TriMas Corporation Agrees to Acquire HammerBlow Towing Systems Corporation, Strengthening Trailer and Towing Product Portfolio

    BLOOMFIELD HILLS, Mich., Jan. 28 -- TriMas Corporation today
announced that it has entered into an agreement to acquire HammerBlow Towing
Systems Corporation -- a manufacturer of towing, trailer and other vehicle
accessories -- for approximately $142 million on a debt-free basis.  The
acquisition is subject to customary conditions and is expected to close as
soon as practicable.  HammerBlow and its subsidiaries had estimated annual
sales for the twelve months ended September 30, 2002 of $108 million.
    HammerBlow is presently controlled by The Riverside Company -- a private
equity firm -- and will be integrated into TriMas' Cequent operating group.
    "We're extremely pleased to proceed with this transaction," said Grant H.
Beard, president and chief executive officer of TriMas.  "The acquisition of
HammerBlow Towing Systems represents, for TriMas, a strong investment in
continued market leadership and profitable growth."
    "Cequent's vision is to be a global leader in transportation accessories
and cargo management solutions, and this acquisition reflects our commitment
to that vision," said Scott Hazlett, president of Cequent.  "HammerBlow Towing
Systems brings great products and strong brands to our portfolio, which is a
wonderful complement to the current Cequent family of brands, and a much
broader value proposition for our customers."
    The purchase of HammerBlow Towing Systems includes the following
companies:

    * The HammerBlow Corporation, incorporated in 1923 and based in Wausau,
Wis., is a leader in agricultural, industrial, recreational, utility and
construction trailer components;
    * Hidden Hitch(R), headquartered in Huntsville, Ontario, Canada, has been
manufacturing a full line of premium under-the-bumper hitches and towing
accessories since 1968;
    * Tekonsha(R) Towing Systems, of Tekonsha, Mich., was founded more than 50
years ago and is the leading supplier and manufacturer of proportional brake
controls; and
    * SurePull(TM) Towing Systems, of Sheridan, Ark., is a leading
manufacturer of towing hitches and offers an array of accessories and
electronic components.

    Plymouth, Mich.-based Cequent, a TriMas company, is an operating group
that is a leading designer, manufacturer and marketer of a broad range of
accessories for light trucks, sport utility vehicles, recreational vehicles,
passenger cars and trailers of all types.  Products include towing and hitch
systems, trailer components and accessories, and electrical, brake, cargo-
carrying and rack systems.  The group consists of three business units:
Cequent Towing Products, Cequent Trailer Products and Cequent Australia.
    Cequent draws upon a 75-year-old heritage of superior towing and trailer
brands -- Draw-Tite(R), Reese(R), Fulton(R) and Wesbar(R).  The company
employs about 1,100 associates.
    TriMas Corporation, with its headquarters in Bloomfield Hills, Mich. and
annual sales of more than $730 million in 2001, is a manufacturer of highly
engineered products serving niche markets in a diverse range of commercial,
industrial and consumer applications through four strategic operating groups:
Cequent, Rieke Packaging Systems, Fastening Systems and Industrial
Specialties.  TriMas was acquired by a shareholder group led by Heartland
Industrial Partners, a private equity firm, in June 2002.  Information about
TriMas is available on the internet at http://www.trimascorp.com .
    This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning
of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.  Actual results may
differ materially from the anticipated results because of certain risks and
uncertainties, including but not limited to general economic conditions in the
markets in which TriMas operates, technological developments, TriMas
dependence on key individuals and relationships, labor costs and strikes at
TriMas or TriMas customer facilities, exposure to product liability and
warranty claims, increases in raw material and energy costs, compliance with
environmental and other regulations, competition, the substantial leverage of
TriMas and its subsidiaries, limitations imposed by the Company's debt
facilities and risks and charges attendant to the integration of business
acquired by TriMas and TriMas' acquisition strategy.