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Lear Signs Agreement to Acquire U.K.-Based Seat Mechanisms Supplier, A.W. Chapman

25 March 1998

Lear Signs Agreement to Acquire U.K.-Based Seat Mechanisms Supplier, A.W. Chapman

    SOUTHFIELD, Mich., March 25 -- Lear Corporation
has signed an agreement to acquire the A.W. Chapman Ltd., and A.W. Chapman
Belgium nv subsidiaries of the Rodd Group Limited.
    The purchase is subject to approval by Belgian government authorities and
is expected to be completed within 60 days.
    The Chapman companies 600 employees produce seat tracks, mechanisms and
seat height adjusters at plants in Bicester and Shepperton in the U.K. and in
Houthalen, Belgium.  Chapman's primary customer is Ford in Europe and provides
seat components for the Ford Mondeo and Ford Transit.  Chapman also supplies
other Tier I suppliers.
    "This purchase will complement two acquisitions we made in 1997," said Ken
Way, Lear Corporation's chairman and CEO.  "Last year we acquired U.K.-based
Dunlop Cox and also acquired ITT Automotive's North American sub systems
business.  These now form an integral part of our Interior Systems Group and
the Chapman acquisition will add to that group's engineering and manufacturing
capability," he said.
    The privately held Rodd Group is a first tier supplier of automotive
pressings, components and assemblies and is a Tier II supplier to other UK-
based car and light commercial vehicle manufacturers.  The Group also is a
manufacturer of driver and passenger seating for bus, coach and train
manufacturers and of office seating mechanisms.  Its headquarters are in
Shepperton, Middlesex, England.
    A Fortune 500 company, Lear Corporation is one of the world's largest
automotive suppliers, with 1997 sales revenues of $7.3 billion.  The company's
world-class products are designed, engineered and manufactured by more than
50,000 employees in over 170 facilities in 26 countries.  Information about
Lear and its products is available on the Internet at http://www.lear.com.

SOURCE  Lear Corporation