MISSISSAUGA, ONTARIO - Tuesday, January 5, 1999, 2:37 PM EST

Strongco Inc. today announced that it has agreed to acquire Edelen & Boyer Company of Colmar, Pennsylvania. Edelen & Boyer is a profitable equipment distribution company located near Philadelphia with annual revenue in excess of $15 million (Cdn.). It rents, sells and services the Samsung line of excavators, which was recently acquired by Volvo, as well as other leading lines of construction equipment. All Edelen & Boyer employees, including senior management, will be retained by Strongco and the company will continue to operate from its existing location.

"The acquisition of Edelen & Boyer will expand and strengthen our operations in the south-eastern Pennsylvania region, which we entered in mid-1997 with our acquisition of Road Machinery Inc. of Lionville, Pa.", said Larry Pirnak, Chairman of Strongco. "It will add a well-run, profitable operation to Strongco's existing U.S. business while also enabling us to increase our territorial reach with our existing product lines. Furthermore, Edelen & Boyer's strong rental component is consistent with one of Strongco's primary strategic objectives, to increase its equipment rental capabilities.", said Mr. Pirnak.

Strongco is one of the largest equipment distribution companies in North America. It operates a network of more than 80 equipment sales, rental and service branches across Canada and in the mid-Atlantic region of the United States. It trades on the Toronto Stock Exchange and the Montreal Exchange under the symbol 'SQP'.