Table of Contents

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON D.C. 20549
FORM 10-Q
(Mark One)
 
 
x

 

Quarterly Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
 
 
 
For the Quarterly Period Ended June 30, 2015

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 001-37427
HORIZON GLOBAL CORPORATION
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
 
 
 
Delaware
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
 
47-3574483
(IRS Employer
Identification No.)
39400 Woodward Avenue, Suite 100
Bloomfield Hills, Michigan 48304
(Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)
(248) 593-8820
(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)
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  o     No  x .
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 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). Yes  x     No  o .
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See definitions of "large accelerated filer," "accelerated filer," and "smaller reporting company" in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):
Large accelerated filer  o
 
Accelerated filer  o
 
Non-accelerated filer  x
 
Smaller reporting company  o
 
 
 
 
(Do not check if a
smaller reporting company)
 
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes  o     No  x
As of August 6, 2015 , the number of outstanding shares of the Registrant's common stock, par value $0.01 per share, was 18,062,027 shares.


Table of Contents

Horizon Global Corporation
Index
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


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Table of Contents

Forward-Looking Statements
This report may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 about our financial condition, results of operations and business. These forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking words, such as “may,” “could,” “should,” “estimate,” “project,” “forecast,” “intend,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “target,” “plan” or other comparable words, or by discussions of strategy that may involve risks and uncertainties.
These forward-looking statements are subject to numerous assumptions, risks and uncertainties which could materially affect our business, financial condition or future results including, but not limited to, risks and uncertainties with respect to: the Company's leverage; liabilities imposed by the Company's debt instruments; market demand; competitive factors; supply constraints; material and energy costs; technology factors; litigation; government and regulatory actions; the Company's accounting policies; future trends; general economic and currency conditions; various conditions specific to the Company's business and industry; and other risks that are discussed in "Risk Factors," in the Company's Registration Statement on Form S-1 (Registration No. 333-203138), (the "Registration Statement"). The risks described in our Registration Statement and elsewhere in this report are not the only risks facing our Company. Additional risks and uncertainties not currently known to us or that we currently deemed to be immaterial also may materially adversely affect our business, financial position and results of operations or cash flows.
The cautionary statements set forth above should be considered in connection with any subsequent written or oral forward-looking statements that we or persons acting on our behalf may issue. We caution readers not to place undo reliance on the statements, which speak only as of the date of this report. We do not undertake any obligation to review or confirm analysts' expectations or estimates or to release publicly any revisions to any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this report or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.
We disclose important factors that could cause our actual results to differ materially from our expectations implied by our forward-looking statements under Part I, Item 2, " Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, " and elsewhere in this report. These cautionary statements qualify all forward-looking statements attributed to us or persons acting on our behalf. When we indicate that an event, condition or circumstance could or would have an adverse effect on us, we mean to include effects upon our business, financial and other conditions, results of operations, prospects and ability to service our debt.


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PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1 .  Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
Horizon Global Corporation
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
(Unaudited—dollars in thousands)


 
June 30,
2015

December 31,
2014
Assets
 

 

Current assets:
 

 

Cash and cash equivalents
 
$
17,050


$
5,720

Receivables, net of reserves of approximately $2.8 million and $3.2 million as of June 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, respectively
 
92,750


63,840

Inventories
 
125,750


123,530

Deferred income taxes
 
4,840


4,840

Prepaid expenses and other current assets
 
6,520


5,690

Total current assets
 
246,910

 
203,620

Property and equipment, net
 
48,870


55,180

Goodwill
 
5,630


6,580

Other intangibles, net
 
61,400


66,510

Other assets
 
12,890


11,940

Total assets
 
$
375,700

 
$
343,830

Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity
 

 

Current liabilities:
 

 

Current maturities, long-term debt
 
$
17,940


$
460

Accounts payable
 
81,830


81,980

Accrued liabilities
 
44,380


37,940

Total current liabilities
 
144,150

 
120,380

Long-term debt
 
192,430


300

Deferred income taxes
 
9,220


8,970

Other long-term liabilities
 
27,900


25,990

Total liabilities
 
373,700

 
155,640

Commitments and contingent liabilities
 

 

Preferred stock, $0.01 par: Authorized 100,000,000 shares;
Issued and outstanding: None
 

 

Common stock, $0.01 par: Authorized 400,000,000 shares;
Issued and outstanding: 18,062,027 shares at June 30, 2015 and no shares at December 31, 2014
 
180

 

Parent company investment
 

 
180,800

Accumulated deficit
 
(6,530
)
 

Accumulated other comprehensive income
 
8,350

 
7,390

Total shareholders' equity
 
2,000

 
188,190

Total liabilities and shareholders' equity
 
$
375,700

 
$
343,830



The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.

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Horizon Global Corporation
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income
(Unaudited—dollars in thousands, except for per share amounts)

 
 
Three months ended
June 30,
 
Six months ended
June 30,
 
 
2015
 
2014
 
2015
 
2014
Net sales
 
$
158,540

 
$
178,260

 
$
300,900

 
$
326,350

Cost of sales
 
(120,790
)
 
(131,600
)
 
(227,850
)
 
(244,030
)
Gross profit
 
37,750

 
46,660

 
73,050

 
82,320

Selling, general and administrative expenses
 
(30,550
)
 
(31,610
)
 
(62,190
)
 
(63,020
)
Net loss on dispositions of property and equipment
 
(1,840
)
 
(60
)
 
(1,790
)
 
(70
)
Operating profit
 
5,360

 
14,990

 
9,070

 
19,230

Other expense, net:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest expense
 
(120
)
 
(170
)
 
(240
)
 
(360
)
Other expense, net
 
(720
)
 
(720
)
 
(1,970
)
 
(1,480
)
Other expense, net
 
(840
)
 
(890
)
 
(2,210
)
 
(1,840
)
Income before income tax expense
 
4,520

 
14,100

 
6,860

 
17,390

Income tax expense
 
(2,320
)
 
(3,280
)
 
(3,180
)
 
(4,190
)
Net income
 
$
2,200

 
$
10,820

 
$
3,680

 
$
13,200

Net income per share:
 
 
 
 
 

 

Basic
 
$
0.12

 
$
0.60

 
$
0.20

 
$
0.73

Diluted
 
$
0.12

 
$
0.60

 
$
0.20

 
$
0.73

Weighted average common shares outstanding:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Basic
 
18,062,027

 
18,062,027

 
18,062,027

 
18,062,027

Diluted
 
18,134,475

 
18,113,080

 
18,134,475

 
18,113,080



The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.

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Horizon Global Corporation
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income
(Unaudited—dollars in thousands)

 
 
Three months ended
June 30,
 
Six months ended
June 30,
 
 
2015
 
2014
 
2015
 
2014
Net income
 
$
2,200

 
$
10,820

 
$
3,680

 
$
13,200

Other comprehensive income (net of tax):
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Foreign currency translation
 
1,150

 
1,110

 
(4,090
)
 
2,950

Derivative instruments (Note 8)
 
(280
)
 
(60
)
 
(180
)
 
270

Total other comprehensive income
 
870

 
1,050

 
(4,270
)
 
3,220

Total comprehensive income
 
$
3,070

 
$
11,870

 
$
(590
)
 
$
16,420



The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

5

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Horizon Global Corporation
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(Unaudited—dollars in thousands)
 
 
Six months ended
June 30,
 
 
2015
 
2014
Cash Flows from Operating Activities:
 
 
 
 
Net income
 
$
3,680

 
$
13,200

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash used for operating activities:
 

 

Loss on dispositions of property and equipment
 
1,790

 
70

Depreciation
 
5,080

 
5,930

Amortization of intangible assets
 
3,720

 
3,810

Deferred income taxes
 
980

 
510

Non-cash compensation expense
 
1,270

 
1,570

Increase in receivables
 
(31,110
)
 
(41,830
)
(Increase) decrease in inventories
 
(4,140
)
 
11,610

Increase in prepaid expenses and other assets
 
(1,630
)
 
(110
)
Increase (decrease) in accounts payable and accrued liabilities
 
12,800

 
(13,430
)
Other, net
 
670

 
420

Net cash used for operating activities
 
(6,890
)
 
(18,250
)
Cash Flows from Investing Activities:
 

 

Capital expenditures
 
(4,140
)
 
(7,550
)
Net proceeds from disposition of property and equipment
 
1,470

 
200

Net cash used for investing activities
 
(2,670
)
 
(7,350
)
Cash Flows from Financing Activities:
 

 

Proceeds from borrowings on credit facilities
 
73,100

 
89,730

Repayments of borrowings on credit facilities
 
(65,410
)
 
(86,610
)
Proceeds from Term B Loan, net of issuance costs
 
192,970

 

Proceeds from ABL Revolving Debt, net of issuance costs
 
7,720

 

Net transfers from former parent
 
27,630

 
25,660

Cash dividend paid to former parent
 
(214,500
)
 

Net cash provided by financing activities
 
21,510

 
28,780

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash
 
(620
)
 
300

Cash and Cash Equivalents:
 

 

Increase for the period
 
11,330

 
3,480

At beginning of period
 
5,720

 
7,880

At end of period
 
$
17,050

 
$
11,360

Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:
 

 

Cash paid for interest
 
$
220

 
$
310



The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.

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Horizon Global Corporation
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Shareholders' Equity
Six Months Ended June 30, 2015
(Unaudited—dollars in thousands)

 
 
Common
Stock
 
Parent Company Investment
 
Accumulated
Deficit
 
Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
Income
 
Total
Balances, December 31, 2014
 
$

 
$
180,800

 
$

 
$
7,390

 
$
188,190

Net income
 

 
3,680

 

 

 
3,680

Other comprehensive income
 

 

 

 
(4,270
)
 
(4,270
)
Issuance of common stock
 
180

 
(180
)
 

 

 

Net transfers from former parent
 

 
23,670

 

 
5,230

 
28,900

Cash dividend paid to former parent
 

 
(214,500
)
 

 

 
(214,500
)
Reclassification of net parent investment to accumulated deficit
 

 
6,530

 
(6,530
)
 

 

Balances, June 30, 2015
 
$
180

 
$

 
$
(6,530
)
 
$
8,350

 
$
2,000



The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.


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Table of Contents

HORIZON GLOBAL CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(unaudited)


1. Basis of Presentation
On June 30, 2015, Horizon Global Corporation ("Horizon," "Horizon Global" or the "Company") became an independent company as a result of the distribution by TriMas Corporation ("TriMas", or "former parent") of 100 percent of the outstanding common shares of Horizon Global to TriMas shareholders (the "spin-off"). Each TriMas shareholder of record as of the close of business on June 25, 2015 ("Record Date") received two Horizon Global common shares for every five TriMas common shares held as of the Record Date. The spin-off was completed on June 30, 2015 and was structured to be tax-free to both TriMas and Horizon Global shareholders.
On July 1, 2015, Horizon Global common shares began regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol "HZN". Pursuant to the separation and distribution agreement with TriMas, on June 30, 2015, the Company paid a cash dividend to TriMas of $214.5 million .
Horizon qualifies as an "emerging growth company" as defined in the Jumpstart our Business Startups Act of 2012 ("JOBS Act"), and, therefore, will be subject to reduced reporting requirements. The JOBS Act also provides that an "emerging growth company" can utilize the extended transition period provided in Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act of 1933 (the "Securities Act"), for complying with new or revised accounting standards. However, the Company has chosen to "opt out" of such extended transition period, and, as a result, the Company will comply with new or revised accounting standards on the relevant dates on which adoption of such standards is required for companies that are not "emerging growth companies." Section 107 of the JOBS Act provides that the Company's decision to opt out of the extended transition period for complying with new or revised accounting standards is irrevocable.
Horizon is a global designer, manufacturer and distributor of a wide variety of high quality, custom-engineered towing, trailering, cargo management and other related accessories. These products are designed to support original equipment manufacturers ("OEMs"), original equipment suppliers, aftermarket and retail customers within the agricultural, automotive, construction, horse/livestock, industrial, marine, military, recreational, trailer and utility markets. The Company groups its operating segments into reportable segments by the region in which sales and manufacturing efforts are focused. The Company's reportable segments are Cequent Americas and Cequent Asia Pacific Europe Africa ("Cequent APEA"). See Note  9 , " Segment Information ," for further information on each of the Company's reportable segments.
The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared on a stand-alone basis and are derived from the TriMas consolidated financial statements and accounting records for the periods presented as the Company was historically managed within TriMas. The condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("U.S. GAAP"). Our interim condensed consolidated financial statements are unaudited. Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP have been omitted. You should read these statements in conjunction with our audited combined financial statements as of December 31, 2014 and related notes thereto included in our Registration Statement on Form S-1 ("Registration Statement"). It is management's opinion that these financial statements contain all adjustments, including adjustments of a normal and recurring nature, necessary for a fair presentation of financial position and results of operations. The Company's condensed consolidated financial statements may not be indicative of the Company's future performance, and do not necessarily reflect what the results of operations, financial position, and cash flows would have been had it been operated as a stand alone company during the periods presented. Furthermore, results of operations for interim periods are not necessarily indicative of results for the full year.
The condensed consolidated financial statements include expense allocations for certain functions provided by our former parent, including, but not limited to, general corporate expenses related to accounting, treasury, tax, legal, risk management, communications, human resources, procurement, information technology and other services. These expenses were allocated to the Company on the basis of direct usage when identifiable, with the remainder allocated on the basis of revenue or headcount. The Company believes these allocations were made on a consistent basis and are reasonable. However, the allocations may not reflect the expenses the Company would have incurred as an independent, publicly traded company for the periods presented. The Company will perform these functions using internal resources and purchased services, some of which may be provided by our former parent during a transitional period pursuant to a transitional services agreement.
The condensed consolidated financial statements include certain assets and liabilities that have historically been held at the parent corporate level, but were specifically identifiable or allocable to Horizon. As of the spin-off date these assets and liabilities were transferred to the Company. Additionally, pursuant to the tax sharing agreement with our former parent, included in the condensed

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Table of Contents

HORIZON GLOBAL CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(unaudited)

consolidated financial statements is a liability of approximately $9.6 million payable to our former parent. Our former parent's third-party debt, and the related interest expense, were not allocated to Horizon for any of the periods presented, as our former parent's borrowings and the related guarantees on such borrowings are not directly attributable to the combined businesses that comprise Horizon, and Horizon did not assume any of our former parent's debt in connection with the spin-off. Cash and cash equivalents held by our former parent were not allocated to Horizon for any of the periods presented. Cash and cash equivalents in the Company's condensed consolidated balance sheets represent cash held locally by entities included in the condensed consolidated financial statements.
Transactions that have been historically treated as intercompany between the Company and our former parent have been included in these condensed consolidated financial statements and were considered to be effectively settled for cash in the condensed consolidated financial statements at the time the transaction was recorded. The total net effect of the settlement of these intercompany transactions is reflected in the condensed consolidated statements of cash flows as a financing activity, and in the condensed consolidated balance sheets as parent company investment. As of the spin-off date all intercompany transactions between the Company and it's former parent were settled.
Our former parent maintained various benefit and stock-based compensation plans at a corporate level. Horizon employees participated in those programs and a portion of the costs of these plans have been included in Horizon's condensed consolidated financial statements. However, Horizon's condensed consolidated balance sheet does not include any equity related to stock-based compensation plans or any net benefit plan obligations related to our former parent's corporate benefit plans. See Note 12 , " Employee Benefit Plans ," and Note 10 , " Equity Awards ," for a further description of the accounting for stock-based compensation and benefit plans.
2 . New Accounting Pronouncements
In April 2015, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") 2015-03, "Interest - Imputation of Interest (Subtopic 835-30): Simplifying the Presentation of Debt Issuance Costs" ("ASU 2015-03"). ASU 2015-03 provides an amendment to the accounting guidance related to the presentation of debt issuance costs and is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2015 with early adoption allowed. This guidance is applied retrospectively to all prior periods. Under the new guidance, debt issuance costs related to term loan borrowings are to be presented as a direct reduction from the related debt liability rather than as an asset. The Company adopted ASU 2015-03 in June 2015 and there was no effect to previously issued financial statements.
In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-09, "Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606)" ("ASU 2014-09"). ASU 2014-09 requires that an entity recognizes revenue to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the company expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. ASU 2014-09 was originally effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning on or after December 15, 2016; however, in July 2015, the FASB approved a one-year deferral of the effective date. The ASU formally amending the effective date is expected to be issued in the third quarter of 2015. The Company is in the process of assessing the impact of the adoption of ASU 2014-09 on its condensed consolidated financial statements.
3 . Facility Closure
Goshen, Indiana facility
In November 2012, the Company announced plans to close its manufacturing facility in Goshen, Indiana, moving production from Goshen to lower-cost manufacturing facilities during 2013. The Company completed the move and ceased operations in Goshen during the fourth quarter of 2013. During 2013, the Company recorded charges, primarily for severance benefits for its approximately 350 union hourly workers to be involuntarily terminated, of approximately $4.0 million . Additionally, during 2012, the Company recorded charges of approximately $1.2 million , primarily for severance benefits for salaried employees to be involuntarily terminated as part of the closure. Through December 31, 2014, the hourly and salary benefits have been fully paid, with approximately $0.2 million being paid during the three months ended June 30, 2014 and approximately $1.1 million being paid during the six months ended June 30, 2014.

