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Cherry Corporation Anticipates Flat First Quarter Sales

2 June 1999

Cherry Corporation Anticipates Flat First Quarter Sales and Lower Earnings Than the Prior Year's First Quarter

    WAUKEGAN, Ill., June 1 -- The Cherry Corporation
(Nasdaq: CHERA, CHERB) today announced that it anticipates its sales for the
first quarter ending May 31, 1999 will approximate last year and that its
earnings per share will be approximately $.15 per share lower than the $.50
per share reported last year.
    The company had anticipated lower earnings on relatively flat sales from
its semiconductor operation as the result of its increased sales and
engineering effort in the computer and communications marketplace.  This
effort should result in increased semiconductor sales in the second half of
the fiscal year.
    The company, however, had expected stronger sales and earnings in its
other business segments.  Instead, sales to date are flat with the prior year,
mostly as the result of timing issues.  Stronger sales of an existing
electronic control panel had been expected prior to the production start of
its replacement in June.  It now appears that the new control will have
stronger sales than anticipated for the rest of the year.  In addition, some
advanced performance keyboard and sensor programs have been delayed.  Finally
there is some softness in the snap switch business.
    The Cherry Corporation manufactures proprietary and custom electrical
switches, sensors, electronic keyboards and controls, and semiconductors for
the worldwide automotive, computer, and consumer and commercial markets.  The
company has eight wholly owned subsidiaries in the United States, Germany,
England, France, Australia, Czech Republic, Mexico, and Hong Kong.  Cherry
also has 50-50 joint ventures in Japan, Hirose Cherry Precision Company
Limited, and in India, TVS Cherry Private Limited, and a Japanese automotive
sales and engineering office.  Additional information is available on the
company's website at http://www.cherrycorp.com .
    Certain statements in this press release, including those regarding
indications of future sales of semiconductor and electronic control panel
increases, are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private
Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and involve certain risks and
uncertainties that could significantly impact future results.  A discussion of
these risks and uncertainties is contained in the Company's Form 10-K for the
year ended February 28, 1999, filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission.