GRUMMAN CORP
SC 14D1, 1994-03-14
AIRCRAFT
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<PAGE>
 
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
 
                               ----------------
 
                                 SCHEDULE 14D-1
 
                   TENDER OFFER STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION
                14(D)(1) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
 
                              GRUMMAN CORPORATION
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                           (NAME OF SUBJECT COMPANY)
 
                           NORTHROP ACQUISITION, INC.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                    (BIDDER)
 
                    Common Stock, $1.00 par value per share
                       (Including the Associated Rights)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                         (TITLE OF CLASS OF SECURITIES)
 
                                    40018110
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                     (CUSIP NUMBER OF CLASS OF SECURITIES)
 
                            Richard R. Molleur, Esq.
                              Northrop Corporation
                             1840 Century Park East
                             Los Angeles, CA 90067
                                 (310) 553-6262
 
                                    COPY TO:
 
                             Karen E. Bertero, Esq.
                            Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher
                             333 South Grand Avenue
                             Los Angeles, CA 90071
                                 (213) 229-7000
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                 (NAME, ADDRESS AND TELEPHONE NUMBER OF PERSON
     AUTHORIZED TO RECEIVE NOTICES AND COMMUNICATIONS ON BEHALF OF BIDDER)
 
                           CALCULATION OF FILING FEE
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
           TRANSACTION VALUATION*                       AMOUNT OF FILING FEE**
<S>                                                     <C>
              $2,104,030,800.00                              $420,806.16
</TABLE>
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
*  For purposes of calculating fee only. Assumes purchase of 35,067,180 shares
   of Common Stock, $1.00 par value per share, of Grumman Corporation at $60.00
   per share.
 
** 1/50th of 1% of Transaction valuation.
 
[_]CHECK BOX IF ANY PART OF THE FEE IS OFFSET AS PROVIDED BY RULE 0-11(A)(2)
   AND IDENTIFY THE FILING WITH WHICH THE OFFSETTING FEE WAS PREVIOUSLY PAID.
   IDENTIFY THE PREVIOUS FILING BY REGISTRATION STATEMENT NUMBER, OR THE FORM
   OR SCHEDULE AND THE DATE OF ITS FILING.
 
Amount previously paid: Not Applicable       Filing party: Not Applicable
                                                       
 
Form or registration no.: Not Applicable     Date filed: Not Applicable
 
                               Page 1 of 6 Pages
<PAGE>
 
  This Statement relates to the offer by Northrop Acquisition, Inc. (the
"Purchaser"), a Delaware corporation and a wholly owned subsidiary of Northrop
Corporation, a Delaware corporation ("Northrop"), to purchase all of the
outstanding shares of Common Stock, par value $1.00 per share (the "Common
Stock"), of Grumman Corporation, a New York corporation (the "Company"), and
the associated preferred stock purchase rights (the "Rights" and, together with
the Common Stock, the "Shares"), upon the terms and subject to the conditions
set forth in the Offer to Purchase, dated March 14, 1994, and in the related
Letter of Transmittal (which together constitute the "Offer"), at the purchase
price of $60.00 per Share, net to the tendering stockholder in cash.
 
ITEM 1. SECURITY AND SUBJECT COMPANY.
 
  (a)      The name of the subject company is Grumman Corporation, a New York
           corporation, and the address of its principal executive offices is
           1111 Stewart Avenue, Bethpage, New York 11714-3580.
 
  (b)      The securities to which this statement relates are the Common
           Stock and the Rights. The information set forth in the
           Introductory Section and Section 1 ("Terms of the Offer; Extension
           of Tender Period; Termination; Amendments") of the Offer to
           Purchase annexed hereto as Exhibit (a)(1) is incorporated herein
           by reference.
 
  (c)      The information set forth in Section 7 ("Price Range of Shares;
           Dividends") of the Offer to Purchase is incorporated herein by
           reference.
 
ITEM 2. IDENTITY AND BACKGROUND.
 
  (a)-(d); (g) The Purchaser is incorporated under the laws of the State of
               Delaware. The information set forth in Section 11 ("Certain
               Information Concerning Northrop and the Purchaser") of the
               Offer to Purchase is incorporated herein by reference. The
               name, business address, present principal occupation or
               employment, the material occupations, positions, offices or
               employments for the past five years and citizenship of each
               director and executive officer of Northrop and of Purchaser,
               and the name, principal business and address of any
               corporation or other organization in which such occupations,
               positions, offices and employments are or were carried on are
               set forth in Annex I to the Offer to Purchase and incorporated
               herein by reference.
 
  (e); (f)     Except as set forth in Section 11 ("Certain Information
               Concerning Northrop and the Purchaser") of the Offer to Purchase,
               during the last five years, neither Purchaser nor Northrop, nor,
               to the best of Northrop's knowledge, any of the directors or
               executive officers of Purchaser or Northrop has been convicted in
               a criminal proceeding (excluding traffic violations or similar
               misdemeanors) or was a party to a civil proceeding of a judicial
               or administrative body of competent jurisdiction as a result of
               which any such person was or is subject to a judgment, decree or
               final order enjoining future violations of, or prohibiting
               activities subject to, federal or state securities laws or
               finding any violation of such law.
               
ITEM 3. PAST CONTACTS, TRANSACTIONS OR NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE SUBJECT COMPANY.
 
  (a)-(b)  The information set forth in the Introductory Section and Section
           13 ("Contacts with the Company; Background of the Offer") of the
           Offer to Purchase is incorporated herein by reference.
 
ITEM 4. SOURCE AND AMOUNT OF FUNDS OR OTHER CONSIDERATION.
 
  (a)-(b)  The information set forth in Section 12 ("Source and Amount of
           Funds") of the Offer to Purchase is incorporated herein by
           reference.
 
  (c)      Not applicable.
 
                               Page 2 of 6 Pages
<PAGE>
 
ITEM 5. PURPOSE OF THE TENDER OFFER AND PLANS OR PROPOSALS OF THE BIDDER.
 
  The information set forth in the Introductory Section and Sections 8
  ("Possible Effects of the Offer on the Market for Shares; Stock Exchange
  Listing; Registration Under the Exchange Act") and 14 ("Purpose of the
  Offer and the Proposed Merger; Plans of Northrop and the Purchaser with
  Respect to the Company") of the Offer to Purchase is incorporated herein by
  reference.
 
ITEM 6. INTEREST IN SECURITIES OF THE SUBJECT COMPANY.
 
  (a)-(b)  The information set forth in the Introductory Section and Section
           11 ("Certain Information Concerning Northrop and the Purchaser")
           of the Offer to Purchase is incorporated herein by reference.
 
ITEM 7. CONTRACTS, ARRANGEMENTS, UNDERSTANDINGS OR RELATIONSHIPS WITH RESPECT
        TO THE SUBJECT COMPANY'S SECURITIES.
 
  The information set forth in the Introductory Section and Sections 11
  ("Certain Information Concerning Northrop and the Purchaser"), 13
  ("Contacts with the Company; Background of the Offer") and 14 ("Purpose of
  the Offer and the Proposed Merger; Plans of Northrop and the Purchaser with
  Respect to the Company") of the Offer to Purchase is incorporated herein by
  reference.
 
ITEM 8. PERSONS RETAINED, EMPLOYED OR TO BE COMPENSATED.
 
  The information set forth in Section 16 ("Fees and Expenses") of the Offer
  to Purchase is incorporated herein by reference.
 
ITEM 9. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF CERTAIN BIDDERS.
 
  The information set forth in Section 11 ("Certain Information Concerning
  Northrop and the Purchaser") of the Offer to Purchase is incorporated
  herein by reference.
 
ITEM 10. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.
 
  (a)      Not applicable.
 
  (b)-(c)  The information set forth in Section 15 ("Certain Legal Matters")
           of the Offer to Purchase is incorporated herein by reference.
 
  (d)      The information set forth in Sections 8 ("Possible Effects of the
           Offer on the Market for Shares; Stock Exchange Listing;
           Registration Under the Exchange Act") and 15 ("Certain Legal
           Matters") of the Offer to Purchase is incorporated herein by
           reference.
 
  (e)      Not applicable.
 
  (f)      The information set forth in the Offer to Purchase and the Letter
           of Transmittal, to the extent not otherwise set forth herein, is
           incorporated herein by reference.
 
ITEM 11. MATERIAL TO BE FILED AS EXHIBITS.
 
  (a)(1)   Offer to Purchase, dated March 14, 1994.
 
  (2)      Letter of Transmittal.
 
  (3)      Letter, dated March 14, 1994, from the Dealer Manager to brokers,
           dealers, commercial banks, trust companies and nominees.
 
                               Page 3 of 6 Pages
<PAGE>
 
   (4)      Letter, dated March 14, 1994, to be sent by brokers, dealers,
            commercial banks, trust companies and nominees to their clients.
 
   (5)      Notice of Guaranteed Delivery.
 
   (6)      Notice of Withdrawal.
 
   (7)      IRS Guidelines to Substitute Form W-9.
 
   (8)      Press Release, dated March 9, 1994.
 
   (9)      Summary newspaper advertisement, dated March 14, 1994.
 
(b)         Commitment Letter dated March 10, 1994 from The Chase Manhattan
            Bank, N.A. and Chemical Bank to Northrop.
 
(c)(1)      Confidentiality Agreement between Northrop and the Company.
 
   (2)      Amendment to Confidentiality Agreement between Northrop and the
            Company.
 
(d)         Not applicable.
 
(e)         Not applicable.
 
(f)         Not applicable.
 
                               Page 4 of 6 Pages
<PAGE>
 
                                   SIGNATURE
 
  After due inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and belief, I certify that
the information set forth in this statement is true, complete and correct.
 
Dated:March 14, 1994
 
                                        NORTHROP CORPORATION
 
                                        /s/ Richard R. Molleur
                                        ----------------------------------------
                                        Name: Richard R. Molleur
                                        Title: Corporate Vice President
 
                                        NORTHROP ACQUISITION, INC.
 
                                        /s/ Richard R. Molleur
                                        ----------------------------------------
                                        Name: Richard R. Molleur
                                        Title: Vice President and Secretary
 
                               Page 5 of 6 Pages
<PAGE>
 
                                 EXHIBIT INDEX
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
 EXHIBIT                                                                               SEQUENTIALLY
   NO.                         DESCRIPTION                                             NUMBERED PAGE
 -------                       -----------                                             -------------
<C>        <S>                                                                         <C>  
(a)(1)     Offer to Purchase, dated March 14, 1994.
 
   (2)     Letter of Transmittal.
 
   (3)     Letter, dated March 14, 1994, from the Dealer Manager to
           brokers, dealers, commercial banks, trust companies and
           nominees.
 
   (4)     Letter, dated March 14, 1994, to be sent by brokers,
           dealers, commercial banks, trust companies and nominees
           to their clients.
 
   (5)     Notice of Guaranteed Delivery.
 
   (6)     Notice of Withdrawal.
 
   (7)     IRS Guidelines to Substitute Form W-9.
 
   (8)     Press Release, dated March 9, 1994.
 
   (9)     Summary newspaper advertisement, dated March 14, 1994.
 
(b)        Commitment Letter dated March 10, 1994 from The Chase
           Manhattan Bank, N.A. and Chemical Bank to Northrop.
 
(c)(1)     Confidentiality Agreement between Northrop and the
           Company.
 
   (2)     Amendment to Confidentiality Agreement between Northrop
           and the Company.
 
(d)        Not applicable.
 
(e)        Not applicable.
 
(f)        Not applicable.
</TABLE> 
 
                               Page 6 of 6 Pages

<PAGE>
 
                          OFFER TO PURCHASE FOR CASH 
                    ALL OUTSTANDING SHARES OF COMMON STOCK 
                       (Including the Associated Rights)
                                      OF
                              GRUMMAN CORPORATION
                                      AT
                             $60.00 NET PER SHARE
                                      BY
                          NORTHROP ACQUISITION, INC.
                         A WHOLLY OWNED SUBSIDIARY OF
                             NORTHROP CORPORATION
 
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
  THE OFFER AND WITHDRAWAL RIGHTS WILL EXPIRE AT 12:00 MIDNIGHT,NEW YORK CITY
               TIME, ON FRIDAY, APRIL 8, 1994, UNLESS EXTENDED.
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
 
  THE OFFER IS CONDITIONED UPON, AMONG OTHER THINGS: (1) THERE BEING VALIDLY
TENDERED AND NOT WITHDRAWN PRIOR TO THE EXPIRATION DATE THAT NUMBER OF SHARES
REPRESENTING AT LEAST TWO-THIRDS OF THE TOTAL NUMBER OF OUTSTANDING SHARES OF
GRUMMAN CORPORATION (THE "COMPANY") ON A FULLY DILUTED BASIS (THE "MINIMUM
CONDITION"), (2) THE PURCHASER BEING SATISFIED, IN ITS SOLE DISCRETION, THAT
SECTION 912 OF THE NEW YORK BUSINESS CORPORATION LAW IS INVALID OR THAT ITS
RESTRICTIONS ARE OTHERWISE INAPPLICABLE TO A PROPOSED MERGER IN WHICH EACH
SHARE NOT PURCHASED IN THE OFFER WILL BE CONVERTED INTO THE RIGHT TO RECEIVE
CASH IN AN AMOUNT EQUAL TO THE PRICE PER SHARE PAID PURSUANT TO THE OFFER (THE
"SECTION 912 CONDITION"), (3) THE PURCHASER BEING SATISFIED, IN ITS SOLE
DISCRETION, THAT THE SUPERMAJORITY VOTING REQUIREMENT CONTAINED IN ARTICLE
SEVENTH OF THE COMPANY'S CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION IS INAPPLICABLE TO THE
PROPOSED MERGER (THE "SUPERMAJORITY VOTING CONDITION") AND (4) THE PREFERRED
STOCK PURCHASE RIGHTS OF THE COMPANY HAVING BEEN REDEEMED BY THE BOARD OF
DIRECTORS OF THE COMPANY OR THE PURCHASER BEING SATISFIED, IN ITS SOLE
DISCRETION, THAT THE RIGHTS HAVE BEEN INVALIDATED OR OTHERWISE ARE
INAPPLICABLE TO THE OFFER AND THE PROPOSED MERGER (THE "RIGHTS CONDITION").
THE OFFER IS ALSO SUBJECT TO CERTAIN OTHER TERMS AND CONDITIONS CONTAINED IN
THIS OFFER TO PURCHASE. SEE SECTION 6.
 
  THE OFFER IS NOT CONDITIONED UPON THE PURCHASER OBTAINING FINANCING.
 
                                ---------------
 
                                   IMPORTANT
 
  THE PURCHASER WILL REVIEW ITS OPTIONS WITH RESPECT TO THE OFFER FROM TIME TO
TIME AND MAY CONSIDER, AMONG OTHER THINGS, CHANGES TO THE MATERIAL TERMS OF
THE OFFER. THE PURCHASER HAS OFFERED TO ENTER INTO A MERGER AGREEMENT WITH THE
COMPANY ON SUBSTANTIALLY IDENTICAL TERMS TO THOSE CONTAINED IN THE AGREEMENT
AND PLAN OF MERGER DATED AS OF MARCH 6, 1994 BETWEEN THE COMPANY AND MARTIN
MARIETTA CORPORATION. NORTHROP INTENDS TO CONTINUE TO SEEK TO NEGOTIATE WITH
THE COMPANY WITH RESPECT TO THE ACQUISITION OF THE COMPANY. THE PURCHASER
RESERVES THE RIGHT TO AMEND THE OFFER (INCLUDING AMENDING THE PURCHASE PRICE
UPON ENTRY INTO ANY MERGER AGREEMENT WITH THE COMPANY).
 
  Any stockholder desiring to tender Shares should either (1) complete and
sign the Letter of Transmittal, or a facsimile copy thereof, in accordance
with the instructions in the Letter of Transmittal, mail or deliver it and any
other required documents to the Depositary and either deliver the certificates
for such Shares to the Depositary along with the Letter of Transmittal or
tender such Shares pursuant to the procedures for book-entry transfer set
forth in Section 2 of this Offer to Purchase or (2) request such stockholder's
broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee to effect the
transaction for the stockholder. Stockholders having Shares registered in the
name of a broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee must
contact such broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee
if they desire to tender such Shares.
 
  A stockholder who desires to tender Shares and whose certificates for Shares
are not immediately available, or who cannot comply with the procedures for
book-entry transfer described in this Offer to Purchase on a timely basis, may
tender such Shares by following the procedures for guaranteed delivery set
forth in Section 2.
 
  Questions and requests for assistance, or for additional copies of this
Offer to Purchase, the Letter of Transmittal or other tender offer materials,
may be directed to the Dealer Manager or to the Information Agent at their
respective addresses and telephone numbers set forth on the back cover of this
Offer to Purchase. Holders of Shares may also contact brokers, dealers,
commercial banks or trust companies for assistance concerning the Offer.
 
                     The Dealer Manager for the Offer is:
 
                             SALOMON BROTHERS INC
March 14, 1994
<PAGE>
 
                               TABLE OF CONTENTS
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                           PAGE
                                                                           ----
<S>                                                                        <C>
Introduction..............................................................   1
The Tender Offer..........................................................   5
   1. Terms of the Offer; Extension of Tender Period; Termination; Amend-
      ments...............................................................   5
   2. Procedure for Tendering Shares......................................   6
   3. Withdrawal Rights...................................................   9
   4. Acceptance for Payment and Payment of Purchase Price................  10
   5. Certain Tax Consequences............................................  11
   6. Certain Conditions of the Offer.....................................  11
   7. Price Range of Shares; Dividends....................................  14
   8. Possible Effects of the Offer on the Market for Shares; Stock
      Exchange Listing; Registration Under the Exchange Act...............  15
   9. Dividends and Distributions.........................................  16
  10. Certain Information Concerning the Company..........................  17
  11. Certain Information Concerning Northrop and the Purchaser...........  20
  12. Source and Amount of Funds..........................................  22
  13. Contacts with the Company; Background of the Offer..................  24
  14. Purpose of the Offer and the Proposed Merger; Plans of Northrop and
      the Purchaser with Respect to the Company...........................  28
  15. Certain Legal Matters...............................................  33
  16. Fees and Expenses...................................................  35
  17. Miscellaneous.......................................................  36
Annex I--Information Relating to Directors and Executive Officers of
         Northrop and the Purchaser.......................................  37
Annex II--Certain Information Relating to Northrop Required by New York
          Law.............................................................  40
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
 
To the Holders of Common Stock of
Grumman Corporation:
 
                                  INTRODUCTION
 
THE OFFER
 
  Northrop Acquisition, Inc. (the "Purchaser"), a wholly owned subsidiary of
Northrop Corporation, a Delaware corporation ("Northrop"), hereby offers to
purchase all outstanding shares of Common Stock, par value $1.00 per share (the
"Common Stock"), of Grumman Corporation, a New York corporation (the
"Company"), and the associated preferred stock purchase rights (the "Rights"
and, together with the Common Stock, the "Shares") issued pursuant to the
Rights Agreement, dated as of February 18, 1988, as amended as of March 6,
1994, between the Company and The Bank of New York, as Rights Agent (the
"Rights Agreement"), upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in
this Offer to Purchase and in the related Letter of Transmittal (which together
constitute the "Offer"), at the purchase price of $60.00 per Share, net to the
tendering stockholder in cash.
 
  The purpose of the Offer and the Proposed Merger (as defined below) is to
enable the Purchaser to acquire control of, and the entire equity interest in,
the Company. The Offer, as the first step in the acquisition of the Company, is
intended to facilitate the acquisition of all outstanding Shares. The Purchaser
will review its options with respect to the Offer from time to time and may
consider, among other things, changes to the material terms of the Offer.
Northrop intends to continue to seek to negotiate with the Company with respect
to the acquisition of the Company. The Purchaser currently intends, as soon as
practicable following the consummation of the Offer, to seek to have the
Company consummate a merger or similar business combination with the Purchaser
(the "Proposed Merger") pursuant to which each then outstanding Share (other
than Shares owned by Northrop or any of its wholly owned subsidiaries, Shares
held in the treasury of the Company and Shares held by stockholders who perfect
appraisal rights under Section 623 of the New York Business Corporation Law
(the "New York Law")) would be converted into the right to receive in cash the
same amount as received per Share in the Offer, and the Company would become a
wholly owned subsidiary of Northrop. Northrop intends to recommend to its
stockholders, upon completion of the Proposed Merger, that its name be changed
to "Northrop Grumman Corporation."
 
  The Offer is subject to the fulfillment of certain conditions described under
"Certain Conditions to the Offer," below, and in Section 6.
 
  The Offer will expire at 12:00 midnight, New York City time, on Friday, April
8, 1994, unless extended.
 
  The Purchaser reserves the right to acquire additional Shares after
consummation of the Offer in open market purchases, through a tender offer,
privately negotiated transactions or otherwise, in order to obtain a sufficient
number of Shares to approve the transactions contemplated hereby.
 
  Tendering stockholders will not be obligated to pay brokerage commissions,
solicitation fees or, subject to Instruction 6 of the Letter of Transmittal,
stock transfer taxes on the purchase of Shares by the Purchaser pursuant to the
Offer. However, any tendering stockholder or other payee who fails to complete
and sign the Substitute Form W-9 that is included in the Letter of Transmittal
may be subject to a required backup federal income tax withholding of 31% of
the gross proceeds payable to such stockholder or other payee pursuant to the
Offer. See Section 2. The Purchaser will pay all charges and expenses of
Salomon Brothers Inc, as Dealer Manager (in such capacity, the "Dealer
Manager"), Chemical Bank, as Depositary (in such capacity, the "Depositary"),
and Georgeson & Company Inc., as Information Agent (in such capacity, the
"Information Agent"), incurred in connection with the Offer. For a description
of the fees and expenses to be paid by the Purchaser, see Section 16.
 
 
                                       1
<PAGE>
 
SUMMARY BACKGROUND OF THE OFFER
 
  Commencing in early 1992, senior executives of Northrop and the Company
discussed, generally, a business combination of the two companies. Discussions
between the two companies continued in 1993, and in December 1993, the Company
retained Goldman, Sachs & Co. ("Goldman") and Northrop retained Salomon
Brothers Inc ("Salomon"). In January and February of 1994, Salomon and Goldman
engaged in detailed discussions about methods to structure a possible business
combination. Those discussions were based on a "merger of equals" form of
business combination and each company made clear it was not for sale. During
such discussions, Salomon, on behalf of Northrop, proposed various alternative
methods of structuring a business combination in response to concerns of the
Company raised by Goldman.
 
  On February 24, 1994, the Company informed Northrop through its investment
bankers that it had decided not to pursue further discussions with Northrop at
that time. Based on this turn of events, Northrop became concerned that the
Company might have decided to enter into a merger or other transaction
involving a sale of the Company. To ensure that the Company's Board of
Directors was aware of Northrop's serious interest, on February 25, 1994,
Northrop sent a letter confirming that, based on the facts known to it,
Northrop would be prepared, if invited, to submit an offer at a price per share
of not less than $50.00. Northrop stated that it would also be prepared to
consider an offer at a higher level, if warranted by any additional information
or analysis.
 
  On March 1, 1994, Northrop was advised that the Board of Directors of the
Company was not prepared to pursue Northrop's proposal.
 
  On March 7, 1994, the Company announced that it had entered into an Agreement
and Plan of Merger (the "Martin Marietta Merger Agreement") with Martin
Marietta Corporation ("Martin Marietta"). The Martin Marietta Merger Agreement
provides, among other things, that Martin Marietta will make an offer to
purchase all of the outstanding Shares at a price per Share of $55.00 (the
"Martin Marietta Offer"), and that, following the purchase of Shares, a
subsidiary of Martin Marietta will be, on or after May 18, 1994, merged with
and into the Company (the "Martin Marietta Merger"), with each Share being
converted into the right to receive $55.00 cash per Share. The Martin Marietta
Merger Agreement provides for the payment by the Company to Martin Marietta of
$50 million under certain circumstances in the event the Company is acquired by
a party other than Martin Marietta, plus up to $8.8 million of expenses if the
Martin Marietta Merger is not consummated. On March 8, 1994, Martin Marietta
commenced the Martin Marietta Offer.
 
  On March 9, 1994, the Board of Directors of Northrop approved the
commencement of the Offer. On March 10, 1994, Northrop sent a letter to the
Company and issued a press release stating that its Board of Directors had
authorized the acquisition of the Company at a price of $60.00 per Share and
that it is prepared to enter into a merger agreement with the Company on
substantially identical terms to those contained in the Martin Marietta Merger
Agreement.
 
  For a more detailed discussion of the background of the Offer, see Section
13.
 
CERTAIN CONDITIONS TO THE OFFER
 
  The Offer is subject to the fulfillment of certain conditions described in
Section 6. These include the following:
 
  MINIMUM CONDITION. CONSUMMATION OF THE OFFER IS CONDITIONED UPON THERE BEING
VALIDLY TENDERED AND NOT WITHDRAWN PRIOR TO THE EXPIRATION DATE (AS DEFINED IN
SECTION 1) SHARES REPRESENTING TWO-THIRDS OF THE TOTAL NUMBER OF OUTSTANDING
SHARES OF THE COMPANY ON A FULLY DILUTED BASIS (THE "MINIMUM CONDITION").
 
                                       2
<PAGE>
 
  According to the Company, as reported in the Martin Marietta Offer, as of
February 28, 1994, there were 33,935,448 Shares outstanding and not more than
1,131,732 Shares subject to issuance pursuant to stock options under the
Company's stock option and long-term incentive plans, and as deferred awards
payable in Shares between the date hereof and June 30, 1994 under the
Company's management incentive plan. As a result, the Purchaser believes that
the Minimum Condition would be satisfied if at least 23,378,121 Shares were
validly tendered and not withdrawn prior to the Expiration Date.
 
  SECTION 912 CONDITION. CONSUMMATION OF THE OFFER IS CONDITIONED UPON THE
PURCHASER BEING SATISFIED, IN ITS SOLE DISCRETION, THAT SECTION 912 OF THE NEW
YORK LAW IS INVALID OR THAT ITS RESTRICTIONS ARE OTHERWISE INAPPLICABLE TO THE
PURCHASER IN CONNECTION WITH THE PROPOSED MERGER (THE "SECTION 912
CONDITION").
 
  The provisions of Section 912, which may be applicable to the Company,
purport to prohibit, among other transactions, the consummation of the
Proposed Merger for a period of five years after the consummation of the Offer
unless, prior to the purchase of Shares pursuant to the Offer, the Company's
Board of Directors approved either the Proposed Merger or the purchase of
Shares pursuant to the Offer. After such five-year period shall have lapsed,
the Proposed Merger (or another business combination) could not be effected
unless certain requirements of Section 912 were satisfied, such as approval by
the holders of a majority of the Shares held by disinterested stockholders or
the meeting of certain "fair price" criteria.
 
  The Section 912 Condition would be satisfied if, prior to the consummation
of the Offer, the Board of Directors of the Company approved the Proposed
Merger or the acquisition of the Shares by the Purchaser pursuant to the Offer
or if the Purchaser, in its sole discretion, were satisfied that Section 912
was invalid or that its restrictions were otherwise inapplicable to the
Purchaser in connection with the Proposed Merger for any reason, including,
without limitation, those specified in Section 912.
 
  On March 6, 1994, the Board of Directors of the Company approved the Martin
Marietta Merger Agreement, thereby relieving Martin Marietta from the
requirements of Section 912. The Purchaser believes that, in order to place
the Purchaser on a level playing field with Martin Marietta and to satisfy its
fiduciary duties to stockholders, the Board of Directors of the Company must
take similar action to approve the Offer and relieve the Purchaser from the
requirements of Section 912 that would restrict consummation of the Proposed
Merger.
 
  SUPERMAJORITY VOTING CONDITION. CONSUMMATION OF THE OFFER IS CONDITIONED
UPON THE PURCHASER BEING SATISFIED, IN ITS SOLE DISCRETION, THAT THE
SUPERMAJORITY VOTING REQUIREMENT CONTAINED IN ARTICLE SEVENTH OF THE COMPANY'S
CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION IS INAPPLICABLE TO THE PROPOSED MERGER (THE
"SUPERMAJORITY VOTING CONDITION").
 
  Article SEVENTH of the Company's Certificate of Incorporation requires the
approval of the holders of 85% of the voting power of the then outstanding
shares of stock entitled to vote generally in the election of directors,
voting together as a single class, and the approval of a majority of the
voting power of the outstanding voting shares held by Public Holders (as
defined) as a condition to mergers and certain other business combinations
with a Substantial Stockholder (generally defined as the beneficial owner of
10% of the combined voting power of the Company's outstanding voting stock),
except in cases in which certain price and procedural requirements are
satisfied or the transaction is approved by a majority of the Board of
Directors of the Company at or prior to the time the Substantial Stockholder
first becomes a Substantial Stockholder.
 
  By approving the Martin Marietta Merger Agreement, the Board of Directors of
the Company has relieved Martin Marietta from the supermajority voting
requirements contained in Article SEVENTH of the Company's Certificate of
Incorporation. The Purchaser believes that, in order to place the Purchaser on
a level playing field with Martin Marietta and to satisfy its fiduciary duties
to stockholders, the Board of Directors of the Company must take similar
action to approve the Offer and relieve the Purchaser from the supermajority
voting requirements of Article SEVENTH.
 
                                       3
<PAGE>
 
  RIGHTS CONDITION. CONSUMMATION OF THE OFFER IS CONDITIONED UPON THE RIGHTS
HAVING BEEN REDEEMED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE COMPANY OR THE PURCHASER
BEING SATISFIED, IN ITS SOLE DISCRETION, THAT THE RIGHTS HAVE BEEN INVALIDATED
OR ARE OTHERWISE INAPPLICABLE TO THE OFFER AND THE PROPOSED MERGER (THE "RIGHTS
CONDITION").
 
  The Rights are described in the Company's Report on Form 8-A filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") on March 9, 1988 (the
"Form 8-A"), as amended by the Company's amendment on Form 8 filed with the
Commission on March 24, 1988, and such description is summarized in Section 14.
Based on the Company's filings with the Commission, at any time until the close
of business on the Distribution Date (as defined in the Rights Agreement), the
Company may redeem the Rights in whole, but not in part, at a price of $.01 per
Right, subject to adjustment. According to the Company's filings with the
Commission, until the close of business on the Distribution Date, the Rights
will be represented by and transferred with, and only with, the Shares and the
surrender for transfer of any of the certificates representing Shares (the
"Share Certificates") will also constitute the surrender for transfer of the
Rights associated with the Shares represented by such Share Certificates.
According to the Company's filings with the Commission, the Rights Agreement
provides that, as soon as practicable following the Distribution Date, separate
certificates representing the Rights ("Rights Certificates") will be mailed to
holders of record of Shares, as of the close of business on the Distribution
Date, and thereafter the Rights Certificates alone will evidence the Rights.
 
  Based on publicly available information, the Purchaser believes that, as of
March 10, 1994, the Rights were not exercisable, Rights Certificates had not
been issued and the Rights were evidenced by the Share Certificates. Under the
Rights Agreement, as a result of the commencement of the Offer, the
Distribution Date will be March 20, 1994, the tenth day following the
announcement by Northrop and the Purchaser of the intention to commence the
Offer, unless prior to such date the Company's Board of Directors redeems the
Rights or takes action to delay the Distribution Date.
 
  According to the Martin Marietta Offer, on March 6, 1994, the Company amended
the Rights Agreement to exclude Martin Marietta and any direct or indirect
subsidiary thereof from the constraints imposed by the Rights Agreement. The
Purchaser believes that, in order to place the Purchaser on a level playing
field with Martin Marietta and to satisfy its fiduciary duties to stockholders,
the Board of Directors of the Company must take similar action to exclude the
Purchaser and its affiliates from the constraints imposed by the Rights
Agreement.
 
  STOCKHOLDERS ARE URGED TO READ THIS OFFER TO PURCHASE AND THE LETTER OF
TRANSMITTAL CAREFULLY BEFORE DECIDING WHETHER TO TENDER THEIR SHARES.
 
                                       4
<PAGE>
 
                                THE TENDER OFFER
 
  1. Terms of the Offer; Extension of Tender Period; Termination;
Amendments. Upon the terms and subject to the conditions of the Offer
(including, if the Offer is extended or amended, the terms and conditions of
any such extension or amendment), the Purchaser will accept for payment and pay
for all Shares which are validly tendered on or prior to the Expiration Date
(as hereinafter defined) and not theretofore withdrawn as provided in Section
3. The term "Expiration Date" shall mean 12:00 midnight, New York City time, on
Friday, April 8, 1994, unless and until the Purchaser, in its sole discretion,
shall have extended the period of time for which the Offer is open, in which
event the term "Expiration Date" shall mean the latest time and date at which
the Offer, as so extended by the Purchaser, shall expire.
 
  The Offer is conditioned upon, among other things, the satisfaction of the
Minimum Condition, the Section 912 Condition, the Supermajority Voting
Condition and the Rights Condition. The Purchaser reserves the right (but shall
not be obligated) to waive any or all of such conditions. If by 12:00 midnight,
New York City time, on Friday, April 8, 1994, any or all of such conditions
have not been satisfied or waived, the Purchaser reserves the right (but shall
not be obligated) (i) to decline to purchase any of the Shares tendered and
terminate the Offer, (ii) to waive all of the unsatisfied conditions and,
subject to complying with applicable rules and regulations of the Commission,
to purchase all Shares validly tendered or (iii) to extend the Offer and,
subject to the right of stockholders to withdraw Shares until the Expiration
Date, retain the Shares which have been tendered during the period or periods
for which the Offer is extended. In the event that the Purchaser waives any of
the conditions set forth in Section 6, the Commission may, if the waiver is
deemed to constitute a material change to the information previously provided
to the stockholders, require that the Offer remain open for an additional
period of time and/or that the Purchaser disseminate information concerning
such waiver.
 
