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TRW Sells Joint Venture Share to Sumitomo Electric

8 July 1999

TRW Sells Joint Venture Share to Sumitomo Electric

    NEWCASTLE-UNDER-LYME, United Kingdom, July 7 -- TRW Inc.
today announced that it has completed the sale of its 50 percent share in the
joint venture company, Lucas SEI Wiring Systems, to its partner, Sumitomo
Electric Industries of Japan.
    The sale marks the conclusion of a successful partnership between the
two companies which spans more than nine years.  Formed in 1990, the joint
venture company, Lucas SEI, became a sister company to TRW's wholly-owned
Lucas Rists Wiring Systems, and was set up to jointly serve Japanese carmakers
and Japanese designed vehicles manufactured in the UK and Europe.
    Lucas Rists Wiring Systems is a business of TRW that supplies of wiring
harnesses, cables and high tension battery leads and will continue to serve
the European vehicle manufacturers.
    TRW continues to hold discussions with a number of major automotive
industry players who have expressed an interest in buying Lucas Rists Wiring
Systems.
    David Underwood, general manager of TRW's wiring systems businesses, said,
"In recent years the wiring business has strengthened its relations with
customers, won awards for quality and delivery performance, and achieved solid
productivity improvements."
    TRW, which recently acquired LucasVarity plc, provides advanced technology
products and services for the global automotive, aerospace and information
systems markets.  The company's news releases are available through TRW's
corporate Web site (http://www.trw.com).