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GNB Technologies to Supply Products to Batteries Plus

7 June 1999

GNB Technologies to Supply Products to Batteries Plus; Battery Manufacturer Signs Agreement with Nationwide Retailer

    ATLANTA, June 7 -- Atlanta-based GNB Technologies, a leading
manufacturer and recycler of lead-acid batteries, has signed an agreement to
be the primary supplier of automotive, heavy duty and specialty batteries to
Batteries Plus Stores nationwide.  More than 140 Batteries Plus stores will
carry the Batteries Plus private label lineup as well as Champion(R)
Trailblazer(R), Champion(R) Silver Core(R) and the New Stowaway(R)
Tournament(TM) Series Marine Batteries.
    Batteries Plus, based in Hartland, Wisconsin, is the innovative, one-stop
battery store and service center that sells and markets thousands of batteries
for thousands of items.
    "We chose GNB because of its high quality products and nationwide network
of manufacturing and distribution facilities that will service our stores
quickly and efficiently," said Frank Souk, Senior Vice President-Marketing,
Batteries Plus.  "GNB's marketing experience and category management are
significant factors that will help us as we continue to expand.  By adding the
Champion and Stowaway brands to our product line, we now have the opportunity
to appeal to today's brand-conscious consumer."  Batteries Plus projects 36
new stores to open by the end of 1999.
    This year alone, GNB has earned five customer awards for outstanding
product and service quality.  GNB also is one of the few battery manufacturers
to own and operate its own recycling facilities, allowing it to offer
customers Total Battery Management(SM) (TBM).  Nationwide, more than 95
percent of lead-acid batteries are recycled, returning the lead and plastic to
the production of new lead-acid batteries.
    "We are extremely excited about our partnership with a growing company
like Batteries Plus," said Gary Santori, Director of Sales, Midwest Region for
GNB Technologies.  "Batteries Plus provides consumers a unique source for all
types of batteries.  We are proud to be involved with a pioneer that has
created a new channel of distribution for our industry."
    The new GNB batteries will be available in Batteries Plus stores beginning
in August 1999.
    GNB Technologies is an integrated provider of power technology products.
It manufactures and recycles lead-acid batteries for the automotive,
recreational boating, farm, heavy duty truck, electric utility, electric
vehicle, photovoltaic, railroad, telecommunications and uninterruptible power
supply markets in more than 50 countries.  GNB can be found on the Internet at
http://www.gnb.com .
    (R)Champion, (R)Trailblazer and (R)Silver Core are registered trademarks
of Federal-Mogul Corporation, distributed by GNB Technologies Inc.
    (R)Stowaway is a registered trademark of GNB Technologies Inc., and
(TM)Tournament is a trademark of GNB Technologies Inc.
    Total Battery Management(SM) is a service mark of GNB Technologies Inc.