---

Venture (U.S.A.) Buys Peguform from Klockner-Werke

9 March 1999

Venture (U.S.A.) Buys Peguform from Klockner-Werke

    DETROIT, March 9 -- Venture Holdings Trust, Detroit, Michigan
(U.S.A.) has signed an agreement to purchase Peguform GmbH, Botzingen from
K1ockner-Werke AG, Duisburg.  The sale is subject to antitrust clearance and
approval by K1ockner-Werke AG's Supervisory Board and Shareholders.
    The Venture Group, including the Trust and its affiliates, and Peguform
together will have combined annual sales in excess of 2 billion U.S. dollars,
which are expected to grow significantly as a result of the synergistic impact
of the purchase.  Venture's management believes that its strengths in design
and engineering will complement Peguform's global customer base and
manufacturing expertise to create a globally competitive company ideally
suited to support the rapidly consolidating world automotive industry.
    The Venture Group is a major supplier of automotive interior and exterior
systems and advanced design and engineering services to Ford, General Motors,
and DaimlerChrysler in North America, as well as automakers in Europe and
Australia.  Venture's design and engineering capabilities are among the most
comprehensive in the supplier industry.  The Venture Group operates 35
facilities in the U.S., Canada, Russia, China, South Africa, and Australia.
    Peguform, which will be operated as a business unit under Venture Holdings
Trust, is one of Europe's leading suppliers of interior and exterior
automotive systems including bumpers, dashboards, door modules, and door
panels.  Peguform serves customers including Volkswagen, Audi, Seat, Skoda,
BMW, DaimlerChrysler, Porsche, Renault, and PSA (Peugeot and Citroen) from 16
plants in Germany, France, Spain, the Czech Republic, Mexico, and Brazil.
    Bank One Corporation, through its subsidiary companies, has been engaged
to arrange financing for the acquisition.
    Robert W. Baird & Co. acted as adviser to Venture.  K1ockner was advised
by Merrill Lynch.
    Certain statements in this release constitute "forward looking statements"
within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1934 and are subject to a number
of risks and uncertainties.  These risks and uncertainties include the extent
and timing of the synergistic impact of the transaction; international,
national and local general economic and market conditions; the size and growth
of the automobile market or plastic automotive component market; or any
additional factors described in Venture Holdings Trust's reports filed with
the Securities and Exchange Commission.