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Riviera Tool Company Reports 70% Increase In Q2 Net Income

29 March 1999

Riviera Tool Company Reports Seventy Percent Increase In Second Quarter Net Income
    GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., March 29 -- Grand Rapids, Michigan-based
Riviera Tool Company (Amex: RTC) today reported its operating results for the
three and six months ended February 28, 1999.  The Grand Rapids, Michigan-
based designer and manufacturer of stamping die systems, reported net income
for the three months ended February 28, 1999 of $695,272 or 21 cents per
share, on sales of $5,071,638, versus net income of $408,213, or 16 cents per
share, on sales of $6,095,638 for the second quarter ended February 28, 1999.
Net income for the quarter increased 70% and earnings per share increased 31%
over the second quarter of 1998.
    For the six months ended February 28, 1999, net income was $1,213,000 or
37 cents per share, on sales of $10,628,084, versus net income of $739,171, or
30 cents per share, on sales of $11,539,443 for the six months ended February
28, 1999.  Net income for the six months increased 64% and earnings per share
increased 23% over the same six month period in fiscal year 1998.  The
aforementioned per share amounts are presented on a diluted basis with an
additional 156,076 shares outstanding in fiscal 1999, as compared to the
corresponding period in the prior year.
    "We are very pleased to have managed to increase our profit margins to
further enhance shareholder value and are looking forward to the completion of
our capital expansion program which will provide the Company the opportunity
to increase future revenues," Riviera President Kenneth  K. Rieth said.
    This release contains forward-looking statements relating to future
financial results.  Actual results may differ materially as a result of
factors over which the Company has no control.  These risk factors and
additional information are included in the Company's report on Form 10-K on
file with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
    Riviera designs, develops and manufactures custom large scale metal
stamping die systems used in the high speed production of sheet metal stamped
parts and assemblies for the automobile industry.  Riviera's common stock
trades on the American Stock Exchange under the symbol "RTC".


                             RIVIERA TOOL COMPANY
                             FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

                                BALANCE SHEET


         ASSETS                    February 28,                August 31,
                                      1999                        1998
    CURRENT ASSETS         Note    (unaudited)                 (audited)
      Cash                                 $--                    $4,206
      Accounts Receivable            3,740,818                 1,609,272
      Costs and estimated
       gross profit in
       excess of billings
       on contracts in
       process               2      13,101,341                11,299,961
      Inventories                      330,566                   405,566
      Prepaid expenses and
       other current assets            302,898                   172,054
           Total current assets     17,475,623                13,491,059

    PROPERTY, PLANT AND
     EQUIPMENT, NET          3      17,457,491                13,237,501
    PERISHABLE TOOLING                 696,576                   743,966
    OTHER ASSETS                       223,885                   223,869

           Total assets            $35,853,575               $27,696,395

    LIABILITIES AND
    STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
    CURRENT LIABILITIES
      Current portion of
      long-term debt         4      $1,316,672                  $876,555
      Accounts payable               4,019,153                 1,113,113
      Accrued liabilities              249,000                   204,682
           Total Current liabilities 5,584,825                 2,194,350

    LONG-TERM DEBT           4      11,111,126                 8,196,641
    ACCRUED LEASE EXPENSE              657,057                   643,040
    DEFERRED TAX LIABILITY           1,405,579                   780,376

    STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY:
    Common stock - No par value:
       Authorized - 9,785,575
       shares                1
       Issued and outstanding -
         3,317,744 shares at February
         28, 1999 and 3,065,499 shares
         at August 31, 1998         14,512,185                13,496,937
      Retained earnings      1       2,582,803                 2,385,051
           Total stockholders'
            equity                  17,094,988                15,881,988
           Total liabilities and
            stockholders' equity   $35,853,575               $27,696,395


                             RIVIERA TOOL COMPANY
                           STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
                                 (UNAUDITED)



                     For The Three Months Ended     For The Six Months Ended
                           February 28,                    February 28,
                      1999            1998           1999             1998

    SALES          $5,071,088      $6,095,638     $10,628,084      $11,539,443
    COST OF SALES   3,439,293       4,433,736       7,655,161        8,617,806

     GROSS PROFIT   1,631,795       1,661,902       2,972,923        2,921,637

    SELLING, GENERAL AND
     ADMINISTRATIVE
     EXPENSES         551,034         558,958        986,318        1,062,700

     INCOME FROM
      OPERATIONS    1,080,761       1,102,944       1,986,605       1,858,937

    OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE)
     Interest
      expense        (109,424)       (129,560)       (232,402)       (261,390)
       Other expense       --        (110,686)             --        (109,192)
       Gain (Loss) on
        asset sales     4,872         (40,900)           6,442        (18,634)
          TOTAL OTHER EXPENSE
           - NET     (104,552)       (281,146)        (225,960)      (389,216)

    INCOME BEFORE TAXES
      ON INCOME       976,209         821,798        1,760,645      1,469,721

    INCOME TAXES      280,937         295,849          547,645        528,735

        NET INCOME    695,272         525,949        1,213,000        940,986

    DIVIDENDS AND ACCRETION ON
      PREFERRED STOCK      --         117,736               --        201,815

    NET INCOME AVAILABLE FOR
     COMMON SHARES   $695,272        $408,213       $1,213,000       $739,171

    BASIC EARNINGS
     PER COMMON SHARE    $.21            $.18             $.37           $.32

    BASIC COMMON SHARES
     OUTSTANDING    3,317,744       2,269,331        3,317,744      2,294,565

    DILUTED EARNINGS
     PER COMMON SHARE    $.21            $.16             $.37           $.30

    DILUTED COMMON SHARES
     OUTSTANDING    3,317,744       3,317,744       3,317,744       3,161,668