Statement re Melrose pensions agreement

LEI: 213800QNZ22GS95OSW84

NOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION IN WHOLE OR IN PART, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN, INTO OR FROM ANY JURISDICTION WHERE TO DO SO WOULD CONSTITUTE A VIOLATION OF THE RELEVANT LAWS OR REGULATIONS OF THAT JURISDICTION.

22 March 2018

GKN plc ("GKN")Statement re Melrose pensions agreement

GKN notes the announcement earlier today that Melrose Industries PLC ("Melrose") has finally reached agreement with the GKN pension scheme trustees (the "Trustees") regarding the future funding of GKN's UK pension schemes under its offer. GKN makes the following comments:

Melrose's proposal would destroy shareholder value

· Melrose's plan to contribute up to £1 billion into the UK schemes would create potential value leakage of more than £300 million, given the UK schemes' IAS 19 deficit of £674 million.

· By contrast, GKN has a comprehensive plan to reduce the liabilities of the schemes as well as eliminate the UK deficit, which will allow a conservative investment strategy to be pursued with the future volatility of the schemes substantially removed.

Melrose's proposal does nothing to address the size of the overall pension liability of the group

· Under Melrose's plan, the group's gross liability would remain in excess of £4.3 billion, on top of a balance sheet with high leverage of 2.5x net debt / EBITDA, and be subject to significant potential volatility due to its size.

· By contrast, GKN's agreed plan is to reduce the global gross liabilities to c. £2.2 billion (less than £2 billion in the UK) and adopt a low risk investment strategy to substantially remove the future volatility of the remaining UK schemes.

Melrose's proposal provides little clarity on the timing of future payments into the schemes

· Melrose has committed to contributions of £450 million over 5 years, of which c. 40% would not be paid until 2020-22. The balance of contributions appears completely dependent on promises from future disposals which have uncertain outcomes.

· By contrast, under GKN's comprehensive plan, contributions totaling £749m are expected to be made during the next 12-18 months, which are expected to completely eliminate the UK deficit.

Melrose's proposal would bring serious cash flow headwinds

· Melrose has announced that it will increase annual cash contributions to the UK schemes to £60 million a year. On top of that, it will have to make payments to cover German pension liabilities of €23 million in 2018, increasing to a maximum of €31 million in 2031. These payments will be a serious drag on Melrose's free cash flow and could well impact on its ability to invest in the businesses and pay dividends.

· By contrast, GKN's comprehensive plan is expected to reduce this cash drain by more than 90%.

Commenting, GKN Group Finance Director, Jos Sclater, said:

"It has taken Melrose more than 11 weeks to get to this point with the pension trustees. Melrose attempted an inadequate offer in the first place and has now had to agree to an economically inefficient settlement to address the Trustees' rightful concerns over Melrose's proposed high leverage structure for GKN and uncertainty of future ownership of the businesses. Melrose has not agreed any meaningful actions to reduce short term liabilities.

"In contrast, GKN has a clear and comprehensive plan to reduce the liabilities and eliminate the actuarial deficit in its UK pension schemes and to unburden the aerospace business from the drag on free cash flow resulting from pensions. Our proposal preserves our pensioners' benefits but in a much more cost effective way for our shareholders.

"Melrose's plan is bad for shareholders, causing potential value leakage of more than £300 million opposite the IAS 19 deficit whilst leaving the schemes with very substantial liabilities which would make any disposal of businesses much more challenging in the future. As I have said before, our shareholders and pensioners deserve better."

Contacts:

GKN plc

Guy Stainer, Investor Relations Director

Tel: +44 (0)20 7463 2382

FTI Consulting

Andrew Lorenz / Richard Mountain

Tel: +44 (0)203 727 1340

Gleacher Shacklock (Financial Adviser to GKN plc)

Tim Shacklock, Dominic Lee, Tom Quinn

Tel: +44 (0)20 7484 1150

J.P. Morgan Cazenove (Financial Adviser and Corporate Broker to GKN plc)

Robert Constant, Dwayne Lysaght, Stephen Smith

Tel: +44 (0)20 7742 4000

UBS (Financial Adviser and Corporate Broker to GKN plc)

Hew Glyn Davies, James Robertson, Jonathan Retter

Tel: +44 (0)20 7567 8000

Further information

This announcement is not intended to, and does not, constitute or form part of any offer, invitation or the solicitation of an offer to purchase, otherwise acquire, subscribe for, sell or otherwise dispose of, any securities whether pursuant to this announcement or otherwise.

