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Top Driver Acquires American Cities Driving Schools

7 July 1999

Top Driver Acquires American Cities Driving Schools; Acquisition Advances National Consolidation    

    NEW YORK, July 7 -- As part of its growth-by-acquisition
strategy, Top Driver, the leader in driver education, announced today that it
has purchased the 13-school chain of American Cities Driving Schools in
Columbus, Ohio.  The acquisition comes on the heels of the successful purchase
of the Tom Sneva School of Driving in the greater Indianapolis area.
    (Photo:  http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/19990707/NYW010 )
    According to Sebastian Giordano, Top Driver chief operating officer, the
company has launched an aggressive campaign to acquire and modernize driving
schools across the nation.
    "American Cities Driving Schools gives Top Driver a well-recognized name
in the greater Columbus and Dayton communities and a talented pool of
instructors," Giordano added.  "We believe that the combination of Top
Driver's advanced training and marketing efforts with the strength and
commitment of American Cities management is an ideal chemistry which will
bring Top Driver closer to realizing its vision."
    "This acquisition gives Top Driver an even greater stronghold in the very
fertile Ohio market, Giordano said.  "Top Driver entered the Ohio market over
a year ago in greater Cleveland and plans to use American Cities as a
springboard for rapid statewide expansion."
    The owners of American Cities recognize that Top Driver represents the
future of driver education.  "Top Driver is the only company we trust to
continue our 30-year-old family business which is synonymous with high-quality
training and caring, well-trained instructors," said Jeff Holmes, American
Cities owner.
    The driving school industry is primarily a fragmented "mom-and-pop"
business using outdated curriculum and old, beat-up cars, according to
Giordano.  Top Driver is changing all this to provide the highest quality
driver education available today.  With training centers nationwide, Top
Driver employs the latest technology in touch-screen computer training,
multimedia classroom instruction and one-on-one training in new vehicles.
    Top Driver is the first in the industry to bundle driver education
programs, DMV Services, financing information, insurance services, automotive
safety products and driver accessories in easily accessible locations.  For
more information, contact Top Driver at 888-TOP-DRIVER or visit its web site
at http://www.topdriver.com.

    Top Driver Locations:
    Trumbull Shopping Park, Trumbull, CT
    Greenwood Park Mall, Greenwood, IND
    SouthPark Center, Strongsville, OH.
    13 locations -- Columbus, OH