MISSISSAUGA, ONTARIO - Monday, November 2, 1998, 11:31 AM EST

Strongco Inc. today announced that it has been awarded the exclusive distribution rights to the Champion motor grader product line for the province of Quebec, effective January 1, 1999. Strongco is currently the Champion distributor throughout all of Atlantic Canada. Consequently, as of January 1, 1999 it will be the sole distributor of Champion motor graders from the Ontario/Quebec border east.

"We are delighted to expand our relationship with the manufacturer of this market-leading product", said Larry Pirnak, Strongco's Chairman. "This transaction is consistent with our strategy of acquiring equipment lines and companies which can be immediately combined within Strongco's existing facilities and supported by its administrative infrastructure. It is also in line with our objective of carrying the same key product lines in contiguous territories."

In addition to Champion, Strongco is the exclusive distributor of Volvo, Hitachi, Ingersoll-Rand, Cedarapids and similar leading product lines in Quebec and Atlantic Canada.

Strongco is one of the largest multi-line equipment distribution companies in North America. Based in Mississauga, Ontario, Strongco sells, rents and services mobile equipment to users in the construction, municipal, mining, forestry and industrial sectors of the economy from branch locations across Canada and in the mid-Atlantic region of the United States.