Aearo Discloses Revenues


INDIANAPOLIS,  October 8, 2003 - Aearo  Corporation,  one of the world's leading
designers,  manufacturers and marketers of a broad range of personal  protective
products,  today announced  record sales for the fiscal year ended September 30,
2003 of $316.6 million,  up 10.4%,  from $286.9 million in the fiscal year ended
September 30, 2002. The increase in sales of $29.7 million was driven by organic
growth  of $5.1  million  and  favorable  impacts  of a  weaker  US  dollar  and
acquisitions.  The organic growth was primarily driven by a 6.0% increase in the
Safety  Products  segment  which  registered  its fifth  consecutive  quarter of
organic  growth.  The Safety  Products  organic  growth was partially  offset by
decreases in the Safety Prescription  Eyewear and Specialty  Composites segments
due to continued reductions in manufacturing employment in North America as well
as volume declines in the truck and precision equipment markets.


Headquartered in Indianapolis,  Ind., Aearo Company (www.aearo.com) is a leading
manufacturer and supplier of personal protective  equipment and energy-absorbing
products,  including  head and  hearing  protection  devices,  prescription  and
non-prescription  eyewear,  and  eye/face  protection  devices for use in a wide
variety of industrial and household applications.