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Lear Corporation Completes Acquisition of Chapman Companies

7 May 1998

Lear Corporation Completes Acquisition of Chapman Companies

    SOUTHFIELD, Mich., May 7 -- Lear Corporation has
completed the acquisition of A. W. Chapman Ltd., and A. W. Chapman Belgium nv
from John Harvey, owner of the Rodd Group, following receipt of approvals by
the Belgian government.
    The Chapman companies will be integrated into Lear's Structural Systems
Division, part of the company's Interior Systems Group.
    Lear Corporation and the Rodd Group had announced the transaction in
March.
    The Chapman companies employ approximately 600 people at facilities in
Bicester and Shepperton, UK and Houthalen, Belgium.  The acquired companies
produce seat tracks, mechanisms and seat height adjusters primarily for Ford
plants in the UK and Belgium.  Chapman also supplies other Tier 1 suppliers.
    The Chapman companies had sales revenues of approximately $70 million in
the fiscal year ending March 31, 1998.
    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 located in 26 countries.
    Information about Lear and its products is available on the Internet at
http://www.lear.com.

SOURCE  Lear Corporation