Gold Eagle Promotes Marc Blackman To President

CHICAGO--Nov. 19, 2001--Gold Eagle® Co., a leading developer, manufacturer and marketer of quality products for the automotive aftermarket, will soon be guided by a new president.

According to Richard Hirsch, Gold Eagle's current president, the board of directors has chosen Marc Blackman, the company's vice president of sales and marketing, to become president effective Jan. 1, 2002.

Blackman began his Gold Eagle career in 1993 as OEM/private label sales manager. Later, he became vice president of sales and marketing for the manufacturer and marketer of a broad line of automotive chemical products. Prior to joining Gold Eagle, Blackman was a division manager for Gallo Wine Company.

Richard Hirsch will continue working full time as a Gold Eagle board member and as an internal consultant on strategy, legal and acquisition matters. Manny Grijalva, vice president of the company's OEM/private brands group, will replace Blackman as vice president of sales and marketing.

``Rich and I have complete confidence in Marc's ability to strengthen Gold Eagle's strategic focus on engine performance and maintenance brands,'' said Robert Hirsch, who remains Gold Eagle's chief executive officer and chairman of the board of directors.

``I'm looking forward to this exciting, new opportunity to serve Gold Eagle,'' said Blackman. ``We're known for providing innovative, quality products at competitive prices, and I intend to maintain that focus.''

Armin Hirsch founded Gold Eagle in 1932. Under the leadership of his sons, Robert and Richard, the privately held company has grown steadily and now operates from a southwest Chicago manufacturing plant and warehouse/distribution facility.

Now a well-known player in the automotive aftermarket, Gold Eagle has a reputation for both high-quality products and packaging innovations. It was the first in the automotive industry to use polyethylene bottles and the first to produce funnel-neck bottles to make pouring fluids easier.

Gold Eagle has been marketing products that help engines start quickly, run smoothly and perform optimally for almost 70 years. The company's category-leading brands include 104+ Octane Boost®, STA-BIL® Fuel Stabilizer, HEET® Gas-Line Antifreeze, NO-LEAK(TM) Premium Sealers and the recently acquired AlumAseal® Radiator Sealers. Details on Gold Eagle brands can be obtained by visiting www.goldeagle.com, calling 800/621-1251 or writing Gold Eagle at 4400 South Kildare, Chicago, IL 60632.

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