For Immediate Release

Public Relations Division
Public Affairs Department
1170 Eighth Avenue
Bethlehem, PA 18016-7699
(610) 694-3711 - Phone
(610) 694-1509 - Fax

BETHLEHEM, Pa., October 3, 1996 -- In response to inquiries from the media about the possible sale of certain Bethlehem Steel business units in Bethlehem, Pa., the company issued the following statement:

Bethlehem Steel continues to consider various alternatives for its underperforming business units, including Bethlehem Structural Products, BethForge, and CENTEC. These alternatives include: (1) continuing to operate the business, (2) sale of the business, or (3) shutting down the business and continuing efforts to sell the shutdown business.

No decision has been made about any of these alternatives. However, in exploring the alternative of the possible sale of these businesses, Bethlehem Steel has retained the services of a financial advisor and is working with representatives of its union, the United Steelworkers of America, to determine whether these business units could be sold to qualified buyers. Bethlehem has previously stated that all of its businesses must achieve satisfactory performance or the company will exit them by sale or shutdown, as appropriate