Littelfuse Expands Circuit Protection Technologies With Acquisition of Harris Corporation's Suppression Products Group.

DES PLAINES, Ill.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 25, 1999--

Littelfuse, Inc. (NASDAQ/NMS:LFUS) today announced it has signed a definitive agreement to purchase the Suppression Products Group of the Harris Corporation (NYSE:HRS). Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

The Suppression Products Group, formerly part of Harris's Semiconductor Sector, had global sales of approximately $38 million for the 12 months ended July 2, 1999. The Suppression Products Group manufactures and markets a broad line of transient voltage suppression devices that provide circuit protection for products in numerous markets including consumer, computer, telecommunications, automotive, office equipment, industrial and power transmission. The acquisition includes a manufacturing facility in Dundalk, Ireland.

"This business is an excellent strategic fit for Littelfuse," said Howard B. Witt, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer. "The acquired products are complementary to our existing overcurrent offering and, along with our recently introduced electrostatic discharge line, establish Littelfuse as a significant player in the overvoltage protection market. We are pleased to be acquiring both a technological leader in the overvoltage market and a strong management team." Witt estimated that with this new line of products, Littelfuse will now be able to address a $400-500 million segment of the over $1 billion overvoltage protection market.

"This is a significant step in our strategy to broaden our circuit protection business. Adding the Suppression Products Group's metal oxide varistor, multi-layer varistor and silicon-based protection technology platforms further strengthens our position as the leading supplier of circuit protection solutions and devices in the industry. It also enables us to further expand this product line by developing more advanced circuit protection products and solutions utilizing the technologies of both companies," Witt said.

"Today's systems and equipment increasingly rely on electrical and electronic devices for their successful operation, resulting in a growing demand for devices that protect sensitive circuitry from electrical transients and over-stress. The addition of these transient voltage technologies provides growth opportunities for Littelfuse's electronic and automotive businesses and enables us to offer our customers the most comprehensive line of circuit protection devices in the market," said William S. Barron, Vice President, Sales and Marketing. "Because of the common customer base of Littelfuse and the Harris Suppression Products Group, the addition of these new overvoltage products will position Littelfuse as a single source for our customers' circuit protection needs."

Littelfuse is a leading producer of electronic, power and automotive fuses. In addition to its Des Plaines world headquarters, Littelfuse has manufacturing facilities in England, Switzerland, Mexico, Korea, China and the Philippines, as well as in Centralia and Arcola, Illinois. It also has sales, engineering and distribution facilities in the Netherlands, Singapore, Hong Kong, Japan, Brazil and Farmington Hills, Michigan. Littelfuse had 1998 revenues of $269.5 million.

For more information, please visit Littelfuse's web site at www.littelfuse.com.

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Any forward looking statements contained herein involve risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, product demand and market acceptance risks, the effect of economic conditions, the impact of competitive products and pricing, product development and patent protection, commercialization and technological difficulties, capacity and supply constraints or difficulties, actual purchases under agreements, the effect of the company's accounting policies, and other risks which may be detailed in the company's Securities and Exchange Commission filings.