Hexcel (HXL) 8-K Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 OR 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

July 14, 2010 (July 9, 2010)

Date of report (Date of earliest event reported)

Hexcel Corporation

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

Delaware	1-8472	94-1109521
(State of Incorporation)	(Commission File No.)	(IRS Employer Identification No.)

Two Stamford Plaza

281 Tresser Boulevard

Stamford, Connecticut  06901-3238

(Address of Principal Executive Offices and Zip Code)

(203) 969-0666

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

N/A

(Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):

oWritten Communication pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

oSoliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

oPre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

oPre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Section 1 —- Registrant’s Business and Operations

Item 1.01Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement

On July 9, 2010, Hexcel Corporation, as borrower, and its wholly-owned French subsidiary Hexcel Holdings SASU, as co-borrower, entered into a new $250 million senior secured credit facility, consisting of a $100 million term loan and a $150 million revolving loan.  Both the term loan and the revolving loan mature on July 9, 2015.  Hexcel has the option of selecting either a LIBOR-based or U.S. domestic-based interest rate for each of the term loan and the revolving loans.  Term and revolving loans borrowed as LIBOR-based loans bear interest at a rate of LIBOR plus 2.75%, and term and revolving loans borrowed as base rate loans bear interest at the base rate plus 1.75%.  After December 31, 2010, the margin for revolving loans will decrease by 50 basis points if Hexcel’s leverage ratio decreases below 2 to 1, and will decrease an additional 25 basis points if Hexcel’s leverage ratio decreases below 1.75 to 1.  The term loan was borrowed at closing and once repaid cannot be reborrowed.  Revolving loans can be borrowed, repaid and reborrowed by Hexcel, and are available for working capital and other general corporate purposes.  Up to $40 million of the revolving loans can be used for letters of credit.

The credit agreement was entered into by and among Hexcel and Hexcel Holdings, as borrowers, a group of lenders, Banc of America Securities LLC, as a joint book manager and as a joint lead arranger, RBS Citizens, N.A., as syndication agent, as a joint book manager and as a joint lead arranger, HSBC Bank USA, National Association, as a documentation agent, TD Bank, N.A., as a documentation agent, Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as a documentation agent, and Bank of America, N.A., as administrative agent for the Lenders.

Two of Hexcel’s U.S. subsidiaries, Hexcel Reinforcements Holding Corp. and Hexcel Reinforcements Corp., guarantee the obligations of Hexcel under the credit agreement.  Hexcel and the guarantors also granted to the lenders a security interest in substantially all of their US assets, as well as 65% of the share capital of Hexcel’s first-tier Luxembourg subsidiary, and 100% of their interests in another Luxembourg subsidiary, as security for the obligations under the credit agreement.  The assets pledged include, among other things, all receivables, inventory, property, plant and equipment and intellectual property of Hexcel and the guarantors.

Hexcel in turn has guaranteed the performance of Hexcel Holdings’ obligations under the credit agreement, including its payment obligations.

Proceeds from the term loan were used to repay all amounts, and terminate all commitments, outstanding under Hexcel’s existing credit agreement and to pay fees and expenses in connection with the refinancing.  The terminated credit facility was scheduled to begin to expire on May 21, 2014.

The credit agreement contains financial and other covenants, including, but not limited to, restrictions on the incurrence of debt and the grant of liens, as well as the maintenance of an interest coverage ratio and a leverage ratio, and limitations on capital expenditures.  A violation of any of these covenants could result in a default under the credit agreement, which would permit the lenders to accelerate the payment of all borrowings and to terminate the credit agreement.  In addition, such a default could, under certain circumstances, permit the holders of other outstanding unsecured debt to accelerate the repayment of such obligations.

The preceding summaries of certain provisions of the credit agreement and related agreements are qualified in their entirety by reference to the copies of such agreements, which are filed as exhibits 99.1, 99.2, 99.3 and 99.4 hereto and are incorporated herein by reference.

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On July 12, 2010, Hexcel issued a news release announcing the consummation of the new credit facility.  This news release is filed as Exhibit 99.5 hereto and is incorporated herein by reference.

Item 1.02Termination of a Material Definitive Agreement

Reference is made to the information contained under Item 1.01 with respect to the terminated credit facility.

