Press Release

PITTSBURGH, April 16 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Mine Safety Appliances Company (Amex: MSA) announced today that it has filed a registration statement with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission relating to a proposed secondary offering of approximately 2.6 million shares of existing common stock. The company anticipates the offering will take place in the second quarter of 2004, subject to market conditions. UBS Investment Bank is serving as the sole bookrunning manager for the proposed offering.

MSA will not issue any primary shares of common stock in the offering, nor will the company receive any of the proceeds from the offering.

Approximately 2.1 million shares will be offered by MSA's pension fund. In 2000, the company's pension fund purchased a significant number of shares that had been owned by the family of MSA co-founder George H. Deike, Sr. The pension fund trustees have informed the company that they are offering these shares for the purpose of diversifying the fund's portfolio.

In conjunction with the proposed sale of shares by the pension fund, MSA Chairman and CEO John T. Ryan III said he and members of his extended family also will be offering approximately 500,000 shares of common stock, representing approximately one percent of the outstanding shares. When completed, this transaction will reduce the Ryan family's ownership proportion from approximately 34 to 33 percent of voting shares.

The selling shareholders of the Ryan family have advised MSA that their primary reason for this transaction is to provide greater diversity in their respective investment portfolios. With the exception of Mr. Ryan, no other company executives or officers will be selling shares as part of the offering.

A registration statement relating to these securities has been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission but has not yet become effective. These securities may not be sold nor may offers to buy be accepted prior to the time the registration statement becomes effective. This announcement shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state.

When available, copies of the preliminary prospectus relating to the offering may be obtained from UBS Investment Bank at 299 Park Avenue, New York, New York 10171.

Established in 1914, MSA is the world's leading provider of quality products and services that protect people's health and safety and the environment. The company has annual sales of nearly $700 million, manufacturing operations throughout the United States and Europe and 28 international affiliates.

Certain statements contained in this release may constitute "forward- looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements involve a number of risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from expectations contained in such statements. Factors that may materially affect financial condition and future results include: global economic conditions; the impact of unforeseen economic and political changes, including the threat of terrorism and its potential consequences; the timely and successful introduction of new products; the availability of funding in fire service and homeland security markets; the ability of third party suppliers to provide key materials and components; liquidity; and interest and currency exchange rates.

SOURCE Mine Safety Appliances Company