The distribution of this announcement in jurisdictions outside the United Kingdom may be restricted by law and therefore persons into whose possession this announcement comes should inform themselves about, and observe, such restrictions. Any failure to comply with the restrictions may constitute a violation of the securities law of any such jurisdiction.

Gleacher Shacklock LLP ("Gleacher Shacklock"), which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority in the United Kingdom, is acting exclusively as financial adviser to GKN and no one else in connection with the matters set out in this announcement and will not be responsible to anyone other than GKN for providing the protections afforded to clients of Gleacher Shacklock or for providing advice in connection with the subject matter of this announcement or any other matter referred to herein.

J.P. Morgan Securities plc (which conducts its UK investment banking business as J.P. Morgan Cazenove) ("J.P. Morgan Cazenove") is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority in the United Kingdom. J.P. Morgan Cazenove is acting exclusively as financial adviser to GKN and no one else in connection with the matters set out in this announcement and will not regard any other person as its client in relation to the matters set out in this announcement and will not be responsible to anyone other than GKN for providing the protections afforded to clients of J.P. Morgan Cazenove or its affiliates, nor for providing advice in relation to any matter referred to herein.

UBS Limited ("UBS") is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority in the United Kingdom. UBS is acting exclusively as financial adviser to GKN and no one else for the purpose of the consideration of a proposed acquisition by Melrose and will not be responsible to anyone other than GKN for providing the protections offered to clients of UBS nor for providing advice in relation to the subject matter of this announcement or any transaction, arrangement or other matter referred to herein.

Disclosure requirements of the City Code on Takeovers and Mergers (the "City Code")

Under Rule 8.3(a) of the City Code, any person who is interested in 1% or more of any class of relevant securities of an offeree company or of any securities exchange offeror (being any offeror other than an offeror in respect of which it has been announced that its offer is, or is likely to be, solely in cash) must make an Opening Position Disclosure following the commencement of the offer period and, if later, following the announcement in which any securities exchange offeror is first identified. An Opening Position Disclosure must contain details of the person's interests and short positions in, and rights to subscribe for, any relevant securities of each of (i) the offeree company and (ii) any securities exchange offeror(s). An Opening Position Disclosure by a person to whom Rule 8.3(a) applies must be made by no later than 3.30 pm (London time) on the 10th business day following the commencement of the offer period and, if appropriate, by no later than 3.30 pm (London time) on the 10th business day following the announcement in which any securities exchange offeror is first identified. Relevant persons who deal in the relevant securities of the offeree company or of a securities exchange offeror prior to the deadline for making an Opening Position Disclosure must instead make a Dealing Disclosure.

Under Rule 8.3(b) of the City Code, any person who is, or becomes, interested in 1% or more of any class of relevant securities of the offeree company or of any securities exchange offeror must make a Dealing Disclosure if the person deals in any relevant securities of the offeree company or of any securities exchange offeror. A Dealing Disclosure must contain details of the dealing concerned and of the person's interests and short positions in, and rights to subscribe for, any relevant securities of each of (i) the offeree company and (ii) any securities exchange offeror(s), save to the extent that these details have previously been disclosed under Rule 8. A Dealing Disclosure by a person to whom Rule 8.3(b) applies must be made by no later than 3.30 pm (London time) on the business day following the date of the relevant dealing.

If two or more persons act together pursuant to an agreement or understanding, whether formal or informal, to acquire or control an interest in relevant securities of an offeree company or a securities exchange offeror, they will be deemed to be a single person for the purpose of Rule 8.3.

Opening Position Disclosures must also be made by the offeree company and by any offeror and Dealing Disclosures must also be made by the offeree company, by any offeror and by any persons acting in concert with any of them (see Rules 8.1, 8.2 and 8.4).

Details of the offeree and offeror companies in respect of whose relevant securities Opening Position Disclosures and Dealing Disclosures must be made can be found in the Disclosure Table on the Takeover Panel's website at www.thetakeoverpanel.org.uk, including details of the number of relevant securities in issue, when the offer period commenced and when any offeror was first identified. You should contact the Panel's Market Surveillance Unit on +44 (0)20 7638 0129 if you are in any doubt as to whether you are required to make an Opening Position Disclosure or a Dealing Disclosure.

Publication on a website

In accordance with Rule 26.1 of the Code, a copy of this announcement will be published on the GKN website (www.gkn.com) by no later than 12 noon on the business day following this announcement. The content of the website referred to in this announcement is not incorporated into and does not form part of this announcement.

Cautionary Statement - other matters

This announcement contains forward looking statements in relation to matters other than the agreement between GKN and Dana Incorporated ("Dana") on the proposed combination of Dana and GKN Driveline (the "Proposed Combination") which are made in good faith based on the information available at the time of its approval. It is believed that the expectations reflected in these statements are reasonable but they may be affected by a number of risks and uncertainties that are inherent in any forward looking statement which could cause actual results to differ materially from those currently anticipated.