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HORIZON GLOBAL CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
(unaudited)

4 . Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets
Changes in the carrying amount of goodwill for the six months ended June 30, 2015 are summarized as follows:
 
 
Cequent Americas
 
Cequent APEA
 
Total
 
 
(dollars in thousands)
Balance, December 31, 2014
 
$
6,580

 
$

 
$
6,580

Foreign currency translation and other
 
(950
)
 

 
(950
)
Balance, June 30, 2015
 
$
5,630

 
$

 
$
5,630

The gross carrying amounts and accumulated amortization of the Company's other intangibles as of June 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014 are summarized below. The Company amortizes these assets over periods ranging from 3 to 25  years.
 
 
As of June 30, 2015
 
As of December 31, 2014
Intangible Category by Useful Life
 
Gross Carrying Amount
 
Accumulated Amortization
 
Gross Carrying Amount
 
Accumulated Amortization
 
 
(dollars in thousands)
Finite-lived intangible assets:
 

 

 

 

   Customer relationships, 5 – 12 years
 
$
33,400

 
$
(26,560
)
 
$
34,170

 
$
(26,190
)
   Customer relationships, 15 – 25 years
 
105,380

 
(75,220
)
 
105,380

 
(72,250
)
Total customer relationships
 
138,780

 
(101,780
)
 
139,550

 
(98,440
)
   Technology and other, 3 – 15 years
 
14,560

 
(14,030
)
 
14,600

 
(13,910
)
Total finite-lived intangible assets
 
153,340

 
(115,810
)
 
154,150

 
(112,350
)
 Trademark/Trade names, indefinite-lived
 
23,870

 

 
24,710

 

Total other intangible assets
 
$
177,210

 
$
(115,810
)
 
$
178,860

 
$
(112,350
)
Amortization expense related to intangible assets as included in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of income is summarized as follows:
 
 
Three months ended June 30,
 
Six months ended June 30,
 
 
2015
 
2014
 
2015
 
2014
 
 
(dollars in thousands)
Technology and other, included in cost of sales
 
$
60

 
$
40

 
$
120

 
$
130

Customer relationships, included in selling, general and administrative expenses
 
1,790

 
1,860

 
3,600

 
3,680

Total amortization expense
 
$
1,850

 
$
1,900

 
$
3,720

 
$
3,810


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HORIZON GLOBAL CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
(unaudited)

5 . Inventories
Inventories consist of the following components:
 
 
June 30,
2015
 
December 31,
2014
 
 
(dollars in thousands)
Finished goods
 
$
94,240

 
$
89,550

Work in process
 
5,710

 
6,810

Raw materials
 
25,800

 
27,170

Total inventories
 
$
125,750

 
$
123,530

6 . Property and Equipment, Net
Property and equipment consists of the following components:
 
 
June 30,
2015
 
December 31,
2014
 
 
(dollars in thousands)
Land and land improvements
 
$
110

 
$
290

Buildings
 
8,340

 
9,250

Machinery and equipment
 
99,410

 
118,460

 
 
107,860

 
128,000

Less: Accumulated depreciation
 
58,990

 
72,820

Property and equipment, net
 
$
48,870

 
$
55,180

Depreciation expense as included in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of income is as follows:
 
 
Three months ended June 30,
 
Six months ended June 30,
 
 
2015
 
2014
 
2015
 
2014
 
 
(dollars in thousands)
Depreciation expense, included in cost of sales
 
$
2,110

 
$
2,530

 
$
4,260

 
$
4,900

Depreciation expense, included in selling, general and administrative expense
 
430

 
530

 
820

 
1,030

Total depreciation expense
 
$
2,540

 
$
3,060

 
$
5,080

 
$
5,930


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HORIZON GLOBAL CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
(unaudited)

7 . Long-term Debt
The Company's long-term debt consists of the following:
 
 
June 30,
2015
 
December 31,
2014
 
 
(dollars in thousands)
ABL Facility
 
$
9,290

 
$

Term B Loan
 
192,970

 

Bank facilities
 
7,710

 
140

Capital leases and other long-term debt
 
400

 
620

 
 
210,370

 
760

Less: Current maturities, long-term debt
 
17,940

 
460

Long-term debt
 
$
192,430

 
$
300

ABL Facility
On June 30, 2015, the Company entered into an asset-based revolving credit facility (“ABL Facility”), which permits the Company and certain of its subsidiaries to make revolving borrowings up to an aggregate principal amount of $85.0 million , subject to availability under a borrowing base, including a $20.0 million letter of credit sub-facility, which matures on June 30, 2020. The Company may increase commitments under the ABL Facility, subject to certain conditions, up to an additional $25.0 million in aggregate. Borrowings under the ABL Facility bear interest, at the Company’s election, at either (a) the Base Rate (as defined per the credit agreement, the “Base Rate”) plus the Applicable Margin (as defined per the credit agreement “Applicable Margin”), or (b) the London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”) plus the Applicable Margin.
All of the indebtedness under the ABL Facility is and will be guaranteed by the Company’s existing and future material domestic subsidiaries and is and will be secured by substantially all of the assets of the Company and such guarantors. The credit agreement contains customary negative covenants, and does not include any financial maintenance covenants other than a springing minimum fixed charge coverage ratio of at least 1.00 to 1.00 on a trailing twelve-month basis, which will be tested only upon the occurrence of an event of default or certain other conditions as specified in the agreement. At June 30, 2015, the Company was in compliance with its financial covenants contained in the ABL Facility.
Debt issuance costs of approximately $1.6 million were incurred in connection with the entry into the ABL Facility and are included in other assets in the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheet. These debt issuance costs will be amortized into interest expense over the contractual term of the loan.
As of June 30, 2015 , $9.3 million was outstanding under the ABL facility at a weighted average interest rate of 2.96% . Total letters of credit outstanding at June 30, 2015 were $6.0 million . Subject to borrowing base availability, the Company had $69.7 million in available funds from the ABL facility.
Term Loan
On June 30, 2015, the Company entered into a term loan agreement (“Term B Loan”) under which the Company borrowed an aggregate of $200.0 million , which matures on June 30, 2021. The Term B Loan permits the Company to request incremental term loan facilities, subject to certain conditions, in an aggregate principal amount, together with the aggregate principal amount of incremental equivalent debt incurred by the Company, of up to $25.0 million , plus an additional amount such that the Company’s pro forma first lien net leverage ratio (as defined in the term loan agreement) would not exceed 3.50 to 1.00 as a result of the incurrence thereof.
Borrowings under the agreement bear interest, at the Company’s election, at either (a) the Base Rate plus 5% per annum, or (b) LIBOR plus 6% per annum. Principal payments required under the credit agreement for the Term B Loan Facility are $2.5 million due each calendar quarter beginning September 2015. Commencing with the fiscal year ending December 31, 2016, and for each fiscal year thereafter, the Company will also be required to make prepayments of outstanding amounts under the Term B Loan in an amount equal to 50.0% of the Company’s excess cash flow for such fiscal year, as defined in the credit agreement, subject to adjustments based on the Company’s leverage ratio and optional prepayments of term loans and certain other indebtedness.

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HORIZON GLOBAL CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
(unaudited)

All of the indebtedness under the Term B Loan is and will be guaranteed by the Company’s existing and future material domestic subsidiaries and is and will be secured by substantially all of the assets of the Company and such guarantors. The Term B Loan agreement contains customary negative covenants, and also contains a financial maintenance covenant which requires the Company to maintain a net leverage ratio not exceeding, through the fiscal quarter ending September 30, 2016, 5.25 to 1.00 ; through the fiscal quarter ending September 30, 2017, 5.00 to 1.00 ; through the fiscal quarter ending September 30, 2018, 4.75 to 1.00; and thereafter, 4.50 to 1.00 . At June 30, 2015, the Company was in compliance with its financial covenants contained in the Term B Loan.
Debt issuance costs of approximately $3.0 million were incurred in connection with the Term B Loan, along with the original issue discount of $4.0 million . Both the debt issuance costs and the original issue discount will be amortized into interest expense over the term of the Term B Loan Facility. As of June 30, 2015 , the Company had aggregate principal outstanding of $200.0 million bearing interest at 7.00% , and had $7.0 million of unamortized debt issuance costs and original issue discount, all of which are recorded as a reduction of the debt balance on the Company's balance sheet.
As of June 30, 2015 , the Company's Term Loan B and ABL Facility approximated fair value as the loan agreements were entered into on June 30, 2015 .
Bank facilities
In Australia, the Company’s subsidiary is party to an approximate $15.4 million revolving debt facility, which matures on August 31, 2015 , is subject to interest at a bank-specified rate plus 1.90% and is secured by substantially all the assets of the subsidiary. As of June 30, 2015 , $7.7 million was outstanding under this agreement, bearing interest at 4.05% . No amounts were outstanding as of December 31, 2014 .
In May 2014, the Company’s Dutch subsidiary entered into a credit agreement consisting of a $12.5 million uncommitted working capital facility which matured on May 29, 2015 . This facility was subject to interest at LIBOR plus 2.75% per annum and was guaranteed by TriMas. In addition, this Dutch subsidiary was subject to an overdraft facility in conjunction with the uncommitted working capital facility up to $1.0 million , subject to interest at U.S. dollar prime rate plus 0.75% . This facility matured in May 2015 and accordingly no balances were outstanding at June 30, 2015 . As of December 31, 2014 , $0.1 million was outstanding on this facility.

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HORIZON GLOBAL CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
(unaudited)

8 . Derivative Instruments
Foreign Currency Exchange Rate Risk
As of June 30, 2015 , the Company was party to forward contracts to hedge changes in foreign currency exchange rates with notional amounts of approximately $17.3 million . The Company uses foreign currency forward contracts to mitigate the risk associated with fluctuations in currency rates impacting cash flows related to certain payments for contract manufacturing in its lower-cost manufacturing facilities. The foreign currency forward contracts hedge currency exposure between the Mexican peso and the U.S. dollar, the Thai baht and the Australian dollar and the U.S. dollar and the Australian dollar and mature at specified monthly settlement dates through March 2016. At inception, the Company designated the foreign currency forward contracts as cash flow hedges. Upon purchase of certain inventories the Company de-designates the foreign currency forward contract.
Financial Statement Presentation
As of June 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014 , the fair value carrying amount of the Company's derivative instruments are recorded as follows:
 
 
 
 
Asset / (Liability) Derivatives
 
 
Balance Sheet Caption
 
June 30,
2015
 
December 31,
2014
 
 
 
 
(dollars in thousands)
Derivatives designated as hedging instruments
 
 
 
 
 
 
Foreign currency forward contracts
 
Other assets
 
$
10

 
$

Foreign currency forward contracts
 
Accrued liabilities
 
(260
)
 
(150
)
Total derivatives designated as hedging instruments
 
 
 
(250
)
 
(150
)
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments
 
 
 
 
 
 
Foreign currency forward contracts
 
Accrued liabilities
 
(70
)
 

Total derivatives not designated as hedging instruments
 
 
 
(70
)
 

Total derivatives
 
 
 
$
(320
)
 
$
(150
)
The following tables summarize the income (loss) recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income ("AOCI"), the amounts reclassified from AOCI into earnings and the amounts recognized directly into earnings as of and for the six months ended June 30, 2015 and 2014 :
 
Amount of Loss Recognized in
AOCI on Derivative
(Effective Portion, net of tax)
 
 
 
Amount of Income (Loss) Reclassified
from AOCI into Earnings
 
 
 
 
Three months ended
June 30,
 
Six months ended
June 30,
 
As of
June 30, 2015
 
As of December 31, 2014
 
Location of Income (Loss) Reclassified from AOCI into Earnings (Effective Portion)
 
2015
 
2014
 
2015
 
2014
 
(dollars in thousands)
 
 
 
(dollars in thousands)
Derivatives instruments
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Foreign currency forward contracts
$
(250
)
 
$
(70
)
 
Cost of sales
 
$
(260
)
 
$
170

 
$
(450
)
 
$
220

Over the next 12 months , the Company expects to reclassify approximately $0.3 million of pre-tax deferred losses from AOCI to cost of sales as the intercompany inventory purchases are settled.

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HORIZON GLOBAL CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
(unaudited)

Fair Value Measurements
The fair value of the Company's derivatives are estimated using an income approach based on valuation techniques to convert future amounts to a single, discounted amount. Estimates of the fair value of the Company's foreign currency forward contracts use observable inputs such as forward currency exchange rates. Fair value measurements and the fair value hierarchy level for the Company's assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of June 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014 are shown below.  
 
 
Frequency
 
Asset / (Liability)
 
Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets
(Level 1)
 
Significant Other Observable Inputs
(Level 2)
 
Significant Unobservable Inputs
(Level 3)
 
 
 
 
(dollars in thousands)
June 30, 2015
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Foreign currency forward contracts
 
Recurring
 
$
(320
)
 
$

 
$
(320
)
 
$

December 31, 2014
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Foreign currency forward contracts
 
Recurring
 
$
(150
)
 
$

 
$
(150
)
 
$

9 . Segment Information
Horizon groups its operating segments into reportable segments by the region in which sales and manufacturing efforts are focused. Each operating segment has discrete financial information evaluated regularly by the Company’s chief operating decision maker in determining resource allocation and assessing performance. See below for more information regarding the types of products and services provided within each reportable segment:
Cequent Americas - A market leader in the design, manufacture and distribution of a wide variety of high-quality, custom engineered towing, trailering and cargo management products and related accessories. These products are designed to support OEMs, original equipment suppliers, aftermarket and retail customers in the agricultural, automotive, construction, industrial, marine, military, recreational vehicle, trailer and utility end markets. Products include brake controllers, cargo management, heavy-duty towing products, jacks and couplers, protection/securing systems, trailer structural and electrical components, tow bars, vehicle roof racks, vehicle trailer hitches and additional accessories.
Cequent APEA - With a product offering similar to Cequent Americas, Cequent APEA focuses its sales and manufacturing efforts in the Asia Pacific, Europe and Africa regions of the world.
Segment activity is as follows:
 
 
Three months ended
June 30,
 
Six months ended
June 30,
 
 
2015
 
2014
 
2015
 
2014
 
 
(dollars in thousands)
Net Sales
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cequent Americas
 
$
118,950

 
$
134,460

 
$
225,490

 
$
243,080

Cequent APEA
 
39,590

 
43,800

 
75,410

 
83,270

Total
 
$
158,540

 
$
178,260

 
$
300,900

 
$
326,350

Operating Profit (Loss)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cequent Americas
 
$
7,780

 
$
16,790

 
$
13,700

 
$
22,550

Cequent APEA
 
1,670

 
2,170

 
3,920

 
4,630

Corporate expenses
 
(4,090
)
 
(3,970
)
 
(8,550
)
 
(7,950
)
Total
 
$
5,360

 
$
14,990

 
$
9,070

 
$
19,230


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HORIZON GLOBAL CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
(unaudited)

10 . Equity Awards
Description of the Plan
Prior to the spin-off, certain employees of Horizon participated in the following TriMas equity incentive plans: the 2011 TriMas Corporation Omnibus Incentive Compensation Plan, the TriMas Corporation 2006 Long Term Equity Incentive Plan and the TriMas Corporation 2002 Long Term Equity Incentive Plan (collectively, the "TriMas Plans") and received restricted shares or options to purchase TriMas common shares. Effective June 30, 2015, Horizon employees are eligible to participate in the Horizon Global Corporation 2015 Equity and Incentive Compensation Plan (“Horizon 2015 Plan”).
The Horizon 2015 Plan authorizes the Compensation Committee of the Horizon Board of Directors to grant qualified or non-qualified incentive stock options, stock appreciation rights, stock awards (including restricted stock and restricted stock unit awards), cash incentive awards and performance awards to Horizon employees and non-employee directors. No more than 2.0 million Horizon common shares may be delivered under the Horizon 2015 Plan, with no more than 0.5 million “replacement awards” to current holders of TriMas equity awards under TriMas Plans.
In connection with the spin-off, certain stock compensation awards granted under the TriMas Plans were modified to substitute awards under the Horizon 2015 Plan. No additional compensation cost was recognized as a result of the substitution.
As of June 30, 2015 the Company had 9,299 stock options outstanding as a result of the modification of awards.
Restricted awards outstanding as of June 30, 2015 as a result of the substitution and adjustment of the TriMas awards are as follows:
 
 
Number of Unvested Restricted Shares
 
Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value
 
Average Remaining Contractual Life (Years)
 
Aggregate Intrinsic Value
Outstanding at June 30, 2015
 
229,046

 
$
16.05

 
1.2
 
$
3,550,213

The modification of the stock compensation awards occurred in conjunction with the distribution of Horizon common shares to TriMas shareholders in the June 30, 2015 after-market distribution. As a result, no grant, exercise, or cancellation activity occurred on Horizon stock compensation awards during the six months ended June 30, 2015.
As of June 30, 2015 , there was no unrecognized compensation costs related to stock options, and $1.4 million of unrecognized compensation cost related to unvested restricted shares that is expected to be recorded over a weighted-average period of 1.5 years.
The Company recognized approximately $0.3 million and $0.8 million of stock-based compensation expense related to restricted shares during the three months ended June 30, 2015 and 2014 , respectively, and $1.3 million and $1.6 million for the six months ended June 30, 2015 and 2014, respectively. The stock-based compensation expense is included in selling, general and administrative expenses in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of income. No compensation cost was recognized during the three or six month periods ended June 30, 2015 or 2014 related to stock options.
11 . Earnings per Share
On June 30, 2015, approximately 18.1 million common shares of Horizon Global were distributed to TriMas shareholders in conjunction with the spin-off. For comparative purposes, and to provide a more meaningful calculation for weighted average shares, this amount was assumed to be outstanding as of the beginning of each period presented in the calculation of basic weighted average shares. Dilutive earnings per share are calculated to give effect to stock options and restricted shares outstanding during each period.

