Kaman's

The Distribution segment competes for business with several other national distributors of bearings, power transmission, electrical and fluid power products, two of which are substantially larger, and with many regional and local distributors and Original Equipment Manufacturers ("OEMs"). Competitive forces have intensified due to the increasing trend towards national contracts, customers efforts to obtain material cost savings and the extension of supplier product authorizations within the distribution channel. We compete for business based upon the breadth and quality of products offered, product availability, delivery performance, and price, as well as on the basis of value-added services that we are able to provide.

The Aerospace segment operates in a highly competitive environment with many other organizations, some of which are substantially larger than us and have greater financial strength and more extensive resources. We compete for composite and metallic aerostructures subcontracts, and helicopter sales and structures, bearings and components business on the basis of price and quality; product endurance and special performance characteristics; proprietary knowledge; the quality of our products and services; the availability of facilities, equipment and personnel to perform contracts; and the reputation of our business. Competitors for our business include small machine shops and offshore manufacturing facilities. We compete for engineering design services business primarily on the basis of technical competence, the reputation of our business, the availability of our personnel and price. We compete for advanced technology fuzing business primarily on the basis of technical competence, product quality and price; and also on the basis of our experience as a developer and manufacturer of fuzes for particular weapon types and the availability of our facilities, equipment and personnel. We are also affected by the political and economic circumstances of our potential foreign customers.