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The Timken Company to Retain Specialty Steel Subsidiary

9 February 2000

The Timken Company to Retain Specialty Steel Subsidiary

    CANTON, Ohio, Feb. 9 -- In September 1999, The Timken Company
announced it was exploring strategic alternatives for its
specialty steel subsidiary, Timken Latrobe Steel, including strategic
alliances, acquisitions and divestiture.
    Having completed the initial stage of the process, the company has
determined it will retain Timken Latrobe Steel as a separate business within
The Timken Company's Steel business.
    "We will continue to seek opportunities for its growth through internal
initiatives and possible cooperative partnerships," said Bill J. Bowling,
Timken executive vice president, chief operating officer and president -
steel.  "Specialty steel is an attractive segment of the steel industry, and
Timken Latrobe has fared well within this segment.  Our analysis shows that
Timken Latrobe can continue to be an industry leader."
    The Timken Company ( http://www.timken.com ) is a leading
international manufacturer of highly engineered bearings and alloy steels with
operations in 25 countries.  The company employs about 21,000 people worldwide
and reported 1999 sales of U.S. $2.5 billion.