Tecumseh Products Company Announces Completion of the Sale of its Automotive & Specialty Business Operations to Von Weise USA, Inc., an Affiliate of Sun Capital Partners, Inc.

TECUMSEH, Mich., Dec. 7 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Tecumseh Products Company (NASDAQ: TECUA)(NASDAQ: TECUB) ("Tecumseh" or the "Company") today announced that it has completed the previously announced sale of its Automotive & Specialty business operations, to be known as Von Weise USA, Inc. ("Von Weise"), to an affiliate of Sun Capital Partners, Inc., a private investment firm specializing in leveraged buyouts and investments in market-leading companies. The purchase price was $10 million in cash.

The transaction included Tecumseh's facilities in Eaton Rapids, Michigan; Nappanee, Indiana; Juarez, Mexico; and Cambridge, Ontario. The Automotive & Specialty business, which operated under the "Fasco" name prior to the sale of other divisions of the Electrical Components business segment to Regal Beloit Corporation, is currently conducting business as "Von Weise USA, Inc." in the U.S., "TPC Motores de Mexico, S. de R.L. de C.V." in Mexico, and "Von Weise of Canada Company" in Canada, and will be doing business henceforth under the Von Weise brand.

  Rothschild Inc. served as financial advisor to Tecumseh.

  About Tecumseh Products Company

Tecumseh Products Company is a full-line independent global manufacturer of hermetic compressors for residential and commercial refrigerators, freezers, water coolers, dehumidifiers, window air conditioning units and residential and commercial central system air conditioners and heat pumps.

About Sun Capital Partners, Inc.

Sun Capital Partners, Inc. is a leading private investment firm focused on leveraged buyouts, equity, debt, and other investments in market-leading companies that can benefit from its in-house operating professionals and experience. Sun Capital affiliates have invested in and managed more than 170 companies worldwide with combined sales in excess of $35.0 billion since Sun Capital's inception in 1995. Sun Capital has offices in Boca Raton, Los Angeles, and New York, and affiliates with offices in London, Tokyo, and Shenzhen.

CAUTIONARY INFORMATION REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This release may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 that are subject to the safe harbor provision created by that Act. In addition, forward-looking statements may be made orally in the future by or on behalf of the Company. Forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of terms such as "expects," "should," "may," "believes," "anticipates," "will," and other future tense and forward-looking terminology. Readers are cautioned that actual results may differ materially from those projected as a result of certain risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to i) the outcome of the judicial restructuring of our Brazilian engine manufacturing subsidiary; ii) the success of our ongoing effort to bring costs in line with projected production levels and product mix; iii) the extent of any business disruption that may result from the restructuring and realignment of our manufacturing operations or system implementations, the ultimate cost of those initiatives and the amount of savings actually realized; iv) the ability of the Company to maintain adequate liquidity in total and within each foreign operation; v) financial market changes, including fluctuations in interest rates and foreign currency exchange rates; vi) availability and cost of materials, particularly commodities, including steel, copper and aluminum, whose cost can be subject to significant variation; vii) weather conditions affecting demand for air conditioners; viii) the ultimate cost of resolving environmental and legal matters; ix) changes in business conditions and the economy in general in both foreign and domestic markets; x) potential political and economic factors that could adversely affect anticipated sales and production in Brazil; xi) potential political and economic factors that could adversely affect anticipated sales and production in India, including potential military conflict with neighboring countries; xii) the effect of terrorist activity and armed conflict; xiii) economic trend factors such as housing starts; xiv) the effect of any business disruption caused by work stoppages initiated by organized labor unions; xv) emerging governmental regulations; xvi) increased or unexpected warranty claims; xvii) actions of competitors; xviii) our ability to profitably develop, manufacture and sell both new and existing products; and xix) the ongoing financial health of major customers. The forward-looking statements are made only as of the date of this report, and we undertake no obligation to update or revise the forward- looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Press releases and other investor information can be accessed via the Investor Relations section of Tecumseh Products Company's Internet web site at http://www.tecumseh.com/.

Tecumseh Products Company now offers media access to news releases via RSS. Please go to http://tecumseh.mediaroom.com/ to sign up for our RSS feeds.

  Contact:  Teresa Hess
            Director, Investor Relations
            Tecumseh Products Company
            517-423-8455
            teresa.hess@tecumseh.com

SOURCE: Tecumseh Products Company

CONTACT: Teresa Hess, Director, Investor Relations of Tecumseh Products
Company, +1-517-423-8455, teresa.hess@tecumseh.com

Web site: http://www.tecumseh.com/

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