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Gerber Auto Collision & Glass Announces Agreement for Expansion

4 November 1998

Gerber Auto Collision & Glass Announces Agreement For Minneapolis Expansion

         Gerber's Midwest Growth Strategy Quickly Becoming a Reality

    CHICAGO, Nov. 4 -- Gerber Auto Collision & Glass today
announced that it has reached an agreement to purchase Lehman's Garage, Inc.
of Minneapolis.  Lehman's, a high volume repairer with four facilities in and
around Minneapolis, will be Gerber's largest acquisition to date outside of
the Chicago metropolitan area.
    Founded in 1917, Lehman's Garage, Inc. provides collision and mechanical
repairs throughout the greater Minneapolis area.  Focusing on customer
service, Lehman's has become one of the nation's most respected auto collision
repairers.
    Gerber is carefully selecting only the strongest operations as it moves
forward with an aggressive Midwest expansion plan.  "The reputation Lehman's
has built within the community and the strong relationships they have with
their insurance partners speak volumes about their integrity and vision," said
Eddie Cheskis, Chairman and CEO of Gerber.  "It's this pride and commitment
that we at Gerber have found so compelling."
    Since 1969 Lehman's has been owned and operated by Dick Cossette.
"Building a business where employees and management have an open dialogue has
really been the secret to Lehman's success," said Mr. Cossette.  "It has given
us the ability to give our customers the high levels of service they deserve
while building a team of top-notch employees."
    Well known in the collision repair industry, Mr. Cossette was the
Automotive Service Association's Charter Chairman in 1975 and is one of the
founders of the Inter-Industry Conference on Auto Collision Repair.  He also
was National Chairman of Automotive Service Excellence and served on the board
of the Certified Aftermarket Parts Association for 3 years.  "With all I've
seen in this industry throughout the years, one thing has remained constant;
successful enterprises respect both their customers and their employees,"
added Mr. Cossette.  "Gerber's belief in these principles is what has made
this agreement possible."
    Gerber Auto Collision & Glass provides repair and replacement services to
consumers and the insurance industry, serving over 15,000 customers last year.
Close working relationships with insurers, combined with state-of-the-art
vehicle repair systems and communications technology, enable Gerber to deliver
high quality repairs and premium customer service.  Founded in 1937, Gerber is
the largest collision repair group in Illinois and has plans for aggressive
expansion throughout the Midwest.
    For more information, contact Richard Fish, Executive Vice President Sales
and Marketing of Gerber Auto Collision & Glass, 847-679-0510.