LECO Lincoln Electric Holdings Inc

CLEVELAND, Dec. 3 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- The Board of Directors of Lincoln Electric Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:LECO) today declared a cash dividend increase of 8% from $0.25 per share quarterly to $0.27 per share quarterly, or $1.08 on an annualized basis. The record date for the dividend increase will be December 31, 2008 and it will be payable on January 15, 2009. Lincoln Electric is the world leader in the design, development and manufacture of arc welding products, robotic arc-welding systems, plasma and oxyfuel cutting equipment and has a leading global position in the brazing and soldering alloys market. Headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, Lincoln has 38 manufacturing locations, including operations, manufacturing alliances and joint ventures in 20 countries and a worldwide network of distributors and sales offices covering more than 160 countries. For more information about Lincoln Electric, its products and services, visit the Company's Web site at http://www.lincolnelectric.com/ . The Company's expectations and beliefs concerning the future contained in this news release are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements reflect management's current expectations and involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from such statements due to a variety of factors that could adversely affect the Company's operating results. The factors include, but are not limited to: general economic and market conditions; the effectiveness of operating initiatives; currency exchange and interest rates; adverse outcome of pending or potential litigation; possible acquisitions; market risks and price fluctuations related to the purchase of commodities and energy; global regulatory complexity; and the possible effects of international terrorism and hostilities on the Company or its customers, suppliers and the economy in general. For additional discussion, see "Item 1A. Risk Factors" in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K. DATASOURCE: Lincoln Electric Holdings, Inc. CONTACT: Media -- Roy L. Morrow, +1-216-383-4893, ; or Investors -- Joe Kelley, +1-216-383-8346, , both of Lincoln Electric Holdings, Inc. Web site: http://www.lincolnelectric.com/

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