16

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HORIZON GLOBAL CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
(unaudited)

The following table sets forth the reconciliation of the numerator and the denominator of basic earnings per share and diluted earnings per share for the three and six months ended June 30, 2015 and 2014 :
 
 
Three months ended June 30,
 
Six months ended June 30,
 
 
2015
 
2014
 
2015
 
2014
 
 
(dollars in thousands, except for per share amounts)
Numerator:
 

 

 

 

Net income for basic and diluted earnings per share
 
$
2,200

 
$
10,820

 
$
3,680

 
$
13,200

Denominator:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Weighted average shares outstanding, basic
 
18,062,027

 
18,062,027

 
18,062,027

 
18,062,027

Dilutive effect of stock-based awards
 
72,448

 
51,053

 
72,448

 
51,053

Weighted average shares outstanding, diluted
 
18,134,475

 
18,113,080

 
18,134,475

 
18,113,080

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Basic earnings per share
 
$
0.12

 
$
0.60

 
$
0.20

 
$
0.73

Diluted earnings per share
 
$
0.12

 
$
0.60

 
$
0.20

 
$
0.73

12 . Employee Benefit Plans
The Company's domestic salaried and hourly employees participate in a defined contribution profit sharing plan sponsored by TriMas and reimbursed by Horizon. The plan contains both contributory and noncontributory profit sharing arrangements, as defined. Aggregate charges included in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of income under this plan were approximately $0.4 million for each of the three months ended June 30, 2015 and 2014 and $0.8 million for each of the six months ended June 30, 2015 and 2014 .

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Table of Contents

HORIZON GLOBAL CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
(unaudited)

13 . Other Comprehensive Income
Changes in AOCI by component for the six months ended June 30, 2015 are summarized as follows:
 
 
 Derivative Instruments
 
Foreign Currency Translation
 
Total
 
 
(dollars in thousands)
Balance, December 31, 2014
 
$
(70
)
 
$
7,460

 
$
7,390

Net transfer from former parent
 

 
5,230

 
5,230

Net unrealized gains (losses) arising during the period (a)
 
(610
)
 
(4,090
)
 
(4,700
)
Less: Net realized (losses) reclassified to net income (b)
 
(430
)
 

 
(430
)
Net current-period change
 
(180
)
 
1,140

 
960

Balance, June 30, 2015
 
$
(250
)
 
$
8,600

 
$
8,350

__________________________
(a) Derivative instruments, net of income tax of $80.0 thousand . See Note 8 , " Derivative Instruments ," for further details.
(b) Derivative instruments, net of income tax of $20.0 thousand . See Note 8 , " Derivative Instruments ," for further details.
Changes in AOCI by component for the six months ended June 30, 2014 are summarized as follows:
 
 
 Derivative Instruments
 
Foreign Currency Translation
 
Total
 
 
(dollars in thousands)
Balance, December 31, 2013
 
$

 
$
14,700

 
$
14,700

Net unrealized gains arising during the period (a)
 
490

 
2,950

 
3,440

Less: Net realized gains reclassified to net income (b)
 
220

 

 
220

Net current-period change
 
270

 
2,950

 
3,220

Balance, June 30, 2014
 
$
270

 
$
17,650

 
$
17,920

__________________________
(a) Derivative instruments, net of income tax of $30.0 thousand . See Note 8 , " Derivative Instruments ," for further details.
(b) There was no income tax impact on the net realized gains reclassified to net income on derivative instruments. See Note 8 , " Derivative Instruments, " for further details.
14 . Income Taxes
At the end of each interim reporting period, the Company makes an estimate of the annual effective income tax rate. Tax items included in the annual effective income tax rate are pro-rated for the full year and tax items discrete to a specific quarter are included in the effective income tax rate for that quarter. The estimate used in providing for income taxes on a year-to-date basis may change in subsequent interim periods.
The effective income tax rate was 51.3% and 23.3% for the three months ended June 30, 2015 and 2014 , respectively, and 46.4% and 24.1% for the six months ended June 30, 2015 and 2014 , respectively. The higher effective tax rate for the three and six month periods ended June 30, 2015 is primarily driven by tax charges of approximately $2.9 million related to certain spin-off related structuring steps partially offset by a higher portion of income earned in foreign tax jurisdictions with lower statutory tax rates.
During the six months ended June 30, 2015 and 2014, cash paid for domestic taxes was approximately $2.0 million and 1.4 million , respectively, which was paid by our former parent company. The Company paid cash for foreign taxes of $1.8 million and $1.4 million during the six months ended June 30, 2015 and 2014, respectively.

18

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HORIZON GLOBAL CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
(unaudited)

15 . Subsequent Events
In July 2015, the Company announced plans to close its manufacturing facility in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico along with its distribution warehouse in El Paso, Texas. This facility currently manufactures winches, jacks, couplers and accessories and combined with the distribution warehouse employs approximately 280 people. Most of the manufacturing and distribution operations will be relocated to the Company's existing facility in Reynosa, Mexico. The Company is currently assessing the potential impact resulting from this proposed closure, including estimated costs for employee termination and equipment relocation of approximately $2.2 million and $1.2 million , respectively. In addition, the Company is party to lease agreements for these facilities for which it has non-cancellable future rental obligations of approximately $4.6 million . The closure is anticipated to be completed by March 31, 2016.

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Item 2 .    Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
The following discussion and analysis of our financial condition contains forward-looking statements regarding industry outlook and our expectations regarding the performance of our business. These forward-looking statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, the risks and uncertainties described under the heading "Forward-Looking Statements," at the beginning of this report. Our actual results may differ materially from those contained in or implied by any forward-looking statements. You should read the following discussion together with the Company's reports on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including our Registration Statement on Form S-1 (Registration No. 333-203138).
Introduction
We are a leading designer, manufacturer and distributor of a wide variety of high-quality, custom-engineered towing, trailering, cargo management and other related accessory products on a global basis, serving the automotive aftermarket, retail and original equipment, or OE, channels.
Our business is comprised of two reportable segments: Cequent Americas and Cequent APEA. Cequent Americas has historically operated primarily in North America, and we believe has been a leader in towing and trailering-related products sold through retail, aftermarket and OE channels. Over the past few years, we have penetrated the Latin America market, which is in the early stages of its development for automotive accessories, and appears to be following the historical development pattern of the United States and Canadian markets. Cequent APEA focuses its sales and manufacturing efforts outside of the Americas, historically operating primarily in Australia, and we believe has been a leader in towing related products sold through the aftermarket and OE channels. Over the past few years, we have expanded our footprint into other areas of the New Zealand, Thailand, Europe, the United Kingdom and South Africa, primarily as a result of acquisitions. We are in the early stages of our development in these markets, initially focusing primarily on supporting OE customers.
Our products are used in two primary categories across the world: commercial applications, or Work, and recreational activities, or Play. Some of the markets in our Work category include agricultural, automotive, construction, fleet, industrial, marine, military, mining and municipalities. Some of the markets in our Play category include equestrian, power sports, recreational vehicle, specialty automotive, truck accessory and other specialty towing applications.
Key Factors and Risks Affecting Our Reported Results.   Our products are sold into a diverse set of end-markets; the primary applications relate to automotive accessories for light and recreational vehicles. Purchases of automotive accessory parts are discretionary and we believe demand is driven by macro-economic factors including, among others, (i) consumer confidence, (ii) employment trends and (iii) light truck builds. We believe all of these metrics impact both our Work-and Play-related sales. In addition, we believe the Play-related sales are more sensitive to changes in these indices, given the Play-related sales tend to be more directly related to disposable income levels. In general, recent decreases in unemployment and fuel prices, coupled with increases in consumer confidence, are positive trends for our businesses.
Over the past two years, we have invested over $50 million in cash for restructuring or other initiatives and capital expenditures, primarily as follows:
Closed and moved production from our former Goshen, Indiana manufacturing facility to a new lower-cost facility in Reynosa, Mexico in 2013, relocating approximately 420 positions;

Relocated the supply chain from the Midwestern United States to localized supply near Reynosa;

As a result of the Goshen manufacturing move, relocated the main U.S. distribution facility from Huntington, Indiana to Dallas, Texas;

Closed and consolidated two former facilities in Australia into one newer facility; and

Closed and consolidated two former facilities in Brazil into one facility.
While these initiatives have impacted our past performance, we believe we have reduced the cost of our manufacturing footprint which has improved our flexibility to meet market demands.
Critical factors affecting our ability to succeed include: our ability to realize the expected economic benefits of structural realignment of manufacturing facilities and business units; our ability to quickly and cost-effectively introduce new products; our ability to acquire and integrate companies or products that supplement existing product lines, add new distribution channels and expand our geographic coverage; our ability to manage our cost structure more efficiently via supply base management, internal sourcing and/or purchasing of materials, selective outsourcing and/or purchasing of support functions, working capital management, and

20

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leverage of our administrative functions. If we are unable to do any of the foregoing successfully, our financial condition and results of operations could be materially and adversely impacted.
We experience some seasonality in our business. Sales of towing and trailering products in the northern hemisphere, where we generate the majority of our sales, are generally stronger in the second and third calendar quarters, as trailer OEs, distributors and retailers acquire product for the spring and summer selling seasons. Our growing businesses in the southern hemisphere are stronger in the first and fourth calendar quarters. We do not consider order backlog to be a material factor in our businesses.
We are sensitive to price movements in our raw materials supply base. Our largest material purchases are for steel, copper, and aluminum. We also consume a significant amount of energy via utilities in our facilities. Historically, when we have experienced increasing costs of steel and have worked with our suppliers to manage cost pressures and disruptions in supply. Price increases offsetting inflation or disruption of supply in core materials, while may be delayed have generally been successful; although this does represent risk in execution.
We report shipping and handling expenses associated with our Cequent Americas reportable segment's distribution network as an element of selling, general and administrative expenses in our condensed consolidated statements of income. As such, gross margins for the Cequent Americas reportable segment may not be comparable to those of our Cequent APEA segments, which primarily rely on third-party distributors, for which all costs are included in cost of sales.

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Segment Information and Supplemental Analysis
The following table summarizes financial information for our reportable segments for the three months ended June 30, 2015 and 2014 :
 
 
Three months ended June 30,
 
 
2015
 
As a Percentage
of Net Sales
 
2014
 
As a Percentage
of Net Sales
 
 
(dollars in thousands)
Net Sales
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cequent Americas
 
$
118,950

 
75.0
%
 
$
134,460

 
75.4
 %
Cequent APEA
 
39,590

 
25.0
%
 
43,800

 
24.6
 %
Total
 
$
158,540

 
100.0
%
 
$
178,260

 
100.0
 %
Gross Profit
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cequent Americas
 
$
31,250

 
26.3
%
 
$
38,480

 
28.6
 %
Cequent APEA
 
6,500

 
16.4
%
 
8,180

 
18.7
 %
Total
 
$
37,750

 
23.8
%
 
$
46,660

 
26.2
 %
Selling, General and Administrative Expenses
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cequent Americas
 
$
21,680

 
18.2
%
 
$
21,640

 
16.1
 %
Cequent APEA
 
4,780

 
12.1
%
 
6,000

 
13.7
 %
Corporate expenses
 
4,090

 
N/A

 
3,970

 
N/A

Total
 
$
30,550

 
19.3
%
 
$
31,610

 
17.7
 %
Net Loss on Disposition of Property and Equipment
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cequent Americas
 
$
(1,780
)
 
1.5
%
 
$
(60
)
 
 %
Cequent APEA
 
(60
)
 
0.2
%
 

 
 %
Total
 
$
(1,840
)
 
1.2
%
 
$
(60
)
 
 %
Operating Profit (Loss)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cequent Americas
 
$
7,780

 
6.5
%
 
$
16,790

 
12.5
 %
Cequent APEA
 
1,670

 
4.2
%
 
2,170

 
5.0
 %
Corporate expenses
 
(4,090
)
 
N/A

 
(3,970
)
 
N/A

Total
 
$
5,360

 
3.4
%
 
$
14,990

 
8.4
 %
Depreciation and Amortization
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cequent Americas
 
$
2,720

 
2.3
%
 
$
3,000

 
2.2
 %
Cequent APEA
 
1,650

 
4.2
%
 
1,960

 
4.5
 %
Corporate expenses
 
20

 
N/A

 

 
N/A

Total
 
$
4,390

 
2.8
%
 
$
4,960

 
2.8
 %

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Table of Contents

The following table summarizes financial information from our reportable segments for the six months ended June 30, 2015 and 2014 :
 
 
Six months ended June 30,
 
 
2015
 
As a Percentage
of Net Sales
 
2014
 
As a Percentage
of Net Sales
 
 
(dollars in thousands)
Net Sales
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cequent Americas
 
$
225,490

 
74.9
%
 
$
243,080

 
74.5
 %
Cequent APEA
 
75,410

 
25.1
%
 
83,270

 
25.5
 %
Total
 
$
300,900

 
100.0
%
 
$
326,350

 
100.0
 %
Gross Profit
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cequent Americas
 
$
59,380

 
26.3
%
 
$
66,150

 
27.2
 %
Cequent APEA
 
13,670

 
18.1
%
 
16,170

 
19.4
 %
Total
 
$
73,050

 
24.3
%
 
$
82,320

 
25.2
 %
Selling, General and Administrative Expenses
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cequent Americas
 
$
43,940

 
19.5
%
 
$
43,540

 
17.9
 %
Cequent APEA
 
9,700

 
12.9
%
 
11,530

 
13.8
 %
Corporate expenses
 
8,550

 
N/A

 
7,950

 
N/A

Total
 
$
62,190

 
20.7
%
 
$
63,020

 
19.3
 %
Net Loss on Disposition of Property and Equipment
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cequent Americas
 
$
(1,730
)
 
0.8
%
 
$
(70
)
 
 %
Cequent APEA
 
(60
)
 
0.1
%
 

 
 %
Total
 
$
(1,790
)
 
0.6
%
 
$
(70
)
 
 %
Operating Profit (Loss)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cequent Americas
 
$
13,700

 
6.1
%
 
$
22,550

 
9.3
 %
Cequent APEA
 
3,920

 
5.2
%
 
4,630

 
5.6
 %
Corporate expenses
 
(8,550
)
 
N/A

 
(7,950
)
 
N/A

Total
 
$
9,070

 
3.0
%
 
$
19,230

 
5.9
 %
Depreciation and Amortization
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cequent Americas
 
$
5,470

 
2.4
%
 
$
5,940

 
2.4
 %
Cequent APEA
 
3,310

 
4.4
%
 
3,800

 
4.6
 %
Corporate expenses
 
20

 
N/A

 

 
N/A

Total
 
$
8,800

 
2.9
%
 
$
9,740

 
3.0
 %


23

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Results of Operations
The principal factors impacting us during the three months ended June 30, 2015 , compared with the three months ended June 30, 2014 , were:
our spin-off from TriMas Corporation, or TriMas, on June 30, 2015, through the distribution of 100 percent of the outstanding common shares of Horizon;
our new credit agreement, or Credit Agreement, which provides for a revolving credit facility, or ABL Facility, as well as a term loan facility under which the Company borrowed an aggregate of $200 million;
the impact of foreign currency, as our reported result in U.S. dollars were negatively impacted as a result of the stronger U.S. dollar relative to foreign currencies, particularly in our Cequent APEA reportable segment; and
market dynamics surrounding distribution customer consolidation and the discontinuance of certain promotional incentives.
Three Months Ended June 30, 2015 Compared with Three Months Ended June 30, 2014
Overall, net sales decreased approximately $19.7 million , or 11.1% , to $158.5 million for the three months ended June 30, 2015 , as compared with $178.3 million in the three months ended June 30, 2014 . During the second quarter of 2015 , net sales decreased approximately $14.6 million in our Cequent Americas reportable segment due to consolidation and closure of customer distribution centers within the aftermarket channel and the discontinued use of certain promotional incentives that were available to our customers during the second quarter of 2014 . These decreases were partially offset by an increase of approximately $2.1 million in our Cequent APEA reportable segment, primarily due to increased OE demand and new program wins. Net sales also decreased by approximately $7.2 million due to net unfavorable currency exchange, as our reported results in U.S. dollars were negatively impacted as a result of the stronger U.S. dollar relative to foreign currencies.
Gross profit margin (gross profit as a percentage of net sales) approximated 23.8% and 26.2% for the three months ended June 30, 2015 and 2014 , respectively. Gross profit margin decreased in our Cequent Americas reportable segment due to a less favorable channel and product sales mix as our lower margin channels comprised a large portion of net sales and sales of higher margin products declined in the second quarter of 2015 compared to the second quarter of 2014. Gross profit margin was also negatively impacted by one-time costs associated with the closure of a facility within our Cequent APEA reportable segment and unfavorable currency exchange as our reported results in U.S. dollars were negatively impacted as a result of the stronger U.S. dollar relative to foreign currencies.
Operating profit margin (operating profit as a percentage of net sales) approximated 3.4% and 8.4% for the three months ended June 30, 2015 and 2014 , respectively. Operating profit decreased approximately $9.6 million , or 64.2% , to $5.4 million for the three months ended June 30, 2015 , from $15.0 million for the three months ended June 30, 2014 , primarily due to lower sales levels within our Cequent Americas reportable segment, and a net loss on disposal of certain property and equipment. Additionally, operating profit margin decreased due to a less favorable channel and product sales mix primarily in our Cequent Americas reportable segment and the costs associated with combining two of our business units.
Interest expense decreased approximately $0.1 million , to $0.1 million , for the three months ended June 30, 2015 , as compared to $0.2 million for the three months ended June 30, 2014 . The decline was primarily due to a decrease in the weighted average interest rates on outstanding borrowings to 4.1% for the three months ended June 30, 2015 compared to 4.6% for the three months ended June 30, 2014 . Also contributing to the decline was a decrease in our weighted-average variable rate borrowings to approximately $5.0 million in the three months ended June 30, 2015 , from approximately $5.8 million in the three months ended June 30, 2014 .
Other expense, net remained flat at $0.7 million for the three months ended June 30, 2015 and June 30, 2014 .
The effective income tax rate for the three months ended June 30, 2015 was 51.3% , compared to 23.3% for three months ended June 30, 2014 . During the three months ended June 30, 2015 , we recorded approximately $2.9 million of tax charges related to certain spin related structuring steps; these charges were paid by our former parent company. These effects were partially offset by a higher portion of income earned in foreign tax jurisdictions with lower statutory tax rates.
Net income decreased by approximately $8.6 million , to $2.2 million for the three months ended June 30, 2015 , compared to $10.8 million for the three months ended June 30, 2014 . The decrease was primarily the result of a $9.6 million decrease in operating profit, partially offset by $1.0 million lower income tax expense.
See below for a discussion of operating results by segment.

