Mount Olive, North Carolina, October 21, 2000

IMPulse NC LLC, the leading North American supplier of traction power systems, has acquired the EMC Operating Unit of Ansaldo Transmissione e Distribuzione S.r.l. a Company of Finmeccanica group.

This acquisition further advances a successful relationship that started when EMC named IMPusle NC, as it's exclusive agent for high-speed DC circuit breakers in North America five years ago. Since that time the companies have supplied over 1,000 circuit breakers to numerous transit agencies in North America.

EMC's history goes back to the early 1920's when it was established as Compagnia Generale Di Electtricite which was primarily owned and managed by General Electric U.S.A.. The General Electric type JR DC circuit breaker was used as the platform for today's very successful type IR DC circuit breaker provided worldwide by EMC. EMC provides DC circuit breakers for rolling stock and fixed installations as well as numerous types of DC contactors, resistors, and compressors.

EMC will operate as an independent corporation under the name of EMC Traction S.r.l. and will continue to be based in Milan, Italy. It will operate out of it's current location of Viale Sarca 336 until the first quarter of next year at which time it will be relocated to a modern facility currently being acquired and prepared for the move. The employees who have been involved in the development and supply of the many successful DC products of EMC will continue with the new company.

IMPulse NC is a member of The Marmon Group of companies; an international association of autonomous manufacturing and service companies with collective sales in excess of $7 billion.