Section 2 — Financial Information

Item 2.03Creation of a Direct Financial Obligation or an Obligation Under an Off-Balance Sheet Arrangement of a Registrant

Reference is made to the information contained under Item 1.01 with respect to the credit agreement and related agreements.

Section 9 — Financial Statements and Exhibits

Item 9.01Financial Statements and Exhibits

(d)Exhibits

99.1Credit Agreement, dated as of July 9, 2010, entered into by and among Hexcel Corporation, Hexcel Holdings SASU, the financial institutions from time to time party thereto, Banc of America Securities LLC, as a joint book manager and as a joint lead arranger, RBS Citizens, N.A., as syndication agent, as a joint book manager and as a joint lead arranger, HSBC Bank USA, National Association, as a documentation agent, TD Bank, N.A., as a documentation agent, Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as a documentation agent and Bank of America, N.A., as administrative agent for the lenders. Confidential portions of this exhibit have been omitted and filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission with a request for confidential treatment pursuant to Rule 24b-2.  The location of an omitted portion is indicated by a set of asterisks within brackets (“[***]”).

99.2Security Agreement, dated as of July 9, 2010, by and among Hexcel Corporation, each of the direct and indirect subsidiaries of Hexcel Corporation listed on the signature pages thereto, and each additional grantor that may become a party thereto after the date thereof in accordance with Section 21 thereof, and Bank of America, N.A., as administrative agent for each of the Secured Parties (as defined in the Credit Agreement). Confidential portions of this exhibit have been omitted and filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission with a request for confidential treatment pursuant to Rule 24b-2.  The location of an omitted portion is indicated by a set of asterisks within brackets (“[***]”).

99.3Subsidiary Guaranty, dated as of July 9, 2010, by the parties listed on the signature pages thereto in favor of and for the benefit of Bank of America, N.A., as administrative agent for each of the Secured Parties (as defined in the Credit Agreement).

99.4Company Guaranty, dated as of July 9, 2010, by Hexcel Corporation in favor of and for the benefit of Bank of America, N.A., as administrative agent for each of the Secured Parties (as defined in the Credit Agreement).

99.5Press release dated July 12, 2010.

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Signature

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

	HEXCEL CORPORATION
July 14, 2010
	/s/ Wayne C. Pensky
	Wayne C. Pensky
	Senior Vice President

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EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit Number	Exhibit
99.1	Credit Agreement, dated as of July 9, 2010, entered into by and among Hexcel Corporation, Hexcel Holdings SASU, the financial institutions from time to time party thereto, Banc of America Securities LLC, as a joint book manager and as a joint lead arranger, RBS Citizens, N.A., as syndication agent, as a joint book manager and as a joint lead arranger, HSBC Bank USA, National Association, as a documentation agent, TD Bank N.A., as a documentation agent, Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as a documentation agent and Bank of America, N.A., as administrative agent for the lenders. Confidential portions of this exhibit have been omitted and filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission with a request for confidential treatment pursuant to Rule 24b-2.  The location of an omitted portion is indicated by a set of asterisks within brackets (“[***]”).
99.2	Security Agreement, dated as of July 9, 2010, by and among Hexcel Corporation, each of the direct and indirect subsidiaries of Hexcel Corporation listed on the signature pages thereto, and each additional grantor that may become a party thereto after the date thereof in accordance with Section 21 thereof, and Bank of America, N.A., as administrative agent for each of the Secured Parties (as defined in the Credit Agreement). Confidential portions of this exhibit have been omitted and filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission with a request for confidential treatment pursuant to Rule 24b-2.  The location of an omitted portion is indicated by a set of asterisks within brackets (“[***]”).
99.3	Subsidiary Guaranty, dated as of July 9, 2010, by the parties listed on the signature pages thereto in favor of and for the benefit of Bank of America, N.A., as administrative agent for the Secured Parties (as defined in the Credit Agreement).
99.4	Company Guaranty, dated as of July 9, 2010, by Hexcel Corporation in favor of and for the benefit of Bank of America, N.A., as administrative agent for each of the Secured Parties (as defined in the Credit Agreement).
99.5	Press release dated July 12, 2010.

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