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Table of Contents


Cequent Americas.     Net sales decreased approximately $15.5 million , or 11.5% , to $119.0 million in the three months ended June 30, 2015 , as compared to $134.5 million in the three months ended June 30, 2014 , primarily due to year-over-year decreases within our aftermarket and industrial channels. Net sales within our aftermarket channel decreased approximately $14.6 million primarily due to lower demand from our warehouse distributor customers as a result of consolidation of their distribution centers and the elimination of certain promotional incentives offered to our customers during the second quarter of 2014 that we did not make available to our customers during the second quarter of 2015. Net sales within our industrial channel decreased approximately $2.3 million, primarily due to lower demand from our OE and warehouse distributor customers servicing energy and agricultural end markets and the loss of recreational vehicle, or RV, OE content due to decisions made in 2014 to focus service levels on other customer channels. Net sales were also negatively impacted by approximately $0.9 million of unfavorable currency exchange, as our reported results in U.S. dollars were negatively impacted as a result of the stronger U.S. dollar relative to foreign currencies. Net sales within our retail channel increased approximately $2.3 million as result of growth with existing automotive retail and e-commerce customers and a new product customer win with a major home hardware center.
Cequent Americas' gross profit decreased approximately $7.2 million to $31.3 million , or 26.3% of sales, in the three months ended June 30, 2015 , from approximately $38.5 million , or 28.6% of sales, in the three months ended June 30, 2014 , primarily due to lower sales levels. Gross profit margin was negatively impacted by a less favorable channel and product sales mix as our retail and automotive OE channels comprised a larger portion of our net sales. In addition, sales of our higher margin brake controllers and aftermarket hitches were lower quarter-over-quarter in part due to distributor consolidation and elimination of certain promotional incentives. Gross profit margin was also negatively impacted by approximately $0.8 million of one-time costs associated with combining our Cequent Consumer Products and Cequent Performance Products business units.
Selling, general and administrative expenses remained relatively flat at approximately $21.7 million , or 18.2% of sales, in the three months ended June 30, 2015 , as compared to $21.6 million , or 16.1% of sales, in the three months ended June 30, 2014 , as a result of actions taken by us to eliminate non-critical discretionary spending in response to lower sales levels. During the second quarter of 2015 we recorded one-time selling, general and administrative expenses of approximately $0.6 million associated with combining our Cequent Consumer Products and Cequent Performance Product business units. Also contributing to the increase of selling, general, and administrative expenses as a percentage of sales were costs associated with a new rebate program in the retail channel and higher legal expenses as a result of a favorable settlement of a claim in the three months ended June 30, 2014.
Cequent Americas' operating profit decreased approximately $9.0 million to $7.8 million , or 6.5% of sales, in the three months ended June 30, 2015 , as compared to $16.8 million , or 12.5% of net sales, in the three months ended June 30, 2014 , primarily due to lower sales levels and a less favorable channel and product sales mix. Operating profit margin was also negatively impacted by approximately $1.7 million of higher disposals of property and equipment, resulting from the write-off of costs associated with the implementation of software determined to be inadequate for the business and $1.4 million of one-time costs associated with combining our Cequent Consumer Products and Cequent Performance Products business units.
Cequent APEA.     Net sales decreased approximately $4.2 million , or 9.6% , to $39.6 million in the three months ended June 30, 2015 , as compared to $43.8 million in the three months ended June 30, 2014 . Net sales were negatively impacted by approximately $6.3 million of unfavorable currency exchange. Net sales increased approximately $2.5 million in our South Africa business primarily due to increased demand from an existing OE customer and new program awards. The remaining decrease resulted primarily from a decrease in sales in Thailand, where new programs with existing OE customers were more than offset by lower demand on an existing program.
Cequent APEA's gross profit decreased approximately $1.7 million to $6.5 million , or 16.4% of sales, in the three months ended June 30, 2015 , from approximately $8.2 million , or 18.7% of sales, in the three months ended June 30, 2014 . Gross profit was negatively impacted by approximately $1.1 million of foreign currency exchange. Gross profit margin was also adversely impacted by one-time costs of approximately $0.8 million related to the closure of our facility in Finland and approximately $0.5 million in our Australia business related to the sale of higher cost inventory. These declines were partially offset by $0.7 million of improvements in our Thailand business as a result of productivity and lower labor costs.
Selling, general and administrative expenses decreased approximately $1.2 million to $4.8 million , or 12.1% of sales, in the three months ended June 30, 2015 , as compared to $6.0 million , or 13.7% of sales, in the three months ended June 30, 2014 . Selling, general and administrative spending remained relatively flat in local currencies during the three months ended June 30, 2015 , as compared to the three months ended June 30, 2014 , with the decrease quarter-over-quarter due primarily to the impact of foreign currency exchange.
Cequent APEA's operating profit decreased approximately $0.5 million to $1.7 million , or 4.2% of sales, in the three months ended June 30, 2015 , as compared to $2.2 million , or 5.0% of net sales, in the three months ended June 30, 2014 , primarily due to currency exchange. Operating profit margin was negatively impacted by the costs related to the closure of our facility in Finland.

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Table of Contents

Corporate Expenses.    Corporate expenses increased approximately $0.1 million to $4.1 million for the three months ended June 30, 2015 , from $4.0 million for the three months ended June 30, 2014 . These expenses are included in operating profit in the accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements and were allocated to us on the basis of direct usage when identifiable, with the remainder allocated on the basis of revenue or headcount.
Six Months Ended June 30, 2015 Compared with Six Months Ended June 30, 2014
Overall, net sales decreased approximately $25.5 million , or approximately 7.8% , to $300.9 million for the six months ended June 30, 2015 , as compared with $326.4 million in the six months ended June 30, 2014 . During the first six months of 2015 , net sales decreased approximately $13.9 million in our Cequent Americas reportable segment due to consolidation and closure of distribution centers within the aftermarket channel and the discontinued use of certain promotional incentives in the second quarter of 2015 that were available to our customers during the first six months of 2014 . In addition, sales declined by approximately $11.8 million due to net unfavorable currency exchange, primarily in our Cequent APEA reportable segment. Net sales within our Cequent Americas reportable segment were also down approximately $3.7 million, primarily due to lower demand as a result of lower energy and agricultural equipment purchases and the loss of recreation vehicle manufacturing line content. These decreases in net sales were partially offset by a net sales increase in our Cequent APEA reportable segment primarily due to increased demand from OE customers, and an increase of net sales to our retail customers within our Cequent Americas reportable segment.
Gross profit margin (gross profit as a percentage of sales) approximated 24.3% and 25.2% for the six months ended June 30, 2015 and 2014 , respectively. Gross profit margin decreased in our Cequent Americas reportable segment due to a less favorable channel and product sales mix as our lower margin channels comprised a large portion of net sales and sales of higher margin products declined in the first six months of 2015 compared to the first six months of 2014. Gross profit margin was also negatively impacted by one-time costs associated with the closure of a facility within our Cequent APEA reportable segment. In addition, gross profit decreased by approximately $2.6 million due to net unfavorable currency exchange.
Operating profit margin (operating profit as a percentage of sales) approximated 3.0% and 5.9% for the six months ended June 30, 2015 and 2014 , respectively. Operating profit decreased approximately $10.2 million , or 52.8% , to $9.1 million for the six months ended June 30, 2015 , compared to $19.2 million for the six months ended June 30, 2014 , primarily due to lower sales levels and a less favorable channel and product sales mix within our Cequent Americas reportable segment. Also operating profit margin was negatively impacted by one-time costs associated with the disposal of certain assets and combining two of our business units in our Cequent Americas reportable segment and the one-time costs associated with a facility within our Cequent APEA reportable segment.
Interest expense decreased approximately $0.1 million , to $0.2 million , for the six months ended June 30, 2015 , as compared to $0.4 million for the six months ended June 30, 2014 . Weighted average borrowings decreased to approximately $9.5 million in the six months ended June 30, 2015 , from approximately $12.4 million in the six months ended June 30, 2014 . Additionally, weighted average interest rates on outstanding balances decreased 4.2% for the six months ended June 30, 2015 compared to 4.5% for the six months ended June 30, 2014.
Other expense, net increased approximately $0.5 million , to $2.0 million of other expense for the six months ended June 30, 2015 , compared to $1.5 million of other expense, net for the six months ended June 30, 2014 , primarily due to higher losses on transactions denominated in foreign currencies within our Cequent APEA reportable segment.
The effective income tax rates for the six months ended June 30, 2015 and 2014 were 46.4% and 24.1% , respectively. The increase in the rate was primarily driven by a $2.9 million tax charge we recorded during the second quarter of 2015 related to certain spin related structuring steps; these charges were paid by our former parent company as part of the spin transaction and tax sharing agreement. These rate increases were partially offset by a higher portion of income earned in foreign tax jurisdictions with lower statutory tax rates.
Net income decreased by approximately $9.5 million , to $3.7 million for the six months ended June 30, 2015 , compared to $13.2 million for the six months ended June 30, 2014 . The decrease was primarily the result of a $10.2 million decrease in operating profit, plus a $0.5 million increase in other expenses, partially offset by approximately $0.1 million lower interest expense and approximately $1.0 million lower income tax expense.
See below for a discussion of operating results by segment.
Cequent Americas.     Net sales decreased approximately $17.6 million , or 7.2% , to $225.5 million in the six months ended June 30, 2015 , as compared to $243.1 million in the six months ended June 30, 2014 , primarily due to year-over-year decreases within our aftermarket and industrial channels. Net sales within our aftermarket channel decreased approximately $13.9 million primarily due to lower demand from our warehouse distributor customers as a result of consolidation of their distribution centers and the elimination of certain promotional incentives offered to our customers during the second quarter of 2014 that we did not make

26

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available to our customers during the second quarter of 2015. Net sales within our industrial channel decreased approximately $3.7 million, primarily due to lower demand from our OE and warehouse distributor customers servicing energy and agricultural end markets and the loss of RV OE content due to decisions made in 2014 to focus service levels on other customer channels. Net sales were also negatively impacted by approximately $1.5 million of unfavorable currency exchange, as our reported results in U.S. dollars were negatively impacted as a result of the stronger U.S. dollar relative to foreign currencies. Net sales within our retail channel increased approximately $1.0 million due to growth with existing automotive retail and e-commerce customers, a broom and brush product roll-out with a major home hardware center, partially offset by approximately $2.3 million of significant customer product roll-outs in the first quarter of 2014 that did not recur in 2015. The remaining change is attributable to our other market channels which remained relatively flat year-over-year.
Cequent Americas' gross profit decreased approximately $6.8 million to $59.4 million , or 26.3% of sales, in the six months ended June 30, 2015 , as compared to $66.2 million , or 27.2% of sales, in the six months ended June 30, 2014 , primarily due to lower sales levels. Gross profit margin was negatively impacted by a less favorable channel and product sales mix as our retail and automotive OE channels comprised a larger portion of our net sales. In addition, sales of our higher margin brake controllers and aftermarket hitches were lower year-over-year in part due to distributor consolidation and elimination of certain promotional incentives. Gross profit margin was also negatively impacted by approximately $0.8 million of one-time costs recorded in the second quarter of 2015 associated with combining our Cequent Consumer Products and Cequent Performance Products business units.
Selling, general and administrative expenses increased approximately $0.4 million to $43.9 million , or 19.5% of sales, in the six months ended June 30, 2015 , as compared to $43.5 million , or 17.9% of sales, in the six months ended June 30, 2014 . The increase in selling, general and administrative expenses year-over-year was primarily due to approximately $0.9 million of increased sales promotion costs, including expenses related to the expansion and development of our website and e-commerce capabilities and a new rebate program in the retail channel, and approximately $0.9 million higher legal expenses associated with ordinary course claims. Also during the second quarter of 2015 we recorded one-time selling, general and administrative expenses of approximately $0.6 million associated with combining our Cequent Consumer Products and Cequent Performance Product business units. Actions taken by the company to eliminate non-critical discretionary spending in response to lower sales levels partially offset the higher promotional, legal, and consolidation expenses.
Cequent Americas' operating profit decreased approximately $8.9 million to $13.7 million , or 6.1% of sales, in the six months ended June 30, 2015 , as compared to $22.6 million , or 9.3% of net sales, in the six months ended June 30, 2014 , primarily due to lower sales levels, a less favorable channel and product sales mix, and higher selling and general administrative costs. Operating profit margin was also negatively impacted by approximately $1.7 million of higher disposals of property and equipment, resulting from the write-off of costs associated with the implementation of software determined to be inadequate for the business and $1.4 million of one-time costs associated with combining our Cequent Consumer Products and Cequent Performance Products business units.
Cequent APEA.     Net sales decreased approximately $7.9 million , or 9.4% , to $75.4 million in the six months ended June 30, 2015 , as compared to $83.3 million in the six months ended June 30, 2014 . Net sales were negatively impacted by approximately $10.3 million of unfavorable currency exchange, as our reported results in U.S. dollars were negatively impacted as a result of the stronger U.S. dollar relative to foreign currencies. Net sales increased approximately $3.6 million in our South Africa business primarily due to increased demand from an existing OE customer and new program awards. Net sales decreased approximately $2.2 million in our Australia business primarily due to the loss of an OE contract and transfer of an OE program to our Thailand business to better serve our customer. The remaining change in net sales is primarily due to an increase in our Thailand business as a result of the the transfer of an OE program from the Australia business, partially offset by lower demand on other OE programs.
Cequent APEA's gross profit decreased approximately $2.5 million to $13.7 million , or 18.1% of sales, in the six months ended June 30, 2015 , from approximately $16.2 million , or 19.4% of sales, in the six months ended June 30, 2014 . Gross profit was negatively impacted by approximately $1.9 million of foreign currency exchange as a result of the stronger U.S. dollar relative to foreign currencies. Gross profit margin was also adversely impacted with one-time costs of approximately $0.8 million related to the closure of our facility in Finland. Productivity gains and cost reductions in our Thailand, South Africa, and United Kingdom businesses were more than offset by a decrease in gross profit in our Australia business primarily due to lower fixed cost absorption related to a decline in production levels in the first quarter of 2015 and the sale of higher cost inventory in the second quarter of 2015.
Selling, general and administrative expenses decreased approximately $1.8 million to $9.7 million , or 12.9% of sales, in the six months ended June 30, 2015 , as compared to $11.5 million , or 13.8% of sales, in the six months ended June 30, 2014 . Selling, general and administrative spending remained relatively flat in local currencies during the six months ended June 30, 2015 , as compared to the six months ended June 30, 2014 , with the decrease year-over-year due to approximately $1.5 million favorable impact of foreign currency exchange as a result of the stronger U.S. dollar relative to foreign currencies.

