Alpharetta, Georgia (August 8, 2007 )
- Exide Technologies (NASDAQ: XIDE, www.exide.com), a
global leader in stored electrical-energy solutions, announced
today that it has secured a second contract with the German
Federal Office of Defense Technology and Procurement (BWB). The
largest technical authority in Germany, the BWB is responsible
for ensuring that the Federal Office of the Bundeswehr for
Information Management and Information Technology (IT-AmtBw) is
equipped with state-of-the-art technology and equipment.
 According to the terms of the new agreement, Exide will supply
approximately 27,000 NBB 248™ maintenance-free NATO bloc
batteries to the German Army for military-vehicle applications.
Exide’s newest contract is its second supply agreement with BWB
for 2007. In May, the authority selected the Company to provide
approximately 11, 000 NBB 249™ maintenance-free NATO bloc
batteries —12 V/45-ampere-hour GEL™ batteries — for
military-vehicle applications for the German Army. Together, the
two contracts make Exide the exclusive supplier for these types
of batteries for the German Army.
“Our exclusive alliance with the BWB is proof that Exide is fast
becoming the battery supplier of choice ― supporting the most
demanding of requirements ― for military forces around the
world,” said Joel Campbell President – Industrial Energy Europe
for Exide Technologies. “This contract also gives us the unique
opportunity to build upon an already strong relationship and
streamline logistics costs for an important customer.”
The battery sets for both contracts are scheduled for delivery
during 2007 and will be produced at Exide’s Industrial Energy
manufacturing plant in Büdingen, Germany. The Company has a long
history as a bloc battery supplier for military-vehicle
applications in GEL™ technology and also enjoys a leading
reputation as a supplier of submarine batteries.
About Exide Technologies
Exide Technologies, with operations in more
than 80 countries, is one of the world's largest producers and
recyclers of lead-acid batteries. The Company's four global
business groups ― Transportation Americas, Transportation
Europe and Rest of World, Industrial Energy Americas and
Industrial Energy Europe and Rest of World ― provide a
comprehensive range of stored electrical energy products and
services for industrial and transportation applications.
Transportation markets include original-equipment and
aftermarket automotive, heavy-duty truck, agricultural and
marine applications, and new technologies for hybrid vehicles
and 42-volt automotive applications. Industrial markets include
network power applications such as telecommunications systems,
electric utilities, railroads, photovoltaic (solar-power
related) and uninterruptible power supply (UPS), and
motive-power applications including lift trucks, mining and
other commercial vehicles.
Further information about Exide, including its financial
results, are available at
www.exide.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
Except for historical information, this press release may be
deemed to contain "forward-looking" statements. The Company
desires to avail itself of the safe harbor provisions of the
Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (the "Act") and
is including this cautionary statement for the express purpose
of availing itself of the protection afforded by the Act. The
Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise
any forward-looking statement in this or any prior
forward-looking statements whether as a result of new
information, future developments or otherwise.
Examples of forward-looking statements include, but are not
limited to, (a) projections of revenues, cost of raw materials,
income or loss, earnings or loss per share, capital
expenditures, growth prospects, dividends, the effect of
currency translations, capital structure and other financial
items, (b) statements of plans and objectives of the Company or
its management or Board of Directors, including the introduction
of new products, or estimates or predictions of actions by
customers, suppliers, competitors or regulating authorities, (c)
statements of future economic performance and (d) statements of
assumptions, such as the prevailing weather conditions in the
Company's market areas, underlying other statements and
statements about the Company or its business.
Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially
from these forward-looking statements include, but are not
limited to, the following general factors such as: (i) the
Company's ability to implement and fund based on current
liquidity business strategies and restructuring plans, (ii)
unseasonable weather (warm winters and cool summers) which
adversely affects demand for automotive and some industrial
batteries, (iii) the Company's substantial debt and debt service
requirements which may restrict the Company's operational and
financial flexibility, as well as imposing significant interest
and financing costs, (iv) the litigation proceedings to which
the Company is subject, the results of which could have a
material adverse effect on the Company and its business, (v) the
realization of the tax benefits of the Company's net operating
loss carry forwards, which is dependent upon future taxable
income, (vi) the fact that lead, a major constituent in most of
the Company's products, experiences significant fluctuations in
market price and is a hazardous material that may give rise to
costly environmental and safety claims, (vii) competitiveness of
the battery markets in North America and Europe, (viii) the
substantial management time and financial and other resources
needed for the Company's consolidation and rationalization of
acquired entities, (ix) risks involved in foreign operations
such as disruption of markets, changes in import and export
laws, currency restrictions, currency exchange rate fluctuations
and possible terrorist attacks against U.S. interests, (x) the
Company's exposure to fluctuations in interest rates on its
variable debt, (xi) the Company's ability to maintain and
generate liquidity to meet its operating needs, (xii) general
economic conditions, (xiii) the ability to acquire goods and
services and/or fulfill labor needs at budgeted costs, (xiv) the
Company's reliance on a single supplier for its polyethylene
battery separators, (xv) the Company's ability to successfully
pass along increased material costs to its customers, (xvi) the
Company's significant pension obligations over the next several
years.
Therefore, the Company cautions each reader of this press
release carefully to consider those factors set forth above and
those factors described in the Company's Form 10-Q filed on June
11, 2007 and its Form 10-Q filed on August 7, 2007, because such
factors have, in some instances, affected and in the future
could affect, the ability of the Company to achieve its
projected results and may cause actual results to differ
materially from those expressed herein.
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