Dana Corporation to Divest Global Warner Electric Operations
14 June 1999
Dana Corporation to Divest Global Warner Electric OperationsTOLEDO, Ohio, June 11 -- Dana Corporation today announced plans for the largest divestiture in its history -- the sale of its global Warner Electric Industrial Products Group and part of its Warner Electric Industrial Motors and Controls Group. The proposed sale comes in response to recent interest from potential buyers who expressed a desire to purchase certain of Dana's industrial operations. This is consistent with Dana's previously announced Five-Point Plan for continued growth and increased profitability. Excluded from the sale will be Dana's automotive motion control operations in El Paso, Texas, and Chihuahua, Mexico; its American Electronic Components, Inc., facilities serving automotive customers, located in Elkhart, Ind.; and certain automotive engineering and test facilities located in Ann Arbor, Mich. The Warner Electric Industrial Products Group manufactures industrial clutches and brakes, linear actuators, and ball bearing screws for a diverse range of applications. The Warner Electric Industrial Motors and Controls Group produces a wide range of precision electric motors and controls, electronic adjustable speed drives, power conditioning equipment, and voltage and lighting controls. The groups had combined sales of approximately $360 million in 1998 and employ approximately 3,000 people at 18 major manufacturing and assembly facilities throughout the world. "This divestiture is important not only because of its size, but also because it enables us to more effectively focus our vehicular electronic capability. It is another example of Dana's resolve to divest non-strategic assets -- one of the elements of our Five-Point Plan," said Joe Magliochetti, Dana president and CEO. Yesterday, Dana announced a similar decision to sell its Commercial Vehicle Cab Systems Group, a $91 million manufacturer of truck mirrors, windshield wiper systems and HVAC controls. In March, Dana announced an agreement to sell most of its constant-velocity joint business to GKN plc as part of a strategic global alliance with that company. In April, Dana unveiled its Five-Point Plan, which is a tactical link to the company's overall strategic plan. The Five-Point Plan provides elements for continued growth and profitability over the next 12 to 18 months. The plan includes the following five tactics: * Grow while focusing on returns and maintaining financial discipline; * Seek strategic, bolt-on acquisitions at reasonable valuations; * Divest non-strategic and non-performing operations; * Repurchase stock as the company generates cash; and * Complete integration efforts and realize synergy savings. Mike Plumley, president of Dana's Industrial Group, said, "Warner Electric has been an important contributor to Dana, and we owe a debt of gratitude to our people from those divisions. I am confident Warner will grow further with a company that is more focused on industrial products." Southwood J. Morcott, Dana chairman, said, "With this decision, Dana is better positioned to leverage the resources of our vehicular electronic controls and fluid system products to better serve our customers and provide additional strategic growth." Dana has retained the investment-banking firm of J.P. Morgan & Co. Inc. to assist in the transaction. Dana Corporation is one of the world's largest independent suppliers to vehicle manufacturers and their related aftermarkets. Founded in 1904 and based in Toledo, Ohio, the company operates some 330 major facilities in 32 countries and employs more than 86,000 people. The company reported sales of $12.5 billion in 1998. Dana's Internet address is http://www.dana.com .