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Wal-Mart and Exide Initiate Orbital Select Battery Sales

2 November 1999

Wal-Mart and Exide Initiate Orbital Select Battery Sales

    READING, Pa., Nov. 1 --- Wal-Mart Stores ,
America's largest retailer, and Exide Corporation , the global
leader in the lead-acid battery business, announced today that they have
reached an agreement to test market the Orbital Select automotive battery at
selected Wal-Mart locations.
    The first delivery of 12,000 Orbital Select batteries, which will be
private labeled "EverStart Ultra," will be made to Wal-Mart in early November.
It is the first entry by Exide into Wal-Mart stores.
    Nick Stratigeas, Executive Vice President for Marketing and Sales at
Exide, said, "We are certain that our Orbital Select battery will enjoy the
same positive response from Wal-Mart customers as it has all across the
country."
    The Orbital Select was introduced by Exide earlier this year.  It is a
cyclindrically wrapped gel technology battery that is virtually leakproof and
is the first mass-marketed battery safe enough to be mailed, or installed in
the passenger compartments of vehicles, as well as holding its charge
substantially longer than conventional lead-acid batteries.
    Exide Corporation, with annual revenues of approximately $2.4 billion and
operations in 19 countries, is the world's largest manufacturer of automotive
and industrial lead-acid batteries.  Further information about Exide's
businesses and products is available at http://www.exideworld.com.