12th
October 2007 - Dana Enters Into Amendment to Investment
Agreement With Centerbridge Capital Partners, Rejects Alternative
Proposal From Appaloosa Management
Dana announced today that it has entered into an amendment to the
investment agreement it reached with Centerbridge Capital Partners,
L.P., on July 26, 2007. Dana also announced that its Board of Directors
has rejected an alternative investment offer submitted by Appaloosa
Management, L.P.
Amendment to the Centerbridge Agreement
The original terms of the Centerbridge investment agreement
provided, among other things, for an affiliate of Centerbridge to
purchase $250 million in convertible preferred shares of reorganized
Dana (Series A), and for qualified supporting creditors to have an
opportunity to purchase $500 million in convertible preferred shares
(Series B) on a pro rata basis. Centerbridge had agreed to purchase up
to $250 million of any Series B shares that were not purchased by the
creditors.
Among the amendments to the Centerbridge agreement are:
The amendment, which is subject to approval by the Bankruptcy Court
for the Southern District of New York, where the company's Chapter 11
bankruptcy proceeding is pending, is required to be approved by Nov. 15,
2007.
Appaloosa Management Proposal
In conjunction with the Bankruptcy Court's established procedures
for qualified potential investors interested in exploring alternative
proposals to the Centerbridge investment, Appaloosa delivered an offer
for an alternative investment to Dana and the Official Committee of
Unsecured Creditors on Sept. 21, 2007.
As contemplated by the alternative proposal procedures, Dana's Board
of Directors reviewed and considered Appaloosa's offer. Following
discussions among the parties and the various bankruptcy constituents,
Dana's Board rejected Appaloosa's offer.
About Dana Corporation
Dana is a world leader in the supply of axles; driveshafts; and
structural, sealing, and thermal management products; as well as genuine
service parts. The company's customer base includes virtually every
major vehicle and engine manufacturer in the global automotive,
commercial vehicle, and off-highway markets, which collectively produce
more than 65 million vehicles annually. Based in Toledo, Ohio, the
company's continuing operations employ approximately 35,000 people in 28
countries and reported 2006 sales of $8.5 billion, with more than half
of this revenue derived from outside the United States. For more
information, please visit:
http://www.dana.com.
Dana and certain of its U.S. subsidiaries are operating under
Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code as debtors in possession.
Information about the bankruptcy proceedings can be found at:
http://www.dana.com/reorganization. While Dana continues its
reorganization under Chapter 11, investments in its securities are
highly speculative.
Although shares of Dana common stock
continue to trade on the OTC Bulletin Board (OTCBB) under the symbol "DCNAQ,"
the opportunity for any recovery by shareholders under a confirmed plan
of reorganization is uncertain.
Source: Dana Corporation Press
Release