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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE 13D
Under The Securities Exchange Act of 1934
(Amendment No. )*
Noble International, Ltd.
(Name of Issuer) |
Common Stock, $.00067 per share
(Title of Class of Securities) |
655053106
(CUSIP Number) |
Arcelor Mittal Hofplein 20 3032 AC Rotterdam The Netherlands +31-10-217-88-96 Attn: Henk Scheffer |
with a copy to:
DLA Piper US LLP 1251 Avenue of the Americas New York, NY 10020 (212) 335-4517 Attn: Marjorie Sybul Adams, Esq. |
(Name, Address and Telephone Number of Person Authorized to Receive Notices and Communications) |
March 15, 2007
(Date of Event which Requires Filing of this Statement) |
If the filing person has previously filed a statement on Schedule 13G to report the acquisition that is the subject of this Schedule 13D, and is filing this schedule because of §§240.13d-1(e), 240.13d-1(f) or 240.13d-1(g), check the following box. ¨
Note: Schedules filed in paper format shall include a signed original and five copies of the schedule, including all exhibits. See §240.13d-7 for other parties to whom copies are to be sent.
* | The remainder of this cover page shall be filled out for a reporting persons initial filing on this form with respect to the subject class of securities, and for any subsequent amendment containing information which would alter disclosures provided in a prior cover page. |
The information required on the remainder of this cover page shall not be deemed to be filed for the purpose of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (Act) or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section of the Act but shall be subject to all other provisions of the Act (however, see the Notes).
CUSIP No. 655053106
1. | Names of Reporting Persons. I.R.S. Identification Nos. of above persons (entities only).
ARCELOR S.A. |
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2. | Check the Appropriate Box if a Member of a Group (See Instructions) (a) ¨ (b) x |
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3. | SEC Use Only
|
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4. | Source of Funds (See Instructions)
Not Applicable |
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5. | Check if Disclosure of Legal Proceedings Is Required Pursuant to Items 2(d) or 2(e)
|
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6. | Citizenship or Place of Organization
Luxembourg |
NUMBER OF SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON WITH |
7. Sole Voting Power
None | |
8. Shared Voting Power
(1) 2,190,623 shares of common stock | ||
9. Sole Dispositive Power
None | ||
10. Shared Dispositive Power
None |
11. | Aggregate Amount Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person
(1) 2,190,623 shares of common stock |
|||
12. | Check if the Aggregate Amount in Row (11) Excludes Certain Shares (See Instructions)
|
|||
13. | Percent of Class Represented by Amount in Row (11)
15.5%(2) |
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14. | Type of Reporting Person (See Instructions)
CO |
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CUSIP No. 655053106
(1) | Beneficial ownership of the common stock referred to herein is being reported hereunder solely because Arcelor S.A. may be deemed to beneficially own such shares as a result of the Voting and Support Agreement described in Item 4 hereof. Neither the filing of this statement on Schedule 13D nor any of its contents shall be deemed to constitute an admission by Arcelor S.A. that it is the beneficial owner of any of the common stock referred to herein for purposes of Section 13(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or for any other purpose, and such beneficial ownership is expressly disclaimed. |
(2) | The calculation of the foregoing percentage is based on a total of 14,131,318 shares of Noble International, Ltd. common stock outstanding as of March 1, 2007, as disclosed by Noble International, Ltd. to Arcelor S.A. |
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CUSIP No. 655053106
1. | Names of Reporting Persons. I.R.S. Identification Nos. of above persons (entities only).
Mittal Steel Company N.V. |
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2. | Check the Appropriate Box if a Member of a Group (See Instructions) (a) ¨ (b) x |
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3. | SEC Use Only
|
|||
4. | Source of Funds (See Instructions)
Not Applicable |
|||
5. | Check if Disclosure of Legal Proceedings Is Required Pursuant to Items 2(d) or 2(e)
|
|||
6. | Citizenship or Place of Organization
The Netherlands |
NUMBER OF SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON WITH |
7. Sole Voting Power
None | |
8. Shared Voting Power
2,190,623 shares of common stock (3) | ||
9. Sole Dispositive Power
None | ||
10. Shared Dispositive Power
None |
11. | Aggregate Amount Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person
2,190,623 shares of common stock (3) |
|||
12. | Check if the Aggregate Amount in Row (11) Excludes Certain Shares (See Instructions)
|
|||
13. | Percent of Class Represented by Amount in Row (11)
15.5%(4) |
|||
14. | Type of Reporting Person (See Instructions)
CO |
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CUSIP No. 655053106
(3) | Beneficial ownership of the common stock referred to herein is being reported hereunder solely because Mittal Steel Company N.V. may be deemed to beneficially own such shares as a result of the Voting and Support Agreement described in Item 4 hereof and Mittal Steel Company N.V.s controlling interest in Arcelor S.A. Neither the filing of this statement on Schedule 13D nor any of its contents shall be deemed to constitute an admission by Mittal Steel Company N.V. that it is the beneficial owner of any of the common stock referred to herein for purposes of Section 13(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or for any other purpose, and such beneficial ownership is expressly disclaimed. |
(4) | The calculation of the foregoing percentage is based on a total of 14,131,318 shares of Noble International, Ltd. common stock outstanding as of March 1, 2007, as disclosed by Noble International, Ltd. to Arcelor S.A. |
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CUSIP No. 655053106
Item 1. Security and Issuer.
