Black Box Corporation Announces Merger With Clear Communications, Inc.

Business Editors

PITTSBURGH--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 10, 2000

Black Box Corporation (Nasdaq:BBOX) today announced a merger with Clear Communications, Inc. Established in 1989 in Seattle, Washington, privately held Clear Communications provides technical design, installation and maintenance services for telecommunication, premise cabling and related products to customers primarily in the greater Seattle area. Annual revenues of Clear Communications are approximately $5 million.

Commenting on the merger, Fred C. Young, Chief Executive Officer of Black Box Corporation, stated, "We're very excited to further expand our service offering and market share in the Seattle area with Clear Communications. Clear's technical service capabilities are very complimentary to our existing Seattle business. Our expanded operations will be the number one service provider in the area."

Brian P. Jackson and Rick B. Walston, owners of Clear Communications, said, "This is an exciting opportunity for all of us at Clear. The merger with Black Box enhances our service offering and will be a direct benefit to our customers both locally and nationally." Mr. Jackson and Mr. Walston will each serve as a Vice President of the Seattle operations, reporting to Jon Durand, President of Black Box Network Services - Seattle/Portland Operations.

Mr. Durand commented, "Clear Communications is an organization of high quality professionals with an excellent reputation in telephony and network infrastructure services in the Pacific Northwest. We are very excited about them joining our team."

This transaction is being accounted for as a purchase. The purchase price has not been disclosed.

Black Box is a leading worldwide technical service provider of network services and related products to businesses of all sizes, servicing customers in 132 countries throughout the world.