International Wire Group Announces Realignment of Production Facilities

    ST. LOUIS--February 13, 2001--International Wire Group, Inc. today announced its plan for a realignment of certain production facilities within its Insulated Wire Division.
    The Company's realignment plan will ultimately result in an increase in the Company's capacity for insulated wire production, closer proximity to its end customers and a reduction of the Company's overall cost structure.
    In connection with the realignment, the Company will close certain of its plants in Ardmore, Alabama; Elkmont, Alabama; and Corunna, Indiana. The production capacity for these locations will be primarily transferred and consolidated into the Company's plants in Texas, which will be expanded as necessary to accommodate the production transfer. The Company will also consolidate certain sales, marketing and other administrative functions with the divisional headquarters in Ft. Wayne, Indiana, to improve customer service and reduce selling, general and administrative expenses. The Company has undertaken a strategic initiative and expects to establish a "greenfield" insulated wire facility in Mexico by the end of 2001. The startup of this Mexican facility will complete the Company's realignment and enhance the Company's position as a low-cost producer of insulated wire.
    The plan will likely result in a one-time restructuring charge of between $5 million and $7 million in 2001.
    James N. Mills, Chairman, said, "This plan to realign a portion of our operations will position us to better serve our world-class customers while increasing capacity levels and reducing costs."
    International Wire Group, Inc., headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri is a leading designer, manufacturer and marketer of wire products, including bare and tin-plated copper wire and insulated copper wire. The Company's products include a broad spectrum of copper wire configurations and gauges with a variety of electrical and conductive characteristics that are utilized by a wide variety of customers primarily in the appliance, automotive, electronics/data communications and general industrial industries.
    This press release contains forward-looking statements as defined by the federal securities laws and such statements are based on International Wire Group, Inc.'s current expectations and assumptions, which are inherently subject to various risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ from those anticipated, projected or implied. Certain factors that could cause actual results to differ are indicated in International Wire Group, Inc.'s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
    For further information, please contact David M. Sindelar, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, at (314) 727-1701; or Mark Semer of Kekst and Company at (212) 521-4800.