This statement on Schedule 13D relates to shares of common stock, $0.00067 par value per share (Common Stock), of Noble International, Ltd. (the Company), whose principal executive offices are located at 28213 Van Dyke Road, Warren, Michigan 48093.
Item 2. Identity and Background.
Arcelor S.A. (Arcelor), a Luxembourg corporation, and Mittal Steel Company N.V. (Mittal), a Netherlands corporation, are jointly filing this statement. Mittal owns a controlling interest in Arcelor. Arcelor and Mittal are collectively referred to herein as the Reporting Persons. The Reporting Persons have entered into a Joint Filing Agreement, dated March 22, 2007, a copy of which is filed with this Schedule 13D as Exhibit 1, pursuant to which the Reporting Persons have agreed to file this statement on Schedule 13D jointly in accordance with the provisions on Rule 13d-1(k)(1) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. By virtue of the Voting and Support Agreement discussed in Item 4 below, the Reporting Persons and Robert J. Skandalaris, the Chairman of the Board and a director of the Company, may be deemed to be a group; however, the Reporting Persons disclaim membership in a group with Mr. Skandalaris.
Arcelor
Arcelors principal offices are located at 19, avenue de la Liberté, L-2930 Luxembourg. Arcelor is the largest steel producer in Europe and Latin America.
The names, citizenship, business addresses, present principal occupation or employment and the name and principal business address of any corporation or other organization in which such employment is conducted, of the directors and executive officers of Arcelor are set forth in Schedule A hereto and incorporated herein by reference.
Neither Arcelor, nor, to its knowledge, any person listed in Schedule A, has during the past five years been (i) convicted in a criminal proceeding (excluding traffic violations or similar misdemeanors); or (ii) a party to a civil proceeding of a judicial or administrative body of competent jurisdiction, as a result of which proceeding Arcelor or such person was or is subject to a judgment, decree, or final order enjoining future violations of, or prohibiting or mandating activities subject to, federal or state securities laws, or finding any violation with respect to such laws.
Mittal
Mittals principal offices are located at Hofplein 20, 3032 AC Rotterdam, The Netherlands. Mittal is the worlds largest steel producer.
The names, citizenship, business addresses, present principal occupation or employment and the name and principal business address of any corporation or other organization in which such employment is conducted, of the directors and executive officers of Mittal are set forth in Schedule B hereto and incorporated herein by reference.
Neither Mittal, nor, to its knowledge, any person listed in Schedule B, has during the past five years been (i) convicted in a criminal proceeding (excluding traffic violations or similar misdemeanors); or (ii) a party to a civil proceeding of a judicial or administrative body of competent jurisdiction, as a result of which proceeding Mittal or such person was or is subject to a judgment, decree, or final order enjoining future violations of, or prohibiting or mandating activities subject to, federal or state securities laws, or finding any violation with respect to such laws.
CUSIP No. 655053106
Item 3. Source and Amount of Funds or Other Consideration.
As described in Item 4, the shares of Common Stock to which this statement relates have not been purchased by the Reporting Persons. In connection with a Share Purchase Agreement between Arcelor and the Company, dated March 15, 2007 (the Share Purchase Agreement), Arcelor and Mr. Skandalaris entered into a Voting and Support Agreement dated March 15, 2007 (the Voting and Support Agreement) with respect to an aggregate of 2,190,623 shares of Common Stock beneficially owned by Mr. Skandalaris (the Shares).
