OTHER NEWS - April 4, 1996

Oliver North Takes Bulletproof Vest Company Public: The former Marine Corps officer who was a key White House figure in the Iran-Contra scandal is president of Guardian Technologies International Inc. He co-founded the Sterling, Va.-based company in 1989 with Joseph F. Fernandez, a former top CIA officer also involved in Iran-Contra. According to papers filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, Guardian Technologies plans to raise $3.6 million next year by selling 850,000 shares at $5.10 each. North will own 14.7% of the outstanding shares after the offering and Fernandez will own about 9%. The company sells protective vests through police and government contracts and has more than 850 active customers, according to the filing.