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Table of Contents

Cequent APEA's operating profit decreased approximately $0.7 million to approximately $3.9 million , or 5.2% of sales, in the six months ended June 30, 2015 , as compared to $4.6 million , or 5.6% of net sales, in the six months ended June 30, 2014 , primarily due to the one-time costs related to the facility closure in Finland.
Corporate Expenses.   Corporate expenses increased approximately $0.6 million to $8.6 million for the six months ended June 30, 2015 , from $8.0 million for the six months ended June 30, 2014 . These expenses are included in operating profit in the accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements and were allocated to us on the basis of direct usage when identifiable, with the remainder allocated on the basis of revenue or headcount.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Historically, TriMas had provided financing, cash management and other treasury services to us. The primary source of liquidity for our business has been cash flow provided by operations, which had historically been transferred to TriMas to support its overall cash management strategy. Going forward, we intend to fund our ongoing capital and working capital requirements through a combination of cash flows from operations, cash on hand and borrowings under our asset-based revolving credit facility ("ABL Facility"). We utilize intercompany loans and equity contributions to fund our worldwide operations. As of June 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, there was $15.6 million and $5.7 million, respectively, of cash held at foreign subsidiaries. There may be country specific regulations which may restrict or result in increased costs in the repatriation of these funds. See Note 7 . “ Long-term Debt ” included in Part I, Item 1, " Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements, " within this quarterly report on Form 10-Q.
Based on our current and anticipated levels of operations and the condition in our markets and industry, we believe that our cash on hand, cash flow from operations and availability under our ABL Facility will enable us to meet our working capital, capital expenditures, debt service and other funding requirements. However, our ability to fund our working capital needs, debt payments and other obligations, and to comply with financial covenants, including borrowing base limitations under our ABL Facility, depends on our future operating performance and cash flow and many factors outside of our control, including the costs of raw materials, the state of the automotive accessories market and financial and economic conditions and other factors. Any future acquisitions, joint ventures or other similar transactions will likely require additional capital and there can be no assurance that any such capital will be available to us on acceptable terms, if at all.
Cash Flows
Cash flows provided by operating activities were approximately $6.9 million for the six months ended June 30, 2015 and cash flows used for operating activities were approximately $18.3 million for the six months ended June 30, 2014 . Significant changes in cash flows provided by and used for operating activities and the reasons for such changes are as follows:
For the six months ended June 30, 2015 , we generated $17.2 million of cash, based on the reported net income of $3.7 million and after considering the effects of non-cash items related to losses on dispositions of property and equipment, depreciation, amortization, stock-based compensation, changes in deferred income taxes, and other, net. For the six months ended June 30, 2014 , we generated $25.5 million in cash flows based on the reported net income of $13.2 million and after considering the effects of similar non-cash items.
Increases in accounts receivable resulted in a use of cash of approximately $31.1 million and $41.8 million for the six months ended June 30, 2015 and 2014 , respectively. The increases in accounts receivable for the six months ended June 30, 2015 and 2014 is a result of higher sales activity in the second quarter compared to the fourth quarter. The decrease in cash used from accounts receivable for the six months ended June 30, 2015 is due to the timing of sales activity, as days sales outstanding remained relatively consistent at 53 days at June 30, 2015 compared to 55 days at June 30, 2014.
For the six months ended June 30, 2015 , we used approximately $4.1 million for investment in our inventories. Inventory levels increased primarily to support our increased sales volumes as compared to year end. For the six months ended June 30, 2014 , we reduced our investment in inventory, which resulted in a cash source of $11.6 million , primarily as a result of the reduction in inventory levels in our Cequent Americas reportable segment as the safety stock levels built in preparation for the move from our Goshen, Indiana manufacturing facility to lower cost country facilities were consumed and replenished at lower levels.

28

Table of Contents

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities increased during the six months ended June 30, 2015 , providing approximately $12.8 million of cash, compared to a decrease during the six months ended June 30, 2014 which resulted in the use of approximately $13.4 million of cash. During the six months ended June 30, 2015 accrued liabilities increased primarily due to a $9.6 million payable to our former parent in accordance with a tax sharing agreement entered into as part of the spin-off transaction. The remaining change in cash provided by and used for accounts payable and accrued liabilities is primarily a result of the timing of payments made to suppliers and mix of vendors and related terms. Our days accounts payable on hand increased from approximately 53 days for the six months ended June 30, 2014 to approximately 62 days for the six months ended June 30, 2015 .
Net cash used for investing activities for the six months ended June 30, 2015 and 2014 was approximately $2.7 million and $7.4 million , respectively. During the first six months of 2015 , we invested approximately $4.1 million in capital expenditures, as we have continued our investment in growth, capacity and productivity-related capital projects. Cash received from the disposition of property and equipment was approximately $1.5 million primarily due to the sale of assets in Finland. During the first six months of 2014 , we incurred approximately $7.6 million in capital expenditures and received cash from the disposition of property and equipment of approximately $0.2 million .
Net cash provided by financing activities was approximately $21.5 million and $28.8 million for the six months ended June 30, 2015 and 2014 , respectively. During the first six months of 2015 , we entered into credit agreements in connection with the spin-off transaction and received proceeds, net of transaction costs, of $193.0 million million from our Term B Loan, and $7.7 million from our ABL Facility. We also had net transfers from our former parent of $27.6 million . These proceeds were primarily used to pay a distribution to our former parent company upon spin-off of $214.5 million . We also had net additional borrowings on our Australian revolving credit facility of $7.7 million . During the first six months of 2014 , cash provided by financing activities primarily resulted from net transfers from our former parent.
Our Debt and Other Commitments
We and certain of our domestic subsidiaries are party to the ABL Facility, an asset-based revolving credit facility, that provides for $85.0 million of funding on a revolving basis, as well as a Term B Loan under which we borrowed an aggregate of $200.0 million . The ABL Facility matures in June 2020 and bears interest on outstanding balances at variable rates as outlined in the agreement, while the Term B Loan matures in June 2021 and bears interest at variable rates in accordance with the credit agreement. Refer to Note  7 , " Long-term Debt ," in Part I, Item 1, " Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements ," included within this quarterly report on Form 10-Q for additional information.
At June 30, 2015 approximately $9.3 million was outstanding on the ABL Facility bearing interest at a weighted average rate of 2.96% and $200.0 million was outstanding on the Term B Loan bearing interest at 7.00% .
The ABL Facility and Term B Loan agreements contain various negative and affirmative covenants and other requirements affecting us and our subsidiaries, including restrictions on incurrence of debt, liens, mergers, investments, loans, advances, guarantee obligations, acquisitions, asset dispositions, sale-leaseback transactions, hedging agreements, dividends and other restricted payments, transactions with affiliates, restrictive agreements and amendments to charters, bylaws, and other material documents. The ABL Facility does not include any financial maintenance covenants other than a springing minimum fixed charge coverage ratio of at least 1.00 to 1.00 on a trailing twelve-month basis, which will be tested only upon the occurrence of an event of default or certain other conditions as specified in the agreement. The Term B Loan contains a financial maintenance covenant which requires us to maintain a net leverage ratio not exceeding, through the fiscal quarter ending September 30, 2016, 5.25 to 1.00; through the fiscal quarter ending September 30, 2017, 5.00 to 1.00; through the fiscal quarter ending September 30, 2018, 4.75 to 1.00; and thereafter, 4.50 to 1.00. At June 30, 2015 , we were in compliance with our financial covenants contained in the ABL Facility and the Term B Loan, respectively.
Our Australian subsidiary is party to a facility agreement consisting of an approximately $15.4 million revolving trade finance facility, which matures on August 31, 2015 , is subject to interest at Bank Bill Swap rate plus 1.9% and is secured by substantially all the assets of the subsidiary. $7.7 million was outstanding under this agreement as of June 30, 2015 at an average interest rate of 4.05%; no amounts were outstanding as of December 31, 2014 . Borrowings under this arrangement are also subject to financial and reporting covenants. Financial covenants include a working capital coverage ratio (working capital over total debt), a minimum tangible net worth calculation (total assets plus subordinated debt, less liabilities, intangible assets and goodwill) and an interest coverage ratio (EBIT over gross interest cost). We were in compliance with such covenants for all periods presented.
We are subject to variable interest rates on our term loan and revolving credit facility. At June 30, 2015, 1-Month LIBOR and 3-Month LIBOR approximated 0.19% and 0.28%, respectively.
Principal payments required under the credit agreement for the Term B Loan Facility are $2.5 million due each calendar quarter beginning September 2015, with the remaining principal due on maturity, June 30, 2021. Commencing with the fiscal year ending

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December 31, 2016, and for each fiscal year thereafter, we may also be required to make prepayments of outstanding term loans under the Term B Loan in an amount equal to 50.0% of our excess cash flow for such fiscal year, as defined, subject to adjustments based on our leverage ratio and optional prepayments of term loans and certain other indebtedness.
In addition to our long-term debt, we have other cash commitments related to leases. We account for these lease transactions as operating leases and annual rent expense related thereto approximated $15.1 million. We expect to continue to utilize leasing as a financing strategy in the future to meet capital expenditure needs and to reduce debt levels.
The following is a reconciliation of net income, as reported, which is a GAAP measure of our operating results, to Consolidated Bank EBITDA, as defined in our Credit Agreement, for the twelve months ended June 30, 2015 . We present Consolidated Bank EBITDA to show our performance under our financial covenants.
 
 
 
 
Less:
 
Add:
 
 
 
 
Year Ended December 31, 2014
 
Six Months Ended June 30, 2014
 
Six Months Ended June 30, 2015
 
Twelve Months Ended June 30, 2015
 
 
(dollars in thousands)
Net income
 
$
15,350

 
$
13,200

 
$
3,680

 
$
5,830

Bank stipulated adjustments:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest expense, net
 
720

 
360

 
240

 
600

Income tax expense
 
5,240

 
4,190

 
3,180

 
4,230

Depreciation and amortization
 
18,930

 
9,740

 
8,800

 
17,990

Non-cash compensation expense (1)
 
2,660

 
1,570

 
1,270

 
2,360

Other non-cash expenses or losses
 
15,260

 
8,620

 
10,930

 
17,570

Non-recurring expenses or costs (2)
 
4,440

 
2,440

 
3,530

 
5,530

Acquisition integration costs (3)
 
90

 
60

 

 
30

Interest-equivalent costs associated with any Specified Vendor Receivables Financing
 
870

 
320

 
330

 
880

Consolidated Bank EBITDA, as defined
 
$
63,560

 
$
40,500

 
$
31,960

 
$
55,020

 
 
 
June 30, 2015
 
 
 
(dollars in thousands)
 
Total Consolidated Indebtedness
 
$
210,370

 
Consolidated Bank EBITDA, as defined
 
55,020

 
Actual leverage ratio
 
3.82

x
Covenant requirement
 
5.25

x
______________________
(1)  
Non-cash compensation expenses resulting from the grant of restricted shares of common stock and common stock options. Amounts allocated by former parent company.
(2)  
Non-recurring costs and expenses relating to cost savings projects, including restructuring and severance expenses, not to exceed $5.0 million in any fiscal year and $15 million in aggregate, commencing on or after January 1, 2015.
(3)
Costs and expenses arising from the integration of any business acquired not to exceed $7.5 million in any fiscal year $20.0 million in the aggregate.

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Credit Rating
We and certain of our outstanding debt obligations are rated by Standard & Poor's and Moody's. On April 30, 2015, Moody's assigned a rating of B2 to our then proposed $215 million senior secured term loan, as presented in Note 7 , "Long-term Debt" included in Item 1 , "Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements" within this quarterly report on Form 10-Q. Moody's also assigned a Ba2 to our corporate family rating and established our outlook as stable. On April 30, 2015, Standard & Poor's assigned a B corporate credit rating to our then proposed $215 million senior secured term loan. Standard & Poor's also assigned our outlook as stable. If our credit ratings were to decline, our ability to access certain financial markets may become limited, our cost of borrowings may increase, the perception of us in the view of our customers, suppliers and security holders may worsen and as a result, we may be adversely affected.
Market Risk
We conduct business in various locations throughout the world and are subject to market risk due to changes in the value of foreign currencies. The functional currencies of our foreign subsidiaries are primarily the local currency in the country of domicile. We manage these operating activities at the local level and revenues and costs are generally denominated in local currencies; however, results of operations and assets and liabilities reported in U.S. dollars will fluctuate with changes in exchange rates between such local currencies and the U.S. dollar.
We use derivative financial instruments to manage currency risks associated with our procurement activities denominated in currencies other than the functional currency of our subsidiaries and the impact of currency rate volatility on our earnings. As of June 30, 2015 , we were party to forward contracts to hedge changes in foreign currency exchange rates with notional amounts of approximately $17.3 million .
We are also subject to interest risk as it relates to our long-term debt. We have historically and may in the future use interest rate swap agreements to fix the variable portion of our debt to manage this risk. See Note 8 , " Derivative Instruments ," included in Part 1, Item 1, " Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements ," within this quarterly report on Form 10-Q.
Outlook
We believe the macroeconomic environment in 2015 will continue to present some headwinds for many of our businesses, most notably due to the recent strengthening of the U.S. dollar relative to foreign currencies and little or no general economic growth. Additionally, while we believe that the continued consolidation in aftermarket distribution presents long-term opportunities for our Company given our strong brand positions, portfolio of product offerings, and existing customer relationships, our results of operations may be impacted by the closure and consolidation of customer warehouses in the short term, as we experienced in the second quarter of 2015.
We attempt to mitigate the challenging external factors by executing productivity projects across our Businesses which we believe will drive future margin expansion, including leveraging past investments in our low-cost manufacturing footprint, global customer relationships and global manufacturing and distribution capabilities. We believe these initiatives will carry through 2015 and beyond and enhance our margins and business portfolio over time.
Our strategic priorities are to improve margins, reduce our leverage, and drive top line growth.
Impact of New Accounting Standards
See Note  2 , " New Accounting Pronouncements ," included in Part 1, Item 1, " Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements ," within this quarterly report on Form 10-Q.
Critical Accounting Policies
Certain of our accounting policies require the application of significant judgment by management in selecting the appropriate assumptions for calculating financial estimates. By their nature, these judgments are subject to an inherent degree of uncertainty. These judgments are based on our historical experience, our evaluation of business and macroeconomic trends, and information from other outside sources, as appropriate.
During the quarter ended June 30, 2015 , there were no material changes to the items that we disclosed as our critical accounting policies in " Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations ," in our Registration Statement.

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Emerging Growth Company
The Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012, or the JOBS Act, establishes a class of company called an “emerging growth company,” which generally is a company whose initial public offering was completed after December 8, 2011 and had total annual gross revenues of less than $1 billion during its most recently completed fiscal year. We currently qualify as an emerging growth company.
As an emerging growth company, we are eligible to take advantage of certain exemptions from various reporting requirements that are not available to public reporting companies that do not qualify for this classification, including without limitation the following:
An emerging growth company is exempt from any requirement that may be adopted by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board regarding mandatory audit firm rotation or a supplement to the auditor’s report providing additional information about the audit and financial statements, commonly known as an “auditor discussion and analysis.”
An emerging growth company is not required to hold a nonbinding advisory stockholder vote on executive compensation or any golden parachute payments not previously approved by stockholders.
An emerging growth company is not required to comply with the requirement of auditor attestation of management’s assessment of internal control over financial reporting, which is required for other public reporting companies by Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.
An emerging growth company is eligible for reduced disclosure obligations regarding executive compensation in its periodic and annual reports, including without limitation exemption from the requirement to provide a compensation discussion and analysis describing compensation practices and procedures.
A company that is an emerging growth company is eligible for reduced financial statement disclosure in registration statements, which must include two years of audited financial statements rather than the three years of audited financial statements that are required for other public reporting companies.
For as long as we continue to be an emerging growth company, we expect that we will take advantage of the reduced disclosure obligations available to us as a result of this classification. We will remain an emerging growth company until the earlier of (i) December 31, 2020, the last day of the fiscal year following the fifth anniversary of the date of the first sale of our common stock pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act; (ii) the last day of the fiscal year in which we have total annual gross revenues of $1 billion or more; (iii) the date on which we have issued more than $1 billion in nonconvertible debt during the previous three years; or (iv) the date on which we are deemed to be a large accelerated filer under applicable SEC rules. We expect that we will remain an emerging growth company for the foreseeable future, but cannot retain our emerging growth company status indefinitely and will no longer qualify as an emerging growth company on or before December 31, 2020.
Emerging growth companies may elect to take advantage of the extended transition period provided in Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act for complying with new or revised accounting standards. This allows an emerging growth company to delay the adoption of certain accounting standards until those standards would otherwise apply to private companies. We have elected to "opt out" of such extended transition period, and, as a result, we will comply with new or revised accounting standards on the relevant dates on which adoption of such standards is required for companies that are not “emerging growth companies.” Section 107 of the JOBS Act provides that our decision to opt out of the extended transition period for complying with new or revised accounting standards is irrevocable.
Item 3.    Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
In the normal course of business, we are exposed to market risk associated with fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates. We are also subject to interest risk as it relates to long-term debt. See Part I, Item 2, " Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, " for details about our primary market risks, and the objectives and strategies used to manage these risks. Also see Note  7 , " Long-term Debt ," and Note 8 , " Derivative Instruments ," in Part I, Item 1, " Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements ," included within this quarterly report on Form 10-Q for additional information.

