Exhibit 99.1



                Actuant Announces Proposed Offering of
       $100 Million Convertible Senior Subordinated Debentures

    MILWAUKEE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 3, 2003--Actuant Corporation
(NYSE:ATU) announced today its intention to sell, subject to market
and other conditions, $100 million aggregate principal amount of its
Convertible Senior Subordinated Debentures due 2023 (the "Debentures")
in a private, unregistered offering to "qualified institutional
buyers," pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended. Actuant intends to grant the initial purchasers a 13 day
over-allotment option to purchase up to an additional $25 million
aggregate principal amount of the Debentures. The Debentures will be
convertible into shares of Actuant's common stock, subject to certain
conditions.
    Proceeds from the offering will be used to repay a portion of the
borrowings under the Company's senior credit facility and for other
general corporate purposes, which may include possible repurchases of
outstanding 13% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2009, working capital
and possible future acquisitions.
    The Debentures to be offered and the shares of common stock
issuable upon their conversion have not been registered under the
Securities Act of 1933, and may not be offered or sold absent
registration or an applicable exemption from the registration
requirements of the Securities Act. This press release does not
constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any
of the Debentures or the shares of common stock issuable upon
conversion of the Debentures, and shall not constitute an offer,
solicitation or sale in any jurisdiction in which such offer,
solicitation or sale is unlawful.

    Safe Harbor Statement

    Certain of the above comments represent forward-looking statements
made pursuant to the provisions of the Private Securities Litigation
Reform Act of 1995. Management cautions that these statements are
based on current estimates of future performance and are highly
dependent upon a variety of factors, which could cause actual results
to differ from these estimates. Actuant's results are also subject to
general economic conditions, variation in demand from customers, the
impact on the economy of terrorist attacks and other geopolitical
activity, the length of the current recession in the Company's
markets, continued market acceptance of the Company's new product
introductions, the successful integration of business unit
acquisitions and related restructuring, operating margin risk due to
competitive pricing and operating efficiencies, supply chain risk,
material and labor cost increases, foreign currency fluctuations and
interest rate risk. See the Company's periodic reports filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission for further information regarding
risk factors.

    CONTACT: Actuant Corporation
             Andrew Lampereur, 414-352-4160