Brady Corporation Acquires Brandon International, a Manufacturer of Precision Die-Cut Parts and Specialty Materials.

Business Editors

MILWAUKEE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 18, 2003

Brady Corporation (NYSE:BRC), a world leader in identification solutions and precision die-cut materials, announced that it has acquired Brandon International, headquartered in Baldwin Park, Calif., with international operations in Mexico and Singapore. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Brandon, founded in 1981, is a market leader in die-cut products which include adhesives, films and filters for hard disk drives; thermal-formed parts for protecting costly electronic components in automobiles from moisture, dirt and debris; and other specialty die-cut parts for the electronics, medical and automotive markets. With annual sales of $18.5 million, its capabilities include prototyping, laminating, vacuum forming, and clean-room manufacturing and converting. Brandon currently employs about 250 people globally.

"The acquisition of Brandon International will help solidify Brady's position as a leading solution provider for the hard disk drive and electronics markets, as well as further extend our business into the automotive and medical markets," said Allan Klotsche, vice president for Brady Asia Pacific and Global Die-Cut businesses. "Their innovative products complement Brady's existing die-cut offerings well, and their international operations further support our commitment to meeting the needs of multi-national customers."

"We look forward to being a part of Brady's ongoing success in the die-cut industry," said Brandon President Steve Gasparrelli. "Combining our products and capabilities with Brady's well established market presence and reputation for quality will make for an even stronger value proposition for customers around the world."

Brady's global die-cut business currently has manufacturing operations in the United States, China, Singapore, Malaysia, Brazil, and Germany. Its products include custom die-cut and precision specialty materials for use in a wide range of devices such as computers, disk drives, two-way radios, cellular phones, and consumer electronic equipment. It has globally networked systems and operations aligned to support worldwide design centers and provide local service and delivery.

Brady Corporation is an international manufacturer and marketer of complete identification solutions and specialty materials, with products including labels, software, printing systems, label-application and data-collection systems, signs, safety devices and precision die-cut materials for manufacturing, electrical, electronic, telecommunications and a variety of other markets. Founded in 1914, Brady is headquartered in Milwaukee and employs more than 3,000 people in operations in the United States, Europe, Asia/Pacific, Latin America and Canada. Brady's fiscal 2003 sales were approximately $555 million. More information is available on the Internet at www.bradycorp.com and www.brandondiecutting.com.

This news release contains forward-looking information, as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking information in this release involves risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, domestic and international economic conditions and growth rates; fluctuations in currency exchange rates for international currencies versus the U.S. dollar; the successful implementation of a new enterprise-resource-planning system; the ability of the company to acquire, integrate and achieve anticipated synergies from new businesses; the ability of the company to adjust its cost structure to changes in levels of sales and product mix in a timely manner; variations in the economic or political conditions in the countries in which the company does business; technology changes; and the continued availability of sources of supply. Brady cautions that forward-looking statements are not guarantees, since there are inherent difficulties in predicting future results, and that actual results could differ materially from those expressed or implied in forward-looking statements.