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Item 4.    Controls and Procedures
The Company maintains disclosure controls and procedures that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in the reports that the Company files or submits under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act, is recorded, processed, summarized, and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC's rules and forms, and that such information 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 disclosures.
Evaluation of disclosure controls and procedures
As of June 30, 2015 , an evaluation was carried out by management, with the participation of the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of the Company's disclosure controls and procedures (as such term is defined in Rule 13a-15(e) and Rule 15d-15(e) of the Exchange Act) pursuant to Rule 13a-15 of the Exchange Act. The Company's disclosure controls and procedures are designed only to provide reasonable assurance that they will meet their objectives. Based upon that evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that, as of June 30, 2015 , the Company's disclosure controls and procedures are effective to provide reasonable assurance that they would meet their objectives.
Changes in internal control over financial reporting
Before the spin-off, we relied on certain financial information and resources of TriMas to manage aspects of our business and to report financial results. In anticipation of the spin-off, several areas of internal control over financial reporting changed. New corporate and oversight functions have been implemented, such as external financial reporting, legal, Board of Directors and treasury functions. Functions such as tax, accounting and human resources have also been enhanced to include corporate-level activities previously performed by TriMas and to meet all regulatory requirements for a stand-alone company. Controls and procedures related to these new functions have been, or are in the process of being, implemented. Additionally, we entered into a transition services agreement with TriMas on June 30, 2015, pursuant to which TriMas agreed to provide us certain information technology, accounting and other resource planning services to facilitate certain accounting and reporting functions after the spin-off.
 

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PART II. OTHER INFORMATION
HORIZON GLOBAL CORPORATION
Item 1.    Legal Proceedings
We are subject to claims and litigation in the ordinary course of business, but we do not believe that any such claim or litigation is likely to have a material adverse effect on our financial position and results of operations or cash flows.
Item 1A.    Risk Factors
In addition to the other information set forth in this report, you should carefully consider the factors discussed in the section entitled " Risk Factors ," in our Registration Statement, which could materially affect our business, financial condition or future results. Significant changes in Risk Factors from those discussed in our Registration Statement are as follows:
If we are unable to systematically consolidate our brand names it may impair our related intangible assets, which could have a material negative impact on our financial results
As of June 30, 2015 , we have approximately $23.9 million in intangible assets related to trademarks/trade names. We are currently in the process of simplifying our brand portfolio to reduce complexity and increase margins. If we are unable to successfully consolidate our brands we may be required to record impairment charges related to our related intangible assets.
Item 2.    Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds
None.
Item 3.    Defaults Upon Senior Securities
Not applicable.
Item 4.    Mine Safety Disclosures
Not applicable.
Item 5.    Other Information
Not applicable.

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Table of Contents

Item 6.    Exhibits.
Exhibits Index:

2.1(b)*
Separation and Distribution Agreement, dated as of June 30, 2015, by and between Horizon Global Corporation and TriMas Corporation.
3.1
Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Horizon Global Corporation.
3.2(a)
Amended and Restated By-laws of Horizon Global Corporation.
10.1(b)
Tax Sharing Agreement, dated as of June 30, 2015, by and between Horizon Global Corporation and TriMas Corporation.
10.2(b)
Employee Matters Agreement, dated as of June 30, 2015, by and between Horizon Global Corporation and TriMas Corporation.
10.3(b)
Transition Services Agreement, dated as of June 30, 2015, by and between Horizon Global Corporation and TriMas Corporation.
10.4(b)
Noncompetition and Nonsolicitation Agreement, dated as of June 30, 2015, by and between Horizon Global Corporation and TriMas Corporation.
10.5(b)
Loan Agreement, dated as of June 30, 2015, among the Company, Cequent Performance Products, Inc., Cequent Consumer Products, Inc., the lenders party thereto and Bank of America, N.A., as agent for the lenders.
10.6(b)
Term Credit Agreement, dated as of June 30, 2015, among the Company, the lenders party thereto and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative and collateral agent.
10.7
Horizon Global Corporation Executive Retirement Plan effective as of July 1, 2015.
10.8(a)
Form of Indemnification Agreement.
10.9(a)
Horizon Global Corporation 2015 Equity and Incentive Compensation Plan.
31.1
Certification pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
31.2
Certification pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
32.1
Certification pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
32.2
Certification pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
101.INS
XBRL Instance Document.
101.SCH
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document.
101.CAL
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document.
101.DEF
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document.
101.LAB
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document.
101.PRE
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document.

(a)
 
Incorporated by reference to the Exhibits filed with our S-1/A Registration Statement filed on June 11, 2015 (Reg. No. 333-203138).

(b)
 
Incorporated by reference to the Exhibits filed with our Current Report on Form 8-K filed on July 6, 2015 (File No. 001-37427).

 
 
 
* Certain exhibits and schedules were omitted in the original filing and the Company agrees to furnish supplementally to the Securities and Exchange Commission a copy of any omitted exhibits and schedules upon request.




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Signatures
Pursuant to the requirements 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.
 
 
HORIZON GLOBAL CORPORATION (Registrant)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
/s/ DAVID G. RICE
 
 
 
 
 
Date:
August 11, 2015
By:
 
David G. Rice
Chief Financial Officer


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Exhibits Index:

2.1(b)*
Separation and Distribution Agreement, dated as of June 30, 2015, by and between Horizon Global Corporation and TriMas Corporation.
3.1
Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Horizon Global Corporation.
3.2(a)
Amended and Restated By-laws of Horizon Global Corporation.
10.1(b)
Tax Sharing Agreement, dated as of June 30, 2015, by and between Horizon Global Corporation and TriMas Corporation.
10.2(b)
Employee Matters Agreement, dated as of June 30, 2015, by and between Horizon Global Corporation and TriMas Corporation.
10.3(b)
Transition Services Agreement, dated as of June 30, 2015, by and between Horizon Global Corporation and TriMas Corporation.
10.4(b)
Noncompetition and Nonsolicitation Agreement, dated as of June 30, 2015, by and between Horizon Global Corporation and TriMas Corporation.
10.5(b)
Loan Agreement, dated as of June 30, 2015, among the Company, Cequent Performance Products, Inc., Cequent Consumer Products, Inc., the lenders party thereto and Bank of America, N.A., as agent for the lenders.
10.6(b)
Term Credit Agreement, dated as of June 30, 2015, among the Company, the lenders party thereto and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative and collateral agent.
10.7
Horizon Global Corporation Executive Retirement Plan effective as of July 1, 2015.
10.8(a)
Form of Indemnification Agreement.
10.9(a)
Horizon Global Corporation 2015 Equity and Incentive Compensation Plan.
31.1
Certification pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
31.2
Certification pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
32.1
Certification pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
32.2
Certification pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
101.INS
XBRL Instance Document.
101.SCH
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document.
101.CAL
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document.
101.DEF
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document.
101.LAB
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document.
101.PRE
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document.

(a)
 
Incorporated by reference to the Exhibits filed with our S-1/A Registration Statement filed on June 11, 2015 (Reg. No. 333-203138).

(b)
 
Incorporated by reference to the Exhibits filed with our Current Report on Form 8-K filed on July 6, 2015 (File No. 001-37427).

 
 
 
* Certain exhibits and schedules were omitted in the original filing and the Company agrees to furnish supplementally to the Securities and Exchange Commission a copy of any omitted exhibits and schedules upon request.



37

AMENDED AND RESTATED CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION
OF
HORIZON GLOBAL CORPORATION
Horizon Global Corporation (the “Corporation”), a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware, hereby certifies as follows:
A. The name of the Corporation is Horizon Global Corporation. The Corporation’s original Certificate of Incorporation was filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on January 14, 2015. The Corporation filed a Certificate of Correction with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on March 10, 2015 changing its name from Horizon Industries Inc. to Horizon Global Corporation.
B. This Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, which amends and restates the Corporation’s original Certificate of Incorporation in its entirety, was duly adopted in accordance with Sections 242 and 245 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.
C. The Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation shall read in its entirety as follows:
ARTICLE I
Section 1.1     Name . The name of the Corporation is Horizon Global Corporation
ARTICLE II
Section 2.1     Address . The registered office and registered agent of the Corporation is Corporation Service Company, 2711 Centerville Road, Suite 400, City of Wilmington, County of New Castle, Delaware 19808.
ARTICLE III
Section 3.1     Purpose . The purpose of the Corporation is to engage in any lawful act or activity for which corporations may be organized under the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (“DGCL”).
ARTICLE IV
Section 4.1     Capitalization . The total number of shares of stock that the Corporation is authorized to issue is 500,000,000 shares, consisting of (i) 400,000,000 shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share (“Common Stock”); and (ii) 100,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.01 per share (“Preferred Stock”). The number of authorized shares of any of the Common Stock or the Preferred Stock may be increased or decreased (but not below the number of shares thereof then outstanding) by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority in voting power of the stock of the Corporation entitled to vote thereon irrespective of the provisions of Section 242(b)(2) of the DGCL (or any successor provision thereto), and no vote of the holders of any of the Common Stock or the Preferred Stock voting separately as a class shall be required therefor.
Section 4.2     Common Stock .
(a)     Dividends . Subject to the preferential rights, if any, of the holders of Preferred Stock, the holders of Common Stock shall be entitled to receive, when, as and if declared by the Board of Directors, out of the assets of the Corporation which are by law available therefor, dividends payable either in cash, in property or in shares of capital stock.




(b)     Voting Rights . At every annual or special meeting of stockholders of the Corporation, every share of Common Stock shall entitle the holder thereof to one vote, in person or by proxy, for each share of Common Stock standing in his or her name on the books of the Corporation; provided that the holders of Common Stock shall have no voting rights with respect to matters reserved (by law or by agreement with the Corporation) solely for any other class of capital stock.
(c)     Liquidation, Dissolution or Winding Up . In the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation, after payment or provision for payment of the debts and other liabilities of the Corporation and of the preferential amounts, if any, to which the holders of Preferred Stock shall be entitled, the holders of all outstanding shares of Common Stock shall be entitled to receive the remaining assets of the Corporation available for distribution to holders of Common Stock ratably in proportion to the number of shares held by each such stockholder.
Section 4.3     Preferred Stock . The Board of Directors is hereby expressly authorized, by resolution or resolutions, to provide, out of the unissued shares of Preferred Stock, for series of Preferred Stock and, with respect to each such series, to fix the number of shares constituting such series and the designation of such series, the voting powers (full or limited, if any) of the shares of such series, and the preferences and relative, participating, optional or other special rights, if any, and any qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof, of the shares of such series. The powers, preferences and relative, participating, optional and other special rights of each series of Preferred Stock, and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof, if any, may differ from those of any and all other series at any time outstanding.
ARTICLE V
Section 5.1     Bylaws . In furtherance and not in limitation of the powers conferred by the DGCL, the Board of Directors is expressly authorized to make, amend, alter and repeal the Bylaws of the Corporation without the assent or vote of the stockholders, in any manner not inconsistent with the laws of the State of Delaware or this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation.
ARTICLE VI
Section 6.1     Board of Directors: Composition . The business and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed by or under the direction of a Board of Directors consisting of not less than three directors or more than fifteen directors, the exact number of directors to be determined from time to time by resolution adopted by affirmative vote of a majority of the Board of Directors. The directors (other than those directors, if any, elected by the holders of any series of Preferred Stock pursuant to any certificate of designations relating to any series of Preferred Stock, voting separately as a class), will be divided into three classes as nearly equal in size as practicable: Class I, Class II and Class III. Each director will serve for a three-year term expiring on the date of the third annual meeting of stockholders of the Corporation following the annual meeting of stockholders at which that director was elected; provided, however, that the directors first designated as Class I directors will serve for a term expiring on the date of the annual meeting of stockholders next following the end of the calendar year 2015, the directors first designated as Class II directors will serve for a term expiring on the date of the annual meeting of stockholders next following the end of the calendar year 2016, and the directors first designated as Class III directors will serve for a term expiring on the date of the annual meeting of stockholders next following the end of the calendar year 2017. Each director will hold office until the annual meeting of stockholders at which that director’s term expires and, the foregoing notwithstanding, serve until his or her successor shall have been duly elected and qualified or until his or her earlier death, resignation or removal. Any director elected by the holders of a series of Preferred Stock will be elected for the term set forth in the certificate of designations relating to such series of Preferred Stock. If the number of directors is changed, any increase or decrease shall be apportioned among the classes so as to maintain the number of directors in each class as nearly equal as possible, and any additional director of any class elected to fill a newly created directorship resulting from an increase in such class shall hold office for a term that shall coincide with the

- 2 -    


remaining term of that class, but in no case shall a decrease in the number of directors remove or shorten the term of any incumbent director.
Section 6.2     Board of Directors: Vacancies . Any newly created directorship on the Board of Directors that results from an increase in the number of directors and any vacancy occurring in the Board of Directors shall be filled only by a majority of the directors then in office, although less than a quorum, or by a sole remaining director. Any director elected to fill a vacancy not resulting from an increase in the number of directors shall have the same remaining term as that of his or her predecessor.
Section 6.3     Removal of Directors . Directors may be removed only for cause, and only by the affirmative vote of at least a majority in voting power of all shares of the Corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, voting as a single class.
Section 6.4     Preferred Stock Directors . Notwithstanding the foregoing, whenever the holders of any one or more series of Preferred Stock issued by the Corporation shall have the right, voting separately as a series or separately as a class with one or more such other series, to elect directors at an annual or special meeting of stockholders, the election, term of office, removal, filling of vacancies and other features of such directorships shall be governed by the terms of this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (including any certificate of designations relating to any series of Preferred Stock) applicable thereto, and such directors so elected shall not be divided into classes pursuant to this Article, unless expressly provided by such terms.
Section 6.5     Meetings of Stockholders . Any action required or permitted to be taken by the holders of the Common Stock of the Corporation must be effected at a duly called annual or special meeting of such holders and may not be effected by any consent in writing by such holders. Except as otherwise required by law and subject to the rights of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock, special meetings of the stockholders of the Corporation may be called only by the Chairman of the Board of Directors or the Board of Directors pursuant to a resolution approved by the Board of Directors.
ARTICLE VII
Section 7.1     Limited Liability of Directors . To the extent permitted by Section 102(b)(7) of the DGCL, as the same may be supplemented and amended, no director of the Corporation shall be personally liable to the Corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director, except for liability (a) for any breach of the director’s duty of loyalty to the Corporation or its stockholders, (b) for acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law, (c) under Section 174 of the DGCL, or (d) for any transaction from which the director derived an improper personal benefit. Any repeal or modification of this Article VII shall not increase the liability of any director of the Corporation for any act or occurrence taking place prior to such repeal or modification, or otherwise adversely affect any right or protection of a director of the Corporation existing at the time of such repeal or modification.
ARTICLE VIII
Section 8.1     Indemnification of Directors, Officers or Agents .
(a)    Each person who was or is made a party or is threatened to be made a party to or is otherwise involved in any action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, by reason of the fact that such person is or was a director or officer of the Corporation, whether the basis of such proceeding is alleged action in an official capacity as a director or officer or in any other capacity while serving as a director or officer shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Corporation to the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL, as the same exists or may hereafter be amended (but, in the case of any such amendment, only to the extent that such amendment permits the Corporation to provide broader indemnification rights than such law permitted the Corporation to provide prior to such amendment), against all expense, liability and loss (including, without limitation, attorneys’ fees, judgment,

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fines and amounts paid in settlement) reasonably incurred or suffered by such person in connection therewith, and such indemnification shall continue as to a person who has ceased to be a director or officer and shall inure to the benefit of such person’s heirs, executors and administrators. The Corporation shall indemnify a director or officer in connection with an action, suit or proceeding (other than an action, suit or proceeding to enforce indemnification rights provided for herein or elsewhere) initiated by such director or officer only if such action, suit or proceeding was authorized by the Board of Directors. The right to indemnification conferred in this Paragraph (a) shall be a contract right and shall include the right to be paid by the Corporation the expenses incurred in defending any action, suit or proceeding in advance of its final disposition; provided, however, that, if the DGCL requires, the payment of such expenses incurred by a director or officer in such person’s capacity as a director or officer (and not in any other capacity in which service was or is rendered by such person) in advance of the final disposition of an action, suit or proceeding shall be made only upon delivery to the Corporation of an undertaking, by or on behalf of such director or officer, to repay all amounts so advanced if it shall ultimately be determined by final judicial decision from which there is no further right to appeal that such director or officer is not entitled to be indemnified for such expenses under this Article VIII or otherwise.
(b)    The Corporation may, to the extent authorized from time to time by the Board of Directors, provide indemnification and the advancement of expenses, to any agent of the Corporation and to any person who is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director or officer or agent of another corporation or of a partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, to such extent and to such effect as the Board of Directors shall determine to be appropriate and permitted by applicable law, as the same exists or may hereafter be amended.
(c)    The rights to indemnification and to the advancement of expenses conferred in this Article VIII shall not be exclusive of any other right which any person may have or hereafter acquire under any statute, provision of the Certificate of Incorporation or bylaws of the Corporation, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise.
ARTICLE IX
Section 9.1      Insurance . The Corporation may maintain insurance, at its expense, to protect itself and any director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation or of another corporation or a partnership, joint venture, limited liability company, trust or other enterprise against any expense, liability or loss, whether or not the Corporation would have the power to indemnify such person against such expense, liability or loss under the DGCL.
ARTICLE X
Section 10.1     Severability . If any provision or provisions of this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation shall be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable as applied to any circumstance for any reason whatsoever: (i) the validity, legality and enforceability of such provisions in any other circumstance and of the remaining provisions of this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (including, without limitation, each portion of any paragraph of this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable that is not itself held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable) shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby and (ii) to the fullest extent possible, the provisions of this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (including, without limitation, each such portion of any paragraph of this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable) shall be construed so as to permit the Corporation to protect its directors, officers, employees and agents from personal liability in respect of their good faith service to or for the benefit of the Corporation.


