Shareholders not affiliated with Rosemore voted "against" the acquisition offer by an overwhelming ten-to-one ratio.

"The Crown offer at $9.50 per share is totally inequitable and unrealistic in light of the company's $14.47 book value and its recent profits," says Crown Shareholders for Fair Value member Gregory Burkhardt, who owns 27,800 shares of Crown stock. In three letters to shareholders, the group had urged shareholders to reject the insider offer.

"Today was a victory for shareholder democracy. The little guys took on the big guys and won," said PACE International Union spokesperson Joe Drexler at the special meeting of shareholders. PACE is the collective bargaining representative of Crown Central Petroleum refinery employee-shareholders.

"This vote is a wake up call for the Board of Directors" said Richard Trumka, Secretary-Treasurer of the AFL-CIO. The AFL-CIO's Office of Investment provides research and support for collectively-bargained pension funds. "Crown Central Petroleum's legacy of under-performance demonstrates the need to restore management accountability."

Rosemore is a private company owned by the Rosenberg family. The Rosenbergs also own a controlling interest in Crown; however, a two-thirds majority vote of all shareholders is required to sell the company. A copy of analysis of the deal prepared by Crown Shareholders for Fair Value is available at www.shareholdervalue.org or by calling 888/235-2465.