PRESS RELEASE

Eagle Ottawa Leather Company Opens New Plant in Ekandustria, South Africa

    GRAND HAVEN, Mich., Nov. 12 -- Eagle Ottawa Leather
Company, the world's leading supplier of automotive leather, today
opened a plant in Ekandustria, South Africa.  It is the first Eagle
Ottawa integrated cut/finish and contract-sew facility in this part of
the world.
    Located 60 kilometers east of Pretoria, the plant enables Eagle
Ottawa to better service companies producing automotive interior trim
in South Africa, as well as throughout Asia-Pacific and Europe,
explained Anders Sergerdahl, president, Eagle Ottawa Leather Company.
    "South Africa has evolved as a major source for European and
Pacific Rim automotive leather seat covers," Sergerdahl said.  "The
strategic location of this plant greatly strengthens our capability to
provide world-class automotive leather to automakers in these key
markets, and plays an important role in our overall strategy as global
leader in the automotive leather industry."
    According to Sam Wells, plant manager, the 12,400 square-meter
South African operation should eventually employ 120 people, and
process more than 5,000 cattle hides per week during full production
in 1997.  The plant will feature the very latest manufacturing
technology, including a continuous coating line, and modern testing
equipment.  In addition, Eagle Ottawa's customers there will have
access to the company's computer-aided design resources dedicated to
support deisgn and value analysis initiatives, he added.  The South
African plant is part of Eagle Ottawa Europe Ltd.
    Eagle Ottawa Leather Company, founded in 1865, is privately owned
and headquartered in Grand Haven, Mich.  It employs 3,137 people
worldwide, operating nine manufacturing facilities and 10 sales
offices in North America, Asia-Pacific, Europe and South Africa.
Currently, Eagle Ottawa automotive leather is found in more than 80
car and truck models around the world, representing virtually every
major automobile manufacturer in the United States, Japan and Europe.


CONTACT: John Bailey of John Bailey & Associates, 810-641-3880