C.H. Heist Corp.: Reports Third Quarter Earnings



NEWS FROM                              CONTACT:                       
                                       John Rowley,                 
C. H. Heist Corporation                Vice President - Finance, and
                                       Chief Financial Officer      
                                       727-461-5656 or             
                                       john_rowley@heist.com
For immediate release 
November 3, 1999


         C.H. Heist Corp. Reports Third Quarter Earnings


CLEARWATER, Fla., -- C. H. Heist Corp. (Amex: HST), a provider of 
commercial and information technology staffing services and industrial 
maintenance services, reported financial results 
for the third quarter ending September 26, 1999.

Service revenues increased for the quarter by $2,551,000 an increase of 
7.1% from $35,881,000 to $38,431,000. Net earnings for the same period 
decreased $536,000 a decrease of 70.7% from $758,000 or $.26 per share 
to $222,000 or $.08 per share.

During the nine-month period revenues increased $13,033,000, an increase 
of 13.3% from $98,185,000 to $111,218,000. Net earnings for the year to 
date period decreased $972,000 from $968,000 or $.34 per share to a loss 
of $4,000 or $.00 per share.

Staffing services provided the impetus for the reporting period with 
revenues for the quarter up $4,051,000 an increase of 18.9% and for the 
year to date period revenues were up $14,497,000 an increase of 25.9%. 
``The pending sale of our industrial maintenance segment, will allow us 
to focus all of our resources on the expansion of Ablest,'' commented C. 
H. Heist, Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer. ``This will 
allow us to compete in the staffing industry as a pure-play staffing 
company.''

C.H. Heist Corp. has two professional service segments: Staffing 
Services and Industrial Maintenance Services. The Ablest Service Corp. 
staffing services subsidiary focuses on providing temporary and contract 
staffing solutions to the business, professional and light industrial 
sectors from 46 locations throughout the eastern half of the United 
States and in select southwestern U.S. markets.

Heist also provides industrial cleaning and maintenance services to a 
wide range of industries, such as chemical, petrochemical, power 
generation, pulp and paper, mining and metallurgical plants. With 
locations throughout the eastern United States and Canada, its 
industrial services include hydroblasting, painting, sandblasting, 
vacuuming of industrial wastes, turnaround services, chemical cleaning 
and commercial insulation.

The company will hold a conference call to discuss quarterly results on, 
November 4, 1999 at 4:30 p.m. Eastern time. Heist invites the investment 
community to participate by calling 1-800-946-0712 between 4:25 and 4:30 
p.m.

Statements made in this news release, other than those concerning 
historical information, should be considered forward-looking and subject 
to certain risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results to 
differ materially from those projected. Readers should carefully review 
and consider disclosures, including periodic reports on Forms 10-K and 
10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which attempt to 
advise interested parties of the factors, which affect the Company's 
business. 



                          C. H. HEIST CORP.
    (unaudited - in thousands except share and per share amounts)

OPERATING RESULTS:
                       Thirteen       Thirteen     Thirty-nine    Thirty-nine
                     Weeks ended    Weeks ended    Weeks ended    Weeks ended
                    Sept 26, 1999  Sept 27, 1998  Sept 26, 1999  Sept 27, 1998
  
Segment Revenue:                                                
 Staffing Services      $25,432        $21,381         $70,376        $55,879
 Industrial Maintenance  12,999         14,500          40,842         42,306
  Net Service Revenue   $38,431        $35,881        $111,218        $98,185
                                                                
Earnings (Loss)                                                 
 Before Income Taxes       $535         $1,402            ($23)        $1,785
Income Tax                                                      
 Expense (Benefit)          313            644             (19)           817
  Net Earnings (Loss)      $222           $758             ($4)          $968
                                                                
Basic Earnings (Loss)                                           
 Per Share                $0.08          $0.26          ($0.00)         $0.34
                                                                
Average Shares                                                  
 Outstanding          2,881,133      2,877,988       2,880,717      2,877,900


CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET:
                                              Sept 26, 1999  Sept 27, 1998
                               
Assets:

Current Assets                                    $27,459       $26,619
Property, Plant and Equipment, Net                 17,992        16,828
Intangible and Other Assets, Net                   10,253         9,407
Deferred Income Taxes                                 152           168
                                                  $55,856       $53,022
Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity:

Current Liabilities                                $9,118       $10,036
Long-Term Debt                                     16,873        13,953
Deferred Compensation                               1,120           610
Deferred Income Taxes                                 137           398
Stockholders' Equity                               28,608        28,025
                                                  $55,856       $53,022



End.