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Inalfa Industries Acquires Global Aftermarket Sunroof Manufacturer

14 October 1997

Inalfa Industries Acquires Global Aftermarket Sunroof Manufacturer

    FRANKFURT, Germany, Oct. 14 -- Inalfa Industries, one of the
world's top three manufacturers of roof systems for cars and trucks, has
acquired Farmont GmbH, a leading global aftermarket sunroof manufacturer based
in Dusseldorf, Germany.  The announcement was made by Fred L. M. Welschen,
chairman of Inalfa Industries and Michael Winzowski, managing director of
Farmont.
    "Inalfa Industries and Farmont will take advantage of each other's unique
experience and expertise to create a competitive edge in both the aftermarket
and original equipment sunroof industry," Welschen said.  "We will establish a
solid balance between OEM and aftermarket products to help expand our product
capabilities on a global basis."
    The Farmont business unit remains headquartered in Dusseldorf, Germany and
will be managed by Jan Oude Elferink, general manager of Inalfa Roof Systems
Venray.  Farmont Skylite Ltd., Farmont's North American subsidiary, will
retain its present management and remain an active U.S. operation for the
North American market.
    The synergies are advantageous for both companies.  Inalfa Industries will
benefit from Farmont's established aftermarket presence.  Inalfa's management
expertise and  technological capabilities will help develop new products to
augment Farmont's aftermarket expertise.
    "Inalfa Industries and Farmont complement each other," said Joseph Corace,
president and CEO of Inalfa Hollandia, Inalfa Industries' North American
business unit.  "We look forward to increasing our market share and taking on
new challenges in new markets.  Farmont's established presence in North
America will provide immediate access to the aftermarket and significantly
strengthen our North American operation."
    Farmont is one of the top three manufacturers of aftermarket sunroofs with
headquarters in Dusseldorf Germany.  It currently manufactures 120,000
aftermarket sunroofs annually and has manufacturing facilities and sales
offices in Berlin; Tampa, Fla.; Brighton, Mich.; Toronto; and Korea.
    Inalfa Industries, based in the Netherlands, is a global network of
companies with operations in North America, Europe and the Pacific Rim.
Inalfa Hollandia, Inc., based in Auburn Hills, Mich., is a division of Inalfa
Industries.
    Inalfa Hollandia's sunroof contracts with Saturn Corp., Jeep Grand
Cherokee and Mitsubishi are among the largest in North America. Inalfa
Hollandia, with $64 million in sales in 1996, and has booked sales of more
than $100 million for 1999.

SOURCE  Inalfa Industries