Littelfuse Strengthens Leadership Position in Circuit Protection with Acquisition of the WICKMANN Group


The WICKMANN Group adds powerful product lines

DES PLAINES, Ill- August 12, 2005 - Littelfuse, Inc. (Nasdaq/NMS:LFUS) is now able to integrate the WICKMANN Group and its Wickmann, Efen and Pudenz brand of circuit protection products from Heinrich Industrie, Essen, Germany into the Global organization.

The addition of the WICKMANN Group greatly increases the breadth and depth of Littelfuse's portfolio with new additions to its electronic, automotive, and electrical business units. This includes the well-known and widely used TR5® and TE5® subminiature fuses. This acquisition will directly benefit customers by providing them unparalleled access to product, technical expertise, technical support, and applications assistance. In addition, this strategic move strengthens Littelfuse's position as the world's leading provider of circuit protection solutions.

"The WICKMANN Group adds powerful brand names to the Littelfuse portfolio of circuit protection solutions, and greatly enhances the company's position as the world leader in circuit protection," said Gordon Hunter, Chairman, President and CEO of Littelfuse. "In addition, with this acquisition we gain some of the world's finest technical support and application assistance. The WICKMANN Group helps make us a significantly more global company than we were just a few years ago."

The WICKMANN Group's electronic products are marketed under the Wickmann name. The product line includes fuses for a variety of electronic devices in the consumer, data and telecom markets. Automotive products sold under the Pudenz name include blade fuses, bolt down fuses, fuseholders and aftermarket fuse products for vehicles and automotive equipment. Products for the electrical business are marketed under the Efen name and include power fuses and fuse switches for electric power distribution equipment and other industrial applications. WICKMANN Group annualized sales by unit in 2004 were approximately EUR 35 million for electronic, EUR 15 million for automotive and EUR 25 million for electrical. The company has facilities in Germany, Hungary and China, and sales offices in key regions throughout the world.

About Littelfuse
As the worldwide leader in circuit protection products and solutions with annual sales of $500.2 million in 2004, the Littelfuse portfolio is backed by industry leading technical support, design and manufacturing expertise. Littelfuse products are vital components in virtually every product that uses electrical energy, including automobiles, computers, consumer electronics, handheld devices, industrial equipment, and telecom/datacom circuits. Littelfuse offers Teccor®, Wickmann, Pudenz and Efen brand circuit protection products. In addition to its Des Plaines world headquarters, Littelfuse has manufacturing facilities in the U.S., England, Ireland, Mexico, China, and the Philippines. It also has sales, engineering and distribution facilities in Germany, the Netherlands, Singapore, Hong Kong, Korea, Taiwan, Japan and Brazil.

For more information, please visit Littelfuse's web site at www.littelfuse.com

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Any forward looking statements contained herein involve risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, product demand and market acceptance risks, the effect of economic conditions, the impact of competitive products and pricing, product development and patent protection, commercialization and technological difficulties, capacity and supply constraints or difficulties, exchange rate fluctuations, actual purchases under agreements, the effect of the company's accounting policies, labor disputes, restructuring costs in excess of expectations and other risks which may be detailed in the company's Securities and Exchange Commission filings.

Media Contact:
Doreen P.Y. Tho
Global Marketing Communications
ittelfuse, Inc.
Tel: 847-391-0128
dtho@littelfuse.com

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