corporation pursuant to a transaction which complies with clauses (1), (2) and (3) of subparagraph (C) below;

 

(B)     Individuals who, as of the date hereof, constitute the Board (the “Incumbent Board”) cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the Board; provided , however, that any individual becoming a director subsequent to the date hereof whose election, or nomination for election by the Company’s shareholders, was approved by a vote of at least a majority of the directors then comprising the Incumbent Board shall be considered as though such individual were a member of the Incumbent Board, but excluding for this purpose any such individual whose initial assumption of office occurs as a result of an actual or threatened election contest with respect to the election or removal of directors or other actual or threatened solicitation of proxies or consents by or on behalf of a Person other than the Board;

 

(C)     Consummation of a reorganization, merger or consolidation or sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company (a “Business Combination”), in each case, unless, following such Business Combination, (1) all or substantially all of the individuals and entities who were the beneficial owners, respectively, of the Outstanding Company Common Stock and Outstanding Company Voting Securities immediately prior to such Business Combination beneficially own, directly or indirectly, more than fifty percent (50%) of, respectively, the then outstanding shares of common stock and the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, as the case may be, of the corporation resulting from such Business Combination (including, without limitation, a corporation which as a result of such transaction owns the Company or all or substantially all of the Company’s assets either directly or through one or more subsidiaries) in substantially the same proportions as their ownership, immediately prior to such Business Combination of the Outstanding Company Common Stock and Outstanding Company Voting Securities, as the case may be, (2) no Person (excluding any corporation resulting from such Business Combination or any employee benefit plan (or related trust) of the Company or such corporation resulting from such Business Combination) beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, twenty-five percent (25%) or more of, respectively, the then outstanding shares of common stock of the corporation resulting from such Business Combination or the

 

2



 

combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities of such corporation except to the extent that such ownership existed prior to the Business Combination, and (3) at least a majority of the members of the board of directors of the corporation resulting from such Business Combination were members of the Board at the time of the execution of the initial agreement, or of the action of the Board, providing for such Business Combination;

 

(D)     Approval by the shareholders of the Company of a complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company.

 

3.        Termination of Employment Following Change in Control of the Company .

 

(A)     Termination .  If a Change in Control of the Company occurs, you shall be entitled, upon the subsequent termination of your employment with the Company (“Termination”), to the benefits described in Paragraph 4 below, unless such Termination is:  (i) by you other than for Good Reason; (ii) by the Company for Cause or because of your Disability; or (iii) because of your death or attainment of your Retirement Date.  Any Termination (except a Termination resulting from your death) shall be made by written Notice of Termination from the party initiating such Termination to the other party to this Agreement.

 

(B)     Notice of Termination .  A Notice of Termination shall mean a written document stating the specific provision in this Agreement upon which a Termination is based and otherwise setting forth the facts and circumstances which provide the basis for a Termination.

 

(C)     Date of Termination .  The Date of Termination shall mean:  (i) if the Termination occurs as a result of Disability, thirty (30) days after a Notice of Termination is given; (ii) if the Termination occurs for Good Reason, the date specified in the Notice of Termination; and (iii) if the Termination occurs for any other reason, the date on which the Notice of Termination is given.

 

(D)     Good Reason .  A Termination for Good Reason shall mean a Termination as a result of:

 

(i)       The assignment to you, without your express written consent, of any duties inconsistent with your position, duties, responsibilities and status with the Company immediately prior to a Change in Control of the Company, or a change in your titles or offices (if any) in effect immediately prior to a Change in Control of the Company, or any removal of you from, or any failure to reelect you to, any of such positions, except in connection with your Termination for Cause, death, Disability, or as a result of your attainment of your Retirement Date.

 

(ii)      A reduction by the Company in your base salary as in effect on the date hereof, or as the same may be increased from time to time thereafter;

 

(iii)     The failure of the Company to continue in effect any compensation, welfare or benefit plan in which you are participating at the time of a Change in Control of the Company, without substituting therefor plans providing you with substantially similar benefits at

 

3



 

substantially the same cost to you; or the taking of any action by the Company which would adversely affect your participation in or materially reduce your benefits or increase the cost to you under any of such plans or deprive you of any material fringe benefit enjoyed by you at the time of the Change in Control of the Company;

 

(iv)     Any purported Termination for Cause or Disability without grounds therefor; or

 

(v)      The relocation of your primary work location to a location that is more than 20 miles from your primary work location immediately prior to the Change in Control of the Company.

 

(E)      Cause .  A Termination for Cause shall mean (i) a Termination as a result of the willful and continued failure by you for a significant period of time substantially to perform your duties with the Company (other than any such failure resulting from your Disability), after a demand for substantial performance is delivered to you in writing by the Board or its designate which specifically identifies the manner in which the Board or its designate believes that you have not substantially performed your duties, or (ii) the willful engaging by you in gross misconduct materially and demonstrably injurious to the Company.  No act, or failure to act, on your part shall be considered “willful” unless done, or omitted to be done, by you, not in good faith and without reasonable belief that your action or omission was in the best interest of the Company.  The burden for establishing the validity of any termination for Cause shall rest upon the Company.  No Termination shall be deemed to be for Cause unless and until there shall have been delivered to you a copy of a resolution duly adopted by the affirmative vote of not less than three-quarters of the entire membership of the Board called and held for such purpose (after reasonable notice is provided to you and you are given an opportunity, together with counsel, to be heard before the Board), finding that, in the good faith opinion of the Board, you are guilty of the conduct described in subclauses (i) or (ii) above, and specifying the particulars thereof in detail.

 

(F)      Disability .  A Disability shall mean that, as a result of your incapacity due to physical or mental illness, you shall have been unable to perform your duties with the Company for a period of six (6) months, and have no prospect of returning to employment with the Company within an additional six (6) months; provided , that the Company shall have made a reasonable accommodation of any such incapacity pursuant to, and shall otherwise have complied in all respects with, the provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.

 

(G)     Retirement Date .  Your “Retirement Date” shall mean the date on which you attain age 70-1/2, or the date you have informed the Company of your intentions to retire after you attain the age of fifty-five (55), but before the attainment of age 70-1/2.

 

4.        Benefits .  (A)  In the event of your Termination for any reason except those set forth in Paragraphs 3(A)(i), 3(A)(ii) and 3(A)(iii) above, the Company shall pay to you the following amounts in a lump sum payment on the Date of Termination:

 

4



 

(i)       An amount that is thirty (30) times the sum of (x) your monthly base salary at the rate in effect at the time a Notice of Termination is given and (y) the monthly amount of your annual target incentive bonus, determined by dividing the annual target incentive bonus by 12 for the year in which the Change of Control occurs.

 

(ii)      The Company shall maintain in full force and effect, for a period of thirty (30) months following your Date of Termination, all life insurance and medical insurance plans and programs (the “Company Programs”) in which you are entitled to participate immediately prior to the Date of Termination, provided that your continued participation is possible under the terms and provisions of such Company Programs.  In the event that your participation in any Company Program is not permitted under the terms and provisions thereof, the Company will use its reasonable best efforts to provide you with, or arrange coverage for you which is substantially similar to (including comparable terms), the coverage that you would have received under the applicable Company Program.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company’s obligations under this Paragraph 4(A)(ii) shall terminate with respect to any Company Program on the date that you first become eligible, after your Date of Termination, for the same type of coverage under another employer’s plan.

 

(iii)     The Company shall pay all reasonable legal fees and expenses incurred by you as a result of your Termination (including all such reasonable fees and expenses, if any, incurred in contesting or disputing your Termination or in seeking to obtain or enforce any rights or benefits provided by this Agreement).

 

(iv)     The Company shall pay the costs of reasonable outplacement services until you are employed on a full-time basis, provided that payment by the Company of such costs shall not exceed $15,000.

 

(B)     Accelerated Vesting under 2004 Long Term Incentive Compensation Plan .  For any performance awards made after the date hereof under the Company’s 2004 Long Term Incentive Compensation Plan, in the event of a Change in Control of the Company, the vesting of such awards shall be accelerated to the next whole year following the date of the Change in Control, and shall be payable in an amount equal to the greater of (x) the actual performance of the Company through the date of the Change in Control compared to the Plan target, up to the maximum amount payable under the Plan and (y) the target amount payable under the Plan for such period.

 

(C)    No Mitigation Required .  You shall not be required to mitigate the amount of any payment provided for in this Paragraph 4 by seeking other employment or otherwise, nor shall the amount of any payment provided for in this Paragraph 4 be reduced by any compensation earned by you as a result of employment by another employer after the Date of Termination, or otherwise, except as specifically provided in Paragraph 4(A)(ii).

 

(D)     Section 409A Delay .  Notwithstanding the above and unless exempt under Proposed Treasury Regulation §1.409A-1(b)(9), if you are a “specified employee” within the meaning of Code §416(i) and Proposed Treasury Regulation §1.409A-1(i), no payments may be

 

5



 

made under this Agreement before the date that is six months after the Termination (or, if earlier, the date of death of the specified employee).  In such case, all payments to which you are entitled during the first six months shall be accumulated and paid on the first date of the seventh month following Termination.

 

(E)      Section 280G  Payments .  If it is determined that any payments hereunder, either separately or in conjunction with any other payments, benefits and entitlements received by you hereunder, would constitute an “excess parachute payment” within the meaning of Section 280G of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), and thereby be subject to the excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Code (the “Excise Tax”), then in such event, the Company shall be obligated to pay to you promptly following such determination and upon notice thereof a “gross-up” payment in an amount equal to the amount of such Excise Tax, plus all federal and state income or other taxes with respect to the payment of the amount of such Excise Tax, including all such taxes (including any additional Excise Tax) with respect to any such gross-up payment.

 

5.        Miscellaneous .

 

(A)     Limitation of Effect .  This Agreement shall have no effect on any termination of your employment prior to a Change in Control of the Company, or upon any termination of your employment at any time as a result of your Disability, attainment of your Retirement Date, or death; and upon the occurrence of any such events, you shall receive only those benefits to which you would have been otherwise entitled prior to a Change in Control of the Company.

 

(B)     Successors .  (i)  The Company will require any successor (whether direct or indirect, by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) to all or substantially all of the business and/or assets of the Company, to assume and agree to perform this Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent that the Company would be required to perform this Agreement if no such succession had taken place.  Failure of the Company to obtain such assumption or agreement prior to the effectiveness of any such succession shall be a breach of this Agreement.

 

(ii)      This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by your personal or legal representatives, executors, administrators, successors, heirs, distributees, devisees and legatees.  If you should die while any amounts would still be payable to you hereunder if you had continued to live, all such amounts, unless otherwise provided herein, shall be paid in accordance with the terms of this Agreement to your devisee, legatee or other designee or, if there be no such designee, to your estate.

 

(C)     Notice .  Notices provided for in the Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given when delivered in person or mailed by United States registered mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, to the respective addresses set forth on the first page of this Agreement, or to such other address as either party may have furnished to the other in writing, except that notices of change of address shall be effective only upon receipt

 

6



 

by the other party.  All notices to the Company shall be directed to the attention of Larry McAdams, Vice President of Human Resources.

 

(D)     Modifications .  No provision of this Agreement may be modified, waived or discharged unless such modification, waiver, or discharge is agreed to in writing and is signed by you and the Company.  No waiver by either party hereto at any time of any breach by the other party hereto of, or compliance with, any condition or provision of this Agreement to be performed by such other party shall be deemed a waiver of similar or dissimilar provisions or conditions at the same or at any prior or subsequent time.

 

(E)      Interpretation .  The validity, interpretation, construction and performance of this Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of South Carolina.  The invalidity or unenforceability of any provisions of this Agreement shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision of this Agreement, which shall remain in full force and effect.

 

If you agree that the foregoing correctly sets forth the agreement between us, please sign the enclosed copy of this Agreement in the space indicated below and return it to the Company.

 

 

Very truly yours,

 

KEMET Corporation

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ LARRY C. MCADAMS

 

Name:

Larry McAdams

 

Title:

Vice President, Human Resources

 

Agreed to as of the day and year first written above:

 

 

EMPLOYEE

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ CONRADO HINOJOSA

 

Conrado Hinojosa

 

 

Dated as of
July 28, 2008

 

7




Exhibit 10.49

 

July 28, 2008

 

Marc Kotelon

289 Route de Cherrey

Saint Laurent,  France  74800

 

Re:  Change in Control Severance Compensation Agreement

 

Dear Mr. Kotelon:

 

The board of directors (the “Board”) of KEMET Corporation (the “Company”) has determined that it is in the best interests of the Company and its shareholders to assure the continued dedication to the Company of senior management personnel, notwithstanding any possibility, threat or occurrence of a Change in Control of the Company (as defined below).  Accordingly, in order to encourage your continued attention and dedication to your assigned duties regardless of any such possibility, threat or occurrence, the Board has authorized the Company to enter into this “Change in Control Severance Compensation Agreement” (the “Agreement”) in order to provide you with certain compensation and other benefits in the event that your employment with the Company is terminated as a result of a Change in Control of the Company.

 

The terms and conditions of this Agreement are as follows:

 

1.        Term of the Agreement .  (A)  The Term of this Agreement shall commence on the date first set forth above and shall end on July 27, 2011; provided, that if a Change in Control of the Company shall have occurred prior to July 27, 2011, the Term of this Agreement shall end on the date that is the two year anniversary of the Change in Control.  In addition, the Term of this Agreement shall automatically end upon the occurrence of any of the following:

 

(i)       Your death or receipt of a Notice of Termination due to Disability;

 

(ii)      Your attainment of your Retirement Date; or

 

(iii)     A determination by the Board that you are no longer eligible to receive the benefits set forth in this Agreement and your receipt of notice of any such determination; provided , that such a determination shall have no effect if made after a Change in Control of the Company or as a result of negotiations occurring in connection with a Change in Control of the Company.

 

(B)     In the event of a Change in Control of the Company, subject to Paragraph 1(A), the Term of this Agreement shall be automatically extended to the earlier of:  (i) the date that is two (2) years from the date such Change in Control of the Company occurred; or (ii) the occurrence of an event described in Paragraph 1(A)(i) or 1(A)(ii) above.

 



 

2.        Change in Control of the Company .  For purposes of this Agreement, a “Change in Control of the Company” shall mean any of the following events:

 

(A)     The acquisition by any individual, entity or group (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or 14(d)(2) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)) (a “Person”) of beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act) of twenty-five percent (25%) or more of either (i) the then outstanding shares of common stock of the Company (the “Outstanding Company Common Stock”), or (ii) the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities of the Company entitled to vote generally in the election of directors (the “Outstanding Company Voting Securities”); provided , however, that for purposes of this subparagraph (A), the following acquisitions shall not constitute a Change in Control of the Company:  (1) any acquisition directly from the Company; (2) any acquisition by the Company; (3) any acquisition by any employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or maintained by the Company or any corporation controlled by the Company; or (4) any acquisition by any corporation pursuant to a transaction which complies with clauses (1), (2) and (3) of subparagraph (C) below;

 

(B)     Individuals who, as of the date hereof, constitute the Board (the “Incumbent Board”) cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the Board; provided , however, that any individual becoming a director subsequent to the date hereof whose election, or nomination for election by the Company’s shareholders, was approved by a vote of at least a majority of the directors then comprising the Incumbent Board shall be considered as though such individual were a member of the Incumbent Board, but excluding for this purpose any such individual whose initial assumption of office occurs as a result of an actual or threatened election contest with respect to the election or removal of directors or other actual or threatened solicitation of proxies or consents by or on behalf of a Person other than the Board;

 

(C)     Consummation of a reorganization, merger or consolidation or sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company (a “Business Combination”), in each case, unless, following such Business Combination, (1) all or substantially all of the individuals and entities who were the beneficial owners, respectively, of the Outstanding Company Common Stock and Outstanding Company Voting Securities immediately prior to such Business Combination beneficially own, directly or indirectly, more than fifty percent (50%) of, respectively, the then outstanding shares of common stock and the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, as the case may be, of the corporation resulting from such Business Combination (including, without limitation, a corporation which as a result of such transaction owns the Company or all or substantially all of the Company’s assets either directly or through one or more subsidiaries) in substantially the same proportions as their ownership, immediately prior to such Business Combination of the Outstanding Company Common Stock and Outstanding Company Voting Securities, as the case may be, (2) no Person (excluding any corporation resulting from such Business Combination or any employee benefit plan (or related trust) of the Company or such corporation resulting from such Business Combination) beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, twenty-five percent (25%) or more of, respectively, the then outstanding shares of common stock of the corporation resulting from such Business Combination or the

 

2



 

combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities of such corporation except to the extent that such ownership existed prior to the Business Combination, and (3) at least a majority of the members of the board of directors of the corporation resulting from such Business Combination were members of the Board at the time of the execution of the initial agreement, or of the action of the Board, providing for such Business Combination;

 

(D)     Approval by the shareholders of the Company of a complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company.

 

3.        Termination of Employment Following Change in Control of the Company .

 

(A)     Termination .  If a Change in Control of the Company occurs, you shall be entitled, upon the subsequent termination of your employment with the Company (“Termination”), to the benefits described in Paragraph 4 below, unless such Termination is:  (i) by you other than for Good Reason; (ii) by the Company for Cause or because of your Disability; or (iii) because of your death or attainment of your Retirement Date.  Any Termination (except a Termination resulting from your death) shall be made by written Notice of Termination from the party initiating such Termination to the other party to this Agreement.

 

(B)     Notice of Termination .  A Notice of Termination shall mean a written document stating the specific provision in this Agreement upon which a Termination is based and otherwise setting forth the facts and circumstances which provide the basis for a Termination.

 

(C)     Date of Termination .  The Date of Termination shall mean:  (i) if the Termination occurs as a result of Disability, thirty (30) days after a Notice of Termination is given; (ii) if the Termination occurs for Good Reason, the date specified in the Notice of Termination; and (iii) if the Termination occurs for any other reason, the date on which the Notice of Termination is given.

 

(D)     Good Reason .  A Termination for Good Reason shall mean a Termination as a result of:

 

(i)       The assignment to you, without your express written consent, of any duties inconsistent with your position, duties, responsibilities and status with the Company immediately prior to a Change in Control of the Company, or a change in your titles or offices (if any) in effect immediately prior to a Change in Control of the Company, or any removal of you from, or any failure to reelect you to, any of such positions, except in connection with your Termination for Cause, death, Disability, or as a result of your attainment of your Retirement Date.

 

(ii)      A reduction by the Company in your base salary as in effect on the date hereof, or as the same may be increased from time to time thereafter;

 

(iii)     The failure of the Company to continue in effect any compensation, welfare or benefit plan in which you are participating at the time of a Change in Control of the Company, without substituting therefor plans providing you with substantially similar benefits at

 

3



 

substantially the same cost to you; or the taking of any action by the Company which would adversely affect your participation in or materially reduce your benefits or increase the cost to you under any of such plans or deprive you of any material fringe benefit enjoyed by you at the time of the Change in Control of the Company;

 

(iv)     Any purported Termination for Cause or Disability without grounds therefor; or

 

(v)      The relocation of your primary work location to a location that is more than 20 miles from your primary work location immediately prior to the Change in Control of the Company.

 

(E)      Cause .  A Termination for Cause shall mean (i) a Termination as a result of the willful and continued failure by you for a significant period of time substantially to perform your duties with the Company (other than any such failure resulting from your Disability), after a demand for substantial performance is delivered to you in writing by the Board or its designate which specifically identifies the manner in which the Board or its designate believes that you have not substantially performed your duties, or (ii) the willful engaging by you in gross misconduct materially and demonstrably injurious to the Company.  No act, or failure to act, on your part shall be considered “willful” unless done, or omitted to be done, by you, not in good faith and without reasonable belief that your action or omission was in the best interest of the Company.  The burden for establishing the validity of any termination for Cause shall rest upon the Company.  No Termination shall be deemed to be for Cause unless and until there shall have been delivered to you a copy of a resolution duly adopted by the affirmative vote of not less than three-quarters of the entire membership of the Board called and held for such purpose (after reasonable notice is provided to you and you are given an opportunity, together with counsel, to be heard before the Board), finding that, in the good faith opinion of the Board, you are guilty of the conduct described in subclauses (i) or (ii) above, and specifying the particulars thereof in detail.

 

(F)      Disability .  A Disability shall mean that, as a result of your incapacity due to physical or mental illness, you shall have been unable to perform your duties with the Company for a period of six (6) months, and have no prospect of returning to employment with the Company within an additional six (6) months; provided , that the Company shall have made a reasonable accommodation of any such incapacity pursuant to, and shall otherwise have complied in all respects with, the provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.

 

(G)     Retirement Date .  Your “Retirement Date” shall mean the date on which you attain age 70-1/2, or the date you have informed the Company of your intentions to retire after you attain the age of fifty-five (55), but before the attainment of age 70-1/2.

 

4.        Benefits .  (A)  In the event of your Termination for any reason except those set forth in Paragraphs 3(A)(i), 3(A)(ii) and 3(A)(iii) above, the Company shall pay to you the following amounts in a lump sum payment on the Date of Termination:

 

4



 

(i)       An amount that is twenty-four (24) times the sum of (x) your monthly base salary at the rate in effect at the time a Notice of Termination is given and (y) the monthly amount of your annual target incentive bonus, determined by dividing the annual target incentive bonus by 12 for the year in which the Change of Control occurs.

 

(ii)      The Company shall maintain in full force and effect, for a period of twenty-four (24) months following your Date of Termination, all life insurance and medical insurance plans and programs (the “Company Programs”) in which you are entitled to participate immediately prior to the Date of Termination, provided that your continued participation is possible under the terms and provisions of such Company Programs.  In the event that your participation in any Company Program is not permitted under the terms and provisions thereof, the Company will use its reasonable best efforts to provide you with, or arrange coverage for you which is substantially similar to (including comparable terms), the coverage that you would have received under the applicable Company Program.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company’s obligations under this Paragraph 4(A)(ii) shall terminate with respect to any Company Program on the date that you first become eligible, after your Date of Termination, for the same type of coverage under another employer’s plan.

 

(iii)     The Company shall pay all reasonable legal fees and expenses incurred by you as a result of your Termination (including all such reasonable fees and expenses, if any, incurred in contesting or disputing your Termination or in seeking to obtain or enforce any rights or benefits provided by this Agreement).

 

(iv)     The Company shall pay the costs of reasonable outplacement services until you are employed on a full-time basis, provided that payment by the Company of such costs shall not exceed $15,000.

