Black Box Corporation Announces Merger With TennMark Telecommunications, Inc.

Business Editors

PITTSBURGH--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 30, 1999

Black Box Corporation (Nasdaq:BBOX) today announced a merger with TennMark Telecommunications, Inc. Established in 1983 near Nashville, Tennessee, privately held TennMark provides telecommunication planning, engineering, installation and maintenance services. TennMark services selective regions of the Southeast and Southwest United States. Annual revenues of TennMark approximate $35 million.

This is the twenty-seventh merger since January 1998 and the thirteenth of Fiscal Year 2000 as Black Box continues to expand its worldwide technical support service offerings.

Commenting on the merger, Fred C. Young, Chief Executive Officer of Black Box Corporation, stated, "The TennMark merger represents an exciting step in our rapidly expanding on-site network services capabilities. Their technical expertise will help us service customers throughout the United States. TennMark has a great team and, as our largest merger to date, we have high expectations for their contributions to our overall strategy."

R. Terry Blakemore, President of TennMark, said, "TennMark is excited to join forces with Black Box. The strengths of our combined abilities will bring superior services and support to TennMark's customers. In addition, this merger places TennMark in a great position to expand our distribution of products and services to a national level." Mr. Blakemore will continue to serve as President of TennMark. Michael J. Orton and Kimberly Tollett will continue to serve as Vice Presidents.

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 computer communications and networking services and related products to businesses of all sizes, operating in 77 countries throughout the world.