MAHLE, the automotive components supplier based in Stuttgart, Germany, will be increasing its share in the Japanese Tennex Corporation with effect as of 24 August 2001 from 33.30 to 57.72 per cent by way
of a unilateral increase in equity.

Tennex Corporation, a former subsidiary of the Nissan Group, will therefore be integrated within MAHLE's Filter Systems Business Unit as a majority holding by Mahle. Tennex Corporation, an outstanding international manufacturer of air, oil and fuel filter systems for the automotive industry, recorded sales in its last year of business of approximately Euro 450 million, with a workforce of nearly 2,000 employees at 7 production plants in Asia, the USA and Europe. In regional terms and in their customer structure, these production plants form an ideal match for the MAHLE Filter Systems production plants based largely in Europe. Enlarged and reinforced by the share in Tennex, MAHLE's Filter Systems Business Unit will have pro forma sales of more Euro 1 billion, making this operation the world's largest supplier of automotive filter systems.

In its last year of business the MAHLE Group, already the world market leader in pistons and engine components, recorded total sales of Euro 2.4 billion. Now, acquiring Tennex, the MAHLE Group will once again be boosting sales significantly this year.

Stuttgart, 19 July 2001