Exide Technologies Restructures

PRINCETON, N.J., Oct. 17 -- Exide Technologies , the global leader in stored-electrical energy solutions, announced a restructuring to consolidate company operations worldwide from five customer-focused business units to three, according to Exide Technologies President & CEO Craig H. Muhlhauser. "The Global Network Power, Motive Power and Transportation business groups more accurately reflect the Exide Technologies customer base and provide the foundation to further reduce redundant overheads in streamlining and simplifying our organization to focus on the customer," Muhlhauser said. The Global Network Power group, based in Lombard, Illinois, provides unique product and service solutions to the communications and data, industrial and security, and government segments of the network-power market, including stationary hybrid electric-power generation applications. Mitchell S. Bregman has been named President -- Global Network Power. The Global Motive Power group, based in Manchester, England, provides unique, total energy management solutions to the original-equipment and aftermarket segments of the material handling, access equipment, and electric-powered vehicle markets. Neil S. Bright has been appointed President -- Global Motive Power. The Global Transportation business group, based in Atlanta, Georgia, provides unique products and services to both the original-equipment and aftermarket segments of the automotive, heavy truck, agriculture, construction and marine markets. David G. Enstone has been appointed President -- Global Transportation. Enstone also will lead the Exide Technologies efforts in developing system solutions for emerging 42-volt and hybrid energy management applications. Exide Technologies also announced a number of newly created positions. Albrecht K.M. Leuschner has been appointed to the position of Chairman -- Exide Holding Europe. Leuschner retains direct responsibility for the advanced battery technology activities of the Exide Technologies' company Friemann & Wolf in Duisburg, Germany, and serves as the Chairman of the Shenyang-Dongbei Storage Battery Company, the Exide Technologies Network Power joint venture in China. Leuschner also will lead the development of military business throughout Europe, and support expansion of the company's Transportation business in Germany with original- equipment customers such as BMW, DaimlerChrysler and Volkswagen and key aftermarket customers. Leuschner is based in Budingen, Germany. Thomas O. Minner has been appointed to the position of President -- Customer and Strategic Partner Development, based in Atlanta, Georgia. Minner will be responsible for developing and expanding existing customer and partner relationships to secure new business. Denis H. Porges has been appointed Vice President of Key Accounts in the Transportation Business Group Europe. Porges will be responsible for both original- equipment and aftermarket key accounts throughout the region. Porges is based in Gennevilliers, France. "The laser-like focus of Exide Technologies on these three customer groups reflects our continued efforts to deliver value to our customers and enhances our ability to deliver responsive, high quality, global solutions to our customers locally," said Craig H. Muhlhauser. "Today, Exide Technologies is accelerating its efforts to restructure our business to meet the challenges of our dynamically changing markets and customer needs."

Exide Technologies is the world's largest industrial and transportation battery producer and recycler, with operations in 89 countries. Industrial applications include network-power batteries for telecommunications systems, fuel-cell load leveling, electric utilities, railroads, photovoltaic (solar-power related) and uninterruptible power supply (UPS) markets; and motive-power batteries for a broad range of equipment uses, including lift trucks, mining vehicles and commercial vehicles. Transportation uses include automotive, heavy-duty truck, agricultural, marine and other batteries, as well as new technologies being developed for hybrid vehicles and new 42-volt automotive applications. The company supplies both aftermarket and original-equipment transportation customers. Further information about Exide Technologies, its financial results and other information can be found at http://www.exide.com.