Crown Group, Inc. and West One Automotive Terminate Letter of Intent.

Business Editors

DALLAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 14, 2000

Crown Group, Inc. (Nasdaq:CNGR) which in January signed a Letter of Intent to acquire 80% of the outstanding stock in West One Automotive Group, Inc., a rental and retail automotive business located in Oregon and Washington, today announced that both parties have agreed to terminate the agreement.

"Although West One Automotive is an outstanding and profitable rental and retail automobile sales operation, certain issues arose during our due diligence that could not be resolved to the satisfaction of both parties," noted Edward R. McMurphy, President and Chief Executive Officer of Crown Group, Inc. "As a result, we have mutually agreed to terminate the previously announced Letter of Intent."

Crown Group, Inc. sells and finances used automobiles through its 99% ownership of America's Car-Mart, Inc. and its 70% ownership of Smart Choice Automotive Group, Inc. (OTCBB:SMCH). The Company also seeks to enhance shareholder value through the acquisition, development and operation of small-cap companies with significant growth potential. In addition to its used car sales and finance operations, Crown Group currently owns (i) 100% of Precision IBC, Inc., a firm specializing in the sale and rental of intermediate bulk containers; (ii) 80% of Concorde Acceptance Corporation, a sub-prime mortgage lender; (iii) 50.1% of CG Incorporated S.A. de C.V., which operates two casinos in El Salvador; and (iv) 45% of Atlantic Castings, Inc., an investment castings manufacturer of turbine engine components. Crown Group is headquartered in Dallas and its common stock is traded on the Nasdaq Stock Market(R) under the symbol "CNGR."

This press release includes statements that may constitute "forward-looking" statements, usually containing the words "believe," "estimate," "project," "expect," or similar expressions. These statements are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements inherently involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include, but are not limited to, those relating to the development of the companies' businesses, risks associated with acquisitions, continued availability of lines of credit for the companies' businesses, changes in interest rates, changes in the industries in which the companies operate, competition, dependence on existing management, and other risks which are discussed in the companies' periodic filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. By making these forward-looking statements, Crown Group undertakes no obligation to update these statements for revisions or changes after the date of this release.

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