  Subject to the applicable regulations of the Commission, the Purchaser
reserves the right, in its sole discretion, at any time or from time to time,
to (i) delay acceptance for payment of or, regardless of whether such Shares
were theretofore accepted for payment, payment for any Shares pending receipt
of regulatory or governmental approvals (see Section 15), (ii) terminate the
Offer (whether or not any Shares have theretofore been accepted for payment) if
any of the conditions referred to in Section 6 have not been satisfied or upon
the occurrence of any of the events specified in Section 6, and (iii) waive any
condition or otherwise amend the Offer in any respect, in each case, by giving
oral or written notice of such delay, termination, waiver or amendment to the
Depositary and by making a public announcement thereof. The Purchaser
acknowledges (a) that Rule 14e-1(c) under the Exchange Act requires the
Purchaser to pay the consideration offered or return the Shares tendered
promptly after the termination or withdrawal of the Offer and (b) that the
Purchaser may not delay acceptance for payment of, or payment for (except as
provided in clause (i) of the preceding sentence), any Shares upon the
occurrence of any of the conditions specified in Section 6 without extending
the period of time during which the Offer is open.
 
  The rights reserved by the Purchaser in the preceding paragraph are in
addition to the Purchaser's rights pursuant to Section 6. Any extension,
amendment or termination will be followed as promptly as practicable by public
announcement, such announcement in the case of an extension to be issued no
later than 9:00 a.m., New York City time, on the next business day after the
previously scheduled Expiration Date, in accordance with the public
announcement requirements of Rule 14e-1(d) under the Exchange Act. Subject to
applicable law (including Rules 14d-4(c) and 14d-6(d) under the Exchange Act,
which require that any material change in the information published, sent or
given to stockholders in connection with the Offer be promptly disseminated to
stockholders in a manner reasonably designed to inform stockholders of such
change) and without limiting the manner in which the Purchaser may choose to
make any public announcement, the Purchaser shall have no obligation to
publish, advertise or otherwise communicate any such public announcement other
than by making a release to the Dow Jones News Service.
 
                                       5
<PAGE>
 
  If the Purchaser makes a material change in the terms of the Offer or the
information concerning the Offer or waives a material condition of the Offer
(including a waiver of the Minimum Condition, the Section 912 Condition, the
Supermajority Voting Condition or the Rights Condition), the Purchaser will
disseminate additional tender offer materials (including by public announcement
as set forth above) and extend the Offer to the extent required by Rules 14d-
4(c) and 14d-6(d) under the Exchange Act. The minimum period during which an
offer must remain open following material changes in the terms of the offer,
other than a change in price, percentage of securities sought or dealer's
soliciting fee, will depend upon the facts and circumstances, including the
materiality, of the changes. In the Commission's view, an offer should remain
open for a minimum of five business days from the date the material change is
first published, sent or given to securityholders, and, if material changes are
made with respect to information that approaches the significance of price and
share levels, a minimum of ten business days may be required to allow for
adequate dissemination and investor response. With respect to a change in price
or, subject to certain limitations, a change in the percentage of securities
sought or a dealer's soliciting fee, a minimum ten business day period from the
date of such change is generally required to allow for adequate dissemination
to stockholders. Accordingly, if, prior to the Expiration Date, the Purchaser
decreases the number of Shares being sought or increases or decreases the
consideration offered pursuant to the Offer, and if the Offer is scheduled to
expire at any time earlier than the period ending on the tenth business day
from the date that notice of such increase or decrease is first published, sent
or given to holders of Shares, the Offer will be extended at least until the
expiration of such ten business day period. For purposes of the Offer, a
"business day" means any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or a federal holiday
and consists of the time period from 12:01 a.m. through 12:00 midnight, New
York City time.
 
  A request is being made to the Company for the use of its stockholder list
and security position listings for the purpose of disseminating the Offer to
holders of Shares. This Offer to Purchase and the Letter of Transmittal and
other relevant materials will be mailed to record holders of Shares and
furnished to brokers, dealers, commercial banks, trust companies and similar
persons whose names, or the names of whose nominees, appear on the stockholder
list or, if applicable, who are listed as participants in a clearing agency's
security position listing, for subsequent transmittal to beneficial owners of
Shares.
 
  According to the Company's Solicitation/Recommendation Statement on Schedule
14D-9 filed with the Commission on March 9, 1994 (the "Schedule 14D-9"), as of
January 31, 1994, 11,229,061 Shares were held by the Grumman Corporation
Employees' Investment Plan ("EIP"). The Offer is being made to the trustees of
the EIP for such Shares at the same price and in accordance with the same terms
as for Shares held by other stockholders. According to the Martin Marietta
Offer, the EIP provides that the trustees of the EIP will exercise their
fiduciary obligations and determine whether to tender such Shares. According to
the Martin Marietta Offer, the trustees may consider a variety of factors set
forth in the EIP in making such decision and may determine what procedures to
follow in obtaining instructions from EIP participants with respect to the
Shares held in their accounts (obtaining such instructions is permitted but not
required). Any further information concerning the procedure that will be
followed with respect to the EIP will be provided to EIP participants by the
EIP trustees or other EIP fiduciaries.
 
  2. Procedure for Tendering Shares. Except as set forth below, in order for
Shares to be validly tendered pursuant to the Offer, the Letter of Transmittal
(or a facsimile thereof), properly completed and duly executed, together with
any required signature guarantees, or an Agent's Message (as defined below) in
connection with a book-entry delivery of Shares, and any other documents
required by the Letter of Transmittal, must be received by the Depositary at
one of its addresses set forth on the back cover of this Offer to Purchase on
or prior to the Expiration Date and either (i) Share certificates representing
tendered Shares must be received by the Depositary, or such Shares must be
tendered pursuant to the procedure for book-entry transfer set forth below (and
confirmation of receipt of such delivery must be received by the Depositary) in
each case on or prior to the Expiration Date, or (ii) the guaranteed delivery
procedures set forth below must be complied with.
 
                                       6
<PAGE>
 
  To be assured of participation in this Offer, stockholders who have tendered
Shares pursuant to the Martin Marietta Offer must withdraw their Shares from
that offer and tender them to the Purchaser. Included with the materials
accompanying this Offer to Purchase is a Notice of Withdrawal which may be
used to withdraw Shares tendered pursuant to the Martin Marietta Offer.
Stockholders who desire assistance in withdrawing Shares tendered pursuant to
the Martin Marietta Offer may contact the Information Agent at the address and
telephone number set forth on the back cover of this Offer to Purchase.
 
  No signature guarantee on the Letter of Transmittal is required (i) if the
Letter of Transmittal is signed by the registered holder of the Shares
tendered therewith, unless such holder has completed either the box entitled
"Special Delivery Instructions" or the box entitled "Special Payment
Instructions" in the Letter of Transmittal, or (ii) if Shares are tendered for
the account of a member firm of a registered national securities exchange, a
member of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. or a commercial
bank or trust company having an office, branch or agency in the United States
(each being hereinafter referred to as an "Eligible Institution"). In all
other cases, all signatures on the Letter of Transmittal must be guaranteed by
an Eligible Institution. See Instructions 1 and 5 of the Letter of
Transmittal.
 
  THE METHOD OF DELIVERY OF ALL DOCUMENTS, INCLUDING CERTIFICATES FOR SHARES,
IS AT THE ELECTION AND RISK OF THE TENDERING STOCKHOLDER. IF DELIVERY IS BY
MAIL, REGISTERED MAIL WITH RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED, PROPERLY INSURED, IS
RECOMMENDED. IN ALL CASES, SUFFICIENT TIME SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO ENSURE
DELIVERY.
 
  If the Distribution Date with respect to the Rights does not occur prior to
the Expiration Date, a tender of Shares will also constitute a tender of the
associated Rights. If the Distribution Date occurs and Rights Certificates are
distributed by the Company to holders of Shares prior to the time a holder's
Shares are tendered pursuant to the Offer, in order for Rights (and the
corresponding Shares) to be validly tendered, Rights Certificates representing
a number of Rights equal to the number of Shares tendered must be delivered to
the Depositary or, if available, a book-entry confirmation must be received by
the Depositary with respect thereto. If the Distribution Date occurs and
Rights Certificates are not distributed prior to the time Shares are tendered
pursuant to the Offer, Rights may be tendered prior to a stockholder receiving
Rights Certificates by use of the guaranteed delivery procedures described
below. In any case, a tender of Shares constitutes an agreement by the
tendering stockholder to deliver Rights Certificates representing a number of
Rights equal to the number of Shares tendered pursuant to the Offer to the
Depositary within five business days after the date Rights Certificates are
distributed. The Purchaser reserves the right to require that the Depositary
receive Rights Certificates, or a book-entry confirmation, if available, with
respect to such Rights, prior to accepting the related Shares for payment
pursuant to the Offer, if the Distribution Date occurs prior to the Expiration
Date.
 
  IF THE PURCHASER DECLARES THAT THE RIGHTS CONDITION IS SATISFIED, THE
PURCHASER WILL NOT REQUIRE DELIVERY OF RIGHTS. UNLESS AND UNTIL THE PURCHASER
DECLARES THAT THE RIGHTS CONDITION IS SATISFIED, HOLDERS OF SHARES WILL BE
REQUIRED TO TENDER ONE RIGHT FOR EACH SHARE TENDERED IN ORDER TO EFFECT A
VALID TENDER OF SUCH SHARES.
 
  The Depositary will make a request to establish accounts with respect to the
Shares at The Depository Trust Company, the Midwest Securities Trust Company
and the Philadelphia Depository Trust Company (individually, a "Book-Entry
Transfer Facility" and, collectively, the "Book-Entry Transfer Facilities")
for purposes of the Offer within two business days after the date of this
Offer to Purchase, and any financial institution that is a participant in any
of the Book-Entry Transfer Facilities'
 
                                       7
<PAGE>
 
systems may make book-entry delivery of the Shares by causing any Book-Entry
Transfer Facility to transfer such Shares into the Depositary's account in
accordance with such Book-Entry Transfer Facility's procedure for such
transfer. Although delivery of Shares may be effected through book-entry
transfer at any Book-Entry Transfer Facility, a properly completed and duly
executed Letter of Transmittal (or manually signed facsimile thereof), with any
required signature guarantees and any other required documents, or an Agent's
Message (as defined below) must, in any case, be transmitted to and received by
the Depositary at one of its addresses set forth on the back cover of this
Offer to Purchase prior to the Expiration Date, or the guaranteed delivery
procedures described below must be complied with. The term "Agent's Message"
means a message transmitted through electronic means by a Book-Entry Transfer
Facility to and received by the Depositary and forming a part of a book-entry
confirmation, which states that such Book-Entry Transfer Facility has received
an express acknowledgment from the participant in such Book-Entry Transfer
Facility tendering the Shares that such participant has received and agrees to
be bound by the Letter of Transmittal. DELIVERY OF DOCUMENTS TO A BOOK-ENTRY
TRANSFER FACILITY IN ACCORDANCE WITH THAT BOOK-ENTRY TRANSFER FACILITY'S
PROCEDURES DOES NOT CONSTITUTE DELIVERY TO THE DEPOSITARY.
 
  To prevent backup federal income tax withholding on payments made to
stockholders with respect to Shares purchased pursuant to the Offer, each
stockholder must provide the Depositary with his correct taxpayer
identification number by completing the Substitute Form W-9 included in the
Letter of Transmittal. See Instruction 7 of the Letter of Transmittal.
 
  If a stockholder desires to tender Shares pursuant to the Offer and such
stockholder's certificates for Shares are not immediately available (or the
procedures for book-entry transfer cannot be completed on a timely basis) or
time will not permit all required documents to reach the Depositary prior to
the Expiration Date, such Shares may nevertheless be tendered provided that all
of the following conditions are satisfied:
 
    (a) such tender is made by or through an Eligible Institution;
 
    (b) the Depositary receives, prior to the Expiration Date, a properly
  completed and duly executed Notice of Guaranteed Delivery substantially in
  the form provided by the Purchaser; and
 
    (c) the certificates for all tendered Shares, in proper form for transfer
  (or confirmation of book-entry transfer of such Shares into the
  Depositary's account at one of the Book-Entry Transfer Facilities),
  together with a properly completed and duly executed Letter of Transmittal
  (or manually signed facsimile thereof) and any required signature
  guarantees, or an Agent's Message in connection with a book-entry
  transfer, are received by the Depositary within five New York Stock
  Exchange, Inc. ("NYSE") trading days after the date of such Notice of
  Guaranteed Delivery.
 
  The Notice of Guaranteed Delivery may be delivered by hand, or may be
transmitted by telegram, telex, facsimile transmission or mail, to the
Depositary and must include a guarantee by an Eligible Institution in the form
set forth in such Notice of Guaranteed Delivery and a representation that the
stockholder on whose behalf the tender is being made is deemed to own the
Shares being tendered within the meaning of Rule 10b-4 under the Exchange Act.
 
  By executing the Letter of Transmittal, a tendering stockholder irrevocably
appoints designees of the Purchaser as such stockholder's proxies, in the
manner set forth in the Letter of Transmittal, each with full power of
substitution, to the full extent of such stockholder's rights with respect to
the Shares tendered by such stockholder (and any and all other Shares or other
securities or rights issued or issuable in respect of such Shares on or after
March 10, 1994), effective when, if and to the extent that the Purchaser
accepts such Shares for payment pursuant to the Offer. Upon such acceptance for
payment, all prior proxies given by such stockholder with respect to such
Shares accepted for payment or other securities or rights will, without further
action, be revoked, and no subsequent proxies may be
 
                                       8
<PAGE>
 
given. Such designees of the Purchaser will, with respect to such Shares, be
empowered to exercise all voting and other rights of such stockholder as they
in their sole discretion may deem proper in respect of any annual, special or
adjourned meeting of the Company's stockholders, by consent in lieu of any such
meeting or otherwise. In order for Shares to be deemed validly tendered,
immediately after the Purchaser's acceptance for payment of such Shares, the
Purchaser must be able to exercise full voting and other rights with respect to
such Shares.
 
  The Purchaser's acceptance for payment of Shares tendered pursuant to any of
the procedures described above will constitute a binding agreement between the
tendering stockholder and the Purchaser upon the terms and subject to the
conditions of the Offer.
 
  All questions as to the validity, form, eligibility (including time of
receipt) and acceptance for payment of any tendered Shares will be determined
by the Purchaser in its sole discretion, and its determination will be final
and binding. The Purchaser reserves the absolute right to reject any or all
tenders of any Shares that it determines are not in appropriate form or the
acceptance for payment of or payment for which may, in the opinion of the
Purchaser's counsel, be unlawful. The Purchaser also reserves the absolute
right to waive any of the conditions of the Offer or any defect or irregularity
in any tender with respect to any particular Shares or any particular
stockholder and the Purchaser's interpretation of the terms and conditions of
the Offer (including the Letter of Transmittal and the Instructions thereto)
will be final and binding. No tender of Shares will be deemed to have been
validly made until all defects or irregularities have been cured or expressly
waived. None of the Purchaser, Northrop, the Dealer Manager, the Depositary,
the Information Agent or any other person will be obligated to give notice of
any defects or irregularities in tenders, nor shall any of them incur any
liability for failure to give any such notice.
 
  3. Withdrawal Rights. Tenders of Shares made pursuant to the Offer will be
irrevocable, except that Shares tendered may be withdrawn at any time prior to
the Expiration Date, and, unless theretofore accepted for payment as provided
herein, may also be withdrawn on or after May 13, 1994.
 
  For a withdrawal to be effective, a written, telegraphic, telex or facsimile
transmission notice of withdrawal must be timely received by the Depositary at
one of its addresses set forth on the back cover of this Offer to Purchase. Any
notice of withdrawal must specify the name of the person who tendered the
Shares to be withdrawn, the number of Shares to be withdrawn and the name in
which the certificates representing such Shares are registered, if different
from that of the person who tendered such Shares. If certificates for Shares to
be withdrawn have been delivered or otherwise identified to the Depositary, the
serial numbers shown on the particular certificates evidencing such Shares to
be withdrawn must also be furnished to the Depositary prior to the physical
release of the Shares to be withdrawn, together with a signed notice of
withdrawal with signatures guaranteed by an Eligible Institution (except, with
respect to signature guarantees, in the case of Shares tendered by an Eligible
Institution). If Shares have been delivered pursuant to the procedures for
book-entry transfer set forth in Section 2, any notice of withdrawal must
specify the name and number of the account at the appropriate Book-Entry
Transfer Facility to be credited with such withdrawn Shares and must otherwise
comply with such Book-Entry Transfer Facility's procedures.
 
  If, for any reason whatsoever, acceptance for payment of any Shares tendered
pursuant to the Offer is delayed, or the Purchaser is unable to accept for
payment or pay for Shares tendered pursuant to the Offer, then, without
prejudice to the Purchaser's rights set forth herein, the Depositary may,
nevertheless, on behalf of the Purchaser, retain tendered Shares, and such
Shares may not be withdrawn except to the extent that the tendering stockholder
is entitled to and duly exercises withdrawal rights as described in this
Section 3. Any such delay will be accompanied by an extension of the Offer to
the extent required by law.
 
                                       9
<PAGE>
 
  Withdrawals may not be rescinded and any Shares withdrawn will thereafter be
deemed not validly tendered for purposes of the Offer. However, withdrawn
Shares may be retendered by again following the procedures described in Section
2 at any time prior to the Expiration Date.
 
  All questions as to the form and validity (including time of receipt) of
notices of withdrawal will be determined by the Purchaser in its sole
discretion, and its determination will be final and binding. None of the
Purchaser, Northrop, the Dealer Manager, the Depositary, the Information Agent
or any other person will be obligated to give notice of any defects or
irregularities in any notice of withdrawal, nor shall any of them incur any
liability for failure to give any such notice.
 
  4. Acceptance for Payment and Payment of Purchase Price. Upon the terms and
subject to the conditions of the Offer (including, if the Offer is extended or
amended, the terms and conditions of any extension or amendment), the Purchaser
will accept for payment and pay for all Shares validly tendered prior to the
Expiration Date (and not properly withdrawn in accordance with Section 3 above)
as soon as practicable after the Expiration Date. Any determination concerning
the satisfaction of such terms and conditions shall be within the sole
discretion of the Purchaser and such determination shall be final and binding
on all tendering stockholders. See Section 6. The Purchaser expressly reserves
the right to delay acceptance for payment of, or payment for, Shares in order
to comply in whole or in part with any applicable law, including, without
limitation, the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as
amended (the "HSR Act"). See Section 15. If the Purchaser desires to delay
payment for Shares purchased pursuant to the Offer, and such delay would
otherwise be in contravention of Rule 14e-1(c) of the Exchange Act, the
Purchaser will formally extend the Offer. In all cases, payment for Shares
accepted for payment pursuant to the Offer will be made only after timely
receipt by the Depositary of certificates for such Shares (or a timely
confirmation of a book-entry transfer of such Shares into the Depositary's
account at one of the Book-Entry Transfer Facilities, as described in Section
2), a properly completed and duly executed Letter of Transmittal (or manually
signed facsimile thereof or an Agent's Message in connection with a book-entry
transfer) and any other documents required by the Letter of Transmittal.
 
  For purposes of the Offer, the Purchaser will be deemed to have accepted for
payment, and thereby purchased, tendered Shares when, as and if the Purchaser
gives oral or written notice to the Depositary of its acceptance for payment of
such Shares. Payment for Shares so accepted for payment will be made by the
deposit of the purchase price therefor with the Depositary, which will act as
agent for the tendering stockholders for the purpose of receiving such payment
from the Purchaser and transmitting such payment to tendering stockholders. IN
NO CIRCUMSTANCES WILL INTEREST BE PAID ON THE PURCHASE PRICE BY REASON OF ANY
DELAY IN MAKING SUCH PAYMENT.
 
  If any tendered Shares are not accepted for payment and paid for,
certificates for such Shares will be returned (or, in the case of Shares
delivered by book-entry transfer with any Book-Entry Transfer Facility as
permitted by Section 2, such Shares will be credited to an account maintained
with such Book-Entry Transfer Facility) without expense to the tendering
stockholder as promptly as practicable following the expiration or termination
of the Offer, as the case may be.
 
  If, prior to the Expiration Date, the Purchaser increases the consideration
to be paid for Shares pursuant to the Offer, the Purchaser will pay such
increased consideration for all Shares accepted for payment pursuant to the
Offer, whether or not such Shares have been tendered or accepted for payment
prior to such increase in the consideration.
 
  The Purchaser reserves the right to transfer or assign to one or more
subsidiaries of the Purchaser or Northrop the right to purchase Shares tendered
pursuant to the Offer, but any such transfer or assignment will not relieve the
Purchaser of its obligations under the Offer or prejudice the rights of
tendering stockholders to receive payment for Shares validly tendered and
accepted for payment pursuant to the Offer.
 
                                       10
<PAGE>
 
  5. Certain Tax Consequences. The receipt of cash for Shares pursuant to the
Offer or the Proposed Merger will be a taxable transaction for federal income
tax purposes (and may also be a taxable transaction under applicable state,
local, foreign and other tax laws). Accordingly, a holder will recognize gain
or loss for federal income tax purposes equal to the difference between the
amount of cash received and such holder's tax basis for the Shares. Such gain
or loss will be capital gain or loss if the Shares were held as a capital
asset.
 
  New York State imposes a 10% tax upon gains realized by a transferor upon
the transfer of an interest in real property (including leases) located within
New York State, including certain transfers of stock in corporations that own
appreciated interests in such real property (the "Gains Tax"), and an
additional tax on the gross value of such real property or the portion of the
value of the stock in such corporations attributable to such real property
equal to approximately 0.4% (the "State Transfer Tax"). The acquisition by the
Purchaser of the Shares pursuant to the Offer and the Proposed Merger will
constitute a taxable transfer of an interest in any real property owned or
leased by the Company and located in New York State and may result in a Gains
Tax, State Transfer Tax, or any combination of the foregoing being imposed
upon the selling stockholders. The Purchaser will file all necessary returns
on behalf of the Company's tendering stockholders tendering in connection with
such gains Tax and/or State Transfer Tax and will pay any taxes due thereon.
The amount of such taxes paid by the Purchaser may result in the deemed
receipt of additional consideration by each stockholder in proportion to the
number of Shares sold by such stockholder. However, the Purchaser believes
that in such a case, under Section 164(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of
1986, as amended, a stockholder would reduce the amount realized on the sale
by the amount of the tax treated as additional consideration to such
stockholder.
 
  IN VIEW OF THE INDIVIDUAL NATURE OF TAX CONSEQUENCES, STOCKHOLDERS ARE URGED
TO CONSULT THEIR OWN ADVISORS AS TO THE SPECIFIC TAX CONSEQUENCES TO THEM OF
THE OFFER.
 
  6. Certain Conditions of the Offer. Notwithstanding any other provision of
the Offer, the Purchaser shall not be required to accept for payment or,
subject to any applicable rules and regulations of the Commission, including
Rule 14e-1(c) (relating to the Purchaser's obligation to pay for or return
tendered Shares after termination of the Offer), pay for any Shares tendered,
and may postpone the acceptance for payment or, subject to the restriction
referred to above, payment for any Shares tendered, and may amend or terminate
the Offer (whether or not any Shares have theretofore been purchased or paid
for), if (i) the Minimum Condition, the Section 912 Condition, the
Supermajority Voting Condition or the Rights Condition shall not have been
satisfied, (ii) the waiting period applicable for the purchase of Shares
pursuant to the Offer under the HSR Act shall not have expired or been
terminated prior to the expiration of the Offer (and any extensions thereof),
or (iii) at any time on or after March 10, 1994 and before acceptance for
payment of, or payment for, such Shares, any of the following events shall
occur or shall be determined by the Purchaser to have occurred:
 
    (a) there shall have been threatened, instituted or pending any action,
  proceeding, application, claim or counterclaim by any government or
  governmental authority or agency, domestic or foreign, or by any other
  person, domestic or foreign (whether brought by the Company, an affiliate
  of the Company or any other person), before any court or governmental,
  regulatory or administrative agency, authority or tribunal, domestic or
  foreign, which (i) challenges or seeks to challenge the acquisition by the
  Purchaser or any of its affiliates of the Shares, restrains or prohibits or
  seeks to restrain or prohibit the making or consummation of the Offer or
  the Proposed Merger or other subsequent business combination, restrains or
  prohibits or seeks to restrain or prohibit the performance of any of the
  contracts or other arrangements entered into by the Purchaser or any of its
  affiliates in connection with the acquisition of the Company, or obtains or
  seeks to obtain any material damages, or otherwise relates directly or
  indirectly to the transactions contemplated by the Offer, the Proposed
  Merger or such business combination, (ii) makes or seeks to make the
  purchase
 
                                      11
<PAGE>
 
  of, or payment for, some or all of the Shares pursuant to the Offer or the
  Proposed Merger illegal or results in a delay in the ability of the
  Purchaser to accept for payment or pay for some or all of the Shares or to
  consummate the Proposed Merger, (iii) prohibits or limits or seeks to
  prohibit or limit the ownership or operation by the Purchaser or any of its
  affiliates of all or any portion of the business or assets of the Company
  and its subsidiaries or of Northrop and its affiliates or compels or seeks
  to compel the Purchaser or any of its affiliates, or imposes or seeks to
  impose any limitation on the ability of the Purchaser or any of its
  affiliates to conduct their business or own such assets, (iv) imposes or
  seeks to impose limitations on the ability of the Purchaser or any of its
  affiliates to acquire or hold or to exercise full rights of ownership of
  the Shares, including, but not limited to, the right to vote the Shares
  purchased by them on all matters properly presented to the stockholders of
  the Company, (v) in the sole judgment of the Purchaser might result in a
  limitation of the benefits expected to be derived by the Purchaser as a
  result of the transactions contemplated by the Offer or the value of the
  Shares to the Purchaser or (vi) otherwise directly or indirectly relates to
  the Offer, the Proposed Merger or any other business combination with the
  Company or which otherwise, in the sole judgment of the Purchaser, might
  adversely affect the Company or any of its subsidiaries or the Purchaser or
  any of its affiliates or the value of the Shares; or
 
    (b) there shall be any action taken, or any statute, rule, regulation,
  order or injunction shall be sought, proposed, enacted, promulgated,
  entered, enforced or deemed applicable to the Offer, the Proposed Merger or
  other subsequent business combination between the Purchaser or any of its
  affiliates and the Company, or any other action shall have been taken,
  proposed or threatened, by any government, governmental authority or court,
  domestic, foreign or supranational, other than the routine application to
  the Offer, the Proposed Merger or other subsequent business combination of
  waiting periods under the HSR Act, that, in the sole judgment of the
  Purchaser, might, directly or indirectly, result in any of the consequences
  referred to in clauses (i) through (vi) of paragraph (a) above; or
 
    (c) there shall have occurred any of the following events: (i) any state
  of war, armed hostility, international crisis or national emergency
  affecting, directly or indirectly, the United States of America, (ii) a
  declaration of any banking moratorium or suspension of payments by banks in
  the United States or any limitation on the extension of credit by lending
  institutions in the United States (whether or not mandatory), (iii) any
  general suspension of trading or limitation of prices on any national
  securities exchange or in the over-the-counter securities markets or
  quotations for shares traded thereon as reported by the National
  Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotation System ("NASDAQ") or
  otherwise, (iv) any significant adverse change in the market price of the
  Shares or in the securities or financial markets in the United States or
  abroad, including, without limitation, a decline of at least 15% in either
  the Dow Jones Average of Industrial Stocks or the Standard and Poor's 500
  Index from that existing at the close of business on March 10, 1994, (v)
  any change in the general political, market, economic or financial
  conditions in the United States or abroad that could have a material
  adverse effect upon the business or operations of the Company or the
  trading in the Shares, or (vi) in the case of any of the foregoing existing
  at the time of the commencement of the Offer, a material acceleration or
  worsening thereof; or
 
    (d) a tender or exchange offer with respect to some or all of the Shares,
  or in the case of a tender or exchange offer commenced on or prior to the
  date hereof, any material change in such offer, including, but not limited
  to, an increase in the consideration offered pursuant to such offer, or a
  merger or acquisition proposal for the Company, shall have been proposed,
  announced or made by another person (including the Company or its
  subsidiaries or affiliates), or it shall have been publicly disclosed or
  the Purchaser shall have otherwise learned that (i) any person, other than
  the Purchaser, including the Company or its subsidiaries or affiliates, or
  "group" (as such term is used in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act),
  shall have acquired or proposed to acquire more than 5% of any class of
  capital stock of the Company or shall have been granted any option, right
  or warrant, conditional or otherwise, to acquire more than 5% of any class
  of capital stock of the Company
 
                                      12
<PAGE>
 
  (including the Shares), other than acquisitions for bona fide arbitrage
  purposes and other than acquisitions by any person or group who has
  publicly disclosed such ownership in a Schedule 13D or 13G (or amendments
  thereto) on file with the Commission on or prior to March 10, 1994, (ii)
  any such person or group who had publicly disclosed in a Schedule 13D or
  13G any such ownership of more than 5% of any class of capital stock of the
  Company prior to such date shall have thereafter acquired or proposed to
  acquire additional capital stock constituting more than 1% of any class of
  capital stock of the Company or shall have been granted any option, right
  or warrant, conditional or otherwise, to acquire more than 1% of any class
  of capital stock of the Company, (iii) any person shall have filed a
  Notification and Report Form under the HSR Act or made a public
  announcement reflecting an intent to acquire the Company or assets or
  securities of the Company; or
 
    (e) any change shall have occurred or been threatened (or any condition,
  event or development shall have occurred or been threatened involving a
  prospective change) in the business, properties, assets, liabilities,
  capitalization, stockholders' equity, financial condition, results of
  operation or prospects of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, which, in
  the sole judgment of the Purchaser, is or may be materially adverse to, or
  the Purchaser shall become aware of any facts which, in the sole judgment
  of the Purchaser, have or may have materially adverse significance with
  respect to, either the value of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or
  the value of the Shares to the Purchaser, Northrop or any of their
  affiliates; or
 
    (f) the Company or any of its subsidiaries shall have (i) issued,
  distributed, sold or pledged, or authorized or proposed the issuance,
  distribution, sale or pledge of, (A) any shares of capital stock of any
  class (including, without limitation, the Shares) or any securities
  convertible into any such shares, or rights, warrants or options to acquire
  any such shares or convertible securities (other than Shares issued
  pursuant to, and in accordance with the terms in effect on March 10, 1994
  of, employee stock options issued prior to such date, and as deferred
  awards payable in Shares pursuant to, and in accordance with, the terms in
  effect of awards outstanding on March 10, 1994) or (B) any other securities
  or rights in respect of, in lieu of, or in substitution for capital stock
  of the Company; (ii) purchased or otherwise acquired, or proposed to
  purchase or otherwise acquire, any outstanding Shares or other securities;
  (iii) declared or paid, or proposed to declare or pay any dividend or
  distribution on any class of capital stock of the Company (other than the
  regular quarterly dividend not to exceed $.30 per Share); (iv) entered into
  an agreement for, or authorized, recommended, proposed or effected, or
  announced its intention to enter into an agreement for, or to authorize,
  recommend, propose or effect, any merger (other than the Proposed Merger),
  consolidation, liquidation, dissolution or business combination or any
  acquisition of assets, disposition of assets, change in its capitalization,
  release or relinquishment of any contractual right or other rights or any
  comparable event not in the ordinary course of business; (v) entered into
  an agreement for, or authorized, recommended, proposed or effected, or
  announced its intention to enter into an agreement for, or to authorize,
  recommend, propose or effect, any transaction which would substantially
  affect the value of the Shares to the Purchaser; (vi) altered or proposed
  to alter any material term of any existing security; (vii) issued, or
  announced its intention to issue, any debt securities, or securities
  convertible into, or rights, warrants or options to acquire, any debt
  securities, or incurred, or announced its intention to incur, any debt
  other than in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past
  practice; or (viii) entered into, or announced its intention to enter into,
  any other agreement or arrangement with any other person, entity or group
  which, in the sole judgment of the Purchaser, could adversely affect either
  the value of the Shares or the value of the Company or any of its
  subsidiaries to the Purchaser, Northrop or any of their affiliates; or
 
    (g) the Company or any of its subsidiaries shall have proposed or adopted
  any amendment to any of their certificates of incorporation or bylaws or
  similar organizational documents; or
 
    (h) the Company or any of its subsidiaries shall have entered into any
  employment, severance or similar agreement or plan with any of its
  employees other than in the ordinary course of business
 
                                      13
<PAGE>
 
  or entered into or amended any agreements, arrangements or plans so as to
  provide for increased compensation or benefits to its employees as a result
  of or in connection with the transactions contemplated by the Offer; or
 
    (i) the Purchaser shall have learned that any material contractual right
  of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates shall be impaired
  or otherwise adversely affected or that any material amount of indebtedness
  of the Company or any of its subsidiaries shall become accelerated or
  otherwise due prior to its stated due date, in either case with or without
  notice or the lapse of time or both, as a result of the transactions
  contemplated by the Offer; or
 
    (j) the Purchaser shall become aware of any covenant, term or condition
  in any of the Company's instruments or agreements that in the Purchaser's
  sole judgment is or may be (whether considered alone or in the aggregate
  with any other covenants, terms or conditions) materially adverse to the
  value of the Shares or the value of the Company or any of its subsidiaries
  to the Purchaser, Northrop or any of their affiliates (including, but not
  limited to, any event of default that may ensue as a result of the
  consummation of the Offer or the acquisition of control of the Company); or
 
    (k) the Purchaser shall become aware that any report, document,
  instrument, financial statement or schedule of the Company filed with the
  Commission contained, when filed, an untrue statement of a material fact or
  omitted to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary
  in order to make the statements made therein, in light of the circumstances
  under which they were made, not misleading; or
 
    (l) the Purchaser, Northrop or any of their affiliates and the Company
  shall have reached any agreement or understanding providing for the
  termination of the Offer or for a merger or other business combination with
  the Company;
 
which, in the sole judgment of the Purchaser, in any such case, and regardless
of the circumstances (including any action or inaction by the Purchaser or any
of its affiliates) giving rise to any such condition, makes it inadvisable to
proceed with the Offer or with such acceptance for payment of or payment for
the Shares.
 