 

(B)     Accelerated Vesting under 2004 Long Term Incentive Compensation Plan .  For any performance awards made after the date hereof under the Company’s 2004 Long Term Incentive Compensation Plan, in the event of a Change in Control of the Company, the vesting of such awards shall be accelerated to the next whole year following the date of the Change in Control, and shall be payable in an amount equal to the greater of (x) the actual performance of the Company through the date of the Change in Control compared to the Plan target, up to the maximum amount payable under the Plan and (y) the target amount payable under the Plan for such period.

 

(C)    No Mitigation Required .  You shall not be required to mitigate the amount of any payment provided for in this Paragraph 4 by seeking other employment or otherwise, nor shall the amount of any payment provided for in this Paragraph 4 be reduced by any compensation earned by you as a result of employment by another employer after the Date of Termination, or otherwise, except as specifically provided in Paragraph 4(A)(ii).

 

(D)     Section 409A Delay .  Notwithstanding the above and unless exempt under Proposed Treasury Regulation §1.409A-1(b)(9), if you are a “specified employee” within the meaning of Code §416(i) and Proposed Treasury Regulation §1.409A-1(i), no payments may be

 

5



 

made under this Agreement before the date that is six months after the Termination (or, if earlier, the date of death of the specified employee).  In such case, all payments to which you are entitled during the first six months shall be accumulated and paid on the first date of the seventh month following Termination.

 

(E)      Section 280G  Payments .  If it is determined that any payments hereunder, either separately or in conjunction with any other payments, benefits and entitlements received by you hereunder, would constitute an “excess parachute payment” within the meaning of Section 280G of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), and thereby be subject to the excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Code (the “Excise Tax”), then in such event, the Company shall be obligated to pay to you promptly following such determination and upon notice thereof a “gross-up” payment in an amount equal to the amount of such Excise Tax, plus all federal and state income or other taxes with respect to the payment of the amount of such Excise Tax, including all such taxes (including any additional Excise Tax) with respect to any such gross-up payment.

 

5.        Miscellaneous .

 

(A)     Limitation of Effect .  This Agreement shall have no effect on any termination of your employment prior to a Change in Control of the Company, or upon any termination of your employment at any time as a result of your Disability, attainment of your Retirement Date, or death; and upon the occurrence of any such events, you shall receive only those benefits to which you would have been otherwise entitled prior to a Change in Control of the Company.

 

(B)     Successors .  (i)  The Company will require any successor (whether direct or indirect, by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) to all or substantially all of the business and/or assets of the Company, to assume and agree to perform this Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent that the Company would be required to perform this Agreement if no such succession had taken place.  Failure of the Company to obtain such assumption or agreement prior to the effectiveness of any such succession shall be a breach of this Agreement.

 

(ii)      This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by your personal or legal representatives, executors, administrators, successors, heirs, distributees, devisees and legatees.  If you should die while any amounts would still be payable to you hereunder if you had continued to live, all such amounts, unless otherwise provided herein, shall be paid in accordance with the terms of this Agreement to your devisee, legatee or other designee or, if there be no such designee, to your estate.

 

(C)     Notice .  Notices provided for in the Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given when delivered in person or mailed by United States registered mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, to the respective addresses set forth on the first page of this Agreement, or to such other address as either party may have furnished to the other in writing, except that notices of change of address shall be effective only upon receipt

 

6



 

by the other party.  All notices to the Company shall be directed to the attention of Larry McAdams, Vice President of Human Resources.

 

(D)     Modifications .  No provision of this Agreement may be modified, waived or discharged unless such modification, waiver, or discharge is agreed to in writing and is signed by you and the Company.  No waiver by either party hereto at any time of any breach by the other party hereto of, or compliance with, any condition or provision of this Agreement to be performed by such other party shall be deemed a waiver of similar or dissimilar provisions or conditions at the same or at any prior or subsequent time.

 

(E)      Interpretation .  The validity, interpretation, construction and performance of this Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of South Carolina.  The invalidity or unenforceability of any provisions of this Agreement shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision of this Agreement, which shall remain in full force and effect.

 

If you agree that the foregoing correctly sets forth the agreement between us, please sign the enclosed copy of this Agreement in the space indicated below and return it to the Company.

 

 

Very truly yours,

 

KEMET Corporation

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ LARRY C. MCADAMS

 

Name:

Larry C. McAdams

 

Title:

Vice President, Human Resources

 

Agreed to as of the day and year first written above:

 

 

EMPLOYEE

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ MARC KOTELON

 

Marc Kotelon

 

 

Dated as of
July 28, 2008

 

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Exhibit 10.50

 

July 28, 2008

 

Charles C. Meeks, Jr.

120 Rice Circle

Belton,  SC  29627

 

Re:  Change in Control Severance Compensation Agreement

 

Dear Mr. Meeks:

 

The board of directors (the “Board”) of KEMET Corporation (the “Company”) has determined that it is in the best interests of the Company and its shareholders to assure the continued dedication to the Company of senior management personnel, notwithstanding any possibility, threat or occurrence of a Change in Control of the Company (as defined below).  Accordingly, in order to encourage your continued attention and dedication to your assigned duties regardless of any such possibility, threat or occurrence, the Board has authorized the Company to enter into this “Change in Control Severance Compensation Agreement” (the “Agreement”) in order to provide you with certain compensation and other benefits in the event that your employment with the Company is terminated as a result of a Change in Control of the Company.

 

The terms and conditions of this Agreement are as follows:

 

1.        Term of the Agreement .  (A)  The Term of this Agreement shall commence on the date first set forth above and shall end on July 27, 2011; provided, that if a Change in Control of the Company shall have occurred prior to July 27, 2011, the Term of this Agreement shall end on the date that is the two year anniversary of the Change in Control.  In addition, the Term of this Agreement shall automatically end upon the occurrence of any of the following:

 

(i)       Your death or receipt of a Notice of Termination due to Disability;

 

(ii)      Your attainment of your Retirement Date; or

 

(iii)     A determination by the Board that you are no longer eligible to receive the benefits set forth in this Agreement and your receipt of notice of any such determination; provided , that such a determination shall have no effect if made after a Change in Control of the Company or as a result of negotiations occurring in connection with a Change in Control of the Company.

 

(B)     In the event of a Change in Control of the Company, subject to Paragraph 1(A), the Term of this Agreement shall be automatically extended to the earlier of:  (i) the date that is two (2) years from the date such Change in Control of the Company occurred; or (ii) the occurrence of an event described in Paragraph 1(A)(i) or 1(A)(ii) above.

 



 

2.        Change in Control of the Company .  For purposes of this Agreement, a “Change in Control of the Company” shall mean any of the following events:

 

(A)     The acquisition by any individual, entity or group (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or 14(d)(2) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)) (a “Person”) of beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act) of twenty-five percent (25%) or more of either (i) the then outstanding shares of common stock of the Company (the “Outstanding Company Common Stock”), or (ii) the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities of the Company entitled to vote generally in the election of directors (the “Outstanding Company Voting Securities”); provided , however, that for purposes of this subparagraph (A), the following acquisitions shall not constitute a Change in Control of the Company:  (1) any acquisition directly from the Company; (2) any acquisition by the Company; (3) any acquisition by any employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or maintained by the Company or any corporation controlled by the Company; or (4) any acquisition by any corporation pursuant to a transaction which complies with clauses (1), (2) and (3) of subparagraph (C) below;

 

(B)     Individuals who, as of the date hereof, constitute the Board (the “Incumbent Board”) cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the Board; provided , however, that any individual becoming a director subsequent to the date hereof whose election, or nomination for election by the Company’s shareholders, was approved by a vote of at least a majority of the directors then comprising the Incumbent Board shall be considered as though such individual were a member of the Incumbent Board, but excluding for this purpose any such individual whose initial assumption of office occurs as a result of an actual or threatened election contest with respect to the election or removal of directors or other actual or threatened solicitation of proxies or consents by or on behalf of a Person other than the Board;

 

(C)     Consummation of a reorganization, merger or consolidation or sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company (a “Business Combination”), in each case, unless, following such Business Combination, (1) all or substantially all of the individuals and entities who were the beneficial owners, respectively, of the Outstanding Company Common Stock and Outstanding Company Voting Securities immediately prior to such Business Combination beneficially own, directly or indirectly, more than fifty percent (50%) of, respectively, the then outstanding shares of common stock and the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, as the case may be, of the corporation resulting from such Business Combination (including, without limitation, a corporation which as a result of such transaction owns the Company or all or substantially all of the Company’s assets either directly or through one or more subsidiaries) in substantially the same proportions as their ownership, immediately prior to such Business Combination of the Outstanding Company Common Stock and Outstanding Company Voting Securities, as the case may be, (2) no Person (excluding any corporation resulting from such Business Combination or any employee benefit plan (or related trust) of the Company or such corporation resulting from such Business Combination) beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, twenty-five percent (25%) or more of, respectively, the then outstanding shares of common stock of the corporation resulting from such Business Combination or the

 

2



 

combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities of such corporation except to the extent that such ownership existed prior to the Business Combination, and (3) at least a majority of the members of the board of directors of the corporation resulting from such Business Combination were members of the Board at the time of the execution of the initial agreement, or of the action of the Board, providing for such Business Combination;

 

(D)     Approval by the shareholders of the Company of a complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company.

 

3.        Termination of Employment Following Change in Control of the Company .

 

(A)     Termination .  If a Change in Control of the Company occurs, you shall be entitled, upon the subsequent termination of your employment with the Company (“Termination”), to the benefits described in Paragraph 4 below, unless such Termination is:  (i) by you other than for Good Reason; (ii) by the Company for Cause or because of your Disability; or (iii) because of your death or attainment of your Retirement Date.  Any Termination (except a Termination resulting from your death) shall be made by written Notice of Termination from the party initiating such Termination to the other party to this Agreement.

 

(B)     Notice of Termination .  A Notice of Termination shall mean a written document stating the specific provision in this Agreement upon which a Termination is based and otherwise setting forth the facts and circumstances which provide the basis for a Termination.

 

(C)     Date of Termination .  The Date of Termination shall mean:  (i) if the Termination occurs as a result of Disability, thirty (30) days after a Notice of Termination is given; (ii) if the Termination occurs for Good Reason, the date specified in the Notice of Termination; and (iii) if the Termination occurs for any other reason, the date on which the Notice of Termination is given.

 

(D)     Good Reason .  A Termination for Good Reason shall mean a Termination as a result of:

 

(i)       The assignment to you, without your express written consent, of any duties inconsistent with your position, duties, responsibilities and status with the Company immediately prior to a Change in Control of the Company, or a change in your titles or offices (if any) in effect immediately prior to a Change in Control of the Company, or any removal of you from, or any failure to reelect you to, any of such positions, except in connection with your Termination for Cause, death, Disability, or as a result of your attainment of your Retirement Date.

 

(ii)      A reduction by the Company in your base salary as in effect on the date hereof, or as the same may be increased from time to time thereafter;

 

(iii)     The failure of the Company to continue in effect any compensation, welfare or benefit plan in which you are participating at the time of a Change in Control of the Company, without substituting therefor plans providing you with substantially similar benefits at

 

3



 

substantially the same cost to you; or the taking of any action by the Company which would adversely affect your participation in or materially reduce your benefits or increase the cost to you under any of such plans or deprive you of any material fringe benefit enjoyed by you at the time of the Change in Control of the Company;

 

(iv)     Any purported Termination for Cause or Disability without grounds therefor; or

 

(v)      The relocation of your primary work location to a location that is more than 20 miles from your primary work location immediately prior to the Change in Control of the Company.

 

(E)      Cause .  A Termination for Cause shall mean (i) a Termination as a result of the willful and continued failure by you for a significant period of time substantially to perform your duties with the Company (other than any such failure resulting from your Disability), after a demand for substantial performance is delivered to you in writing by the Board or its designate which specifically identifies the manner in which the Board or its designate believes that you have not substantially performed your duties, or (ii) the willful engaging by you in gross misconduct materially and demonstrably injurious to the Company.  No act, or failure to act, on your part shall be considered “willful” unless done, or omitted to be done, by you, not in good faith and without reasonable belief that your action or omission was in the best interest of the Company.  The burden for establishing the validity of any termination for Cause shall rest upon the Company.  No Termination shall be deemed to be for Cause unless and until there shall have been delivered to you a copy of a resolution duly adopted by the affirmative vote of not less than three-quarters of the entire membership of the Board called and held for such purpose (after reasonable notice is provided to you and you are given an opportunity, together with counsel, to be heard before the Board), finding that, in the good faith opinion of the Board, you are guilty of the conduct described in subclauses (i) or (ii) above, and specifying the particulars thereof in detail.

 

(F)      Disability .  A Disability shall mean that, as a result of your incapacity due to physical or mental illness, you shall have been unable to perform your duties with the Company for a period of six (6) months, and have no prospect of returning to employment with the Company within an additional six (6) months; provided , that the Company shall have made a reasonable accommodation of any such incapacity pursuant to, and shall otherwise have complied in all respects with, the provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.

 

(G)     Retirement Date .  Your “Retirement Date” shall mean the date on which you attain age 70-1/2, or the date you have informed the Company of your intentions to retire after you attain the age of fifty-five (55), but before the attainment of age 70-1/2.

 

4.        Benefits .  (A)  In the event of your Termination for any reason except those set forth in Paragraphs 3(A)(i), 3(A)(ii) and 3(A)(iii) above, the Company shall pay to you the following amounts in a lump sum payment on the Date of Termination:

 

4



 

(i)       An amount that is thirty (30) times the sum of (x) your monthly base salary at the rate in effect at the time a Notice of Termination is given and (y) the monthly amount of your annual target incentive bonus, determined by dividing the annual target incentive bonus by 12 for the year in which the Change of Control occurs.

 

(ii)      The Company shall maintain in full force and effect, for a period of thirty (30) months following your Date of Termination, all life insurance and medical insurance plans and programs (the “Company Programs”) in which you are entitled to participate immediately prior to the Date of Termination, provided that your continued participation is possible under the terms and provisions of such Company Programs.  In the event that your participation in any Company Program is not permitted under the terms and provisions thereof, the Company will use its reasonable best efforts to provide you with, or arrange coverage for you which is substantially similar to (including comparable terms), the coverage that you would have received under the applicable Company Program.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company’s obligations under this Paragraph 4(A)(ii) shall terminate with respect to any Company Program on the date that you first become eligible, after your Date of Termination, for the same type of coverage under another employer’s plan.

 

(iii)     The Company shall pay all reasonable legal fees and expenses incurred by you as a result of your Termination (including all such reasonable fees and expenses, if any, incurred in contesting or disputing your Termination or in seeking to obtain or enforce any rights or benefits provided by this Agreement).

 

(iv)     The Company shall pay the costs of reasonable outplacement services until you are employed on a full-time basis, provided that payment by the Company of such costs shall not exceed $15,000.

 

(B)     Accelerated Vesting under 2004 Long Term Incentive Compensation Plan .  For any performance awards made after the date hereof under the Company’s 2004 Long Term Incentive Compensation Plan, in the event of a Change in Control of the Company, the vesting of such awards shall be accelerated to the next whole year following the date of the Change in Control, and shall be payable in an amount equal to the greater of (x) the actual performance of the Company through the date of the Change in Control compared to the Plan target, up to the maximum amount payable under the Plan and (y) the target amount payable under the Plan for such period.

 

(C)    No Mitigation Required .  You shall not be required to mitigate the amount of any payment provided for in this Paragraph 4 by seeking other employment or otherwise, nor shall the amount of any payment provided for in this Paragraph 4 be reduced by any compensation earned by you as a result of employment by another employer after the Date of Termination, or otherwise, except as specifically provided in Paragraph 4(A)(ii).

 

(D)     Section 409A Delay .  Notwithstanding the above and unless exempt under Proposed Treasury Regulation §1.409A-1(b)(9), if you are a “specified employee” within the meaning of Code §416(i) and Proposed Treasury Regulation §1.409A-1(i), no payments may be

 

5



 

made under this Agreement before the date that is six months after the Termination (or, if earlier, the date of death of the specified employee).  In such case, all payments to which you are entitled during the first six months shall be accumulated and paid on the first date of the seventh month following Termination.

 

(E)      Section 280G  Payments .  If it is determined that any payments hereunder, either separately or in conjunction with any other payments, benefits and entitlements received by you hereunder, would constitute an “excess parachute payment” within the meaning of Section 280G of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), and thereby be subject to the excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Code (the “Excise Tax”), then in such event, the Company shall be obligated to pay to you promptly following such determination and upon notice thereof a “gross-up” payment in an amount equal to the amount of such Excise Tax, plus all federal and state income or other taxes with respect to the payment of the amount of such Excise Tax, including all such taxes (including any additional Excise Tax) with respect to any such gross-up payment.

 

5.        Miscellaneous .

 

(A)     Limitation of Effect .  This Agreement shall have no effect on any termination of your employment prior to a Change in Control of the Company, or upon any termination of your employment at any time as a result of your Disability, attainment of your Retirement Date, or death; and upon the occurrence of any such events, you shall receive only those benefits to which you would have been otherwise entitled prior to a Change in Control of the Company.

 

(B)     Successors .  (i)  The Company will require any successor (whether direct or indirect, by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) to all or substantially all of the business and/or assets of the Company, to assume and agree to perform this Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent that the Company would be required to perform this Agreement if no such succession had taken place.  Failure of the Company to obtain such assumption or agreement prior to the effectiveness of any such succession shall be a breach of this Agreement.

 

(ii)      This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by your personal or legal representatives, executors, administrators, successors, heirs, distributees, devisees and legatees.  If you should die while any amounts would still be payable to you hereunder if you had continued to live, all such amounts, unless otherwise provided herein, shall be paid in accordance with the terms of this Agreement to your devisee, legatee or other designee or, if there be no such designee, to your estate.

 

(C)     Notice .  Notices provided for in the Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given when delivered in person or mailed by United States registered mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, to the respective addresses set forth on the first page of this Agreement, or to such other address as either party may have furnished to the other in writing, except that notices of change of address shall be effective only upon receipt

 

6



 

by the other party.  All notices to the Company shall be directed to the attention of Larry McAdams, Vice President of Human Resources.

 

(D)     Modifications .  No provision of this Agreement may be modified, waived or discharged unless such modification, waiver, or discharge is agreed to in writing and is signed by you and the Company.  No waiver by either party hereto at any time of any breach by the other party hereto of, or compliance with, any condition or provision of this Agreement to be performed by such other party shall be deemed a waiver of similar or dissimilar provisions or conditions at the same or at any prior or subsequent time.

 

(E)      Interpretation .  The validity, interpretation, construction and performance of this Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of South Carolina.  The invalidity or unenforceability of any provisions of this Agreement shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision of this Agreement, which shall remain in full force and effect.

 

If you agree that the foregoing correctly sets forth the agreement between us, please sign the enclosed copy of this Agreement in the space indicated below and return it to the Company.

 

 

Very truly yours,

 

KEMET Corporation

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ LARRY C. MCADAMS

 

Name:

Larry McAdams

 

Title:

Vice President, Human Resources

 

Agreed to as of the day and year first written above:

 

 

EMPLOYEE

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

/s/CHARLES C. MEEKS, JR.

 

Charles C. Meeks, Jr.

 

 

Dated as of
July 28, 2008

 

7




Exhibit 10.51

 

July 28, 2008

 

Kirk D. Shockley

300 New Tarleton Way

Greer,  SC  29650

 

Re:  Change in Control Severance Compensation Agreement

 

Dear Mr. Shockley:

 

The board of directors (the “Board”) of KEMET Corporation (the “Company”) has determined that it is in the best interests of the Company and its shareholders to assure the continued dedication to the Company of senior management personnel, notwithstanding any possibility, threat or occurrence of a Change in Control of the Company (as defined below).  Accordingly, in order to encourage your continued attention and dedication to your assigned duties regardless of any such possibility, threat or occurrence, the Board has authorized the Company to enter into this “Change in Control Severance Compensation Agreement” (the “Agreement”) in order to provide you with certain compensation and other benefits in the event that your employment with the Company is terminated as a result of a Change in Control of the Company.

 

The terms and conditions of this Agreement are as follows:

 

1.        Term of the Agreement .  (A)  The Term of this Agreement shall commence on the date first set forth above and shall end on July 27, 2011; provided, that if a Change in Control of the Company shall have occurred prior to July 27, 2011, the Term of this Agreement shall end on the date that is the two year anniversary of the Change in Control.  In addition, the Term of this Agreement shall automatically end upon the occurrence of any of the following:

 

(i)       Your death or receipt of a Notice of Termination due to Disability;

 

(ii)      Your attainment of your Retirement Date; or

 

(iii)     A determination by the Board that you are no longer eligible to receive the benefits set forth in this Agreement and your receipt of notice of any such determination; provided , that such a determination shall have no effect if made after a Change in Control of the Company or as a result of negotiations occurring in connection with a Change in Control of the Company.

 

(B)     In the event of a Change in Control of the Company, subject to Paragraph 1(A), the Term of this Agreement shall be automatically extended to the earlier of:  (i) the date that is two (2) years from the date such Change in Control of the Company occurred; or (ii) the occurrence of an event described in Paragraph 1(A)(i) or 1(A)(ii) above.

