Even after the acquisition of control by Fiat, Chrysler continues to manage financial matters, including funding and cash management, separately. Additionally, Fiat has not provided guarantees or security or undertaken any other similar commitment in relation to any financial obligation of Chrysler, nor does it have any commitment to provide funding to Chrysler in the future.
In any case, certain bonds issued by Fiat include provisions that may be affected by circumstances related to Chrysler. In particular these bonds include cross-default clauses which may accelerate Fiat’s obligation to repay its bonds in the event that a “material subsidiary” of Fiat fails to pay certain debt obligations on maturity or is otherwise subject to an acceleration in the maturity of any of those obligations. As a result of Fiat’s acquisition of control over Chrysler, Chrysler Group LLC is a “material subsidiary” and certain of its subsidiaries may become material subsidiaries of Fiat within the meaning of those bonds. Therefore, the cross-default provision could require early repayment of the Fiat bonds in the event Chrysler’s debt obligations are accelerated or are not repaid at maturity. There can be no assurance that the obligation to accelerate the repayment by Chrysler of its debts will not arise or that it will be able to pay its debt obligations when due at maturity.