  The foregoing conditions are for the sole benefit of the Purchaser and may be
waived by the Purchaser, in whole or in part, at any time and from time to time
in its sole discretion. The failure by the Purchaser at any time to exercise
any of the foregoing rights shall not be deemed a waiver of any such rights and
each such right shall be deemed an ongoing right which may be asserted at any
time and from time to time. Any determination by the Purchaser concerning the
events described above will be final and binding on all parties.
 
  A public announcement shall be made of a material change in, or waiver of,
such conditions, and the Offer may, in certain circumstances, be extended in
connection with any such change or waiver.
 
  The Purchaser acknowledges that the Commission believes that (a) if the
Purchaser is delayed in accepting the Shares it must either extend the Offer or
terminate the Offer and promptly return the Shares, and (b) the circumstances
in which a delay in payment is permitted are limited and do not include
unsatisfied conditions of the Offer, except with respect to any approval
required under the HSR Act and most other regulatory approvals.
 
  7. Price Range of Shares; Dividends. According to the Company's Annual Report
on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1992 (the "1992 10-K"), the Shares
are traded on the New York Stock Exchange. The following table sets forth, for
the periods indicated, the high and low sales prices of the Shares and the cash
dividends declared or paid per Share as reported by the Company in its
 
                                       14
<PAGE>
 
1992 Annual Report to Stockholders with respect to the year ended December 31,
1992, and as reported thereafter by published financial sources, with respect
to periods after December 31, 1992.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                         HIGH     LOW   DIVIDEND
                                                        ------- ------- --------
      <S>                                               <C>     <C>     <C>
      Year Ended December 31, 1992:
      First Quarter.................................... $20 1/4 $17 3/8   $.25
      Second Quarter................................... $22 7/8 $17 3/8   $.25
      Third Quarter.................................... $23 3/8 $20 3/4   $.25
      Fourth Quarter................................... $25     $19 5/8   $.25

      Year Ended December 31, 1993:
      First Quarter.................................... $35 7/8 $24 1/8   $.25
      Second Quarter................................... $41 3/4 $34       $.30
      Third Quarter.................................... $41 7/8 $33       $.30
      Fourth Quarter................................... $41 3/8 $34 1/2   $.30

      Year Ended December 31, 1994:
      First Quarter (January 1, 1994
       to March 4, 1994)............................... $43     $36 1/2   $.30
</TABLE>
 
  On March 4, 1994, the last full trading day prior to the announcement of the
execution of the Martin Marietta Merger Agreement, the last sales price of the
Shares on the NYSE Composite Tape was $39 7/8 per Share. On March 9, 1994, the
last full trading day prior to the date of the announcement of the Purchaser's
intention to commence the Offer, the last sales price of the Shares on the NYSE
Composite Tape was $55.00 per Share. On March 11, 1994, the last full trading
day prior to the commencement of the Offer, such last sales price was $64 3/4
per Share. STOCKHOLDERS ARE URGED TO OBTAIN A CURRENT MARKET QUOTATION FOR THE
SHARES.
 
  The Purchaser believes, based upon publicly available information, that as of
the date of this Offer, the Rights are listed on the NYSE, are attached to the
Shares and are not traded separately. As a result, the sale prices per Share
set forth above are also the high and low sale prices per share of Common Stock
and associated Rights during such period. Upon the occurrence of the
Distribution Date (as defined in the Rights Agreement), the Rights are to
detach and may trade separately from the Shares. See Section 14. As a result of
the commencement by the Purchaser of the Offer, the Distribution Date will be a
date fixed by the Company's Board of Directors, which is not later than March
20, 1994, the tenth day following the announcement by Northrop and the
Purchaser of the intention to commence the Offer, unless prior to such date the
Company's Board of Directors redeems the Rights or takes action to delay the
Distribution Date. See Section 14. IF THE DISTRIBUTION DATE OCCURS AND THE
RIGHTS BEGIN TO TRADE SEPARATELY FROM THE COMMON STOCK, STOCKHOLDERS ARE ALSO
URGED TO OBTAIN A CURRENT MARKET QUOTATION FOR THE RIGHTS.
 
  8. Possible Effects of the Offer on the Market for Shares; Stock Exchange
Listing; Registration Under the Exchange Act. The purchase of Shares pursuant
to the Offer will reduce the number of holders of Shares and the number of
Shares that might otherwise trade publicly. Consequently, depending upon the
number of Shares purchased and the number of remaining holders of Shares, the
purchase of Shares pursuant to the Offer may adversely affect the liquidity and
market value of the remaining Shares held by the public. The Purchaser cannot
predict whether the reduction in the number of Shares that might otherwise
trade publicly would have an adverse or beneficial effect on the market price
for or marketability of the Shares or whether it would cause future market
prices to be greater or less than the Offer price.
 
  Depending upon the number of Shares purchased pursuant to the Offer, the
Shares may no longer meet the requirements of the NYSE for continued listing.
According to the NYSE's published guidelines, the NYSE would consider delisting
the Shares if, among other things, the number of record holders of
 
                                       15
<PAGE>
 
at least 100 Shares should fall below 1,200, the number of publicly held Shares
exclusive of management or other concentrated holdings should fall below
600,000 or the aggregate market value of publicly held Shares should not exceed
$5 million. If as a result of the purchase of Shares pursuant to the Offer,
Shares no longer meet the requirements of the NYSE for continued listing and
the listing of the Shares is discontinued, the market for the Shares could be
adversely affected.
 
  If the NYSE were to delist the Shares, it is possible that the Shares would
continue to trade on other securities exchanges or in the over-the-counter
market and that price quotations would be reported by such exchanges or through
the NASDAQ or other sources. The extent of the public market for the Shares and
the availability of such quotations would, however, depend upon the number of
stockholders remaining at such time, the interest in maintaining a market in
the Shares on the part of securities firms, the possible termination of
registration under the Exchange Act, as described below, and other factors.
 
  The Shares are currently "margin securities" under the regulations of the
Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (the "Federal Reserve Board"),
which has the effect, among other things, of allowing brokers to extend credit
on such Shares as collateral. Depending on factors similar to those described
above regarding listing and market quotations, it is possible the Shares would
no longer constitute "margin securities" for purposes of the Federal Reserve
Board's margin regulations and therefore could no longer be used as collateral
for loans made by brokers.
 
  The Shares are currently registered under the Exchange Act. Such registration
may be terminated upon application of the Company to the Commission if such
Shares are not listed on a national exchange and there are fewer than 300
holders of record of the Shares. The termination of the registration of the
Shares under the Exchange Act would reduce the information required to be
furnished by the Company to its stockholders and to the Commission, and would
make certain of the provisions of the Exchange Act, such as the short-swing
profit recovery provisions of Section 16(b) and the requirement of furnishing a
proxy statement in connection with stockholders' meetings pursuant to Section
14(a) or 14(c) and the related requirement of an annual report to stockholders,
and the requirements of Rule 13e-3 with respect to going private transactions,
no longer applicable with respect to the Shares or to the Company. Furthermore,
if a substantial number of Shares are acquired by the Purchaser, the ability of
"affiliates" of the Company and persons holding "restricted securities" of the
Company to dispose of such securities pursuant to Rule 144 promulgated under
the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, may be impaired or, with respect to
certain persons, eliminated. If registration of the Shares under the Exchange
Act, as amended, were terminated, the Shares would no longer be "margin
securities" or eligible for stock exchange listing or NASDAQ reporting. The
Purchaser believes that the purchase of the Shares pursuant to the Offer may
result in the Shares becoming eligible for deregistration under the Exchange
Act and it would be the intention of the Purchaser to cause the Company to make
an application for termination of registration of the Shares as soon as
possible after successful completion of the Offer, if the Shares are then
eligible for such termination.
 
  9. Dividends and Distributions. If, on or after March 10, 1994, the Company
should (i) split, combine or otherwise change the Shares or its capitalization,
(ii) acquire presently outstanding Shares or otherwise cause a reduction in the
number of outstanding Shares, or (iii) issue or sell any shares of any class or
any securities convertible into any such shares, or any rights, warrants or
options to acquire any such shares or convertible securities (other than Shares
issued pursuant to, and in accordance with the terms in effect on March 10,
1994, of, employee stock options issued prior to such date, and as deferred
awards payable in shares pursuant to, and in accordance with, the terms in
effect of awards outstanding on March 4, 1994) then, without prejudice to the
Purchaser's rights under Sections 6 and 15, the Purchaser, in its sole
discretion, may make such adjustments in the purchase price and other terms of
the Offer as it deems appropriate, including, without limitation, the number or
type of securities offered to be purchased.
 
 
                                       16
<PAGE>
 
  If, on or after March 10, 1994, the Company should declare or pay any cash or
stock dividend (other than the regular quarterly dividend not to exceed $.30
per Share) or other distribution on, or issue any rights with respect to, the
Shares, payable or distributable to stockholders of record on a date prior to
the transfer to the name of the Purchaser or its nominees or transferees on the
Company's stock transfer records of the Shares purchased pursuant to the Offer,
then, without prejudice to the Purchaser's rights under Sections 6 and 15, (i)
the purchase price per Share payable by the Purchaser pursuant to the Offer
may, in the sole discretion of the Purchaser, be reduced by the amount of any
such cash dividend or distribution, and (ii) any non-cash dividend,
distribution or right to be received by the tendering stockholders will (a) be
received and held by the tendering stockholders for the account of the
Purchaser and will be required to be promptly remitted and transferred by each
tendering stockholder to the Depositary for the account of the Purchaser,
accompanied by appropriate documentation of transfer, or (b) at the direction
of the Purchaser, be exercised for the benefit of the Purchaser, in which case
the proceeds of such exercise will promptly be remitted to the Purchaser.
Pending such remittance, the Purchaser will be entitled to all rights and
privileges as owner of any such non-cash dividend, distribution or right or
such proceeds and may withhold the entire purchase price or deduct from the
purchase price the amount or value thereof, as determined by the Purchaser in
its sole discretion.
 
  10. Certain Information Concerning the Company. The Company is a New York
corporation with its principal offices located at 1111 Stewart Avenue,
Bethpage, New York 11714-3580. The following description of the Company's
business has been taken from the 1992 10-K:
 
    The activities of Grumman Corporation and its subsidiaries (the "Company"
  or "Grumman") are described in the following four industry segments:
 
    "Aerospace"--Includes the design and production of military aircraft,
  space systems and commercial aircraft components and subassemblies, as well
  as the modernization or conversion of previously completed aircraft.
 
    "Electronics Systems"--Includes the design, manufacture and integration
  of sophisticated electronics for aircraft, computerized test equipment and
  other defense related products, such as airborne surveillance systems.
 
    "Information and Other Services"--Includes electronic data processing
  services for affiliates and other customers as well as real estate and
  leasing services. It also includes technical services that help ready the
  space shuttle for flight, provide space station program support, service
  and maintain flight simulators and trainers and support Grumman aircraft.
 
    "Special Purpose Vehicles"--Includes fabrication of Long Life Vehicles
  for the U.S. Postal Service and aluminum truck bodies.
 
                                       17
<PAGE>
 
  Summary Financial Information. The following table sets forth certain summary
consolidated financial information with respect to the Company and its
consolidated subsidiaries derived from the audited financial statements
contained in the 1992 10-K and the Company's Schedule 14D-9. The summary below
is qualified by reference to such documents (which may be inspected and
obtained as described below), including the financial statements and related
notes contained therein.
 
                          THE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
                    SUMMARY CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF INCOME
                 (AMOUNTS IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE DATA)
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                 YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,
                                             ----------------------------------
                                                1993        1992        1991
                                             ----------  ----------  ----------
<S>                                          <C>         <C>         <C>
Revenues
  Sales..................................... $3,224,535  $3,492,075  $3,963,492
  Other income..............................     24,589      11,875      10,359
                                             ----------  ----------  ----------
    Total sales and other income............  3,249,124   3,503,950   3,973,851
Costs and expenses
  Cost of sales.............................  2,929,987   3,189,035   3,620,895
  Restructuring charge......................     85,000         --          --
  Loss on Tracor Aviation Inc. settlement...        --          --       46,500
  Selling, administrative and other.........    115,928     113,289     124,049
  Interest..................................     31,702      55,065      85,236
                                             ----------  ----------  ----------
    Total costs and expenses................  3,162,617   3,357,389   3,876,680
Income before income taxes..................     86,507     146,561      97,171
Provision for federal income taxes..........     21,000      26,700       2,000
  Income from continuing operations.........     65,507     119,861      95,171
  Income (loss) from discontinued opera-
   tions....................................     (6,700)    (45,035)      4,166
  Cumulative effect of change to accrual
   method of accounting for 
   post-retirement benefit................          --     (198,000)        --
                                             ----------  ----------  ----------
    Net income (loss)....................... $   58,807  $ (123,174) $   99,337
                                             ==========  ==========  ==========
Primary earnings per common share:
  Income from continuing operations......... $     1.90  $     3.49  $     2.75
  Income (loss) from discontinued opera-
   tions....................................      (0.19)      (1.34)        .13
  Cumulative effect of accounting change....        --        (5.88)        --
                                             ----------  ----------  ----------
    Net income (loss)....................... $     1.71  $    (3.73) $     2.88
                                             ==========  ==========  ==========
</TABLE>
 
                                       18
<PAGE>
 
                          THE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
                           CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET
                             (AMOUNTS IN THOUSANDS)
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                              DECEMBER 31,
                                                          ---------------------
                                                             1993       1992
                                                          ---------- ----------
<S>                                                       <C>        <C>
ASSETS
Current assets
  Cash and cash equivalents.............................. $  346,090 $  299,077
  Marketable securities (at cost, approximating market)..     18,034        --
  Accounts receivable....................................    518,731    534,260
  Inventories, less progress payments....................    499,436    612,424
  Prepaid expenses.......................................     40,992     41,280
                                                          ---------- ----------
    Total current assets.................................  1,423,283  1,487,041
                                                          ---------- ----------
Property, plan and equipment, less accumulated
 depreciation............................................    372,723    399,421
                                                          ---------- ----------
Non-current assets
  Deferred income taxes..................................    120,028     94,856
  Long-term receivables..................................      6,009      9,079
  Investments............................................     52,505     28,678
  Other..................................................     49,901     69,941
                                                          ---------- ----------
                                                             228,443    202,554
                                                          ---------- ----------
    Total................................................ $2,024,449 $2,089,016
                                                          ========== ==========
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current Liabilities
  Short-term debt........................................ $    6,571 $   83,399
  Accounts payable.......................................    147,576    128,610
  Wages and benefits payable.............................     90,229     95,519
  Income taxes...........................................     88,932    145,353
  Advances and deposits..................................     95,340     30,251
  Other current liabilities..............................     89,699    127,902
                                                          ---------- ----------
    Total current liabilities............................    518,347    611,034
                                                          ---------- ----------
Long-term debt...........................................    243,106    355,244
                                                          ---------- ----------
Accrued retirement benefits..............................    304,752    306,500
                                                          ---------- ----------
Restructuring reserve....................................     85,000        --
                                                          ---------- ----------
Other liabilities........................................     37,191     23,348
                                                          ---------- ----------
Common stock--$1.00 par value, authorized 80,000 shares;
 outstanding 34,049 and 33,519 shares (net of treasury
 stock)..................................................    344,589    321,038
Retained earnings........................................    491,464    471,852
                                                          ---------- ----------
    Total................................................ $2,024,449 $2,089,016
                                                          ========== ==========
</TABLE>
 
  Other Information. The Shares are registered under the Exchange Act.
Accordingly, the Company is subject to the informational filing requirements of
the Exchange Act and, in accordance therewith, is obligated to file periodic
reports, proxy statements and other information with the Commission relating to
its business, financial condition and other matters. Information, as of
particular dates, concerning the Company's directors and officers, their
remuneration, options granted to them, the principal holders of the Company's
securities and any material interest of such persons in transactions with the
Company
 
                                       19
<PAGE>
 
is required to be disclosed in such proxy statements and distributed to the
Company's stockholders and filed with the Commission. Such reports, proxy
statements and other information should be available for inspection at the
public reference facilities of the Commission located in Judiciary Plaza, 450
Fifth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549, and should also be available for
inspection and copying at the regional offices of the Commission located in the
Everett McKinley Dirksen Building, 219 South Dearborn Street, Chicago, Illinois
60604, and the Jacob K. Javits Federal Building, 26 Federal Plaza, New York,
New York 10278. Copies of this material may also be obtained by mail, upon
payment of the Commission's customary fees, from the Commission's principal
office at 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549. In addition, such
material should also be available for inspection at the library of the New York
Stock Exchange, 20 Broad Street, New York, New York 10005. Except as otherwise
noted in this Offer to Purchase, all of the information with respect to the
Company set forth in this Offer to Purchase has been derived from publicly
available information. Although each of Northrop and the Purchaser has no
knowledge that any such information is untrue, neither Northrop nor the
Purchaser takes responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of information
contained in this Offer to Purchase with respect to the Company or for any
failure by the Company to disclose events which may have occurred or may affect
the significance or accuracy of any such information.
 
  11. Certain Information Concerning Northrop and the Purchaser. The
Purchaser's principal executive offices are located at 1840 Century Park East,
Los Angeles, California 90067. The Purchaser is a newly formed corporation and
a wholly owned subsidiary of Northrop. The Purchaser has not conducted any
business other than in connection with the Offer and the Proposed Merger.
Northrop is a Delaware corporation with its principal executive offices located
at 1840 Century Park East, Los Angeles, California 90067.
 
  Northrop is an advanced technology company operating in the aerospace
industry. Northrop designs, develops and manufactures aircraft, aircraft
subassemblies and electronic systems for military and commercial use.
 
  Northrop is subject to the informational filing requirements of the Exchange
Act and, in accordance therewith, files reports and other information with the
Commission relating to its business, financial condition and other matters.
Information, as of particular dates, concerning Northrop's directors and
officers, their remuneration, options granted to them, the principal holders of
the Purchaser's securities and any material interest of such persons in
transactions with the Purchaser is required to be disclosed in proxy statements
distributed to the Purchaser's stockholders and filed with the Commission. Such
reports, proxy statements and other information should be available for
inspection and copies may be obtained from the offices of the Commission in the
manner described in Section 10 and from the library of the New York Stock
Exchange, 20 Broad Street, New York, New York 10005.
 
                                       20
<PAGE>
 
  Set forth below is a summary of certain consolidated financial data with
respect to Northrop and its subsidiaries for and as of (i) its fiscal years
ended December 31, 1991, December 31, 1992 and December 31, 1993, excerpted or
derived from Northrop's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December
31, 1993 (the "Northrop 1993 10-K"). The summary below is qualified by
reference to the Northrop 1993 10-K and the financial information and related
notes contained therein. The Northrop 1993 10-K may be examined and copies
thereof may be obtained from the offices of the Commission or inspected at the
NYSE as set forth in Section 10.
 
                           NORTHROP AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
                      SELECTED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL DATA
                  (AMOUNTS IN MILLIONS, EXCEPT PER SHARE DATA)
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,
                                            ----------------------------------
                                               1993        1992        1991
                                            ----------  ----------  ----------
<S>                                         <C>         <C>         <C>
Net sales to:
  United States Government................. $    4,481  $    4,958  $    5,102
  The Boeing Company.......................        533         550         542
  Other customers..........................         49          42          50
                                            ----------  ----------  ----------
  Total net sales.......................... $    5,063  $    5,550  $    5,694
                                            ==========  ==========  ==========
Net income (loss).......................... $       96  $      121  $      201
Earnings (loss) per share..................       1.99        2.56        4.26
Cash dividends per share...................       1.60        1.20        1.20
Net working capital........................ $      481  $      354  $      611
Current ratio..............................  1.45 to 1   1.25 to 1   1.51 to 1
Total assets............................... $    2,939  $    3,162  $    3,128
Long-term debt............................. $      160  $      160  $      470
Total long-term obligations................        468         426         688
Long-term debt, as a percentage of
 shareholders' equity......................       12.1%       12.8%       39.8%
Operating margin as a percentage of:
Net sales..................................        4.3%        4.1%        6.2%
Average operating assets...................        9.1         8.9        12.8
Net income (loss) as a percentage of:
Net sales..................................        1.9%        2.2%        3.5%
Average assets.............................        3.1         3.8         6.5
Average shareholders' equity...............        7.5         9.9        18.1
Research and development expenses:
Contract................................... $    1,603  $    1,693  $    1,601
Non-contract...............................         97          93         102
Payroll and employee benefits.............. $    1,906  $    2,001  $    2,109
Number of employees at year-end............     29,800      33,600      36,200
Number of shareholders at year-end.........     11,618      12,599      13,607
Depreciation and amortization.............. $      214  $      160  $      171
Maintenance and repairs....................         87         106          97
Rent expense...............................         47          52          51
Floor area (millions of square feet):
Owned......................................       12.9        12.6        12.2
Commercially leased........................        3.2         4.2         4.5
Leased from United States Government.......        2.1         1.9         1.7
</TABLE>
 
 
                                       21
<PAGE>
 
  The name, business address, present principal occupation or employment and
citizenship of each of the directors and executive officers of Northrop and the
Purchaser are set forth in Annex I hereto.
 
  Except as described in the Introduction and Section 13 of this Offer to
Purchase, (a) none of Northrop or the Purchaser or, to the best knowledge of
Northrop or the Purchaser, any of the persons listed in Annex I hereto, or any
associate or majority owned subsidiary of Northrop or the Purchaser or any of
the persons so listed, beneficially owns any security of the Company or has any
contract, arrangement, understanding or relationship with any other person with
respect to any securities of the Company, including, but not limited to, any
contract, arrangement, understanding or relationship concerning the transfer or
the voting of any securities of the Company, joint ventures, loan or option
arrangements, puts or calls, guaranties of loans, guaranties against loss, or
the giving or withholding of proxies, and (b) none of Northrop or the Purchaser
or, to the best knowledge of Northrop or the Purchaser, any of the other
persons referred to above, or any of the respective directors, executive
officers or subsidiaries of any of the foregoing, has effected any transaction
in any security of the Company during the past 60 days.
 
  Except as described in this Offer to Purchase, none of Northrop or the
Purchaser or, to the best knowledge of Northrop or the Purchaser, any of the
persons listed in Annex I hereto, has had, since January 1, 1990, any business
relationships or transactions with the Company or any of its executive
officers, directors or affiliates that would require reporting under the rules
of the Commission. Except as set forth in this Offer to Purchase, there have
been no contacts, negotiations or transactions between the Purchaser or
Northrop or their respective subsidiaries or, to the best knowledge of the
Purchaser and Northrop, any of the persons listed on Annex I, and the Company
or its affiliates, concerning a merger, consolidation or acquisition, tender
offer or other acquisition of securities, election of directors or a sale or
other transfer of a material amount of assets.
 
  In June 1987, Northrop and various elements of the U.S. Government, including
the Department of Justice, commenced internal, criminal and civil
investigations in connection with alleged falsification of certain testing data
or testing of Rate Sensor Assemblies for the AV-8B Harrier Jet and Flight Data
Transmitter Units for the Air-Launched Cruise Missile at Northrop's Electronics
System Division--Norwood Site (formerly called the Precision Products Division
(PPD)). As a result of Northrop's investigation, several employees at PPD's
former Pomona, California facility were dismissed in 1987. In February 1989,
the U.S. Department of Justice intervened in a civil lawsuit filed in the U.S.
District Court for the Central District of California, alleging violations of
the False Claims Act (31 U.S.C. Sec 3729(a) et. seq.) and filed an amended
complaint. The amended complaint alleged violations of the False Claims Act,
fraud, breach of contract, mistake of fact and unjust enrichment. In July,
1989, PPD was suspended from future contracting with any agency in the
Executive Branch of the U.S. Government, which suspension has since been
lifted. In February 1990, in connection with a settlement of the litigation,
Northrop pleaded guilty to 34 false statements that had been made by former
employees of the Electronics System Division, the U.S. Government withdrew
various other charges and Northrop agreed to pay a $17 million fine.
 
  Certain additional information regarding Northrop and the Purchaser required
by the New York Law is set forth in Annex II hereto.
 
  12. Source and Amount of Funds. The total amount of funds required by the
Purchaser to purchase all Shares that may be tendered and to pay related fees
and expenses will be approximately $2.13 billion. Northrop intends to obtain
the funds from bank loans to be provided initially by Chase Manhattan Bank,
N.A. ("Chase") and Chemical Bank ("Chemical," together with Chase, the "Co-
Agents"). Chase and Chemical have entered into a commitment letter with
Northrop dated March 10, 1994 (the "Financing Commitment") pursuant to which
each of Chase and Chemical has committed to provide $1.4 billion (or a total of
$2.8 billion) in senior bank credit facilities (collectively, the "Credit
Facilities") to finance the Offer and the Proposed Merger, to pay related fees
and expenses, to refinance existing bank debt of Northrop and (after the
Proposed Merger) the Company and to provide
 
                                       22
<PAGE>
 
working capital for Northrop. Although Chase and Chemical have together
committed to provide all of the Credit Facilities, they have advised that they
expect to act as co-agents for a syndicate of financial institutions to provide
all or a portion of the Credit Facilities.
 
  Each of the Co-Agents' commitments under the Financing Commitment is subject
to the following conditions: (i) the negotiation, execution and delivery of
definitive documentation with respect to the Credit Facilities satisfactory in
form and substance to the Co-Agents and their counsel; (ii) satisfaction by the
Co-Agents with the form and substance of the Offer and the definitive
documentation therefor; (iii) a definitive merger agreement, in form and
substance satisfactory to the Co-Agents, shall have been entered into by
Northrop and the Company; (iv) there shall not have occurred any material
adverse change in the business, assets, operations, condition (financial or
otherwise) or prospects of Northrop and its subsidiaries (including the
Company) taken as a whole; (v) there shall not have occurred any change in or
disruption of financial or capital market conditions that in the opinion of the
Co-Agents could materially and adversely affect the satisfactory syndication of
the Credit Facilities; and (vi) the appropriate markets shall be clear of
competing transactions by or on behalf of Northrop.
 
  The Co-Agents have advised Northrop that they would be prepared to commit to
provide the financing without satisfaction of the requirement for a merger
agreement, subject to a mutually satisfactory agreement with Northrop with
respect to the payment of additional fees to the Co-Agents, an increase in the
margins on loans under the Credit Facilities, and a limitation on the length of
interest periods under the Credit Facilities prior to completion of the
Proposed Merger.
 
  Northrop has agreed to pay commitment and syndication fees to the Co-Agents
and to pay certain of the expenses of the Co-Agents incurred in connection with
the Financing Commitment and the Credit Facilities. Northrop has also agreed to
indemnify the Co-Agents and certain other persons against certain losses
arising out of the Offer, the Financing Commitment or the Credit Facilities.
 
  Set forth below is a summary description of the Financing Commitment and the
Credit Facilities. The summary description does not purport to be complete.
There can be no assurance that the terms set forth below will be contained as
described in the definitive documentation with respect to the Credit
Facilities, and such documentation will include provisions in addition to those
described.
 
  The Credit Facilities will consist of two facilities, a five-year revolving
credit facility and a five-year term loan. The aggregate amount of the Credit
Facilities will be allocated between the revolving credit facility and the term
loan in a manner to be agreed between Northrop and the Co-Agents. The term loan
will amortize prior to maturity on a schedule to be agreed between Northrop and
the Co-Agents. There will be no scheduled prepayments or reductions of
availability of revolving loans prior to maturity.
 
  The Credit Facilities will be guaranteed by the Purchaser and secured by a
pledge by Northrop of the capital stock of the Purchaser.
 
  Loans under the Credit Facilities will bear interest, at the option of
Northrop, at either (i) a base rate equal to the higher of the rate announced
from time to time by Chase as its prime commercial lending rate or the daily
federal funds rate plus .50% or (ii) the London interbank offered rate
("LIBOR") (as adjusted for certain reserve requirements, as incurred by the
lenders) for one-, two-, three-, six- and (subject to the lenders' consent)
twelve-month periods plus an interest margin based on the ratio of Northrop's
consolidated total debt to consolidated total net worth. Assuming that, after
the Offer and the Proposed Merger Northrop's implied credit rating is at least
BBB-, the initial margin for LIBOR term loans will be between .625% and .75%
per annum and the initial margin for LIBOR revolving credit loans will be in
the same range but less the applicable facility fees, described below. In
addition, Northrop may request competitive bids from the lenders for short-term
borrowings.
 
  Facility fees under the Credit Facilities will be payable to each lender
based on the total amount of its commitment to make revolving loans, based on a
grid tied to Northrop's ratio of consolidated total debt to consolidated net
worth. Assuming that, after consummation of the Offer and the Proposed Merger,
Northrop's implied credit rating is BBB-, the initial facility fee would be
between .20% and .25% per annum.
 
                                       23
<PAGE>
 
  The documentation governing the Credit Facilities will include conditions
precedent to the lenders' funding obligations, representations and warranties,
funding and yield protection provisions, conditions precedent, covenants,
events of default and other provisions determined by the lenders to be
appropriate for transactions of this type. The Financing Commitment provides
that the definitive documents will include covenants, among others, limiting
Northrop's ability to encumber or dispose of its assets or incur subordinated
debt or engage in further mergers and acquisitions and imposing a maximum
leverage ratio, a minimum fixed charge coverage ratio and a minimum net worth
ratio. The covenants also may include a limitation on the ability of Northrop
to pay dividends on its capital stock or redeem or retire its stock.
 
  13. Contacts with the Company; Background of the Offer. Commencing in early
1992, Mr. Kent Kresa, Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President of
Northrop, and Dr. Renso L. Caporali, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of
the Company, discussed, in general terms, the potential advantages of a
business combination of the two companies, in light of developments affecting
military spending and their impact on the defense and aerospace industries.
Further discussions occurred from time to time during 1992. From the beginning
of these discussions, both Messrs. Kresa and Caporali made it clear that their
respective firms were not for sale. When certain of the senior officers of
Northrop and the Company first met in New York City on January 26, 1993 to
conduct preliminary discussions as to whether some form of business
combination made strategic sense, the mutual "not for sale" message was
reiterated. This understanding continued to serve as a background to
subsequent meetings between the managements of the two companies in February
of 1993.
 
  In connection with the ongoing discussions and based on the understanding
that neither company was for sale, on January 21, 1993, a letter agreement
(the "Confidentiality Agreement") was entered into between the companies, by
which each company agreed to maintain in confidence non-public information
concerning the other, and for a period of three years not to acquire shares
of, or, unless invited to do so, make a proposal for any extraordinary
transaction with, the other. It is Northrop's position that the "standstill"
provisions of the Confidentiality Agreement may not be enforced to prohibit or
prevent the Offer or the purchase of Shares pursuant hereto. See Section 15.
 
  At a meeting between Messrs. Caporali and Kresa in April 1993, Mr. Caporali
expressed his desire that further conversations be deferred pending completion
by the United States Department of Defense of a "bottom-up" review of military
procurement and weapons programs, since the decisions resulting from that
review could significantly affect the prospects of either or both the two
companies. As a result, no further substantive discussions took place between
Northrop and the Company until December of 1993.
 
  Messrs. Caporali and Kresa had a brief discussion on November 19, 1993,
during which Mr. Kresa expressed to Mr. Caporali his vision of how defense
industry down-sizing might affect their companies. Following that discussion,
executives of Northrop and the Company resumed discussions regarding a
possible business combination. These discussions commenced in Los Angeles on
December 7 and 8, 1993. Because of the general understanding between these
executives concerning strategic fit and vision, managements of the respective
companies recommended to Messrs. Caporali and Kresa that a more formal meeting
between representatives of the two companies was in order. Such a meeting was
held on December 12, 1993, during which certain of the senior officers of
Northrop and the Company discussed the possibilities of a business combination
and how best to proceed. Representatives of both companies again stressed that
neither company was for sale. During these discussions, Northrop management
believed that a basic understanding existed between the two management groups
with respect to the organizational structure of the resulting corporation and
that the Company's top management was favorably disposed toward the idea of a
"merger of equals" transaction in part because the strong balance sheet of the
new company would put it in a favorable position to pursue
 
                                      24
<PAGE>
 
strategic acquisitions. Additional meetings were conducted on December 13,
1993, and a follow-up meeting took place on January 13, 1994 in Washington,
D.C. In all cases, the model under discussion between executives of both
companies was that of a merger of equals.
 
  In December 1993, the Company engaged Goldman, and Northrop engaged Salomon
to advise it with respect to a possible business combination with the Company.
On the basis of the apparent mutual interest of the two management groups,
Salomon and Goldman were asked to begin discussions with each other in January
1994. In a conversation on January 14, 1994, Goldman expressed to Salomon its
view that a transaction involving solely an exchange of stock for stock would
be difficult to accomplish, in that such a transaction would involve excessive
dilution. Goldman indicated its belief that alternative transaction structures
should be explored.
 
  In anticipation of a meeting of the Board of Directors of the Company
scheduled for January 20, 1994, Northrop proposed to the Company by letter
dated January 19, 1994 that the two companies exchange information regarding
their respective companies and, concurrently, seek to negotiate the terms for a
business combination which would resemble as closely as possible the mutually
expressed desire for a merger of equals. Northrop also proposed that a period
of 30 days be allowed for that process, and that, during such period, both
companies agree not to engage in discussions of any alternative transaction
with any other party. Mr. Kresa also asked Mr. Caporali for his agreement to a
statement of "understandings" between them with respect to such matters as the
constitution of the board of directors and the initial organizational structure
of the merged company. Following the Company's Board of Directors meeting on
January 20, 1994, representatives of the Company advised Northrop that the
Company's directors viewed favorably a business combination of the two
companies, but that they did not believe it was appropriate to approve
Northrop's suggested "understandings," or to agree to the 30-day exclusive
period.
 
  On January 28, 1994, at the direction of the respective companies,
representatives of Salomon met with representatives of Goldman to discuss
specific transaction structures that would provide for receipt of a mixture of
cash and stock by both companies' stockholders, yet remain consistent with the
concept of a merger of equals. At that meeting, representatives of Goldman
expressed the view that, in order to obtain the two-thirds vote of the
Company's stockholders required under New York Law for a merger, the Company's
stockholders would have to be offered consideration which represented a premium
over the market price of the Company's stock.
 
