Brush Wellman approves expansion, announces results of Annual Meeting.

CLEVELAND, Ohio--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 7, 1996--The Board of Directors of Brush Wellman Inc. (NYSE-BW) today approved a major expansion and upgrading of the Alloy capabilities at the Company's Elmore, Ohio facility. This project will involve a total capital expenditure of $110 million over the next three years. The project encompasses equipment for melting, casting, rolling and finishing high-quality copper beryllium strip.

Commenting on the decision, Gordon Harnett, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Brush Wellman said, "Over the past three years, our sales and marketing teams have succeeded in developing significant new opportunities for Alloy Products. Sales of these products, worldwide, have grown significantly over the past three years. Management and the Board believe that an expansion and modernization of our copper beryllium strip capacity is necessary for us to fully capitalize on the opportunities for future growth of Alloy strip products in automotive electronics, computer, appliance and telecommunications markets.

"The expansion announced today will be directed toward accomplishing essentially four objectives. First, increase our capacity to supply high-quality Alloy products to our customers. Second, reduce our production costs, thereby improving the competitiveness of our products relative to alternative engineering solutions. Third, improve our level of service to customers by reducing delivery lead times. Fourth, optimize working capital utilization by streamlining processes and reducing work-in-process inventory requirements. In addition, the new capacity will incorporate state-of-the-art environmental, health and safety technology, so as to be the safest possible work place, and have minimal impact on the external environment.

"Construction on the expansion is scheduled to commence almost immediately. The new capacity will be fully operational in 1998. It will be financed by a combination of debt instruments, and cash flow. Our long-term debt is currently less than 8% of capital. In financing the expansion, we are confident that the project will not result in over leveraging the Company's balance sheet. Over the long run, we expect that the expansion we are announcing today should significantly enhance the Company's ability to provide a superior return on investment, and thus improve shareholder value.

"I wish to thank our government officials at the state, county and local level in the Elmore area for working with us to make this project a reality. This expansion is an excellent example of industry and government working together to develop a project which will be mutually beneficial to the Company, its customers and shareholders, and the local community."

Brush Wellman also announced that at its Annual Meeting of Shareholders today in Cleveland, Albert C. Bersticker, Dr. Charles F. Brush III and David L. Burner were re-elected to the Board of Directors. Shareholders also confirmed the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as independent auditors for the Company.

Brush Wellman Inc., with headquarters in Cleveland, Ohio, is a manufacturer of engineered materials. The Company and its subsidiaries supply worldwide markets with Beryllium Products, Alloy Products, Ceramic Products, Precious Metal Products, and Specialty Metal Systems.

CONTACT: Brush Wellman Inc.

Timothy J. Reid, 216/383-6835