TRW Automotive Completes Agreement with Davey Bickford to Acquire Igniter Machining and Intellectual Property Assets

ASCHAU AM INN, Germany, June 11 -- TRW Automotive Holdings Corp. today announced that its subsidiary, TRW Airbag Systems GmbH, has closed an agreement with Davey Bickford SNC, France, to acquire initiator machining and intellectual property assets. The terms of the acquisition were not disclosed.

This acquisition is part of TRW's occupant safety business strategy to vertically integrate its inflator business and corresponds with its future approach of "make and buy." Igniters are key components for air bag and seat belt modules. Previously, Davey Bickford was a strategic supplier of igniters to TRW.

The initiator machines and intellectual property include 'plastic to metal seals technology' which is anticipated to be a key future technology in this business segment.

Richard Stanzel, director, operations, Global Inflators for TRW Automotive, commented: "This represents a strategic acquisition for TRW Automotive. We continue to develop our inflator portfolio in Europe and North America and this operation provides us with an in-house source for a key component in a growing technology.

"The machines will be gradually transferred to our inflator plant in Aschau am Inn, Germany, over the next 18 months and will become an integral part of our global inflator operations. We will continue to develop the technology and production processes to strengthen our market leading range of inflators."

Dominique Heber-Suffrin, president and chief executive officer of Davey Bickford, commented: "A pioneer in the design and manufacturing of state of the art pyrotechnic igniters for airbags and seat belt pretensioners, Davey Bickford has been a close partner to TRW for many years. Today, we are proud that TRW has selected our technology for their vertical integration strategy. This transaction fits with our primary focus on the booming mining industry where Davey Bickford has developed very advanced initiation solutions."

TRW Automotive supplies inflators for programs for a number of leading, global automotive manufacturers including Ford Motor Company, Mercedes Car Group, BMW, Peugeot, Fiat, General Motors Corporation, Renault Nissan and Volkswagen.

About TRW

With 2007 sales of $14.7 billion, TRW Automotive ranks among the world's leading automotive suppliers. Headquartered in Livonia, Michigan, USA, the Company, through its subsidiaries, operates in 27 countries and employs more than 66,000 people worldwide. TRW Automotive products include integrated vehicle control and driver assist systems, braking systems, steering systems, suspension systems, occupant safety systems (seat belts and airbags), electronics, engine components, fastening systems and aftermarket replacement parts and services. All references to "TRW Automotive", "TRW" or the "Company" in this press release refer to TRW Automotive Holdings Corp. and its subsidiaries, unless otherwise indicated. TRW Automotive news is available on the internet at http://www.trw.com/ .