  Salomon and Goldman met again on February 9, 1994, at which time Salomon
presented an outline of a possible cash-election merger based upon a suggestion
made by Goldman in their prior meeting. This structure also involved an
increase over the proposals discussed on January 28, 1994 in the amount of cash
that would be provided to the stockholders of both companies. Salomon estimated
that this structure would give each company's stockholders a premium to market
of approximately 20% to 25% while preserving the concept of a merger of equals.
Representatives of Goldman indicated their agreement that such a transaction
would likely receive the requisite two-thirds stockholder approval and in
response to Northrop's request that it receive a formal response on the
proposal stated that it would be considered by the Company's Board of Directors
at a meeting on February 17, 1994.
 
  On February 18, 1994, Salomon was informed by representatives of Goldman that
the proposed cash-election merger would afford the Company's stockholders less
value than the Company believed it could achieve on its own. Goldman told
representatives of Salomon that the Company believed it could achieve a share
price "in the mid $50's" on its own, based on certain assumptions.
 
                                       25
<PAGE>
 
  On February 23, 1994, at the instruction of Northrop, representatives from
Salomon repeatedly attempted to contact Goldman with the intention of
expressing Northrop's view that it was willing to proceed with a transaction
structure that provided value to the Company's stockholders of "something in
the $50's" on a per share basis, a substantial portion of which would be in
cash.
 
  On February 24, 1994, a representative of Goldman responded to Salomon's
telephone calls and advised that the Company had decided not to pursue further
discussions with Northrop at that time. No explanation was given by Goldman.
Salomon representatives advised Goldman by telephone of the proposal they had
been unable to communicate to Goldman on February 23rd. In response to a number
of questions from Salomon, Goldman stated that the Company's Board of Directors
had instructed Goldman not to respond further to Northrop's inquiries.
 
  Based on this turn of events, Northrop became concerned that the Company
might have decided to enter into a merger or other transaction involving a sale
of the Company. To ensure that the Company's Board of Directors was aware of
Northrop's serious interest, on February 25, 1994, Northrop sent a letter to
the Company confirming that, based upon the facts known to Northrop, Northrop
would be prepared, if invited, to submit an offer at a price per share of not
less than $50.00. The letter stated that Northrop would also be prepared to
consider an offer at a higher level, if warranted, based upon any additional
information or analysis the Company might wish to provide Northrop. Northrop
had not (and still has not) been provided non-public financial information
concerning the Company or been permitted to perform a due diligence
investigation of the Company.
 
  On March 1, 1994, representatives of Goldman telephoned Salomon and advised
it that the Board of Directors of the Company had convened, reviewed Northrop's
February 25th letter and determined that the Company was not prepared to pursue
Northrop's proposal. Goldman also advised that the Company had no interest in
pursuing discussions with Northrop at that time.
 
  According to the Company's Schedule 14D-9 filed with the Commission on March
9, 1994, on March 6, 1994, a special meeting of the Board of Directors of the
Company was held at the conclusion of which the Board unanimously adopted a
resolution (i) authorizing the execution and delivery of the Martin Marietta
Merger Agreement and (ii) recommending that the stockholders of the Company
accept the Martin Marietta Offer. On March 7, 1994, the Company announced that
it had entered into the Martin Marietta Merger Agreement, which includes a
provision for the payment to Martin Marietta of $50 million under certain
circumstances in the event the Company is acquired by a party other than Martin
Marietta, plus up to $8.8 million of expenses if the Martin Marietta Merger is
not consummated. On March 8, 1994, Martin Marietta commenced the Martin
Marietta Offer.
 
  On March 9, 1994, the Board of Directors of Northrop approved the
commencement of the Offer, and on March 10, 1994, Northrop sent a letter to the
Company and issued a press release stating that its directors have authorized
the acquisition of the Company at a price of $60.00 per Share and that it is
prepared to enter into a merger agreement with the Company on substantially
identical terms to those contained in the Martin Marietta Merger Agreement. The
following is the text of Northrop's March 10th letter:
 
    Dr. Renso L. Caporali
    Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
    Grumman Corporation
    1111 Stewart Avenue
    Bethpage, NY 11714-3580
 
    Dear Renso:
 
    The Board of Directors of Northrop Corporation have authorized the
    acquisition of Grumman Corporation at a cash price of $60 per share, $5
    per share in excess of the recently announced offer by Martin Marietta.
    On Monday, March 14, we will commence a tender offer for all shares
 
                                       26
<PAGE>
 
    of Grumman Corporation. We have received a commitment letter from the
    Chase Manhattan Bank N.A. and Chemical Bank totaling $2.8 billion to
    finance the acquisition.
 
    Our Board has authorized us also to enter into a tender offer/merger
    agreement with Grumman on substantially identical terms as those
    between Grumman and Martin Marietta. In this connection, we are
    prepared, upon completion of the acquisition, to recommend to our
    stockholders that the name of this corporation be changed to Northrop
    Grumman Corporation, to preserve the proud heritage of the Grumman name
    in U. S. military aviation.
 
    Grumman's stockholder interests were not well served when the decision
    was made to enter into the agreement with Martin Marietta. In light of
    the fiduciary duties of the directors of Grumman to its stockholders,
    we believe that its Board of Directors has a legal duty to facilitate
    the receipt by its stockholders of Northrop's offer, in order that they
    may freely choose what is obviously a much more favorable transaction.
    For the same reasons, we believe that we should be furnished
    substantially the same non-public information concerning Grumman that
    was furnished to Martin Marietta. We request your confirmation by the
    close of business Monday, March 14, that you are prepared to furnish
    such information.
 
    We and our representatives have been negotiating with Grumman in good
    faith since early December, responding to Grumman's clear statements
    that it was "not for sale". We had been working to achieve a mutually
    acceptable business combination which corresponded as closely as
    possible to what we understood to be our shared strategic vision. Now,
    it appears from the tender offer documents that we were not playing on
    a "level playing field". As early as February 16, your representative
    asked Martin Marietta but not us to submit their highest and best
    offer. We never received such a request. Never, in the entire process
    were we advised that you were in negotiations with another party, that
    a decision had been made to sell Grumman, or that we should submit our
    highest and best bid.
 
    Then, even after we informed you by letter on February 25 of our
    interest in acquiring Grumman for cash at a price per share "of not
    less than $50" if invited to do so, Grumman proceeded to enter an
    agreement with Martin Marietta containing a $50,000,000 lock-up payment
    to be paid to Martin Marietta if their tender offer is overbid. Under
    the circumstances, we believe the lock-up agreement with Martin
    Marietta is improper and illegal.
 
    We believe a combination of our companies is a very sound strategic fit
    which serves our national interest. As we discussed, the transaction is
    based on the great synergistic fit of our respective businesses. Most
    importantly, our offer serves the interest of your shareholders and
    represents an excellent long-term investment for Northrop's shareholders.
 
    We look forward to your prompt response.
 
    Sincerely,
 
    Kent Kresa
 
  On March 14, 1994, the Purchaser commenced the Offer.
 
  Except as described above, there have been no contacts, negotiations or
transactions between the Purchaser, Northrop or their subsidiaries or, to the
best knowledge of the Purchaser and Northrop, any of the persons listed on
Annex I, and the Company or its affiliates, concerning a merger, consolidation
or acquisition, tender offer or other acquisition of securities, election of
directors or a sale or other transfer of a material amount of assets.
 
 
                                       27
<PAGE>
 
  14. Purpose of the Offer and the Proposed Merger; Plans of Northrop and the
Purchaser with Respect to the Company.
 
  Purpose of the Offer; Plans for the Company. The purpose of the Offer is to
acquire control of, and the entire equity interest in, the Company. As soon as
practicable following the purchase of Shares pursuant to the Offer, the
Purchaser intends to seek the maximum representation obtainable on the
Company's Board of Directors and to propose and seek to have the Company
consummate the Proposed Merger. The Proposed Merger, if so consummated, would
involve the conversion of each of the then outstanding Shares, other than
Shares owned by the Purchaser or any of its subsidiaries and other than Shares
held by stockholders who properly exercise their dissenters' rights, into the
right to receive cash in an amount equal to the price per Share in the Offer.
 
  If Northrop acquires control of the Company, it intends to conduct a review
of the Company and its assets, corporate structure, capitalization, operations,
policies, management and personnel. After such review, Northrop will determine
what actions or changes, if any, would be desirable in light of the
circumstances which then exist, and reserves the right to effect such actions
or changes. In its March 10th letter to the Company, Northrop stated that it
intends, upon completion of the Proposed Merger, to recommend to its
stockholders that its name be changed to "Northrop Grumman Corporation."
 
  Except as described in this Offer to Purchase, neither Northrop nor the
Purchaser has any present plans or proposals that would relate to or result in
any extraordinary corporate transaction, such as a merger, reorganization or
liquidation involving the Company or any of its subsidiaries, a sale or
transfer of a material amount of assets of the Company or any of its
subsidiaries, any change in the Company's Board of Directors or management, any
material change in the Company's capitalization or dividend policy, or any
other material change in the Company's corporate structure or business.
 
  Constraints on the Purchaser's Ability to Consummate the Proposed Merger. If
the Offer is consummated, the Purchaser will hold sufficient Shares to approve
the Proposed Merger on behalf of the Company's stockholders. However, in light
of the restrictions described below, there can be no assurance that the
Proposed Merger will be proposed to stockholders of the Company or be
consummated or as to the timing thereof. Nonetheless, if the Board of Directors
of the Company votes to approve the Offer and the Proposed Merger, the Section
912 Condition, the Supermajority Voting Condition and the Rights Condition will
be satisfied and the impediments to the Offer and the Proposed Merger contained
in the Company's Certificate of Incorporation and Section 912 of the New York
Law will be removed.
 
  Neither Northrop nor the Purchaser can give any assurance as to whether, as a
result of information hereafter obtained by either Northrop or the Purchaser,
changes in general economic or market conditions or in the business of the
Company, or other presently unforeseen factors, the Proposed Merger will be
proposed to the Company's stockholders or whether the Proposed Merger will be
delayed or abandoned. If for any reason the Proposed Merger is not consummated,
Northrop and the Purchaser reserve the right to acquire additional Shares
following the expiration of the Offer through private purchases, market
transactions, tender or exchange offers or otherwise on terms and at prices
that may be more or less favorable than those of the Offer or, subject to any
applicable legal restrictions, to dispose of any or all Shares acquired by
Northrop and the Purchaser.
 
  Classified Board. The Certificate of Incorporation of the Company provides
that the number of directors shall be fixed by Board resolution or a vote of
holders of the majority of the voting power of the outstanding Voting Shares
(as defined) (or by a vote of holders of at least 85% of such voting power and
a majority of the voting power of the outstanding Voting Shares held by Public
Holders (as defined) if there is a Substantial Stockholder (as defined)). The
Certificate of Incorporation provides that the Board shall be divided into
three classes of directors, with the classes to be as nearly equal in number of
directors as possible. One class of directors is elected each year for a three-
year term. The Certificate
 
                                       28
<PAGE>
 
of Incorporation provides that at any meeting of stockholders called expressly
for that purpose, any director or the entire Board of Directors may be removed
from office by the affirmative vote of the holders of at least a majority of
the voting power of the outstanding Voting Shares (as defined), or, if there is
a Substantial Stockholder (as defined), by the affirmative vote of the holders
of at least 85% of the voting power of the outstanding Voting Shares and the
affirmative vote of at least a majority of the voting power of the outstanding
Voting Shares held by Public Holders (as defined). In addition, the Certificate
of Incorporation purports to provide that newly created directorships resulting
from any increase in the authorized number of directors or other vacancies in
the Board of Directors may be filled by a majority vote of the remaining
directors. As a result of the classified Board and related provisions, the
Purchaser may be unable to elect a majority of directors to the Board of
Directors until the second annual meeting of stockholders of the Company is
held following consummation of the Offer even if the Purchaser acquires a
majority of the outstanding Shares in the Offer. As approval of the Board of
Directors is required by the New York Law for a merger, this provision may have
the effect of delaying the Proposed Merger.
 
  Restraints on Certain Business Combinations. In addition to the general
requirements under the New York Law for approval of a merger, the Certificate
of Incorporation of the Company requires the affirmative vote of the holders of
85% of the voting power of the then outstanding Voting Shares and the approval
of at least a majority of the voting power of the outstanding Voting Shares
held by Public Holders (as defined) (the "Supermajority Vote") in connection
with any Business Combination (as defined). The Supermajority Vote is not
required if (i) the Business Combination is approved by a majority of the Board
of Directors prior to the time the Substantial Stockholder first acquires a 10%
Interest (as defined therein) or (ii) certain price and procedural requirements
are satisfied.
 
  The price requirement imposed by the Certificate of Incorporation in
connection with any Business Combination is that the aggregate value of the
cash and the Fair Market Value (as defined therein) as of the date of the
consummation of the Business Combination of other consideration per share to be
received by holders of Shares shall be an amount not less than: (i) the highest
per share price paid by the Substantial Stockholder for any Shares, plus
interest compounded annually from the date the Substantial Stockholder became a
Substantial Stockholder through the consummation of the Business Combination,
less the aggregate amount of any cash dividends, and the Fair Market Value of
any dividends paid other than in cash, on each Share from the date on which the
Substantial Stockholder became a Substantial Stockholder through the
consummation of the Business Combination (in an amount up to but not exceeding
the amount of such interest), (ii) the highest Fair Market Value per Share
during the 30-calendar day period immediately preceding the first date by which
specific terms of the proposed Business Combination and the record date which
is used for purposes of determining ownership of Shares entitled to vote on the
Business Combination shall have been publicly announced (the "Announcement
Date"), (iii) the highest Fair Market Value per Share during the 30-calendar
day period immediately preceding the Announcement Date multiplied by the ratio
of (1) the highest per Share price paid by the Substantial Stockholder for any
Shares to (2) the lowest Fair Market Value per Share occurring during the
period commencing 75 calendar days prior to the earlier of (a) the day on which
the Substantial Stockholder first became beneficial owner of Shares and (b) the
day on which there was the first public announcement relating to the intention,
or possible intention, of the Substantial Stockholder to become the beneficial
owner of Shares and ending with the day immediately prior to the Announcement
Date, (iv) the earnings per Share for the four full consecutive fiscal quarters
immediately preceding the Announcement Date multiplied by the then
price/earnings multiple (if any) of such Substantial Stockholder as customarily
computed and reported in the financial community, or (v) the book value per
Share, computed in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, at
the end of the fiscal quarter immediately preceding the Announcement Date.
Additionally, the Certificate of Incorporation provides that the consideration
received by stockholders must be in cash or the same form of consideration used
by the Substantial Stockholder to acquire the largest number of Shares
previously acquired by the Substantial Stockholder.
 
 
                                       29
<PAGE>
 
  Subject to certain exceptions, the Certificate of Incorporation also
restricts modifications in the payment of dividends, the acquisition by the
Substantial Stockholder of additional securities of the Company, including,
without limitation, additional Voting Shares or shares convertible into or
exchangeable or exerciseable for Voting Shares, the receipt of any benefit by
the Substantial Stockholder of any financial assistance from the Company, and
the making of any major change in the business or equity capital structure of
the Company, and also requires a proxy solicitation in accordance with the
requirements of the Exchange Act for the purpose of soliciting stockholder
approval of the Business Combination from all holders of Common Stock.
 
  The Purchaser and Northrop may be deemed to be Substantial Stockholders for
purposes of the Certificate of Incorporation upon consummation of the Offer.
The price requirement imposed by the Certificate of Incorporation in order to
avoid the Supermajority Vote may be higher than the price paid pursuant to the
Offer; the Purchaser does not intend to cause the Proposed Merger to be
consummated at a price greater than that paid pursuant to the Offer.
Consummation of the Offer is conditioned upon the Purchaser being satisfied, in
its sole discretion, that the Supermajority Vote requirement contained in
Article SEVENTH of the Company's Certificate of Incorporation is inapplicable
to the Proposed Merger. See "Introduction--Certain Conditions to the Offer."
 
  Vote Required to Amend or Repeal Certain Provisions of the Certificate of
Incorporation. Under the Certificate of Incorporation, the affirmative vote of
the holders of at least 85% of the voting power of the then outstanding Voting
Shares is required to amend, repeal or adopt any provision inconsistent with
the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation with respect to, among other
things, creating a classified Board, providing for removal of directors and for
filling vacancies on the Board, providing for setting the size of the Board and
requiring an 85% stockholder vote to approve certain Business Combinations with
a Substantial Stockholder that are not approved by a majority vote of the Board
of Directors or do not meet the requisite minimum price, form of consideration
and procedural criteria.
 
  Short-Form Merger. Section 905 of the New York Law would permit the Proposed
Merger to occur without a vote of the Company's stockholders (a "short-form
merger") if the Purchaser were to acquire at least 90% of the outstanding
Shares in the Offer. However, because Article SEVENTH of the Company's
Certificate of Incorporation imposes certain conditions on short-form mergers
that will not be satisfied, the Proposed Merger will require the approval of
the Company's stockholders even if the Purchaser acquires at least 90% of the
outstanding Shares in the Offer. Therefore, consummation of the Proposed Merger
may occur at a date later than the date on which the Proposed Merger could have
occurred if effected as a short-form merger.
 
  The Rights Agreement. Pursuant to the Rights Agreement, on February 18, 1988,
the Board of Directors of the Company declared a dividend distribution of one
Right for each Share outstanding on March 25, 1988. Each Right issued pursuant
to the Rights Agreement entitles the registered holder to purchase from the
Company one one-hundredth of a share of Series A Junior Participating Preferred
Stock at a price of $80.00, subject to adjustment.
 
  Until the earlier to occur of (i) ten days following the date (the "Shares
Acquisition Date") of public announcement that a person or group of affiliated
or associated persons acquired, or obtained the right to acquire, beneficial
ownership of 20% or more of the outstanding shares of the Common Stock (an
"Acquiring Person") or (ii) ten days following the commencement or first public
announcement of an intention of any person to make a tender offer or exchange
offer if, upon consummation thereof, such person would be an Acquiring Person
(the earlier of such dates being called the "Distribution Date"), the Rights
are evidenced by the certificates evidencing the Common Stock. Until the
Distribution Date, the Rights will be transferred with and only with the
Shares. As soon as practicable following the Distribution Date, separate
certificates evidencing the Rights ("Rights Certificates") will be mailed to
holders of record of Shares as of the close of business on the Distribution
Date and such separate Right Certificates alone will evidence the Rights.
 
                                       30
<PAGE>
 
  The Rights are not exercisable until the Distribution Date. The Rights will
expire at the close of business on January 31, 1998 unless earlier redeemed by
the Company as described below.
 
  In the event that (i) the Company is the surviving corporation in a merger
with an Acquiring Person and its Common Stock is not changed or exchanged, (ii)
a person (other than certain specified persons) becomes the beneficial owner of
more than 30% of the then outstanding Shares (except pursuant to an offer for
all outstanding Shares which the Independent Directors (as defined below)
determine to be fair to and otherwise in the best interests of the Company and
the stockholders), (iii) an Acquiring Person engages in one or more "self-
dealing" transactions or transfers assets as set forth in the Rights Agreement,
or (iv) during such time as there is an Acquiring Person, the Company fails to
pay certain dividends or an event occurs which results in such Acquiring
Person's ownership interest being increased by more than 1% (e.g., a reverse
stock split), at any time following the Distribution Date, each holder of a
Right will thereafter have the right to receive, upon exercise, Common Stock
(or, in certain circumstances, cash, property or other securities of the
Company) having a value equal to two times the exercise price of the Right.
Notwithstanding any of the foregoing, following the occurrence of any of the
events set forth in this paragraph, all Rights that are, or (under certain
circumstances specified in the Rights Agreement) were, beneficially owned by an
Acquiring Person will be null and void.
 
  In the event that, at any time following the Shares Acquisition Date, (i) the
Company is acquired in a merger or other business combination transaction
(other than a merger described in the immediately preceding paragraph or a
merger which follows an offer described in the immediately preceding
paragraph), or (ii) 50% or more of the Company's assets or earning power is
sold or transferred, each holder of a Right (except Rights which previously
have been voided as set forth above) shall thereafter have the right to
receive, upon exercise, common stock of the acquiring company having a value
equal to two times the exercise price of the Right. The events set forth in
this paragraph and in the preceding paragraph are referred to as the
"Triggering Events."
 
  At any time prior to the earlier of (i) 5:00 p.m. New York City time on the
tenth day following the Shares Acquisition Date and (ii) January 31, 1998, the
Company may redeem the Rights in whole, but not in part, at a price of $.01 per
Right (the "Redemption Price"). Under certain circumstances set forth in the
Rights Agreement the decision to redeem shall require the concurrence of a
majority of the Independent Directors. Thereafter, the Company's right of
redemption may be reinstated if an Acquiring Person reduces such person's
beneficial ownership to 10% or less of the outstanding shares of Common Stock
of the Company in a transaction or series of transactions not involving the
Company or any of its subsidiaries and there is no other Acquiring Person.
Immediately upon the action of the Board of Directors of the Company electing
to redeem the Rights with, if required, the concurrence of the Independent
Directors, the Company shall make announcement thereof, and upon such action,
the right to exercise the Rights will terminate and the only right of the
holders of Rights will be to receive the Redemption Price.
 
  Until a Right is exercised, the holder thereof, as such, will have no rights
as a stockholder of the Company, including, without limitation, the right to
vote or to receive dividends.
 
  Other than those provisions relating to the principal economic terms of the
Rights, any of the provisions of the Rights Agreement may be amended by the
Board of Directors of the Company prior to the Distribution Date. After the
Distribution Date or the Shares Acquisition Date, the provisions of the Rights
Agreement may be amended by the Board (in certain circumstances, with the
concurrence of the Independent Directors) in order to cure any ambiguity,
defect or inconsistency, to make changes which do not adversely affect the
interests of holders of Rights (excluding the interests of any Acquiring
Person), or, with certain limitations, to shorten or lengthen any time period
under the Rights Agreement.
 
  The term "Independent Director" means any member of the Board of Directors of
the Company who was a member of the Board prior to the date of the Rights
Agreement, and any person who is
 
                                       31
<PAGE>
 
subsequently elected to the Board if such person is recommended or approved by
a majority of the Independent Directors, but shall not include an Acquiring
Person, or an affiliate of an Acquiring Person, or any representative of the
foregoing entities.
 
  Certain Statutory Requirements. Section 912 of the New York Law purports to
regulate certain "business combinations" of a "resident domestic corporation"
with an "interested shareholder" after the "stock acquisition date," each as
defined in Section 912. Section 912 provides that a resident domestic
corporation shall not engage at any time in any business combination with any
interested shareholder other than: (i) a business combination approved by the
board of directors of such resident domestic corporation prior to such
interested shareholder's stock acquisition date or where the purchase of stock
by such interested shareholder on the stock acquisition date had been approved
by the board of directors prior to the stock acquisition date; (ii) a business
combination approved by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of
the outstanding voting stock not beneficially owned by such interested
shareholder or any affiliate thereof no earlier than five years after such
interested shareholder's stock acquisition date; or (iii) a business
combination after such five year period which was approved by a majority of
shares held by disinterested shareholders and which meet certain "fair price"
criteria and other conditions specified in Section 912 (which would require,
among other things, that the consideration be in cash or in the same form as
paid in the Offer).
 
  Section 912 defines "resident domestic corporation" as a corporation (i)
organized in the State of New York, (ii) having either (A) its principal
executive offices and significant business operations located in the State of
New York or (B) alone or in combination with one or more of its subsidiaries of
which it owns at least 80% of the voting stock, a specified number or
percentage of employees employed primarily in the State of New York and (iii)
having at least ten percent of its voting stock owned beneficially by residents
of the State of New York. A "business combination" includes (i) any merger or
consolidation of a resident domestic corporation with (a) an interested
shareholder or (b) any other corporation which is, or after such merger or
consolidation would be, an affiliate or associate of such interested
shareholder, (ii) any sale, lease, exchange, mortgage, pledge, transfer or
other disposition to or with an interested shareholder or any affiliate or
associate thereof of assets having an aggregate market value equal to at least
10% of the aggregate market value of all assets on a consolidated basis or of
all outstanding stock, or representing at least 10% of the earning power or net
income on a consolidated basis, of such resident domestic corporation, and
(iii) other specified self-dealing transactions between such resident domestic
corporation and an interested shareholder or any affiliate or associate
thereof. An "interested shareholder" is defined to include any person (other
than the corporation or a subsidiary thereof) that is the beneficial owner,
directly or indirectly, of 20% or more of the outstanding voting stock of such
resident domestic corporation. "stock acquisition date" is defined as the date
that a person first becomes an interested shareholder.
 
  If Section 912 applies to the Company, and if Section 912 is not inapplicable
on its face or as applied to the Proposed Merger, Section 912 would prohibit,
among other transactions, consummation of the Proposed Merger for a period of
five years after consummation of the Offer unless, prior to the purchase of
Shares pursuant to the Offer, the Company's Board of Directors shall have
approved the Proposed Merger or the purchase of Shares pursuant to the Offer.
 
  The Offer is subject to the Section 912 Condition. As more fully described in
the Introduction, the Section 912 Condition would be satisfied if (i) the
Company's Board of Directors approved the Offer and the Proposed Merger prior
to consummation of the Offer, or (ii) the Purchaser, in its sole discretion,
was satisfied that Section 912 was invalid or its restrictions were otherwise
inapplicable to the Purchaser in connection with the Proposed Merger for any
reason, including, without limitation, those specified in Section 912. On March
6, 1994, the Board of Directors of the Company approved the Martin Marietta
Merger Agreement, thereby relieving Martin Marietta from the requirements of
Section 912. The Purchaser believes that, in order to place the Purchaser on a
level playing field with Martin Marietta and to satisfy its fiduciary duties to
stockholders, the Board of Directors of the Company must take
 
                                       32
<PAGE>
 
similar action to approve the Offer and relieve the Purchaser from the
requirements of Section 912 that would restrict the consummation of the
Proposed Merger. See Introduction and Section 13.
 
  The Purchaser has reserved the right, in its sole discretion, to waive any or
all of the conditions to the Offer. In the event the Purchaser waives the
Section 912 Condition and consummates the Offer, the Purchaser may elect to
disregard Section 912 on the basis of the belief that it is inapplicable,
invalid or unenforceable, may take action to attempt to avoid the effects of
Section 912 or may abandon or postpone the Proposed Merger.
 
  Article 16 of the New York Law also requires a bidder for shares of a New
York corporation to file a registration statement with the attorney general and
satisfy certain disclosure requirements. The Purchaser and Northrop have filed
such a registration statement.
 
  Appraisal Rights. If the Proposed Merger is consummated, stockholders of the
Company would have certain rights to dissent and demand appraisal of their
Shares under the New York Law. Dissenting stockholders who comply with the
requisite statutory procedures under the New York Law would be entitled to a
judicial determination and payment of the "fair value" of their Shares as of
the close of business on the day prior to the date of stockholder authorization
of the Proposed Merger, together with interest thereon, at such rate as the
court finds equitable, from the date the Proposed Merger is consummated until
the date of payment. Under the New York Law, in fixing the fair value of the
Shares, a court would consider the nature of the transaction giving rise to the
stockholders' right to receive payment for Shares and its effects on the
Company and its stockholders, the concepts and methods then customary in the
relevant securities and financial markets for determining fair value of shares
of a corporation engaging in a similar transaction under comparable
circumstances and all other relevant factors. The value so determined could be
more or less than the purchase price offered pursuant to the Offer or the
Proposed Merger.
 
  Going Private Transactions. The Proposed Merger would have to comply with
applicable federal law. In the event that the Proposed Merger is consummated
more than one year after termination of the Offer and the Purchaser has become
an affiliate of the Company as a result of the consummation of the Offer, or
the Proposed Merger provides for the payment of consideration less than that
paid pursuant to the Offer, and in certain other circumstances, the Purchaser
may be required to comply with Rule 13e-3 under the Exchange Act. If
applicable, Rule 13e-3 would require, among other things, that certain
financial information concerning the Company and certain information relating
to the fairness of such transaction and the consideration offered to minority
stockholders be filed with the Commission and distributed to minority
stockholders prior to the consummation of such transaction.
 
  15. Certain Legal Matters.
 
  General. Except as described below, based on its examination of publicly
available filings by the Company with the Commission and other publicly
available information concerning the Company, neither Northrop nor the
Purchaser is aware of any license or regulatory permit that appears to be
material to the business of the Company and that might be adversely affected by
the Purchaser's acquisition of Shares pursuant to the Offer, or of any approval
or other action by any governmental authority or public body, domestic or
foreign, that would be required for the acquisition or ownership of Shares by
the Purchaser pursuant to the Offer. Should any such approval or other action
be required, it is presently contemplated that such approval or action would be
sought except as described below under "Other State Takeover Statutes." While
the Purchaser does not currently intend to delay acceptance for payment of
Shares tendered pursuant to the Offer pending the outcome of any such matter,
there can be no assurance that any such approval or other action, if required,
would be obtained without substantial conditions or that adverse consequences
might not result to the Company's business or that certain parts of the
Company's business might not have to be disposed of in the event that such
approvals were not obtained or such other actions were not taken or in order to
obtain any
 
                                       33
<PAGE>
 
such approval or other action. If certain types of adverse action are taken
with respect to the matters discussed below, the Purchaser may decline to
accept for payment or pay for any Shares tendered. See Section 6.
 
  Confidentiality Agreement. As described above under "Introduction," the
Company and Northrop are parties to the Confidentiality Agreement, which was
entered into in January 1993 when the two companies were engaged in discussions
of a transaction viewed as a merger of equals. The Confidentiality Agreement
provides, among other things, that for a period of three years neither party
will, unless invited by the other, acquire or offer to acquire voting
securities or assets of, or make a proposal for any extraordinary transaction
with, the other. The Confidentiality Agreement provides that either party shall
be entitled to an injunction in the event of a breach of the Confidentiality
Agreement by the other. In light of the Company's decision to enter into the
Martin Marietta Merger Agreement and the other circumstances described above in
Section 13, Northrop believes that: (a) the Company and its Board of Directors
have a fiduciary duty not to interfere with the Offer, and (b) the
Confidentiality Agreement may not be enforced to prohibit or prevent the Offer
or the purchase of Shares pursuant thereto. It is Northrop's position that in
light of all of the circumstances, the conduct of the Company in entering into
the Martin Marietta Merger Agreement without advising Northrop that the Company
had determined to put itself up for sale or affording Northrop the opportunity
to submit its best and highest offer for a similar acquisition: (a) was in
violation of the Company's and the Board of Director's fiduciary duty to
stockholders and the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing under the
Confidentiality Agreement; and (b) caused the standstill provisions of the
Confidentiality Agreement to fail for lack of consideration and the failure of
their essential purpose.
 
  Antitrust. Under the HSR Act and the rules that have been promulgated
thereunder by the Federal Trade Commission (the "FTC"), certain acquisition
transactions may not be consummated unless certain information has been
furnished to the Antitrust Division of the Department of Justice (the
"Antitrust Division") and the FTC and certain waiting period requirements have
been satisfied. The acquisition of Shares pursuant to the Offer is subject to
such requirements. See Section 6.
 
  Under the provisions of the HSR Act applicable to the purchase of Shares
pursuant to the Offer, purchases cannot be made until the expiration of a 15
calendar day waiting period after the furnishing of certain required
information and documentary material to the Antitrust Division and the FTC with
respect to the Offer (unless earlier terminated pursuant to a request therefor,
which Northrop or the Purchaser will make). If, within such 15-day waiting
period, either the Antitrust Division or the FTC requests additional
information or documentary material relevant to the Offer from the Purchaser,
the waiting period will be extended for an additional period of 10 calendar
days following the date of substantial compliance with such request. Only one
extension of the waiting period pursuant to a request for additional
information is authorized by the rules promulgated under the HSR Act.
Thereafter, such waiting period may be extended only by court order or by
agreement of the Purchaser. A request for additional information issued to the
Company cannot extend the waiting period. The Purchaser expects to file a
Notification and Report Form with respect to the Offer and under the HSR Act on
March 14, 1994, and, in such event, the required waiting period with respect to
the Offer will expire at 11:59 p.m., New York City time, on March 29, 1994,
unless Northrop or the Purchaser receives a request for additional information
or documentary material prior thereto.
 
  The Antitrust Division and the FTC frequently scrutinize the legality under
the antitrust laws of transactions such as the proposed purchase of the Shares
by the Purchaser pursuant to the Offer. At any time before or after such
purchase, the Antitrust Division or the FTC could take such action under the
antitrust laws as it deems necessary or desirable in the public interest,
including seeking to enjoin the transaction or seeking divestiture of the
Shares so acquired or divestiture of substantial assets of Northrop, the
Purchaser or the Company. Litigation seeking similar relief could also be
brought by private parties.
 
 
                                       34
<PAGE>
 
  The Purchaser does not believe that consummation of the Offer will result in
violation of any applicable antitrust laws. However, there can be no assurance
that a challenge to the Offer on antitrust grounds will not be made, or if such
a challenge is made, what the result will be. See Section 6 for certain
conditions to the Offer, including conditions with respect to litigation and
certain governmental actions.
 
  Government Contracts. Revenue under United States government contracts and
subcontracts represents a significant percentage of the Company's revenue from
continuing operations. Certain United States government agencies, departments
or regulations prescribe conditions, policies and procedures relating to the
qualifications of bidders, offerors, contractors, subcontractors and other
firms and individuals and to the eligibility for procuring government defense
contracts. The Purchaser is not aware of any fact concerning any of its or
Northrop's officers and directors which would cause any domestic governmental
agency or department with which the Company presently does business to
disqualify the Company as a contractor.
 
  Other State Takeover Statutes. A number of states in addition to New York
have adopted "takeover" statutes that purport to apply to attempts to acquire
corporations that are incorporated in such states, or whose business operations
have substantial economic effects in such states, or which have substantial
assets, security holders, employees, principal executive offices or places of
business in such states.
 
