MANULI RUBBER INDUSTRIES ANNOUNCES THE CLOSING FOR THE ACQUISITION OF THE DUTCH GROUP HEBU

Manuli Rubber Industries S.p.A. announces the acquisition of the entire capital of Hebu Investments B.V., holding company of the Hebu Group (HEBU), a privately owned group headquartered in Krimpen a/d IJssel, The Netherlands, from Halder, the Dutch buy-out branch of Belgium's largest listed investment company GIMV (www.gimv.com).

HEBU is a leading distribution group with focus on hydraulics, it operates through 16 service points throughout The Netherlands and 1 service point in Belgium, this network is supported by a fleet of 10 fully equipped vehicles for on site maintenance. Moreover, HEBU's highly recognized technical competence, its proximity to customers, the broad availability of components and the speed and flexibility of its service level, have allowed HEBU to become The Netherland's leading distributor of hydraulic components.

HEBU is anticipating 2007 revenues of approximately 25 million Euro, employing about 110 people, and is expected to continue to grow in the year 2008.

HEBU's current management will remain on board, committed to support HEBU for its further developments and success.

The acquisition enhances Manuli Rubber Industries' global position in the retail business, by being able to offer to its customers a full range of integrated products and high quality services, with strong local presence. The Retail Business Group is a leading international distribution organization operating under the Fluiconnecto By Manuli brand, serving all sectors of activity with a complete range of high quality hydraulic connectors and related services, driven by know how and added value. Including HEBU, Fluiconnecto By Manuli now operates a network of more than 110 fully owned service points in France, The Netherlands, Belgium, Poland, The Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, the Baltic states, Ukraine and Argentina.

Manuli Rubber Industries S.p.A. is an Italian industrial group, with headquarters at Milano, Italy, focused on the design, manufacture and distribution of fluid conveying reinforced rubber and metal components and systems for hydraulic and oil and marine applications. Manuli Rubber Industries S.p.A. owns, directly or through a chain of entities, about 35 companies around the world and in 2006 had consolidated sales of about 280 million Euro. The Group employed about 2,200 employees worldwide in 2006.