-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE----- Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov Originator-Key-Asymmetric: MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA, A0PlXrdK7+lgdklmR4hy+3cpeBcVG8uONgABx/yjdyVXf9bmW7Flkn7wz8cX4CBe dxHWFA4IwJf7HA/ajlnhlA== 0000898822-03-001133.txt : 20031124 0000898822-03-001133.hdr.sgml : 20031124 20031124090803 ACCESSION NUMBER: 0000898822-03-001133 CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: SC 14D9/A PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 3 FILED AS OF DATE: 20031124 SUBJECT COMPANY: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: DANA CORP CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0000026780 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: MOTOR VEHICLE PARTS & ACCESSORIES [3714] IRS NUMBER: 344361040 STATE OF INCORPORATION: VA FISCAL YEAR END: 1231 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: SC 14D9/A SEC ACT: 1934 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 005-10058 FILM NUMBER: 031019521 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 4500 DORR ST CITY: TOLEDO STATE: OH ZIP: 43615 BUSINESS PHONE: 4195354500 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: PO BOX 1000 CITY: TOLEDO STATE: OH ZIP: 43697 FILED BY: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: DANA CORP CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0000026780 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: MOTOR VEHICLE PARTS & ACCESSORIES [3714] IRS NUMBER: 344361040 STATE OF INCORPORATION: VA FISCAL YEAR END: 1231 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: SC 14D9/A BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 4500 DORR ST CITY: TOLEDO STATE: OH ZIP: 43615 BUSINESS PHONE: 4195354500 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: PO BOX 1000 CITY: TOLEDO STATE: OH ZIP: 43697 SC 14D9/A 1 amendment23.txt AMENDMENT 23 ================================================================================ SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION WASHINGTON, DC 20549 --------------------- SCHEDULE 14D-9 SOLICITATION/RECOMMENDATION STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 14(d)(4) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 (Amendment No. 23) --------------------- DANA CORPORATION (Name of Subject Company) --------------------- DANA CORPORATION (Name of Person(s) Filing Statement) Common Stock, Par Value $1.00 Per Share (including the Associated Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock Purchase Rights) (Title of Class of Securities) 235811 10 6 (CUSIP Number of Class of Securities) --------------------- Michael L. DeBacker, Esq. Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary Dana Corporation 4500 Dorr Street Toledo, Ohio 43615 (419) 535-4500 (Name, Address and Telephone Number of Person Authorized to Receive Notice and Communications on Behalf of the Person(s) Filing Statement) --------------------- With copies to: Adam O. Emmerich, Esq. David C. Karp, Esq. Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz 51 West 52nd Street New York, New York 10019 (212) 403-1000 [ ] Check the box if the filing relates solely to preliminary communications made before the commencement of a tender offer. ================================================================================ The purpose of this amendment is to amend and supplement Item 4 and Item 9 in the Solicitation/Recommendation Statement on Schedule 14D-9 previously filed by Dana Corporation, a Virginia corporation, on July 22, 2003, as thereafter amended (the "Schedule 14D-9") and to add additional Exhibits and revise the Exhibit Index accordingly. Item 4. Solicitation or Recommendation. The text of Item 4(b) of the Schedule 14D-9 is hereby amended and supplemented by adding the following at the end: On November 23, 2003, the following letter was faxed to Mr. Larry D. Yost, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of ArvinMeritor: November 23, 2003 Mr. Larry D. Yost Chairman and CEO ArvinMeritor, Inc. 2135 West Maple Road Troy, Michigan 48084 Dear Mr. Yost: This will respond to your letter of November 17th. The Dana Board of Directors has given the proposal set forth in your letter a full, fair and objective review. It has unanimously concluded that pursuing the highly conditional proposed transaction between ArvinMeritor and Dana would not be in the best interests of Dana or its shareholders. Very truly yours, /s/ Glen H. Hiner ------------------------------- Glen H. Hiner Acting Chairman of the Board and Chairman of the Committee of Independent Directors Item 9. Exhibits. Exhibit Description No. - --------- ---------------------------------------------------------------- (a) (32) Letter, dated November 23, 2003, to Dana shareholders (a) (33) Press release issued by Dana on November 23, 2003 SIGNATURE After due inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and belief, I certify that the information set forth in this statement is true, complete and correct. DANA CORPORATION By: /s/ Robert C. Richter ---------------------------------------- Robert C. Richter Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Dated: November 23, 2003 -2- INDEX OF EXHIBITS Exhibit Description No. - ------------ ---------------------------------------------------------------- (a) (32) Letter, dated November 23, 2003, to Dana shareholders (a) (33) Press release issued by Dana on November 23, 2003 -3- EX-99 3 exhibita32.txt EXHIBIT (A) (32) EXHIBIT (a)(32) November 23, 2003 Dear Fellow Shareholders: On November 17, 2003, ArvinMeritor issued a press release stating that it was increasing its tender offer to $18 per share. ArvinMeritor also said that this was its "final offer" to Dana and that it will "terminate its tender offer at 5 p.m. (EST) on Tuesday, Dec. 2, 2003, unless [the Dana] board agrees to begin negotiating a definitive merger agreement in good faith by that date." After a thorough review process, the Committee of Independent Directors and the Board of Directors have unanimously determined that it is not in the best interests of Dana or our shareholders to accept such a proposal and we have so informed ArvinMeritor. This decision by the Board was made after extensive review and consultation with its legal and financial advisors. It is based, in part, on our belief that, as compared with achieving the objectives of our present business plan, the value being offered by ArvinMeritor -- even if it were obtainable -- is neither attractive nor compelling. Equally important, the Board noted that the offer continues to be conditioned on regulatory clearance and financing and that ArvinMeritor, over the last four months since it first made its proposal, has failed to show any tangible progress towards resolving the fundamental antitrust barriers that exist and the lack of financing for its offer. Indeed, our financial