 



 

2.        Change in Control of the Company .  For purposes of this Agreement, a “Change in Control of the Company” shall mean any of the following events:

 

(A)     The acquisition by any individual, entity or group (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or 14(d)(2) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)) (a “Person”) of beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act) of twenty-five percent (25%) or more of either (i) the then outstanding shares of common stock of the Company (the “Outstanding Company Common Stock”), or (ii) the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities of the Company entitled to vote generally in the election of directors (the “Outstanding Company Voting Securities”); provided , however, that for purposes of this subparagraph (A), the following acquisitions shall not constitute a Change in Control of the Company:  (1) any acquisition directly from the Company; (2) any acquisition by the Company; (3) any acquisition by any employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or maintained by the Company or any corporation controlled by the Company; or (4) any acquisition by any corporation pursuant to a transaction which complies with clauses (1), (2) and (3) of subparagraph (C) below;

 

(B)     Individuals who, as of the date hereof, constitute the Board (the “Incumbent Board”) cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the Board; provided , however, that any individual becoming a director subsequent to the date hereof whose election, or nomination for election by the Company’s shareholders, was approved by a vote of at least a majority of the directors then comprising the Incumbent Board shall be considered as though such individual were a member of the Incumbent Board, but excluding for this purpose any such individual whose initial assumption of office occurs as a result of an actual or threatened election contest with respect to the election or removal of directors or other actual or threatened solicitation of proxies or consents by or on behalf of a Person other than the Board;

 

(C)     Consummation of a reorganization, merger or consolidation or sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company (a “Business Combination”), in each case, unless, following such Business Combination, (1) all or substantially all of the individuals and entities who were the beneficial owners, respectively, of the Outstanding Company Common Stock and Outstanding Company Voting Securities immediately prior to such Business Combination beneficially own, directly or indirectly, more than fifty percent (50%) of, respectively, the then outstanding shares of common stock and the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, as the case may be, of the corporation resulting from such Business Combination (including, without limitation, a corporation which as a result of such transaction owns the Company or all or substantially all of the Company’s assets either directly or through one or more subsidiaries) in substantially the same proportions as their ownership, immediately prior to such Business Combination of the Outstanding Company Common Stock and Outstanding Company Voting Securities, as the case may be, (2) no Person (excluding any corporation resulting from such Business Combination or any employee benefit plan (or related trust) of the Company or such corporation resulting from such Business Combination) beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, twenty-five percent (25%) or more of, respectively, the then outstanding shares of common stock of the corporation resulting from such Business Combination or the

 

2



 

combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities of such corporation except to the extent that such ownership existed prior to the Business Combination, and (3) at least a majority of the members of the board of directors of the corporation resulting from such Business Combination were members of the Board at the time of the execution of the initial agreement, or of the action of the Board, providing for such Business Combination;

 

(D)     Approval by the shareholders of the Company of a complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company.

 

3.        Termination of Employment Following Change in Control of the Company .

 

(A)     Termination .  If a Change in Control of the Company occurs, you shall be entitled, upon the subsequent termination of your employment with the Company (“Termination”), to the benefits described in Paragraph 4 below, unless such Termination is:  (i) by you other than for Good Reason; (ii) by the Company for Cause or because of your Disability; or (iii) because of your death or attainment of your Retirement Date.  Any Termination (except a Termination resulting from your death) shall be made by written Notice of Termination from the party initiating such Termination to the other party to this Agreement.

 

(B)     Notice of Termination .  A Notice of Termination shall mean a written document stating the specific provision in this Agreement upon which a Termination is based and otherwise setting forth the facts and circumstances which provide the basis for a Termination.

 

(C)     Date of Termination .  The Date of Termination shall mean:  (i) if the Termination occurs as a result of Disability, thirty (30) days after a Notice of Termination is given; (ii) if the Termination occurs for Good Reason, the date specified in the Notice of Termination; and (iii) if the Termination occurs for any other reason, the date on which the Notice of Termination is given.

 

(D)     Good Reason .  A Termination for Good Reason shall mean a Termination as a result of:

 

(i)       The assignment to you, without your express written consent, of any duties inconsistent with your position, duties, responsibilities and status with the Company immediately prior to a Change in Control of the Company, or a change in your titles or offices (if any) in effect immediately prior to a Change in Control of the Company, or any removal of you from, or any failure to reelect you to, any of such positions, except in connection with your Termination for Cause, death, Disability, or as a result of your attainment of your Retirement Date.

 

(ii)      A reduction by the Company in your base salary as in effect on the date hereof, or as the same may be increased from time to time thereafter;

 

(iii)     The failure of the Company to continue in effect any compensation, welfare or benefit plan in which you are participating at the time of a Change in Control of the Company, without substituting therefor plans providing you with substantially similar benefits at

 

3



 

substantially the same cost to you; or the taking of any action by the Company which would adversely affect your participation in or materially reduce your benefits or increase the cost to you under any of such plans or deprive you of any material fringe benefit enjoyed by you at the time of the Change in Control of the Company;

 

(iv)     Any purported Termination for Cause or Disability without grounds therefor; or

 

(v)      The relocation of your primary work location to a location that is more than 20 miles from your primary work location immediately prior to the Change in Control of the Company.

 

(E)      Cause .  A Termination for Cause shall mean (i) a Termination as a result of the willful and continued failure by you for a significant period of time substantially to perform your duties with the Company (other than any such failure resulting from your Disability), after a demand for substantial performance is delivered to you in writing by the Board or its designate which specifically identifies the manner in which the Board or its designate believes that you have not substantially performed your duties, or (ii) the willful engaging by you in gross misconduct materially and demonstrably injurious to the Company.  No act, or failure to act, on your part shall be considered “willful” unless done, or omitted to be done, by you, not in good faith and without reasonable belief that your action or omission was in the best interest of the Company.  The burden for establishing the validity of any termination for Cause shall rest upon the Company.  No Termination shall be deemed to be for Cause unless and until there shall have been delivered to you a copy of a resolution duly adopted by the affirmative vote of not less than three-quarters of the entire membership of the Board called and held for such purpose (after reasonable notice is provided to you and you are given an opportunity, together with counsel, to be heard before the Board), finding that, in the good faith opinion of the Board, you are guilty of the conduct described in subclauses (i) or (ii) above, and specifying the particulars thereof in detail.

 

(F)      Disability .  A Disability shall mean that, as a result of your incapacity due to physical or mental illness, you shall have been unable to perform your duties with the Company for a period of six (6) months, and have no prospect of returning to employment with the Company within an additional six (6) months; provided , that the Company shall have made a reasonable accommodation of any such incapacity pursuant to, and shall otherwise have complied in all respects with, the provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.

 

(G)     Retirement Date .  Your “Retirement Date” shall mean the date on which you attain age 70-1/2, or the date you have informed the Company of your intentions to retire after you attain the age of fifty-five (55), but before the attainment of age 70-1/2.

 

4.        Benefits .  (A)  In the event of your Termination for any reason except those set forth in Paragraphs 3(A)(i), 3(A)(ii) and 3(A)(iii) above, the Company shall pay to you the following amounts in a lump sum payment on the Date of Termination:

 

4



 

(i)       An amount that is thirty (30) times the sum of (x) your monthly base salary at the rate in effect at the time a Notice of Termination is given and (y) the monthly amount of your annual target incentive bonus, determined by dividing the annual target incentive bonus by 12 for the year in which the Change of Control occurs.

 

(ii)      The Company shall maintain in full force and effect, for a period of eighteen (18) months following your Date of Termination, all life insurance and medical insurance plans and programs (the “Company Programs”) in which you are entitled to participate immediately prior to the Date of Termination, provided that your continued participation is possible under the terms and provisions of such Company Programs.  In the event that your participation in any Company Program is not permitted under the terms and provisions thereof, the Company will use its reasonable best efforts to provide you with, or arrange coverage for you which is substantially similar to (including comparable terms), the coverage that you would have received under the applicable Company Program.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company’s obligations under this Paragraph 4(A)(ii) shall terminate with respect to any Company Program on the date that you first become eligible, after your Date of Termination, for the same type of coverage under another employer’s plan.

 

(iii)     The Company shall pay all reasonable legal fees and expenses incurred by you as a result of your Termination (including all such reasonable fees and expenses, if any, incurred in contesting or disputing your Termination or in seeking to obtain or enforce any rights or benefits provided by this Agreement).

 

(iv)     The Company shall pay the costs of reasonable outplacement services until you are employed on a full-time basis, provided that payment by the Company of such costs shall not exceed $15,000.

 

(B)     Accelerated Vesting under 2004 Long Term Incentive Compensation Plan .  For any performance awards made after the date hereof under the Company’s 2004 Long Term Incentive Compensation Plan, in the event of a Change in Control of the Company, the vesting of such awards shall be accelerated to the next whole year following the date of the Change in Control, and shall be payable in an amount equal to the greater of (x) the actual performance of the Company through the date of the Change in Control compared to the Plan target, up to the maximum amount payable under the Plan and (y) the target amount payable under the Plan for such period.

 

(C)    No Mitigation Required .  You shall not be required to mitigate the amount of any payment provided for in this Paragraph 4 by seeking other employment or otherwise, nor shall the amount of any payment provided for in this Paragraph 4 be reduced by any compensation earned by you as a result of employment by another employer after the Date of Termination, or otherwise, except as specifically provided in Paragraph 4(A)(ii).

 

(D)     Section 409A Delay .  Notwithstanding the above and unless exempt under Proposed Treasury Regulation §1.409A-1(b)(9), if you are a “specified employee” within the meaning of Code §416(i) and Proposed Treasury Regulation §1.409A-1(i), no payments may be

 

5



 

made under this Agreement before the date that is six months after the Termination (or, if earlier, the date of death of the specified employee).  In such case, all payments to which you are entitled during the first six months shall be accumulated and paid on the first date of the seventh month following Termination.

 

(E)      Section 280G  Payments .  If it is determined that any payments hereunder, either separately or in conjunction with any other payments, benefits and entitlements received by you hereunder, would constitute an “excess parachute payment” within the meaning of Section 280G of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), and thereby be subject to the excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Code (the “Excise Tax”), then in such event, the Company shall be obligated to pay to you promptly following such determination and upon notice thereof a “gross-up” payment in an amount equal to the amount of such Excise Tax, plus all federal and state income or other taxes with respect to the payment of the amount of such Excise Tax, including all such taxes (including any additional Excise Tax) with respect to any such gross-up payment.

 

5.        Miscellaneous .

 

(A)     Limitation of Effect .  This Agreement shall have no effect on any termination of your employment prior to a Change in Control of the Company, or upon any termination of your employment at any time as a result of your Disability, attainment of your Retirement Date, or death; and upon the occurrence of any such events, you shall receive only those benefits to which you would have been otherwise entitled prior to a Change in Control of the Company.

 

(B)     Successors .  (i)  The Company will require any successor (whether direct or indirect, by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) to all or substantially all of the business and/or assets of the Company, to assume and agree to perform this Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent that the Company would be required to perform this Agreement if no such succession had taken place.  Failure of the Company to obtain such assumption or agreement prior to the effectiveness of any such succession shall be a breach of this Agreement.

 

(ii)      This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by your personal or legal representatives, executors, administrators, successors, heirs, distributees, devisees and legatees.  If you should die while any amounts would still be payable to you hereunder if you had continued to live, all such amounts, unless otherwise provided herein, shall be paid in accordance with the terms of this Agreement to your devisee, legatee or other designee or, if there be no such designee, to your estate.

 

(C)     Notice .  Notices provided for in the Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given when delivered in person or mailed by United States registered mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, to the respective addresses set forth on the first page of this Agreement, or to such other address as either party may have furnished to the other in writing, except that notices of change of address shall be effective only upon receipt

 

6



 

by the other party.  All notices to the Company shall be directed to the attention of Larry McAdams, Vice President of Human Resources.

 

(D)     Modifications .  No provision of this Agreement may be modified, waived or discharged unless such modification, waiver, or discharge is agreed to in writing and is signed by you and the Company.  No waiver by either party hereto at any time of any breach by the other party hereto of, or compliance with, any condition or provision of this Agreement to be performed by such other party shall be deemed a waiver of similar or dissimilar provisions or conditions at the same or at any prior or subsequent time.

 

(E)      Interpretation .  The validity, interpretation, construction and performance of this Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of South Carolina.  The invalidity or unenforceability of any provisions of this Agreement shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision of this Agreement, which shall remain in full force and effect.

 

If you agree that the foregoing correctly sets forth the agreement between us, please sign the enclosed copy of this Agreement in the space indicated below and return it to the Company.

 

 

Very truly yours,

 

KEMET Corporation

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ LARRY C. MCADAMS

 

Name:

Larry McAdams

 

Title:

Vice President, Human Resources

 

Agreed to as of the day and year first written above:

 

 

EMPLOYEE

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ KIRK D. SHOCKLEY

 

Kirk D. Shockley

 

 

Dated as of
July 28, 2008

 

7




Exhibit 10.52

 

July 28, 2008

 

Daniel E. LaMorte

5 Hemingford Circle

Simpsonville,  SC  29681

 

Re:  Change in Control Severance Compensation Agreement

 

Dear Mr. LaMorte:

 

The board of directors (the “Board”) of KEMET Corporation (the “Company”) has determined that it is in the best interests of the Company and its shareholders to assure the continued dedication to the Company of senior management personnel, notwithstanding any possibility, threat or occurrence of a Change in Control of the Company (as defined below).  Accordingly, in order to encourage your continued attention and dedication to your assigned duties regardless of any such possibility, threat or occurrence, the Board has authorized the Company to enter into this “Change in Control Severance Compensation Agreement” (the “Agreement”) in order to provide you with certain compensation and other benefits in the event that your employment with the Company is terminated as a result of a Change in Control of the Company.

 

The terms and conditions of this Agreement are as follows:

 

1.        Term of the Agreement .  (A)  The Term of this Agreement shall commence on the date first set forth above and shall end on July 27, 2011; provided, that if a Change in Control of the Company shall have occurred prior to July 27, 2011, the Term of this Agreement shall end on the date that is the two year anniversary of the Change in Control.  In addition, the Term of this Agreement shall automatically end upon the occurrence of any of the following:

 

(i)       Your death or receipt of a Notice of Termination due to Disability;

 

(ii)      Your attainment of your Retirement Date; or

 

(iii)     A determination by the Board that you are no longer eligible to receive the benefits set forth in this Agreement and your receipt of notice of any such determination; provided , that such a determination shall have no effect if made after a Change in Control of the Company or as a result of negotiations occurring in connection with a Change in Control of the Company.

 

(B)     In the event of a Change in Control of the Company, subject to Paragraph 1(A), the Term of this Agreement shall be automatically extended to the earlier of:  (i) the date that is two (2) years from the date such Change in Control of the Company occurred; or (ii) the occurrence of an event described in Paragraph 1(A)(i) or 1(A)(ii) above.

 



 

2.        Change in Control of the Company .  For purposes of this Agreement, a “Change in Control of the Company” shall mean any of the following events:

 

(A)     The acquisition by any individual, entity or group (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or 14(d)(2) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)) (a “Person”) of beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act) of twenty-five percent (25%) or more of either (i) the then outstanding shares of common stock of the Company (the “Outstanding Company Common Stock”), or (ii) the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities of the Company entitled to vote generally in the election of directors (the “Outstanding Company Voting Securities”); provided , however, that for purposes of this subparagraph (A), the following acquisitions shall not constitute a Change in Control of the Company:  (1) any acquisition directly from the Company; (2) any acquisition by the Company; (3) any acquisition by any employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or maintained by the Company or any corporation controlled by the Company; or (4) any acquisition by any corporation pursuant to a transaction which complies with clauses (1), (2) and (3) of subparagraph (C) below;

 

(B)     Individuals who, as of the date hereof, constitute the Board (the “Incumbent Board”) cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the Board; provided , however, that any individual becoming a director subsequent to the date hereof whose election, or nomination for election by the Company’s shareholders, was approved by a vote of at least a majority of the directors then comprising the Incumbent Board shall be considered as though such individual were a member of the Incumbent Board, but excluding for this purpose any such individual whose initial assumption of office occurs as a result of an actual or threatened election contest with respect to the election or removal of directors or other actual or threatened solicitation of proxies or consents by or on behalf of a Person other than the Board;

 

(C)     Consummation of a reorganization, merger or consolidation or sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company (a “Business Combination”), in each case, unless, following such Business Combination, (1) all or substantially all of the individuals and entities who were the beneficial owners, respectively, of the Outstanding Company Common Stock and Outstanding Company Voting Securities immediately prior to such Business Combination beneficially own, directly or indirectly, more than fifty percent (50%) of, respectively, the then outstanding shares of common stock and the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, as the case may be, of the corporation resulting from such Business Combination (including, without limitation, a corporation which as a result of such transaction owns the Company or all or substantially all of the Company’s assets either directly or through one or more subsidiaries) in substantially the same proportions as their ownership, immediately prior to such Business Combination of the Outstanding Company Common Stock and Outstanding Company Voting Securities, as the case may be, (2) no Person (excluding any corporation resulting from such Business Combination or any employee benefit plan (or related trust) of the Company or such corporation resulting from such Business Combination) beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, twenty-five percent (25%) or more of, respectively, the then outstanding shares of common stock of the corporation resulting from such Business Combination or the

 

2



 

combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities of such corporation except to the extent that such ownership existed prior to the Business Combination, and (3) at least a majority of the members of the board of directors of the corporation resulting from such Business Combination were members of the Board at the time of the execution of the initial agreement, or of the action of the Board, providing for such Business Combination;

 

(D)     Approval by the shareholders of the Company of a complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company.

 

3.        Termination of Employment Following Change in Control of the Company .

 

(A)     Termination .  If a Change in Control of the Company occurs, you shall be entitled, upon the subsequent termination of your employment with the Company (“Termination”), to the benefits described in Paragraph 4 below, unless such Termination is:  (i) by you other than for Good Reason; (ii) by the Company for Cause or because of your Disability; or (iii) because of your death or attainment of your Retirement Date.  Any Termination (except a Termination resulting from your death) shall be made by written Notice of Termination from the party initiating such Termination to the other party to this Agreement.

 

(B)     Notice of Termination .  A Notice of Termination shall mean a written document stating the specific provision in this Agreement upon which a Termination is based and otherwise setting forth the facts and circumstances which provide the basis for a Termination.

 

(C)     Date of Termination .  The Date of Termination shall mean:  (i) if the Termination occurs as a result of Disability, thirty (30) days after a Notice of Termination is given; (ii) if the Termination occurs for Good Reason, the date specified in the Notice of Termination; and (iii) if the Termination occurs for any other reason, the date on which the Notice of Termination is given.

 

(D)     Good Reason .  A Termination for Good Reason shall mean a Termination as a result of:

 

(i)       The assignment to you, without your express written consent, of any duties inconsistent with your position, duties, responsibilities and status with the Company immediately prior to a Change in Control of the Company, or a change in your titles or offices (if any) in effect immediately prior to a Change in Control of the Company, or any removal of you from, or any failure to reelect you to, any of such positions, except in connection with your Termination for Cause, death, Disability, or as a result of your attainment of your Retirement Date.

 

(ii)      A reduction by the Company in your base salary as in effect on the date hereof, or as the same may be increased from time to time thereafter;

 

(iii)     The failure of the Company to continue in effect any compensation, welfare or benefit plan in which you are participating at the time of a Change in Control of the Company, without substituting therefor plans providing you with substantially similar benefits at

 

3



 

substantially the same cost to you; or the taking of any action by the Company which would adversely affect your participation in or materially reduce your benefits or increase the cost to you under any of such plans or deprive you of any material fringe benefit enjoyed by you at the time of the Change in Control of the Company;

 

(iv)     Any purported Termination for Cause or Disability without grounds therefor; or

 

(v)      The relocation of your primary work location to a location that is more than 20 miles from your primary work location immediately prior to the Change in Control of the Company.

 

(E)      Cause .  A Termination for Cause shall mean (i) a Termination as a result of the willful and continued failure by you for a significant period of time substantially to perform your duties with the Company (other than any such failure resulting from your Disability), after a demand for substantial performance is delivered to you in writing by the Board or its designate which specifically identifies the manner in which the Board or its designate believes that you have not substantially performed your duties, or (ii) the willful engaging by you in gross misconduct materially and demonstrably injurious to the Company.  No act, or failure to act, on your part shall be considered “willful” unless done, or omitted to be done, by you, not in good faith and without reasonable belief that your action or omission was in the best interest of the Company.  The burden for establishing the validity of any termination for Cause shall rest upon the Company.  No Termination shall be deemed to be for Cause unless and until there shall have been delivered to you a copy of a resolution duly adopted by the affirmative vote of not less than three-quarters of the entire membership of the Board called and held for such purpose (after reasonable notice is provided to you and you are given an opportunity, together with counsel, to be heard before the Board), finding that, in the good faith opinion of the Board, you are guilty of the conduct described in subclauses (i) or (ii) above, and specifying the particulars thereof in detail.

 

(F)      Disability .  A Disability shall mean that, as a result of your incapacity due to physical or mental illness, you shall have been unable to perform your duties with the Company for a period of six (6) months, and have no prospect of returning to employment with the Company within an additional six (6) months; provided , that the Company shall have made a reasonable accommodation of any such incapacity pursuant to, and shall otherwise have complied in all respects with, the provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.

 

(G)     Retirement Date .  Your “Retirement Date” shall mean the date on which you attain age 70-1/2, or the date you have informed the Company of your intentions to retire after you attain the age of fifty-five (55), but before the attainment of age 70-1/2.

 

4.        Benefits .  (A)  In the event of your Termination for any reason except those set forth in Paragraphs 3(A)(i), 3(A)(ii) and 3(A)(iii) above, the Company shall pay to you the following amounts in a lump sum payment on the Date of Termination:

 

4



 

(i)       An amount that is twenty-four (24) times the sum of (x) your monthly base salary at the rate in effect at the time a Notice of Termination is given and (y) the monthly amount of your annual target incentive bonus, determined by dividing the annual target incentive bonus by 12 for the year in which the Change of Control occurs.

 

(ii)      The Company shall maintain in full force and effect, for a period of twenty-four (24) months following your Date of Termination, all life insurance and medical insurance plans and programs (the “Company Programs”) in which you are entitled to participate immediately prior to the Date of Termination, provided that your continued participation is possible under the terms and provisions of such Company Programs.  In the event that your participation in any Company Program is not permitted under the terms and provisions thereof, the Company will use its reasonable best efforts to provide you with, or arrange coverage for you which is substantially similar to (including comparable terms), the coverage that you would have received under the applicable Company Program.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company’s obligations under this Paragraph 4(A)(ii) shall terminate with respect to any Company Program on the date that you first become eligible, after your Date of Termination, for the same type of coverage under another employer’s plan.

 

(iii)     The Company shall pay all reasonable legal fees and expenses incurred by you as a result of your Termination (including all such reasonable fees and expenses, if any, incurred in contesting or disputing your Termination or in seeking to obtain or enforce any rights or benefits provided by this Agreement).

 

(iv)     The Company shall pay the costs of reasonable outplacement services until you are employed on a full-time basis, provided that payment by the Company of such costs shall not exceed $15,000.

 

(B)     Accelerated Vesting under 2004 Long Term Incentive Compensation Plan .  For any performance awards made after the date hereof under the Company’s 2004 Long Term Incentive Compensation Plan, in the event of a Change in Control of the Company, the vesting of such awards shall be accelerated to the next whole year following the date of the Change in Control, and shall be payable in an amount equal to the greater of (x) the actual performance of the Company through the date of the Change in Control compared to the Plan target, up to the maximum amount payable under the Plan and (y) the target amount payable under the Plan for such period.

