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European Commission approves immediate start of operational business of the newly-founded joint venture Behr Hella Service GmbH

Schwäbisch Hall/Lippstadt, December 2, 2005
The EU Commission has approved the foundation of the new joint venture Behr Hella Service GmbH in the independent European automotive aftermarket. Operational business as well as the active marketing of the Behr Hella Service brand can therefore commence in Europe immediately to the full extent. The handling of further markets will take place at a later date.

As announced in the media, Behr, a vehicle air-conditioning and engine cooling specialist, and Hella, an automotive supplier of components and systems for lighting technology and electronics, will jointly handle the global independent aftermarket for vehicle air-conditioning and engine cooling. The new joint venture combines the independent aftermarket activities of Behr Service and the air-conditioning business of the Hella aftermarket organization.

Behr and Hella each own 50% of the joint venture. The management of the new company Behr Hella Service GmbH* will consist of Dr. Joachim Damasky, who will at the same time remain Head of the Product Division Electrics and Electronics in the Business Division Hella Aftermarket, and Jürgen Laucher, who will also continue to serve as Managing Director of Behr Service GmbH.

The joint venture will give customers access to a broad range of parts and services in the vehicle air-conditioning and engine cooling segment. At the time of the operational start of the new company, the joint product range encompasses more than 6,000 articles, including tools and various service parts. In addition, customers profit from the joint know-how of the partners, particularly in the field of climate control and in the case of heat exchangers, as well as from the outstanding service competence in the supply of parts and the provision of technical information and training, both for the independent aftermarket and garages. Special orientation toward customers and service will be ensured primarily by the international Hella sales organization.

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About the Behr Group
Behr GmbH & Co. KG, Stuttgart, is a system partner for the international automotive industry. The group of companies specializes in vehicle air-conditioning and engine cooling, and is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of original equipment for passenger car and commercial vehicles. In the past fiscal year of 2004, it achieved sales of approximately 3 billion euros. Behr currently employs around 18,000 people at ten development centers and 30 production locations in Europe, North and South America, Asia and South Africa.

Behr Service is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Behr GmbH & Co. KG and conducts the global service parts business of the Behr Group and supplies automotive manufacturers and, previous to the operational start of the new joint venture Behr Hella Service, automotive parts outlets, independent dealers and garages. Training, marketing support and the supply of garage equipment are all part of the service provided by Behr Service. In 2004, Behr Service achieved worldwide sales of 254 million euros. The company currently employs approximately 300 people in Europe. Outside Europe, Behr Service is represented in Asia, North America, South America and South Africa.

About Hella KGaA Hueck & Co.
The automotive supplier develops and produces components and systems in relation to lighting technology and electronics for the automotive industry. In addition, complete vehicle modules and vehicle electric systems are produced by joint venture companies. Hella has one of the world’s largest aftermarket organizations for automotive parts and accessories, with its own sales companies and partners in more than 100 countries. The consolidated sales of the Hella Group are 3.1 billion euros. Worldwide, 24,000 people are employed at 65 production facilities, production subsidiaries and joint ventures in 18 countries. Across the Group, more than 2,900 engineers and technicians work in research and development. Customers include all leading automotive and system manufacturers, as well as the automotive aftermarket.