UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): December 22, 2005
ARVINMERITOR, INC.
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(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Indiana 1-15983 38-3354643
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(State or other jurisdiction (Commission (IRS Employer
of incorporation) File No.) Identification No.)
2135 West Maple Road
Troy, Michigan
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(Address of principal executive offices)
48084-7186
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(Zip code)
Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (248) 435-1000
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to
simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the
following provisions:
[ ] Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act
(17 CFR 230.425)
[ ] Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act
(17 CFR 240.14a-12)
[ ] Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the
Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
[ ] Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the
Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))
Item 8.01. Other Events.
As described in Part I, Item 3. Legal Proceedings in the Annual Report
on Form 10-K of ArvinMeritor, Inc. ("ArvinMeritor" or the "company") for the
fiscal year ended October 2, 2005 ("Form 10-K"), three separate class action
lawsuits were filed in the United States District Court for the Eastern District
of Michigan ("District Court") against ArvinMeritor as a result of modifications
made by the company to its retiree health benefits. The lawsuits allege that the
changes breach the terms of various collective bargaining agreements entered
into with the United Auto Workers ("UAW") and the United Steel Workers at former
facilities that have either been closed or sold, and allege a companion claim
restating these claims and seeking to bring them under the Employee Retirement
Income Security Act of 1974.
On December 22, 2005, the District Court issued an order granting a
motion by the UAW for a preliminary injunction. The order enjoins the company
from implementing the changes to retiree health benefits that had been scheduled
to become effective on January 1, 2006, and orders the company to reinstate and
resume paying the full cost of health benefits for the UAW retirees at the
levels existing prior to the changes implemented in 2003 and 2005. We are
currently studying the order and analyzing its impact on ArvinMeritor. (See the
information in the Form 10-K under the headings "- Overview" and "- Critical
Accounting Policies - Retiree Medical" in Part II, Item 7. Management's
Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, and
Note 19 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in Part II, Item 8.
Financial Statements and Supplementary Data, for information with respect to the
changes made to the company's retiree health benefits and the related accounting
and financial impacts.) The company intends to file an appeal with the United
States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
ARVINMERITOR, INC.
By: /s/ Vernon G. Baker, II
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Vernon G. Baker, II
Senior Vice President and
General Counsel
Date: December 27, 2005