Magna Announces Two European Transactions
2 February 1998
Magna Announces Two European TransactionsMARKHAM, Ont., Feb. 2 /CNW-PRN/ - Magna International Inc. (TSE:MG.A, MG.B; ME:MG.A; NYSE:MGA) announced today that it has entered into an agreement to acquire 100% of the shares of Roltra Morse S.p.A. (``Roltra Morse'') from IMO Industries Inc. . The transaction is expected to close at the end of February 1998. Roltra Morse is a leading supplier of automotive latches, window regulators, cable systems, door modules and gear shift mechanisms to OEM's in Europe, South America and Turkey, with estimated calendar 1997 sales of approximately Cdn$150 million. It employs approximately 1050 people in three wholly owned manufacturing facilities in Italy, one wholly owned facility in Poland and two jointly controlled facilities in Brazil and Turkey. Its principal customer is FIAT. Other customers include Saab, Porsche and Rolls Royce. This acquisition enables Magna's Atoma Closure & Electronic Systems Group to significantly expand its door and body electronic systems capability into Europe and South America and will strengthen its position as a major full service systems supplier to the global automotive industry. Magna also announced that it has completed the sale of MST Automotive GmbH Automobil-Sicherheitstechnik (MST) and Temic Bayern-Chemie Airbag GmbH (TBCA) by selling to TRW Inc. its remaining 20% interest in the two European-based automotive operations, for a cash payment of approximately Cdn$148 million. In fiscal 1997, TRW purchased from Magna an 80% equity interest in MST, a European supplier of airbag modules, steering wheels, and other related automotive components, and TBCA, a European supplier of airbag inflators and propellants and related automotive components. Magna, one of the most diversified automotive suppliers in the world, designs, develops and manufactures automotive systems, assemblies and components primarily for sale to original equipment manufacturers of cars and light trucks in North America, Mexico and Europe. Magna's products include exterior decorative systems, interior products including seating systems, door and other panels, and sound insulation systems, stamped and welded metal parts and assemblies, sunroofs, electro-mechanical devices and assemblies, various engine, powertrain and fueling and cooling components, and a variety of plastic parts, including body panels and fascias. Magna has over 39,000 employees in 134 manufacturing operations and 27 product development and engineering centres in 11 countries. SOURCE Magna International Inc.