Advanced Accessory Systems' SportRack Group Acquires U.S.-Based Barrecrafters

    STERLING HEIGHTS, Mich., Sept. 6 Advanced Accessory
Systems today announced that its SportRack Automotive group has acquired
Barrecrafters, an aftermarket rack accessory company located in Shelburne, VT.
    Barrecrafters has been supplying the North American aftermarket for more
than 50 years.  Its product line includes roof racks, ski racks, bike racks,
watersport racks and rack accessories.  The SportRack Accessories division of
SportRack Automotive, located in Granby, Quebec, is the leading supplier of
similar racks and accessories in Canada.
    "Barrecrafters products fit well into our existing SportRack product
line," said Robert Boulard, general manager of SportRack Accessories.
"Building our U.S. distribution with the well-respected Barrecrafters brand
name will be a real plus to this new relationship."
    The Barrecrafters name is well known in the ski industry, and SportRack
has strong name recognition among summer sports enthusiasts including biking
and water sports.  "The combination of both companies' products smoothes out
our seasonal fluctuations and pulls together a plan for supplying both Canada
and the U.S. with high-quality, innovative, complete rack systems demanded by
today's active lifestyle consumer," said Richard Borghi, president of
SportRack Automotive.
    SportRack Automotive is a world leader in the supply of roof rack systems
and lifestyle accessory products to the global OEM and aftermarket.  SportRack
Automotive has corporate offices in Sterling Heights, Mich., with North
American manufacturing operations in Port Huron and Shelby Township, Mich.;
Hamer Bay, Ontario; and Granby, Quebec.  SportRack Automotive's European
operations are headquartered in Sandhausen, Germany, and include manufacturing
facilities in Bakov, Czech Republic; and Barcelona, Spain.  In addition, sales
and distribution agreements are in place in Christchurch, New Zealand;
Campinas, Brazil; and Rotterdam, the Netherlands.
    Formed in 1995, Advanced Accessory Systems has become the leading global
supplier of roof rack systems, towing systems, and related accessories.  Also
with headquarters in Sterling Heights, Mich., the company has nearly 2,200
employees in 25 facilities within 15 countries, and reported annual 1999 sales
revenue in excess of $300 million.