  In Edgar v. MITE Corporation, the Supreme Court of the United States
invalidated on constitutional grounds the Illinois Business Takeover Act,
which, as a matter of state securities law, made takeovers of corporations
meeting certain requirements more difficult. However, in CTS Corp. v. Dynamics
Corp. of America, the Supreme Court held that a state may, as a matter of
corporate law and, in particular, those laws concerning corporate governance,
constitutionally disqualify a potential acquiror from voting on the affairs of
a target corporation without prior approval of the remaining stockholders,
provided that such laws were applicable under certain conditions, in
particular, that the corporation has a substantial number of stockholders in
the state and is incorporated there.
 
  The Company, directly or through subsidiaries, conducts business in a number
of states throughout the United States, some of which have enacted "takeover"
statutes. The Purchaser does not know whether any of these statutes will, by
their terms, apply to the Offer, and has not complied with any such statutes
other than the registration requirements of Article 16 of the New York Law. To
the extent that certain provisions of these statutes purport to apply to the
Offer, the Purchaser believes that there are reasonable bases for contesting
the validity or applicability of such statutes. If any person should seek to
apply any state takeover statute to the Offer, the Purchaser would take such
action as then appears desirable, which action may include challenging the
validity or applicability of any such statute in appropriate court proceedings.
If it is asserted that one or more takeover statutes apply to the Offer, and it
is not determined by an appropriate court that such statute or statutes do not
apply or are invalid as applied to the Offer, the Purchaser may be required to
file certain information with, or receive approvals from, the relevant state
authorities, and the Purchaser may be unable to purchase or pay for Shares
tendered pursuant to the Offer, or be delayed in continuing or consummating the
Offer. In such case, the Purchaser may not be obligated to accept for payment
or pay for Shares tendered. According to the Martin Marietta Offer, the by-laws
of the Company were amended by the Board of Directors of the Company on March
6, 1994 to provide that, to the extent the Company is permitted to do so, the
takeover statutes of any state, other than the State of New York, shall not
apply to the Company.
 
  16. Fees and Expenses. Salomon is acting as Dealer Manager in connection with
the Offer and serving as financial advisor to Northrop and the Purchaser in
connection with the proposed acquisition of the Company. Northrop has agreed to
pay Salomon an initial fee of $1 million as a result of the commencement of the
Offer, and an additional fee of $1 million upon the execution of a definitive
agreement to effect a combination (by merger, tender offer or otherwise), joint
venture or other
 
                                       35
<PAGE>
 
business combination transaction with the Company or the purchase by Northrop
of all or a significant portion of the assets or more than 30% of the equity
securities of the Company (collectively, a "Combination Transaction"). In
addition, Salomon will receive a fee of $8 million (less fee amounts previously
paid) upon consummation of any such Combination Transaction. Northrop and the
Purchaser will also reimburse Salomon for out-of-pocket expenses, including
reasonable attorneys' fees, and Salomon will be indemnified against certain
liabilities and expenses in connection with the Offer, including certain
liabilities under the federal securities laws.
 
  The Purchaser has retained Georgeson & Company Inc. to act as the Information
Agent and Chemical Bank to act as the Depositary in connection with the Offer.
The Information Agent may contact holders of Shares by mail, telephone, telex,
telegraph and personal interview and may request brokers, dealers and other
nominee stockholders to forward the Offer materials to beneficial owners. The
Information Agent and the Depositary will receive reasonable and customary
compensation for services relating to the Offer and will be reimbursed for
certain out-of-pocket expenses. The Purchaser and Northrop have also agreed to
indemnify the Information Agent and the Depositary against certain liabilities
and expenses in connection with the Offer, including certain liabilities under
the federal securities laws.
 
  The Purchaser will not pay any fees or commissions to any broker or dealer or
any other person for soliciting tenders of Shares pursuant to the Offer (other
than to the Dealer Manager, the Information Agent and the Depositary). Brokers,
dealers, commercial banks and trust companies will, upon request, be reimbursed
by the Purchaser for customary mailing and handling expenses incurred by them
in forwarding offering materials to their customers.
 
  17. Miscellaneous. The Offer is being made to all holders of Shares. The
Purchaser is not aware of any state where the making of the Offer is prohibited
by administrative or judicial action pursuant to any valid state statute. If
the Purchaser becomes aware of any valid state statute prohibiting the making
of the Offer or the acceptance of Shares pursuant thereto, the Purchaser will
make a good faith effort to comply with any such state statute or seek to have
such statute declared inapplicable to the Offer. If, after such good faith
effort, the Purchaser cannot comply with any such state statute, the Offer will
not be made to (nor will tenders be accepted from or on behalf of) the holders
of Shares in such state. In any jurisdiction where the securities, blue sky or
other laws require the Offer to be made by a licensed broker or dealer, the
Offer will be deemed to be made on behalf of the Purchaser by the Dealer
Manager or one or more registered brokers or dealers licensed under the laws of
such jurisdiction.
 
  No person has been authorized to give any information or make any
representation on behalf of Northrop, the Purchaser or the Company not
contained in this Offer to Purchase or in the Letter of Transmittal and, if
given or made, such information or representation must not be relied upon as
having been authorized.
 
  Northrop and the Purchaser have filed with the Commission a Tender Offer
Statement on Schedule 14D-1, together with all exhibits thereto, pursuant to
Rule 14d-3 of the General Rules and Regulations under the Exchange Act,
furnishing certain additional information with respect to the Offer. Such
Tender Offer Statement and any amendments thereto, including exhibits, may be
inspected and copies may be obtained from the offices of the Commission in the
manner set forth in Section 10 (except that they will not be available at the
regional offices of the Commission).
 
                                          Northrop Acquisition, Inc.
 
March 14, 1994
 
 
                                       36
<PAGE>
 
                                    ANNEX I
 
                     INFORMATION RELATING TO DIRECTORS AND
                EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF NORTHROP AND THE PURCHASER
 
  The following table sets forth the name, current business address and present
principal occupation or employment, and material occupations, positions, office
or employments and business addresses thereof for the past five years of each
director and executive officer of Purchaser. Unless otherwise indicated, the
current business address of each person is 1840 Century Park East, Los Angeles,
California 90067. Each such person is a citizen of the United States of
America. Unless otherwise indicated, each occupation set forth opposite an
individual's name refers to employment with Purchaser. Directors are indicated
by an asterisk.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
   NAME AND BUSINESS
        ADDRESS                     PRINCIPAL OCCUPATION OR EMPLOYMENT
   -----------------                ----------------------------------
<S>                       <C>
Oliver C. Boileau, Jr.*.  Corporate Vice President and General Manager, B-2
                          Division; Director since 1992; Consultant to General
                          Dynamics prior to November 1989; President and Director
                          of General Dynamics from 1980 until 1988 and Vice
                          Chairman of General Dynamics until 1988; Chairman of
                          the Massachusetts Institute of Technology-Lincoln
                          Laboratory Advisory Board.

Jack R. Borsting*.......  E. Morgan Stanley Professor of Business Administration,
 University of Southern   University of Southern California; Dean of the School
 California               of Business at the University of Miami from 1983 to
 School of Business       1988; Robert Dockson Professor and Dean of the School
 Administration           of Business Administration at the University of
 University Park          Southern California, Los Angeles from 1988 to 1994;
 Los Angeles, CA 90089    Past president of the Operations Research Society of
                          America and the Military Operations Research Society;
                          Director of Delta Research and TROLearning.

John T. Chain, Jr.*.....  Executive Vice President, Safety and Corporate Support,
 2680 Continental Plaza   Burlington Northern Railroad Company; Chief of Staff
 777 Main Street          for Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe and
 Ft. Worth,               Commander in Chief, Strategic Air Command until 1991;
 TX 76102-5384            Executive Vice President of Operations for Burlington
                          Northern Railroad from 1991 until 1992; Director of
                          Kemper Corporation.

Arthur Dauer............  Corporate Vice President and Chief Human Resources
                          Officer, 1991-1994; Senior Vice President, Human
                          Resources; Prior to 1991, Director of Personnel,
                          Hewlett-Packard Co.

Jack Edwards*...........  Partner, Hand, Arendall, Bedsole, Greaves & Johnston;
 P.O. Box 380             U.S. House of Representatives, 1964-1985, serving on
 Point Clear,             the Appropriations Committee (16 years), as Senior
 Alabama 36564            Republican on the Defense Committee (10 years),
                          Transportation Subcommittee (16 years) and Banking,
                          Finance and Urban Affairs Committee; Director of
                          Southern Company, Holman, Inc. and Dravo Corporation.

Marvin Elkin............  Corporate Vice President, Administration and Services,
                          1991-Present; Vice President, Materials and Services,
                          1989-1991; Vice President and Deputy General Manager,
                          B-2 Division prior to 1989.
</TABLE>
 
 
                                       37
<PAGE>
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
   NAME AND BUSINESS
        ADDRESS                     PRINCIPAL OCCUPATION OR EMPLOYMENT
   -----------------                ----------------------------------
<S>                       <C>
Sheila M. Gibbons.......  Corporate Vice President and Secretary 1992-Present;
                          Vice President and Secretary, 1983-1992.

Nelson F. Gibbs.........  Corporate Vice President and Controller, 1992-Present;
                          Vice President and Controller 1991-1992; Partner,
                          Deloitte & Touche 1987-1991.

Robert W. Helm..........  Vice President, Government Relations since 1994; Vice
                          President, Legislative Affairs; Prior to 1989, Vice
                          President, Business Development, Space and Aviation
                          Systems Business, Honeywell, Inc.

Charles L. Jones, Jr. ..  Corporate Vice President of Quality Operations, 1991-
                          Present; Vice President, Manager, Product Assurance and
                          Productivity Department.

Barbara C. Jordan*......  Associated with the Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public
 LBJ School of Public     Affairs; Texas State Senate 1972; U.S. Congress, 3
 Affairs                  terms beginning in 1972, serving on the Judiciary and
 2313 Red River           Government Operations Committees and the Steering and
 Austin, TX 78706         Policy Committee of the House Democratic Caucus;
                          Director of The Mead Corporation, Burlington Northern
                          Railroad, Texas Commerce Bankshares, Inc. and the
                          Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation.

Kent Kresa*.............  Chairman since 1990; President since 1987 and Chief
                          Executive Officer since 1989; Chief Operating Officer
                          in 1987; Board of Governors of the Aerospace Industries
                          Association; Director of Chrysler Corporation, Atlantic
                          Richfield Company, the Los Angeles World Affairs
                          Council and the John Tracy Clinic.

Richard R. Molleur......  Corporate Vice President and General Counsel; Senior
                          Vice President and General Counsel, 1991-Present;
                          Partner, Winston & Strawn, 1989-1991; Partner, Heron,
                          Burchette, Ruckett & Rothwell, 1986-1989.

Aulana L. Peters*.......  Partner, Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher, 1980-1984 and 1988
 Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher  until present; Commissioner of the Securities and
 333 S. Grand Ave.,       Exchange Commission, 1984-1988; Director of 3M, the New
 47th Floor               York Stock Exchange, IDS Mutual Fund Group and Mobil
 Los Angeles, CA 90071    Corporation.

John R. Rettberg........  Corporate Vice President and Treasurer, since 1992;
                          Vice President and Treasurer, 1987-1992.

John E. Robson*.........  Senior Advisor, Robertson Stevens & Company, investment
 Robertson Stevens &      bankers; Deputy Secretary of the United States
 Company                  Treasury, 1989 to 1993; Dean and Professor of
 555 California,          Management at the Emory University School of Business
 Ste 2600                 Administration from 1986 to 1989; Director of Rand
 San Francisco, CA 94104  McNally Company and Security Capital Industrial Trust.

James G. Roche..........  Corporate Vice President and Chief Advanced Development
                          Planning and Public Affairs Officer, 1993-Present;
                          Corporate Vice President and Chief Advanced Development
                          and Planning Officer; Prior to 1991, Vice President and
                          Special Assistant to the Chairman, President and Chief
                          Executive Officer.
</TABLE>
 
 
                                       38
<PAGE>
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
   NAME AND BUSINESS
        ADDRESS                    PRINCIPAL OCCUPATION OR EMPLOYMENT
   -----------------               ----------------------------------
<S>                      <C>
Richard M. Rosenberg* .. Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer,
 Bank of America         BankAmerica Corporation and Bank of American NT & SA
 BankAmerica Corporation since 1990 having served as Vice Chairman of the Board
 555 California St.,     and a director of BAC and the Bank since 1987; Retired
 40th Floor              Commander U.S. Navy Reserve; director of Airborne
 San Francisco, CA 94104 Express and Potlach Corporation; member of the Federal
                         Advisory Council of the Board of Governors of the
                         Federal Reserve System.

William F. Schmied*..... Retired; Chairman, President and Chief Executive, from
 P.O. Box 858            1987 to 1988 of the Singer Company which he joined as
 Pebble Beach, CA 93953  Division President of Singer Company Kearfott Division
                         in 1969; Director of Northeast Bancorp, Inc., Union
                         Trust Company, Tiger International and Flying Tiger
                         Line, Inc.

Brent Scowcroft* ....... Lieutenant General, USAF (Ret.) and Assistant to the
 The Scowcroft           President for National Security Affairs for Presidents
 Group, Inc.             Bush and Ford; Various national security posts in the
 1750 K St., N.W.,       Pentagon and the White House; teaching positions at
 Suite 800               West Point and the Air Force Academy; Director of
 Washington, DC 20006    Pennzoil.

John Brooks Slaughter*.. President, Occidental College since 1988; Chancellor of
 Occidental College      the University of Maryland from 1982 to 1988; Director
 1600 Campus Road        of Monsanto, ARCO, Avery Dennison and IBM.
 Los Angeles, CA 90041

Wallace C. Solberg*..... Corporate Vice President and General Manager, Aircraft
                         Division since 1991; Vice President and General
                         Manager, Electronics Systems Division; Prior to 1991,
                         Vice President and General Manager of Defense Systems
                         Division.

Richard J. Stegemeier*.. Chairman since 1989 and Chief Executive Officer since
 UNOCAL Corporation      1988 of Unocal Corporation; appointed President and
 1201 W. 5th St.         Chief Operating Officer of Unocal in 1985; Chairman of
 Los Angeles, CA 90071   the Los Angeles World Affairs Council; Director of
                         First Interstate Bancorp and Outboard Marine
                         Corporation.

Richard B. Waugh, Jr. .. Corporate Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
                         since 1993; Vice President, Taxes, Risk Management and
                         Business Analysis.

Max T. Weiss............ Corporate Vice President and Manager, Electronics,
                         1991-Present; Previous positions included Vice
                         President, General Technology and Systems Division
                         Advanced Development; Prior to 1991, Vice President-
                         Technology; Prior to 1990, Vice President--Technical,
                         Electronics Systems Group.
</TABLE>
 
                                       39
<PAGE>
 
                                    ANNEX II
 
                    CERTAIN INFORMATION RELATING TO NORTHROP
                            REQUIRED BY NEW YORK LAW
 
PENSION PLANS.
 
  Northrop sponsors several defined-benefit pension plans covering
substantially all employees. Pension benefits for most employees are based on
the employee's years of service and compensation during the last five years
before retirement. It is the policy of Northrop to fund at least the minimum
amount required for all qualified plans, using actuarial cost methods and
assumptions acceptable under U.S. Government regulations, by making payments
into a trust separate from Northrop.
 
  Northrop and a subsidiary also sponsor defined-contribution plans in which
all employees are eligible to participate. Contributions, up to 4 percent of
compensation, are based on a formula resulting in the matching of employee
contributions.
 
  In addition, Northrop and its subsidiaries currently provide certain health
care and life insurance benefits for retired employees. Election to participate
must be made at the date of retirement. Qualifying dependents are also eligible
for medical coverage. Approximately 75 percent of Northrop's current retirees
participate in the medical plan.
 
 a. Northrop Retirement Plans.
 
  Approximately 80% of all full-time employees of the Company participate in
the Northrop Retirement Plan (the "Retirement Plan"). The computation of
benefits under the Retirement Plan is based upon a formula which takes into
consideration years of service, retirement age and final average compensation
(highest paid three years during the last five years of service) which consists
generally of total wages reflected on tax Form W-2 (including tax-deferred
contributions to the Northrop Savings Plan (the "Savings Plan", described
below). The employees of one division of Northrop participate in a separate
retirement plan under which the computation of benefits is identical to the
computation under the Retirement Plan, except that the final average
compensation is based on the highest paid three years during the last ten years
of service. Additionally, the employees of two divisions are eligible to
participate in retirement plans in which Northrop contributes 3% of the
employee's compensation, the employee may contribute up to 9% of the employee's
compensation, and Northrop makes matching contributions in amounts equal to a
maximum of 4 1/2% of the employee contribution. Finally, the union employees of
one of Northrop's divisions participate in a retirement plan in which benefits
are calculated in accordance with the provisions of the relevant collective
bargaining agreement.
 
  The Supplemental Retirement Income Plan for Senior Executives (the
"Supplemental Plan") provides for certain payments to be made upon termination
of employment to certain officers designated for participation by the Board of
Directors who are over age 55 and have been employees for more than ten years.
Payments normally are made monthly and are in an amount equal to the excess of
(A) the greater of the participant's benefits under the Retirement Plan
calculated without regard to the maximum benefit payable from the Retirement
Plan; or a fixed percentage of the participant's Final Average Salary (highest
paid three years during the last five years of service) as defined by the
Retirement Plan, over (B) the participant's benefits under the Retirement Plan.
The above fixed percentage will equal 30% of final average salary at age 55
increasing at a rate of 4% per year up to and including retirement at age 60
and thereafter at a rate of 2% per year up to and including retirement at age
65 or over, at which time the fixed percentage will equal 60%.
 
  The Board of Directors of the Company has also adopted the ERISA Supplemental
Plan I (the "ERISA Plan I") which covers individuals who are eligible to
receive benefits under the Retirement Plan but who are not eligible to receive
benefits under the Supplemental Plan. Benefits payable under the
 
                                       40
<PAGE>
 
ERISA Plan I equal the retirement benefit, if any, which would have been
payable to the individual under the Retirement Plan but for the restrictions of
Section 415 of the Code, less the retirement benefit actually payable under the
Retirement Plan.
 
  The Company's ERISA Supplemental Plan II ("ERISA Plan II") covers individuals
who are eligible to receive benefits under the Retirement Plan but who are not
eligible to receive benefits under the Supplemental Plan. Benefits payable
under the ERISA Plan II equal the retirement benefit, if any, which would have
been payable to the individual under the Retirement Plan but for the
compensation limitation of Section 401(a)(17) of the Code, and the limitations
under Section 415 of the Code, less the retirement benefits actually payable
under the Retirement Plan and the ERISA Plan I.
 
  The Northrop Corporation Board of Directors Retirement Plan (the "Directors'
Plan") provides that outside directors are eligible to receive a retirement
benefit if they retire from the Board following completion of at least five or
more consecutive years of service as an outside Board Member. The annual
benefit payable pursuant to the Directors Plan is equal to the annual retainer
fee then being paid to active directors or such lesser amount as is provided
for under the Directors Plan.
 
 b. Northrop Savings Plan.
 
  The Northrop Fund (the Savings Plan Investment Fund that invests Company
matching contributions in Company Stock) is an Employee Stock Ownership Plan.
Virtually all full-time employees of the Company may participate in the
Northrop Savings Plan (a qualified profit-sharing plan). Participants may
contribute each year from 2% to 18% of compensation. The Company makes certain
matching contributions on behalf of each participant. Participants may elect
that all or a portion of the Company's contributions be placed in a fund which
is invested in the Common Stock of the Company. All Company contributions not
so directed and all participant contributions are invested in other diversified
investments.
 
 c. Incentive Compensation Plans.
 
  Certain employees are eligible to receive Incentive Compensation Awards under
the terms of the 1973 Incentive Compensation Plan and the Performance
Achievement Plan. Awards are computed and paid annually under a formula based
on the financial performance of the Company, including return on stockholders'
equity, the Company's attainment of profit objectives and other supplementary
objectives (including contract acquisitions, new product development and return
on the Company's assets), together with the performance of the individual in
relation to personal performance. The financial performance of the Company is
determined annually; however, return on stockholders' equity is based on an
average over a sliding three-year period. Individual performance is determined
annually.
 
 d. Stock Incentive Plans.
 
  Northrop's 1993 Long-Term Incentive Stock Plan provides for stock options,
stock appreciation rights (SARs) and stock awards to key employees. This plan
added 2,300,000 shares, of which up to one-half may be in the form of stock
awards, to the pool available for future grants.
 
  Stock awards, in the form of restricted performance stock rights, are granted
to key employees without payment to Northrop. Recipients of the rights shall
earn shares of stock based on a total shareholder return measure of performance
over a five-year period with interim distributions beginning three years after
grant. If after the five-year period no shares have been earned, based on
performance, 70% of the original grant will be forfeited.
 
  In 1993, the stockholders approved the 1993 Stock Plan For Non-Employee
Directors which provides that 20% of the retainer fee earned by each Director
will be paid in Northrop stock, which will
 
                                       41
<PAGE>
 
be issued as soon as practicable following the close of the fiscal year. In
addition, Directors may defer payment of all or a portion of their remaining
retainer fees and/or their Board and Committee meeting fees. Deferred
compensation may either be distributed in Northrop stock, issued as soon as
practicable after the close of the fiscal year, or such compensation may be
placed in a Stock Unit Account until the conclusion of a director-specified
deferral period, a minimum of two years from the time the compensation is
earned.
 
EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES.
 
  Northrop provides educational assistance to eligible employees who pursue
programs of study that are consistent with the employee's field of work and
Northrop's business.
 
RELOCATION ADJUSTMENTS.
 
  Northrop, in accordance with the terms of its corporate policy, may reimburse
job applicants, new employees and current employees for certain travel and
relocation expenses.
 
CHARITABLE AND CIVIL ACTIVITIES.
 
  Consistent with Northrop's commitment to responsible community involvement,
Northrop supports a variety of charitable foundations, particularly in
communities in which Northrop operates facilities or has offices. Additionally,
Northrop supports higher education with an emphasis on mathematics and science.
 
                                       42
<PAGE>
 
  Manually signed facsimile copies of the Letter of Transmittal will be
accepted. Letters of Transmittal and certificates for Shares should be sent or
delivered by each stockholder of the Company or his broker, dealer, commercial
bank or trust company to the Depositary at one of its addresses set forth
below:
 
                        The Depositary for the Offer is:
 
                                 CHEMICAL BANK
 
         By Mail:               By Facsimile      By Hand or Overnight Delivery:
      Chemical Bank             Transmission:            Chemical Bank 
Reorganization Department       (for Eligible           55 Water Street 
     P.O. Box 3085            Institutions only)      Second Floor--Room 234
    G.P.O. Station               (212) 629-8015      New York, New York 10041
   New York, New York            (212) 629-8016             Attention:
       10116-3085           Confirm by Telephone:   Reorganization Department
                                (212) 613-7137
      
 
 
  Any questions or requests for assistance may be directed to the Information
Agent or Dealer Manager at their respective addresses and telephone numbers set
forth below. Requests for additional copies of this Offer to Purchase and the
Letter of Transmittal may be directed to the Information Agent, the Dealer
Manager or the Depositary. Stockholders may also contact their brokers,
dealers, commercial banks or trust companies for assistance concerning the
Offer.
 
                    The Information Agent for the Offer is:
 
 
                        [LOGO OF GEORGESON & COMPANY INC.]
 
 Wall Street Plaza New York, New York 10005 (212) 509-6240 (Collect) (800) 223-
                                2064 (Toll Free)
 
                     Banks and Brokers call (212) 440-9800
 
                      The Dealer Manager for the Offer is:
 
                              SALOMON BROTHERS INC
 
                            Seven World Trade Center
 
                            New York, New York 10048
 
                                 (212) 783-7769
 
                                 (Call Collect)
 

<PAGE>
 
                             LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL
                        TO TENDER SHARES OF COMMON STOCK
                       (Including the Associated Rights)
                                       OF
                              GRUMMAN CORPORATION
                                       AT
                              $60.00 NET PER SHARE
             PURSUANT TO THE OFFER TO PURCHASE DATED MARCH 14, 1994
                                       OF
                           NORTHROP ACQUISITION, INC.
                          A WHOLLY OWNED SUBSIDIARY OF
                              NORTHROP CORPORATION

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
         THE OFFER AND WITHDRAWAL RIGHTS WILL EXPIRE AT 12:00 MIDNIGHT,
             NEW YORK CITY TIME, ON APRIL 8, 1994, UNLESS EXTENDED.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 
 
                        The Depositary for the Offer is:
 
                                 CHEMICAL BANK

       By Mail:                 By Facsimile      By Hand or Overnight Delivery:
    Chemical Bank               Transmission:              Chemical Bank 
Reorganization Department       (for Eligible             55 Water Street
     P.O. Box 3085           Institutions only)      Second Floor--Room 234  
    G.P.O. Station             (212) 629-8015       New York, New York 10041
  New York, New York           (212) 629-8016              Attention:
      10116-3085            Confirm by Telephone:  Reorganization Department 
                               (212) 613-7137

   DELIVERY OF THIS INSTRUMENT TO AN ADDRESS OTHER THAN AS SET FORTH ABOVE OR
TRANSMISSION OF INSTRUCTIONS VIA A FACSIMILE NUMBER OTHER THAN ONE LISTED ABOVE
DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A VALID DELIVERY. THE INSTRUCTIONS ACCOMPANYING THIS LETTER
OF TRANSMITTAL SHOULD BE READ CAREFULLY BEFORE THIS LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL IS
COMPLETED.
 
  This Letter of Transmittal is to be used either if certificates are to be
forwarded herewith or, unless an Agent's Message (as defined in the Offer to
Purchase) is utilized, if delivery is to be made by book-entry transfer to the
account maintained by the Depositary at The Depository Trust Company, the
Midwest Securities Trust Company, or the Philadelphia Depository Trust Company
(individually, a "Book-Entry Transfer Facility" and collectively, the "Book-
Entry Transfer Facilities") pursuant to the procedures set forth in Section 2
of the Offer to Purchase. Stockholders whose certificates are not immediately
available or who cannot deliver their certificates or deliver confirmation of
the book-entry transfer of their Shares (as defined below) into the
Depositary's account at a Book-Entry Transfer Facility ("Book-Entry
Confirmation") and all other documents required hereby to the Depositary on or
prior to the Expiration Date (as defined in Section 1 of the Offer to Purchase)
must tender their Shares according to the guaranteed delivery procedures set
forth in Section 2 of the Offer to Purchase. See Instruction 2. Delivery of
documents to a Book-Entry Transfer Facility does not constitute delivery to the
Depositary.
<PAGE>
 
[_]CHECK HERE IF TENDERED SHARES ARE BEING DELIVERED BY BOOK-ENTRY TRANSFER
   MADE TO THE ACCOUNT MAINTAINED BY THE DEPOSITARY WITH A BOOK-ENTRY TRANSFER
   FACILITY AND COMPLETE THE FOLLOWING:
 
  Name of Tendering Institution: _____________________________________________
  Check box of Book-Entry Transfer Facility:
  [_]The Depository Trust Company
  [_]Midwest Securities Trust Company
  [_]Philadelphia Depository Trust Company
 
  Account Number _____________________________________________________________
 
  Transaction Code Number ____________________________________________________
 
[_]CHECK HERE IF TENDERED SHARES ARE BEING DELIVERED PURSUANT TO A NOTICE OF
   GUARANTEED DELIVERY PREVIOUSLY SENT TO THE DEPOSITARY AND COMPLETE THE
   FOLLOWING:
 
  Name(s) of Registered Owner(s): ____________________________________________
 
  Date of Execution of Notice of Guaranteed Delivery: ________________________
 
  Name of Institution that Guaranteed Delivery: ______________________________
  If Delivered by Book-Entry Transfer, Check box of Book-Entry Transfer
  Facility:
  [_]The Depository Trust Company
  [_]Midwest Securities Trust Company
  [_]Philadelphia Depository Trust Company
 
  Account Number _____________________________________________________________
 
  Transaction Code Number ____________________________________________________

<TABLE>
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                         DESCRIPTION OF SHARES TENDERED
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NAME(S) AND ADDRESS(ES) OF REGISTERED HOLDER(S)                 CERTIFICATE(S) TENDERED
          (PLEASE FILL IN, IF BLANK)                     (ATTACH ADDITIONAL LIST IF NECESSARY)
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                 TOTAL NUMBER OF
                                                  CERTIFICATE   SHARES REPRESENTED      NUMBER OF
                                                   NUMBER(S)*   BY CERTIFICATE(S)    SHARES TENDERED**
<S>                                               <C>           <C>                  <C>
                                                  ----------------------------------------------------
                                                  ----------------------------------------------------
                                                  ----------------------------------------------------
                                                  ----------------------------------------------------
                                                  ----------------------------------------------------
                                                  TOTAL SHARES
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
  * Need not be completed by stockholders tendering by book-entry
    transfer.
 ** Unless otherwise indicated, it will be assumed that all Shares
    being delivered to the Depositary are being tendered. See
    Instruction 4.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                    NOTE: SIGNATURES MUST BE PROVIDED BELOW.
              PLEASE READ CAREFULLY THE ACCOMPANYING INSTRUCTIONS.
 
GENTLEMEN AND LADIES:
 
  The undersigned hereby tenders to Northrop Acquisition, Inc. ("Purchaser"), a
wholly owned subsidiary of Northrop Corporation, a Delaware corporation, the
above described shares of Common Stock, par value $1.00 per share (the "Common
Stock"), of Grumman Corporation, a New York corporation (the "Company"), and
the associated Rights, as defined in the Offer to Purchase (collectively, the
"Shares"), pursuant to Purchaser's offer to purchase all of the outstanding
Shares upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Offer to
Purchase, dated March 14, 1994 (the "Offer to Purchase"), receipt of which is
hereby acknowledged, and in this Letter of Transmittal (which together
constitute the "Offer"), at the purchase price of $60.00 per Share, net to the
tendering stockholder in cash.
 
  Subject to, and effective upon, acceptance for payment of the Shares tendered
herewith in accordance with the terms and subject to the conditions of the
Offer, the undersigned hereby sells, assigns, and transfers to, or upon the
<PAGE>
 
order of, Purchaser all right, title and interest in and to all the Shares that
are being tendered hereby (and any and all other Shares or other securities
issued or issuable in respect thereof on or after March 10, 1994) and
irrevocably constitutes and appoints the Depositary the true and lawful agent
and attorney-in-fact of the undersigned with respect to such Shares (and any
such other Shares or securities) with full power of substitution (such power of
attorney being deemed to be an irrevocable power coupled with an interest), to
(a) deliver certificates for such Shares (and any such other Shares or
securities), or transfer ownership of such Shares (and any such other Shares or
securities) on the account books maintained by a Book-Entry Transfer Facility,
together in either such case with all accompanying evidences of transfer and
authenticity, to or upon the order of Purchaser upon receipt by the Depositary,
as the undersigned's agent, of the purchase price (adjusted, if appropriate, as
provided in the Offer to Purchase), (b) present such Shares (and any such other
Shares or securities) for transfer on the books of the Company and (c) receive
all benefits and otherwise exercise all rights of beneficial ownership of such
Shares (and any such other Shares or securities), including receipt of the
redemption price of $.01 per Right upon any redemption of the Rights, all in
accordance with the terms of the Offer.
 
  The undersigned hereby irrevocably appoints Richard R. Molleur and Sheila M.
Gibbons and each of them the attorneys and proxies of the undersigned, each
with full power of substitution, to vote in such manner as each such attorney
and proxy or his substitute shall in his sole discretion deem proper, and
otherwise act (including pursuant to written consent) with respect to all the
Shares tendered hereby which have been accepted for payment by Purchaser prior
to the time of such vote or action (and any and all other Shares or securities
issued or issuable in respect thereof on or after March 10, 1994), which the
undersigned is entitled to vote at any meeting of stockholders (whether annual
or special and whether or not an adjourned meeting) of the Company, or consent
in lieu of any such meeting, or otherwise. This proxy is coupled with an
interest in the Company and in the Shares and is irrevocable and is granted in
consideration of, and is effective upon, the deposit by Purchaser with the
Depositary of the purchase price for such Shares in accordance with the terms
of the Offer. Such acceptance for payment shall revoke all prior proxies
granted by the undersigned at any time with respect to such Shares (and any
such other Shares or other securities) and no subsequent proxies will be given
(and if given will be deemed not to be effective) with respect thereto by the
undersigned.
 
  The undersigned hereby represents and warrants that the undersigned has full
power and authority to tender, sell, assign and transfer the Shares tendered
hereby (and any and all other Shares or other securities issued or issuable in
respect thereof on or after March 10, 1994) and that, when the same are
accepted for payment by Purchaser, Purchaser will acquire good and unencumbered
title thereto, free and clear of all liens, restrictions, charges and
encumbrances and the same will not be subject to any adverse claim. The
undersigned, upon request, will execute and deliver any additional documents
deemed by the Depositary or Purchaser to be necessary or desirable to complete
the sale, assignment and transfer of the Shares tendered hereby (and any and
all such other Shares or other securities).
 
  All authority herein conferred or agreed to be conferred in this Letter of
Transmittal shall not be affected by, and shall survive, the death or
incapacity of the undersigned and any obligation of the undersigned hereunder
shall be binding upon the successors, assigns, heirs, executors, administrators
and legal representatives of the undersigned. Except as stated in the Offer to
Purchase, this tender is irrevocable.
 
  The undersigned understands that tenders of Shares pursuant to any one of the
procedures described in Section 2 of the Offer to Purchase and in the
instructions hereto will constitute a binding agreement between the undersigned
and Purchaser upon the terms and subject to the conditions of the Offer.
 
