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Advanced Accessory Systems' SportRack Group Acquires Barrecrafters

6 September 2000

Advanced Accessory Systems' SportRack Group Acquires U.S.-Based Barrecrafters

    STERLING HEIGHTS, Mich., Sept. 6 Advanced Accessory
Systems today announced that its SportRack Automotive group has acquired
Barrecrafters, an aftermarket rack accessory company located in Shelburne, VT.
    Barrecrafters has been supplying the North American aftermarket for more
than 50 years.  Its product line includes roof racks, ski racks, bike racks,
watersport racks and rack accessories.  The SportRack Accessories division of
SportRack Automotive, located in Granby, Quebec, is the leading supplier of
similar racks and accessories in Canada.
    "Barrecrafters products fit well into our existing SportRack product
line," said Robert Boulard, general manager of SportRack Accessories.
"Building our U.S. distribution with the well-respected Barrecrafters brand
name will be a real plus to this new relationship."
    The Barrecrafters name is well known in the ski industry, and SportRack
has strong name recognition among summer sports enthusiasts including biking
and water sports.  "The combination of both companies' products smoothes out
our seasonal fluctuations and pulls together a plan for supplying both Canada
and the U.S. with high-quality, innovative, complete rack systems demanded by
today's active lifestyle consumer," said Richard Borghi, president of
SportRack Automotive.