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| Exide Technologies Sponsors
FIRST Robotics Competition
Company Continues Support of Students' Interest in
Technological Advancement and Aspirations to Succeed
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Alpharetta, Ga. – (April 28, 2006) –
Exide Technologies (NASDAQ: XIDE, www.exide.com)
a global leader in stored electrical-energy
solutions, is playing an instrumental role as
the power behind the 2006 FIRST (For Inspiration
and Recognition of Science and Technology)
Robotics Competition National Finals in Atlanta,
Ga., on April 26-29. This year’s competition
marks the fifth consecutive year the Company has
been the official battery supplier for FIRST.
 FIRST
is a non-profit organization that pairs
businesses and universities with high schools to
inspire students to pursue careers in
engineering, science and technology. FIRST works
to generate innovative engineering challenges
where students use their applied science
knowledge and skills. During the robotics
competition season, which features a new contest
each year, teams work with engineers from both
businesses and universities to design and
construct their own robots that are put to the
test at a series of regional tournaments. The
2006 season culminates at the national finals in
Atlanta where 340 teams and 8,500 students will
compete.
This year, Exide donated more than 2,300 sealed
lead-acid batteries to FIRST. The batteries have
been the main power source for the teams’
competing robots throughout the year. At the
beginning of the competition season, each team
received a package of parts that included two
12-volt sealed gel batteries. These
rechargeable, leakproof batteries are used to
power pneumatic cylinders, pumps and motors
essential for the operation of each robot that
can be no taller than five feet and weigh no
more than 120 pounds.
This year, each two minute and ten second match
challenges teams to “Aim High” and will test the
students’ and their robots’ ability to fire foam
balls through hoops, plow them into goal floors,
and program a robotic vision system to navigate
the robot.
“Exide Technologies is proud to be the power
behind FIRST and strongly supports the
organization’s mission to generate interest
among high school students nationwide about the
importance of science and advancements in
technology,” said Gordon A. Ulsh, President and
Chief Executive Officer of Exide Technologies.
“Our association with FIRST helps to underscore
the vital role of the lead-acid battery in 21st
century life as well as potential applications
for this proven and dependable technology.”
The batteries Exide supplies for the robots have
more than 150 uses, primarily in burglar and
fire alarms; small backup systems for home
computers; and portable jump start kits for
cars. State municipalities use these batteries
for applications such as emergency lighting;
standby power; uninterruptible power supply; and
emergency security. The marine industry also
uses the batteries for a number of its on-board
systems. In addition, these batteries from Exide
can be found in personal mobility vehicles
manufactured by the wheelchair industry and a
wide range of other applications.
The FIRST Robotics competition finals will take
place at the Georgia Dome in downtown Atlanta,
Ga.; more information is available at
www.usfirst.org/.
About Exide Technologies
Exide Technologies, with operations in 89
countries, is one of the world’s largest
producers and recyclers of lead-acid batteries.
The Company’s four global business groups –
Transportation Americas, Transportation Europe
and Rest of World, Industrial Energy Americas
and Industrial Energy Europe and Rest of World –
provide a comprehensive range of stored
electrical energy products and services for
industrial and transportation applications.
Transportation markets include
original-equipment and aftermarket automotive,
heavy-duty truck, agricultural and marine
applications, and new technologies for hybrid
vehicles and 42-volt automotive applications.
Industrial markets include network power
applications such as telecommunications systems,
electric utilities, railroads, photovoltaic
(solar-power related) and uninterruptible power
supply (UPS), and motive-power applications
including lift trucks, mining and other
commercial vehicles.
Further information about Exide, including its
financial results, are available at
www.exide.com.
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Media/Investor Contact |
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Forward-Looking Statements
Except for historical information, this
press release may be deemed to contain
“forward-looking” statements. The Company desires to
avail itself of the safe harbor provisions of the
Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995
(the “Act”) and is including this cautionary
statement for the express purpose of availing itself
of the protection afforded by the Act. The Company
undertakes no obligation to publicly update or
revise any forward-looking statement in this or any
prior forward-looking statements whether as a result
of new information, future developments or
otherwise.
Examples of forward-looking statements include, but
are not limited to (a) projections of revenues, cost
of raw materials, income or loss, earnings or loss
per share, capital expenditures, growth prospects,
dividends, the effect of currency translations,
capital structure and other financial items, (b)
statements of plans of and objectives of the Company
or its management or Board of Directors, including
the introduction of new products, or estimates or
predictions of actions by customers, suppliers,
competitors or regulating authorities, (c)
statements of future economic performance, (d)
statements of assumptions, such as the prevailing
weather conditions in the Company’s market areas,
underlying other statements and statements about the
Company or its business and (e) statements regarding
the ability to comply with or alternatively obtain
amendments under the Company’s debt agreements.
Factors that could cause actual results to differ
materially from these forward looking statements
include, but are not limited to, the following
general factors such as: (i) adverse reactions by
creditors, vendors, customers, and others to, among
other things, the Company’s results, financial
conditions or compliance with financial covenants,
(ii) the Company’s ability to implement and fund
based on current liquidity business strategies and
restructuring plans, (iii) unseasonable weather
(warm winters and cool summers) which adversely
affects demand for automotive and some industrial
batteries, (iv) the Company’s substantial debt and
debt service requirements which may restrict the
Company’s operational and financial flexibility, as
well as imposing significant interest and financing
costs (v) the Company’s ability to comply with the
covenants in its debt agreements or obtain waivers
of noncompliance, (vi) the litigation proceedings to
which the Company is subject, the results of which
could have a material adverse effect on the Company
and its business, (vii) the realization of the tax
benefits of the Company’s net operating loss carry
forwards, of which is dependent upon future taxable
income, (viii) the fact that lead, a major
constituent in most of the Company’s products,
experiences significant fluctuations in market price
and is a hazardous material that may give rise to
costly environmental and safety claims, (ix)
competitiveness of the battery markets in North
America and Europe, (x) the substantial management
time and financial and other resources needed for
the Company’s consolidation and rationalization of
acquired entities, (xi) risks involved in foreign
operations such as disruption of markets, changes in
import and export laws, currency restrictions,
currency exchange rate fluctuations and possible
terrorist attacks against U.S. interests, (xii) the
Company’s exposure to fluctuations in interest rates
on its variable debt, (xiii) the Company’s ability
to maintain and generate liquidity to meet its
operating needs, (xiv) general economic conditions,
(xv) the ability to acquire goods and services
and/or fulfill labor needs at budgeted costs, (xvi)
the Company’s reliance on a single supplier for its
polyethylene battery separators, (xvii) the
Company’s ability to comply with the provisions of
Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002,
(xviii) the ability to successfully pass along
increased costs to its customers, and (xix) the
Company’s ability to successfully resolve the $27.5
million fine with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the
Southern District of Illinois.
Therefore, the Company cautions each reader of this
press release carefully to consider those factors
set forth above and those factors described in
Amendment No. 1 to the Company’s Registration
Statement on Form S-3 filed with the SEC on
September 14, 2005 and in the Company’s most recent
Form 10-Q filed on February 9, 2006 because such
factors have, in some instances, affected and in the
future could affect, the ability of the Company to
achieve its projected results and may cause actual
results to differ materially from those expressed
herein.
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