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Textron Acquires a Manufacturer of Fiber Optic Testing Equipment

17 December 1999

Textron Acquires a Leading Manufacturer of Fiber Optic Testing Equipment; RIFOCS Adds High Growth Technology to Greenlee Textron's Offering in the Data-Signal-Voice Industry

    PROVIDENCE, R.I.--Dec. 16, 1999--Textron Inc. announced today the acquisition of RIFOCS Corp., a privately-owned manufacturer of fiber optic test and measurement instruments and components for industrial, commercial and aerospace defense technologies. RIFOCS will become part of Greenlee Textron, a leading supplier of test, measurement and installation equipment for the data-signal-voice market. Projected 1999 revenues for RIFOCS are approximately $17 million. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
    "With products ranging from handheld fiber optic test instruments to high-precision optical components, RIFOCS further accelerates Greenlee Textron's growth in the data-signal-voice market," said Textron Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Lewis B. Campbell. "Fiber optics is the fastest growing sector of the data-signal-voice market and will become increasingly important to our business as Internet technology continues to heighten in years ahead," he continued.
    "This acquisition adds a technology leader to our test equipment business and complements our existing, leading brands, Progressive and Datacom, utilized by cable and telecommunications installation professionals worldwide," added Greenlee Textron President Barclay Olson.
    Based in Camarillo, California, RIFOCS designs, manufactures and distributes fiber optic test and measurement equipment, including optical power meters, LED and laser sources, variable attenuators and visual fault finders. RIFOCS also manufactures a range of fiber optics components and accessories designed for field, manufacturing and product qualification in commercial, industrial, and aerospace defense applications.
    Textron Inc. is an $11.5 billion, global, multi-industry company with market-leading businesses in Aircraft, Automotive, Industrial and Finance. Textron has a workforce of over 65,000 employees and major manufacturing facilities in 27 countries. Textron is among Fortune magazine's "Global Most Admired Companies." Additional information is available at www.textron.com.