Belden and CDT Announce Federal Trade Commission Clearance of Merger

Belden and CDT Announce Federal Trade Commission Clearance of Merger 


ST. LOUIS and SCHAUMBURG, Ill., March 24  /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Belden Inc. 
and Cable Design Technologies Corporation  announced today that they have
received notice from the Federal Trade Commission of early termination of the
waiting period under the Hart-Scott- Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976
in connection with their proposed merger.

The merger remains subject to various closing conditions, including approval by
the stockholders of both Belden and CDT and other regulatory approvals.  The
proposed merger was announced on February 5, 2004, and the companies expect the
merger to be completed during the second calendar quarter of 2004.  The combined
company will be called Belden CDT Inc.

Additional Information and Where to Find It

On March 24, 2004, CDT filed a registration statement with the SEC on Form S-4
that includes a preliminary joint proxy statement/prospectus of Belden and CDT
and other relevant materials regarding the proposed merger transaction.
Stockholders of Belden and CDT are urged to read the preliminary joint proxy
statement/prospectus filed with the SEC on March 24, 2004, the definitive joint
proxy statement/prospectus when it becomes available and any other relevant
materials filed by Belden or CDT with the SEC when they become available because
they contain, or will contain, important information about Belden, CDT and the
proposed transaction.  The definitive joint proxy statement/prospectus will be
sent to the stockholders of Belden and CDT seeking their approval of the
proposed transaction.  Stockholders may obtain a free copy of these materials
and other documents filed by Belden or CDT with the SEC at the SEC's website at
http://www.sec.gov/ .  A free copy of the joint proxy statement/prospectus when
it becomes available may also be obtained from CDT at 1901 North Roselle Road,
Schaumburg, IL 60195 or from Belden at 7701 Forsyth Boulevard, Suite 800, St.
Louis, MO 63105.  In addition, stockholders may access copies of the documents
filed with the SEC by Belden on Belden's website at http://www.belden.com/ and
stockholders may access copies of the documents filed with the SEC by CDT on
CDT's website at http://www.cdtc.com/ .  Stockholders are urged to read the
definitive joint proxy statement/prospectus and the other relevant materials
relating to the proposed transaction when they become available before voting or
making any investment decision with respect to the proposed transaction.

Participants in the Transaction

CDT, Belden and their respective executive officers and directors may be deemed
to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from their respective
stockholders with respect to the proposed transaction. Information about the
directors and executive officers of CDT and their ownership of CDT shares and
information about the directors and executive officers of Belden and their
ownership of Belden stock is set forth in the preliminary joint proxy
statement/prospectus of Belden and CDT filed with the SEC on March 24, 2004.

Forward-Looking Statements

This release contains, in addition to statements of historical fact, certain
forward-looking statements.  These forward-looking statements involve risk and
uncertainty. Actual results could differ from those currently anticipated due to
a number of factors including those mentioned in documents filed with the SEC by
both Belden and CDT.  Forward-looking statements are based on information
available to management at the time, and they involve judgments and estimates. 
There can be no assurance as to the timing of the closing of the merger, or
whether the merger will close at all, or that the expected synergies and cost
savings will be realized.  Factorsthat could cause results to differ from
expectations are discussed in Belden's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year
ended December 31, 2003 filed with the SEC on March 4, 2004, CDT's Annual Report
on Form 10-K for the year ended July 31, 2003 filed with the SEC on October 29,
2003 and CDT's Registration Statement on Form S-4 filed with the SEC on March
24, 2004.  Belden and CDT assume no responsibility to update any forward-looking
statements as a result of new information or future developments.

About Belden

Belden is linking people and technology by designing, manufacturing, and
marketing electronic cable products for the worldwide broadcasting, industrial,
data networking and communications markets.  Visit Belden's website at
http://www.belden.com/ .

About CDT

Cable Design Technologies Corporation is a leading designer and manufacturer of
high-bandwidth network connectivity products used in computer interconnect,
switching and wireless applications and electronic data and signal transmission
products that are used in automation and process control and specialty
applications.  Visit CDT's website at http://www.cdtc.com/ .

  Contact:   Belden Inc.
             Dee Johnson, Director of Investor Relations
             314-854-8054

     Cable Design Technologies
             Chuck Cohrs, Treasurer
             847-230-1836


DATASOURCE: Cable Design Technologies Corporation



CONTACT:  Dee Johnson, Director of Investor Relations of Belden Inc.,

[phone], or Chuck Cohrs, Treasurer of Cable Design Technologies,

[phone]



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

http://www.cdtc.com/ 

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