Baldor Electric Company Reports Annual Shareholders' Meeting Highlights, Management Announcements, and 2nd Quarter 2005 Dividend

FORT SMITH, Ark., April 18 -- Baldor Electric Company markets, designs, and manufactures electric motors, drives, and generators and is based in Fort Smith, Arkansas. Today Baldor made the following announcements.

Annual Shareholders' Meeting Highlights ... The Company's Annual Shareholders' Meeting was held on April 16, 2005, in Fort Smith and attended by nearly 300 shareholders and guests. Following are the highlights of the meeting.

   *  Company directors Jefferson W. Asher, Jr., Richard E. Jaudes, and
      Robert J. Messey were re-elected, each to serve a three-year term to
      expire in 2008.
   *  At the meeting, presentations were made by John A. McFarland, Chairman
      and CEO, and Ronald E. Tucker, President, CFO and Secretary.  The
      presentations can be viewed on the Company's website and a printed
      copy will be available soon.

Management Announcements ... The Board of Directors also approved the following important management promotion to be effective immediately:

   L. Edward Ralston    Vice President - Finance

   Ed joined Baldor in March 1995 as a member of Baldor's Audit Services'
   team and was most recently the Director of Audit Services.  He has worked
   closely with Baldor's Finance Department as well as other areas of the
   Company including Sales, International, and Manufacturing.  During Ed's
   10 years at Baldor, he has managed a variety of special projects
   providing him with a broad knowledge of Baldor and the experience to be a
   successful part of Baldor's management team.

Cash Dividend ... Also at the meeting of the Board of Directors, the Board declared a regular quarterly cash dividend of $0.15 per share on the Company's common stock. The cash dividend is payable on June 30, 2005, to shareholders of record on June 9, 2005.

Next Reports ... Baldor will participate in the Wall Street Analyst Forum in New York City on Wednesday, June 1, 2005. The presentation will be available through the Company's website.