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OEA, Inc. Quarterly Dividend

8 March 1999

OEA, Inc. Quarterly Dividend

    DENVER, March 8 -- OEA, Inc. today announced that
its board of directors had determined not to declare a dividend for the second
quarter.  The board intends to regularly assess its dividend policy in the
future.
    "As we previously announced, OEA has received new business awards totaling
$225 million over the next four years," said Robert J. Schultz, chairman of
the board.  "The board believes that it is in our shareholders' best interest
to forego the quarterly dividend at this time, and redirect these funds to
support our continuing growth and cost reduction initiatives."
    "OEA has achieved three consecutive quarters of improving financial
performance," Schultz added.  "We have a great deal of confidence in our
prospects for continued growth and a return to profitability."  Schultz noted
that the board regularly reassesses its dividend policy.
    OEA is the technology leader and a major manufacturer in the air bag
inflator and initiator industry.  The Company is also a leader in the design
and manufacture of personnel escape systems for military aircraft and
high-reliability devices for missile and aerospace applications.

    Certain of the information set forth above, including statements regarding
business growth, return to profitability, technology leadership, as well as
other statements or implications regarding future events, are "forward-looking
statements" for purposes of federal securities laws.  Actual results or events
may differ materially from these forward-looking statements depending on a
variety of factors.  Reference is made to the cautionary statements under the
caption "Forward-Looking Statements" in OEA's Annual Report on Form 10-K for
the year ended July 31, 1998 and the Company's report on Form 8-K filed on
June 4, 1998 for a description of various factors that might cause OEA's
actual results to differ materially from those contemplated by such forward-
looking statements.