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Lear Corporation Expands European Presence with Two Acquisitions

3 February 1999

Lear Corporation Expands European Presence with Two Acquisitions

    SOUTHFIELD, Mich., Feb. 3 -- Lear Corporation
today announced that it has acquired Polovat and the automotive business of
Ovatex.   The acquired operations have three plants in Poland and two in
Italy, respectively, and employ more than 600 people.  Terms of the
acquisition were not released.
    Polovat and Ovatex automotive are leading suppliers of flooring and
acoustic products for the automotive market.  As significant suppliers to Fiat
and Daewoo, they have combined annual sales in excess of $45 million.  Polovat
holds a major position in the automotive flooring and acoustic products market
in Poland, while Ovatex's automotive business has a significant presence in
the Italian market.
    Brian Batey, President of Lear's Eastern Europe and Fiat Division, said:
"Polovat and Ovatex automotive are important strategic acquisitions for Lear
in Europe, enhancing our capacity to service customers with a full range of
interior products.  The acquisitions are consistent with Lear's strategy to
expand and develop its presence in Eastern Europe."
    Lear Corporation, a Fortune 500 company, is one of the world's largest
automotive suppliers, with 1998 sales of $9.1 billion.  The company's
world-class products are designed, engineered and manufactured by more than
60,000 Lear employees in facilities located in 28 countries on six continents.
Information about Lear and its products is available on the Internet at
http://www.lear.com.