ArvinMeritor in hostile takeover bid for Dana

ArvinMeritor, Inc. today announced that it intends to commence a tender offer to acquire all of the outstanding shares of Dana Corporation for $15.00 per share in cash. ArvinMeritor's offer represents a premium of 56% over Dana's closing stock price on June 3, 2003, the last trading day before ArvinMeritor submitted its first proposal to Dana in writing, a premium of 39% over Dana's average closing stock price for the last 30 trading days, and a premium of 25% over Dana's closing stock price on July 7, 2003, the last trading day before today's announcement.The proposed transaction has a total equity value of approximately $2.2 billion assuming 148.6 million shares of Dana outstanding. In addition, Dana has net debt and minority interests of approximately $2.2 billion, accounting for Dana Credit Corporation on an equity basis, bringing the total enterprise value to approximately $4.4 billion. The transaction is anticipated to be significantly accretive to ArvinMeritor's earnings per share in the first year after the transaction closes.Larry Yost, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of ArvinMeritor, stated, "We believe that to succeed in today's increasingly global and competitive automotive supplier industry, we must take actions that will increase the opportunities available to our company in the future and enhance value for our shareowners, customers and employees. We would prefer to meet with the Dana Board and its advisors to discuss our all-cash offer and negotiate a mutually acceptable transaction; however, Dana has rejected our prior proposals and refused our requests to enter into discussions. Therefore, we believe it is necessary to take our offer directly to Dana's shareowners."We believe that together, ArvinMeritor and Dana will be a stronger Tier One supplier providing numerous technological and service benefits for our combined worldwide light vehicle, commercial truck and aftermarket customers. This transaction will bring together the right combination of innovation, capabilities and resources to establish a stronger, more competitive global enterprise. "A combined ArvinMeritor-Dana will have a more diversified product mix and a balanced customer base. Importantly, the combined company will have the increased capability to accelerate growth; make strategic investments; and enlarge our diversified portfolio of products and services. It also will enable us to expand our content per vehicle by developing a complete undercarriage and drivetrain system technology capability to serve both the light and commercial vehicle industries, as we strengthen the powertrain product portfolio. The transaction will also create significant financial benefits, including considerable sales, operating and cost synergies beyond what either company could achieve on its own."