CTS and Pentair Form Cooperative Partnership Alliance

    ELKHART, Ind.--May 18, 2001--CTS Corporation and Pentair, Inc. jointly announced today that they have reached an agreement in forming a cooperative partnership Alliance to promote the technologies and manufacturing capabilities of both Companies in serving worldwide markets. The Alliance, between CTS Interconnect Systems and Pentair Enclosures, will offer customers the advantage of a fully integrated electronic packaging solutions service. It is anticipated that additional members of the partnership Alliance will be announced shortly.
    The Alliance will cooperate on the design, production and fulfillment of customer requirements in the European, U.S., Far Eastern and Brazilian markets. This will result in the joint sharing of manufacturing resources, thereby providing a single point of contact for the customer. CTS and Pentair are currently working closely on a number of projects globally, as the result of the Alliance.
    In Brazil, CTS will maintain close cooperation and contact with Pentair to ensure speed and efficiency in delivering customer requirements. CTS will utilize manufacturing resources at Pentair's new facility in Boituva in the State of Sao Paulo, established through the acquisition of enclosure manufacturer Taunus.