The Reporting Persons have not paid, and do not expect to pay, additional consideration in connection with the execution and delivery of the Voting and Support Agreement. For a description of the Voting and Support Agreement, see Item 4 below, which description is incorporated herein by reference in response to this Item 3. The Voting and Support Agreement is filed herewith through incorporation as Exhibit 2 by reference to its filing as Exhibit 99.2 to the statement on Schedule 13D filed by Mr. Skandalaris on March 23, 2007.
Item 4. Purpose of Transaction.
Share Purchase Agreement
Pursuant to the Share Purchase Agreement, the Company and Arcelor agreed to a strategic business combination whereby Arcelor would combine its TBA laser-welded blanks operations into Noble in exchange for cash, a promissory note, the assumption of certain TBA financial obligations and 9,375,000 newly issued shares of Common Stock, which shares will constitute approximately 40% of the Companys Common Stock. The Share Purchase Agreement is filed herewith as Exhibit 3.
Voting and Support Agreement
Concurrently with the execution of the Share Purchase Agreement, and as a condition to Arcelors execution of the Share Purchase Agreement, Arcelor and Mr. Skandalaris entered into the Voting and Support Agreement. Under the Voting and Support Agreement, Mr. Skandalaris has agreed to vote all of his shares of the Common Stock in favor of the transactions contemplated by the Share Purchase Agreement and to vote such shares against any action, agreement or transaction submitted for approval of the Companys stockholders that would be:
| a breach of any obligation or agreement of the Company in the Share Purchase Agreement; |
| a breach of any obligation or agreement of Mr. Skandalaris contained in the Voting and Support Agreement; or |
| reasonably expected to materially impede, interfere or be inconsistent with, delay, postpone, discourage or materially and adversely affect the Share Purchase Agreement or the transactions contemplated thereby. |
Further, Mr. Skandalaris has granted to Arcelor a proxy to vote his shares of the Common Stock consistent with these conditions.
While the Voting and Support Agreement is in effect, Mr. Skandalaris has agreed not to sell, transfer, pledge, encumber, assign, distribute, gift or otherwise dispose of any of his shares of the Common Stock.
CUSIP No. 655053106
Standstill and Stockholder Agreement
As a condition to the closing of the transactions contemplated by the Share Purchase Agreement, the Company, Arcelor and Mr. Skandalaris must enter into a Standstill and Stockholder Agreement in order to set forth certain agreements with respect to their future ownership and voting of the Common Stock. A copy of the form of Standstill and Stockholder Agreement is filed herewith through incorporation as Exhibit 4 by reference to its filing as Exhibit 99.2 to the statement on Schedule 13D filed by Mr. Skandalaris on March 23, 2007. As part of the Standstill and Stockholder Agreement, Mr. Skandalaris and Arcelor will agree with the Company that, among other things, the Board of Directors of the Company will increase from seven to nine members, that three of the current independent directors will resign, that Arcelor will nominate four new directors (of whom two will be independent), and that Mr. Skandalaris will nominate one new (independent) director.
Except as set forth above (including the agreements described in this Item 4) and except as described below, the Reporting Persons have no present plans or proposals which relate to or would result in:
(a) The acquisition by any person of additional Common Stock of the Company, or the disposition of Common Stock of the Company;
(b) An extraordinary corporate transaction, such as a merger, reorganization or liquidation, involving the Company or any of its subsidiaries;
(c) A sale or transfer of a material amount of assets of the Company or any of its subsidiaries;
(d) Any change in the present board of directors or management of the Company, including any plans or proposals to change the number or term of directors or to fill any existing vacancies on the board;
(e) Any material change in the present capitalization or dividend policy of the Company;
(f) Any other material change in the Companys business or corporate structure;
(g) Changes in the Companys charter, bylaws, or instruments corresponding thereto or other actions which may impede the acquisition of control of the Company by any person;
(h) Causing a class of Common Stock of the Company to be delisted from a national securities exchange or to cease to be authorized to be quoted on an inter-dealer quotation system of a registered national securities association;
(i) A class of equity Common Stock of the Company becoming eligible for termination of registration pursuant to Section 12(g)(4) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended; or
(j) Any action similar to any of those enumerated above.
References to, and descriptions of, the Share Purchase Agreement, Voting and Support Agreement and Standstill and Stockholder Agreement in this Item 4 are qualified in their entirety by reference to the Share Purchase Agreement attached as Exhibit 3 and the Voting and Support Agreement and Standstill and Stockholder Agreement which are filed as exhibits to the statement on Schedule 13D filed by Mr. Skandalaris on March 23, 2007, and which are incorporated by reference in this Item 4 in their entirety where such references and descriptions appear.