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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has caused this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation to be signed on June 17, 2015.

HORIZON GLOBAL CORPORATION
By: /s/ Jay Goldbaum
Name: Jay Goldbaum
Title: Vice President & Corporate Secretary


















HORIZON GLOBAL CORPORATION EXECUTIVE RETIREMENT PLAN
Effective as of July 1, 2015







ARTICLE I
COVERAGE

1.1      Establishment of Plan and Effective Date . Horizon Global Corporation (the “Company”) adopts the Horizon Global Corporation Executive Retirement Plan (the “Plan”), effective July 1, 2015 (the “Effective Date”).
1.2      Purpose . The purpose of the Plan is to provide supplemental benefits to a select group of management or highly compensated employees who terminate employment with a vested benefit or retire after the Effective Date under the defined contribution type retirement plan, a tax-qualified retirement plan under Section 401(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), that is sponsored or adopted by the Company from time to time for salaried Company employees (the “Qualified Plan”). The Plan also provides participants with the opportunity to defer compensation that would otherwise be currently payable and taxable to such participants. Plan benefits consist of three parts: (a) a supplemental executive retirement feature that provides each eligible participant with a percent of calendar quarter base pay (the “SERP”); (b) a compensation limit restoration feature (the “CLRP”) that provides each eligible participant with a make-up contribution based on the respective participant’s loss of a full employer contribution under the Qualified Plan due to the annual compensation limit set forth in Code Section 401(a)(17); and (c) an election to defer receipt of amounts earned by a participant in the form of base pay and bonus. The Plan is intended to encourage the continued employment and diligent service of Plan participants.
1.3      Code Section 409A . Benefits under the Plan are intended to be exempt from or in compliance with Code Section 409A, but in no event shall the Company, or affiliate of the Company, be responsible for any tax or penalty owed by a participant or beneficiary with respect to Plan benefits.
1.4      Assumption and Direct Continuation of Payment Obligations for TriMas Plan Benefits . As part of the Plan’s establishment, the terms and benefits under the TriMas Corporation Executive Retirement Program (the “TriMas Plan”) in existence as of the Plan’s effective date of the Plan’s initial Company participants listed on Appendix A to the Plan (the “Initial Participants”), and their continued, assumed benefits are their “Initial Benefits”) have been directly assumed by the Company, with the Company assuming and this Plan representing a continuation of the payment obligations and related terms regarding such benefits under such assumed portion of the TriMas Plan, including terms as to assumed benefit payment obligations that were vested under the TriMas Plan on December 31, 2004, which benefits are intended to be “grandfathered” and exempt from Code Section 409A, and as to which there is intended to be no material modification. The Plan’s initial records include for each Initial Participant his or her Initial Benefits by amount and type as of the Effective Date. All of the Plan’s references to benefits credited for any period prior to the Effective Date apply solely to such Initial Participants and their Initial Benefits. Each Initial Participant shall have no further benefit provided by or otherwise participate in the TriMas Plan on and after the Effective Date.

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1.5      Construction . The Plan shall be construed in accordance with Michigan law, except where preempted by federal law and is intended to be construed in a manner that will provide benefits that are exempt from or in compliance with Code Section 409A. It is intended that the Plan shall constitute a “top hat plan” that is unfunded and maintained primarily for the purpose of providing deferred compensation for a select group of management or highly compensated employees, so that the Plan is exempt from the requirements of Parts 2, 3 and 4 of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (“ERISA”). All provisions of the Plan shall be interpreted in accordance with such intentions.

ARTICLE II
COVERAGE

2.1      Covered Employees and Commencement of Coverage . Plan coverage shall be limited to those highly-compensated or management employees of the Company, who:
For purposes of the SERP benefit, the Deferral Contributions benefit, are executive officers of the Company; and
For purposes of the CLRP benefit, have been paid Base Annual Salary (as defined in Section 3.3(b)) in any calendar year that exceeds the annual compensation limit of Code Section 401(a)(17) under the Qualified Plan. Contributions under the CLRP shall be made on a quarterly basis and shall not commence in any calendar year until a participant’s Base Annual Salary has exceeded the Code Section 401(a)(17) cap for such calendar year.
Coverage under the SERP shall commence immediately upon satisfaction of the eligibility requirements. Coverage under the CLRP commences on the first day of the month after completion of “one year of service,” as defined under the Qualified Plan. Coverage under the Deferral Contributions benefit shall commence on the Effective Date, or if later, the first day of the calendar year after a participant completes an Election Form except as otherwise in Section 3.3(c)(i).
2.2      Cessation of Coverage . An employee shall cease to be covered by the SERP and Deferral Contribution portions of the Plan as an active participant on the earlier of (a) the employee’s date of employment termination, or (ii) the date on which the employee no longer is a Company executive officer. For purposes of the CLRP portion of the Plan, an employee shall not participate in the CLRP benefit during any calendar year in which the employee’s Base Annual Salary does not exceed the Code Section 401(a)(17) limit and shall totally cease upon a participant’s termination of employment. “Termination of employment” for a participant whose Plan benefit was not vested on December 31, 2004, shall be interpreted to mean “separation from service,” as defined under Code Section 409A.
ARTICLE III
BENEFITS

3.1      Account . An unfunded bookkeeping account in the name of each participant shall be established to record the contribution entries on behalf of each participant in the Plan (an “Account”).

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3.2      Plan Benefit Amount . A covered employee shall be entitled to either or both retirement benefits described in (a) and (b) below, as applicable, and Deferral Contributions under Section 3.3 if elected; provided, that such retirement benefits as described in (a) and (b) below for an Initial Participant shall also include the corresponding amounts included in his or her Initial Benefit.
(a)      Supplemental Executive Retirement Feature (“SERP”) . Quarterly bookkeeping contribution entries shall be made to each eligible participant’s Account based on a set percentage of the participant’s Base Annual Salary (as the participant’s Base Annual Salary may be adjusted from time to time). The percentage is based on the age of the employee at the time of contribution. A participant’s contribution percentage shall be determined as follows:
Participant’s Age
(As of the contribution date)
Company Contribution  
(% of Base Annual Salary)
Less than 40
2%
40 – 49
4%
50 and above
6%

(b)      Compensation Limit Restoration Feature (“CLRP”) . Each year, once the Base Annual Salary of an eligible participant exceeds the Code Section 401(a)(17) annual compensation limit for that calendar year, a quarterly bookkeeping contribution entry shall be made to the participant’s Account by applying the designated percentage that the employer would have used for the participant’s employer contribution under the Qualified Plan, to the amount by which the participant’s Base Annual Salary exceeded the Code Section 401(a)(17) annual limit. CLRP contributions shall be credited to a participant’s Account on a quarterly basis.
3.3      Deferral Contribution .
(a)      Election to Defer . A participant may make an election to defer the receipt of amounts earned by the participant during any calendar year in the form of Base Annual Salary and Bonus (as such terms are defined in Section 3.3(b) below). The participant’s intent to defer shall be evidenced by an annual Election Form (as defined in Section 3.3(c)), submitted to the Plan Administrator in accordance with such procedures and time frames as may be established by the Plan Administrator in its sole discretion. Amounts deferred by a participant with respect to a given calendar year shall be referred to collectively as a Deferral Contribution and shall be credited to a Deferral Contribution Account established in the name of the participant; provided, that such Deferral Contribution Account as described here for an Initial Participant shall also include the corresponding amount included in his or her Initial Benefit.
(b)      Definitions and Components of Deferral Contributions .
(i)
Base Annual Salary . A participant may designate a percentage to be deducted from his Base Annual Salary. Such amount shall be withheld, in substantially equal installments, from each regularly scheduled payment of Base Annual

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Salary. Each installment shall be adjusted during the calendar year to reflect changes, if any, in the participant’s Base Annual Salary.
(ii)
Bonus . A participant may designate a percentage amount to be deducted from his Bonus attributable to the calendar year.
(iii)
Maximum Deferral . For any calendar year, the Plan Sponsor may permit a participant to defer, pursuant to an Election Form, one or more of the following forms of compensation up to the maximum percentages:
Deferral Category
Maximum Amount
Base Annual Salary
25%
Bonus
100%

(iv)
Definitions .
(A)
“Base Annual Salary” means the base annual compensation payable to a participant by the Company for services rendered during a calendar year (i) excluding Bonus, cash or in-kind perquisites, or other additional incentives or awards payable to the participant, but (ii) before reduction for any Elective Deductions.
(B)
“Bonus” means the amounts earned by a participant for services rendered with respect to a calendar year under any bonus or incentive plan or arrangement sponsored by or participated in by the Company, before reduction for any Elective Deductions, but excluding cash or in-kind perquisites, stock-related awards and other non-monetary incentives.
(C)
“Elective Deductions” means those deductions from a participant’s Base Annual Salary or Bonus for amounts voluntarily deferred or contributed by the participant pursuant to any qualified or non-qualified deferred compensation plan, including, without limitation, amounts deferred pursuant to Code Section 125, 132(f)(4), 402(e)(3) and 402(h), provided, however, that all such amounts would have been payable to the participant in cash had there been no such deferral.
(D)
“Election Form” is defined and the rules pertaining thereto are described in Section 3.3(c) below.
(c)      Election Form . A covered employee who wishes to defer compensation under the Plan must complete an irrevocable Election Form. Each irrevocable Election Form shall: (1) designate the amount of Base Annual Salary and Bonus to be deferred in whole percentages; (2) request that the Company defer payment of the Deferral Contribution to the participant until the distribution date elected by the participant pursuant to Section 3.5 or such earlier date as may be

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required pursuant to the provisions of the Plan; (3) state the form (lump sum or installments) in which the participant wishes to receive payment of the Deferral Contribution upon distribution; and (4) contain such other provisions as the Plan Administrator deems appropriate. Upon the Plan Administrator’s acceptance of a participant’s Election Form, the participant shall be bound by the provisions of the Plan and the Election Form which is irrevocable and deemed to have assumed the risks of deferral, including, without limitation, the risk of poor investment performance and the risk that the deferrals and any earnings thereon are considered general assets of the Company.
(i)
Deferral Election Must be Made in Calendar Year Before Compensation is Earned . In no event shall a participant be permitted to defer any compensation earned prior to the date such participant’s Election Form has been accepted by the Plan Sponsor. A participant must make an election prior to January 1 of the calendar year for which compensation is to be deferred; provided, however, that upon the initial adoption of the Plan, or upon an employee first becoming eligible to participate in the Plan, a covered employee will be permitted to complete an irrevocable Election Form within 30 days after the later of the effective date of the Plan or his or her eligibility date. A participant cannot change the amount or percentage of the Deferral Contribution or stop making Deferral Contributions at any time during the calendar year except as otherwise permitted by Code Section 409A. Notwithstanding anything in this Section 3 to the contrary, the Plan Administrator, in its sole discretion, may impose additional limitations on the percentage or dollar amount of any participant’s election to defer.
(ii)
Irrevocability of Deferral Election . The provisions of the Election Form relating to a participant’s election to defer Base Annual Salary and Bonus is irrevocable for that calendar year. In addition, the participant’s selection of the time and manner of payment of his Deferral Contribution Account shall be irrevocable except as provided in Section 3.5.
(iii)
Continuation of 2015 Deferral Elections for Initial Participants . An Initial Participant’s existing deferral election under the TriMas Plan shall be continued under the Plan, because such portion of the Plan is a spinoff and continuation of the TriMas Plan.
(d)      Withdrawals Upon Unforeseeable Emergency . A participant may elect, in writing, to withdraw part or all of the participant’s Account attributable to Deferral Contributions, including accumulated earnings, in the event of an Unforeseeable Emergency. An Unforeseeable Emergency means any unforeseeable circumstance that result in severe financial hardship to the participant. Any withdrawal because of an Unforeseeable Emergency shall not exceed the amount required to meet the immediate financial need created by the Unforeseeable Emergency and not otherwise reasonably available from other resources of the participant. The withdrawal may also include an amount for taxes applicable to the withdrawal. Examples of an Unforeseeable Emergency shall include, but shall not be limited to, those financial needs arising on account of a sudden or unexpected illness or accident of the participant, the participant’s spouse or dependent, loss of the participant’s

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property due to casualty, or other similar extraordinary and unforeseeable circumstances arising as a result of events beyond the control of the participant. A request for a distribution on account of an Unforeseeable Emergency must be made in writing to the Plan Administrator and must specify the nature of the financial hardship, the total amount requested to be distributed and the total amount of the actual expense incurred or to be incurred on account of the severe financial hardship. The withdrawal shall be paid to the participant no later than the end of the calendar quarter following the calendar quarter in which the Plan Administrator receives the properly completed written request for withdrawal and determines that the participant satisfies the criteria for an Unforeseeable Emergency. The Plan Administrator may from time to time change or adopt additional policies or rules governing withdrawals so that the Plan may be conveniently administered and may comply with applicable laws.
3.4      Investment Adjustments . The bookkeeping entry representing a participant’s Account shall be adjusted on a periodic basis to reflect investment earnings and losses. Subject to approval by the Company, each participant may direct the bookkeeping investment of his or her Account to mirror the performance of designated investments under the Qualified Plan (except the any stable value or similar type of designated investment that may be available from time to time under the Qualified Plan). A participant may elect to direct the investment of his Deferral Contributions and accumulated earnings in a different manner than his Account attributable to SERP and CLRP Benefits.
3.5      Timing and Form of Payments .
(a)      Grandfathered Benefits Vested on December 31, 2004 .
(iv)
The portion of a participant’s Account that was vested on December 31, 2004 shall be paid at the same time and in the same form as the participant’s benefit payments are made from the Qualified Plan; provided that a participant who is eligible for “retirement” under the Qualified Plan due to (a) attainment of age 65, or (b) attainment of age 55 with five years of service under the Qualified Plan, shall be eligible to receive his or her Plan benefit either in the form of installments under the Qualified Plan, or in a lump sum. A participant who terminates employment prior to “retirement” shall receive Plan benefits in the form of a lump sum. Provided, however, that the portion of a participant’s grandfathered Account attributable to contributions on behalf of service rendered by the participant after December 31, 2004, shall be covered under the provisions of Section 3.5(b) below.
(v)
Notwithstanding 3.5(a)(i), if, upon separation from service, the value of the participant’s Plan benefit when aggregated with the value of the participant’s benefit under any other non-elective account balance plan sponsored by the Company or its affiliates does not exceed the then annual limit set forth in Code Section 402(g)(1)(B) ($18,000 for 2015, as adjusted from time to time for subsequent years), the participant’s balances in all such non-elective account balance plans shall be terminated and liquidated in their entirety, in the form of a lump sum cash payment within 90 days following the participant’s separation from service.

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(b)      Unvested Benefits on December 31, 2004 and New Benefits After December 31, 2004 .
(i)
For SERP and CLRP Benefits Prior to December 31, 2008 . On or before December 31, 2008, any participant whose retirement benefit hereunder was unvested on December 31, 2004, or has had contributions made to his or her Account on behalf of service rendered after December 31, 2004, shall elect the timing and form of payment for the unvested benefit and/or the portion of the Account attributable to service rendered after December 31, 2004. The participant may not elect a distribution commencement date that occurs in 2008 or is earlier than the employee’s separation from service, as defined under Code Section 409A. The available distribution forms include a lump sum payment or annual installment payments, not to exceed 10 years.
(ii)
For SERP and CLRP Benefits After December 31, 2008 . After December 31, 2008, an irrevocable initial deferral election for the time and form of payment for SERP and CLRP benefits must be submitted prior to the beginning of the calendar year in which the services are rendered that give rise to the deferred compensation. An exception shall apply when a participant first becomes eligible to participate in the Plan, in which case the submission of an irrevocable election shall not be required until 30 days after the date in which the employee is first eligible to participate (the “Delayed Initial Election Rule”). Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the participant is already eligible to participate in one or more excess benefit plans sponsored by the Company or its affiliates, the Delayed Initial Election Rule shall not apply under this Plan.
(iii)
Participant Deferral Contributions .    Effective for Deferral Contributions made after December 31, 2010, a participant who elects to make Deferral Contributions must complete an annual irrevocable election for the time and form of payment for distribution of Deferral Contributions (and accumulated earnings) pursuant to the rules described in Section 3.3. On each annual Election Form, participant may select a distribution date for the payment of Deferred Contributions made during the year (or subsequent years). Pursuant to a participant’s election, Deferral Contribution Accounts only (but not SERP and CLRP Accounts) may be distributed prior to the date a Participant incurs a separation from service.
(iv)
General Rules . All elections shall be submitted to the Plan Administrator in writing and shall be irrevocable; provided, however, that the employee may change the timing and/or form of payment by submitting a revised election form to the Plan Administrator at least 12 months prior to the date on which the benefit had been scheduled to commence, as long as the revised election form is not effective until 12 months after it has been submitted and specifies

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that the benefit shall commence no earlier than five years after the commencement date of the prior election.
(v)
Cash-Out of Small Benefits . Notwithstanding a participant’s election regarding the time and form of payment under the Plan, if, upon separation from service, the value of the participant’s benefit, when aggregated with the value of the participant’s benefit under any other non-elective account balance plan sponsored by the Company or its affiliates, does not exceed the then annual limit set forth in Code Section 402(g)(1)(B) ($18,000 for 2015, as adjusted from time to time for subsequent years), the participant’s balances in all such non-elective account balance plans shall be terminated and liquidated in their entirety, in the form of a lump sum cash payment within 90 days following the participant’s separation from service.
(vi)
Delayed Commencement Date . Notwithstanding Section 3.5(b)(i) through 6, all or part of the Plan benefit of a participant who is a “specified employee” under Code Section 409A at the time of the employee’s separation from service, shall be delayed (if then required under Code Section 409A) until the first day of the seventh month following the employee’s separation from service, or the date of the employee’s death, if earlier, unless the employee has elected a payment date that commences on or after the first day of the seventh month following separation from service. Payments that are delayed shall be aggregated and paid in a lump sum on the first day of the seventh month following a participant’s separation from service.
3.6      Vesting . For purposes of the Plan, vesting years of service shall be computed in accordance with the vesting service provisions under the Qualified Plan except that the break in service and forfeiture restoration rules under the Qualified Plan do not apply to the Plan. A participant shall receive credit for vesting service earned prior to the original Effective Date of the Plan or the participant’s commencement of participation in the Plan, if applicable. Payment of the Plan benefits that were vested on December 31, 2004, grandfathered and exempt from Code Section 409A, shall be conditioned upon receipt of benefit payments from the Qualified Plan.
(a)      Deferral Contribution Account . A participant’s Deferral Contribution Account and accumulated earnings or losses shall be 100% vested at all times.
(b)      SERP Account . A participant’s SERP Account benefit shall be 100% vested after five years of vesting service.
(c)      CLRP Account. Vesting of a participant’s CLRP Account is based on the following schedule:
(i)
CLRP contributions made for years 2003 through 2009 are 100% vested after five years of vesting service.