  Unless otherwise indicated herein under "Special Payment Instructions,"
please issue the check for the purchase price and/or any certificates for
Shares not tendered or accepted for payment in the name(s) of the undersigned.
Similarly, unless otherwise indicated under "Special Delivery Instructions,"
please mail the check for the purchase price and/or return any certificates for
Shares not tendered or accepted for payment (and accompanying documents, as
appropriate) to the undersigned at the address shown below the undersigned's
signature. In the event that both the Special Delivery Instructions and the
Special Payment Instructions are completed, please issue the check for the
purchase price and/or any certificates for Shares not tendered or accepted for
payment in the name of, and deliver said check and/or return such certificates
to the person or persons so indicated. Stockholders delivering Shares by book-
entry transfer may request that any Shares not accepted for payment be returned
by crediting such account maintained at a Book-Entry Transfer Facility as such
stockholder may designate by making an appropriate entry under "Special Payment
Instructions." The undersigned recognizes that Purchaser has no obligation
pursuant to the Special Payment Instructions to transfer any Shares from the
name of the registered holder thereof if Purchaser does not accept for payment
any of the Shares so tendered.
<PAGE>
 
 
     SPECIAL PAYMENT INSTRUCTIONS            SPECIAL DELIVERY INSTRUCTIONS
   (SEE INSTRUCTIONS 1, 5, 6 AND 7)         (SEE INSTRUCTIONS 1, 5, 6 AND 7)
  
 To be completed ONLY if                  To be completed ONLY if
 certificates for Shares not              certificates for Shares not
 tendered or not purchased and/or         tendered or not purchased and/or
 the check for the purchase price of      the check for the purchase price of
 Shares purchased are to be issued        Shares purchased are to be sent to
 in the name of someone other than        someone other than the undersigned,
 the undersigned, or if Shares            or to the undersigned at an address
 delivered by book-entry which are        other than that shown above.
 not purchased are to be returned by
 credit to an account maintained at
 a Book-Entry Transfer Facility
 other than that designated above.
 
                                          Issue check and/or certificate to:
 
                                          Name 
                                               ------------------------------- 
                                                     (Please Print)
 Issue check and/or certificate to:
 
 
                                          Address 
 Name                                             ----------------------------
      -------------------------------
             (Please Print)               ------------------------------------
 
                                                   (Include Zip Code)
 Address 
         ----------------------------
 
                                          ------------------------------------
 ------------------------------------        (Tax Identification or Social
          (Include Zip Code)                        Security Number)
 
 
 ------------------------------------     (See Substitute Form W-9 on Reverse
    (Tax Identification or Social                        Side)
           Security Number)
 
 [_] Credit unpurchased Shares
     delivered by book-entry transfer
     to the Book-Entry Transfer
     Facility account set forth below.
     Check appropriate box.
 [_] The Depository Trust
     Company
 [_] Midwest Securities Trust
     Company
 [_] Philadelphia Depository
     Trust Company
 
 ------------------------------------
        (Account Number)
 
<PAGE>
 
                          SIGN HERE
 
          (COMPLETE SUBSTITUTE FORM W-9 ON REVERSE)
 
 ............................................................
 
 ............................................................
                   SIGNATURE(S) OF OWNER(S)
 
 Dated: .............................................. , 1994
 (Must be signed by registered holder(s) exactly as name(s)
 appear(s) on stock certificate(s) or on a security position
 listing or by person(s) authorized to become registered
 holder(s) by certificates and documents transmitted
 herewith. If signature is by trustees, executors,
 administrators, guardians, attorneys-in-fact, agents,
 officers of corporations or others acting in a fiduciary or
 representative capacity, please provide the following
 information. See Instruction 5.)
 
 
 Name(s).....................................................
 
        .....................................................
                          (PLEASE PRINT)
 
 Capacity (full title).......................................
 
 Address.....................................................
 
        .....................................................
                       (INCLUDE ZIP CODE)
 
 Area Code and Telephone Number..............................
 
 Tax Identification or
 Social Security No..........................................
                    (COMPLETE SUBSTITUTE FORM W-9 ON REVERSE)
 
                  GUARANTEE OF SIGNATURE(S)
                  (SEE INSTRUCTIONS 1 AND 5)
 
 Authorized Signature........................................
 
 Name........................................................
                          (PLEASE PRINT)
 
 Title.......................................................
 
 Name of Firm................................................
 
 Address.....................................................
 
        .....................................................
                       (INCLUDE ZIP CODE)
 
 Area Code and Telephone Number..............................
 
 Dated: .............................................. , 1994
 
<PAGE>
 
                                  INSTRUCTIONS
 
             FORMING PART OF THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THE OFFER
 
  1. GUARANTEE OF SIGNATURES. No signature guarantee on this Letter of
Transmittal is required (i) if this Letter of Transmittal is signed by the
registered holder of the Shares (which term, for purposes of this document,
shall include any participant in a Book-Entry Transfer Facility whose name
appears on a security position listing as the owner of Shares) tendered
herewith, unless such holder has completed either the box entitled "Special
Delivery Instructions" or the box entitled "Special Payment Instructions" on
the reverse hereof, or (ii) if such Shares are tendered for the account of a
member firm of a registered national securities exchange or a member of the
National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. or by a commercial bank or
trust company having an office, branch or agency in the United States
(collectively, "Eligible Institutions"). In all other cases, all signatures on
this Letter of Transmittal must be guaranteed by an Eligible Institution. See
Instruction 5.
 
  2. DELIVERY OF LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL AND CERTIFICATES. This Letter of
Transmittal is to be completed by stockholders either if certificates are to be
forwarded herewith or if tenders of Shares are to be made pursuant to the
procedures for delivery by book-entry transfer set forth in Section 2 of the
Offer to Purchase. Certificates for all physically tendered Shares, or any
Book-Entry Confirmation of Shares, as the case may be, as well as a properly
completed and duly executed Letter of Transmittal (or facsimile thereof),
unless an Agent's Message (as defined in the Offer to Purchase) is utilized,
and any other documents required by this Letter of Transmittal, must be
received by the Depositary at one of its addresses set forth herein on or prior
to the Expiration Date (as defined in Section 1 of the Offer to Purchase).
Stockholders whose certificates for Shares are not immediately available or who
cannot deliver their certificates and all other required documents to the
Depositary on or prior to the Expiration Date may tender their Shares by
properly completing and duly executing the Notice of Guaranteed Delivery
pursuant to the guaranteed delivery procedure set forth in Section 2 of the
Offer to Purchase. Pursuant to such procedure, (i) such tender must be made by
or through an Eligible Institution, (ii) a properly completed and duly executed
Notice of Guaranteed Delivery, substantially in the form provided by Purchaser,
must be received by the Depositary prior to the Expiration Date, and (iii) the
certificates for all physically tendered Shares or Book-Entry Confirmation of
Shares, as the case may be, together with a properly completed and duly
executed Letter of Transmittal (or facsimile thereof), unless an Agent's
Message (as defined in the Offer to Purchase) is utilized, and any other
documents required by this Letter of Transmittal, must be received by the
Depositary within five New York Stock Exchange, Inc. trading days after the
date of execution of such Notice of Guaranteed Delivery, all as provided in
Section 2 of the Offer to Purchase.
 
  THE METHOD OF DELIVERY OF THIS LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL, THE CERTIFICATE FOR
SHARES AND ALL OTHER REQUIRED DOCUMENTS, INCLUDING DELIVERY THROUGH A BOOK-
ENTRY TRANSFER FACILITY, IS AT THE OPTION AND RISK OF THE TENDERING STOCKHOLDER
AND, EXCEPT AS OTHERWISE PROVIDED IN THIS INSTRUCTION 2, THE DELIVERY WILL BE
DEEMED MADE ONLY WHEN ACTUALLY RECEIVED BY THE DEPOSITARY. IF DELIVERY IS BY
MAIL, REGISTERED MAIL WITH RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED, PROPERLY INSURED, IS
RECOMMENDED. IN ALL CASES, SUFFICIENT TIME SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO INSURE TIMELY
DELIVERY.
 
  No alternative, conditional or contingent tenders will be accepted and no
fractional Shares will be purchased. All tendering stockholders, by execution
of this Letter of Transmittal (or facsimile thereof), waive any right to
receive any notice of the acceptance of their Shares for payment.
 
  3. INADEQUATE SPACE. If the space provided herein is inadequate, the
certificate numbers and/or the number of Shares should be listed on a separate
signed schedule attached hereto.
 
  4. PARTIAL TENDERS. (Not applicable to stockholders who tender by book-entry
transfer.) If fewer than all the Shares evidenced by any certificate submitted
are to be tendered, fill in the number of Shares which are to be tendered in
the box entitled "Number of Shares Tendered." In such case, new certificate(s)
for the remainder of the Shares that were evidenced by your old certificate(s)
will be sent to you, unless otherwise provided in the appropriate box on this
Letter of Transmittal, as soon as practicable after the Expiration Date. All
Shares represented by certificates delivered to the Depositary will be deemed
to have been tendered unless otherwise indicated.
 
  5. SIGNATURES ON LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL, STOCK POWERS AND ENDORSEMENTS. If
this Letter of Transmittal is signed by the registered holder(s) of the Shares
tendered hereby, the signature(s) must correspond exactly with the name(s) as
written on the face of the certificate(s) without alteration, enlargement or
any change whatsoever.
 
  If any of the Shares tendered hereby are owned of record by two or more joint
owners, all such owners must sign this Letter of Transmittal.
 
  If any tendered Shares are registered in different names on several
certificates, it will be necessary to complete, sign and submit as many
separate Letters of Transmittal as there are different registrations of
certificates.
 
  If this Letter of Transmittal or any certificates or stock powers are signed
by a trustee, executor, administrator, guardian, attorney-in-fact, officer of a
corporation or other person acting in a fiduciary or representative capacity,
such person should so indicate when signing, and proper evidence satisfactory
to Purchaser of such person's authority so to act must be submitted.
<PAGE>
 
  When this Letter of Transmittal is signed by the registered owner(s) of the
Shares listed and transmitted hereby, no endorsements of certificates or
separate stock powers are required unless payment or certificates for Shares
not tendered or purchased are to be issued to a person other than the
registered owner(s). Signatures on such certificates or stock powers must be
guaranteed by an Eligible Institution.
 
  If this Letter of Transmittal is signed by a person other than the registered
owner(s) of the Shares listed, the certificates must be endorsed or accompanied
by appropriate stock powers, in either case signed exactly as the name or names
of the registered owner or owners appear on the certificates. Signatures on
such certificates or stock powers must be guaranteed by an Eligible
Institution.
 
  6. STOCK TRANSFER TAXES. Except as set forth in this Instruction 6, Purchaser
will pay or cause to be paid any stock transfer taxes with respect to the
transfer and sale of purchased Shares to it or its order pursuant to the Offer.
If payment of the purchase price is to be made to, or if certificates for
Shares not tendered or purchased are to be registered in the name of, any
person other than the registered holder, or if tendered certificates are
registered in the name of any person other than the person(s) signing this
Letter of Transmittal, the amount of any stock transfer taxes (whether imposed
on the registered holder or such person) payable on account of the transfer to
such person will be deducted from the purchase price unless satisfactory
evidence of the payment of such taxes or exemption therefrom is submitted.
 
  EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN THIS INSTRUCTION 6, IT WILL NOT BE NECESSARY FOR
TRANSFER TAX STAMPS TO BE AFFIXED TO THE CERTIFICATES LISTED IN THIS LETTER OF
TRANSMITTAL.
 
  7. SPECIAL PAYMENT AND DELIVERY INSTRUCTIONS. If a check and/or certificates
for unpurchased Shares are to be issued in the name of a person other than the
signer of this Letter of Transmittal or if a check is to be sent and/or such
certificates are to be returned to someone other than the signer of this Letter
of Transmittal or to an address other than that shown above, the appropriate
boxes on this Letter of Transmittal should be completed. Stockholders tendering
Shares by book-entry transfer may request that Shares not purchased be credited
to such account maintained at a Book-Entry Transfer Facility as such
stockholder may designate hereon. If no such instructions are given, such
Shares not purchased will be returned by crediting the account at the Book-
Entry Transfer Facility designated above.
 
  8. REQUESTS FOR ASSISTANCE OR ADDITIONAL COPIES. Requests for assistance may
be directed to, or additional copies of the Offer to Purchase and this Letter
of Transmittal may be obtained from, the Information Agent or the Dealer
Manager at their respective addresses set forth below or from your broker,
dealer, commercial bank or trust company.
 
  9. WAIVER OF CONDITIONS. The conditions of the Offer may be waived by
Purchaser, in whole or in part, at any time and from time to time in
Purchaser's sole discretion, in the case of any Shares tendered.
 
  10. SUBSTITUTE FORM W-9. The tendering stockholder is required to provide the
Depositary with a correct Taxpayer Identification Number ("TIN") on Substitute
Form W-9 which is provided under "Important Tax Information" below, and to
certify whether the stockholder is subject to backup withholding of Federal
income tax. If a tendering stockholder is subject to backup withholding, the
stockholder must cross out item (2) of the Certification box of the Substitute
Form W-9. Failure to provide the information on the Substitute Form W-9 may
subject the tendering stockholder to 31% Federal income tax withholding on the
payment of the purchase price. If the tendering stockholder has not been issued
a TIN and has applied for a number or intends to apply for a number in the near
future, he or she should write "Applied For" in the space provided for the TIN
in Part I, and sign and date the Substitute Form W-9. If "Applied For" is
written in Part I and the Depositary is not provided with a TIN within 60 days,
the Depositary will withhold 31% on all payments of the purchase price until a
TIN is provided to the Depositary.
 
  11. LOST, DESTROYED OR STOLEN CERTIFICATES. If any certificate(s)
representing Shares or Rights has been lost, destroyed or stolen, the
stockholder should promptly notify the Depositary. The stockholder will then be
instructed as to the steps that must be taken in order to replace the
certificate(s). This Letter of Transmittal and related documents cannot be
processed until the procedures for replacing lost or destroyed certificates
have been followed.
 
  IMPORTANT: THIS LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL (OR A FACSIMILE THEREOF), TOGETHER WITH
CERTIFICATES OR CONFIRMATION OF BOOK-ENTRY TRANSFER AND ALL OTHER REQUIRED
DOCUMENTS, MUST BE RECEIVED BY THE DEPOSITARY, OR THE NOTICE OF GUARANTEED
DELIVERY MUST BE RECEIVED BY THE DEPOSITARY, ON OR PRIOR TO THE EXPIRATION
DATE.
<PAGE>
 
                           IMPORTANT TAX INFORMATION
 
  Under Federal income tax law, a stockholder whose tendered Shares are
accepted for payment is required to provide the Depositary with such
stockholder's correct TIN on Substitute Form W-9 below. If such stockholder is
an individual, the TIN is his social security number. If a tendering
stockholder is subject to backup withholding, he must cross out item (2) of the
Certification box on the Substitute Form W-9. If the Depositary is not provided
with the correct TIN, the stockholder may be subject to a $50 penalty imposed
by the Internal Revenue Service. In addition, payments that are made to such
stockholder with respect to Shares purchased pursuant to the Offer may be
subject to backup withholding.
 
  Certain stockholders (including, among others, all corporations and certain
foreign individuals) are not subject to these backup withholding and reporting
requirements. In order for a foreign individual to qualify as an exempt
recipient, that stockholder must submit a statement, signed under penalties of
perjury, attesting to that individual's exempt status. Such statements may be
obtained from the Depositary. Exempt stockholders, other than foreign
individuals, should furnish their TIN, write "Exempt" on the face of the
Substitute Form W-9 below and sign, date and return the Substitute Form W-9 to
the Depositary. See the enclosed Guidelines for Certification of Taxpayer
Identification Number on Substitute Form W-9 for additional instructions.
 
  If backup withholding applies, the Depositary is required to withhold 31% of
any payments made to the stockholder. Backup withholding is not an additional
tax. Rather, the tax liability of persons subject to backup withholding will be
reduced by the amount of tax withheld. If withholding results in an overpayment
of taxes, a refund may be obtained.
 
PURPOSE OF SUBSTITUTE FORM W-9
 
  To prevent backup withholding on payments that are made to stockholder with
respect to Shares purchased pursuant to the Offer, the stockholder is required
to notify the Depositary of his correct TIN by completing the form below
certifying that the TIN provided on the Substitute Form W-9 is correct (or that
such stockholder is awaiting a TIN).
 
WHAT NUMBER TO GIVE THE DEPOSITARY
 
  The stockholder is required to give the Depositary the social security number
or employer identification number of the record owner of the Shares. If the
Shares are in more than one name or are not in the name of the actual owner,
consult the enclosed Guidelines for Certification of Taxpayer Identification
Number on Substitute Form W-9 for additional guidelines on which number to
report. If the tendering stockholder has not been issued a TIN and has applied
for a number or intends to apply for a number in the near future, he should
write "Applied For" in the space provided for in the TIN in Part I, and sign
and date the Substitute Form W-9. If "Applied For" is written in Part I and the
Depositary is not provided with a TIN within 60 days, the Depositary will
withhold 31% on all payments of the purchase price until a TIN is provided to
the Depositary.
<PAGE>
 
PAYER'S NAME: CHEMICAL BANK
 
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SUBSTITUTE FORM W-9       
                                                          
Department of the Treasury                             
  Internal Revenue Service
 
 
Payer's Request for Taxpayer     
 Identification Number (TIN)     
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PART I--PLEASE PROVIDE YOUR TIN IN THE BOX AT
        RIGHT AND CERTIFY BY SIGNING AND 
        DATING BELOW.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
        SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER

OR______________________________________
    EMPLOYER IDENTIFICATION NUMBER
 (If awaiting TIN write "Applied For")
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PART II--For Payees exempt from backup withholding, see the enclosed Guidelines
for Certification of Taxpayer Identification Number on Substitute Form W-9 and
complete as instructed therein.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CERTIFICATION--Under the penalties of perjury, I certify that:

(1) The number shown on this form is my correct Taxpayer Identification
    Number (or a Taxpayer Identification Number has not been issued to me)
    and either (a) I have mailed or delivered an application to receive a
    Taxpayer Identification Number to the appropriate Internal Revenue
    Service ("IRS") or Social Security Administration office or (b) I intend
    to mail or deliver an application in the near future. (I understand that
    if I do not provide a Taxpayer Identification Number within (60) days,
    31% of all reportable payments made to me thereafter will be withheld
    until I provide a number); and

(2) I am not subject to backup withholding either because I have not been
    notified by the IRS that I am subject to backup withholding as a result
    of a failure to report all interest or dividends, or the IRS has notified
    me that I am no longer subject to backup withholding.

CERTIFICATION INSTRUCTIONS--You must cross out item (2) above if you have
been notified by the IRS that you are subject to backup withholding because
of underreporting interest or dividends on your tax return. However, if after
being notified by the IRS that you were subject to backup withholding you
received another notification from the IRS that you are no longer subject to
backup withholding, do not cross out item (2). (Also see instructions in the
enclosed Guidelines.)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------


SIGNATURE ___________________________  DATE _______________________  1994
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
NOTE: FAILURE TO COMPLETE AND RETURN THIS FORM MAY RESULT IN BACKUP WITHHOLDING
      OF 31% OF ANY PAYMENTS MADE TO YOU PURSUANT TO THE OFFER. PLEASE REVIEW
      THE ENCLOSED GUIDELINES FOR CERTIFICATION OF TAXPAYER IDENTIFICATION
      NUMBER ON SUBSTITUTE FORM W-9 FOR ADDITIONAL DETAILS.
 
                    The Information Agent for the Offer is:
  
                      [LOGO OF GEORGESON & COMPANY INC.]
 
                               Wall Street Plaza
                            New York, New York 10005
                            (212) 509-6240 (Collect)
                           (800) 223-2064 (Toll Free)
 
                             Banks and Brokers call
                                 (212) 440-9800
 
                      The Dealer Manager for the Offer is:
 
                              SALOMON BROTHERS INC
 
                            Seven World Trade Center
 
                            New York, New York 10048
 
                                 (212) 783-7769
 
                                 (Call Collect)

<PAGE>
 
                       [Salomon Brothers Inc Letterhead]
 
                           OFFER TO PURCHASE FOR CASH
                     ALL OUTSTANDING SHARES OF COMMON STOCK
                       (Including the Associated Rights)
                                       OF
                              GRUMMAN CORPORATION
                                       AT
                              $60.00 NET PER SHARE
                                       BY
                           NORTHROP ACQUISITION, INC.
                          A WHOLLY OWNED SUBSIDIARY OF
                              NORTHROP CORPORATION
 
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  THE OFFER AND WITHDRAWAL RIGHTS WILL EXPIRE AT 12:00 MIDNIGHT, NEW YORK CITY
                TIME, ON FRIDAY, APRIL 8, 1994, UNLESS EXTENDED.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                  March 14, 1994
 
To Brokers, Dealers, Commercial Banks,
Trust Companies And Other Nominees:
 
  We have been engaged to act as Dealer Manager in connection with the offer by
Northrop Acquisition, Inc. ("Purchaser"), a wholly owned subsidiary of Northrop
Corporation, a Delaware corporation ("Northrop"), to purchase all of the
outstanding shares of Common Stock, par value $1.00 per share (including the
Rights, as defined in the Offer to Purchase) (collectively, the "Shares"), of
Grumman Corporation, a New York corporation (the "Company"), at $60.00 per
Share, net to the seller in cash, upon the terms and subject to the conditions
set forth in Purchaser's Offer to Purchase dated March 14, 1994 and the related
Letter of Transmittal (which together constitute the "Offer").
 
  THE OFFER IS CONDITIONED UPON, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THERE BEING VALIDLY
TENDERED IMMEDIATELY PRIOR TO THE EXPIRATION OF THE OFFER, AND NOT WITHDRAWN,
SHARES REPRESENTING TWO-THIRDS OF THE SHARES OUTSTANDING ON A FULLY DILUTED
BASIS AT THAT DATE.
 
  Enclosed herewith are copies of the following documents:
 
    1. Offer to Purchase dated March 14, 1994;
 
    2. Letter of Transmittal to be used by stockholders of the Company in
  accepting the Offer;
 
    3. Letter which may be sent to your clients for whose account you hold
  Shares in your name or in the name of your nominees, with space provided
  for obtaining such clients' instructions with regard to the Offer;
<PAGE>
 
    4. Notice of Guaranteed Delivery to be used to accept the Offer if
  certificates for Shares are not immediately available or time will not
  permit all required documents to reach the Depositary prior to the
  Expiration Date (as defined in the Offer to Purchase) or if the procedures
  for book-entry transfer cannot be completed on a timely basis;
 
    5. Notice of Withdrawal of Shares tendered pursuant to the offer of MMC
  Acquisition Corp.;
 
    6. Guidelines of the Internal Revenue Service for Certification of
  Taxpayer Identification Number on Substitute Form W-9; and
 
    7. Return envelope addressed to Chemical Bank, as Depositary.
 
  Purchaser will not pay any fees or commissions to any broker or dealer or
other person (other than the Dealer Manager, the Depositary and the Information
Agent as described in the Offer to Purchase) in connection with the
solicitation of tenders of Shares pursuant to the Offer. However, Purchaser
will reimburse you for customary mailing and handling expenses incurred by you
in forwarding the enclosed materials to your clients.
 
  Purchaser will pay or cause to be paid any transfer taxes payable on the
transfer of Shares to it, except as otherwise provided in Instruction 6 of the
enclosed Letter of Transmittal.
 
  YOUR PROMPT ACTION IS REQUESTED. WE URGE YOU TO CONTACT YOUR CLIENTS AS
PROMPTLY AS POSSIBLE. THE OFFER AND WITHDRAWAL RIGHTS WILL EXPIRE AT 12:00
MIDNIGHT, NEW YORK CITY TIME, ON FRIDAY, APRIL 8, 1994, UNLESS EXTENDED.
 
  In order to take advantage of the Offer, a duly executed and properly
completed Letter of Transmittal and any other required documents should be sent
to the Depositary and certificates representing the tendered Shares should be
delivered, or such Shares should be tendered by book-entry transfer, all in
accordance with the Instructions set forth in the Letter of Transmittal and the
Offer to Purchase.
 
  If holders of Shares wish to tender, but it is impracticable for them to
forward their certificates or other required documents prior to the expiration
of the Offer, a tender may be effected by following the guaranteed delivery
procedures specified under Section 2, "Procedure for Tendering Shares" in the
Offer to Purchase.
 
  Any inquiries you may have with respect to the Offer should be addressed to
Salomon Brothers Inc or Georgeson & Company Inc. at their respective addresses
and telephone numbers set forth on the back cover page of the Offer to
Purchase.
 
  Additional copies of the enclosed materials may be obtained from the
undersigned, Salomon Brothers Inc, telephone (212) 783-7769, or by calling the
Information Agent, Georgeson & Company Inc., at (800) 223-2064.
 
                                          Very truly yours,
 
 
                                          SALOMON BROTHERS INC
 
Enclosures
 
  NOTHING CONTAINED HEREIN OR IN THE ENCLOSED DOCUMENTS SHALL CONSTITUTE YOU OR
ANY PERSON AS AN AGENT OF PURCHASER, NORTHROP, THE DEPOSITARY, THE INFORMATION
AGENT OR THE DEALER MANAGER OR AUTHORIZE YOU OR ANY OTHER PERSON TO USE ANY
DOCUMENT OR MAKE ANY STATEMENTS ON BEHALF OF ANY OF THEM IN CONNECTION WITH THE
OFFER OTHER THAN THE DOCUMENTS ENCLOSED AND THE STATEMENTS CONTAINED THEREIN.
 
                                       2

<PAGE>
 
                           OFFER TO PURCHASE FOR CASH
                     ALL OUTSTANDING SHARES OF COMMON STOCK
                       (Including the Associated Rights)
                                       OF
                              GRUMMAN CORPORATION
                                       AT
                              $60.00 NET PER SHARE
                                       BY
                           NORTHROP ACQUISITION, INC.
                          A WHOLLY OWNED SUBSIDIARY OF
                              NORTHROP CORPORATION
 
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  THE OFFER AND WITHDRAWAL RIGHTS WILL EXPIRE AT 12:00 MIDNIGHT, NEW YORK CITY
                TIME, ON FRIDAY, APRIL 8, 1994, UNLESS EXTENDED.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
To Our Clients:
 
  Enclosed for your consideration is an Offer to Purchase dated March 14, 1994
and Letter of Transmittal (which together constitute the "Offer") relating to
an offer by Northrop Acquisition, Inc., ("Purchaser"), a wholly owned
subsidiary of Northrop Corporation, a Delaware corporation, to purchase for
cash all of the outstanding shares of Common Stock, par value $1.00 per share
(including the Rights, as defined in the Offer to Purchase) (collectively, the
"Shares"), of Grumman Corporation, a New York corporation (the "Company"), at a
purchase price of $60.00 per Share, net to the seller in cash, upon the terms
and subject to the conditions set forth in the Offer. We are the holder of
record of Shares held by us for your account. A tender for such Shares can be
made only by us as the holder of record and pursuant to your instructions. The
Letter of Transmittal is furnished to you for your information only and cannot
be used by you to tender Shares.
 
  We request instructions as to whether you wish to tender any or all of such
Shares held by us for your account, pursuant to the terms and conditions set
forth in the Offer to Purchase and the related Letter of Transmittal.
 
Your attention is invited to the following:
 
    1. The tender price is $60.00 per Share, net to the seller in cash.
 
    2. The Offer and withdrawal rights will expire at 12:00 Midnight, New
  York time, on Friday, April 8, 1994, unless extended.
 
    3. THE OFFER IS CONDITIONED UPON, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THERE BEING VALIDLY
  TENDERED IMMEDIATELY PRIOR TO THE EXPIRATION OF THE OFFER, AND NOT
  WITHDRAWN, SHARES REPRESENTING TWO-THIRDS OF THE SHARES OUTSTANDING ON A
  FULLY DILUTED BASIS AT THAT DATE.
 
    4. Stockholders who tender Shares will not be obligated to pay brokerage
  commissions or, except as set forth in Instruction 6 of the Letter of
  Transmittal, transfer taxes on the purchase of Shares by Purchaser pursuant
  to the Offer.
 
  If you wish to have us tender any or all of your Shares, please complete,
sign and return the form set forth on the reverse side of this letter. Your
instructions to us should be forwarded in ample time to permit us to submit a
tender on your behalf prior to the expiration of the Offer.
<PAGE>
 
                     INSTRUCTIONS WITH RESPECT TO THE OFFER
                       TO PURCHASE SHARES OF COMMON STOCK
                       (Including the Associated Rights)
                                       OF
                              GRUMMAN CORPORATION
                                       AT
                              $60.00 NET PER SHARE
                                       BY
                           NORTHROP ACQUISITION, INC.
                          A WHOLLY OWNED SUBSIDIARY OF
                              NORTHROP CORPORATION
 
  The undersigned acknowledge(s) receipt of your letter and the enclosed Offer
to Purchase of Northrop Acquisition, Inc. (the "Purchaser") dated March 14,
1994 and the related Letter of Transmittal relating to shares of Common Stock,
par value $1.00 per share (including the associated Rights, as defined in the
Offer to Purchase) (collectively, the "Shares"), of Grumman Corporation.
 
  This will instruct you to tender to the Purchaser the number of Shares
indicated below held by you for the account of the undersigned, on the terms
and subject to the conditions set forth in the Offer to Purchase and Letter of
Transmittal.
 
                                                       SIGN HERE
 
 
  NUMBER OF SHARES TO BE TENDERED:*      ______________________________________
 
 
            _____ SHARES                 ______________________________________
                                                      Signature(s)
 
 
                                         _____________________________________

 
Account Number: _____________________    ______________________________________
                                         Please print name(s) and address(es)
                                          here
 
Dated: ________________________, 1994
 
                                         _____________________________________
                                         Tax Identification or Social Security
                                          Number
 
 
- --------
* Unless otherwise indicated, it will be assumed that all of your Shares held
  by us for your account are to be tendered.
 
                                       2

<PAGE>
 
                         NOTICE OF GUARANTEED DELIVERY
                                      FOR
                        TENDER OF SHARES OF COMMON STOCK
                       (Including the Associated Rights)
                                       OF
                              GRUMMAN CORPORATION
                                       TO
                           NORTHROP ACQUISITION, INC.
 
  This form, or one substantially equivalent hereto, must be used to accept the
Offer (as defined below) if certificates representing shares of Common Stock,
par value $1.00 per share (including the associated Rights, as defined in the
Offer to Purchase) (collectively, the "Shares"), of Grumman Corporation, a New
York corporation, are not immediately available, if the procedure for book-
entry transfer cannot be completed on a timely basis, or if time will not
permit all required documents to reach the Depositary prior to the Expiration
Date (as defined in Section 1 of the Offer to Purchase). Such form may be
delivered by hand or transmitted by facsimile transmission or mail to the
Depositary. See Section 2 of the Offer to Purchase.
 
                        The Depositary for the Offer is:
 
                                 CHEMICAL BANK
 
        By Mail:               By Facsimile       By Hand or Overnight Delivery:
     Chemical Bank             Transmission:             Chemical Bank
Reorganization Department      (for Eligible            55 Water Street
      P.O. Box 3085          Institutions only)      Second Floor--Room 234
     G.P.O. Station            (212) 629-8015       New York, New York 10041
   New York, New York          (212) 629-8016               Attention
       10116-3085          Confirm by Telephone:    Reorganization Department
                               (212) 613-7137

 DELIVERY OF THIS NOTICE OF GUARANTEED DELIVERY TO AN ADDRESS OTHER THAN AS SET
  FORTH ABOVE OR TRANSMISSION OF INSTRUCTIONS VIA FACSIMILE TRANSMISSION OTHER
         THAN AS SET FORTH ABOVE WILL NOT CONSTITUTE A VALID DELIVERY.
 
Ladies and Gentlemen:
 
  The undersigned hereby tenders to Northrop Acquisition, Inc., a wholly owned
subsidiary of Northrop Corporation, a Delaware corporation, upon the terms and
subject to the conditions set forth in the Offer to Purchase dated March 14,
1994 and the related Letter of Transmittal (which together constitute the
"Offer"), receipt of which is hereby acknowledged,      Shares pursuant to the
guaranteed delivery procedures set forth in Section 2 of the Offer to Purchase.
<PAGE>
 
Certificate No(s).                        Name(s) of Record Holder(s) _________
(if available) ______________________                                 
                                          _____________________________________
 
                                          _____________________________________
_____________________________________             Please Type or Print
Check ONE box if Shares will be
tendered by book-entry transfer:
 
                                         Address _____________________________
 
[_]The Depository Trust Company 
                                         _____________________________________
[_]Midwest Securities Trust Company                                Zip Code
 
[_]Philadelphia Depository Trust Company Area Code and Tel. No. ______________
 
Account Number__________________________ Signature(s)_________________________
 
Dated___________________________ 1994     _____________________________________
 
                                   GUARANTEE
 
                    (NOT TO BE USED FOR SIGNATURE GUARANTEE)
 
  The undersigned, a member firm of a registered national securities exchange
or a member of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. or a
commercial bank or trust company having an office, branch or agency in the
United States, (a) represents that the above named person(s) "own(s)" the
Shares tendered hereby within the meaning of Rule 10b-4 promulgated under the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), (b)
represents that such tender of Shares complies with Rule 10b-4 under the
Exchange Act, (c) guarantees delivery to the Depositary, at one of its
addresses set forth above, of certificates representing the Shares tendered
hereby in proper form for transfer, or confirmation of book-entry transfer of
such Shares into the Depositary's accounts at The Depository Trust Company, the
Midwest Securities Trust Company or the Philadelphia Depository Trust Company,
in each case with delivery of a properly completed and duly executed Letter of
Transmittal (or facsimile thereof), and any other required documents, within
five New York Stock Exchange, Inc. trading days after the date hereof.
 
_____________________________________     _____________________________________
            Name of Firm                          Authorized Signature
 
 
_____________________________________     _____________________________________
               Address                                    Title
 
 
_____________________________________     Name ________________________________
                           Zip Code               Please Type or Print
 
 
Area Code and Tel. No._______________     Date ___________________________ 1994
 
          NOTE: DO NOT SEND CERTIFICATES FOR SHARES WITH THIS NOTICE.
          CERTIFICATES SHOULD BE SENT WITH YOUR LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL.
 
