An international automotive company headquartered in Howland Township has announced an agreement to sell some assets to a company based in India.
 
Stoneridge, Incorporated says it has entered into an asset purchase agreement to sell its wiring business segment assets to Motherson Sumi Systems Ltd. for $65.7 million and the assumption of certain related liabilities of the wiring business.

Motherson, an India-based manufacturer of diversified products for the global automotive industry, intends to expand its presence in North America through this transaction.

Included in the transaction are six manufacturing facilities located in Portland, Indiana; Chihuahua, Mexico; Saltillo, Mexico; and Monclova, Mexico; as well as an engineering and administrative center located in Howland.

The transaction involves approximately 4,700 employees and is expected to close in the third quarter of 2014, subject to customary closing conditions, including required regulatory approvals.

According to the Stoneridge website, the company has a manufacturing facility in Lexington, Ohio in addition to a headquarters located on East Market Street in Howland.

Stoneridge's Wiring Business designs and manufactures wiring harness products for sale principally to the commercial, agricultural and off-highway vehicle markets, as well as assembling entire instrument panels that are configured specifically to an OEM customer's specifications in the commercial vehicle market.

"The combination of Stoneridge's Wiring Business with Motherson will increase the vertical and global integration of the business, providing greater size, scale and additional global capabilities to service customers' requirements," said John C. Corey, President and Chief Executive Officer of Stoneridge.

Corey added, "Our Wiring business has a strong management team and highly dedicated employees. It is our expectation that they will be the foundation for the North American market for Motherson. We thank them for their contributions to Stoneridge and know they will continue to thrive within the Motherson organization."

In recent years, Stoneridge's strategic approach has been to emphasize the development of advanced technology products and engineered product applications.

"With the sale of our Wiring Business, we can now increase our focus and resources on our other business segments, which are technology-driven with global applications and offer greater opportunities to provide higher value to our shareholders," Corey said.

Corey continued, "The transaction is not expected to have a material effect on Stoneridge's net new business over the next five years because most of the Company's growth is being driven by products in its Control Devices, Electronics and PST segments."

Stoneridge is an independent designer and manufacturer of highly engineered electrical and electronic components, modules and systems principally for the commercial vehicle, automotive and agricultural, motorcycle and off-highway vehicle markets.

Additional information about Stoneridge can be found here.