Textron Appoints Prominent Mexican Business Leader to International Advisory Council; Juan Gallardo Joins Textron's 14 Member International Advisory Council.

PROVIDENCE, R.I.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 4, 1999--

Textron Inc. today announced the appointment of Juan Gallardo Thurlow, one of Mexico's most prominent business leaders, to its International Advisory Council. The Council comprises 14 distinguished individuals from Asia, Europe, Latin America and North America who provide advice and guidance on business, political and economic issues important to Textron and its global operations.

Gallardo is Chairman of Grupo Embotelladoras Unidas, S.A. de C.V., a major Mexican bottling company, and Grupo Azucarero Mexico, S.A. de C.V., an important sugar mill holding company. He is also Vice-Chairman of Home Mart de Mexico, S.A. de C.V., a retail trade company.

"Mexico is an increasingly important market for Textron. Mr. Gallardo will provide valuable strategic insight to Textron as we continue to invest and grow in this market," said Textron Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Lewis B. Campbell.

Gallardo also serves as the Chairman of The Mexico Fund, the first Mexican investment fund registered on Wall Street; Chairman of the Trade Task Force of Consejo Mexicano de Hombres de Negocios, the Mexican counterpart to the U.S. Business Roundtable; and Coordinator of COECE, a special ad-hoc alliance of private sector organizations formed to promote Mexican trade.

Other members of Textron's International Advisory Council include: -0-

--   Richard R. Burt, former U.S. Ambassador to Germany and Chairman
     of IEP Advisors Inc.;

--   In Yong Chung, former Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister
     of Korea;

--   Jean Gandois, Chairman of Cockerill Sambre S.A. and former
     President of the French National Council of Employers (CNPF) in
     France;

--   Toyoo Gyohten, President of the Institute for International
     Monetary Affairs and former Vice Minister of Finance for
     International Affairs in Japan;

--   Dr. Carl H. Hahn, Chairman Emeritus of the Board of Management of
     Volkswagen AG;

--   Jeffrey L.S. Koo, Chairman and CEO of Chinatrust Commercial Bank
     in Taiwan;

--   Lee Hsien Yang, President and Chief Executive Officer of
     Singapore Telecommunications Ltd.

--   Marcilio Marques Moreira, Brazil's former Minister of the
     Economy and Ambassador to the U.S.;

--   Dr. Andrzej Olechowski, Poland's former Minister of Foreign
     Affairs and Minister of Finance, and Chairman of the Central
     European Trust Polska Limited;

--   Sir Charles Powell, former Private Secretary to Prime Ministers
     Margaret Thatcher and John Major, and Director of Jardine
     Matheson Holdings Limited in the UK;

--   Sir William Purves, former Chairman of HSBC Holdings Inc. in Hong
     Kong;

--   Ratan N. Tata, Chairman of Tata Industries Limited in India;

--   and Dr. Horst Teltschik, a member of the Board of Management of
     BMW AG;

With manufacturing operations in 23 countries, Textron derives 35 percent of its revenues from non-U.S. sources. Nearly one-third of the company's global workforce is based outside of the United States. Since 1994, the company has acquired 18 non-U.S. businesses and established joint ventures with partners in Europe and Asia for its Aircraft, Automotive and Industrial segments.

Textron Inc. (NYSE:TXT) is a $10 billion, global, multi-industry company with market-leading businesses in Aircraft, Automotive, Industrial and Finance. Textron has a workforce of over 64,000 employees and major manufacturing facilities in 23 countries. Textron is among Fortune magazine's "Global Most Admired Companies." Additional information is available at www.textron.com.