Brussels, Belgium/Lake Forest, Illinois, June 2, 2010 – Tenneco Inc. (NYSE: TEN) announced today that Unipart Automotive, the U.K.’s largest independent automotive parts supplier, has selected Tenneco as a key supplier of aftermarket exhaust systems and components for the U.K. market.

 

"We are pleased to partner with Unipart, to expand our reach in the U.K. with the largest distributor of exhaust products in this important market," said Hari Nair, president, international, Tenneco. "This relationship positions both companies for significant aftermarket emission control growth by combining the strength of Unipart’s customer service focus and high consumer recognition with Tenneco’s powerful aftermarket brands and reputation as a leading original equipment supplier."

 

John Neill, Unipart Group CEO, said: "Working in partnership with one of the world’s largest and most successful original equipment manufacturers further strengthens Unipart Automotive’s position as the number one exhaust choice in the U.K. aftermarket. We are the best known brand for automotive components and our partnership with Tenneco demonstrates our commitment to providing the best trade partnership to our customers across our extensive branch network."

 

Unipart’s 200 branches across the U.K. supply both major repair chains such as KwikFit, ATS Euromaster and Nationwide Auto Centres, as well as more than 10,000 independent garages. The relationship with Tenneco allows Unipart to further expand its growing exhaust product range to cover more than 95 percent of the U.K.’s car parc, giving consumers access to the most extensive range of premium exhaust systems available off-the-shelf. In addition, Unipart’s central distribution centre – including overnight service - delivers unrivaled product availability for workshops throughout the U.K.

 

As part of the agreement, Tenneco will work with Unipart to further optimize its distribution system and help reduce time and cost to market. In addition, Tenneco will provide training for Unipart’s customers, helping the independent aftermarket further increase its competitiveness.

 

Tenneco will supply Unipart from its European manufacturing facilities including Valencia, Spain, for catalytic converters and Laval, France, for mufflers and pipes. Tenneco will ship scheduled orders directly from Continental Europe to Unipart’s central warehouse while also providing express order fulfillment and customer service from its regional distribution centre in Birmingham.

 

About Tenneco
Tenneco is a $4.6 billion global manufacturing company with headquarters in Lake Forest, Illinois and approximately 21,000 employees worldwide. Tenneco is one of the world’s largest designers, manufacturers and marketers of emission control and ride control products and systems for the automotive original equipment market and the aftermarket. Tenneco markets its products principally under the Monroe®, Walker®, Gillet™ and Clevite®Elastomer brand names.

 

About Unipart
The Unipart Group employs more than 9,000 personnel worldwide and has an annual turnover of more than £1billion. It is one of Europe’s leading logistics companies and a widely-recognised pioneer in the field of Lean implementation. Operating across a range of market sectors, including automotive, leisure, marine, manufacturing, mobile telecoms, rail, retail and technology, Unipart offers a breadth of services from third party logistics to expert consultancy. Unipart Automotive has more than 200 branches across the UK trading under the Unipart Automotive, Partco Autoparts, and Express Factors brands.

 

This press release contains forward-looking statements. Words such as "estimates," "continue," "will," "plans," "outlook" and "goal" and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based on the current expectations of the company (including its subsidiaries). Because these forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, the company's plans, actions and actual results could differ materially. Among the factors that could cause these plans, actions and results to differ materially from current expectations are: (i) the overall highly competitive nature of the automotive parts industry; (ii) the cyclical nature of the global vehicular industry, including the performance of the global aftermarket sector; and changes in consumer demand and prices; and (iii) further changes in the distribution channels for the company's aftermarket products.

 

The company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this press release. Additional information regarding these risk factors and uncertainties is detailed from time to time in the company's SEC filings, including but not limited to its report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009. Further information can be found on the company's web site at www.tenneco.com.

 

 

CONTACT:
Margie Pazikas
Media inquiries
+32 2 706 9025
mpazikas@tenneco.com

Jane Ostrander
Media inquiries
847 482-5607
jostrander@tenneco.com

Linae Golla
Investor inquiries
847 482-5162
lgolla@tenneco.com