Brush Wellman Comments On Patent Litigation

Business Wire, August 7, 1998

CLEVELAND--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 7, 1998--Brush Wellman Inc. (NYSE:BW) today commented on the status of litigation related to its patent for investment casting of aluminum beryllium (U.S. Patent No. 5,642,773). The United States District Court, District of Massachusetts recently issued a procedural order stating the following:

"This action having been stayed pending the outcome of a re-examination proceeding of the patent in suit before the United States Patent and Trademark Office, the court enters the following administrative order:

"The captioned action is dismissed without prejudice to either party's moving to restore it to the docket upon the decision of the United States Patent and Trademark Office."

This procedural order is unrelated to the merits of Brush Wellman's claim. Brush Wellman remains confident of the validity of its patent, and will likely move to restore its patent infringement action against Starmet Corporation, pending the decision of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

Brush Wellman Inc., with headquarters in Cleveland, Ohio, is a manufacturer of engineered materials. The Company and its subsidiaries supply worldwide markets with Beryllium Products, Alloy Products, Ceramic Products, Precious Metal Products, and Engineered Material Systems.

For further information, please contact:

Timothy J. Reid Vice President, Corporate Communications Brush Wellman Inc. 17876 St. Clair Ave. Cleveland, Ohio 44110 (216) 383-6835 http://www.brushwellman.com

    CONTACT:  Brush Wellman Inc., Cleveland
               Timothy J. Reid, 216/383-6835