 

(C)    No Mitigation Required .  You shall not be required to mitigate the amount of any payment provided for in this Paragraph 4 by seeking other employment or otherwise, nor shall the amount of any payment provided for in this Paragraph 4 be reduced by any compensation earned by you as a result of employment by another employer after the Date of Termination, or otherwise, except as specifically provided in Paragraph 4(A)(ii).

 

(D)     Section 409A Delay .  Notwithstanding the above and unless exempt under Proposed Treasury Regulation §1.409A-1(b)(9), if you are a “specified employee” within the meaning of Code §416(i) and Proposed Treasury Regulation §1.409A-1(i), no payments may be

 

5



 

made under this Agreement before the date that is six months after the Termination (or, if earlier, the date of death of the specified employee).  In such case, all payments to which you are entitled during the first six months shall be accumulated and paid on the first date of the seventh month following Termination.

 

(E)      Section 280G  Payments .  If it is determined that any payments hereunder, either separately or in conjunction with any other payments, benefits and entitlements received by you hereunder, would constitute an “excess parachute payment” within the meaning of Section 280G of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), and thereby be subject to the excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Code (the “Excise Tax”), then in such event, the Company shall be obligated to pay to you promptly following such determination and upon notice thereof a “gross-up” payment in an amount equal to the amount of such Excise Tax, plus all federal and state income or other taxes with respect to the payment of the amount of such Excise Tax, including all such taxes (including any additional Excise Tax) with respect to any such gross-up payment.

 

5.        Miscellaneous .

 

(A)     Limitation of Effect .  This Agreement shall have no effect on any termination of your employment prior to a Change in Control of the Company, or upon any termination of your employment at any time as a result of your Disability, attainment of your Retirement Date, or death; and upon the occurrence of any such events, you shall receive only those benefits to which you would have been otherwise entitled prior to a Change in Control of the Company.

 

(B)     Successors .  (i)  The Company will require any successor (whether direct or indirect, by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) to all or substantially all of the business and/or assets of the Company, to assume and agree to perform this Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent that the Company would be required to perform this Agreement if no such succession had taken place.  Failure of the Company to obtain such assumption or agreement prior to the effectiveness of any such succession shall be a breach of this Agreement.

 

(ii)      This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by your personal or legal representatives, executors, administrators, successors, heirs, distributees, devisees and legatees.  If you should die while any amounts would still be payable to you hereunder if you had continued to live, all such amounts, unless otherwise provided herein, shall be paid in accordance with the terms of this Agreement to your devisee, legatee or other designee or, if there be no such designee, to your estate.

 

(C)     Notice .  Notices provided for in the Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given when delivered in person or mailed by United States registered mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, to the respective addresses set forth on the first page of this Agreement, or to such other address as either party may have furnished to the other in writing, except that notices of change of address shall be effective only upon receipt

 

6



 

by the other party.  All notices to the Company shall be directed to the attention of Larry McAdams, Vice President of Human Resources.

 

(D)     Modifications .  No provision of this Agreement may be modified, waived or discharged unless such modification, waiver, or discharge is agreed to in writing and is signed by you and the Company.  No waiver by either party hereto at any time of any breach by the other party hereto of, or compliance with, any condition or provision of this Agreement to be performed by such other party shall be deemed a waiver of similar or dissimilar provisions or conditions at the same or at any prior or subsequent time.

 

(E)      Interpretation .  The validity, interpretation, construction and performance of this Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of South Carolina.  The invalidity or unenforceability of any provisions of this Agreement shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision of this Agreement, which shall remain in full force and effect.

 

If you agree that the foregoing correctly sets forth the agreement between us, please sign the enclosed copy of this Agreement in the space indicated below and return it to the Company.

 

 

Very truly yours,

 

KEMET Corporation

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ LARRY C. MCADAMS

 

Name:

Larry C. McAdams

 

Title:

Vice President, Human Resources

 

Agreed to as of the day and year first written above:

 

 

EMPLOYEE

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ DANIEL E. LAMORTE

 

Daniel E. LaMorte

 

 

Dated as of
July 28, 2008

 

7




Exhibit 10.53

 

July 28, 2008

 

Philip M. Lessner

2109 Oak Street

Newberry,  SC  29108

 

Re:  Change in Control Severance Compensation Agreement

 

Dear Mr. Lessner:

 

The board of directors (the “Board”) of KEMET Corporation (the “Company”) has determined that it is in the best interests of the Company and its shareholders to assure the continued dedication to the Company of senior management personnel, notwithstanding any possibility, threat or occurrence of a Change in Control of the Company (as defined below).  Accordingly, in order to encourage your continued attention and dedication to your assigned duties regardless of any such possibility, threat or occurrence, the Board has authorized the Company to enter into this “Change in Control Severance Compensation Agreement” (the “Agreement”) in order to provide you with certain compensation and other benefits in the event that your employment with the Company is terminated as a result of a Change in Control of the Company.

 

The terms and conditions of this Agreement are as follows:

 

1.        Term of the Agreement .  (A)  The Term of this Agreement shall commence on the date first set forth above and shall end on July 27, 2011; provided, that if a Change in Control of the Company shall have occurred prior to July 27, 2011, the Term of this Agreement shall end on the date that is the two year anniversary of the Change in Control.  In addition, the Term of this Agreement shall automatically end upon the occurrence of any of the following:

 

(i)       Your death or receipt of a Notice of Termination due to Disability;

 

(ii)      Your attainment of your Retirement Date; or

 

(iii)     A determination by the Board that you are no longer eligible to receive the benefits set forth in this Agreement and your receipt of notice of any such determination; provided , that such a determination shall have no effect if made after a Change in Control of the Company or as a result of negotiations occurring in connection with a Change in Control of the Company.

 

(B)     In the event of a Change in Control of the Company, subject to Paragraph 1(A), the Term of this Agreement shall be automatically extended to the earlier of:  (i) the date that is two (2) years from the date such Change in Control of the Company occurred; or (ii) the occurrence of an event described in Paragraph 1(A)(i) or 1(A)(ii) above.

 



 

2.        Change in Control of the Company .  For purposes of this Agreement, a “Change in Control of the Company” shall mean any of the following events:

 

(A)     The acquisition by any individual, entity or group (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or 14(d)(2) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)) (a “Person”) of beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act) of twenty-five percent (25%) or more of either (i) the then outstanding shares of common stock of the Company (the “Outstanding Company Common Stock”), or (ii) the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities of the Company entitled to vote generally in the election of directors (the “Outstanding Company Voting Securities”); provided , however, that for purposes of this subparagraph (A), the following acquisitions shall not constitute a Change in Control of the Company:  (1) any acquisition directly from the Company; (2) any acquisition by the Company; (3) any acquisition by any employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or maintained by the Company or any corporation controlled by the Company; or (4) any acquisition by any corporation pursuant to a transaction which complies with clauses (1), (2) and (3) of subparagraph (C) below;

 

(B)     Individuals who, as of the date hereof, constitute the Board (the “Incumbent Board”) cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the Board; provided , however, that any individual becoming a director subsequent to the date hereof whose election, or nomination for election by the Company’s shareholders, was approved by a vote of at least a majority of the directors then comprising the Incumbent Board shall be considered as though such individual were a member of the Incumbent Board, but excluding for this purpose any such individual whose initial assumption of office occurs as a result of an actual or threatened election contest with respect to the election or removal of directors or other actual or threatened solicitation of proxies or consents by or on behalf of a Person other than the Board;

 

(C)     Consummation of a reorganization, merger or consolidation or sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company (a “Business Combination”), in each case, unless, following such Business Combination, (1) all or substantially all of the individuals and entities who were the beneficial owners, respectively, of the Outstanding Company Common Stock and Outstanding Company Voting Securities immediately prior to such Business Combination beneficially own, directly or indirectly, more than fifty percent (50%) of, respectively, the then outstanding shares of common stock and the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, as the case may be, of the corporation resulting from such Business Combination (including, without limitation, a corporation which as a result of such transaction owns the Company or all or substantially all of the Company’s assets either directly or through one or more subsidiaries) in substantially the same proportions as their ownership, immediately prior to such Business Combination of the Outstanding Company Common Stock and Outstanding Company Voting Securities, as the case may be, (2) no Person (excluding any corporation resulting from such Business Combination or any employee benefit plan (or related trust) of the Company or such corporation resulting from such Business Combination) beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, twenty-five percent (25%) or more of, respectively, the then outstanding shares of common stock of the corporation resulting from such Business Combination or the

 

2



 

combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities of such corporation except to the extent that such ownership existed prior to the Business Combination, and (3) at least a majority of the members of the board of directors of the corporation resulting from such Business Combination were members of the Board at the time of the execution of the initial agreement, or of the action of the Board, providing for such Business Combination;

 

(D)     Approval by the shareholders of the Company of a complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company.

 

3.        Termination of Employment Following Change in Control of the Company .

 

(A)     Termination .  If a Change in Control of the Company occurs, you shall be entitled, upon the subsequent termination of your employment with the Company (“Termination”), to the benefits described in Paragraph 4 below, unless such Termination is:  (i) by you other than for Good Reason; (ii) by the Company for Cause or because of your Disability; or (iii) because of your death or attainment of your Retirement Date.  Any Termination (except a Termination resulting from your death) shall be made by written Notice of Termination from the party initiating such Termination to the other party to this Agreement.

 

(B)     Notice of Termination .  A Notice of Termination shall mean a written document stating the specific provision in this Agreement upon which a Termination is based and otherwise setting forth the facts and circumstances which provide the basis for a Termination.

 

(C)     Date of Termination .  The Date of Termination shall mean:  (i) if the Termination occurs as a result of Disability, thirty (30) days after a Notice of Termination is given; (ii) if the Termination occurs for Good Reason, the date specified in the Notice of Termination; and (iii) if the Termination occurs for any other reason, the date on which the Notice of Termination is given.

 

(D)     Good Reason .  A Termination for Good Reason shall mean a Termination as a result of:

 

(i)       The assignment to you, without your express written consent, of any duties inconsistent with your position, duties, responsibilities and status with the Company immediately prior to a Change in Control of the Company, or a change in your titles or offices (if any) in effect immediately prior to a Change in Control of the Company, or any removal of you from, or any failure to reelect you to, any of such positions, except in connection with your Termination for Cause, death, Disability, or as a result of your attainment of your Retirement Date.

 

(ii)      A reduction by the Company in your base salary as in effect on the date hereof, or as the same may be increased from time to time thereafter;

 

(iii)     The failure of the Company to continue in effect any compensation, welfare or benefit plan in which you are participating at the time of a Change in Control of the Company, without substituting therefor plans providing you with substantially similar benefits at

 

3



 

substantially the same cost to you; or the taking of any action by the Company which would adversely affect your participation in or materially reduce your benefits or increase the cost to you under any of such plans or deprive you of any material fringe benefit enjoyed by you at the time of the Change in Control of the Company;

 

(iv)     Any purported Termination for Cause or Disability without grounds therefor; or

 

(v)      The relocation of your primary work location to a location that is more than 20 miles from your primary work location immediately prior to the Change in Control of the Company.

 

(E)      Cause .  A Termination for Cause shall mean (i) a Termination as a result of the willful and continued failure by you for a significant period of time substantially to perform your duties with the Company (other than any such failure resulting from your Disability), after a demand for substantial performance is delivered to you in writing by the Board or its designate which specifically identifies the manner in which the Board or its designate believes that you have not substantially performed your duties, or (ii) the willful engaging by you in gross misconduct materially and demonstrably injurious to the Company.  No act, or failure to act, on your part shall be considered “willful” unless done, or omitted to be done, by you, not in good faith and without reasonable belief that your action or omission was in the best interest of the Company.  The burden for establishing the validity of any termination for Cause shall rest upon the Company.  No Termination shall be deemed to be for Cause unless and until there shall have been delivered to you a copy of a resolution duly adopted by the affirmative vote of not less than three-quarters of the entire membership of the Board called and held for such purpose (after reasonable notice is provided to you and you are given an opportunity, together with counsel, to be heard before the Board), finding that, in the good faith opinion of the Board, you are guilty of the conduct described in subclauses (i) or (ii) above, and specifying the particulars thereof in detail.

 

(F)      Disability .  A Disability shall mean that, as a result of your incapacity due to physical or mental illness, you shall have been unable to perform your duties with the Company for a period of six (6) months, and have no prospect of returning to employment with the Company within an additional six (6) months; provided , that the Company shall have made a reasonable accommodation of any such incapacity pursuant to, and shall otherwise have complied in all respects with, the provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.

 

(G)     Retirement Date .  Your “Retirement Date” shall mean the date on which you attain age 70-1/2, or the date you have informed the Company of your intentions to retire after you attain the age of fifty-five (55), but before the attainment of age 70-1/2.

 

4.        Benefits .  (A)  In the event of your Termination for any reason except those set forth in Paragraphs 3(A)(i), 3(A)(ii) and 3(A)(iii) above, the Company shall pay to you the following amounts in a lump sum payment on the Date of Termination:

 

4



 

(i)       An amount that is twenty-four (24) times the sum of (x) your monthly base salary at the rate in effect at the time a Notice of Termination is given and (y) the monthly amount of your annual target incentive bonus, determined by dividing the annual target incentive bonus by 12 for the year in which the Change of Control occurs.

 

(ii)      The Company shall maintain in full force and effect, for a period of twenty-four (24) months following your Date of Termination, all life insurance and medical insurance plans and programs (the “Company Programs”) in which you are entitled to participate immediately prior to the Date of Termination, provided that your continued participation is possible under the terms and provisions of such Company Programs.  In the event that your participation in any Company Program is not permitted under the terms and provisions thereof, the Company will use its reasonable best efforts to provide you with, or arrange coverage for you which is substantially similar to (including comparable terms), the coverage that you would have received under the applicable Company Program.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company’s obligations under this Paragraph 4(A)(ii) shall terminate with respect to any Company Program on the date that you first become eligible, after your Date of Termination, for the same type of coverage under another employer’s plan.

 

(iii)     The Company shall pay all reasonable legal fees and expenses incurred by you as a result of your Termination (including all such reasonable fees and expenses, if any, incurred in contesting or disputing your Termination or in seeking to obtain or enforce any rights or benefits provided by this Agreement).

 

(iv)     The Company shall pay the costs of reasonable outplacement services until you are employed on a full-time basis, provided that payment by the Company of such costs shall not exceed $15,000.

 

(B)     Accelerated Vesting under 2004 Long Term Incentive Compensation Plan .  For any performance awards made after the date hereof under the Company’s 2004 Long Term Incentive Compensation Plan, in the event of a Change in Control of the Company, the vesting of such awards shall be accelerated to the next whole year following the date of the Change in Control, and shall be payable in an amount equal to the greater of (x) the actual performance of the Company through the date of the Change in Control compared to the Plan target, up to the maximum amount payable under the Plan and (y) the target amount payable under the Plan for such period.

 

(C)    No Mitigation Required .  You shall not be required to mitigate the amount of any payment provided for in this Paragraph 4 by seeking other employment or otherwise, nor shall the amount of any payment provided for in this Paragraph 4 be reduced by any compensation earned by you as a result of employment by another employer after the Date of Termination, or otherwise, except as specifically provided in Paragraph 4(A)(ii).

 

(D)     Section 409A Delay .  Notwithstanding the above and unless exempt under Proposed Treasury Regulation §1.409A-1(b)(9), if you are a “specified employee” within the meaning of Code §416(i) and Proposed Treasury Regulation §1.409A-1(i), no payments may be

 

5



 

made under this Agreement before the date that is six months after the Termination (or, if earlier, the date of death of the specified employee).  In such case, all payments to which you are entitled during the first six months shall be accumulated and paid on the first date of the seventh month following Termination.

 

(E)      Section 280G  Payments .  If it is determined that any payments hereunder, either separately or in conjunction with any other payments, benefits and entitlements received by you hereunder, would constitute an “excess parachute payment” within the meaning of Section 280G of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), and thereby be subject to the excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Code (the “Excise Tax”), then in such event, the Company shall be obligated to pay to you promptly following such determination and upon notice thereof a “gross-up” payment in an amount equal to the amount of such Excise Tax, plus all federal and state income or other taxes with respect to the payment of the amount of such Excise Tax, including all such taxes (including any additional Excise Tax) with respect to any such gross-up payment.

 

5.        Miscellaneous .

 

(A)     Limitation of Effect .  This Agreement shall have no effect on any termination of your employment prior to a Change in Control of the Company, or upon any termination of your employment at any time as a result of your Disability, attainment of your Retirement Date, or death; and upon the occurrence of any such events, you shall receive only those benefits to which you would have been otherwise entitled prior to a Change in Control of the Company.

 

(B)     Successors .  (i)  The Company will require any successor (whether direct or indirect, by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) to all or substantially all of the business and/or assets of the Company, to assume and agree to perform this Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent that the Company would be required to perform this Agreement if no such succession had taken place.  Failure of the Company to obtain such assumption or agreement prior to the effectiveness of any such succession shall be a breach of this Agreement.

 

(ii)      This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by your personal or legal representatives, executors, administrators, successors, heirs, distributees, devisees and legatees.  If you should die while any amounts would still be payable to you hereunder if you had continued to live, all such amounts, unless otherwise provided herein, shall be paid in accordance with the terms of this Agreement to your devisee, legatee or other designee or, if there be no such designee, to your estate.

 

(C)     Notice .  Notices provided for in the Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given when delivered in person or mailed by United States registered mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, to the respective addresses set forth on the first page of this Agreement, or to such other address as either party may have furnished to the other in writing, except that notices of change of address shall be effective only upon receipt

 

6



 

by the other party.  All notices to the Company shall be directed to the attention of Larry McAdams, Vice President of Human Resources.

 

(D)     Modifications .  No provision of this Agreement may be modified, waived or discharged unless such modification, waiver, or discharge is agreed to in writing and is signed by you and the Company.  No waiver by either party hereto at any time of any breach by the other party hereto of, or compliance with, any condition or provision of this Agreement to be performed by such other party shall be deemed a waiver of similar or dissimilar provisions or conditions at the same or at any prior or subsequent time.

 

(E)      Interpretation .  The validity, interpretation, construction and performance of this Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of South Carolina.  The invalidity or unenforceability of any provisions of this Agreement shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision of this Agreement, which shall remain in full force and effect.

 

If you agree that the foregoing correctly sets forth the agreement between us, please sign the enclosed copy of this Agreement in the space indicated below and return it to the Company.

 

 

Very truly yours,

 

KEMET Corporation

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ LARRY C. MCADAMS

 

Name:

Larry McAdams

 

Title:

Vice President, Human Resources

 

Agreed to as of the day and year first written above:

 

 

EMPLOYEE

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ PHILIP M. LESSNER

 

Philip M. Lessner

 

 

Dated as of
July 28, 2008

 

7




Exhibit 10.54

 

July 28, 2008

 

Larry C. McAdams

204 Holly Park Lane

Simpsonville,  SC  29681

 

Re:  Change in Control Severance Compensation Agreement

 

Dear Mr. McAdams:

 

The board of directors (the “Board”) of KEMET Corporation (the “Company”) has determined that it is in the best interests of the Company and its shareholders to assure the continued dedication to the Company of senior management personnel, notwithstanding any possibility, threat or occurrence of a Change in Control of the Company (as defined below).  Accordingly, in order to encourage your continued attention and dedication to your assigned duties regardless of any such possibility, threat or occurrence, the Board has authorized the Company to enter into this “Change in Control Severance Compensation Agreement” (the “Agreement”) in order to provide you with certain compensation and other benefits in the event that your employment with the Company is terminated as a result of a Change in Control of the Company.

 

The terms and conditions of this Agreement are as follows:

 

1.        Term of the Agreement .  (A)  The Term of this Agreement shall commence on the date first set forth above and shall end on July 27, 2011; provided, that if a Change in Control of the Company shall have occurred prior to July 27, 2011, the Term of this Agreement shall end on the date that is the two year anniversary of the Change in Control.  In addition, the Term of this Agreement shall automatically end upon the occurrence of any of the following:

 

(i)       Your death or receipt of a Notice of Termination due to Disability;

 

(ii)      Your attainment of your Retirement Date; or

 

(iii)     A determination by the Board that you are no longer eligible to receive the benefits set forth in this Agreement and your receipt of notice of any such determination; provided , that such a determination shall have no effect if made after a Change in Control of the Company or as a result of negotiations occurring in connection with a Change in Control of the Company.

 

(B)     In the event of a Change in Control of the Company, subject to Paragraph 1(A), the Term of this Agreement shall be automatically extended to the earlier of:  (i) the date that is two (2) years from the date such Change in Control of the Company occurred; or (ii) the occurrence of an event described in Paragraph 1(A)(i) or 1(A)(ii) above.

 



 

2.        Change in Control of the Company .  For purposes of this Agreement, a “Change in Control of the Company” shall mean any of the following events:

 

(A)     The acquisition by any individual, entity or group (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or 14(d)(2) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)) (a “Person”) of beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act) of twenty-five percent (25%) or more of either (i) the then outstanding shares of common stock of the Company (the “Outstanding Company Common Stock”), or (ii) the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities of the Company entitled to vote generally in the election of directors (the “Outstanding Company Voting Securities”); provided , however, that for purposes of this subparagraph (A), the following acquisitions shall not constitute a Change in Control of the Company:  (1) any acquisition directly from the Company; (2) any acquisition by the Company; (3) any acquisition by any employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or maintained by the Company or any corporation controlled by the Company; or (4) any acquisition by any corporation pursuant to a transaction which complies with clauses (1), (2) and (3) of subparagraph (C) below;

 

(B)     Individuals who, as of the date hereof, constitute the Board (the “Incumbent Board”) cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the Board; provided , however, that any individual becoming a director subsequent to the date hereof whose election, or nomination for election by the Company’s shareholders, was approved by a vote of at least a majority of the directors then comprising the Incumbent Board shall be considered as though such individual were a member of the Incumbent Board, but excluding for this purpose any such individual whose initial assumption of office occurs as a result of an actual or threatened election contest with respect to the election or removal of directors or other actual or threatened solicitation of proxies or consents by or on behalf of a Person other than the Board;

 

(C)     Consummation of a reorganization, merger or consolidation or sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company (a “Business Combination”), in each case, unless, following such Business Combination, (1) all or substantially all of the individuals and entities who were the beneficial owners, respectively, of the Outstanding Company Common Stock and Outstanding Company Voting Securities immediately prior to such Business Combination beneficially own, directly or indirectly, more than fifty percent (50%) of, respectively, the then outstanding shares of common stock and the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, as the case may be, of the corporation resulting from such Business Combination (including, without limitation, a corporation which as a result of such transaction owns the Company or all or substantially all of the Company’s assets either directly or through one or more subsidiaries) in substantially the same proportions as their ownership, immediately prior to such Business Combination of the Outstanding Company Common Stock and Outstanding Company Voting Securities, as the case may be, (2) no Person (excluding any corporation resulting from such Business Combination or any employee benefit plan (or related trust) of the Company or such corporation resulting from such Business Combination) beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, twenty-five percent (25%) or more of, respectively, the then outstanding shares of common stock of the corporation resulting from such Business Combination or the

 

2



 

combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities of such corporation except to the extent that such ownership existed prior to the Business Combination, and (3) at least a majority of the members of the board of directors of the corporation resulting from such Business Combination were members of the Board at the time of the execution of the initial agreement, or of the action of the Board, providing for such Business Combination;

 

(D)     Approval by the shareholders of the Company of a complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company.

