On Tuesday, February 3, 2026, Dauch Corporation (formerly American Axle & Manufacturing) acquired Dowlais Group plc and its subsidiaries – GKN Automotive and GKN Powder Metallurgy. Visit Dauch.com | Watch Video

Dauch Corporation (formerly AAM) and Dowlais Group (GKN) Combination Complete

February 3, 2026

Dear Supplier Partner,

We are pleased to announce that today we completed the transaction on the terms of Dauch’s offer to acquire Dowlais Group plc and its subsidiaries - GKN Automotive and GKN Powder Metallurgy. This combination creates a premier Driveline and Metal Forming supplier serving the global automotive industry. The combined company will be stronger, broader in reach, and better positioned to drive innovation, operational excellence, and quality, across all our businesses. To mark the beginning of our transformation, we also confirmed the combined company will be called Dauch Corporation, or Dauch.

Dauch proudly brings together two organizations with deep engineering roots, global manufacturing capability, and a shared entrepreneurial spirit. Dauch’s global headquarters will be in Detroit, MI, with business offices and facilities in each major region of the world. A press release can be found at www.dauch.com. While the publicly listed parent company of the group has changed its name from American Axle & Manufacturing Holdings, Inc. to Dauch Corporation, no subsidiaries of Dauch, including those within the Dowlais/GKN group, will have name changes. The parent company name change will not impact existing contracts with any customer or supplier.

As a supplier to our organization, you play an important role in our collective success. We want to reassure you that business continuity remains our highest priority. Unless notified otherwise, all existing agreements, contacts, processes, and communication channels will remain unchanged.

This combination is more than a structural change; it’s a launchpad for shared growth. By combining our capabilities, we open new doors for collaboration, scale, and performance. As we move forward, we are committed to working closely with suppliers who demonstrate excellence in quality, delivery, innovation, and competitiveness. Those who consistently support our ambitions with strong performance and proactive engagement will be well-positioned to grow with us and may be considered for strategic supplier status as our combined business evolves.

We deeply value the trust, expertise, and commitment you bring to our partnership. Our ambition is not only to preserve these strong foundations but to build upon them. We encourage you to continue striving for improvement and alignment with our standards, as we shape a supply ecosystem that is more agile, resilient, and future-ready. Together, we can unlock new opportunities and deliver greater value to our customers and our industry.

Thank you for being part of this exciting transformation. We look forward to continuing, and strengthening, our partnership as we move forward with confidence and purpose.

Sincerely, Fred Solomon Vice President, Global Procurement & SQE