Item 5. Interest in Securities of the Issuer.
(a) and (b). The number of shares of Common Stock subject to the Voting and Support Agreement is
8
CUSIP No. 655053106
2,190,623 (representing approximately 15.5% of the voting power of the shares of Common Stock outstanding as of March 1, 2007, according to the Company).
By virtue of the Voting and Support Agreement, the Reporting Persons may be deemed to share with Mr. Skandalaris the power to vote the Shares, but only as to the matters specified in the Voting and Support Agreement. Except as stated in the preceding sentence, the Reporting Persons do not have the power to vote or to direct the voting of the Shares, nor do they have the sole or shared power to dispose or to direct the disposition of the Shares.
To the knowledge of the Reporting Persons, no shares of Common Stock are beneficially owned by any of the persons named in Schedule A or Schedule B.
(c) Except for the Share Purchase Agreement and Voting and Support Agreement, and the transactions contemplated by those agreements, neither the Reporting Persons, nor to the Reporting Persons knowledge, any of the persons listed on Schedule A or Schedule B, has effected any transaction relating to the Common Stock during the past 60 days.
(d) Not applicable.
(e) Not applicable.
Item 6. Contracts, Arrangements, Understandings or Relationships with Respect to Securities of the Issuer.
The information set forth, or incorporated by reference, in Items 3 through 5 of this statement is hereby incorporated by this reference in this Item 6. To the knowledge of the Reporting Persons, except as otherwise described in this statement on Schedule 13D, there are no contracts, arrangements, understandings or relationships among the persons named in Item 2 above or listed in Schedule A or Schedule B hereto, and between any such persons and any other person, with respect to any securities of the Company, including but not limited to, transfer or voting of any of the securities of the Company, joint ventures, loan or option arrangements, puts or calls, guarantees or profits, division of profits or loss, or the giving or withholding of proxies, or a pledge or contingency the occurrence of which would give another person voting power over the securities of the Company.
Item 7. Material to Be Filed as Exhibits
Exhibit 1 | Joint Filing Agreement dated as of March 22, 2007 by and between Arcelor S.A. and Mittal Steel Company N.V. | |
Exhibit 2 | Voting and Support Agreement dated as of March 15, 2007 by and between Arcelor S.A. and Robert J. Skandalaris (filed as Exhibit 99.1 to the statement on Schedule 13D filed by Robert J. Skandalaris with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 23, 2007, and incorporated herein by reference). | |
Exhibit 3 | Share Purchase Agreement dated as of March 15, 2007 by and between Arcelor S.A. and Noble International, Ltd. | |
Exhibit 4 | Form of Standstill and Stockholder Agreement by and between Noble International, Ltd., Arcelor S.A. and Robert J. Skandalaris (filed as Exhibit 99.2 to the statement on Schedule 13D filed by Robert J. Skandalaris with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 23, 2007, and incorporated herein by reference). |
.
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CUSIP No. 655053106
SIGNATURE
After reasonable inquiry and to the best of our knowledge and belief, we certify that the information in this statement is true, complete and correct.
Dated: March 26, 2007
ARCELOR S.A. | ||
By: |
/s/ H. J. Scheffer | |
Name: |
H. J. Scheffer | |
Title: |
Company Secretary | |
MITTAL STEEL COMPANY N.V. | ||
By: |
/s/ H. J. Scheffer | |
Name: |
H. J. Scheffer | |
Title: |
Company Secretary |
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CUSIP No. 655053106
SCHEDULE A
EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS OF ARCELOR S.A.
The executive officers and directors of Arcelor S.A. are set forth below. Unless otherwise indicated, each individuals business address is c/o Arcelor S.A., 19, avenue de la Liberté, L-2930 Luxembourg.
