It's too close to call as D-Day looms for GKN

GKN has around 350 workers in Telford and another 1,000 across the Midlands.

Investors have until 1pm on Thursday to cast their ballots on the controversial deal and the result will come following months of acrimony between the two companies, with politicians also criticising the proposed tie-up. More than 50 per cent of shareholders must vote in favour of the deal for it to gain approval after Melrose lowered the minimum threshold for acceptance of its bid from 90 per cent.

The vote is expected to be close, although one of GKN’s largest investors – Colombia Threadneedle – has said it plans to reject Melrose’s takeover offer and has given its backing to the GKN board and its overhaul plans.

Colombia Threadneedle owns around 3.5 per cent of GKN and is one of five shareholders to come out publicly against the Melrose bid.

Pelham Capital, Sanderson Asset Management, Jupiter Asset Management and Lancaster – whose combined holdings total around five per cent of GKN – have also come out against the deal.

In addition Airbus, GKN’s largest customer, has warned it could not give any new business to GKN if the deal with the turnaround specialist went ahead.

War of words

GKN, which has a base at Hadley in Telford, has doggedly rejected Melrose’s advances, with chief executive Anne Stevens describing Melrose’s takeover as “high-risk” and the offer not coming close to reflecting true value.

Instead, GKN has announced a raft of counter-measures, including a deal to sell its automotive division Driveline to US firm Dana. The most recent war of words has involved GKN’s pension scheme, with both parties claiming victory while trustees have given their blessing to commitments from both firms.

Pressure has also been applied to the Government to intervene in the proposed takeover, with unions and MPs warning over asset stripping and flagging national security concerns.

In a plea to GKN shareholders, Melrose chairman Christopher Miller said in a letter: “We are now entering the final few days of the offer timeline.

“The facts speak for themselves: We have the best team to re-energise and repurpose GKN, change the culture and help your company live up to its full potential, creating real value for you.

“Only the Melrose team can transform GKN into the manufacturing powerhouse that it could and should be.”

If shareholders vote against the takeover bid Simon Peckham, chief executive of Melrose, said it would “walk away and do something else”.

GKN became a target following profit warnings in October and November after problems at its US aerospace division sent shares tumbling.