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Collins & Aikman Announces Agreement To Sell Air Restraint and Technical Products Division

1 July 1997

Collins & Aikman Announces Agreement To Sell Air Restraint and Technical Products Division

                 Safety Components International to Buy Business

    CHARLOTTE, N.C., July 1 -- Collins & Aikman Corporation
announced today that its recently-acquired JPS Automotive LP
subsidiary has entered into a definitive agreement to sell its Air Restraint
and Technical Products Division, an industry-leading airbag and industrial
fabric business, to Safety Components International, Inc. .
    The purchase price of the Air Restraint and Technical Products Division is
$56.3 million, subject to adjustment.  The transaction, which is subject to
financing and other conditions, is expected to close in approximately 60 to 90
days.
    "We believe the Division is a growing business and airbag fabric sales are
strong, however our long-term strategic focus is to be a tier one global
provider of automotive interior trim systems," said Thomas E. Hannah, Chief
Executive Officer of Collins & Aikman.
    Collins & Aikman will use the net proceeds from the sale of the Air
Restraint and Technical Products Division primarily to reduce long-term debt.
   "A key element of our strategy is to increase our financial flexibility.
The sale of this business is another step we are taking to reduce debt and
reach our goal of deleveraging the company," Hannah said.
    Collins & Aikman Corporation is a global supplier of automotive interior
systems, including textile and plastic trim, acoustics and convertible top
systems.  Headquartered in Charlotte, NC, the Company's recent acquisitions of
JPS Automotive and Perstorp Components significantly expanded Collins &
Aikman's product offering and international presence to include additional
operations in the U.S., Mexico, Spain, Canada, Sweden, Belgium, France and the
U.K.  The Company employs more than 13,000 employees and operates
57 manufacturing facilities in 10 countries.
    Safety Components International, Inc. is an international manufacturer of
automotive airbags and a supplier of ordnance and other related defense
products with manufacturing facilities in North America, Europe, and Asia.

SOURCE  Collins & Aikman Corporation