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Hastings Manufacturing Co. Responds to Lawsuit

27 January 2000

Hastings Manufacturing Co. Responds to Lawsuit

    HASTINGS, Mich., Jan. 27 -- Hastings Manufacturing Company
(Amex: HMF) announced that a complaint has been filed against the Company in
the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Michigan.
    The complaint, which is seeking class-action status, alleges that the
Company breached its collective bargaining agreements with retirees by
improperly modifying their healthcare benefits.  An attorney has filed a
complaint on behalf of three retired union workers:  Margaret Greenfield,
Evelyn Curtis Hecht and William Pickard.
    "As previously disclosed in our filings with the Securities and Exchange
Commission, we have been in talks with these retirees and their counsel to
resolve this issue for more than two years," said Andrew Johnson, co-CEO of
Hastings.  "Unfortunately, we have been rebuffed in our attempts to reach a
resolution that is equitable to retirees, yet balances our current situation
as a Company.
    "We are deeply disappointed that this situation could not have been
resolved without turning to the courts.  We intend to vigorously defend
Hastings Manufacturing and do what's right for our 451 current employees, our
shareholders, customers, suppliers -- and our retirees."
    Hastings Manufacturing expects the litigation will have no immediate
impact on the day-to-day operations of the Company as more fully described in
the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.  If the
plaintiffs' position prevails, it is anticipated that this proposal, if
implemented, would have a material adverse effect on both future results of
operations of the Company and its future cash flow.
    Hastings Manufacturing (http://www.hastingsmfg.com ) is a leading manufacturer
and marketer of piston rings and specialty tools under the Hastings(R) brand,
and additives for engines, transmissions, cooling systems and fuel systems
under the Casite(R) brand.

    Safe Harbor Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act
of 1995:  The statements contained in this news release include certain
predictions and projections that may be considered forward-looking statements
under securities laws.  These statements involve a number of important risks
and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially,
including but not limited to economic, competitive, governmental and
technological factors affecting the Company's operations, markets, products,
services and prices.