 

3.        Termination of Employment Following Change in Control of the Company .

 

(A)     Termination .  If a Change in Control of the Company occurs, you shall be entitled, upon the subsequent termination of your employment with the Company (“Termination”), to the benefits described in Paragraph 4 below, unless such Termination is:  (i) by you other than for Good Reason; (ii) by the Company for Cause or because of your Disability; or (iii) because of your death or attainment of your Retirement Date.  Any Termination (except a Termination resulting from your death) shall be made by written Notice of Termination from the party initiating such Termination to the other party to this Agreement.

 

(B)     Notice of Termination .  A Notice of Termination shall mean a written document stating the specific provision in this Agreement upon which a Termination is based and otherwise setting forth the facts and circumstances which provide the basis for a Termination.

 

(C)     Date of Termination .  The Date of Termination shall mean:  (i) if the Termination occurs as a result of Disability, thirty (30) days after a Notice of Termination is given; (ii) if the Termination occurs for Good Reason, the date specified in the Notice of Termination; and (iii) if the Termination occurs for any other reason, the date on which the Notice of Termination is given.

 

(D)     Good Reason .  A Termination for Good Reason shall mean a Termination as a result of:

 

(i)       The assignment to you, without your express written consent, of any duties inconsistent with your position, duties, responsibilities and status with the Company immediately prior to a Change in Control of the Company, or a change in your titles or offices (if any) in effect immediately prior to a Change in Control of the Company, or any removal of you from, or any failure to reelect you to, any of such positions, except in connection with your Termination for Cause, death, Disability, or as a result of your attainment of your Retirement Date.

 

(ii)      A reduction by the Company in your base salary as in effect on the date hereof, or as the same may be increased from time to time thereafter;

 

(iii)     The failure of the Company to continue in effect any compensation, welfare or benefit plan in which you are participating at the time of a Change in Control of the Company, without substituting therefor plans providing you with substantially similar benefits at

 

3



 

substantially the same cost to you; or the taking of any action by the Company which would adversely affect your participation in or materially reduce your benefits or increase the cost to you under any of such plans or deprive you of any material fringe benefit enjoyed by you at the time of the Change in Control of the Company;

 

(iv)     Any purported Termination for Cause or Disability without grounds therefor; or

 

(v)      The relocation of your primary work location to a location that is more than 20 miles from your primary work location immediately prior to the Change in Control of the Company.

 

(E)      Cause .  A Termination for Cause shall mean (i) a Termination as a result of the willful and continued failure by you for a significant period of time substantially to perform your duties with the Company (other than any such failure resulting from your Disability), after a demand for substantial performance is delivered to you in writing by the Board or its designate which specifically identifies the manner in which the Board or its designate believes that you have not substantially performed your duties, or (ii) the willful engaging by you in gross misconduct materially and demonstrably injurious to the Company.  No act, or failure to act, on your part shall be considered “willful” unless done, or omitted to be done, by you, not in good faith and without reasonable belief that your action or omission was in the best interest of the Company.  The burden for establishing the validity of any termination for Cause shall rest upon the Company.  No Termination shall be deemed to be for Cause unless and until there shall have been delivered to you a copy of a resolution duly adopted by the affirmative vote of not less than three-quarters of the entire membership of the Board called and held for such purpose (after reasonable notice is provided to you and you are given an opportunity, together with counsel, to be heard before the Board), finding that, in the good faith opinion of the Board, you are guilty of the conduct described in subclauses (i) or (ii) above, and specifying the particulars thereof in detail.

 

(F)      Disability .  A Disability shall mean that, as a result of your incapacity due to physical or mental illness, you shall have been unable to perform your duties with the Company for a period of six (6) months, and have no prospect of returning to employment with the Company within an additional six (6) months; provided , that the Company shall have made a reasonable accommodation of any such incapacity pursuant to, and shall otherwise have complied in all respects with, the provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.

 

(G)     Retirement Date .  Your “Retirement Date” shall mean the date on which you attain age 70-1/2, or the date you have informed the Company of your intentions to retire after you attain the age of fifty-five (55), but before the attainment of age 70-1/2.

 

4.        Benefits .  (A)  In the event of your Termination for any reason except those set forth in Paragraphs 3(A)(i), 3(A)(ii) and 3(A)(iii) above, the Company shall pay to you the following amounts in a lump sum payment on the Date of Termination:

 

4



 

(i)       An amount that is thirty (30) times the sum of (x) your monthly base salary at the rate in effect at the time a Notice of Termination is given and (y) the monthly amount of your annual target incentive bonus, determined by dividing the annual target incentive bonus by 12 for the year in which the Change of Control occurs.

 

(ii)      The Company shall maintain in full force and effect, for a period of thirty (30) months following your Date of Termination, all life insurance and medical insurance plans and programs (the “Company Programs”) in which you are entitled to participate immediately prior to the Date of Termination, provided that your continued participation is possible under the terms and provisions of such Company Programs.  In the event that your participation in any Company Program is not permitted under the terms and provisions thereof, the Company will use its reasonable best efforts to provide you with, or arrange coverage for you which is substantially similar to (including comparable terms), the coverage that you would have received under the applicable Company Program.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company’s obligations under this Paragraph 4(A)(ii) shall terminate with respect to any Company Program on the date that you first become eligible, after your Date of Termination, for the same type of coverage under another employer’s plan.

 

(iii)     The Company shall pay all reasonable legal fees and expenses incurred by you as a result of your Termination (including all such reasonable fees and expenses, if any, incurred in contesting or disputing your Termination or in seeking to obtain or enforce any rights or benefits provided by this Agreement).

 

(iv)     The Company shall pay the costs of reasonable outplacement services until you are employed on a full-time basis, provided that payment by the Company of such costs shall not exceed $15,000.

 

(B)     Accelerated Vesting under 2004 Long Term Incentive Compensation Plan .  For any performance awards made after the date hereof under the Company’s 2004 Long Term Incentive Compensation Plan, in the event of a Change in Control of the Company, the vesting of such awards shall be accelerated to the next whole year following the date of the Change in Control, and shall be payable in an amount equal to the greater of (x) the actual performance of the Company through the date of the Change in Control compared to the Plan target, up to the maximum amount payable under the Plan and (y) the target amount payable under the Plan for such period.

 

(C)    No Mitigation Required .  You shall not be required to mitigate the amount of any payment provided for in this Paragraph 4 by seeking other employment or otherwise, nor shall the amount of any payment provided for in this Paragraph 4 be reduced by any compensation earned by you as a result of employment by another employer after the Date of Termination, or otherwise, except as specifically provided in Paragraph 4(A)(ii).

 

(D)     Section 409A Delay .  Notwithstanding the above and unless exempt under Proposed Treasury Regulation §1.409A-1(b)(9), if you are a “specified employee” within the meaning of Code §416(i) and Proposed Treasury Regulation §1.409A-1(i), no payments may be

 

5



 

made under this Agreement before the date that is six months after the Termination (or, if earlier, the date of death of the specified employee).  In such case, all payments to which you are entitled during the first six months shall be accumulated and paid on the first date of the seventh month following Termination.

 

(E)      Section 280G  Payments .  If it is determined that any payments hereunder, either separately or in conjunction with any other payments, benefits and entitlements received by you hereunder, would constitute an “excess parachute payment” within the meaning of Section 280G of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), and thereby be subject to the excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Code (the “Excise Tax”), then in such event, the Company shall be obligated to pay to you promptly following such determination and upon notice thereof a “gross-up” payment in an amount equal to the amount of such Excise Tax, plus all federal and state income or other taxes with respect to the payment of the amount of such Excise Tax, including all such taxes (including any additional Excise Tax) with respect to any such gross-up payment.

 

5.        Miscellaneous .

 

(A)     Limitation of Effect .  This Agreement shall have no effect on any termination of your employment prior to a Change in Control of the Company, or upon any termination of your employment at any time as a result of your Disability, attainment of your Retirement Date, or death; and upon the occurrence of any such events, you shall receive only those benefits to which you would have been otherwise entitled prior to a Change in Control of the Company.

 

(B)     Successors .  (i)  The Company will require any successor (whether direct or indirect, by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) to all or substantially all of the business and/or assets of the Company, to assume and agree to perform this Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent that the Company would be required to perform this Agreement if no such succession had taken place.  Failure of the Company to obtain such assumption or agreement prior to the effectiveness of any such succession shall be a breach of this Agreement.

 

(ii)      This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by your personal or legal representatives, executors, administrators, successors, heirs, distributees, devisees and legatees.  If you should die while any amounts would still be payable to you hereunder if you had continued to live, all such amounts, unless otherwise provided herein, shall be paid in accordance with the terms of this Agreement to your devisee, legatee or other designee or, if there be no such designee, to your estate.

 

(C)     Notice .  Notices provided for in the Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given when delivered in person or mailed by United States registered mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, to the respective addresses set forth on the first page of this Agreement, or to such other address as either party may have furnished to the other in writing, except that notices of change of address shall be effective only upon receipt

 

6



 

by the other party.  All notices to the Company shall be directed to the attention of Larry McAdams, Vice President of Human Resources.

 

(D)     Modifications .  No provision of this Agreement may be modified, waived or discharged unless such modification, waiver, or discharge is agreed to in writing and is signed by you and the Company.  No waiver by either party hereto at any time of any breach by the other party hereto of, or compliance with, any condition or provision of this Agreement to be performed by such other party shall be deemed a waiver of similar or dissimilar provisions or conditions at the same or at any prior or subsequent time.

 

(E)      Interpretation .  The validity, interpretation, construction and performance of this Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of South Carolina.  The invalidity or unenforceability of any provisions of this Agreement shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision of this Agreement, which shall remain in full force and effect.

 

If you agree that the foregoing correctly sets forth the agreement between us, please sign the enclosed copy of this Agreement in the space indicated below and return it to the Company.

 

 

Very truly yours,

 

KEMET Corporation

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ PER LOOF

 

Name:

Per Loof

 

Title:

Chief Executive Officer

 

Agreed to as of the day and year first written above:

 

 

EMPLOYEE

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ LARRY C. MCADAMS

 

Larry C. McAdams

 

 

Dated as of
July 28, 2008

 

7




Exhibit 10.55

 

July 28, 2008

 

Daniel F. Persico

17 Shadow Mist Drive

Simpsonville,  SC  29681

 

Re:  Change in Control Severance Compensation Agreement

 

Dear Mr. Persico:

 

The board of directors (the “Board”) of KEMET Corporation (the “Company”) has determined that it is in the best interests of the Company and its shareholders to assure the continued dedication to the Company of senior management personnel, notwithstanding any possibility, threat or occurrence of a Change in Control of the Company (as defined below).  Accordingly, in order to encourage your continued attention and dedication to your assigned duties regardless of any such possibility, threat or occurrence, the Board has authorized the Company to enter into this “Change in Control Severance Compensation Agreement” (the “Agreement”) in order to provide you with certain compensation and other benefits in the event that your employment with the Company is terminated as a result of a Change in Control of the Company.

 

The terms and conditions of this Agreement are as follows:

 

1.        Term of the Agreement .  (A)  The Term of this Agreement shall commence on the date first set forth above and shall end on July 27, 2011; provided, that if a Change in Control of the Company shall have occurred prior to July 27, 2011, the Term of this Agreement shall end on the date that is the two year anniversary of the Change in Control.  In addition, the Term of this Agreement shall automatically end upon the occurrence of any of the following:

 

(i)       Your death or receipt of a Notice of Termination due to Disability;

 

(ii)      Your attainment of your Retirement Date; or

 

(iii)     A determination by the Board that you are no longer eligible to receive the benefits set forth in this Agreement and your receipt of notice of any such determination; provided , that such a determination shall have no effect if made after a Change in Control of the Company or as a result of negotiations occurring in connection with a Change in Control of the Company.

 

(B)     In the event of a Change in Control of the Company, subject to Paragraph 1(A), the Term of this Agreement shall be automatically extended to the earlier of:  (i) the date that is two (2) years from the date such Change in Control of the Company occurred; or (ii) the occurrence of an event described in Paragraph 1(A)(i) or 1(A)(ii) above.

 



 

2.        Change in Control of the Company .  For purposes of this Agreement, a “Change in Control of the Company” shall mean any of the following events:

 

(A)     The acquisition by any individual, entity or group (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or 14(d)(2) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)) (a “Person”) of beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act) of twenty-five percent (25%) or more of either (i) the then outstanding shares of common stock of the Company (the “Outstanding Company Common Stock”), or (ii) the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities of the Company entitled to vote generally in the election of directors (the “Outstanding Company Voting Securities”); provided , however, that for purposes of this subparagraph (A), the following acquisitions shall not constitute a Change in Control of the Company:  (1) any acquisition directly from the Company; (2) any acquisition by the Company; (3) any acquisition by any employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or maintained by the Company or any corporation controlled by the Company; or (4) any acquisition by any corporation pursuant to a transaction which complies with clauses (1), (2) and (3) of subparagraph (C) below;

 

(B)     Individuals who, as of the date hereof, constitute the Board (the “Incumbent Board”) cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the Board; provided , however, that any individual becoming a director subsequent to the date hereof whose election, or nomination for election by the Company’s shareholders, was approved by a vote of at least a majority of the directors then comprising the Incumbent Board shall be considered as though such individual were a member of the Incumbent Board, but excluding for this purpose any such individual whose initial assumption of office occurs as a result of an actual or threatened election contest with respect to the election or removal of directors or other actual or threatened solicitation of proxies or consents by or on behalf of a Person other than the Board;

 

(C)     Consummation of a reorganization, merger or consolidation or sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company (a “Business Combination”), in each case, unless, following such Business Combination, (1) all or substantially all of the individuals and entities who were the beneficial owners, respectively, of the Outstanding Company Common Stock and Outstanding Company Voting Securities immediately prior to such Business Combination beneficially own, directly or indirectly, more than fifty percent (50%) of, respectively, the then outstanding shares of common stock and the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, as the case may be, of the corporation resulting from such Business Combination (including, without limitation, a corporation which as a result of such transaction owns the Company or all or substantially all of the Company’s assets either directly or through one or more subsidiaries) in substantially the same proportions as their ownership, immediately prior to such Business Combination of the Outstanding Company Common Stock and Outstanding Company Voting Securities, as the case may be, (2) no Person (excluding any corporation resulting from such Business Combination or any employee benefit plan (or related trust) of the Company or such corporation resulting from such Business Combination) beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, twenty-five percent (25%) or more of, respectively, the then outstanding shares of common stock of the corporation resulting from such Business Combination or the

 

2



 

combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities of such corporation except to the extent that such ownership existed prior to the Business Combination, and (3) at least a majority of the members of the board of directors of the corporation resulting from such Business Combination were members of the Board at the time of the execution of the initial agreement, or of the action of the Board, providing for such Business Combination;

 

(D)     Approval by the shareholders of the Company of a complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company.

 

3.        Termination of Employment Following Change in Control of the Company .

 

(A)     Termination .  If a Change in Control of the Company occurs, you shall be entitled, upon the subsequent termination of your employment with the Company (“Termination”), to the benefits described in Paragraph 4 below, unless such Termination is:  (i) by you other than for Good Reason; (ii) by the Company for Cause or because of your Disability; or (iii) because of your death or attainment of your Retirement Date.  Any Termination (except a Termination resulting from your death) shall be made by written Notice of Termination from the party initiating such Termination to the other party to this Agreement.

 

(B)     Notice of Termination .  A Notice of Termination shall mean a written document stating the specific provision in this Agreement upon which a Termination is based and otherwise setting forth the facts and circumstances which provide the basis for a Termination.

 

(C)     Date of Termination .  The Date of Termination shall mean:  (i) if the Termination occurs as a result of Disability, thirty (30) days after a Notice of Termination is given; (ii) if the Termination occurs for Good Reason, the date specified in the Notice of Termination; and (iii) if the Termination occurs for any other reason, the date on which the Notice of Termination is given.

 

(D)     Good Reason .  A Termination for Good Reason shall mean a Termination as a result of:

 

(i)       The assignment to you, without your express written consent, of any duties inconsistent with your position, duties, responsibilities and status with the Company immediately prior to a Change in Control of the Company, or a change in your titles or offices (if any) in effect immediately prior to a Change in Control of the Company, or any removal of you from, or any failure to reelect you to, any of such positions, except in connection with your Termination for Cause, death, Disability, or as a result of your attainment of your Retirement Date.

 

(ii)      A reduction by the Company in your base salary as in effect on the date hereof, or as the same may be increased from time to time thereafter;

 

(iii)     The failure of the Company to continue in effect any compensation, welfare or benefit plan in which you are participating at the time of a Change in Control of the Company, without substituting therefor plans providing you with substantially similar benefits at

 

3



 

substantially the same cost to you; or the taking of any action by the Company which would adversely affect your participation in or materially reduce your benefits or increase the cost to you under any of such plans or deprive you of any material fringe benefit enjoyed by you at the time of the Change in Control of the Company;

 

(iv)     Any purported Termination for Cause or Disability without grounds therefor; or

 

(v)      The relocation of your primary work location to a location that is more than 20 miles from your primary work location immediately prior to the Change in Control of the Company.

 

(E)      Cause .  A Termination for Cause shall mean (i) a Termination as a result of the willful and continued failure by you for a significant period of time substantially to perform your duties with the Company (other than any such failure resulting from your Disability), after a demand for substantial performance is delivered to you in writing by the Board or its designate which specifically identifies the manner in which the Board or its designate believes that you have not substantially performed your duties, or (ii) the willful engaging by you in gross misconduct materially and demonstrably injurious to the Company.  No act, or failure to act, on your part shall be considered “willful” unless done, or omitted to be done, by you, not in good faith and without reasonable belief that your action or omission was in the best interest of the Company.  The burden for establishing the validity of any termination for Cause shall rest upon the Company.  No Termination shall be deemed to be for Cause unless and until there shall have been delivered to you a copy of a resolution duly adopted by the affirmative vote of not less than three-quarters of the entire membership of the Board called and held for such purpose (after reasonable notice is provided to you and you are given an opportunity, together with counsel, to be heard before the Board), finding that, in the good faith opinion of the Board, you are guilty of the conduct described in subclauses (i) or (ii) above, and specifying the particulars thereof in detail.

 

(F)      Disability .  A Disability shall mean that, as a result of your incapacity due to physical or mental illness, you shall have been unable to perform your duties with the Company for a period of six (6) months, and have no prospect of returning to employment with the Company within an additional six (6) months; provided , that the Company shall have made a reasonable accommodation of any such incapacity pursuant to, and shall otherwise have complied in all respects with, the provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.

 

(G)     Retirement Date .  Your “Retirement Date” shall mean the date on which you attain age 70-1/2, or the date you have informed the Company of your intentions to retire after you attain the age of fifty-five (55), but before the attainment of age 70-1/2.

 

4.        Benefits .  (A)  In the event of your Termination for any reason except those set forth in Paragraphs 3(A)(i), 3(A)(ii) and 3(A)(iii) above, the Company shall pay to you the following amounts in a lump sum payment on the Date of Termination:

 

4



 

(i)       An amount that is eighteen (18) times the sum of (x) your monthly base salary at the rate in effect at the time a Notice of Termination is given and (y) the monthly amount of your annual target incentive bonus, determined by dividing the annual target incentive bonus by 12 for the year in which the Change of Control occurs.

 

(ii)      The Company shall maintain in full force and effect, for a period of eighteen (18) months following your Date of Termination, all life insurance and medical insurance plans and programs (the “Company Programs”) in which you are entitled to participate immediately prior to the Date of Termination, provided that your continued participation is possible under the terms and provisions of such Company Programs.  In the event that your participation in any Company Program is not permitted under the terms and provisions thereof, the Company will use its reasonable best efforts to provide you with, or arrange coverage for you which is substantially similar to (including comparable terms), the coverage that you would have received under the applicable Company Program.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company’s obligations under this Paragraph 4(A)(ii) shall terminate with respect to any Company Program on the date that you first become eligible, after your Date of Termination, for the same type of coverage under another employer’s plan.

 

(iii)     The Company shall pay all reasonable legal fees and expenses incurred by you as a result of your Termination (including all such reasonable fees and expenses, if any, incurred in contesting or disputing your Termination or in seeking to obtain or enforce any rights or benefits provided by this Agreement).

 

(iv)     The Company shall pay the costs of reasonable outplacement services until you are employed on a full-time basis, provided that payment by the Company of such costs shall not exceed $15,000.

 

(B)     Accelerated Vesting under 2004 Long Term Incentive Compensation Plan .  For any performance awards made after the date hereof under the Company’s 2004 Long Term Incentive Compensation Plan, in the event of a Change in Control of the Company, the vesting of such awards shall be accelerated to the next whole year following the date of the Change in Control, and shall be payable in an amount equal to the greater of (x) the actual performance of the Company through the date of the Change in Control compared to the Plan target, up to the maximum amount payable under the Plan and (y) the target amount payable under the Plan for such period.

 

(C)    No Mitigation Required .  You shall not be required to mitigate the amount of any payment provided for in this Paragraph 4 by seeking other employment or otherwise, nor shall the amount of any payment provided for in this Paragraph 4 be reduced by any compensation earned by you as a result of employment by another employer after the Date of Termination, or otherwise, except as specifically provided in Paragraph 4(A)(ii).

