EVLN(Ralston EV Chow - Moltech Lithium-Sulfur battery technology)

[Bruce {EVangel} Parmenter <BruceDP@iname.com>]

EVLN(Ralston EV Chow - Moltech Lithium-Sulfur battery technology)
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 --- {EVangel}
Ralston Signs Agreement to Sell OEM Rechargeable Battery Business
ST. LOUIS, Sept. 28 /PRNewswire/ -- Ralston Purina Company
today announced it has signed a definitive agreement to sell its
Energizer Power Systems Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM)
rechargeable battery business to Moltech Corporation, a Tucson,
Arizona-based high technology company.  Ralston's Eveready Battery
Company subsidiary will retain a small minority interest in the
combined business.  Terms were not disclosed. Closing is expected to
occur by the end of October.

Ralston in April announced plans to exit the OEM business to allow
Eveready to focus on its Energizer primary battery business.
Energizer Power Systems, which is headquartered in Gainesville, Fla.,
manufactures and assembles rechargeable battery packs for inclusion by
manufacturers in a variety of battery-powered devices and tools.

Moltech has focused principally on developing and commercializing a
revolutionary new chemistry and cell design for a new class of
rechargeable batteries.

"We believe Moltech, with its proprietary Lithium-Sulfur rechargeable
battery technology, will be an excellent fit with our OEM rechargeable
battery business," said Patrick C. Mannix, President, Eveready Battery
Company.  "The lithium-ion plant already installed in Gainesville will
enable Moltech to accelerate their plans to commercialize this next
generation technology."

Joe Fisher, Vice President and General Manager of Energizer Power
Systems, added:  "We're delighted that the sale process has produced a
buyer the caliber of Moltech -- a buyer focused on breakthrough
rechargeable battery technology.  I also applaud our employees for
their patience, hard work and dedication to producing quality products
throughout this process."

Dr. Terje Skotheim, Chairman & CEO of Moltech, said, "Moltech and EPS
are very complementary with Moltech's expertise in research and
development and EPS's strength in production, marketing and sales.
Together they will be a formidable competitor in the global
rechargeable battery industry."

Moltech Corporation was founded in 1988 as a spin-off from Brookhaven
National Laboratory.  In addition to its own scientists, Moltech has
collaborative agreements with a number of top research organizations
around the world.  Moltech, a private corporation, is funded by a
number of U.S. and European investors.

Energizer Power Systems is a division of St. Louis-based Ralston
Purina Company's Eveready Battery Company subsidiary.  The OEM
rechargeable business employs approximately 2,100 worldwide with
operations in Gainesville, Fla.; Juarez, Mexico; the United Kingdom
and Hong Kong.

SOURCE  Ralston Purina Company CO:  Ralston Purina Company; Eveready
Battery Company; Moltech Corporation ST:  Arizona, Florida, Missouri
IN:  HOU SU:  TNM 09/28/1999 15:27 EDT http://www.prnewswire.com
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