                                       2

<PAGE>
 
                      WITHDRAWAL OF SHARES OF COMMON STOCK
                                       OF
                              GRUMMAN CORPORATION
                 TENDERED PURSUANT TO THE OFFER OF PURCHASE OF
                             MMC ACQUISITION CORP.
                          A WHOLLY OWNED SUBSIDIARY OF
                          MARTIN MARIETTA CORPORATION
 
To Holders of Common Stock of Grumman Corporation
 Who Have Tendered Shares Pursuant to the Offer of
 MMC Acquisition Corp., a wholly owned subsidiary
 of Martin Marietta Corporation:
 
  Section 4 of the Offer to Purchase dated March 8, 1994 (the "Marietta Offer")
of MMC Acquisition Corp. ("Acquisition Corp."), a wholly owned subsidiary of
Martin Marietta Corporation, offering to purchase shares of common stock, par
value $1.00 per share (the "Common Stock"), of Grumman Corporation (the
"Company"), and the associated preferred stock purchase rights (the "Rights,"
and together with the Common Stock, the "Shares"), sets forth the applicable
procedures whereby Shares that have been tendered pursuant to the Marietta
Offer may properly be withdrawn.
 
  Section 4 of the Offer provides in relevant part as follows:
 
    "To be effective, a written, telegraphic, telex or facsimile transmission
  notice of withdrawal must be timely received by the Depositary at one of
  its addresses set forth on the back cover of this Offer to Purchase and
  must specify the name of the person who tendered the Shares to be withdrawn
  and the number of Shares to be withdrawn and the name of the registered
  holder of the Shares, if different from that of the person who tendered
  such Shares. If the Shares to be withdrawn have been delivered to the
  Depositary, a signed notice of withdrawal with (except in the case of
  Shares tendered by an Eligible Institution) signatures guaranteed by an
  Eligible Institution must be submitted prior to the release of such Shares.
  In addition, such notice must specify, in the case of Shares tendered by
  delivery of certificates, the name of the registered holder (if different
  from that of the tendering shareholder) and the serial numbers shown on the
  particular certificates evidencing the Shares to be withdrawn or, in the
  case of Shares tendered by book-entry transfer, the name and number of the
  account at one of the Book-Entry Transfer Facilities to be credited with
  the withdrawn Shares."
 
  In connection with the offer to purchase the Shares by Northrop Acquisition,
Inc. (the "Purchaser"), a wholly owned subsidiary of Northrop Corporation, a
Delaware corporation, described in the Purchaser's Offer to Purchase dated
March 14, 1994 and the related Letter of Transmittal (which collectively
constitute the "Purchaser's Offer"), the Purchaser, for the convenience of
holders of Shares, has provided on the attached page a form of "Notice of
Withdrawal" which, if properly completed and delivered to First Chicago Trust
Company of New York, New York, New York ("First Chicago"), the Depositary for
the Marietta Offer, will enable holders of Shares properly to withdraw Shares
tendered pursuant to the Marietta Offer. Such form, a facsimile thereof or any
other proper notice of withdrawal may be delivered by hand or sent by
telegraphic, telex, facsimile transmission or letter to First Chicago.
 
  Shares held by First Chicago under the Marietta Offer must first be withdrawn
before they can be tendered pursuant to the Purchaser's Offer. Stockholders who
desire assistance in withdrawing the Shares tendered pursuant to the Marietta
Offer may contact the Information Agent for the Purchaser's Offer at its
address and telephone numbers set forth below.
<PAGE>
 
  Copies of the Purchaser's Offer dated March 14, 1994 and related Letter of
Transmittal are also available from the Information Agent. Upon proper
withdrawal of Shares from the Marietta Offer, Shares may be tendered pursuant
to the Purchaser's Offer, which will expire at 12:00 Midnight, New York City
time, on Friday, April 8, 1994, unless extended.
 
              The Information Agent for the Purchaser's Offer is:
 
 
                      [LOGO OF GEORGESON & COMPANY INC.]
 
                               Wall Street Plaza
                            New York, New York 10005
                            (212) 509-6240 (Collect)
                           (800) 223-2064 (Toll Free)
 
                             Banks and Brokers call
                                 (212) 440-9800
 
                The Dealer Manager for the Purchaser's Offer is:
 
                              SALOMON BROTHERS INC
 
                            Seven World Trade Center
 
                            New York, New York 10048
 
                                 (212) 783-7769
 
                                 (Call Collect)
 
                                       2
<PAGE>
 
                              NOTICE OF WITHDRAWAL
 
                                       OF
 
                             SHARES OF COMMON STOCK
 
                                       OF
 
                              GRUMMAN CORPORATION
 
                              TENDERED PURSUANT TO
                   THE OFFER TO PURCHASE DATED MARCH 8, 1994
 
                                       BY
 
                             MMC ACQUISITION CORP.
 
                          A WHOLLY OWNED SUBSIDIARY OF
 
                          MARTIN MARIETTA CORPORATION
 
           TO: FIRST CHICAGO TRUST COMPANY OF NEW YORK ("DEPOSITARY")
 
         By Mail:          By Facsimile Transmission:   By Hand or Overnight
                                                              Courier:
 
    P.O. Box 2564                (201) 222-4720        14 Wall Street, 8th Floor
 Tenders & Exchanges                   or                 Suite 4660 New York,
     Suite 4660                  (201) 222-4721              New York 10005
Jersey City, New Jersey                               
     07303-2564                 Confirm Fax Only:                
                                 (201) 222-4707
 
Gentlemen and Ladies:
 
  The undersigned hereby withdraws the shares of common stock, par value $1.00
per share (the "Common Stock"), and the associated preferred stock purchase
rights (the "Rights," and together with the Common Stock, the "Shares"), of
Grumman Corporation described below.
 
                        DESCRIPTION OF SHARES WITHDRAWN
 
 Name(s) of tendering stockholder(s)__________________________________________
 
 Name(s) of registered holder(s) (if different)_______________________________
 
 Number of Shares withdrawn___________________________________________________
 
 
                    FURTHER DESCRIPTION OF SHARES WITHDRAWN
 
                (to be completed only if certificates have been
                     delivered or otherwise identified to
         First Chicago Trust Company of New York, New York, New York, 
                      or tendered by book-entry transfer)
 
 Certificate Number(s)*_______________________________________________________
 
 If applicable, Book-Entry Transfer Facility account number___________________
 
 Name of Book-Entry Transfer Facility account_________________________________
 
 
                        (MUST BE SIGNED ON REVERSE SIDE)
 
  *CALL GEORGESON & COMPANY INC., THE INFORMATION AGENT FOR THE PURCHASER'S
     OFFER, FOR ASSISTANCE IF YOU DO NOT HAVE YOUR CERTIFICATE NUMBER(S)
 
                                       3
<PAGE>
 
                             STOCKHOLDER SIGN HERE
 
  (Must be signed by registered holder(s) exactly as name(s) appear(s) on stock
certificate(s) or on a security position listing or by person(s) authorized to
become registered holder(s) by certificates and documents previously
transmitted or transmitted herewith. If signature is by a trustee, executor,
administrator, guardian, attorney-in-fact, officer of a corporation or other
person acting in a fiduciary or representative capacity, please set forth full
title of such person.)
 
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                            Signature(s) of Owner(s)
 
Dated____________________________
 
Name(s)_________________________________________________________________________
                                  Please Print
 
Capacity (full title) __________________________________________________________
 
Address ________________________________________________________________________
 
________________________________________________________________________________
                                                          (Including Zip Code)
 
(Area Code and Tel. No.) _______________________________________________________
 
                              SIGNATURE GUARANTEE
 
    (REQUIRED IF CERTIFICATES HAVE BEEN DELIVERED OR OTHERWISE IDENTIFIED TO
          FIRST CHICAGO TRUST COMPANY OF NEW YORK, NEW YORK, NEW YORK)
 
Authorized Signature____________________________________________________________
 
Name____________________________________________________________________________
 
Title___________________________________________________________________________
 
Address_________________________________________________________________________
 
Name of Firm____________________________________________________________________
 
(Area Code and Tel. No.)________________________________________________________
 
Dated: __________________________
 
 
                                       4

<PAGE>
 
            GUIDELINES FOR CERTIFICATION OF TAXPAYER IDENTIFICATION
                         NUMBER ON SUBSTITUTE FORM W-9
 
GUIDELINES FOR DETERMINING THE PROPER IDENTIFICATION NUMBER TO GIVE THE
PAYER.--Social Security numbers have nine digits separated by two hyphens: i.e.
000-00-0000. Employer identification numbers have nine digits separated by only
one hyphen: i.e. 00-0000000. The table below will help determine the number to
give the payer.
 
- ---------------------------------------------------
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                              GIVE THE
FOR THIS TYPE OF ACCOUNT:     SOCIAL SECURITY
                              NUMBER OF--
- ---------------------------------------------------
<S>                           <C>
 1. An individual's account    The individual

 2. Two or more individuals    The actual owner
    (joint account)            of the account
                               or, if combined
                               funds, any one of
                               the individuals(1)

 3. Husband and wife (joint    The actual owner
    account)                   of the account
                               or, if
                               joint funds,
                               either person(1)

 4. Custodian account of a     The minor(2)
    minor (Uniform Gift to
    Minors Act)

 5. Adult and minor (joint     The adult or, if
    account)                   the minor is the
                               only contributor,
                               the minor(1)
 
 6. Account in the name of     The ward, minor,
    guardian or committee      or incompetent
    for a designated ward,     person(3)
    minor, or incompetent 
    person
 
 7. a. The usual revocable     The grantor-
       savings trust account   trustee(1)
       (grantor is also
       trustee)
    b. So-called trust         The actual
       account that is not     owner(1)
       a legal or valid 
       trust under State
       law

 8. Sole proprietorship        The owner(4)
    account
</TABLE>
- ---------------------------------------------------

- ---------------------------------------------------
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                               GIVE THE EMPLOYER
FOR THIS TYPE OF ACCOUNT:      IDENTIFICATION
                               NUMBER OF --
- ---------------------------------------------------
<S>                            <C>
 9. A valid trust, estate, or   The legal entity
    pension trust               (Do not furnish
                                the identifying
                                number of the
                                personal
                                representative or
                                trustee unless
                                the legal entity
                                itself is not
                                designated in the
                                account title.)(5)

10. Corporate account          The corporation

11. Religious, charitable, or  The organization
    educational organization
    account

12. Partnership account held   The partnership
    in the name of the business

13. Association, club, or      The organization
    other tax-exempt
    organization

14. A broker or registered     The broker or
    nominee                    nominee

15. Account with the           The public entity
    Department of Agriculture
    in the name of a public
    entity (such as a State or
    local government, school
    district, or prison) that
    receives agricultural
    program payments
</TABLE>
- ---------------------------------------------------
 
(1) List first and circle the name of the person whose number you furnish.
(2) Circle the minor's name and furnish the minor's social security number.
(3) Circle the ward's, minor's or incompetent person's name and furnish such
    person's social security number.
(4) Show the name of the owner.
(5) List first and circle the name of the legal trust, estate, or pension
    trust.
 
NOTE: If no name is circled when there is more than one name, the number will
      be considered to be that of the first name listed.
<PAGE>
 
            GUIDELINES FOR CERTIFICATION OF TAXPAYER IDENTIFICATION
                         NUMBER OF SUBSTITUTE FORM W-9
                                    PAGE 2
OBTAINING A NUMBER
If you don't have a taxpayer identification number or you don't know your
number, obtain Form SS-5, Application for a Social Security Number Card, or
Form SS-4, Application for an Employer Identification Number, at the local
office of the Social Security Administration or the Internal Revenue Service
and apply for a number.
 
PAYEES EXEMPT FROM BACKUP WITHHOLDING
Payees specifically exempted from backup withholding on ALL payments include
the following:
 
  . A corporation.
  . A financial institution.
  . An organization exempt from tax under section 501(a), or an individual
    retirement plan.
  . The United States or any agency or instrumentality thereof.
  . A State, the District of Columbia, a possession of the United States, or
    any subdivision or instrumentality thereof.
  . A foreign government, a political subdivision of a foreign government, or
    any agency or instrumentality thereof.
  . An international organization or any agency, or instrumentality thereof.
  . A registered dealer in securities or commodities registered in the U.S.
    or a possession of the U.S.
  . A real estate investment trust.
  . A common trust fund operated by a bank under section 584(a).
  . An exempt charitable remainder trust, or a non-exempt trust described in
    section 4947(a)(1).
  . An entity registered at all times under the Investment Company Act of
    1940.
  . A foreign central bank of issue.

 Payments of dividends and patronage dividends not generally subject to backup
withholding include the following:

  . Payments to nonresident aliens subject to withholding under section 1441.
  . Payments to partnerships not engaged in a trade or business in the U.S.
    and which have at least one nonresident partner.
  . Payments of patronage dividends where the amount received is not paid in
    money.
  . Payments made by certain foreign organizations.
  . Payments made to a nominee.

 Payments of interest not generally subject to backup withholding include the
following:

  . Payments of interest on obligations issued by individuals. Note: You may
    be subject to backup withholding if this interest is $600 or more and is
    paid in the course of the payer's trade or business and you have not pro-
    vided your correct taxpayer identification number to the payer.
  . Payments of tax-exempt interest (including exempt-interest dividends un-
    der section 852).
  . Payments described in section 6049(b)(5) to nonresident aliens.
  . Payments on tax-free covenant bonds under section 1451.
  . Payments made by certain foreign organizations.
  . Payments made to a nominee.

Exempt payees described above should file Form W-9 to avoid possible erroneous
backup withholding. FILE THIS FORM WITH THE PAYER, FURNISH YOUR TAXPAYER
IDENTIFICATION NUMBER, WRITE "EXEMPT" ON THE FACE OF THE FORM, AND RETURN IT
TO THE PAYER. IF THE PAYMENTS ARE INTEREST, DIVIDENDS, OR PATRONAGE DIVIDENDS,
ALSO SIGN AND DATE THE FORM.

 Certain payments, other than interest, dividends, and patronage dividends,
that are not subject to information reporting are also not subject to backup
withholding. For details, see the regulations under sections 6041, 6041A(a),
6045, and 6050A.
 
PRIVACY ACT NOTICE.--Section 6109 requires most recipients of dividend, inter-
est, or other payments to give taxpayer identification numbers to payers who
must report the payments to IRS. IRS uses the numbers for identification pur-
poses. Payers must be given the numbers whether or not recipients are required
to file tax returns. Payers must generally withhold 31% of taxable interest,
dividend, and certain other payments to a payee who does not furnish a tax-
payer identification number to a payer. Certain penalties may also apply.
 
PENALTIES
(1) PENALTY FOR FAILURE TO FURNISH TAXPAYER IDENTIFICATION NUMBER.--If you
fail to furnish your taxpayer identification number to a payer, you are sub-
ject to a penalty of $50 for each such failure unless your failure is due to
reasonable cause and not to willful neglect.

(2) FAILURE TO REPORT CERTAIN DIVIDEND AND INTEREST PAYMENTS.--If you fail to
include any portion of an includible payment for interest, dividends, or pat-
ronage dividends in gross income, such failure will be treated as being due to
negligence and will be subject to a penalty of 5% on any portion of an under-
payment attributable to that failure unless there is clear and convincing evi-
dence to the contrary.

(3) CIVIL PENALTY FOR FALSE INFORMATION WITH RESPECT TO WITHHOLDING.--If you
make a false statement with no reasonable basis which results in no imposition
of backup withholding, you are subject to a penalty of $500.

(4) CRIMINAL PENALTY FOR FALSIFYING INFORMATION.--Falsifying certifications or
affirmations may subject you to criminal penalties including fines and/or im-
prisonment.

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION CONTACT YOUR TAX CONSULTANT OR THE INTERNAL REVENUE
SERVICE

<PAGE>
 
                                       FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
                                       ---------------------

NORTHROP TO COMMENCE $60 PER SHARE CASH
- ---------------------------------------
TENDER OFFER FOR GRUMMAN CORPORATION
- ------------------------------------

  LOS ANGELES--March 10, 1994--Northrop Corporation will commence a
tender offer to acquire 100 percent of Grumman Corporation for $60 per
share cash. The offer will commence Monday, March 14. The offer, valued
at $2.04 billion, is $5 per share higher than a bid announced earlier
this week by Martin Marietta Corporation. The transaction is subject
to Hart-Scott-Rodino antitrust review.
  Northrop said it has financing commitments totaling $2.8 billion from
Chase Manhattan Bank N.A. and Chemical Bank.
  The company also said that it believes the lock-up agreement entered
into by Grumman, which was revealed in Securities and Exchange Commission
filings, is "improper and illegal." The company pointed out that there
is a principle of corporate law that, when a company is for sale, 
directors have a duty to shareholders to seek the highest price.
  "We firmly believe the combination of Northrop and Grumman serves the
vital interests of U.S. national security and the best interests of both
Grumman's and Northrop's shareholders," said Kent Kresa, Northrop
chairman, president and chief executive officer. "Achieving critical
mass in our respective areas of expertise will provide the combined 
company with the staying power necessary to compete in this new defense
environment, thereby enabling the firm to better retain critical defense
industrial skills and jobs."

                               - more -

<PAGE>
 
                                                              Page 2
NORTHROP TO COMMENCE $60 PER SHARE CASH
- ---------------------------------------
TENDER OFFER FOR GRUMMAN CORPORATION
- ------------------------------------

  He said a combined Northrop-Grumman would strive to attain the following
specific business goals:
  --integrate a world-class military aircraft design capability in both
tactical and surveillance aircraft.
  --integrate a world-class military systems development capability in
surveillance, electronic warfare and combat systems, and systems test for
all military platforms.
  --establish a leading position in development of integrated reconnaissance-
strike and battle management systems.
  --achieve world-class levels of price competitiveness in commercial
aerostructures manufacturing.
  --become the supplier of choice for large, highly complex system
integration programs for the U.S. Government.
  Mr. Kresa also said that Northrop is prepared, upon completion of the
acquisition, to recommend to its stockholders that the corporation's name
be changed to the Northrop-Grumman Corporation, to "preserve the proud
heritage of the Grumman name in U.S. military aviation."
  Mr. Kresa pointed out that Northrop's interest in merging with Grumman 
dates back more than a year. The two companies conducted merger discussions
because of the natural strategic fit between their respective aircraft design
and manufacturing, defense electronics and aerostructures business segments.
Detailed discussions between the two companies, exploring organizational fit,
a review of key management personnel and a shared strategic vision, 
continued in earnest in late 1993 and into 1994.

                                 - more -

<PAGE>
 
                                                               Page 3

NORTHROP TO COMMENCE $60 PER SHARE CASH
- ---------------------------------------
TENDER OFFER FOR GRUMMAN CORPORATION
- ------------------------------------

  "We believe Northrop-Grumman together will create a formidable competitor
in bomber, fighter, electronic warfare, surveillance and strike aircraft, 
as well as in commercial and military aerostructures, electronics and
information systems," Mr. Kresa said. "For instance, the combined business
will have extensive experience in both U.S. Navy and U.S. Air Force combat
aircraft."
  Northrop, headquartered in Los Angeles, has nearly 30,000 employees and
had 1993 sales of $5.1 billion and a year-end backlog of $6.9 billion. Its major
products include the B-2 stealth bomber, AGM-137 Tri-Service Standoff Attack
Missile, fuselages for the U.S. Navy's F/A-18 strike fighter and Boeing 747
jetliner, "brilliant" antiarmor submunitions and electronic countermeasures
equipment for a wide variety of aircraft. Northrop has manufacturing
operations in five states: California, Georgia, Illinois, North Dakota and
Massachusetts. The company also holds a 49 percent investment in the parent
of Vought Aircraft Company in Dallas, Tex., with an option to purchase the
remaining 51 percent.
  Grumman, headquartered in Bethpage, N.Y., has 18,000 employees and had
1993 sales of over $3 billion. Its year-end 1993 business backlog was $6
billion. The company's major products include the Joint STARS and E-2C airborne 
surveillance systems, EA-6B and EF-111 airborne electronic warfare systems,
F-14 fighter/bomber, A-6 bomber, electronic test equipment and combat systems,
structures and control surfaces for military and commercial customers. The
company has facilities in 10 states: New York, Florida, Pennsylvania, Georgia,
California, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Virginia and Texas.
  Mr. Kresa emphasized that the design of future weapon platforms and the
modification of existing systems will rely heavily on the integration of 
complex electronic systems. "I believe the future demand for excellence in
airframe and electronics

                                  - more -

<PAGE>
 
                                                              Page 4

NORTHROP TO COMMENCE $60 PER SHARE CASH
- ---------------------------------------
TENDER OFFER FOR GRUMMAN CORPORATION
- ------------------------------------

systems integration will position Northrop-Grumman as a front runner to 
meet these defense needs," he said.
  Salomon Brothers is financial advisor to Northrop.
                                ###

NR#34-6

NOTE TO EDITORS: ATTACHED FOR YOUR INFORMATION IS A COPY OF A LETTER SENT
TODAY BY KENT KRESA, NORTHROP CHAIRMAN AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, TO
DR. RENSO L. CAPORALI, CHAIRMAN AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF GRUMMAN
CORPORATION.

<PAGE>
 
This announcement is neither an offer to purchase nor a solicitation of an offer
to sell Shares.  The Offer is made solely by the Offer to Purchase dated March
14, 1994 and the related Letter of Transmittal, and is being made to all holders
of Shares.  The Purchaser is not aware of any state where the making of the
Offer is prohibited by administrative or judicial action pursuant to any valid
state statute.  If the Purchaser becomes aware of any valid state statute
prohibiting the making of the Offer or the acceptance of Shares pursuant
thereto, the Purchaser will make a good faith effort to comply with any such
state statute or seek to have such statute declared inapplicable to the Offer.
If, after such good faith effort, the Purchaser cannot comply with any such
state statute, the Offer will not be made to (nor will tenders be accepted from
or on behalf of) the holders of Shares in such state.  In any jurisdiction where
the securities, blue sky or other laws require the Offer to be made by a
licensed broker or dealer, the Offer will be deemed to be made on behalf of the
Purchaser by Salomon Brothers Inc or one or more registered brokers or dealers
licensed under the laws of such jurisdiction.

                      NOTICE OF OFFER TO PURCHASE FOR CASH
                     ALL OUTSTANDING SHARES OF COMMON STOCK
                       (INCLUDING THE ASSOCIATED RIGHTS)

                                       OF

                              GRUMMAN CORPORATION

                                       AT

                              $60.00 NET PER SHARE

                                       BY

                           NORTHROP ACQUISITION, INC.
                           A WHOLLY OWNED SUBSIDIARY

                                       OF

                              NORTHROP CORPORATION


Northrop Acquisition, Inc. (the "Purchaser"), a wholly owned subsidiary of
Northrop Corporation, a Delaware corporation ("Northrop"), is offering to
purchase all outstanding shares of Common Stock, par value $1.00 per share
(including the associated Rights, as defined in the Offer to Purchase)
(collectively, the "Shares"), of Grumman Corporation, a New York corporation
(the "Company"), at $60.00 per Share, net to the seller in cash, without
interest, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Offer to
Purchase, dated March 14, 1994 (the "Offer to Purchase"), and in the related
Letter of Transmittal (which together constitute the "Offer").

THE OFFER AND WITHDRAWAL RIGHTS WILL EXPIRE AT 12:00 MIDNIGHT, NEW YORK CITY
TIME, ON FRIDAY, APRIL 8, 1994, UNLESS EXTENDED.

     THE OFFER IS CONDITIONED UPON, AMONG OTHER THINGS:  (1) THERE BEING VALIDLY
TENDERED AND NOT WITHDRAWN PRIOR TO THE EXPIRATION DATE THAT NUMBER OF SHARES
REPRESENTING AT LEAST TWO-THIRDS OF THE TOTAL NUMBER OF OUTSTANDING SHARES OF
THE COMPANY ON A FULLY DILUTED BASIS, (2) THE PURCHASER BEING SATISFIED, IN ITS
SOLE DISCRETION, THAT SECTION 912 OF THE NEW YORK BUSINESS CORPORATION LAW IS
INVALID OR THAT ITS RESTRICTIONS ARE OTHERWISE INAPPLICABLE TO THE PROPOSED
MERGER IN WHICH EACH SHARE NOT PURCHASED IN THE OFFER WILL BE CONVERTED INTO THE
RIGHT TO RECEIVE CASH IN AN AMOUNT EQUAL TO THE PRICE PER SHARE PAID PURSUANT TO
THE OFFER, (3) THE PURCHASER BEING SATISFIED, IN ITS SOLE DISCRETION THAT THE
SUPERMAJORITY VOTING REQUIREMENT CONTAINED IN ARTICLE SEVENTH OF THE COMPANY'S
CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION IS INAPPLICABLE TO THE PROPOSED MERGER AND (4) THE
RIGHTS HAVING BEEN REDEEMED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE COMPANY OR THE
PURCHASER  BEING SATISFIED, IN ITS SOLE DISCRETION, THAT THE RIGHTS HAVE BEEN
INVALIDATED OR OTHERWISE ARE INAPPLICABLE TO THE OFFER AND THE PROPOSED MERGER.
THE OFFER IS ALSO SUBJECT TO CERTAIN OTHER TERMS AND CONDITIONS AS SET FORTH IN
THE OFFER TO PURCHASE.

     THE OFFER IS NOT CONDITIONED UPON THE PURCHASER OBTAINING FINANCING.

     The purpose of the Offer and the Proposed Merger is to enable the Purchaser
to acquire control of, and the entire equity interest in, the Company.  The
Offer, as the first step in the acquisition of the Company, is intended to
facilitate the acquisition of all outstanding Shares.  The Purchaser is
currently reviewing its options with respect to the Offer and may consider,
among other things, changes to the material terms of the Offer and intends  to
continue to seek to negotiate with the Company with respect to the acquisition
of the Company by the Purchaser.  The Purchaser currently intends, as soon as
practicable following the consummation of the Offer, to seek to have the Company
consummate a merger or similar business combination with the Purchaser (the
"Proposed Merger") pursuant to which each then outstanding Share (other than
Shares owned by Northrop or any of its wholly owned subsidiaries, Shares held in
the treasury of the Company and Shares held by stockholders who perfect
appraisal rights under Section 623 of the New York Business Corporation Law)
would be converted into the right to receive in cash the same amount as received
per Share in the Offer, and the Company will become a wholly owned subsidiary of
Northrop.  Northrop intends to recommend to its stockholders, upon completion of
the Proposed Merger, that its name be changed to "Northrop Grumman Corporation."

     The term "Expiration Date" means 12:00 Midnight, New York City Time, on
Friday, April 8, 1994, unless and until the Purchaser, in its sole discretion,
shall have extended the period of time for which the Offer is open, in which
event the term "Expiration Date" shall mean the latest time and date at which
the Offer, as so extended by the Purchaser, shall expire.

     For purposes of the Offer, the Purchaser will be deemed to have accepted
for payment (and thereby purchased) validly tendered Shares when, as and if the
Purchaser gives oral or written notice to the Depositary (as defined in the
Offer to Purchase) of the Purchaser's acceptance of such Shares for payment
pursuant to the Offer. Payment for Shares so accepted for payment will be made
by deposit of the purchase price with the Depositary, which will act as agent
for tendering stockholders for the purpose of receiving payment from the
Purchaser and transmitting payment to validly tendering stockholders. In no
circumstances will interest on the purchase price of Shares be paid by the
Purchaser by reason of any delay in making payment. Payment for Shares purchased
pursuant to the Offer will in all cases be made only after timely receipt by the
Depositary of certificates for such Shares, or timely confirmation of a book-
entry transfer of such Shares into the Depositary's account at one of the Book-
Entry Transfer Facilities described in the Offer to Purchase pursuant to the
procedures set forth in Section 2 of the Offer to Purchase, a properly completed
and duly executed Letter of Transmittal (or facsimile thereof) or an Agent's
Message (as defined in the Offer to Purchase and any other document required by
the Letter of Transmittal. The Purchaser expressly reserves the right, in its
sole discretion, at any time or from time to time, to extend the period of time
during which the Offer is open and thereby delay acceptance for payment of, and
the payment for, any Shares, by giving oral or written notice of such extension
to the Depositary. Any such extension will be followed as promptly as
practicable by a public announcement thereof no later than 9:00 a.m., New York
City time, on the next business day after the previously scheduled Expiration
Date.

     Tenders of Shares pursuant to the Offer will be irrevocable, except that
Shares tendered pursuant to the Offer may be withdrawn at any time prior to the
Expiration Date and, unless theretofore accepted for payment by the Purchaser
pursuant to the Offer, may also be withdrawn on or after May 13, 1994.  For a
withdrawal to be effective, a written, telegraphic, telex or facsimile
transmission notice of withdrawal must be timely received by the Depositary at
one of its addresses set forth on the back cover of the Offer to Purchase.  Any
notice of withdrawal must specify the name of the person who tendered the Shares
to be withdrawn, the number of Shares to be withdrawn and the name in which
certificates representing the Shares are registered, if different from that of
the person who tendered the Shares.  If certificates for Shares to be withdrawn
have been delivered or otherwise identified to the Depositary, the serial
numbers shown on the particular certificates evidencing such Shares to be
withdrawn must also be furnished to the Depositary prior to the physical release
of the Shares to be withdrawn, together with a signed notice of withdrawal with
signatures guaranteed by an Eligible Institution (as defined in Section 2 of the
offer to Purchase), except, with respect to signature guarantees, in the case of
Shares tendered by an Eligible institution.  If Shares have been delivered
pursuant to the procedures for book-entry transfer as set forth in Section 2 of
the Offer to Purchase, any notice of withdrawal must specify the name and number
of the account at the appropriate Book-Entry Transfer Facility to be credited
with such withdrawn Shares and must otherwise comply with such Book-Entry
Transfer Facility's procedures.  All questions as to the form and validity
(including time of receipt) of notices of withdrawal will be determined by the
Purchaser in its sole discretion, whose determination will be final and binding.

     The information required to be disclosed by Rule 14d-6(e)(1)(vii) of the
General Rules and Regulations under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended, is contained in the Offer to Purchase and is incorporated herein by
reference.

     A request is being made to the Company for use of its stockholder list and
security position listings for the purpose of disseminating the Offer to holders
of Shares. The Offer to Purchase, the related Letter of Transmittal and other
relevant material will be mailed to record holders of Shares and will be
furnished to brokers, dealers, banks and similar persons whose names, or the
names of whose nominees, appear on the stockholder list or, if applicable, who
are listed as participants in a clearing agency's security position listing for
subsequent transmittal to beneficial owners of Shares. The Purchaser will not
pay any fees or commissions to any broker or dealer or any other person (other
than the Dealer Manager and the Information Agent) for soliciting tenders of
Shares pursuant to the Offer.

     THE OFFER TO PURCHASE AND THE RELATED LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL CONTAIN
IMPORTANT INFORMATION WHICH STOCKHOLDERS SHOULD READ BEFORE MAKING ANY DECISION
WITH RESPECT TO THE OFFER.

     Request for copies of the Offer to Purchase, the Letter of Transmittal and
other tender offer materials may be directed to the Information Agent or the
Dealer Manager as set forth below, and copies will be furnished promptly at the
Purchaser's expense.

                    The Information Agent for the Offer is:

                                   GEORGESON
                                 & COMPANY INC.

                               Wall Street Plaza
                           New York, New York  10005
                            (212) 509-6240 (collect)
                     Banks and Brokers call (212) 440-9800
                         Call Toll Free 1-800-223-2064

                     The Dealers Manager for the Offer is:

                             SALOMON BROTHERS INC
                            Seven World Trade Center
                           New York, New York  10048
                                 (212) 783-7769
                                 (Call Collect)

March 14, 1994


Farrington & Favia #2492
Taylor & Ives  Jay J. Cohen
Farrington & Favia (212) 608-7600
Taylor & Ives (212) 921-9300
3-12-94 Proof 5
(FNF274) et/cm/et

Emulsion down
                                                          [LOGO OF TAYLOR & IVES
                                                               INCORPORATED]

<PAGE>
 
                                        March 10, 1994

Northrop Corporation
1840 Century Park East
Los Angeles, CA  90067

Attention:  John R. Rettberg, Corporate Vice President and
             Treasurer

                         Re: Commitment

     Northrop Corporation (the "Borrower") has advised The Chase Manhattan Bank,
N.A. ("Chase") and Chemical Bank ("Chemical") that it intends to make a
cash tender offer (the "Tender Offer"), the purpose of which is to purchase all
of the common stock of a company whose identity has been disclosed to us (the
"Target").

    You have requested that Chase and Chemical provide the $2,800,000,000 in 
senior bank credit facilities (collectively, the "Credit Facilities") required 
to finance the Tender Offer, to pay related fees and expenses and to finance the
continuing operations of the Borrower and its subsidiaries.  

     Chase and Chemical are pleased to advise you that each of them is willing 
to provide $1,400,000,000 of the Credit Facilities.  Although Chase and Chemical
(collectively, the "Co-Agents") are together committing to provide all of the 
Credit Facilities, Chase and Chemical expect to act as co-agents for a syndicate
of financial institutions (together with Chase and Chemical, the "Lenders") to 
provide all or a portion of the Credit Facilities.  

     We have furnished you with a term sheet setting forth indicative terms and 
conditions for the Credit Facilities.  The terms and conditions of the Credit 
Facilities will be based upon such indicative terms and conditions and will 
otherwise be subject to mutual agreement among the Co-Agents and you.  

     It is agreed that Chase and Chemical will act as the sole co-agents and 
co-arrangers for the Credit Facilities and that no additional agents or 
co-agents or co-arrangers will be appointed without the consent of the 
Co-Agents.  

     You agree to assist the Co-Agents in forming any such syndicate and to 
provide the Co-Agents and the other Lenders, promptly upon request, with all 
information deemed necessary by them to complete successfully the syndication, 
including, but not limited to, (a) an information package for delivery to 
potential
<PAGE>
 
                                                                             2

syndicate members and participants and (b) all information and projections 
prepared by you or your advisers relating to the transactions described herein 
as requested by the Co-Agents.  You further agree to make appropriate officers 
and representatives of the Borrower and its subsidiaries available to 
participate in information meetings for potential syndicate members and 
participants at such times and places as the Co-Agents may reasonably request.  