 

(D)     Section 409A Delay .  Notwithstanding the above and unless exempt under Proposed Treasury Regulation §1.409A-1(b)(9), if you are a “specified employee” within the meaning of Code §416(i) and Proposed Treasury Regulation §1.409A-1(i), no payments may be

 

5



 

made under this Agreement before the date that is six months after the Termination (or, if earlier, the date of death of the specified employee).  In such case, all payments to which you are entitled during the first six months shall be accumulated and paid on the first date of the seventh month following Termination.

 

(E)      Section 280G  Payments .  If it is determined that any payments hereunder, either separately or in conjunction with any other payments, benefits and entitlements received by you hereunder, would constitute an “excess parachute payment” within the meaning of Section 280G of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), and thereby be subject to the excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Code (the “Excise Tax”), then in such event, the Company shall be obligated to pay to you promptly following such determination and upon notice thereof a “gross-up” payment in an amount equal to the amount of such Excise Tax, plus all federal and state income or other taxes with respect to the payment of the amount of such Excise Tax, including all such taxes (including any additional Excise Tax) with respect to any such gross-up payment.

 

5.        Miscellaneous .

 

(A)     Limitation of Effect .  This Agreement shall have no effect on any termination of your employment prior to a Change in Control of the Company, or upon any termination of your employment at any time as a result of your Disability, attainment of your Retirement Date, or death; and upon the occurrence of any such events, you shall receive only those benefits to which you would have been otherwise entitled prior to a Change in Control of the Company.

 

(B)     Successors .  (i)  The Company will require any successor (whether direct or indirect, by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) to all or substantially all of the business and/or assets of the Company, to assume and agree to perform this Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent that the Company would be required to perform this Agreement if no such succession had taken place.  Failure of the Company to obtain such assumption or agreement prior to the effectiveness of any such succession shall be a breach of this Agreement.

 

(ii)      This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by your personal or legal representatives, executors, administrators, successors, heirs, distributees, devisees and legatees.  If you should die while any amounts would still be payable to you hereunder if you had continued to live, all such amounts, unless otherwise provided herein, shall be paid in accordance with the terms of this Agreement to your devisee, legatee or other designee or, if there be no such designee, to your estate.

 

(C)     Notice .  Notices provided for in the Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given when delivered in person or mailed by United States registered mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, to the respective addresses set forth on the first page of this Agreement, or to such other address as either party may have furnished to the other in writing, except that notices of change of address shall be effective only upon receipt

 

6



 

by the other party.  All notices to the Company shall be directed to the attention of Larry McAdams, Vice President of Human Resources.

 

(D)     Modifications .  No provision of this Agreement may be modified, waived or discharged unless such modification, waiver, or discharge is agreed to in writing and is signed by you and the Company.  No waiver by either party hereto at any time of any breach by the other party hereto of, or compliance with, any condition or provision of this Agreement to be performed by such other party shall be deemed a waiver of similar or dissimilar provisions or conditions at the same or at any prior or subsequent time.

 

(E)      Interpretation .  The validity, interpretation, construction and performance of this Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of South Carolina.  The invalidity or unenforceability of any provisions of this Agreement shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision of this Agreement, which shall remain in full force and effect.

 

If you agree that the foregoing correctly sets forth the agreement between us, please sign the enclosed copy of this Agreement in the space indicated below and return it to the Company.

 

 

Very truly yours,

 

KEMET Corporation

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ LARRY C. MCADAMS

 

Name:

Larry C. McAdams

 

Title:

Vice President, Human Resources

 

Agreed to as of the day and year first written above:

 

 

EMPLOYEE

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ DANIEL F. PERSICO

 

Daniel F. Persico

 

 

Dated as of
July 28, 2008

 

7




Exhibit 10.56

 

SECOND AMENDED & RESTATED KEMET CORPORATION

 

DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN

 



 

SECOND AMENDED & RESTATED KEMET CORPORATION

DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

ARTICLE 1

DEFINITIONS

 

1.1

ACCOUNT

1

1.2

AGREEMENT

1

1.3

BENEFICIARY

1

1.4

BOARD

1

1.5

CHANGE IN CONTROL

2

1.6

CODE

2

1.7

COMPENSATION

2

1.8

COMPENSATION DEFERRAL ACCOUNT

2

1.9

COMPENSATION DEFERRALS

2

1.10

DISABILITY

2

1.11

EFFECTIVE DATE

2

1.12

ELECTION FORM

2

1.13

ELIGIBLE EMPLOYEE

2

1.14

EMPLOYER

2

1.15

EMPLOYER CONTRIBUTION CREDIT ACCOUNT

2

1.16

EMPLOYER CONTRIBUTION CREDITS

3

1.17

ENTRY DATE

3

1.18

PARTICIPANT

3

1.19

PERFORMANCE-BASED COMPENSATION

3

1.20

PLAN

3

1.21

PLAN YEAR

3

1.22

SEPARATION FROM SERVICE

3

1.23

SPECIFIED EMPLOYEE

3

1.24

TRUST

3

1.25

TRUSTEE

3

1.26

VALUATION DATE

4

 

ARTICLE 2

ELIGIBILITY AND PARTICIPATION

 

2.1

REQUIREMENTS

4

2.2

RE-EMPLOYMENT

4

2.3

CHANGE OF EMPLOYMENT CATEGORY

4

 

i



 

ARTICLE 3

CONTRIBUTIONS AND CREDITS

 

3.1

PARTICIPANT COMPENSATION DEFERRALS

4

3.2

EMPLOYER CONTRIBUTION CREDITS

6

3.3

CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE TRUST

6

 

ARTICLE 4

ALLOCATION OF FUNDS

 

4.1

INVESTMENT AUTHORITY OVER ACCOUNT

7

4.2

ACCOUNTING FOR DISTRIBUTIONS

7

4.3

SEPARATE ACCOUNTS

7

4.4

DEEMED INVESTMENT DIRECTIONS OF PARTICIPANTS

7

4.5

EXPENSES AND TAXES

9

 

ARTICLE 5

ENTITLEMENT TO BENEFITS

 

5.1

PAYMENT DATES

9

5.2

UNFORESEEABLE EMERGENCY DISTRIBUTIONS

10

5.3

DEATH; DISABILITY

10

5.4

FORFEITURES

11

 

ARTICLE 6

DISTRIBUTION OF BENEFITS

 

6.1

AMOUNT

11

6.2

METHOD OF PAYMENT

11

6.3

ACCELERATIONS

12

6.4

DEATH OR DISABILITY BENEFITS

12

6.5

DELAYS

12

6.6

PAYMENT OF BENEFITS

13

 

ARTICLE 7

BENEFICIARIES; PARTICIPANT DATA

 

7.1

DESIGNATION OF BENEFICIARIE S

13

7.2

INFORMATION TO BE FURNISHED BY PARTICIPANTS AND BENEFICIARIES; INABILITY TO LOCATE PARTICIPANTS OR BENEFICIARIES

13

 

ARTICLE 8

ADMINISTRATION

 

8.1

ADMINISTRATIVE AUTHORITY

14

8.2

LITIGATION

15

 

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8.3

CLAIMS PROCEDURE

15

 

ARTICLE 9

AMENDMENT

 

9.1

RIGHT TO AMEND

18

9.2

AMENDMENTS TO ENSURE PROPER CHARACTERIZATION OF PLAN

18

 

ARTICLE 10

SUSPENSION OR TERMINATION OF THE PLAN

 

10.1

EMPLOYER’S RIGHT TO SUSPEND PLAN

19

10.2

AUTOMATIC TERMINATION OF PLAN

19

10.3

TERMINATION AND LIQUIDATION OF THE PLAN

19

 

ARTICLE 11

THE TRUST

 

11.1

ESTABLISHMENT OF TRUST

19

 

ARTICLE 12

MISCELLANEOUS

 

12.1

LIABILITY OF EMPLOYER; LIMITATIONS ON LIABILITY OF EMPLOYER OR EMPLOYER

20

12.2

CONSTRUCTION

20

12.3

SPENDTHRIFT PROVISION

20

12.4

DISTRIBUTION TIMING

21

12.5

AGGREGATION OF EMPLOYERS

21

12.6

AGGREGATION OF PLANS

21

12.7

USERRA

21

12.8

TAX WITHHOLDING

21

 

iii



 

SECOND AMENDED & RESTATED KEMET CORPORATION

DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN

 

RECITALS

 

By executing the attached Adoption Agreement (the “Agreement”), the Employer, as identified in the Agreement, adopted the Amended & Restated KEMET Corporation Deferred Compensation Plan (the “Plan”) effective as provided in the Agreement. The Employer hereby amends and restates the Plan effective December 31, 2008.  This Plan is intended to offer a select group of the Employer’s management or highly compensated employees an opportunity to elect to defer the receipt of compensation in order to provide deferred compensation benefits taxable pursuant to section 451 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), and to provide a deferred compensation vehicle to which the Employer, in its discretion, may credit certain amounts on behalf of participants.  The Plan is intended to be a “top-hat” plan (i.e., an unfunded deferred compensation plan maintained for a select group of management or highly-compensated employees) under sections 201(2), 301(a)(3) and 401(a)(1) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (“ERISA”).  The Plan also is intended to comply with the requirements of Code section 409A and any authoritative guidance issued under that section.  Participation in this Plan shall not be construed to create an employment contract between any Participant and the Employer.

 

Accordingly, the following Plan is adopted.

 

ARTICLE 1

DEFINITIONS

 

Whenever used in the Plan or the Agreement, the following terms shall have the meanings as set forth in this Article unless a different meaning is clearly required by the context.

 

1.1                                  ACCOUNT means the balance credited to a Participant’s or Beneficiary’s Plan account, including amounts credited to the Participant’s Compensation Deferral Account (if any) and the Participant’s Employer Contribution Credit Account (if any) and deemed income, gains and losses (as determined by the Employer, in its discretion) credited to those Accounts (if any).  A Participant’s or Beneficiary’s Account shall be determined as of the date of reference.

 

1.2                                  AGREEMENT means the Adoption Agreement for the Plan that was executed by the Employer.

 

1.3                                  BENEFICIARY means any person or persons so designated in accordance with the provisions of Article 7.

 

1.4                                  BOARD means the Employer’s Board of Directors, or a committee of the Employer’s Board of Directors duly authorized to make determinations and act for the Board under this Plan.

 

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1.5                                  CHANGE IN CONTROL means a change in the ownership or effective control of the Employer within the meaning of Code section 409A and IRS guidance under Code section 409A.

 

1.6                                  CODE means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and the Treasury regulations and other authoritative guidance issued under the Code, as amended from time to time.

 

1.7                                  COMPENSATION means the cash remuneration paid by the Employer to an Eligible Employee with respect to his or her service for the Employer (as determined in accordance with the Agreement).

 

1.8                                  COMPENSATION DEFERRAL ACCOUNT is described in Section 3.1.

 

1.9                                  COMPENSATION DEFERRALS is described in Section 3.1.

 

1.10                            DISABILITY means a period of disability during which the Participant (i) is unable to engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment which can be expected to result in death or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than twelve months, (ii) is, by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment which can be expected to result in death or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than 12 months, receiving income replacement benefits for a period of not less than three months under an accident and health plan covering employees of the Employer or (iii) is determined to be totally disabled by the Social Security Administration.

 

1.11                            EFFECTIVE DATE means the effective date of this Plan specified in the Agreement.

 

1.12                            ELECTION FORM  means the form or forms on which a Participant elects to defer Compensation under this Plan and the Agreement and/or on which the Participant makes certain other designations as required under this Plan and the Agreement.

 

1.13                            ELIGIBLE EMPLOYEE means, for any Plan Year (or applicable portion thereof), an employee of the Employer who is determined by the Employer to be a member of a select group of management or highly compensated employees of the Employer and who is designated to be an Eligible Employee under the Plan as set forth in the Agreement.

 

Prior to the beginning of each Plan Year, the Employer shall notify those individuals, if any, who will be Eligible Employees for the next Plan Year. If the Employer determines that an individual first becomes an Eligible Employee during a Plan Year, the Employer shall notify such individual of its determination and the individual shall first become an Eligible Employee as of the date of the notification.

 

1.14                            EMPLOYER means (individually or collectively, as required by the context), the entity or entities that execute the Agreement as the Employer (or affiliated employers), or any successors that adopt the Plan.

 

1.15                            EMPLOYER CONTRIBUTION CREDIT ACCOUNT is described in Section 3.2.

 

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1.16                            EMPLOYER CONTRIBUTION CREDITS is described in Section 3.2.

 

1.17                            ENTRY DATE with respect to an individual means the first day of the pay period following the date on which the individual becomes an Eligible Employee or the date(s) specified as Entry Date(s) in the Adoption Agreement, if different.

 

1.18                            PARTICIPANT means any person so designated in accordance with the provisions of Article 2, including, where appropriate according to the context of the Plan, any former employee who is or may become (or whose Beneficiaries may become) eligible to receive a benefit under the Plan.

 

1.19                            PERFORMANCE-BASED COMPENSATION means that portion (if any) of an Eligible Employee’s Compensation which is contingent on the satisfaction of pre-established organizational or individual performance criteria related to a performance period of at least 12 consecutive months, and which meets the requirements for “performance-based compensation” under Code section 409A, including the requirement that the performance criteria be established in writing by not later than (i) 90 days after the commencement of the period of service to which the criteria relates and (ii) the date the outcome ceases to be substantially uncertain.

 

1.20                            PLAN means this Second Amended & Restated KEMET Corporation Deferred Compensation Plan, as amended from time to time. The Agreement and this plan document, in each case as amended from time to time, shall constitute the terms of the Plan.

 

1.21                            PLAN YEAR means the twelve (12) month period ending on the December 31 of each year during which the Plan is in effect.  The Plan may experience a short Plan Year from its Effective Date until the following December 31.

 

1.22                            SEPARATION FROM SERVICE means a complete “separation from service” within the meaning of Code section 409A.

 

1.23                            SPECIFIED EMPLOYEE means, with respect to a corporation any stock of which is publicly traded on an established securities market or otherwise, a key employee, as defined in Code section 416(i) (without regard to paragraph (5) of that section) to mean an employee of the Employer who, at any time during the Plan Year, is (1) an officer of the Employer having an annual compensation greater than one hundred thirty-five thousand dollars ($135,000) for 2005 (indexed for inflation in future years); (ii) a five-percent (5%) owner of the Employer; or (iii) a one-percent (1%) owner of the Employer having an annual compensation from the Employer of more than one hundred fifty thousand dollars ($150,000).

 

1.24                            TRUST means (if a Trust is elected in the Agreement and established) the Trust described in Article 11.

 

1.25                            TRUSTEE means (if a Trust is elected in the Agreement and established) the trustee of the Trust described in Article 11.

 

3



 

1.26                            VALUATION DATE means each day of each Plan Year.

 

ARTICLE 2

ELIGIBILITY AND PARTICIPATION

 

2.1                                  REQUIREMENTS .  Every Eligible Employee on the Effective Date shall be eligible to become a Participant on the Effective Date.  Every other Eligible Employee shall be eligible to become a Participant on his or her first Entry Date.  No individual shall become a Participant, however, if he or she is not an Eligible Employee on the date his or her participation is to begin.

 

Participation in the Compensation Deferral portion of the Plan (if Compensation Deferrals are elected in the Agreement) is voluntary.  In order to participate in the Compensation Deferral portion of the Plan, an otherwise Eligible Employee must make written application on an Election Form at such time and in such manner as may be required by Section 3.1 and by the Employer and must agree to make Compensation Deferrals as provided in Article 3.

 

Participation in the Employer Contribution Credit Account portion of the Plan (if Employer Contribution Credits are elected in the Agreement) is automatic and does not require a Participant’s election to participate.

 

2.2                                  RE-EMPLOYMENT .  Subject to Code section 409A, a Participant whose employment with the Employer is terminated shall become a Participant in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.1.

 

2.3                                  CHANGE OF EMPLOYMENT CATEGORY .  During any period in which a Participant remains in the employ of the Employer, but ceases to be an Eligible Employee, he or she shall not be eligible to make further Compensation Deferral elections or receive Employer Contribution Credits.

 

ARTICLE 3

CONTRIBUTIONS AND CREDITS

 

3.1                                  PARTICIPANT COMPENSATION DEFERRALS .  If Compensation Deferrals are elected in the Agreement, subject to the remaining paragraphs of this Section and in accordance with rules established by the Employer and subject to such amount limitations as might be imposed by the Employer in its discretion, a Participant may elect to defer Compensation which is due to be earned and which would otherwise be paid to the Participant, in any fixed periodic dollar amounts or percentages designated by the Participant.  Amounts so deferred will be considered a Participant’s “Compensation Deferrals.”  Except as provided below, a Participant shall make such election(s) under this paragraph with respect to a coming twelve (12) month Plan Year during the period beginning sixty days before the end of the Plan Year and ending on the last day of the Plan Year, or during such other period as might be established by the Employer, which period ends no later than the last day of the Plan Year preceding the Plan Year in which the services giving rise to the Compensation to be deferred are to be performed.

 

4


 

In the case of the first Plan Year in which an Eligible Employee initially becomes eligible to become a Participant (or again becomes eligible after having been ineligible for at least 24 months), if and to the extent permitted by the Employer, the Eligible Employee may make an irrevocable election, no later than 30 days after the date he or she becomes eligible to become a Participant, to defer Compensation for services to be performed after the election.  For this purpose, an election will be deemed to apply to bonus Compensation for services performed after the election if the election applies to no more than an amount equal to the total bonus for the performance period multiplied by the ratio of the number of days remaining in the performance period after the election over the total number of days in the performance period.

 

If and to the extent permitted by the Employer, a Participant may make an election to defer that portion (if any) of his or her Compensation which qualifies as Performance-Based Compensation no later than (and the election shall become irrevocable no later than) six months prior to the last day of the period over which the services giving rise to the Performance-Based Compensation are performed (provided that the Participant performs services continuously from the later of the beginning of the performance period or the date the performance criteria are established through the date of the deferral election, and provided further that in no event may an election to defer be made with respect to any portion of the Performance-Based Compensation that has become reasonably ascertainable, as defined under Code section 409A, prior to making the election).

 

Compensation Deferrals shall be made through regular payroll deductions or deferrals of bonuses, if applicable.  After the deadline for making a deferral election for a Plan Year (as set forth above) has passed, the Participant may not change or revoke his or her Compensation Deferral election until the following Plan Year, except to the extent permitted by the Employer and under Code section 409A upon a disability or a hardship distribution pursuant to section 1.401(k)-1(d)(3) of the Treasury Regulations.  For purposes of this paragraph only, “disability” means any medically determinable physical or mental impairment resulting in the Participant’s inability to perform the duties of his or her position or any substantially similar position, where such impairment can be expected to result in death or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than six months.

 

Once made, a Compensation Deferral regular payroll deduction election shall continue in force only for the Plan Year to which the election relates, unless cancelled as provided above.  A Compensation Deferral bonus payment election shall continue in force only for the bonus payment for which the election is specifically effective, unless cancelled as provided above.

 

There shall be established and maintained by the Employer a separate Compensation Deferral Account in the name of each Participant, which shall become vested in the Participant as specified below, and to which shall be credited or debited: (a) amounts equal to the Participant’s Compensation Deferrals; and (b) any deemed earnings and losses allocated to the Compensation Deferral Account.  Compensation Deferrals shall be deducted by the Employer from the Compensation of the Participant and shall be credited to his or her Compensation Deferral Account.

 

5



 

A Participant shall at all times be 100% vested in amounts credited to his or her Compensation Deferral Account.

 

If the Employer elects in the Agreement to link this Plan to the Employer’s qualified retirement plan, a Participant may elect to defer Compensation which is due to be earned by the Participant in any fixed periodic dollar or percentage amount that does not exceed the limit with respect to elective deferrals under Code section 402(g) in effect for the taxable year in which such deferrals are made (not taking into account any catch-up contributions permitted under Code section 414(v)).

 

3.2            EMPLOYER CONTRIBUTION CREDITS .  If Employer Contribution Credits are elected in the Agreement, there shall be established and maintained a separate Employer Contribution Credit Account in the name of each Participant.  Each such Employer Contribution Credit Account shall be credited or debited, as applicable, with (i) amounts equal to the Employer’s Contribution Credits, if any, credited to that Account; and (ii) amounts equal to any deemed earnings and losses (to the extent realized, based upon deemed fair market value of the Account’s deemed assets as determined by the Employer, in its discretion) allocated to that Account.

 

The Employer Contribution Credits credited to a Participant’s Employer Contribution Credit Account for any particular Plan Year shall be an amount (if any) identified in the Agreement.  The Employer shall credit such contributions on behalf of such individuals, in such amounts and with such frequency as the Board determines in its sole discretion.  A Participant shall become vested in amounts credited to his or her Employer Contribution Credit Account according to the vesting schedule established in the Agreement.

 

3.3            CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE TRUST .  The Employer may make such contributions, if any, to the Trust (if any) maintained under Section 11.1 as the Employer may determine in its sole discretion.

 

If elected in the Agreement, as soon as administratively feasible following the end of each Plan Year (or as otherwise required by the Code), the Employer or the Trustee, if any, shall transfer, on behalf of each Participant, from the general assets of the Employer or the Trust, if any, to the trust established for the Employer’s qualified retirement plan, an amount equal to the lesser of (a) the maximum amount of pre-tax deferrals that the Participant could have made to the Employer’s qualified retirement plan for that previous Plan Year, within the limits imposed under the terms of the Employer’s qualified retirement plan and the Code (including Code sections 402(g), 401(k) and 401(m)), or (b) the amount of Compensation Deferrals the Participant actually deferred under the terms of this Plan for that Plan Year; provided however, the Employer or the Trustee shall not transfer any amounts attributable to earnings, and the Trustee shall not transfer an amount of Compensation Deferrals that exceeds the limit with respect to elective deferrals under Code section 402(g) in effect for the taxable year for which such transfer occurs.

 

6



 

ARTICLE 4

ALLOCATION OF FUNDS

 

4.1            INVESTMENT AUTHORITY OVER ACCOUNT .

 

(a)            Participant Direction .  If elected in the Agreement, each Participant shall have the right to direct the Employer as to how amounts in his or her Compensation Deferral Account and/or Employer Contribution Credit Account (as applicable) shall be deemed to be invested.

 

(b)            Employer Direction . If elected in the Agreement, the Employer (or its designee) shall have the right to direct how amounts in a Participant’s Compensation Deferral Account and/or Employer Contribution Credit Account (as applicable) shall be deemed to be invested.

