Dana to Buy Control of Brazilian Suspension Parts Maker
15 April 1998
Dana Plans To Acquire Majority Interest in Brazil's Largest Suspension Components ProducerTOLEDO, Ohio, April 15 -- Dana Corporation announced today that its Brazilian subsidiary, Dana Parish Produtos Industriais S.A., has commenced a tender offer on the Brazilian stock exchange for the publicly-held preference shares of Nakata S.A. Industria e Comercio of Sao Paulo, Brazil. The offer expires April 16, 1998. Dana Parish has an agreement to acquire the controlling shares held by the founding Nakata family upon successful completion of the tender offer. Founded in 1952, Nakata and its subsidiaries are the leading Brazilian manufacturer of suspension components, such as tie-rods and ball joints. Nakata also manufactures shock absorbers, and a Nakata subsidiary produces suspension components in Argentina. The combined Nakata group, including plants in Sao Paulo and Buenos Aires, had 1997 sales in excess of $110 million. Dana's affiliates currently employ more than 5,100 people at 26 facilities in Brazil. Dana Corporation is a global leader in the engineering, manufacture, and distribution of products and services for the automotive, engine, heavy truck, off-highway, industrial, and leasing markets. Founded in 1904 and based in Toledo, Ohio, Dana operates facilities in 30 countries and employs more than 50,000 people. The company reported record sales of $8.3 billion in 1997. The Internet address for Dana's home page is http://www.dana.com. SOURCE Dana Corporation