American Standard Announces Two New Global Leaders

PISCATAWAY, N.J., Dec. 5, 2003 -- American Standard Companies Inc. today named two executives to key global leadership positions. Craig Kissel, president of the company's Vehicle Control Systems (VCS) unit since 1998, will become president of Trane Commercial Systems (TCS), and Jacques Esculier, vice president of Trane's international business since June 2002, will become president of Vehicle Control Systems. The appointments will be effective on January 1.

"With Craig and Jacques in these two key executive positions, American Standard continues to build and strengthen its leadership team," said Fred Poses, American Standard chairman and chief executive officer. "They are both global leaders, with multi-industry experience, successful track records in delivering short-term financial performance and long-term growth as well as a talent for developing strong teams."

In his new role, Kissel will assume responsibilities that Poses has handled directly since the beginning of 2002. Trane Commercial Systems, the largest part of American Standard's Air Conditioning Systems and Service business, is a leading global supplier of air conditioning and heating systems and services for commercial and industrial customers, as well as schools, hospitals, and government facilities. Vehicle Control Systems, which sells its products under the WABCO brand name, is the world's leading producer of electronic braking systems for commercial vehicles.

"Having been closely involved in Trane Commercial Systems over the past two years, I am convinced that the time is right for a permanent leader and that Craig is the right person for the job," said Poses. "Under Craig's leadership, the VCS business team has delivered consistently strong performance in difficult market conditions, and they've effectively positioned the business for continued growth. Leveraging our position as a market and technology leader in electronic braking systems for trucks and buses in Europe, Craig and his team have expanded our geographic penetration in North America and Asia, extended our sales into automated transmissions, broadened our product line into air suspension for commercial vehicles, sport utility vehicles and luxury cars, and created a growing after-market business.

"Having worked closely with Jacques, I am confident that he has the right combination of experience, drive and leadership skills to head Vehicle Control Systems," said Poses. "He is well suited to continue VCS' progress because of his success as Trane's international business leader in delivering both improved performance in Europe and the Middle East and increased global market penetration, particularly in China, a key growth area for VCS. Jacques has a strong background in the complex engineered systems of the aerospace and air conditioning industries. With this experience, he is familiar with the similar industry structure, customer needs and manufacturing requirements of our vehicle control business."

Before leading Vehicle Control Systems based in Brussels, Kissel, 52, spent 17 years with Trane in various commercial and residential management positions, including four years as vice president and group executive of the North American Unitary Products business. A graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, Kissel also earned a master's degree from Vanderbilt University after serving for five years in the U.S. Navy.

Before joining American Standard in 2002, Esculier, 44, spent more than six years in a variety of leadership positions with Allied Signal/Honeywell. He was vice president and general manager of Environmental Control and Power Systems, a business with revenues of nearly $1 billion, and vice president of Aftermarket Services-Asia Pacific, based in Singapore. Prior to that, he was president and chief executive officer of Mooney Aircraft Operation. He holds master's degrees from the Ecole Polytechnique in Paris and from the Ecole National Superieure de l'Aeronautique et de l'Espace in Toulouse, France, and an M.B.A. from INSEAD in Fontainebleau, France.

American Standard is a global manufacturer with market leading positions in three businesses: air conditioning systems and services, sold under the Trane(R) and American Standard(R) brands for commercial, institutional and residential buildings; bath and kitchen products, sold under such brands as American Standard(R) and Ideal Standard(R); and vehicle control systems, including electronic braking and air suspension systems, sold under the WABCO(R) name to the world's leading manufacturers of heavy-duty trucks, buses, SUVs and luxury cars. The company employs approximately 60,000 people and has manufacturing operations in 27 countries. American Standard is included in the S&P 500.

Comments in this news release contain certain forward-looking statements, which are based on management's good faith expectations and belief concerning future developments. Actual results may differ materially from these expectations as a result of many factors, relevant examples of which are set forth in the company's 2002 Annual Report on Form 10-K and in the "Management's Discussion and Analysis" section of the company's Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. American Standard does not undertake any obligation to update such forward-looking statements.

Additional information is available at http://www.americanstandard.com/. U.S. callers can listen to the latest news release and other corporate information by dialing (888) ASD-NEWS.