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Barden Companies Continues Strategic Talks With Swaziland

29 September 1998

Barden Companies Continues Strategic Talks With Swaziland

    DETROIT, Sept. 28 -- Today, Don H. Barden, Chairman and CEO
of Barden Companies, Inc. announced that during the visit of His Excellency
Prime Minister Dr. Barnabas S. Dlamini, initial understandings were achieved
in regard to both the opening of a facility in Swaziland for the sale and
servicing of vehicles, and the potential joint venture on a study for
entertainment and tourism attractions there.
    These conversations were the result of the meeting between His Majesty
King Mswati III, Mr. Barden, and Mr. Michael Jackson at the World Economic
Forum held in Namibia this May as well as conversations between the King,
other officials of Swaziland, Mr. Barden and Mr. Jackson during their visit to
Swaziland in July.
    Swaziland, in addition to enhancing and expanding investments in
manufacturing and agriculture, enjoys a position as the entryway to Southern
Africa, including its own natural beauty, game reserves, and those of its
neighboring countries.
    "As indicated to His Majesty King Mswati III, and during my present
conversations with the Prime Minister, I am more convinced than ever that
Swaziland, as does Namibia, provides a stable and excellent atmosphere for
investment and manufacturing, and exciting and new opportunities for tourism
and tourist attractions.  We will be devoting our full efforts in the next
several months to include studies in due diligence so that we may bring these
matters to closure, and make these opportunities a reality as soon as
possible."
    Barden International, Inc., which is 100% owned and controlled by Barden
Companies, Inc., presently has constructed, staffed and now operates Barden
Motors, a 60,000 sq. ft. manufacturing and automotive processing facility in
Prosperita Industrial Park near Windhoek, in Namibia, Africa.  The facility
converts General Motors light- and medium-duty trucks, and other vehicles from
left-hand-drive to right-hand-drive, and upfits vehicles for police,
agriculture, tourism and other uses.