NORTEK ACQUIRES KROY BUILDING PRODUCTS

Vinyl Fencing, Railing and Decking Lines Expand Nortek's Product Offering for Homes and Light Commercial Projects

PROVIDENCE, RI, September 9, 1999—Moving aggressively to expand its products offerings, Nortek, Inc. (NYSE:NTK) today announced it has acquired Kroy Building Products, Inc., a leading manufacturer of vinyl fencing, railing profiles and vinyl decking systems for residential and light commercial applications. Kroy is a privately held company located in York, Nebraska, that generated more than $26 million in net sales during the 12 months ended June, 1999, and is expected to end 1999 with more than $30 million in net sales. Terms of the acquisition were not disclosed.

Kroy sells its products to a wide network of master distributors and licensed dealers that fabricate and install the company's fencing, railing and decking systems according to the manufacturer's designs and specifications. The company currently focuses on the residential, mid- to high-end privacy and decorative fencing markets and also offers ranch fencing for high volume markets.

Through Kroy, Nortek will benefit from the expected growth in the overall market for these types of vinyl products. According to industry estimates, the total plastic fencing market is expected to grow at a compounded annual growth rate of more than 20 percent from 1998 to 2001. Additionally, demand for vinyl decking is just emerging in the $3 billion U.S. market for decking materials.

Richard L. Bready, Nortek's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, said, "One of our core business strategies is to focus on higher growth segments of the building materials marketplace. We believe that growth in the vinyl fencing, railing and decking systems markets will be similar to the rapid growth experienced in the vinyl siding and windows markets. Customers are responding to the durability, low maintenance requirements, cost efficiency and superior aesthetics that vinyl offers."

Nortek is a leading international manufacturer and distributor of high-quality, competitively priced building, remodeling and indoor environmental control products for the residential and commercial markets. The Company offers a broad array of products for improving the environments where people live and work. Its products include range hoods and other spot ventilation products, heating and air conditioning systems, wood and vinyl windows and doors, vinyl siding products, indoor air quality systems, and specialty electronic products.

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as "expects," "anticipates," "intends," "plans," "estimates," or similar expressions are intended to identify these forward-looking statements. These statements are based on the Company's current plans and expectations and involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual future activities and results of operations to be materially different from those set forth in the forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause actual future activities and results to differ include the availability and cost of certain raw materials (including among others steel, copper, packaging materials, plastic, resins, glass, wood and aluminum) and purchased components, the level of domestic and foreign construction and remodeling activity affecting residential and commercial markets, interest rates, employment, inflation, Y2K readiness, currency translation, consumer spending levels, operating in international economies, the rate of sales growth, price and product liability claims. The Company undertakes no obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. For further information, please refer to the Company's reports and filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission 

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