 

(c)            Update on Accounts to Reflect Investment Performance .  On a daily basis, a Participant’s Account will be credited or debited to reflect the Participant’s deemed pro rata portion of the value of each deemed investment position maintained under the Plan.

 

4.2            ACCOUNTING FOR DISTRIBUTIONS .  As of the date of any distribution under this Plan, the distribution made to the Participant or his or her Beneficiary or Beneficiaries shall be charged to such Participant’s Account.  The amount of the distribution shall be charged on a pro rata basis against the investments in which the Participant’s Account is deemed to be invested (or shall be charged in any other manner acceptable to the Employer and directed by the person or entity with investment authority over the Account).

 

The fact that an allocation has been made will not operate to vest in any Participant any right, title or interest in any benefit under the Plan.  Vesting shall occur only as provided in Article 3 and in the Agreement.

 

4.3            SEPARATE ACCOUNTS .  A separate bookkeeping account under the Plan shall be established and maintained by the Employer to reflect the Account for each Participant with bookkeeping sub-accounts to show separately the Participant’s Compensation Deferral Account (if applicable) and the Participant’s Employer Contribution Credit Account (if applicable).  Each sub-account will separately account for the credits and debits described in Article 3.

 

4.4            DEEMED INVESTMENT DIRECTIONS .  Subject to such limitations as may from time to time be required by law, imposed by the Employer, the Trustee (if applicable) or contained elsewhere in the Plan, and subject to such operating rules and procedures as may be imposed from time to time by the Employer, the person or entity having control over the investment of the Account (as determined in the Agreement) will have the right to make the initial investment election by submission of a written form or an electronic form via a web site.  Each person or entity having control over the investment of an Account may give the Employer a direction (in accordance with (a), below) as to how the applicable Plan Account should be deemed to be invested among such categories of deemed investments as may be made available by the Employer under this Plan, which may be unlimited, at the Employer’s sole discretion.  Such direction shall designate the percentage (in any whole percent multiples) of each portion of the Participant’s Plan Accounts which is requested to

 

7



 

be deemed to be invested in such categories of deemed investments, and shall be subject to the following rules:

 

(a)            Any initial or subsequent deemed investment direction shall be in writing, on a form supplied by and filed with the Employer, and/or, as required or permitted by the Employer, shall be by oral designation and/or electronic transmission designation.  A designation shall be effective as of the date following the date the direction is received and accepted by the Employer on which it would be reasonably practicable for the Employer to effect the designation. Generally, any initial or subsequent deemed investment direction shall be effective no later than the second business day after which the investment direction is received.

 

(b)            All amounts credited to the Participant’s Account shall be deemed to be invested in accordance with the then effective deemed investment direction, and as of the effective date of any new deemed investment direction, all or a portion of the Participant’s Account at that date shall be reallocated among the designated deemed investment funds according to the percentages specified in the new deemed investment direction unless and until a subsequent deemed investment direction shall be filed and become effective.  An election concerning deemed investment choices shall continue indefinitely as provided in the Participant’s most recent investment direction form provided by and filed with the Employer.

 

(c)            If the Employer receives an initial or revised deemed investment direction which it deems to be incomplete, unclear or improper, the Participant’s investment direction then in effect shall remain in effect (or, in the case of a deficiency in an initial deemed investment direction, the Participant shall be deemed to have filed no deemed investment direction) until the Participant completes a new investment direction.

 

(d)            If the Employer possesses (or is deemed to possess as provided in (c), above) at any time directions as to the deemed investment of less than all of a Participant’s Account, the Participant shall be deemed to have directed that the undesignated portion of the Account be deemed to be invested in a fund made available under the Plan as determined by the Employer in its discretion.

 

(e)            Each Participant, as a condition to his or her participation in this Plan, agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Employer and its agents and representatives from any losses or damages of any kind relating to the deemed investment of the Participant’s Account.

 

(f)             Each reference in this Section to a Participant shall be deemed to include, where applicable, a reference to a Beneficiary of a deceased Participant.

 

8



 

4.5            EXPENSES AND TAXES .  Expenses, including Trustee fees (if any), associated with the administration or operation of the Plan shall be paid by the Employer from its general assets unless the Employer elects to charge such expenses against the appropriate Participant’s Account or Participants’ Accounts.  Any taxes allocable to an Account (or portion thereof) maintained under the Plan which are payable prior to the distribution of the Account (or portion thereof), as determined by the Employer, shall be paid by the Employer unless the Employer elects to charge such taxes against the appropriate Participant’s Account or Participants’ Accounts.

 

ARTICLE 5

ENTITLEMENT TO BENEFITS

 

5.1            PAYMENT DATES .  This Section shall apply only as elected by the Employer in the Agreement.

 

At the earlier of the time the Participant makes his or her initial Compensation Deferral election or the time the Participant first has a legally binding right to Employer Contribution Credits, a Participant shall elect to receive payment of his or her vested Account, which payment will be valued and paid according to the provisions of Article 6: (i) in the calendar year following the Participant’s Separation from Service with the Employer; (ii) on a fixed payment date or dates (the “Fixed Payment Date(s)”); (iii) at the earlier of the preceding event or date(s); or (iv) at the earlier of ninety (90) days after a Change in Control and one or more of the preceding events or date(s).

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, if and when the Employer becomes a corporation whose stock is publicly traded on an established securities market or otherwise, any Participant who is a Specified Employee and who incurs a Separation from Service with the Employer shall not be entitled to receive any portion of his or her vested Account under this Section prior to the date which is at least six (6) months after the date or his or her Separation from Service (or, if earlier, his or her death).

 

Any Fixed Payment Date elected by a Participant must be a date no earlier than the January 1 of the third calendar year after the calendar year in which the earliest Compensation Deferrals and/or Employer Contribution Credits subject to the Fixed Payment Date are to be made by or on behalf of the Participant (or, if applicable, the January 1 of the third calendar year in which a new Compensation Deferral and/or Employer Contribution Credit is made after the Participant has received a distribution of his or her previously vested Account).  By way of example, an Eligible Employee who enrolls as a Participant in the Plan in November 2006 and who elects to defer Compensation to be earned during 2007 may elect at that time as his or her initial Fixed Payment Date any date which is no earlier than January 1, 2010, in which case the Participant’s vested Plan Account as of December 31, 2009 (including his or her 2007, 2008 and 2009 Compensation Deferrals and/or Employer Contribution Credits, and any earnings on those amounts) shall be paid on January 1, 2010.

 

If permitted by the Employer in the Agreement, any Fixed Payment Date may be delayed, to a later Fixed Payment Date, so long as any election to delay the date is made by the Participant at least twelve (12) months prior to the date on which the distribution is to be made and

 

9



 

such delay is at least five (5) full calendar years in length.  Such Fixed Payment Date may not be accelerated, except as provided in the remaining Sections of this Article.  Any election to change the Fixed Payment Date shall not take effect for twelve (12) months after the date on which the election is made.

 

Notwithstanding the preceding, to the extent permitted under Code section 409A and by the Employer, the Participant may elect the timing of distributions during (i) 2007 (except that a Participant cannot in 2007 change payment elections with respect to payments that the Participant would otherwise receive in 2007, or in 2007 make an election that causes post-2007 scheduled payments to be made in 2007) or (ii) 2008 (except that a Participant cannot in 2008 change payment elections with respect to payments that the Participant would otherwise receive in 2008, or in 2008 make an election that causes post-2008 scheduled payments to be made in 2008), and such election shall not be treated as a change in the form and timing of payment or an acceleration of payment.

 

5.2            UNFORESEEABLE EMERGENCY DISTRIBUTIONS .  If permitted by the Employer in the Agreement, in the event the Participant incurs an unforeseeable emergency, as defined below, the Participant may apply to the Employer for the distribution of all or any part of his or her Account attributable to Compensation Deferrals and/or fully vested Employer Contribution Credits. The Employer shall consider the circumstances of each such case, and the best interests of the Participant and his or her family, and shall have the right, in its sole discretion, if applicable, to allow such distribution, or, if applicable, to direct a distribution of part of the amount requested, or to refuse to allow any distribution; provided, however, that such distribution shall be permitted solely to the extent permitted under Code section 409A. Upon a finding of unforeseeable emergency, the Employer shall direct that the appropriate distribution is made to the Participant with respect to the Participant’s vested Account in a lump sum payment.  In no event shall the aggregate amount of the distribution exceed either the full value of the Participant’s vested Account or the amount determined by the Employer to be necessary to satisfy the unforeseeable emergency plus amounts necessary to pay taxes reasonably anticipated as a result of the distribution, after taking into account the extent to which the hardship is or may be relieved through reimbursement or compensation by insurance or otherwise or by liquidation of the Participant’s assets (to the extent the liquidation of assets would not itself cause severe financial hardship), or by cessation of deferrals under the Plan.  For purposes of this Section, the value of the Participant’s vested Account shall be determined as of the date of the distribution.

 

For purposes of this Section, “unforeseeable emergency” means (a) a severe financial hardship to the Participant resulting from an illness or accident of the Participant, the Participant’s spouse, beneficiary or a dependent (as defined in Code section 152(a)) of the Participant, (b) loss of the Participant’s property due to casualty, or (c) other similar extraordinary and unforeseeable circumstances arising as a result of events beyond the control of the Participant, each as determined to exist by the Employer.  A distribution may be made under this Section only with the consent of the Employer.

 

5.3            DEATH, DISABILITY .  Upon the Participant’s death or Disability, the Participant’s vested Account shall be valued and paid to the Participant or the Participant’s designated Beneficiary(ies), as applicable, as provided in Article 6.

 

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5.4            FORFEITURES .  The vested portion of a Participant’s Plan Account shall be payable as provided in this Article.  The unvested portion of such Plan Account shall be forfeited and allocated in the manner described below.  Forfeitures of Employer Contribution Credits may be used first to pay any expenses payable by the Trust (if any) for the Plan Year and then shall be used to reduce the Employer Contribution Credits, if any, for the Plan Year (or shall be returned to the Employer if future Employer Contributions equal to the amount of the forfeitures are not anticipated).

 

ARTICLE 6

DISTRIBUTION OF BENEFITS

 

6.1            AMOUNT .  A Participant (or his or her Beneficiary) shall be entitled to receive a distribution (or commencement of distributions) in an aggregate amount equal to the Participant’s vested Account.  If a Trust is elected under the Agreement, any payment due under the terms of the Plan from the Trust which is not paid by the Trust for any reason will be paid by the Employer from its general assets.

 

6.2            METHOD OF PAYMENT .

 

(a)            Cash Payments . All payments under the Plan shall be made in cash.

 

(b)            Timing and Manner of Payment .  Except as otherwise provided in this Plan, on the date or dates determined in accordance with Article 5, an aggregate amount equal to the Participant’s vested Account will be paid by the Trust or the Employer, as provided in Section 6.1 (and as elected in the Agreement), in (i) a lump sum, or (ii) in up to ten annual installments (adjusted for gains and losses), as selected by the Participant at the time he or she makes his or her initial Compensation Deferral election or the time the Participant first has a legally binding right to Employer Contribution Credits.  If a Participant fails to designate properly the manner of payment of the Participant’s benefit under the Plan, the Participant will be deemed to have elected a lump sum payment.  If a Participant fails to designate properly the timing of payment of the Participant’s benefit under the Plan, the Participant will be deemed to have elected payment of his or her vested Account ninety (90) days following Separation from Service (subject to the six month delay rule described in Section 5.1).

 

Subject to Section 6.3 and if elected by the Employer in the Agreement, the Participant may change his or her above-described timing and manner of payment elections (or deemed elections) by submitting a new Election Form to the Employer, provided that any such Election Form is submitted at least twelve (12) months prior to the date on which the distribution is to be made (or commence) and delays the distribution (or commencement of distributions) date at least five (5) full calendar years from the previously scheduled distribution date.  Any such election will not take effect for 12 months after it is made.

 

Notwithstanding the preceding, to the extent permitted under Code section 409A and by the Employer, the Participant may select the form of payment during (i) 2007 (except that a

 

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Participant cannot in 2007 change payment elections with respect to payments that the Participant would otherwise receive in 2007, or in 2007 make an election that causes post-2007 scheduled payments to be made in 2007) or (ii) 2008 (except that a Participant cannot in 2008 change payment elections with respect to payments that the Participant would otherwise receive in 2008, or in 2008 make an election that causes post-2008 scheduled payments to be made in 2008), and such election shall not be treated as a change in the form and timing of payment or an acceleration of payment.

 

If the whole or any part of a payment under this Plan is to be in installments, the total to be so paid shall continue to be deemed to be invested pursuant to Article 4 under such procedures as the Employer may establish, in which case any deemed income, gain, loss or expense or tax allocable thereto (as determined by the Employer, in its discretion) shall be reflected in the installment payments, using such method for the calculation of the installments as the Employer shall reasonably determine.

 

6.3            ACCELERATIONS .  Notwithstanding anything in the Plan to the contrary, no change submitted on a Participant’s election form shall be accepted by the Employer if the change accelerates the date on which distributions shall be made to the Participant (except as otherwise permitted by Code section 409A) and the Employer shall deny any change made to an election if the Employer determines that the change violates the requirement under Code section 409A that the first payment with respect to which such election is made be deferred for a period of not less than five years from the date such payment would otherwise have been made.

 

Notwithstanding the preceding, the Employer, in its discretion (without any direct or indirect election on the part of any Participant), may accelerate a distribution under the Plan to the extent permitted under Code section 409A (e.g., Treas. Reg. 1.409A-3(j)(4)), including, but not limited to, making payments necessary to comply with a domestic relations order, payments necessary to comply with certain conflict of interest rules, and certain de minimis payments related to the participant’s termination of his or her interest in the plan.

 

6.4            DEATH OR DISABILITY BENEFITS .  If a Participant dies or becomes Disabled before incurring a Separation from Service and before the commencement of payments to the Participant under this Plan, the entire value of the Participant’s vested Account shall be paid ninety (90) days following the Participant’s death or Disability, as applicable, in a lump sum, to the Participant or to the person or persons designated in accordance with Section 7.1, as applicable.

 

Upon the death or Disability of a Participant after payments under this Plan have begun but before he or she has received all payments to which he or she is entitled under the Plan, the remaining benefit payments shall be paid ninety (90) days following the Participant’s death or Disability, as applicable, in a lump sum, to the Participant or the person or persons designated in accordance with Section 7.1, as applicable.

 

6.5            DELAYS .  If the Employer reasonably anticipates that any payment scheduled to be made under this Plan would jeopardize the ability of the Employer to continue as a going concern if paid as scheduled, then the Employer may defer that payment, provided the Employer treats payments to all similarly situated Participants on a reasonably consistent basis.  In addition, the

 

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Employer may, in its discretion, delay a payment upon such other events and conditions as the IRS may prescribe, provided the Employer treats payments to all similarly situated Participants on a reasonably consistent basis.  Any amounts deferred pursuant to this Section shall continue to be credited or debited on the books of the Employer with additional amounts in accordance with Article 4 above.  The amounts so deferred and amounts credited or debited thereon shall be distributed to the Participant or his or her Beneficiary (in the event of the Participant’s death) at the earliest possible date on which the Employer reasonably anticipates that such violation or material harm would be avoided or as otherwise prescribed by the IRS.

 

6.6            PAYMENT OF BENEFITS .  Any payment made under this Article 6 shall be made no later than the later of (i) the last day of the calendar year in which the payment event occurs, or, if later, the 15th day of the third calendar month following the date of the payment event, or (ii) the last day of such other, extended period as the IRS may prescribe, such as in the case of disputed payments or refusals to pay, provided the conditions of such extension have been satisfied.

 

ARTICLE 7

BENEFICIARIES; PARTICIPANT DATA

 

7.1            DESIGNATION OF BENEFICIARIES .  Each Participant from time to time may designate any person or persons (who may be named contingently or successively) to receive such benefits as may be payable under the Plan upon or after the Participant’s death, and such designation may be changed from time to time by the Participant by filing a new designation.  Each designation will revoke all prior designations by the same Participant, shall be in a form prescribed by the Employer, and will be effective only when filed in writing with the Employer during the Participant’s lifetime.

 

In the absence of a valid Beneficiary designation, or if, at the time any benefit payment is due to a Beneficiary, there is no living Beneficiary validly named by the Participant, the Employer shall pay any such benefit payment to the Participant’s spouse, if then living, but otherwise to the Participant’s then living descendants, if any, per stirpes, but, if none, to the Participant’s estate.  In determining the existence or identity of anyone entitled to a death benefit payment, the Employer may rely conclusively upon information supplied by the Participant’s personal representative, executor or administrator.  If a question arises as to the existence or identity of anyone entitled to receive a benefit payment as aforesaid, or if a dispute arises with respect to any such payment, then, notwithstanding the foregoing, the Employer, in its sole discretion, may distribute or direct the Trustee (if any) to distribute such payment to the Participant’s estate without liability for any tax or other consequences which might flow therefrom, or may take such other action as the Employer deems to be appropriate.

 

7.2            INFORMATION TO BE FURNISHED BY PARTICIPANTS AND BENEFICIARIES; INABILITY TO LOCATE PARTICIPANTS OR BENEFICIARIES .  Any communication, statement or notice addressed to a Participant or to a Beneficiary at his or her last post office address as shown on the Employer’s records shall be binding on the Participant or Beneficiary for all purposes of the Plan.  Neither the Trustee nor the Employer shall be obliged to

 

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search for any Participant or Beneficiary beyond the sending of a registered letter to the last known address.  If the Employer notifies any Participant or Beneficiary that he or she is entitled to an amount under the Plan and the Participant or Beneficiary fails to claim the amount or make his or her location known to the Employer within ninety (90) days of the latest date upon which the payment could have been timely made in accordance with the terms of the Plan and Code section 409A (unless, if not paid, the Participant or Beneficiary takes further enforcement measures within one hundred eighty (180) days after such latest date) then, except as otherwise required by law, the amount payable shall be deemed to be a forfeiture.  If a benefit payable to an unlocated Participant or Beneficiary is subject to escheat pursuant to applicable State law, neither the Trustee nor the Employer shall be liable to any person for any payment made in accordance with that law.

 

ARTICLE 8

ADMINISTRATION

 

8.1                                  ADMINISTRATIVE AUTHORITY .  Except as otherwise specifically provided herein, the Employer shall be the Plan administrator (the “Plan Administrator”) and shall have the sole responsibility for and the sole control of the operation and administration of the Plan, and shall have the power and authority to take all action and to make all decisions and interpretations which may be necessary or appropriate in order to administer and operate the Plan, including, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the power, duty and responsibility to:

 

(a)                                   Resolve and determine all disputes or questions arising under the Plan, and to remedy any ambiguities, inconsistencies or omissions in the Plan.

 

(b)                                  Adopt such rules of procedure and regulations as in its opinion may be necessary for the proper and efficient administration of the Plan and as are consistent with the Plan.

 

(c)                                   Implement the Plan in accordance with its terms and the rules and regulations adopted as above.

 

(d)                                  Make determinations with respect to the eligibility of any Eligible Employee as a Participant and make determinations concerning the crediting of Plan Accounts.

 

(e)                                   Appoint any persons or firms, or otherwise act to secure specialized advice or assistance, as it deems necessary or desirable in connection with the administration and operation of the Plan, and the Employer shall be entitled to rely conclusively upon, and shall be fully protected in any action or omission taken by it in good faith reliance upon, the advice or opinion of such firms or persons.  The Employer shall have the power and authority to delegate from time to time by written instrument all or any part of its duties, powers or responsibilities under the Plan, both ministerial and discretionary, as it deems appropriate, to any person or committee, and in the same manner to revoke any such delegation of duties, powers or responsibilities.  Any action of such person or committee in the exercise of such delegated duties, powers or responsibilities shall have the same force and effect for all purposes under this Plan as if such action had been taken by the Employer.  Further, the Employer may authorize one or more persons to execute any certificate or document on behalf of the Employer, in which event any person notified by the Employer of such authorization shall be entitled

 

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to accept and conclusively rely upon any such certificate or document executed by such person as representing action by the Employer until such notified person shall have been notified of the revocation of such authority.

 

8.2                                  LITIGATION .  Except as may be otherwise required by law, in any action or judicial proceeding affecting the Plan, no Participant or Beneficiary shall be entitled to any notice or service of process, and any final judgment entered in such action shall be binding on all persons interested in, or claiming under, the Plan.

 

8.3                                  CLAIMS PROCEDURE .  This Section 8.3 is based on final regulations issued by the Department of Labor and published in the Federal Register on November 21, 2000 and codified at section 2560.503-1 of the Department of Labor Regulations.  If any provision of this Section 8.3 conflicts with the requirements of those regulations, the requirements of those regulations will prevail.

 

(a)                                   Initial Claim .  A Participant or Beneficiary who believes he or she is entitled to any Benefit (a “Claimant”) under this Plan may file a claim with the Plan Administrator.  The Plan Administrator will review the claim itself or appoint another individual or entity to review the claim.

 

(i)                                      Benefit Claims that do not Require a Determination of Disability .  If the claim is for a benefit other than a disability benefit, the Claimant will be notified within ninety (90) days after the claim is filed whether the claim is allowed or denied, unless the Claimant receives written notice from the Plan Administrator or appointee of the Plan Administrator before the end of the ninety (90) day period stating that special circumstances require an extension of the time for decision, such extension not to extend beyond the day which is one hundred eighty (180) days after the day the claim is filed.

 

(ii)                                   Disability Benefit Claims .  In the case of a benefits claim that requires a determination by the Plan Administrator of a Participant’s disability status, the Plan Administrator will notify the Claimant of the Plan’s adverse benefit determination within a reasonable period of time, but not later than forty-five (45) days after receipt of the claim.  If, due to matters beyond the control of the Plan, the Plan Administrator needs additional time to process a claim, the Claimant will be notified, within forty-five (45) days after the Plan Administrator receives the claim, of those circumstances and of when the Plan Administrator expects to make its decision but not beyond seventy-five (75) days.  If, prior to the end of the extension period, due to matters beyond the control of the Plan, a decision cannot be rendered within that extension period, the period for making the determination may be extended for up to one hundred five (105) days, provided that the Plan Administrator notifies the Claimant of the circumstances requiring the extension and the date as of which the Plan expects to render a decision.  The extension notice will specifically explain the standards on which entitlement to a disability benefit is based, the unresolved issues that prevent a decision on the claim and the additional information needed from the Claimant to resolve those issues, and the Claimant will be afforded at least forty-five (45) days within which to provide the specified information.

