EXHIBIT 99.1

                                         FOR:    INTERPOOL, INC.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

                                     CONTACT:    Mitchell I. Gordon
                                                 Chief Financial Officer
                                                 (212) 916-3284

                                                 Morgen-Walke Associates
                                                 Gordon McCoun, Jennifer Angell
                                                 Media contact: Shannon Stevens
                                                 (212) 850-5600


                  INTERPOOL, INC. COMPLETES ACQUISITION OF THE
        NORTH AMERICAN INTERMODAL DIVISION OF TRANSAMERICA LEASING, INC.

PRINCETON,  N.J., October 24, 2000 - Interpool, Inc. (NYSE: IPX) announced today
that it has completed the acquisition of the North American  intermodal division
of Transamerica Leasing,  Inc., a subsidiary of Transamerica Finance Corporation
and AEGON N.V. (NYSE: AEG), based in Purchase, New York. Interpool purchased the
division,  which  will add an  estimated  $165  million  to  Company  sales on a
full-year basis, for approximately $675 million in cash.

Transamerica  Leasing  is a leading  domestic  lessor of  intermodal  equipment.
Transamerica  Leasing's chassis fleet services both international shipping lines
and North American railroads, and the rail trailer and domestic container fleets
also supply the domestic railroad industry.

Martin Tuchman,  Chairman and Chief Executive  Officer of Interpool,  commented:
"The acquisition of Transamerica's intermodal business is an excellent strategic
fit for Interpool,  making us the largest lessor of intermodal container chassis
in the  United  States  with  over  165,000  units.  It  enables  us to  further
capitalize upon the growth  opportunities  of our proprietary  Poolstat  chassis
management operation,  by effectively expanding the Interpool customer base that
utilizes our Poolstat software system to include the rail industry, which is the
perfect complement to our presence in the maritime industry."

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          INTERPOOL, INC. COMPLETES ACQUISITION OF THE NORTH AMERICAN
INTERMODAL DIVISION OF TRANSAMERICA LEASING, INC.                         Page 2

Raoul Witteveen,  President and Chief Operating Officer, added: "We believe that
as a combined company,  Interpool is well-positioned  for continued growth. With
Transamerica Leasing's highly regarded management team, coupled with Interpool's
unparalleled  industry  experience  and  growth  orientation,  we are in an even
stronger position to provide the best service and equipment to our customers."

Mr.  Tuchman  concluded:  "We  expect a  smooth  integration  of  Transamerica's
intermodal  business into our  operations and will work to maximize the benefits
of the increased  utilization of our Poolstat fleet and expanded equipment base.
These  factors,   combined  with  greater  financial   resources  and  broadened
management and customer services teams,  should result in a strengthening of our
customer service offerings."

Interpool,  originally  founded in 1968, is one of the world's leading suppliers
of equipment  and  services to the  transportation  industry.  It is the largest
lessor of intermodal  container chassis in the United States and a world-leading
lessor of cargo  containers used in  international  trade.  Interpool leases its
containers  and  chassis  to over 200  customers,  including  nearly  all of the
world's 20 largest international container shipping lines.

This Press Release contains certain forward-looking  statements regarding future
circumstances.  These  forward-looking  statements  are  subject  to  risks  and
uncertainties  that could cause actual results to differ  materially  from those
contemplated  in such  forward-looking  statements,  including in particular the
risks and  uncertainties  described in the  company's  SEC filings.  The company
undertakes   no   obligation   to  publicly   release  any  revisions  to  these
forward-looking  statements to reflect  events or  circumstances  after the date
hereof.

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Note:  This press release and other press releases and information can be viewed
at the Company's website at www.interpool.com.