American Axle Seeks $2.3 Billion to Fund Dowlais Takeover

Auto Parts Maker in January Announced a $1.6 Billion Deal to Acquire UK Peer
American Axle
American Axle signage at CES in January 2025. (American Axle via YouTube)

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American Axle & Manufacturing Inc. is looking to raise $2.3 billion in the U.S. leveraged-finance market to help fund its acquisition of Dowlais Group Plc.

The auto parts maker is offering a combined $1.44 billion of junk bonds in two tranches as well as a $843 million term loan, according to people familiar with the situation who asked not to be identified as they’re not authorized to speak publicly.

Both are expected to price late this week, and JPMorgan Chase & Co. is leading the sales, the people added.



a 1.16 billion-pound ($1.6 billion) cash-and-stock deal to acquire U.K. peer Dowlais. The deal is expected to close in the fourth quarter.

The offering is a welcome M&A financing in the leveraged-loan market. After few deals in August, just 7% of this month’s launches as of Sept. 12 were for acquisition-related funding, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. However, the junk-bond sale is part of a monthslong rush of activity helped by average yields at the lowest levels since 2022.

Written by Jeannine Amodeo and Gowri Gurumurthy

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