Press Release

Behr Hella Service To Become the Exclusive Sales Partner of AKG

Schwäbisch Hall/Hofgeismar, October 22 2009. From January 2010, Behr Hella Service is to take over the exclusive marketing for AKG Thermo Management products in the global independent car aftermarket. In the initial phase, Behr Hella Service will be responsible for exclusive marketing of 90 articles in the field of engine cooling. The sales partnership with AKG should then be consistently developed so that around 190 products become available from spring 2010. The product range is to focus mainly on coolant radiators, intercoolers and oil coolers. These products will primarily be produced for Audi, VW, Seat, Skoda and Mercedes.

"This exclusive sales partnership will strengthen our already prominent market position in the field of thermo management", remarked Gerwin Vilain, one of the two Managing Directors of Behr Hella Service, on the occasion the cooperation was announced. The product will be marketed under the Behr Hella Service brand name, whereby an additional marking on the packaging and the product itself will indicate that it originates from AKG. A comprehensive brochure containing all important product data is to be made available from spring 2010.

Behr Hella Service GmbH, Schwäbisch Hall: The joint venture by the automotive suppliers Behr (specialist for vehicle air conditioning and engine cooling) and Hella (specialist for components and systems for lighting technology and electronics) deals with the global independent aftermarket for vehicle air conditioning and engine cooling. The joint venture combines Behr Service activities on the independent aftermarket and the air-conditioning business of the Hella aftermarket organization. Behr and Hella each have a 50% share in the joint venture. The combination of the global Hella sales organisation with Behr product know-how as well as the links to activities in the vehicle climate control and engine cooling business for the aftermarket has produced Behr Hella Service, a consistent development on previous collaboration between Behr and Hella in climate control and front end modules.

AKG Thermotechnik International GmbH & Co. KG, Hofgeismar: AKG is a traditional family-owned company which was founded in 1919. This former car radiator company started business operations by manufacturing radiators in small series production and by carrying out repair work. Over the following years, AKG continued to develop their technological competence to open up new fields of application. Today, a large proportion of turnover comes from the fields of construction equipment, engines, the compressor industry, agricultural and forestry machines, the car industry, rail vehicle construction, household devices and radiators for industrial applications. The AKG group of companies is today a global leader in the provision of customer-orientated system solutions, with over 2,800 employees (status 2008) in 12 locations in Europe, America and Asia as well as being a reliable supplier of high-performance radiators and heat exchangers in accordance with the highest quality standards. The largest AKG manufacturing plant is based at the company headquarters in Hofgeismar. The headquarters in Hofgeismar also combine the core competencies of project planning, design, research and development as well as production technology.

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