National Press Release

NORTHVILLE, Mich., June 15 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Hayes Lemmerz International, Inc. ("Hayes" or the "Company") announced today that the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware (the "Bankruptcy Court") granted a number of the Company's motions in hearings held on June 10, 2009 and today. As previously announced, on May 14, 2009, the Bankruptcy Court granted interim approval of the Company's first day motions seeking authority to have immediate access to $30 million in debtor-in-possession financing, to pay certain employee wages and benefits, as well as certain prepetition amounts owed to suppliers and shippers, and to take other actions designed to continue daily operations in the normal course of business. At the hearings held last week and today, the court issued final orders permitting the Company to take such actions.

Among other things, the Bankruptcy Court authorized the Company to obtain postpetition secured financing of up to $100 million of new liquidity to fund the Company's operations. This financing will also be available to the Company's non-Debtor foreign subsidiaries. The Bankruptcy Court also approved the Company's motion to set a general bar date and procedures for filing proofs of claim. The bar date is July 27, 2009.

The Bankruptcy Court granted authorization for the Company to pay prepetition employee obligations, continue employee benefit programs postpetition and honor workers' compensation obligations. The Company also received authorization to continue to pay the prepetition invoices of essential vendors, certain prepetition shipping, warehousing and import obligations and certain contractors' liens.

The Bankruptcy Court also issued a final "503(b)(9)" order confirming the grant of administrative expense status to prepetition deliveries of goods within 20 days of the Company's May 11, 2009 Chapter 11 filing, and also issued a final order prohibiting utility companies from discontinuing service to the Company because of unpaid prepetition invoices. Additionally, the Bankruptcy Court granted the Company's motion seeking to have the U.S. Trustee to appoint a retiree committee to participate with the Company in the process of modifying U.S. retiree benefits. These and other orders can be found on the Company's claim's agent website, www.hayeslemmerzreorg.com.

As announced on May 11, 2009, the Company, certain of its U.S. subsidiaries and one (non-operating) international subsidiary filed voluntary petitions for relief under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code in the District of Delaware. More information on the Company's restructuring is available on the "Restructuring Information" page on the Company's website (www.hayes-lemmerz.com), or through the Company's Restructuring Information Hotline, 888.753.5296 (for calls in the USA) or +1.734.737.5086 (for calls outside the USA).

About Hayes Lemmerz International, Inc.

Originally founded in 1908, Hayes Lemmerz International, Inc. is a leading worldwide producer of aluminum and steel wheels for passenger cars and light trucks and of steel wheels for commercial trucks and trailers. The Company is also a supplier of automotive powertrain components. The Company has global operations with 23 facilities, including business, sales offices and manufacturing facilities, located in 12 countries around the world. The Company sells products to every major North American, Asian and European manufacturer of passenger cars and light trucks and to commercial highway vehicle customers throughout the world.

SOURCE Hayes Lemmerz International, Inc.