EXHIBIT 99.1

C&D TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
- --------------------------------------              1400 Union Meeting Road
Power Solutions                                     P.O. Box 3053
                                                    Blue Bell, PA  19422-0858
                                                    Telephone (215) 619-2700
                                                    Fax (215) 619-7840


Stockholder Contacts:
Stephen E. Markert, Jr. of C&D:  215-619-7835
Yanis Bibelnieks for C&D:   718-499-6516

                              FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

              C&D TECHNOLOGIES, INC. ADOPTS STOCKHOLDER RIGHTS PLAN

     BLUE BELL, PA,  February 22, 2000 -- C&D  Technologies,  Inc.  (NYSE:  CHP)
announced  today that its Board of Directors  has adopted a  stockholder  rights
plan. The plan is similar to plans adopted by a large number of public companies
and is intended to encourage any party interested in acquiring C&D Technologies,
Inc. to negotiate with the Company's Board of Directors.

     Although  the plan will not  prevent a takeover  of the  Company,  the plan
should  afford  the Board of  Directors  a  prudent  means of  safeguarding  the
interests of  stockholders  should an effort be made to acquire the Company at a
price that does not reflect fair value.  The Company  noted that the adoption of
the  plan  was  not  in  response  to  any  effort  to  acquire  control  of C&D
Technologies.

     In  connection  with the  adoption  of the new plan,  the  Company's  Board
declared a dividend  of one right for each  outstanding  share of common  stock.
Under normal  conditions,  the rights cannot be exercised and will automatically
trade with the common stock when it is bought and sold.

     Each right will  entitle C&D  Technologies  stockholders  to  purchase  one
one-hundredth  of a share of common  stock at an  exercise  price of $300.00 The
rights  will be  exercisable  only if a  person  or  group  acquires  beneficial
ownership of 15% or more of the Company's  common stock or commences a tender or
exchange  offer  upon   consummation   of  which  such  person  or  group  would
beneficially own 15% or more of the Company's common stock.

     Upon  occurrence of certain  takeover  events,  such as an acquiring  party
accumulating 15% or more of the Company's common stock,  each right,  other than
those held by the 15% stockholder,  will entitle its holder to purchase a number
of shares of C&D  Technologies  common stock having a current market value equal
to two times the $300.00  exercise price, or, in other words, at one-half of the
market value per share.

     If, after any such acquisition,  C&D Technologies were acquired in a merger
or other business  combination,  each right would entitle its holder, other than
those  held by the 15%  stockholder,  to  purchase  a  number  of the  acquiring
Company's  common shares having a current market value of two times the exercise
price.



     The  rights  may be  redeemed  by the  Company  or the plan  amended by the
Company at any time until any person or its  affiliates has acquired 15% or more
of the outstanding shares of common stock. Afterward,  the plan could be amended
by the  Company  as long as the  amendment  does not have any  material  adverse
impact on holders of the rights.

     Rights  will be granted on March 3, 2000 to  stockholders  of record at the
close of business on March 3, 2000. No separate certificates will be issued. The
rights will be  evidenced  by the existing  stock  ownership  and will expire on
March 2, 2010. The distribution is not taxable to stockholders.

     Details of the  stockholder  rights  plan will be outlined in a letter that
will be mailed to all stockholders.

     C&D Technologies, Inc. is a leading North American producer and marketer of
electrical  power storage and  conversion  products used in  telecommunications,
computers and office equipment.