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(ii)
CLRP contributions made for years commencing on or after January 1, 2010, are 100% vested after three years of vesting service.
3.7      Taxes and Withholding . At the time a participant first becomes vested in his or her Plan benefit, the Company, shall deduct the employee’s Medicare portion of FICA taxes, based on the value of the participant’s Account on the vesting date. Thereafter, the employee’s Medicare portion of FICA taxes shall be deducted on a periodic basis. Additionally, all such FICA tax withholding made under the TriMas Plan with respect to Plan benefits assumed from the TriMas Plan shall be deemed carried over and credited to each participant with such amounts credited under the Plan. Upon distribution, Plan payments shall be taxed to each participant at applicable income tax rates.


ARTICLE IV
COST OF BENEFITS

4.1      Current Expense . The entire cost of providing benefits under the Plan, including the costs of the Plan Administrator, shall be paid by the Company out of its current operating budget, and the employer’s obligations under the Plan shall be an unfunded and unsecured promise to pay. The Company shall not be obligated under any circumstances to separately fund its obligations under the Plan.
4.2      Option to Fund Informally . Notwithstanding Section 4.1, the Company may, at its sole option, or by agreement, informally fund its obligations under the Plan in whole or in part by a “rabbi trust” or otherwise; provided, however, in no event shall such informal funding be construed to create any trust fund, escrow account or other security for an employee with respect to the payment of benefits under the Plan, other than as permitted under Internal Revenue Service and Department of Labor rules and regulations for unfunded supplemental retirement plans. Furthermore, if the Company decides to informally fund the Plan, in whole or in part, by procuring, as owner, life insurance for its own benefit on the lives of employees, the form of such insurance and the amounts thereof shall be at the Company’s sole discretion, and in no event shall an employee have any incidents of ownership in any such policies of insurance
4.3      Physical Examinations . If a physical examination is required for the Company to obtain insurance for covered employees under Section 4.2, each employee agrees to undergo such physical examinations as may be required by the insurance carrier. Such physical examinations shall be conducted by a physician approved by the Company, at the Company’s expense.

ARTICLE V
ADMINISTRATION

5.1      Plan Administrator and Named Fiduciary . The Plan Administrator and Named Fiduciary of the Plan for purposes of ERISA shall be Horizon Global Corporation, the Plan’s sponsor, whose current business address is 39400 Woodward Avenue, Suite 100, Bloomfield Hills, MI 48304 . The

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Company has the right to change the Plan Administrator and Named Fiduciary of the Plan at any time, and to change the address and telephone number of the same. The Company shall give each covered employee written notice of any such change in the Plan Administrator and Named Fiduciary, or in the address or telephone number of the same.
5.2      Claims Procedure . The Plan Administrator has the power to interpret all provisions of the Plan and make final determinations concerning the meaning of the Plan and the right of any person to benefits under the Plan.
Each covered employee, or other person claiming through the employee, must file a written claim for benefits with the Plan Administrator as a prerequisite to the payment of benefits under the Plan. Any denial by the Plan Administrator of a claim for benefits under the Plan by an employee or other person (collectively referred to as “claimant”) shall be stated in writing by the Plan Administrator and delivered or mailed to the claimant within 90 days after receipt of the claim, unless special circumstances require an extension of time for processing the claim. If such an extension of time is required, written notice of the extension shall be furnished to the claimant prior to the termination of the initial 90-day period. In no event shall such extension exceed a period of 90 days from the end of the initial period.
Any notice of denial shall set forth the specific reasons for the denial, specific reference to relevant provisions of the Plan upon which the denial is based, a description of any additional material or information necessary for the claimant to perfect the claim, with an explanation of why such material or information is necessary, and any explanation of claim review procedures under the Plan, and the time limits applicable to such procedures, including a statement of the claimant’s right to bring a civil action under Section 502(a) of ERISA following an adverse benefit determination upon review, written to the best of the Plan Administrator’s ability in a manner that may be understood without legal or actuarial counsel.
A claimant whose claim for benefits has been wholly or partially denied by the Plan Administrator may request, within 90 days following the date of such denial, in a writing addressed to the Plan Administrator, a review of such denial. The claimant shall be entitled to submit issues or comments in writing or otherwise, as the claimant shall consider relevant to a determination of the claim, without regard to whether such information was submitted or considered in the initial determination, and may include a request for a hearing in person before the Plan Administrator. Prior to submitting a request, the claimant shall be entitled to review such documents as the Plan Administrator shall agree are relevant to the claim. The claimant may, at all stages of review, be represented by counsel, legal or otherwise, of the claimant’s choice, provided that the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be borne by the claimant
All requests for review shall be promptly resolved. The Plan Administrator’s decision with respect to any such review shall be set forth in writing and shall be mailed to the claimant not later than 60 days following receipt by the Plan Administrator of the claimant’s request unless special circumstances, such as the need to hold a hearing, require an extension of time for processing, in which case the Plan Administrator shall give the claimant written notice of the special circumstances requiring an extension within the initial review period and shall mail his or her decision not later than 120 days after receipt of such request.

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5.3      Arbitration . Exhaustion of the claim and claim review procedures of Section 5.2 is prerequisite to any further consideration of a claim. In the event that any claim remains fully or partially unresolved after exhaustion of the claim and claim review procedures of Section 5.2, any remaining dispute shall, within 30 days of the date of the Plan Administrator’s final decision on review, be submitted to arbitration, which shall be the sole and exclusive remedy. The arbitration decision shall be final and binding on the Plan, the Company, the claimant, and any other party involved. All claims shall be arbitrated in Oakland County, Michigan, and the arbitrator shall have the power to compel attendance of witnesses at the hearing. The arbitrator shall be chosen in accordance with the Voluntary Labor Arbitration Rules of the American Arbitration Association then in effect, and the expense of the arbitration shall be shared equally by the Company and the claimant. Each party shall be responsible for such party’s own legal fees and other costs relating to the arbitration proceedings. Any claim shall be deemed waived unless presented within the time limits specified in Section 5.2 and this Section 5.3. The arbitrator shall not have jurisdiction or authority to change, add to or subtract from any of the provisions of the Plan. The arbitrator’s sole authority shall be to interpret or apply the provisions of the Plan. Because arbitration is the exclusive remedy with respect to any claim hereunder, neither the Company, the claimant nor any other party has the right to resort to any federal, state or local court or administrative agency concerning any claim, and the decision of the arbitrator shall be a complete defense to any suit, action or proceeding instituted in any federal, state or local court or before any administrative agency with respect to any dispute which is arbitrable as herein set forth. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any decision, award and/or judgment rendered by the arbitrator may be entered in any court having competent jurisdiction thereof. The arbitration provisions hereof shall, with respect to any claim, survive the termination of the Plan.

ARTICLE VI
LIMITATION OF COVERED EMPLOYEE RIGHTS

6.1      No Contract of Employment . The Plan shall not be deemed to create a contract of employment between the Company or any of its affiliates and any covered employee and shall create no right in any covered employee to continue in the employ of the Company or any of its affiliates for any specific period of time, or to create any other rights in any covered employee or obligations on the part of the Company or any of its affiliates, except as are set forth explicitly herein or in a written employment contract. In consideration of Plan coverage hereunder each covered employee shall be deemed to have agreed that the Company or any of its affiliates, as applicable, has the right to terminate the employee at any time, with or without cause, and nothing in the Plan shall restrict the right of any covered employee to terminate employment with the Company or any of its affiliates.
6.2      Unsecured Creditor . The rights of any employee or any person claiming through the employee under the Plan shall be solely those of an unsecured general creditor of the Company. Any employee, or any person claiming through the employee, shall only have the right to receive from the Company those payments as specified herein. Each covered employee agrees that the employee or any person claiming through the employee shall have no rights or interests in any asset of the Company or its affiliates, including any insurance policies or contracts which the Company may possess to informally fund the Plan.

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6.3      No Trust . No asset used or acquired by the Company in connection with the liabilities it has assumed under the Plan shall be deemed to be held under any trust for the benefit of any employee, nor shall any such asset be considered security for the performance of the obligations of the Company, but shall be, and remain, a general unpledged and unrestricted asset of the Company, as applicable, except as may be provided by separate agreement and as permitted under Internal Revenue Services and Department of Labor rules and regulations for unfunded supplemental retirement plans.

ARTICLE VII
AMENDMENT OR TERMINATION

7.1      Right to Amend or Terminate Plan . The Company reserves the right to amend the Plan in any manner deemed appropriate by the Board of Directors of the Company or by the Company’s Employee Benefits Committee, and the Company reserves the right to terminate the Plan for any reason and at any time in whole or part by action of its Board of Directors. For purposes of complying with the Code Section 409A grandfathering rules, no Plan feature assumed from the TriMas Plan after the TriMas Plan’s 2008 restatement shall apply to any grandfathered benefits vested hereunder on December 31, 2004, unless the Plan feature specifically states that it applies to such grandfathered benefits.
7.2      Limitations . Notwithstanding Section 7.1, no such amendment or termination shall reduce or otherwise affect the benefits payable to or on behalf of any covered employee that have accrued prior to such amendment or termination without the written consent of the employee (or beneficiary, if applicable). Provided, however, that with respect to benefits not vested on December 31, 2004 under the TriMas Plan that have been carried over and assumed by the Plan, the Company reserves the right to unilaterally amend Plan provisions to the extent necessary to exempt the benefits from or to conform the benefits with the requirements under Code Section 409A. In addition, the complete or partial termination of this Plan, should it occur or be deemed by facts and circumstances to have occurred, shall have the same effect on the vesting of benefits accrued to date under this Plan as in the case of a complete or partial termination of the corresponding Qualified Plan.
7.3      Payment of Benefits Upon Termination . The termination of all or a portion of the Plan as it relates to benefits that were not vested on December 31, 2004 under the TriMas Plan that have been carried over and assumed by the Plan shall comply with the Code Section 409A plan termination requirements. Upon termination or partial termination of the Plan, the Company may elect the method by which benefits vested on December 31, 2004 under the TriMas Plan that have been carried over and assumed by the Plan and accrued through the date of such termination or partial termination shall be provided. Such election may include the payment of the present value of all such accrued benefits directly to covered employees (or beneficiaries, if applicable) or any other method of payment or funding which the Company may, in its sole discretion, determine.




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ARTICLE VIII
MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

8.1      Independence of Benefits . Except as otherwise provided herein or pursuant to the terms of any separate agreement with an employee, the benefits payable under the Plan shall be independent of, and in addition to, any other benefits or compensation, whether by salary, or bonus or otherwise, payable under any employment agreements that now exist or may hereafter exist from time to time between the Company and any of its affiliates and any employee. The Plan does not involve a reduction in salary or foregoing of an increase in future salary by any employee, except for an employee’s election to defer Base Annual Salary and Bonus pursuant to the provisions of the Plan. The Plan does not in any way affect or reduce the existing and future compensation and other benefits of any employee.
8.2      Nonalienation of Benefits . Except insofar as this provision may be contrary to applicable law (such as an order of divorce or separation), no sale, transfer, alienation, assignment, pledge, collateralization, or attachment of any benefits under the Plan shall be valid or recognized by the Company.
8.3      Payments for the Benefit of Employee . In the event that the Company shall find that any person to whom a benefit is payable under the Plan is unable to care for such person’s affairs because of illness or accident, is otherwise mentally or physically incompetent, or is unable to give a valid receipt, the Company may cause the payments becoming due to such person to be paid to another individual for such person’s benefit, without responsibility on the part of the Company to follow application of such payment. Any such payment shall be a payment on account of such person and shall operate as a complete discharge of the Company from all liability under the Plan.
8.4      Use of Words . Wherever any words are used in the Plan in the masculine gender, they shall be construed as though they also were used in the feminine gender in all cases where they would so apply, and wherever any words are used in the Plan in the singular form they shall be construed as though they also were used in the plural form in all cases where they would so apply, and vice versa.
8.5      Headings . Headings of Sections herein are inserted for convenience of reference. They constitute no part of the Plan and are not to be considered in the construction of the Plan.
8.6      Savings Clause . If any provisions of the Plan shall be for any reason invalid or unenforceable, the remaining provisions nevertheless shall be carried into effect.

ARTICLE IX
DEFINITIONS

Terms capitalized in the text of this Plan shall have the meanings provided for them when they initially appear in the Plan, unless the context requires otherwise. Terms not defined herein shall be construed in reference to the same or similar terms as used in the applicable Qualified Plan.

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ARTICLE X
EXECUTION

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Horizon Global Corporation has caused this Plan, captioned “Horizon Global Corporation Executive Retirement Plan,” as originally effective July 1, 2015, to be executed by its duly authorized officer this 1 st day of July, 2015.
HORIZON GLOBAL CORPORATION

By: /s/ Jay Goldbaum

Its: Legal Director and Corporate Secretary




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APPENDIX A

LIST OF INITIAL PARTICIPANTS

A. Mark Zeffiro
David G. Rice
Jay Goldbaum
John Aleva




    


Exhibit 31.1
Certification
Pursuant to Section 302 of The Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
(Chapter 63, Title 18 U.S.C. Section 1350(A) and (B))

I, A. Mark Zeffiro, certify that:
1.
I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of Horizon Global Corporation;
2.
Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;
3.
Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;
4.
The registrant's other certifying officer(s) and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:
a)
Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;
b)
Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, 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;
c)
Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant's disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and
d)
Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant's most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant's fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant's internal control over financial reporting; and
5.
The registrant's other certifying officer(s) and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant's auditors and the audit committee of the registrant's board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):
a)
All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant's ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and
b)
Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting.
Date: August 11, 2015
 
/s/  A. MARK ZEFFIRO
 
A. Mark Zeffiro
Chief Executive Officer





Exhibit 31.2
Certification
Pursuant to Section 302 of The Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
(Chapter 63, Title 18 U.S.C. Section 1350(A) and (B))

I, David G. Rice, certify that:
1.
I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of Horizon Global Corporation;
2.
Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;
3.
Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;
4.
The registrant's other certifying officer(s) and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:
a)
Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;
b)
Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, 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;
c)
Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant's disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and
d)
Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant's most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant's fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant's internal control over financial reporting; and
5.
The registrant's other certifying officer(s) and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant's auditors and the audit committee of the registrant's board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):
a)
All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant's ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and
b)
Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting.
Date: August 11, 2015
 
/s/ DAVID G. RICE
 
David G. Rice
Chief Financial Officer





Exhibit 32.1
Certification Pursuant to
18 U.S.C. Section 1350,
As Adopted Pursuant to
Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

In connection with the Quarterly Report of Horizon Global Corporation (the "Company") on Form 10-Q for the period ended June 30, 2015 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the "Report"), I, A. Mark Zeffiro, Chief Executive Officer of the Company, certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 1350, as adopted pursuant to § 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that to the best of my knowledge:
1.
The Report fully complies with the requirements of section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and
2.
The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.
Date: August 11, 2015
 
/s/  A. MARK ZEFFIRO
 
A. Mark Zeffiro
Chief Executive Officer





Exhibit 32.2
Certification Pursuant to
18 U.S.C. Section 1350,
As Adopted Pursuant to
Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

In connection with the Quarterly Report of Horizon Global Corporation (the “Company”) on Form 10-Q for the period ended June 30, 2015 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), I, David G. Rice, Chief Financial Officer of the Company, certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 1350, as adopted pursuant to § 906 of the Sarbanes‑Oxley Act of 2002, that to the best of my knowledge:
1.
The Report fully complies with the requirements of section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and
2.
The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.
Date: August 11, 2015
 
/s/  DAVID G. RICE
 
David G. Rice
Chief Financial Officer