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SLI, Inc. Has Agreed to Acquire Supreme Lighting, Corp.

12 April 1999

SLI, Inc. Has Agreed to Acquire Supreme Lighting, Corp.; Largest U.S. Independent Light Bulb Manufacturer; Based in Mullins, South Carolina

    CANTON, Mass., April 12 -- SLI, Inc. a leading
world wide manufacturer and supplier of lighting products, announced today
that it has agreed, subject to regulatory approval, to acquire Supreme
Lighting Corporation; the oldest and largest independent, general lighting,
bulb manufacturer in the U.S.  Supreme Lighting, with sales of approximately
$60 million, manufacturing and warehouse facilities of over 400,000 sq. ft. in
South Carolina, other nationally located distribution facilities, and OEM,
wholesale, and retail, distribution channels; is expected to provide SLI, Inc.
with a well established North American logistical infrastructure upon which to
further leverage general lighting growth.  The Company currently has an
extensive general lighting manufacturing and distribution infrastructure in
Europe and Latin America.  This "Supreme" acquisition, together with the
recent IllumElex acquisition will provide the base to access the huge North
American market.  Terms of the purchase were not disclosed.
    SLI, B.V. (Europe) will be able to supply Supreme with a broad range of
manufactured lamps and components.  PLP (now called SLI Lighting ) will supply
lighting ballasts, and IllumElex (now called SLI Lighting Solutions) will
utilize the material sourcing of all SLI manufacturing units.  Additional
synergistic operational benefits are expected to accrue in the U.S. from a
rationalization of duplicate facilities and overheads.
    Frank M. Ward, Chairman and CEO, commented that, "This is a superb and
important acquisition for SLI's future in the North American, general lighting
market.  Supreme Lighting is well respected as the  oldest and largest,
independent bulb manufacturer in the U.S.  It has been well run by four
generations of the Siegal family.  Bruce and Gary Siegal will continue this
tradition with SLI.  Supreme Lighting's history of lighting manufacturing and
innovation, facility infrastructure, and marketing channels will be a
significant asset to the U.S. domestic strategic program of SLI; especially in
combination with our existing U.S. group.  We look forward confidently to
establishing our domestic, general lighting presence, using South Carolina as
a manufacturing base."
    SLI, Inc., based in Canton, Massachusetts, is a vertically integrated
global designer, manufacturer and seller of lighting systems, which are
comprised of lamps, fixtures, and ballasts.  The Company offers a complete
range of lamps (incandescent, fluorescent, compact fluorescent, high intensity
discharge, halogen, miniature incandescent, neon, LED, and special lamps), a
comprehensive range of fixtures, ballasts, and fiber optic lighting systems.
The Company serves a diverse international customer base and markets, has
major plants in 13 countries and operates throughout the world.
    Except for the historical information contained herein, the matters
discussed in this press release are forward-looking statements and are made
pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation
Reform Act of 1995.  These forward-looking statements reflect assumptions and
involve risks and uncertainties that may affect SLI, Inc.'s business and
prospects and cause actual results to differ materially from these forward-
looking statements.