 

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(iii)                                Manner and Content of Denial of Initial Claims .  If the Plan Administrator denies a claim, it must provide to the Claimant, in writing or by electronic communication:

 

(A)                               The specific reasons for the denial;

 

(B)                                 A reference to the Plan provision or insurance contract provision upon which the denial is based;

 

(C)                                 A description of any additional information or material that the Claimant must provide in order to perfect the claim;

 

(D)                                An explanation of why such additional material or information is necessary;

 

(E)                                  Notice that the Claimant has a right to request a review of the claim denial and information on the steps to be taken if the Claimant wishes to request a review of the claim denial; and

 

(F)                                  A statement of the participant’s right to bring a civil action under ERISA section 502(a) following a denial on review of the initial denial.

 

In addition, in the case of a denial of disability benefits on the basis of the Plan Administrator’s independent determination of the Participant’s disability status, the Plan Administrator will provide a copy of any rule, guideline, protocol, or other similar criterion relied upon in making the adverse determination (or a statement that the same will be provided upon request by the Claimant and without charge).

 

(b)                                  Review Procedures .

 

(i)                                      Benefit Claims that do not Require a Determination of Disability .  Except for claims requiring an independent determination of a Participant’s disability status, a request for review of a denied claim must be made in writing to the Plan Administrator within sixty (60) days after receiving notice of denial.  The decision upon review will be made within sixty (60) days after the Plan Administrator’s receipt of a request for review, unless special circumstances require an extension of time for processing, in which case a decision will be rendered not later than one hundred twenty (120) days after receipt of a request for review.  A notice of such an extension must be provided to the Claimant within the initial sixty (60) day period and must explain the special circumstances and provide an expected date of decision.

 

The reviewer will afford the Claimant an opportunity to review and receive, without charge, all relevant documents, information and records and to submit issues and comments in writing to the Plan Administrator.  The reviewer will take into account all comments, documents, records and other information submitted by the Claimant relating to the claim regardless of whether the information was submitted or considered in the initial benefit determination.

 

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(ii)                                   Disability Benefit Claims .  In addition to having the right to review documents and submit comments as described in (i) above, a Claimant whose claim for disability benefits requires an independent determination by the Plan Administrator of the Participant’s disability status has at least one hundred eighty (180) days following receipt of a notification of an adverse benefit determination within which to request a review of the initial determination.  In such cases, the review will meet the following requirements:

 

(A)                               The Plan will provide a review that does not afford deference to the initial adverse benefit determination and that is conducted by an appropriate named fiduciary of the Plan who did not make the initial determination that is the subject of the appeal, nor is a subordinate of the individual who made the determination.

 

(B)                                 The appropriate named fiduciary of the Plan will consult with a health care professional who has appropriate training and experience in the field of medicine involved in the medical judgment before making a decision on review of any adverse initial determination based in whole or in part on a medical judgment.  The professional engaged for purposes of a consultation in the preceding sentence will not be an individual who was consulted in connection with the initial determination that is the subject of the appeal or the subordinate of any such individual.

 

(C)                                 The Plan will identify to the Claimant the medical or vocational experts whose advice was obtained on behalf of the Plan in connection with the review, without regard to whether the advice was relied upon in making the benefit review determination.

 

(D)                                The decision on review will be made within forty-five (45) days after the Plan Administrator’s receipt of a request for review, unless special circumstances require an extension of time for processing, in which case a decision will be rendered not later than ninety (90) days after receipt of a request for review.  A notice of such an extension must be provided to the Claimant within the initial forty-five (45) day period and must explain the special circumstances and provide an expected date of decision.

 

(iii)                                Manner and Content of Notice of Decision on Review .  Upon completion of its review of an adverse initial claim determination, the Plan Administrator will give the Claimant, in writing or by electronic notification, a notice containing:

 

(A)                               its decision;

 

(B)                                 the specific reasons for the decision;

 

(C)                                 the relevant Plan provisions or insurance contract provisions on which its decision is based;

 

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(D)                                a statement that the Claimant is entitled to receive, upon request and without charge, reasonable access to, and copies of, all documents, records and other information in the Plan’s files which is relevant to the Claimant’s claim for benefits;

 

(E)                                  a statement describing the Claimant’s right to bring an action for judicial review under ERISA section 502(a); and

 

(F)                                  if an internal rule, guideline, protocol or other similar criterion was relied upon in making the adverse determination on review, a statement that a copy of the rule, guideline, protocol or other similar criterion will be provided without charge to the Claimant upon request.

 

(c)                                   Calculation of Time Periods .  For purposes of the time periods specified in this Section, the period of time during which a benefit determination is required to be made begins at the time a claim is filed in accordance with the Plan procedures without regard to whether all the information necessary to make a decision accompanies the claim.  If a period of time is extended due to a Claimant’s failure to submit all information necessary, the period for making the determination shall be tolled from the date the notification is sent to the Claimant until the date the Claimant responds.

 

(d)                                  Failure of Plan to Follow Procedures .  If the Plan fails to follow the claims procedures required by this Section 8.3, a Claimant shall be deemed to have exhausted the administrative remedies available under the Plan and shall be entitled to pursue any available remedy under ERISA section 502(a) on the basis that the Plan has failed to provide a reasonable claims procedure that would yield a decision on the merits of the claim.

 

(e)                                   Failure of Claimant to Follow Procedures .  A Claimant’s compliance with the foregoing provisions of this Section 8.3 is a mandatory prerequisite to the Claimant’s right to commence any legal action with respect to any claim for benefits under the Plan.

 

ARTICLE 9

AMENDMENT

 

9.1                                  RIGHT TO AMEND .  Subject to Code section 409A, the Employer, by action of its Board, shall have the right to amend the Plan, at any time and with respect to any provisions hereof, and all parties hereto or claiming any interest under this Plan shall be bound by such amendment; provided, however, that no such amendment shall deprive a Participant or a Beneficiary of a benefit amount accrued prior to the date of the amendment.

 

9.2                                  AMENDMENTS TO ENSURE PROPER CHARACTERIZATION OF PLAN .  Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 9.1, the Plan may be amended by the Employer at any time, retroactively if required, in the opinion of the Employer, in order to ensure that the Plan is characterized as “top-hat” plan as described under ERISA sections 201(2), 301(a)(3), and 401(a)(1), to ensure that the Trust that may be established is characterized as a grantor trust as described in Code sections 671 through 679, to conform the Plan to the provisions of Code section 409A and to

 

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conform the Plan and Trust (if any) to the provisions and requirements of any applicable law (including ERISA and the Code).  No such amendment shall be considered prejudicial to any interest of a Participant or a Beneficiary in the Plan.

 

ARTICLE 10

SUSPENSION OR TERMINATION OF THE PLAN

 

10.1                            EMPLOYER’S RIGHT TO SUSPEND PLAN .  The Employer reserves the right to suspend the operation of the Plan for a fixed or indeterminate period of time, by action of the Board.  In the event of a suspension of the Plan, during the period of the suspension, the Employer shall continue all aspects of the Plan other than allowing further Compensation Deferral elections. Payments of distributions will continue to be made during the period of the suspension in accordance with Articles 5 and 6.

 

10.2                            AUTOMATIC TERMINATION OF PLAN .  The Plan, but not the Trust, automatically shall terminate upon the dissolution of the Employer, or upon a merger into or consolidation with any other corporation or business organization if there is a failure by the surviving corporation or business organization to adopt specifically and agree to continue the Plan.  If the merger or consolidation qualifies as a change in the ownership or effective control of a corporation, or a change in the ownership of a substantial portion of the assets of a corporation as defined in Treas. Reg. 1.409A-3(i)(5), the Plan shall be liquidated upon such a termination in accordance with Treas. Reg. 1.409A-3(j)(4)(ix)(B).  If the Plan is not liquidated, payments of distributions will continue to be made following the termination in accordance with Articles 5 and 6.

 

10.3                            TERMINATION AND LIQUIDATION OF THE PLAN .  The Employer may terminate and liquidate the Plan in connection with a corporate dissolution or approval by a bankruptcy court, certain change in control events, or the termination and liquidation of all plans  that are required to be aggregated, as described under Treas. Reg. 1.409A-3(j)(4)(ix).  Upon the date of termination, the value of the vested Accounts of all affected Participants and Beneficiaries shall be determined.  After deduction of estimated expenses in liquidating and paying Plan benefits, vested Accounts shall be paid to Participants and Beneficiaries in a lump sum distribution in accordance with Treas. Reg. 1.409A-3(j)(4)(ix).

 

ARTICLE 11

THE TRUST

 

11.1                            ESTABLISHMENT OF TRUST .  If elected in the Agreement, the Employer shall establish the Trust with the Trustee pursuant to such terms and conditions as are set forth in the Trust agreement to be entered into between the Employer and the Trustee or the Employer shall cause to be maintained one or more separate subaccounts in an existing Trust maintained with the Trustee with respect to one or more other plans of the Employer, which subaccount or subaccounts represent Participants’ interests in the Plan.  Any such Trust shall be intended to be treated as a “grantor trust” under the Code and the establishment of the Trust or the utilization of any existing Trust for Plan benefits, as applicable, shall not be intended to cause any Participant to realize current income on amounts contributed thereto, and the Trust shall be so interpreted.

 

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ARTICLE 12

MISCELLANEOUS

 

12.1                            LIABILITY OF EMPLOYER; LIMITATIONS ON LIABILITY OF EMPLOYER .  Notwithstanding anything herein that may suggest otherwise, the Employer shall be solely liable for the payment of any benefits due under this Plan.  However, neither the establishment of the Plan nor any modification thereof, nor the creation of any Account under the Plan, nor the payment of any benefits under the Plan shall be construed as giving to any Participant or other person any legal or equitable right against the Employer or any officer or employer thereof except as provided by law or by any Plan provision.  The Employer shall not in any way guarantee any Participant’s Account from loss or depreciation, whether caused by poor investment performance of a deemed investment or the inability to realize upon an investment due to an insolvency affecting an investment vehicle or any other reason.  In no event shall the Employer or any successor, employee, officer, director or stockholder of the Employer, be liable to any person on account of any claim arising by reason of the provisions of the Plan or of any instrument or instruments implementing its provisions, or for the failure of any Participant, Beneficiary or other person to be entitled to any particular tax consequences with respect to the Plan, or any credit or distribution under the Plan.

 

12.2                            CONSTRUCTION .  If any provision of the Plan is held to be illegal or void, such illegality or invalidity shall not affect the remaining provisions of the Plan, but shall be fully severable, and the Plan shall be construed and enforced as if said illegal or invalid provision had never been inserted herein; except to the extent that Code Section 409A requires that this Section be disregarded because it purports to nullify Plan terms that are not in compliance with Code section 409A.  For all purposes of the Plan, where the context admits, the singular shall include the plural, and the plural shall include the singular.  Headings of Articles and Sections herein are inserted only for convenience of reference and are not to be considered in the construction of the Plan.  The laws of the state of the Employer’s principal place of business shall govern, control and determine all questions of law arising with respect to the Plan and the interpretation and validity of its respective provisions, except where those laws are preempted by the laws of the United States.  Participation under the Plan will not give any Participant the right to be retained in the service of the Employer, or any right or claim to any benefit under the Plan unless such right or claim has specifically accrued under the Plan.

 

The Plan is intended to be and at all times shall be interpreted and administered so as to qualify as an unfunded deferred compensation plan, and no provision of the Plan shall be interpreted so as to give any individual any right in any assets of the Employer which is greater than the rights of a general unsecured creditor of the Employer.

 

12.3                            SPENDTHRIFT PROVISION .  No amount payable to a Participant or a Beneficiary under the Plan will, except as otherwise specifically provided by law, be subject in any manner to anticipation, alienation, attachment, garnishment, sale, transfer, assignment (either at law or in equity), levy, execution, pledge, encumbrance, charge or any other legal or equitable process, and any attempt to do so will be void; nor will any benefit be in any manner liable for or subject to the debts, contracts, liabilities, engagements or torts of the person entitled thereto. Further, subject to Code section 409A, (i) the withholding of taxes from Plan benefit payments, (ii) the recovery under

 

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the Plan of overpayments of benefits previously made to a Participant or Beneficiary, (iii) if applicable, the transfer of benefit rights from the Plan to another plan, or (iv) the direct deposit of benefit payments to an account in a banking institution (if not actually part of an arrangement constituting an assignment or alienation) shall not be construed as an assignment or alienation.

 

12.4                            DISTRIBUTION TIMING .  This Section shall take precedence over any other provision of the Plan or this Article 12 to the contrary.  If the timing of any distribution would result in any tax or other penalty (other than ordinarily payable Federal, state or local income or payroll taxes), which tax or penalty can be avoided by payment of the distribution at a later time, then the distribution shall be made on (or as soon as practicable after) the first date on which such distribution can be made without such tax or penalty; except to the extent that Code section 409A requires that this Section 12.4 be disregarded because it purports to nullify Plan terms that are not in compliance with Code section 409A.

 

12.5                            AGGREGATION OF EMPLOYERS .  If the Employer is a member of a controlled group of corporations or a group of trades or business under common control (as described in Code Section 414(b) or (c), but substituting a 50% ownership level for the 80% level set forth in those Code Sections), all members of the group shall be treated as a single Employer for purposes of whether there has occurred a Separation from Service and for any other purposes under the Plan as Code section 409A shall require.  For purposes of Article 10, in the case of a change in control event, the entities to be treated as a single Employer shall be determined immediately following the change in control event.

 

12.6                            AGGREGATION OF PLANS .  If the Employer offers other account balance deferred compensation plans in addition to the Plan, those plans together with the Plan shall be treated as a single plan to the extent required under Code section 409A for purposes of determining whether an Eligible Employee may make a deferral election pursuant to Section 3.1 within thirty (30) days of becoming eligible to participate in the Plan, for purposes of cashing out de minimus amounts pursuant to Section 6.3 and for any other purposes under the Plan as Code section 409A shall require.

 

12.7                            USERRA .  Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, any distribution election provided to a Participant as necessary to satisfy the requirements of the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994, as amended, shall be permissible hereunder.

 

12.8                            TAX WITHHOLDING .  All distributions under the Plan are subject to any applicable tax withholding, as determined by the Employer in its discretion.  The Employer shall have the right to deduct from a Participant’s Compensation that is not being deferred under this Plan any federal, state, local or employment taxes which it deems are required by law to be withheld with respect to any Compensation Deferrals, vested Employer Contribution Credits or Plan distributions.  If necessary, prior to the date a Participant’s Compensation Deferral election becomes irrevocable pursuant to Section 3.1, the Employer may reduce the Participant’s Compensation Deferrals in order to comply with this Section.

 

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[Signature Page; Second Amended & Restated KEMET Corporation Deferred Compensation Plan]

 

KEMET CORPORATION

KEMET ELECTRONICS CORPORATION

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ LARRY MCADAMS

 

By:

/s/ LARRY MCADAMS

 

Larry McAdams

 

Larry McAdams

 

Vice President, Human Resources

 

Vice President, Human Resources

 

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Exhibit 21.1

List of Subsidiaries as of March 31, 2009

KEMET Electronics Corporation

  Delaware

KEMET Services Corporation

  Delaware

KRC Trade Corporation

  Delaware

The Forest Electric Company

  Illinois

KEMET de Mexico, S.A. de C.V. 

  Mexico

KEMET Electronics (Canada) Limited

  Canada

KEMET Electronics, S.A. 

  Switzerland

KEMET Electronics GmbH

  Germany

KEMET Electronics SARL

  France

KEMET Electronics Portugal, S.A. 

  Portugal

KEMET Electronics Asia Pacific Pte Ltd. 

  Singapore

KEMET Electronics Marketing (S) Pte Ltd. 

  Singapore

KEMET Electronics Asia Limited

  Hong Kong

KEMET Electronics Greater China Limited

  Hong Kong

KEMET Electronics (Suzhou) Co., Ltd. 

  People's Republic of China

KEMET Electronics Japan Co., Ltd. 

  Japan

KEMET Electronics Pty Ltd. 

  Australia

KEMET Tantalum Pty Ltd. 

  Australia

Evox Rifa Group Oyj

  Finland

Evox Rifa Oy

  Finland

BHC Components Ltd. 

  United Kingdom

Evox Rifa Pte Ltd. 

  Singapore

Evox Rifa AB

  Sweden

Nantong Evox Rifa Electrolytics Co. Ltd. 

  People's Republic of China

Seoryong Singapore Pte. Ltd. 

  Singapore

Evox Rifa Sdn. Bhd. 

  Malaysia

Dectron AB

  Sweden

P.T. Evox Rifa Indonesia

  Indonesia

Arcotronics Italia S.p.A. 

  Italy

Arcotronics Holding UK Ltd. 

  United Kingdom

Arcotronics Limited

  United Kingdom

Arcotronics Industries S.r.l. 

  Italy

Arcotronics Bauelemente GmbH

  Germany

Shanghai Arcotronics Components & Machineries Co., Ltd. 

  People's Republic of China

Arcotronics America Inc. 

  Oregon

Arcotronics Inc. 

  Delaware

Arcotronics Technologies S.r.l. 

  Italy

Arcotronics Hightech S.r.l. 

  Italy

Arcotronics Bulgaria AD

  Bulgaria



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Exhibit 23.1

The Board of Directors
KEMET Corporation:

        We consent to the incorporation by reference in the registration statements (No. 333-107411, 333-92963, 33-98912 and 333-140943) on Form S-3; and (333-123308, 33-96226 and 333-67849) on Form S-8, of KEMET Corporation of our reports dated June 30, 2009, with respect to the consolidated balance sheets of KEMET Corporation and subsidiaries as of March 31, 2009 and 2008 and the related consolidated statements of operations, stockholders' equity and comprehensive income (loss), and cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended March 31, 2009 and the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting as of March 31, 2009, as included in the annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2009.

        Our report dated June 30, 2009 with respect to the consolidated balance sheets of KEMET Corporation and subsidiaries as of March 31, 2009 and 2008 and the related consolidated statements of operations, stockholders' equity and comprehensive income (loss), and cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended March 31, 2009 refers to other auditors. We did not audit the consolidated financial statements of Arcotronics Italia S.p.A and subsidiaries (Arcotronics Group), a wholly-owned subsidiary, which financial statements reflect total assets constituting approximately 20 percent and 28 percent and total net sales constituting approximately 19 percent and 10 percent in 2009 and 2008 respectively, of the related consolidated totals. Those financial statements were audited by other auditors whose report has been furnished to us, and our opinion, insofar as it relates to the amounts included for Arcotronics Group, is based solely on the report of the other auditors.

        Our report, dated June 30, 2009, with respect to the consolidated balance sheets of KEMET Corporation and subsidiaries as of March 31, 2009 and 2008 and the related consolidated statements of operations, stockholders' equity and comprehensive income (loss), and cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended March 31, 2009 includes; (a) an explanatory paragraph expressing substantial doubt about the Company's ability to continue as a going concern; and (b) explanatory paragraphs relating to the adoption of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards ("SFAS") No. 123(R) Share-Based Payment , SFAS No. 158, Employers' Accounting for Defined Benefit Pension and Other Post-retirement Plans , and Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") Interpretation No. 48, Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes—an interpretation of FASB Statement No. 109 .

        Our report on the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting as of March 31, 2009, dated June 30, 2009 expresses an unqualified opinion on the effectiveness of the Company's internal control over financial reporting. We did not audit the internal control over financial reporting of Arcotronics Group, whose consolidated financial statements reflect total assets and total net sales constituting 20 percent and 19 percent, respectively, of the related consolidated financial statement amounts as of and for the year ended March 31, 2009. Arcotronics Group's internal control over financial reporting was audited by other auditors whose report has been furnished to us, and our opinion, insofar as it relates to Arcotronics Group's internal control over financial reporting, is based solely on the report of the other auditors.

/s/ KPMG LLP

   
KPMG LLP    

Greenville, South Carolina
June 30, 2009

 

 



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Exhibit 23.2

CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

        We consent to the incorporation by reference in Registration Statement Nos. 333-140943, 333-107411, and 333-92963 on Form S-3 and Registration Statement Nos. 333-123308 and 333-67849 on Form S-8 of KEMET Corporation of our reports dated June 29, 2009, relating to the consolidated financial statements of Arcotronics Italia S.p.A. and subsidiaries (the "Company") (which report expressed an unqualified opinion and includes an explanatory paragraph relating to the existence of substantial doubt about the Company's ability to continue as a going concern) and the effectiveness of the Company's internal control over financial reporting appearing in this Annual Report on Form 10-K of KEMET Corporation for the year ended March 31, 2009.

DELOITTE & TOUCHE S.p.A.    

/s/ DELOITTE & TOUCHE S.P.A.

Bologna, Italy
June 29, 2009

 

 



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Exhibit 31.1

I, Per-Olof Loof, certify that:

Date: June 30, 2009

    /s/ PER-OLOF LOOF

Per-Olof Loof
Chief Executive Officer and Director



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Exhibit 31.2

I, William M. Lowe, Jr., certify that:

Date: June 30, 2009

    /s/ WILLIAM M. LOWE, JR.

William M. Lowe, Jr.
Executive Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer



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Exhibit 32.1

CERTIFICATION OF CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER AND CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
PURSUANT TO 18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350 ADOPTED
PURSUANT TO SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002.

        I, Per-Olof Loof, hereby certify pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350 adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 that, to my knowledge:

        The accompanying Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended March 31, 2009, fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended; and

        The information contained in such report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of KEMET Corporation.

Date: June 30, 2009

/s/ PER-OLOF LOOF

Per-Olof Loof
Chief Executive Officer and Director
   

        The foregoing certifications are being furnished solely pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350 and are not being filed as part of this report or as a separate disclosure document.




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Exhibit 32.2

CERTIFICATION OF CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER AND CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
PURSUANT TO 18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350 ADOPTED
PURSUANT TO SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002.

        I, William M. Lowe, Jr., hereby certify pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350 adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 that, to my knowledge:

        The accompanying Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended March 31, 2009, fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended; and

        The information contained in such report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of KEMET Corporation.

Date: June 30, 2009

/s/ WILLIAM M. LOWE, JR.

William M. Lowe, Jr.
Executive Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer
   

        The foregoing certifications are being furnished solely pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350 and are not being filed as part of this report or as a separate disclosure document.




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