Cautionary statement - Proposed Combination

This announcement contains forward looking statements which are made in good faith based on the information available at the time of its publication. The forward-looking statements contained in this announcement may include statements about the expected effects of the Proposed Combination on GKN, Dana, Dana plc and/or GKN Aerospace, the anticipated timing and benefits of the Proposed Combination, GKN's and Dana's anticipated standalone financial results and all other statements in this document other than statements of historical facts. Without limitation, any statements preceded or followed by or that include the words "targets," "plans," "believes," "expects," "intends," "will," "likely," "may," "anticipates," "estimates," "projects," "should," "would," "positioned," "strategy," "future" or words, phrases or terms of similar substance or the negative thereof, are forward-looking statements. It is believed that the expectations reflected in these statements are reasonable but they are based upon a number of assumptions that are subject to change and they may be affected by a number of risks and uncertainties that are inherent in any forward looking statement which could cause actual results to differ materially from those currently anticipated. Such risks, uncertainties and assumptions include: the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstances that could give rise to the termination of the merger agreement; the satisfaction of the conditions to the Proposed Combination and other risks related to Completion and actions related thereto; GKN's and Dana's ability to complete the Proposed Combination on the anticipated terms and schedule, including the ability to obtain shareholder or regulatory approvals of the Proposed Combination; the ability of the parties to integrate successfully GKN Driveline with the business of Dana following the consummation of the Proposed Combination and to realize the anticipated synergies (including any anticipated tax synergies) and other benefits expected from the Proposed Combination; the effects of government regulation on GKN's or Dana's businesses; the risk that disruptions from the Proposed Combination will harm GKN's or Dana's business; the effect of the announcement of the Proposed Combination on the ability of GKN and Dana to retain customers and retain and hire key personnel and maintain relationships with their suppliers, and on their operating results and businesses generally; potential litigation in connection with the Proposed Combination; and other factors detailed in GKN's Annual Report and Accounts 2016 and Dana's reports filed with the SEC, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K under the caption "Risk Factors". Nothing in this document should be regarded as a profit forecast. Forward-looking statements included herein are made as of the date hereof, and none of GKN, Dana or Dana plc undertakes, and each expressly disclaims, any obligation to update publicly such statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances.

No offer or solicitation

This communication shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities or a solicitation of any vote or approval, nor shall there be any sale of securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction.

Additional information and where to find it

This communication may be deemed to be solicitation material in respect of the Proposed Combination. The Proposed Combination will be submitted to a vote of Dana's stockholders and a vote of GKN's shareholders. In connection with the Proposed Combination, it is intended that Dana plc will file with the SEC a registration statement on Form S-4, containing a prospectus with respect to Dana plc's ordinary shares to be issued in the Proposed Combination (the "Prospectus") and a proxy statement for Dana's stockholders (the "Proxy Statement"), and Dana will mail the Proxy Statement to its stockholders and file other documents regarding the Proposed Combination with the SEC. Further, it is intended that GKN will mail a circular to its shareholders (the "Circular") containing further details in relation to the Proposed Combination and notice of the general meeting. DANA'S SECURITYHOLDERS AND GKN'S SHAREHOLDERS ARE URGED TO CAREFULLY READ ALL RELEVANT DOCUMENTS FILED WITH THE SEC, INCLUDING THE PROSPECTUS AND THE PROXY STATEMENT, AND THE CIRCULAR WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE, BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE PARTIES, THE PROPOSED COMBINATION AND DANA PLC. Investors will be able to obtain copies of the Prospectus and the Proxy Statement as well as other filings containing information about Dana, without charge, at the SEC's website, http://www.sec.gov. Copies of documents filed with the SEC by GKN will be made available free of charge on GKN's Investor Relations Website. Copies of documents filed with the SEC by Dana or Dana plc will be made available free of charge on Dana's Investor Relations Website.

Participants in the solicitation

GKN and its directors and executive officers, and Dana and its directors and executive officers, may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from the holders of Dana common stock in respect to the Proposed Combination. Information about the directors and executive officers of GKN is set forth in GKN's Annual Report and Accounts 2016. Information about the directors and executive officers of Dana is set forth in the definitive proxy statement for Dana's 2017 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, which was filed with the SEC on March 16, 2017. Investors may obtain additional information regarding the interests of such participants by reading each of the Prospectus and the Proxy Statement and the Circular regarding the Proposed Combination when it becomes available.