advisors have advised us that there are very substantial risks and uncertainties with respect to ArvinMeritor's ability to finance its new proposal. With regard to the antitrust hurdle, the Board believes, based upon the advice of the company's antitrust counsel and antitrust counsel's communications with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) staff, that the FTC would likely view the proposed transaction as illegal and ArvinMeritor's divestiture proposal as insufficient to resolve the serious antitrust issues that have been raised by its proposed transaction. We do not believe that pursuing this unattractive and highly conditional proposed transaction is in the best interests of Dana or our shareholders. We intend to proceed with our business plan and pursue actions that we believe will enhance shareholder value. We greatly appreciate your continued support and encouragement. Sincerely, /s/ Glen H. Hiner --------------------------------------- Glen H. Hiner Acting Chairman of the Board and Chairman of the Committee of Independent Directors EX-99 4 exhibit33.txt EXHIBIT (A) (33) EXHIBIT (a)(33) NEWS RELEASE Contact: Michelle Hards (419) 535-4636 michelle.hards@dana.com DANA CORPORATION'S BOARD OF DIRECTORS REJECTS REVISED OFFER FROM ARVINMERITOR o Fundamental Antitrust Barriers o Lack of Financing for Offer TOLEDO, OHIO, NOVEMBER 23, 2003 -- Dana Corporation (NYSE: DCN) today announced that its Board of Directors has unanimously rejected the recently revised tender offer from ArvinMeritor, Inc. (NYSE: ARM) after a thorough review and consultation with its legal and financial advisors. After the Board reached its determination, the following letter was sent to Mr. Larry D. Yost, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of ArvinMeritor: November 23, 2003 Mr. Larry D. Yost Chairman and CEO ArvinMeritor, Inc. 2135 West Maple Road Troy, Michigan 48084 Dear Mr. Yost: This will respond to your letter of November 17th. The Dana Board of Directors has given the proposal set forth in your letter a full, fair and objective review. It has unanimously concluded that pursuing the highly conditional proposed transaction between ArvinMeritor and Dana would not be in the best interests of Dana or its shareholders. Very truly yours, Glen H. Hiner Acting Chairman of the Board and Chairman of the Committee of Independent Directors The Board of Directors also approved the following letter to the company's shareholders: November 23, 2003 Dear Fellow Shareholders: On November 17, 2003, ArvinMeritor issued a press release stating that it was increasing its tender offer to $18 per share. ArvinMeritor also said that this was its "final offer" to Dana and that it will "terminate its tender offer at 5 p.m. (EST) on Tuesday, Dec. 2, 2003, unless [the Dana] board agrees to begin negotiating a definitive merger agreement in good faith by that date." After a thorough review process, the Committee of Independent Directors and the Board of Directors have unanimously determined that it is not in the best interests of Dana or our shareholders to accept such a proposal and we have so informed ArvinMeritor. This decision by the Board was made after extensive review and consultation with its legal and financial advisors. It is based, in part, on our belief that, as compared with achieving the objectives of our present business plan, the value being offered by ArvinMeritor -- even if it were obtainable -- is neither attractive nor compelling. Equally important, the Board noted that the offer continues to be conditioned on regulatory clearance and financing and that ArvinMeritor, over the last four months since it first made its proposal, has failed to show any tangible progress towards resolving the fundamental antitrust barriers that exist and the lack of financing for its offer. Indeed, our financial advisors have advised us that there are very substantial risks and uncertainties with respect to ArvinMeritor's ability to finance its new proposal. With regard to the antitrust hurdle, the Board believes, based upon the advice of the company's antitrust counsel and antitrust counsel's communications with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) staff, that the FTC would likely view the proposed transaction as illegal and ArvinMeritor's divestiture proposal as insufficient to resolve the serious antitrust issues that have been raised by its proposed transaction. We do not believe that pursuing this unattractive and highly conditional proposed transaction is in the best interests of Dana or our shareholders. We intend to proceed with our business plan and pursue actions that we believe will enhance shareholder value. We greatly appreciate your continued support and encouragement. Sincerely, Glen H. Hiner Acting Chairman of the Board and Chairman of the Committee of Independent Directors Dana's shareholders, and its customers, suppliers and employees, are strongly advised to read carefully Dana's solicitation/recommendation statement regarding ArvinMeritor's tender offer, because it contains important information. Free copies of the solicitation/recommendation statement and the related amendments, which have been filed by Dana with the Securities and Exchange Commission, are available at the SEC's web site at www.sec.gov, or at the Dana web site at www.dana.com, and also by directing requests to Dana's Investor Relations Department or Dana's information agent, D.F. King & Co., Inc., at 1-800-901-0068. Statements made in this release indicating Dana's, the Board of Directors', the Committee of Independent Directors' or management's intentions, beliefs, expectations or predictions for the future are forward-looking statements. These statements are only predictions and may differ materially from actual or future events or results. Such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and may involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied. Such risks and uncertainties include, without limitation, global and regional economic conditions, business conditions in the overall automotive industry, the cost and timing of Dana's repositioning plan implementation and the ability to implement and the success of any actions to enhance shareholder value. They also include other factors discussed herein and those detailed from time to time in Dana's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Dana is a global leader in the design, engineering, and manufacture of value-added products and systems for automotive, commercial, and off-highway vehicle manufacturers and their related aftermarkets. The company employs approximately 60,000 people worldwide. Founded in 1904 and based in Toledo, Ohio, Dana operates hundreds of technology, manufacturing, and customer service facilities in 30 countries. The company reported 2002 sales of $9.5 billion. -----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----