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Exide Corporation Update of Fire at Cwmbran U.K. Plant

26 September 1997

Exide Corporation Update of Fire at Cwmbran U.K. Plant

    BLOOMFIELD HILLS, Mich., Sept. 26 -- Exide Corporation
announces a follow-up to the release regarding the fire which
occurred in the early hours of Saturday, September 20, 1997, in its Cwmbran
Plant located in Wales, U.K.
    The fire which started in a sub-component manufacturing area caused
structural damage to the roof and very little damage to machinery or other
areas of the plant.  An estimated six weeks worth of inventory was on hand
elsewhere at the time of the fire and shipments are not expected to be
affected.
    "Within a week, the formation area is expected to be up and running with
the rest of the plant operational again sometime next month," said Mr. Arthur
M. Hawkins, Chairman, President and CEO. "Until the entire facility is up and
running, interim shipments of batteries will come from stocks which were
stored in inventory at other U.K. locations.  All Customer shipments are
expected to be fulfilled despite the fire."
    Exide is also pleased to confirm that the plant was successfully evacuated
and fortunately no injuries were reported.  Mr. Hawkins also expressed his
gratitude to the emergency services who managed to contain the fire to one
section of the plant minimizing the damage.
    Exide Corporation, the world's leading manufacturer of starting, lighting
and ignition ("SLI") batteries and industrial batteries, is headquartered in
Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, with administrative offices in Reading,
Pennsylvania.  Exide is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the
symbol "EX".

SOURCE  Exide Corporation