Dana Corp. announced Monday that it and two affiliates have entered into asset-purchase agreements with Hendrickson USA for the sale of Dana’s trailer axle manufacturing business.

Under terms of the agreements, the buyers will acquire assets South Carolina, Canada and China that are used to manufacture heavy-duty trailer axles and suspensions for an aggregate price of approximately $38 million in cash
The transactions are subject to the approval of the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York, which has jurisdiction over Dana’s Chapter 11 reorganization proceedings. As a standard part of the divestiture process, Dana has filed a motion with the Bankruptcy Court seeking approval of procedures that will provide an opportunity for competitive bids on the trailer axle assets before the court approves the sale. Dana expects the bidding process to be completed and the sale to close in the fourth quarter of 2006.
Dana Heavy Vehicle Products President Nick Stanage said the asset sale will support the company’s efforts to focus more intently on its core commercial vehicle drivetrain product lines. “This divestiture will benefit our Commercial Vehicle group by concentrating its resources on our core products and competencies – namely drive and steer axles, driveshafts, brakes and tire inflation systems for commercial vehicles,” he said.
Stanage added, “We view this transaction as a strategic opportunity for both Dana and the buyer. This is a good business that has the opportunity to become even better by teaming with a company that considers trailer products a core pursuit and has the resources to further develop this group’s capabilities to address this market segment.”
In conjunction with the asset purchase agreements, Bendix Spicer Foundation Brake, a joint venture in which Dana has an interest, has agreed to continue to supply Bendix brake systems to Hendrickson.