Executive Officers of Arcelor S.A. | ||||
Name | Title | Citizenship | ||
Lakshmi N. Mittal | President of the Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer | India | ||
Aditya Mittal | Chief Financial Officer | India | ||
Roland Junck | Member of the Group Management Board | Luxembourg | ||
Michel Wurth | Member of the Group Management Board, Flat Products Europe | Luxembourg | ||
Gonzalo Urquijo | Member of the Group Management Board, Long Products and Distribution | Spain | ||
Malay Mukherjee | Member of the Group Management Board, Stainless, Mining | India | ||
Davinder K. Chugh | Senior Executive Vice President | India | ||
Sudhir Maheshwari | Executive Vice President Finance and M&A | India | ||
Bhikam C. Agarwal | Executive Vice President, Responsible for Financing and Controlling | India |
Directors of Arcelor S.A. | ||||
Name | Principal Occupation | Citizenship | ||
Joseph Kinsch | Retired CEO of Arcelor | Luxembourg | ||
Lakshmi N. Mittal | Chief Executive Officer Mittal Steel Company N.V. / Arcelor S.A. | India | ||
Jose Ramon Alvarez Rendueles | Retired Governor of the Bank of Spain | Spain |
CUSIP No. 655053106
Edmond Pachura | Chairman of UNAS, Paris | France | ||
HRH the Prince Guillaume of Luxembourg | Prince of Luxembourg | Luxembourg | ||
Sergio Silva de Freitas | Member of the International Advisory Board of Banco Itau | Brazil | ||
Jean-Pierre Hansen | Vice-Chairman of the Executive Committee and Senior Executive Vice-President of SUEZ | Belgium | ||
Vanisha Mittal | Investor | India | ||
Wilbur Ross | Investor | USA | ||
Lewis Kaden | Vice-President and Chief Administrative Officer of Citigroup | USA | ||
Francois Pinault | Investor | France | ||
Narayanan Vaghul | Chairman of ICICI Bank | India | ||
Georges Schmit | Director General of the Ministry of Economy and Foreign Trade, Luxembourg | Luxembourg | ||
Antoine Spillmann | Assett Manager and Executive Partner of Bruellan | Switzerland | ||
Romain Zaleski | Investor | France | ||
John Castegnaro | Member of Luxembourg Parliament | Luxembourg | ||
Michel Marti | Retired President of CFDT union, France | France | ||
Manuel Fernandez Lopez | Secretary General of M.C.A.-U.G.T. union | Spain |
CUSIP No. 655053106
SCHEDULE B
EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS OF MITTAL STEEL COMPANY N.V.
The executive officers and directors of Mittal Steel Company N.V. are set forth below. Unless otherwise indicated, each individuals business address is c/o Mittal Steel Company N.V., Hofplein 20, 3032 AC Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
Executive Officers of Mittal Steel Company N.V. | ||||
Name | Title | Citizenship | ||
Lakshmi N. Mittal | Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer | India | ||
Aditya Mittal | Chief Financial Officer | India | ||
Roland Junck | Member of the Group Management Board | Luxembourg | ||
Michel Wurth | Member of the Group Management Board, Flat Products Europe | Luxembourg | ||
Gonzalo Urquijo | Member of the Group Management Board, Long Products and Distribution | Spain | ||
Malay Mukherjee | Member of the Group Management Board, Stainless, Mining | India | ||
Davinder K. Chugh | Senior Executive Vice President | India | ||
Sudhir Maheshwari | Executive Vice President Finance and M&A | India | ||
Bhikam C. Agarwal | Executive Vice President, Responsible for Financing and Controlling | India |
Directors of Mittal Steel Company N.V. | ||||
Name | Principal Occupation | Citizenship | ||
Joseph Kinsch | Retired CEO of Arcelor | Luxembourg | ||
Lakshmi N. Mittal | Chief Executive Officer Mittal Steel Company N.V. / Arcelor S.A. | India | ||
Jose Ramon Alvarez Rendueles | Retired Governor of the Bank of Spain | Spain |
CUSIP No. 655053106
Edmond Pachura | Chairman of UNAS, Paris | France | ||
HRH the Prince Guillaume of Luxembourg | Prince of Luxembourg | Luxembourg | ||
Sergio Silva de Freitas | Member of the International Advisory Board of Banco Itau | Brazil | ||
Jean-Pierre Hansen | Vice-Chairman of the Executive Committee and Senior Executive Vice-President of SUEZ | Belgium | ||
Vanisha Mittal | Investor | India | ||
Wilbur Ross | Investor | USA | ||
Lewis Kaden | Vice-President and Chief Administrative Officer of Citigroup | USA | ||
Francois Pinault | Investor | France | ||
Narayanan Vaghul | Chairman of ICICI Bank | India | ||
Georges Schmit | Director General of the Ministry of Economy and Foreign Trade, Luxembourg | Luxembourg | ||
Antoine Spillmann | Assett Manager and Executive Partner of Bruellan | Switzerland | ||
Romain Zaleski | Investor | France | ||
John Castegnaro | Member of Luxembourg Parliament | Luxembourg | ||
Michel Marti | Retired President of CFDT union, France | France | ||
Manuel Fernandez Lopez | Secretary General of M.C.A.-U.G.T. union | Spain |