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Hayes Acquires 35% of South African Wheel Company

5 March 1998

Hayes Acquires 35% of South African Wheel Company

    ROMULUS, Mich., March 5 -- Hayes Lemmerz International, Inc.
announced today that it has acquired 35% of the automotive wheels
business of Automotive Overseas Investments Limited, the company which owns
and operates NF Die Casting (Pty) Ltd., a producer of cast aluminum wheels for
the automotive industry in South Africa and export to international markets.
Hayes Lemmerz' partners in the joint venture are Anglo American Industrial
Corporation and Industrial Development Corporation of South Africa.  Terms of
the agreement were not disclosed.
    The facility is located near Johannesburg and has annual capacity of
700,000 wheels.  Sales are approximately $30 million and major customers
include Mercedes, VW, BMW, Audi, Ford, Mazda, Honda, Nissan, and Toyota.
    "We look forward to working with our new partners," said Giancarlo
Dallera, president of Hayes' European aluminum wheel business.  "This
acquisition will allow us to take advantage of our customer needs in South
Africa and further enhance our global position."
    Hayes Lemmerz International, Inc., with annual sales of over $1.5 billion,
is a world leader in the design, engineering and manufacture of steel and
aluminum wheels and brake drums and rotors for the automotive and commercial
highway markets in North America, Europe and Asia.  Hayes has more than 7,000
employees and 20 manufacturing facilities in 11 countries worldwide.

SOURCE  Hayes Lemmerz International, Inc.