Bel Acquires Netwatch s.r.o.; Acquisition Establishes European Manufacturing and Adds High-Performance Fiber Optic Cable Assemblies to Product Portfolio.

JERSEY CITY, N.J. -- Bel Fuse Inc. (NASDAQ:BELFA) (NASDAQ:BELFB) announced today that it completed the acquisition of Netwatch s.r.o., (www.netwatch.cz). Bel acquired 80% of the business from Simac Techniek NV and the balance from private investors. Netwatch is a Prague, CZ-based designer and manufacturer of high-performance Fiber Optic and Copper Cable Assemblies for data and telecommunications applications. Netwatch will now do business under the name Bel Stewart Net s.r.o.

Daniel Bernstein, Bel's President, said, "The strategic value of the acquisition is two-fold. First, this acquisition establishes a European Manufacturing presence for Bel. In combination with our existing manufacturing facilities in North America and Asia, Bel now has the ability to service customers in three primary markets throughout the world. Second, Netwatch complements the Bel Stewart Connector group by adding Fiber Optic capability to its current copper-based product portfolio. Consequently, Bel Stewart is now capable of supporting Bel's broad customer base, including the world's largest Structured Cabling providers, with a broad range of both copper and fiber based components and assemblies."

Bernstein noted that the acquisition of Netwatch, which had sales of approximately US$2 million in the past 12 months, is expected to be immediately accretive to earnings.

About Bel

Bel (www.belfuse.com) and its subsidiaries are primarily engaged in the design, manufacture and sale of products used in networking, telecommunications, high speed data transmission, automotive and consumer electronics. Products include magnetics (discrete components, power transformers and MagJack(R)s), modules (DC/DC converters, integrated analog front end modules, custom designs), circuit protection (miniature, micro and surface mount fuses) and interconnect devices (passive jacks, plugs and cable assemblies). The Company operates facilities around the world.

Forward-Looking Statements 

Except for historical information contained in this news release, the matters discussed are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Among the factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from such statements are: the market concerns facing our customers, the continuing viability of sectors that rely on our products, the effect of business and economic conditions; the difficulties inherent in integrating remote businesses that may have followed business practices that differ from the Company's business practices; capacity and supply constraints or difficulties; product development, commercializing or technological difficulties; the regulatory and trade environment; uncertainties associated with legal proceedings; the market's acceptance of the Company's new products and competitive responses to those new products, and the risk factors detailed from time to time in the Company's SEC reports. In light of the risks and uncertainties, there can be no assurance that any forward-looking statement will in fact prove to be correct. We undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements.