New acquisition by NGK Spark Plug Co. of Japan

NGK Spark Plug Co. of Japan is to acquire the oxygen-related products business of Chart Industries, Inc., a leading global manufacturer of highly engineered equipment.

It has signed a definitive agreement to acquire all the shares of CAIRE Inc. in the United States, Chart BioMedical Limited in the United Kingdom and Chart BioMedical (Chengdu) Co., Ltd. in China from certain subsidiaries of Chart Industries, Inc.

The US$ 133.5 million (£102.435 million) deal is part of the company’s management plan of

‘Accelerating Current & New Businesses’ as a fundamental policy.

NGK continues to develop core technology cultivated in existing automobile and technical ceramics related businesses and invests resources in product development in three market areas where growth is expected: ‘environment and energy’, ‘next generation automobile’ and ‘medical’.

The company has been developing its implant and oxygen concentrator business and has been evaluating the expansion of its medical use oxygen concentrators, which have been sold in Japan since 1999, into overseas markets.

The acquired companies and their subsidiaries: CAIRE, Inc. in the United States, Chart BioMedical Limited in the United Kingdom and Chart BioMedical (Chengdu) Co., Ltd. in China, are leaders in oxygen-related products across the respiratory industry, with oxygen concentrators as their core business. Their products also include liquid oxygen systems and oxygen generation systems used in hospitals and other institutions.

slashes Notes to Editors

About NGK SPARK PLUG: Worldwide: NGK Spark Plug is one of the leading automotive and technical ceramics suppliers, with its corporate headquarters in Nagoya, Japan and sales organisations and production facilities all over the world. The automotive side of the company specialises in the fields of ignition and sensor technology, supplying Original Equipment and Aftermarket customers across the globe. Its product portfolio for the Aftermarket comprises spark plugs, glow plugs, ignition coils and leads under the NGK Ignition Parts brand, whilst oxygen and temperature sensors, NOx sensors, mass air flow (MAF) and manifold absolute pressure (MAP) sensors operate under the brand NTK Vehicle Electronics. With more than 14,500 employees, the company’s automotive and technical ceramics activities generate a total annual turnover of around 3.1 billion Euros worldwide. NGK Spark Plug is represented on all continents and has 41 group companies, 24 production plants and five technical centres. Aftermarket EMEA: NGK SPARK PLUG has seen significant growth across the Aftermarket since expanding beyond motorcycle parts into the automotive sector in the 1970s. With an outstanding commitment to quality, technology and research & development the company has become the world’s number one in spark plugs and oxygen sensors, and a leading provider of glow plugs, ignition coils and leads as well as further sensor technology. Organisationally NGK Spark Plug’s regional headquarters in Ratingen, Germany serves the Aftermarket across Europe, the Middle East and Africa. In the EMEA region – which currently represents 32% of NGK´s global turnover – the company has ten group companies and more than 800 employees, as well as two production plants in France and South Africa and a technical centre in Germany. For more information please visit: www.ngk-europe.com

slashes For further information contact:

Andy Hurst

Hurst Media Services

Tel: +44 (0)1354 656555; Mobile: 0773 694 7803

Email: andyh.stonecross@btinternet.com

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