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Mathias J. Barton Joins R&B, Inc. as Chief Financial Officer

29 October 1999

Mathias J. Barton Joins R&B, Inc. as Chief Financial Officer

    COLMAR, Pa., Oct. 29 -- R&B, Inc. today
announced, effective November 15, 1999, the appointment of Mathias J. Barton
as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the Company,
succeeding Malcolm S. Walter.
    R&B President and Chief Executive Officer Richard Berman said:  "We are
pleased to welcome Matt to the Company.  He brings to R&B nearly 20 years of
comprehensive business experience in finance, strategic planning, accounting,
and mergers and acquisitions, which will help the Company's ability to
consistently grow financial results."
    Prior to joining R&B, Mr. Barton, 40, was the Senior Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer for Central Sprinkler Corporation, a publicly owned
$220 million manufacturer and distributor of automatic fire sprinklers,
valves, and component parts which was recently acquired by Tyco International
Ltd.  Mr. Barton, a CPA, holds a BBA degree from Temple University.  In
addition to serving as a senior financial officer for two corporations over
the past ten years, Mr. Barton worked for Arthur Andersen LLP for the first
eight years of his career.
    Berman continued:  "We are sorry that Malcolm will be leaving the Company
as he has significantly contributed to R&B's growth and success from the time
he joined the Company in early 1996.  However, we understand his decision to
accept a senior position with a rapidly growing, still private, high
technology company.  Everyone at R&B wishes him well."
    R&B, Inc. is a leading supplier of "hard-to-find" parts, fasteners and
service line products for the automotive aftermarket.  R&B's parts are
marketed under more than sixty proprietary brand names, through its Motormite
and Dorman divisions, as well as under the private labels of automobile
manufacturers, parts manufacturers, and national warehouse distributors.