Watta Tyres Plc and Balkancar Zarya Plc establish joint venture

Watts Tyres Plc and Balkancar ZARYA Plc establish Joint Venture in industrial wheel and tyre business. Watts Tyres Plc and Balkancar ZARYA Plc have announced in Birmingham, England the establishment of a joint
venture company “Watts Zarya Limited” offering the materials handling OEM market a high quality complete wheel and tyre solution with just-in-time deliveries. Watts Zarya will pool the best in it’s world class wheel and tyre manufacturing competencies, delivering high quality and reliable products, with the added value of offering complete assembled wheel and tyre solutions to OEM’s on a timely basis. Jean-Paul Mindermann, Chief Executive for Watts Tyres Plc commented:
“The new joint venture is a cornerstone of our strategy to be the leading wheel and tyre provider to the materials
handling industry. Balkancar ZARYA is an excellent partner with high quality wheels to complement our tyres and
existing wheel business. With Bulgaria recently joining the EU, the timing and location is perfect to offer OEM’s the high quality and competitive solution that they are searching for.“ Stoyan Stoev, Balkancar ZARYA’s chairman commented:
“The market for industrial wheels and tyres is expanding. We are strategically focusing our resources in this sector.
I believe we have made the best choice in partnering with Watts with whom we can expand our competitive position with existing OE customers and in the aftermarket.”Watts Zarya is already in advanced discussions with a number of key OEM’s. The company will start supplying within the next 3 months.

Watts Zarya Limited has been incorporated in Bulgaria with the clear objective of quickly becoming the leading supplier of complete wheel and tyre solutions to OEM’s in the materials handling industry. Watts and Balkancar ZARYA each hold a 50% stake in the joint venture, which will start trading on 1 May 2007. The company will operate on a global basis, but will initially be targeting European wheel and tyre business utilizing both companies distribution infrastructure throughout Europe. Watts has also recently acquired a majority shareholding in its Mexican distributor and has expanded its US operations with the acquisition of Diprima’s industrial tyre business.

Company Details
Watts Tyres Plc
Watts Tyres Plc, Church Road, Lydney, Glos, GL15 5EN
Watts Tyres provides Wheel and Tyre Solutions to global industry. Established in 1851 the Watts Group has a proud history of more than a century of achievement serving industry throughout the world. The first solid tyre manufactured by Watts was introduced in 1960.
Watts produce some of the industry’s best-known and
proven brands. PREMIA, KARGO AND FMCX, can be trusted to deliver against your requirements every
time.
See http:/ /www.industrialtyre.com

Pavlin Penchev Investor Relations
Balkancar ZARYA Plc. 1 Tosho Kutev Str., 5200 Pavlikeni, Bulgaria
Tel: +359 610.52501 ext.111
Fax: + 359 610.52603
Email: p.penchev@balkancarzarya.com

Balkancar ZARYA Plc
Balkancar ZARYA Plc., 1 Tosho Kutev Str., 5200 Pavlikeni,
Bulgaria Balkancar ZARYA Plc (BSE-SOFIA: ZARYA) is the single Bulgarian company specialised in steel wheel and rims manufacturing. The company is recognised as a leading international manufacturer and supplier of a wide range of industrial wheels to the original manufacturers of fork-lift trucks and tyre producers as well as supplier of original wheel parts for the aftermarket.

Balkancar ZARYA news and
information are available at
http://www.balkancarzarya.com