Saft Acquires Hawker Eternacell From Invensys PLC

    BAGNOLET, France, Jan. 11 /PRNewswire/ -- Saft, Alcatel's battery
 activity, has agreed to acquire Hawker Eternacell Inc -- part of
 Invensys plc's Power Systems Division.  The deal was completed on 10th January
 2001.
     The company manufactures primary lithium batteries for military and
 industrial applications worldwide, for a turnover of approximately $35 million
 per annum.
     Hawker Eternacell manufactures three lithium technologies:  lithium
 sulphur dioxide, lithium thionyl chloride and lithium manganese dioxide, which
 will strengthen Saft's lithium activities.  The company, whose main customer
 is the US military, has assets in the US and the UK, and work is underway to
 integrate these assets into Saft's Specialty battery group which covers its
 lithium, space and defense activities.
 
     Saft is the battery activity of Alcatel.
 
     Alcatel builds next generation networks, delivering integrated end-to-end
 voice and data solutions to established and new carriers, as well as
 enterprises and consumers worldwide.  With 120,000 employees and sales of EURO
 21.3 billion ($25.0 billion), Alcatel operates in more than 130 countries.
     In the field of telecommunications and power cables, Alcatel offers
 products, systems and services that meet the growing requirements of three
 main markets: infrastructure, industry and construction.  The batteries and
 components businesses also form part of this strategy of a global approach to
 markets, offering integrated solutions for clients who operate on an
 increasingly international basis.
 
     Invensys plc is a global leader in the Automation and Controls industry.
 With its head office in London, England it operates in all regions of the
 world through four focused divisions -- Automation Systems, Control Systems,
 Power Systems and Software Systems.  With over 90,000 employees, the company's
 products and services range from advanced control systems and networks for
 automating industrial plants and controlling the environments of buildings, to
 electronic devices and controls found in residential buildings and light
 commercial applications, plus complete power systems for the
 telecommunications and information technology industries.   For more
 information on Invensys plc, please visit www.invensys.com .
 
 

SOURCE  Saft-Alcatel