     You represent and warrant and covenant that:

          (1) all information concerning the Borrower and its subsidiaries 
     which has been or is hereafter made available to the Co-Agents by you or 
     any of your representatives in connection with the transactions
     contemplated hereby is and will be complete and correct in all material
     respects and does not and will not contain any untrue statement of a
     material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make
     the statements contained therein not materially misleading in light of the
     circumstances under which such statements are made; and
     
          (2) all financial projections that have been or are hereafter prepared
     by you and made available to the Co-Agents or any other participants in the
     Credit Facilities have been or will be prepared in good faith based upon 
     reasonable assumptions.  

You agree to supplement the information and projections referred to in clauses 
(1) and (2) above from time to time until completion of the syndication so that 
the representations and warranties in the preceding sentence remain correct.  In
arranging and syndicating the Credit Facilities, the Co-Agents will use and rely
on such information and projections without independent verification thereof.  

          In connection with the syndication of the Credit Facilities, the 
Co-Agents may, in their discretion, allocate to other Lenders portions of any 
fees payable to the Co-Agents in connection with the Credit Facilities.  You 
agree that no Lender will receive any compensation of any kind for its 
participation in the Credit Facility, except as expressly provided for in this 
letter or in the Fee Letter referred to below.  

     Each of the Co-Agents' commitment hereunder is subject to the following 
conditions: (i) the negotiation, execution and delivery of definitive 
documentation with respect to the Credit Facilities satisfactory in form and 
substance to the Co-Agents and their counsel; (ii) satisfaction by the Co-Agents
with the form and substance of the Tender Offer and the definitive documentation
therefor; (iii) a definitive merger agreement, in form and substance 
satisfactory to the Co-Agents, shall have been entered into by the Borrower and 
the Target; (iv) there shall not have occurred any material adverse change in 
the business,  
<PAGE>
                                                                              3

 
assets, operations, condition (financial or otherwise) or prospects of the
Borrower and its subsidiaries (including the Target) taken as a whole; (v) there
shall not have occurred any change in or disruption of financial or capital
market conditions that in the opinion of the Co-Agents could materially and 
adversely affect the satisfactory syndication of the Credit Facilities; and (vi)
the appropriate markets shall be clear of competing transactions by or on behalf
of the Borrower.

     The costs and expenses (including, without limitation, the fees and
expenses of counsel to the Co-Agents and the Co-Agents' syndication and other
out-of-pocket expenses) arising in connection with the preparation, execution
and delivery of this letter and the definitive financing agreements shall be for
for your account. You further agree to indemnify and hold harmless each Lender
(including the Co-Agents) and each director, officer, employee, affiliate and
agent thereof (each, an "indemnified person") against, and to reimburse each
indemnified person, upon its demand, for, any losses, claims, damages,
liabilities or other expenses ("Losses") to which such indemnified person may
become subject insofar as such Losses arise out of or in any way relate to or
result from the Tender Offer, this letter or the financing contemplated hereby,
including, without limitation, Losses consisting of legal or other expenses
incurred in connection with investigating, defending or participating in any
legal proceeding relating to any of the foregoing (whether or not such
indemnified person is a party thereto); provided that the foregoing will not
apply to any Losses to the extent they result from the gross negligence or
willful misconduct of such indemnified person. Your obligations under this
paragraph shall remain effective whether or not definitive financing
documentation is executed and notwithstanding any termination of this letter.
Neither the Co-Agents nor any other indemnified person shall be responsible or
liable to any other person for consequential damages which may be alleged as a
result of this letter or the financing contemplated hereby.

     The provisions of this letter are supplemented as set forth in a separate 
fee letter dated the date hereof from us to you (the "Fee Letter") and are 
subject to the terms of such Fee Letter. By executing this letter, you 
acknowledge that this letter and the Fee Letter are the only agreements between 
you and the Co-Agents with respect to the Credit Facilities and set forth the 
entire understanding of the parties with respect thereto.  Neither this letter 
nor the Fee Letter may be changed except pursuant to a writing signed by each 
of the parties hereto. This letter and the Fee Letter shall be governed by, and 
construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York without 
reference to principals of conflicts of laws.

<PAGE>
 
                                                                               4

     This letter is delivered to you on the understanding that prior to its 
acceptance by you, neither this letter, the Fee Letter nor any of their terms or
substance shall be disclosed, directly or indirectly, to any other person except
to your employees, agents and advisers who are directly involved in the 
consideration of this matter.

     If you are in agreement with the foregoing, please sign and return to each
of the Co-Agents the enclosed copies of this letter and the Fee Letter, together
with the acceptance fee referred to therein, no later than 5:00 p.m., Los
Angeles time, on March 10, 1994. This offer shall terminate at such time unless
prior thereto we shall have received signed copies of such letters and payment
of such fee. After acceptance this commitment will terminate on the close of
business on May 31, 1994 unless definitive documentation has been executed and
delivered by the appropriate parties on or prior to such date.

     We look forward to working with you on this transaction.

                                         Very truly yours,

                                            THE CHASE MANHATTAN BANK, N.A.


                                         By      /s/ Patricia B. Brill
                                            ===============================
                                         Title   Managing Director
                                                ---------------------------

                                      
                                            CHEMICAL BANK


                                          By   /s/ Maurice Hartigan  
                                             ==============================
                                          Title   Senior Managing Director
                                                 --------------------------


Accepted and agreed to as of 
the date first above written:

    NORTHROP CORPORATION

By   /s/ J. R. Rettberg
   =================================
Title  Vice President and Treasurer
      ------------------------------











<PAGE>

                                               March 10, 1994

Northrop Corporation
1840 Century Park East
Los Angeles, Ca 90067

Attention:  John R. Rettberg, Corporate Vice President and 
             Treasurer

           Re:  Commitment Letter, dated March 10, 1994

     Reference is made to our letter to you dated the date hereof (the 
"Commitment Letter").  This is the Fee Letter referred to therein.  Terms 
defined in the Commitment Letter are used herein with their defined meanings.

     In consideration of the commitment set forth in the Commitment Letter you 
agree to pay the following fees:

          1.  A non-refundable fee of $4,000,000 to each of the Co-Agents, 
     payable $2,000,000 upon acceptance of the Commitment Letter and $2,000,000
     upon the earlier to occur of (x) execution and delivery of definitive
     documentation and (y) May 31, 1994 or such earlier date upon which the Co-
     Agents and the Borrower determine that the transactions contemplated by the
     Commitment Letter will not be consummated.

          2. Upon the earlier of the termination of the commitments of the Co-
     Agents under the Commitment Letter and the execution and delivery of the
     definitive agreements and satisfaction of the conditions to initial
     borrowing thereunder in respect of the Credit Facilities (the "Closing
     Date"), to each of the Co-Agents, a commitment fee of 25 basis points per
     annum (computed on the basis of a 365 day year and actual days elapsed) on
     the amount of such Co-Agents commitment for the period from and including
     the date of acceptance thereof to but excluding the date of such
     termination or Closing Date, as the case may be.

           3.  To each Lender (including each Co-Agent in such capacity) a 
     syndication fee of up to 25 basis points on the amount of such Lender's
     allocated commitment. To the extent that the aggregate syndication fee
     payable to all Lenders is less than 25 basis points of the total allocated
     commitments, the difference will be shared as follows: 75% of the
     difference will be paid to the Borrower and 25% of the difference will be
     paid to the Co-Agents.

<PAGE>
                                                                             2

  If you are in agreement with the foregoing, please sign and return
to each of the Co-Agents the enclosed copies of this fee letter in
accordance with the provisions of the Commitment Letter.

                                      Very truly yours,

                                         THE CHASE MANHATTAN BANK, N.A.


                                      By    /s/ Patricia B. Brill
                                         ===============================
                                      Title   Managing Director
                                            ----------------------------

                                         CHEMICAL BANK


                                      By   /s/ Maurice Hartigan
                                         ===============================
                                      Title  Senior Managing Director
                                            ----------------------------

Accepted and agreed to as of
the date first above written:

    NORTHROP CORPORATION

By   /s/ J.R. Rettberg 
   =================================
Title  Vice President and Treasurer
      ------------------------------

<PAGE>
 
                                    March 12, 1994

Northrop Corporation
1840 Century Park East
Los Angeles, CA  90067

Attention:  John R. Rettberg, Corporate Vice President and
             Treasurer

           Re: Commitment Letter, dated March 10, 1994

     Reference is made to our letter to you dated March 10, 1994 (the 
"Commitment Letter") and the Fee Letter referred to therein. Terms defined in 
the Commitment Letter are used herein with their defined meanings.  

     One of the conditions of funding the Credit Facilities set forth in the 
Commitment Letter is that a definitive merger agreement, in form and substance 
satisfactory to the Co-Agents, shall have been entered into by the Borrower and 
the Target (the "Merger Condition").  We have been discussing with you the basis
on which we would agree to remove the Merger Condition.  

     By this letter we confirm that we would be prepared to commit to finance 
the Tender Offer without satisfaction of the Merger Condition, subject to a 
mutually satisfactory agreement with you (i) to pay fees to the Co-Agents in 
addition to those set forth in the Fee Letter in amounts and at such times as we
deem appropriate under the circumstances, (ii) to increase the margins on 
the loans under the Credit Facilities prior to the merger by an amount which we 
deem appropriate in the circumstances, and (iii) to limit the length of interest
periods under the Credit Facilities prior to completion of the merger.  

     By this letter we are also transmitting a revised term sheet.  We agree 
with you that this is the term sheet referred to in the Commitment Letter.  
Please so acknowledge by signing and returning to each of the Co-Agents the 
enclosed copies of this letter.  
<PAGE>
 
     We look forward to working with you on these transactions.

                              Very truly yours,

                                THE CHASE MANHATTAN BANK, N.A.

                              By     /s/ Sherwood ???
                                 -----------------------------
                              Title  Managing Director
                                    --------------------------

                                CHEMICAL BANK

                              By     /s/ Thomas Delaney
                                 -----------------------------
                              Title  Vice President
                                    --------------------------

Accepted and agreed to as of
the date first above written:

     NORTHROP CORPORATION

By    James L. Sanford
   --------------------------

Title
      -----------------------       --------------------------

<PAGE>
 
                             NORTHROP CORPORATION

                        SUMMARY OF TERMS AND CONDITIONS
                        -------------------------------

Borrower             Northrop Corporation, a Delaware corporation
- --------

Purpose              To make a capital contribution to a wholly owned   
- -------              subsidiary of the Borrower ("Acquisition Corp.") to be used
                                                  -----------------
                     by Acquisition Corp. to purchase (the "Acquisition) all of
                                                            -----------
                     the outstanding shares of common stock (and associated
                     preferred stock purchase rights) of Grumman Corporation
                     (the "Target") (initially by a tender offer for all
                           ------
                     outstanding shares followed by a merger of Acquisition
                     Corp. with and into the Target (the "Merger")), to
                                                          ------
                     refinance existing debt of the Borrower and/or, after the
                     Merger, the Target, to provide working capital for the
                     Borrower and to finance the payment of fees, commissions
                     and expenses payable in connection with the Acquisition.

Guarantor            Acquisition Corp.
- ---------

Co-Agents
and Co-Arrangers     The Chase Manhattan Bank, N.A. ("Chase") Chemical Bank 
- ----------------                                      -----
                     ("Chemical")
                       --------

Lenders              Chase, Chemical and a syndicate of lenders acceptable to  
- -------              the Borrower and the Co-Arrangers. 

Types and Amount 
of Senior 
Facilities           A Term Loan Facility and Revolving Credit Facility,   
- ----------           aggregating $2,800,000,000, to be allocated as agreed. 
          

Final Maturity       Both the Term Loan facility and the Revolving Credit
- --------------       Facility will mature 5 years from the date on which the
                     initial loans are made (the "Closing Date").
                                                  ------------

Amortization         Term Loan Facility:
- ------------         ------------------

                          [To be determined.]

                     Revolving Credit Facility:
                     -------------------------
                     The revolving credit loans shall be repaid in full on the 
                     Final Maturity of this Facility.








<PAGE>

                                    - 2 -
 
Interest             Term Loans and Revolving Credit Loans:  At
- --------             -------------------------------------
                     the Borrower's option, Base Rate and LIBOR loans will be 
                     available as follows:

                     A.  Base Rate Option
                         ----------------

                          Interest shall be at the Base Rate of Chase plus the
                          applicable Interest Margin (if any), payable in
                          arrears quarterly and at Final Maturity. The Base Rate
                          is defined as the higher of (a) the Federal Funds
                          Rate, as published by the Federal Reserve Bank of New
                          York plus 1/2 of 1%, and (b) the prime commercial
                          lending rate of Chase, as announced from time to time
                          at its head office. Base Rate will be calculated on
                          the basis of the actual number of days elapsed in a
                          year of 365/366 days (or 360 days when the Base Rate
                          is calculated by reference to the Federal Funds Rate).
                          Base Rate drawings shall be made available on a same-
                          day basis if requested prior to noon New York time and
                          shall be in minimum amounts of $10,000,000 or any 
                          integral multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof.

                     B.  LIBOR Option
                         ------------

                          Interest shall be determined for periods ("Interest
                                                                     --------
                          Periods") of one, two, three, six or (with the consent
                          -------
                          of all Lenders) twelve months (as selected by the
                          Borrower) and shall be at an annual rate equal to the
                          London Interbank Offered Rate ("LIBOR") for the
                                                          -----
                          corresponding deposits of U.S. Dollars plus the
                          applicable Interest Margin; provided that prior to the
                          later of consummation of the Merger and completion of
                          primary syndication only one month interest periods
                          will be available. LIBOR will be determined by the
                          Reference Lenders at the start of each Interest
                          Period. Interest will be paid at the end of each
                          Interest Period or quarterly, whichever is earlier,
                          and will be calculated on the basis of the actual
                          number of days elapsed in a year of 360 days. LIBOR
                          will be adjusted for Regulation D reserve requirements
                          on an as-incurred basis. LIBOR drawings shall require




<PAGE>
 
                                     - 3 -

                          three business days' prior notice and shall be in 
                          minimum amounts of $10,000,000 or any integral 
                          multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof.

                     Revolving Credit Loans. At the Borrower's option, 
                     ----------------------
                     Competitive Bid loans will be available after the Merger 
                     as follows:

                     Competitive Bid Option
                     ----------------------

                          The Borrower may request that competitive bids be
                          solicited from the Lenders through an auction for 
                          short-term borrowings priced either (i) at a margin 
                          above or below LIBOR or (ii) at a fixed interest 
                          rate. LIBOR bids may be requested for Interest 
                          Periods of one, two, three, six or twelve months, and 
                          fixed interest rate bids may be requested for 
                          Interest Periods not to exceed 360 days. Lenders may,
                          at their own discretion, bid for competitively priced 
                          loans in an aggregate amount up to the aggregate 
                          unused amount of the Revolving Credit Facility, 
                          irrespective of their pro rata commitments under the 
                          Revolving Credit Facility. Loans made under the
                          Competitive Bid Option will be allocated to the
                          bidding Lenders in order of effective cost, starting
                          from the lowest cost and rising to the highest cost
                          acceptable to the Borrower. The Borrower shall be
                          under no obligation to accept the bids received by it.
                          While borrowings are outstanding under the Competitive
                          Bid Option, each Lender's commitment under the
                          Revolving Credit Facility shall be deemed utilized by
                          such Lender's pro rata share (based on its respective
                          commitment under the Revolving Credit Facility) of the
                          aggregate outstanding amount of such borrowings.
                          Interest will be paid at the end of each Interest
                          Period or quarterly, whichever is earlier, and will be
                          calculated on the basis of the actual number of days
                          elapsed in a year of 360 days.

Default Interest     Any principal of any loan that is not paid when due will
- ----------------     bear interest at a rate per annum equal to 2% plus the rate
                     otherwise
<PAGE>
 
                                     - 4 -

                     applicable to such loan. Any default interest will be
                     payable on demand.

Reference Lenders    A representative sample of mutually acceptable Lenders will
- -----------------    be selected as Reference Lenders to establish LIBOR rates. 

Interest Margins     The applicable interest margin shall be based upon the     
- ----------------     ratio of the Borrower's consolidated total debt to         
                     consolidated net worth. Assuming that following the        
                     Acquisition, the Borrower's implied credit rating is at    
                     least BBB-, the initial margin for LIBOR Term Loans will be
                     in the range of 62.5-75 basis points and the initial margin
                     for LIBOR Revolving Credit Loans will be in the same range 
                     but less the applicable facility fee set forth below.

Facility Fee         Facility fee shall accrue on the daily aggregate amount of 
- ------------         the commitments under the Revolving Credit Facility        
                     (whether or not utilized) for each day from and including  
                     the date of the definitive credit agreement to but         
                     excluding the date such commitment is terminated. The fee  
                     shall be based upon a grid tied to the Borrower's ratio of 
                     consolidated total debt to consolidated net worth. Assuming
                     that following the Acquisition, the Borrower's implied     
                     credit rating is at least BBB-, the initial facility fee   
                     will be in the range of 20-25 basis points.
                    
Collateral           
Security             Pledge of the shares of Acquisition Corp.
- --------

Documentation        The Senior Facilities will be subject to the negotiation,  
- -------------        execution and delivery of a definitive credit agreement    
                     (including schedules, exhibits and ancillary documentation)
                     and related security agreement, guarantee and other support
                     documentation satisfactory to the Lenders. Such credit     
                     agreement will contain representations and warranties,     
                     funding and yield protection provisions (including, without
                     limitation, a requirement for compensation for the cost of 
                     compliance by the Lenders with capital adequacy and similar
                     requirements), conditions precedent, covenants and events  
                     of default reasonably consistent with those contained in   
                     the Credit 
                    
                    

                    
                    
                    


<PAGE>
 
                                     - 5 -

                     Agreement (the "Existing Credit Agreement") dated as of
                                     -------------------------
                     January 7, 1994 between the Borrower, Bank of America
                     National Trust and Savings Association, Chemical Bank,
                     Morgan Guaranty Trust Company of New York, as Co-Agents and
                     The Chase Manhattan Bank (National Association), as Agent,
                     and other provisions determined by the Lenders to be
                     appropriate for transactions of this type, including
                     (without limitation) the following:

A.  Conditions
    Precedent        Conditions precedent to the initial extension of credit
    ---------        under the Senior Facilities will include (without 
                     limitation):

                     1.  Terms and conditions of the tender offer shall be in 
                         form and substance satisfactory to the Lenders; the
                         principal conditions to the consummation of the tender
                         offer (i.e., those set forth on the cover page thereof)
                         shall have been satisfied and shall not have been
                         waived (for which purpose conditions that must be
                         fulfilled to the satisfaction of the Acquisition Corp.
                         must also be fulfilled to the satisfaction of the
                         Lenders); and the tendered shares shall have been
                         accepted for payment pursuant to the tender offer in
                         accordance with the terms of the tender offer.

                     2.  Termination of the commitments under the Existing 
                         Credit Agreement.

                     3.  The Lenders' satisfaction that all necessary licenses, 
                         permits and governmental and third-party filings,
                         consents and approvals have been obtained and remain 
                         in full force and effect.

                     4.  The tender offer and the financing thereof shall be in 
                         compliance with all laws and regulations (including,
                         without limitation, the margin regulations).
<PAGE>
 
                                     - 6 -

                     Conditions precedent to each extension of credit under the
                     Senior Facilities will be customary for a transaction of
                     this type and others determined by the Lenders to be
                     appropriate, including, without limitation, (a) the absence
                     of any continuing default or event of default, (b) the
                     continuing truth of representations and warranties and (c)
                     no material adverse change.

B.  Covenants        Will include (without limitation):
    ---------
                     1.  Financial and other information.

                     2.  Corporate existence, compliance with laws (including 
                         ERISA and environmental laws), payment of taxes,
                         maintenance of properties, maintenance of books and
                         records and inspection.

                     3.  Maintenance of insurance.

                     4.  Limitation on mergers, acquisitions and asset 
                         acquisitions (other than the Acquisition).

                     5.  Limitation on dividends and the redemption and 
                         retirement of the stock of the Borrower.

                     6.  Limitation on dispositions of assets.

                     7.  Limitation on contingent liabilities.

                     8.  Limitation on liens (negative pledge).

                     9.  Limitation on loans and investments.

                     10. A maximum ratio of total debt to total capitalization.

                     11. A minimum fixed charge coverage ratio.

                     12. A minimum net worth test.
<PAGE>
 
                                     - 7 -

                     13. Limitation on creation of subordinated debt.

                     14. Use of Proceeds.

                     15. Other deal specific covenants.

C.  Events of
    Default          Will include (without limitation):
    -------
                     1.  Failure to pay any principal when due; or failure to 
                         pay any interest or fees payable under the Credit
                         Agreement within two business days of when due.

                     2.  Failure to meet covenants (with grace periods, where 
                         appropriate).

                     3.  Representations or warranties false in any material 
                         respect when made.

                     4.  Cross default to other material debt of the Borrower 
                         and its subsidiaries in an aggregate amount of $50
                         million (other than debt of the Target which comes due
                         solely as a result of the Borrower's purchase of the
                         common stock of the Target, the subsequent merger
                         involving the Target or credit downgrades following the
                         purchase of the common stock of the Target pursuant to
                         terms of existing debt of the Target, which debt is not
                         expected to exceed approximately $250,000,000) which is
                         triggered by an event which permits the holder to
                         accelerate its debt.

                     5.  Change of ownership or control.

                     6.  Other usual defaults with respect to the Borrower and 
                         Subsidiaries, including but not limited to, insolvency,
                         bankruptcy, ERISA and judgment defaults.

Assignments and 
Participations       Each Lender may assign all or a portion of its loans and
- --------------       commitments under the Senior Facilities, or sell 
                     participations therein, to another person or persons only 
                     with the 


<PAGE>

                                    - 8 -
 
                     prior consent of the Company and the administrative agent
                     (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or
                     delayed); provided that (a) each such partial assignment
                     shall be in a minimum amount equal to $25,000,000 and (b)
                     no purchaser of a participation shall have the right to
                     exercise or to cause the selling Lender to exercise voting
                     rights in respect of the Senior Facilities (except as to
                     certain basic issues). In addition, any Lender shall have
                     the right to pledge obligations owed to such Lender to any
                     Federal Reserve Bank.

Expenses and
Indemnification      As specified in the Commitment Letter (with appropriate
- ---------------      additions and other modifications for inclusion in the 
                     definitive financing agreements).

Majority Lenders     More than 50%.
- ----------------

Governing Law        The law of the State of New York
- -------------

Submission to
Jurisdiction, Etc.   All persons and entities obligated to the Lenders in 
- ------------------   respect of the Senior Facilities will submit to the 
                     non-exclusive jurisdiction of New York courts. All of the
                     parties to the definitive financing documentation will, to
                     the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, waive any
                     right to a trial by jury.

Special New York
Counsel to the
Co-Agents            Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy
- ---------



<PAGE>
 
                                                                  EXHIBIT (c)(1)
[LOGO OF NORTHROP]

                                             Corporate Vice President
                                             Advanced Development
                                             and Planning

                                             --------------------
                                             Northrop Corporation
                                             --------------------
                                             1840 Century Park East
                                             Los Angeles, California  90067-2199
                                             Telephone (310) 553-6262

                                             January 21, 1992


                             CONFIDENTIALITY AGREEMENT

Grumman Corporation
1111 Stewart Avenue
Bethpage, New York  11714-3580

Dear Sirs,

This letter agreement will confirm our possible interest in preliminary
discussions ("Discussions") which might lead to some form of negotiated
transaction between the parties (the "Transaction"). During such Discussions,
we, which term shall include Northrop Corporation, its directors, officers,
employees and affiliates and you, which term shall include Grumman Corporation,
its directors, officers, employees and affiliates, may determine that it is
necessary and appropriate to exchange certain information relating to Northrop
or Grumman respectively. Any such information (whether written or oral)
furnished to either party to this letter agreement (whether before or after the
date hereof) by the other party or its respective financial advisors, attorneys,
accountants or agents (collectively, "Representatives") and all analyses,
compilations, forecasts, studies or other documents prepared by either party or
its Representatives in connection with such party's or its Representatives'
review of, or interest in, the Discussions or the Transaction which contain or
reflect any such information is hereinafter referred to as the "Information".
The term Information will not include information which (i) is or becomes
publicly available other than as a result of a disclosure by the receiving party
or its Representatives or (ii) is or becomes available to the receiving party on
a nonconfidential basis from a source (other than that party or its
Representatives) which, to the best of the receiving party's knowledge is not
prohibited from disclosing such information to it by a legal, contractual or
fiduciary obligation, or (iii) is independently developed by the receiving party
without reference to the Information.

Accordingly we and you hereby agree that:

1.  Each of the parties and its Representatives (i) will keep the Information
    confidential and will not (except as required by applicable law, regulation
    or legal process, and
<PAGE>
 
Grumman Corporation
January 21, 1992
Page 2

    only after compliance with paragraph 3 below), without the prior written
    consent of the party which furnished the Information, disclose the
    Information in any manner whatsoever, and (ii) will not use the Information
    other than in connection with the Transaction; provided, however, that each
                                                   --------  -------
    of the parties may reveal the Information to its respective Representatives
    (a) who need to know the Information for the purpose of evaluating the
    Transaction, (b) who are informed of the confidential nature of the
    Information and (c) who agree to act in accordance with the terms of this
    letter agreement.

2.  Each of the parties and its Representatives will not (except as required by
    applicable law, regulation or legal process, and only after compliance with
    paragraph 3 below), without the other party's prior written consent,
    disclose to any person the fact that the Information exists or has been made
    available, that either party is considering the Transaction, or that
    discussions or negotiations are taking or have taken place concerning the
    Transaction or any term, condition or other fact relating to any such 
    Transaction or such discussions or negotiations, including, without
    limitation, the status thereof.

3.  In the event that we or any of our Representatives are requested pursuant
    to, or required by, applicable law, regulation or legal process to disclose
    any of the Information, we will notify you promptly so that you may seek a
    protective order or other appropriate remedy or, in your sole discretion,
    waive compliance with the terms of this letter agreement. Similarly, in the
    event that you or any of your Representatives are requested pursuant to, or
    required by, applicable law, regulation or legal process to disclose any of
    the Information provided by us, you will notify us promptly so that we may
    seek a protective order or other appropriate remedy or in our sole
    discretion, waive compliance with the terms of this letter agreement. In the
    event that no such protective order or other remedy is obtained, that we or
    you waive compliance with the terms of this letter agreement, or that
    disclosure is legally required, the disclosing party will furnish only that
    portion of the Information which it is advised by counsel is legally
    required and will exercise reasonable efforts to obtain reliable assurance
    that confidential treatment will be accorded the Information.

4.  If either party determines to cease discussions and/or not to proceed
    with a Transaction, it will promptly inform the other party of that
    decision. In that case, both parties at their sole election will either
    (i) promptly destroy all
<PAGE>
 
Grumman Corporation
January 21, 1992
Page 3

    copies of the written Information in its or its Representatives' possession
    and confirm such destruction to the other party in writing, or (ii) promptly
    deliver to the other party at the returning party's expense all copies of
    the written Information in its or its Representatives' possession.

5.  The parties acknowledge that neither party, its affiliates, or
    Representatives, nor any of its or their respective officers, directors,
    employees, agents or controlling persons within the meaning of Section 20 of
    the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, makes any express or
    implied representation or warranty as to the accuracy or completeness of the
    Information furnished to the other party, and the parties agree that no such
    person will have any liability relating to the Information or for any errors
    therein or omissions therefrom. The parties further agree that they are not
    entitled to rely on the accuracy or completeness of the Information and that
    they will be entitled to rely solely on such representations and warranties
    as may be included in any definitive agreement with respect to a
    Transaction, subject to such limitations and restrictions as may be
    contained therein.

6.  The parties acknowledge that they are aware and will advise their
    Representatives who are informed of the matters that are the subject of this
    letter agreement, of the restrictions imposed by the United States
    securities laws on the purchase or sale of securities by any person who has
    received material, non-public information from the issuer of such securities
    and on the communication of such information to any other person when it is
    reasonably foreseeable that such other person is likely to purchase or sell
    such securities in reliance upon such information.

7.  For a period of three years from the data of this letter agreement, neither
    party nor any of its controlled subsidiaries will, unless specifically
    invited by the other party or its Board of Directors: (i) acquire, offer to
    acquire, or agree to acquire, directly or indirectly, by purchase or
    otherwise, any voting securities or direct or indirect rights to acquire any
    voting securities of the other party, or any assets of the other party or
    any subsidiary or division thereof or of any such successor or controlling
    person; (ii) make, or in any way participate in, directly or indirectly, any
    "solicitation" of "proxies" (as such terms are used in the rules of the
    Securities Exchange Commission) to vote, or seek to advise or influence any
    person or entity with respect to the voting of, any voting securities of the
    other party; (iii) make any public
<PAGE>
 
Grumman Corporation
January 21, 1992
Page 4

    announcement with respect to, or submit a proposal for, or offer of
    (with or without conditions) any extraordinary transaction involving the
    other party or its securities or assets; (iv) form, join or in any way
    participate in a "group" (as defined in Section 13(d)(3) of the Securities
    Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) in connection with any of the foregoing.
    The parties agree that for the period specified above, neither will request
    the other (its officers, directors, employees and agents), directly or
    indirectly, to waive any provision of this paragraph.

8.  Each of the parties agrees that, for a period of two years from the date of
    this letter agreement, it will not, directly or indirectly, solicit for
    employment any employee of the other party or any of its subsidiaries who
    became known to it as a result of the Discussions or its consideration of a
    Transaction provided, however, that any such solicitation shall not be
    deemed a breach of this agreement if (i) the personnel who perform such
    solicitation have no access to or knowledge of any Information or this
    agreement and (ii) none of the soliciting party's personnel who have access
    to the Information have actual advance knowledge of such solicitation. The
    term "solicit for employment" shall not be deemed to include general
    solicitations of employment not specifically directed toward employees of
    Northrop or Grumman.

9.  The parties agree that all (i) communications regarding the Discussions or a
    Transaction, (ii) requests for additional Information, facility tours or
    management meetings, and (iii) discussions or questions regarding procedures
    with respect to the Discussions or a Transaction, will be submitted or
    directed to Dr. James G. Roche, Corporate Vice President-Advanced
    Development and Planning, if to Northrop Corporation and to Jacob Busolina
    if to Grumman Corporation. 

10. Each of the parties acknowledges that remedies at law may be inadequate to
    protect it against any actual or threatened breach of this letter agreement
    and, without prejudice to any other rights and remedies otherwise available
    to them, the parties agree that each of them shall be entitled to equitable
    relief, including injunctions. In the event of litigation relating to this
    letter agreement, if a court of competent jurisdiction determines in a
    final, nonappealable order that this letter agreement has been breached then
    the breaching party shall reimburse the nonbreaching party for costs and
    expenses (including, without limitation, legal fees and expenses) incurred
    in connection with all such litigation.
<PAGE>

Grumman Corporation
January 21, 1992
Page 5

    
11. No failure or delay by either party in exercising any right, power or
    privilege hereunder will operate as a waiver thereof, nor will any single or
    partial exercise thereof preclude any other or further exercise thereof or
    the exercise of any rights, power or privilege hereunder.

12. This letter agreement will be governed by and construed in accordance with
    the laws of the State of California.

13. This letter agreement contains the entire agreement between the parties
    concerning the confidentiality of the Information, and no modifications of
    this letter agreement or waiver of the terms and conditions hereof will be
    binding, unless approved in writing by each of the Parties.

14. Any notice or communication hereunder shall be in writing and shall be
    delivered personally, telegraphed, telexed or sent by certified, registered
    or express mail, postage prepaid. Any such notice shall be deemed given when
    so delivered personally, telegraphed, telexed or sent by facsimile
    transmission or, if mailed, three (3) business days after the date of
    deposit in the United States mail, by certified mail return receipt
    requested as follows:

(i)    If to Northrop to:

       Northrop Corporation
       1840 Century Park East
       Los Angeles, CA  90067
       Attention:  R. R. Molleur, Esq.
       Telecopier:  (310) 210-3378

(ii)   If to Grumman Corporation to:

       Grumman Corporation
       1111 Stewart Avenue
       Bethpage, New York  11714-3580
       Attention:  John Mullan, Esq.
       Telecopier:  (516) 575-2179
<PAGE>

Grumman Corporation
January 21, 1992
Page 6

 
Please confirm your agreement with the foregoing by signing and returning the
duplicate copy of this letter enclosed herewith.

                                        Very truly yours,

                                        NORTHROP CORPORATION

                                            /s/ James G. Roche
                                        By:     __________________________

                                        Name:   James G. Roche
                                                __________________________
                                                Corporate Vice President -
                                                Advanced Development and
                                        Title:  Planning
                                                __________________________

Accepted and Agreed as of the date 
first written above:



By:  ____________________________

<PAGE>
 
                                                                 EXHIBIT (C) (2)

                                                    Corporate Vice President and
                                                    General Counsel

                                                    ----------------------------
[LOGO OF NORTHROP]                                  Northrop Corporation
                                                    ----------------------------
                                                    1840 Century Park East
                                                    Los Angeles, CA  90067-2199
                                                    Telephone (310) 553-6262

                                                    January 10, 1994

Grumman Corporation
1111 Stewart Avenue
Bethpage, New York  11714-3580

          Re:  Amendment of Confidentiality Agreement

Dear Sirs:

This will confirm that the Confidentiality Agreement, dated January 22, 1992, 
between you and us shall be amended solely for the purpose of correcting the 
date of the Agreement, which is hereby amended to "January 21, 1993." All other 
terms and conditions of said Confidentiality Agreement are unchanged and remain 
in full force and effect.

Please confirm your agreement with the foregoing by signing and returning the 
duplicate copy of this letter enclosed herewith.

                                                    Sincerely,
                                       
                                                    By: /s/ Richard R. Molleur
                                                        ----------------------
                                                         Richard R. Molleur

Accepted and agreed to
as of the date first
written above:

By: /s/ T.L. Genovese
    ---------------------
     T.L. Genovese
     Vice President & General Counsel 




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