May 18, 2001

FOR RELEASE: Immediately

CTS CORPORATION AND PENTAIR FORM COOPERATIVE
PARTNERSHIP ALLIANCE TO SUPPLY GLOBAL MARKETS

 

Elkhart, IN… CTS Corporation (NYSE:CTS) and Pentair, Inc. (NYSE:PNR) jointly announced today that they have reached an agreement in forming a cooperative partnership Alliance to promote the technologies and manufacturing capabilities of both Companies in serving worldwide markets. The Alliance, between CTS Interconnect Systems and Pentair Enclosures, will offer customers the advantage of a fully integrated electronic packaging solutions service. It is anticipated that additional members of the partnership Alliance will be announced shortly.

The Alliance will cooperate on the design, production and fulfillment of customer requirements in the European, U.S., Far Eastern and Brazilian markets. This will result in the joint sharing of manufacturing resources, thereby providing a single point of contact for the customer. CTS and Pentair are currently working closely on a number of projects globally, as the result of the Alliance.

In Brazil, CTS will maintain close cooperation and contact with Pentair to ensure speed and efficiency in delivering customer requirements. CTS will utilize manufacturing resources at Pentair's new facility in Boituva in the State of Sao Paulo, established through the acquisition of enclosure manufacturer Taunus.

Pentair is a St. Paul, MN based manufacturer whose core businesses compete in tools, water technologies and enclosure markets. The Company employs 13,000 people in more than 50 locations around the world.

CTS Interconnect Systems, headquartered in Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom, designs and manufactures complex press-fit and surface mount backplane assemblies, as well as integrated interconnect systems for communications and computer equipment manufacturers worldwide. CTS Interconnect Systems manufacturing facilities are located in Scotland, China and New Hampshire, U.S.A.

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Also available: Mandarin Chinese in PDF format.

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CTS Corporation is a leading manufacturer of electronic components and assemblies for the communications, computer and automotive markets. The Company manufactures products in 19 facilities in North America, Europe and Asia. The Company's stock is traded on the NYSE under the ticker symbol "CTS."

Released by: R. L. Ramsby