TRW Acquires Steering Wheel Business of Compla Sud S.p.A. in Italy

Business Wire, August 3, 1998

CLEVELAND--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 3, 1998--TRW announced today the acquisition of Compla Sud S.p.A., a supplier of automotive steering wheels in Caivano, Italy, near Naples. Financial terms were not disclosed.

Compla Sud will retain a minority position in the newly formed company. The company has 80 employees and had 1997 sales of $11 million. Compla Sud's primary customer has been Fiat.

"This acquisition complements TRW's worldwide steering wheel systems capabilities and strengthens our ability to supply steering wheels to a major customer in Italy and around the world," said Rolf Pfoh, vice president and general manager of TRW's global Steering Wheel Systems business.

TRW is one of the world's leading suppliers of steering wheels. Its global Steering Wheel Systems business is headquartered in Aschaffenburg, Germany, with other operations in the United States, Mexico, Spain and the Czech Republic.

With 137 automotive locations in 24 countries, TRW Inc. (NYSE:TRW) is one of the world's largest supplier of occupant restraint systems, including air bags, seat belts, steering wheels, sensors and electronics.

Cleveland-based TRW provides advanced-technology products and services for the automotive, space and defense, and information technology markets. TRW's 1997 sales totaled nearly $12 billion (including the recent BDM acquisition). The company's news releases are available on the internet through TRW's Web site (www.trw.com).

CONTACT: TRW

Gary Klasen, 810/781-7217