Teleflex Acquires Southwest Wire Rope

    PLYMOUTH MEETING, Pa.--May 13, 2002--Teleflex Incorporated announced today the acquisition of Southwest Wire Rope, Inc., a privately-held fabricator of stainless and carbon steel stranded wire products. Terms were not disclosed. Southwest Wire Rope (SWWR) is based in Houston, Texas and serves the offshore drilling, utilities, and heavy equipment markets. Sales in 2001 were approximately $50 million. The deal is expected to be accretive to 2002 earnings.
    "The acquisition of SWWR is an ideal match for both companies," said Jeffrey P. Black, president and chief executive officer of Teleflex. "It broadens our industrial product lines and enhances the economies of scale in procurement and distribution. Access to additional niche markets makes it an exciting growth opportunity."
    Mitch Hausman, president and chief executive officer of SWWR, said, "We are pleased to join the Teleflex family of companies. Our focus on customer service and our desire to grow the business for long-term consistent performance is a good fit with the Teleflex style."
    SWWR, established in 1966, manufactures, fabricates and services cable products for a wide variety of customers primarily in the Gulf Coast region. The company is well known for its high level of customer service.
    Teleflex is a diversified provider of products and services to the aerospace, medical, automotive, marine and industrial markets worldwide. With annual revenues over $2 billion, the company focuses on finding innovative solutions to customers' problems. Additional information about Teleflex can be obtained at the company's Web site www.teleflex.com.

    Forward-looking information:

    Statements in this news release, other than historical data, are considered forward-looking statements under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ from those contemplated in the statements. These factors are discussed in the company's Securities and Exchange Commission filings.