LONDON, March 19 (Reuters) - The battle for GKNintensified on Monday, with both Melrose and Danasweetening their proposals, as the clock ticks down to a March29 takeover deadline.
Melrose, making a hostile bid, said it would injectabout 1 billion pounds ($1.39 billion) into GKN's pensionscheme, its latest attempt to convince shareholders to back itsoffer and win over political opponents of the deal.
Shareholders have until March 29 to decide on that offer.
GKN is trying to fight off the Melrose bid with analternative $6.1 billion deal to merge its automotive businesswith U.S. company Dana Incorporated, leaving GKN focusedon its aerospace division.
Dana said on Monday it would seek a secondary listing inLondon, enabling more UK shareholders to back the rival plan assome funds are subject to rules which prevent them from holdingU.S. stock.
($1 = 0.7179 pounds)(Reporting by Sarah Young; editing by Michael Holden)