Knox & Co. Announces Calsak Corporation Transaction

PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Knox & Co. completes divestiture for Calsak Corporation

Westport, CT, May 31, 2005 – Knox & Co., and its affiliate, Knox Securities Corp. (jointly herein after “Knox & Co.”), a leading investment banking firm on middle-market and cross-border mergers and acquisitions, and Mitsubishi Securities (USA), Inc. today announced that they jointly acted as exclusive financial advisor to Calsak Corporation (“CC”) in connection with the divestiture of its Plastics Division (“Calsak Plastics”). Knox & Co. initiated, structured and negotiated the transaction on behalf of Calsak Corporation

Calsak Plastics is one of the largest distributors of plastic sheet, rod, tube and film on the West Coast and is most well known for its acrylic and “see-through” products. The transaction involved Calsak Plastics’ six locations in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Portland, Seattle, Houston and Atlanta. The purchaser was Port Plastics, Inc., a West Coast-based plastics distributor affiliated with Laird Plastics in the U.S. and Amari Plastics of the U.K. Michael Baisley, Managing Director with Knox, was lead banker on this transaction. He was assisted by Tsuyoshi Togo, Vice President with MS. Financial details of the transaction were not disclosed.

Calsak Corporation selected Knox & Co. and Mitsubishi Securities for this important project based on their expertise in both cross-border M&A and in structuring a complex divestiture of a division with shared resources. Osamu Sakai, President of Calsak Corporation stated, “Our investment bankers were a true partner in helping us analyze all our options and presenting new alternatives to maximize value. We are grateful for their expert assistance.” Michael Baisley commented, “Knox & Co. is extremely pleased to have completed this transaction and honored to have been given the opportunity.”

Knox & Co. is an investment banking, consultancy and advisory firm specializing in two complementary advisory disciplines: Investment Banking and Corporate Reorganization. With its office in Westport, Connecticut, the firm undertakes assignments throughout North America and, when necessary, abroad. Knox & Co. conducts its securities-related business through its wholly owned subsidiary, Knox Securities Corp., member NASD. In addition, the firm enjoys a strategic alliance with Mitsubishi Securities Co., Ltd. (“MSC”), the core securities company in Mitsubishi Tokyo Financial Group (“MTFG”). Together, Knox and MSC have more than 80 M&A professionals capable of handling transactions around the globe and, together are one of the leading investment banks for middle-market, cross-border assignments involving a Japanese principal.

Knox & Co. has advised on more than 100 middle-market merger and acquisition and advisory assignments since its inception, with in excess of $2 billion in transaction value. The firm’s principals have worked on cumulative transactions in excess of $15 billion. For more information please visit www.knoxandco.com.